World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which will see tens of thousands of people share books with others in their communities across America to spread the joy and love of reading on April 23. I delivered my books to the third grade class of Benteen Elementary. Why third grade you ask? Initially it was based on information I discovered saying that state correctional state planners looked at reading scores of second or third grade students for projecting the state's prison population. But later more legitimate research showed this was an urban myth. Still The myth probably has survived and circulated for more than a decade because it reflects the more fundamental truth that there is a powerful connection between school failure and crime. Several early childhood studies have shown that disadvantaged children who enter strong preschool programs are far less likely to get mixed up in crime when they get older. So here's me doing my part, I was given the opportunity to be a Giver for world book night and I'm happy to say that a group of third graders went home today with The Enders Game.

citation: Bill Graves http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/03/prisons_dont_use_reading_score.html

Still?

I'm amazing, and if you're too shallow to see that I pity you. I pity the conversations you'll have with your glamazon once her beauty fades and she has NOTHING to talk about. There you'll sit discussing Church gossip because that's all she'll have.

Across the world, city or state I'll be having brunch with the District Attorney's wife while he and my husband watch the game. She'll ask me in awe about my days working for Tyler Perry, or what Whitney Houston was really like or how it felt to be the Company Manager of the Atlanta Ballet. She'll beg me to get one of her favorite books signed by one of my many author friends. Then we'll discuss how rewarding it is to work with children, she will sit in awe and her mouth will fall open as I casually say with a smile how surviving cancer multiple times gave me a new perspective on life. Then will lead into what could have possibly led me to apply to Clown College. Part of her will think I must be spinning tales of fancy, all of this could not be the life experience of one person except she will already have been prefaced by her husband on the authenticity of my who, what, when and where.

When we leave my husband will smile at me in the car about how much they loved me and that whatever his ask of the DA was, the answer is yes. Then he'll tell me, "you're amazing".

At the very same time a 55 year old version of you will sit in front of the TV and hope that Glamazon would turn down the volume on her Church gossip because you know she can't change the subject, her looks are gone and the Church gossip is all she has.

Remember me then, I'm amazing. If you're too shallow to see it now you'll have to swallow it with her dry meatloaf then.

Where is the Woo?

I'm making a living doing things that I love, able to pursue my passion of film-making on the side and am loving being a Mommie to my 5 year old bouncy boy. So what is missing from this picture, you know what.......... a honey bunny.

So, I'm a smart, funny, ambitious, sexy woman you say, what is the problem? I can answer that for you, the lack of Woo.

This is how my dates usually go; he (place any he here) calls me, ask me where I want to go, text me when he's outside, takes me to the place I suggested, works overtime to try to gear the conversation in a sexual direction without being blatant, takes me home, attempts to kiss me, then text me when he gets home. Where's the woo in that?

Here's what woo looks like; he chooses where we go, he comes to my door when he arrives, he opens the car door for me on all entrances and exits, the date itself doesn't have to be over the top just something that clearly required some thought and planning. That would tell me that he was interested enough to make an effort. This outing would have some space for us to chat and get to know each other and the conversation would cover art, current events, our upbringing and family. When we arrived back to my home he would walk me to the door where I would gladly give him a kiss if all has gone well and then he calls me, not text, when he gets home for a final goodnight.

I hear a lot of guys complain that women don't cook and don't carry out other traditionally feminine acts but it goes both ways. If you want me to come over and cook, iron a shirt for you, impress your boss with my charm I have no problem with that but I need the woo in exchange. In today's world women work and often bring equal and/or more pay to the table to cover expenses yet men still want all the traditional women task to be met by the very woman he no longer feels the desire to woo. Look, I have guy friends like actor Lem Collins, engineer Raphael Siebenmann and a host of others for whom this is not a problem, their wives have virtually no complaints, but if you noticed I said their wives have no complaints, some women decided to spend their lives with them because they are Masters of the Woo.

Love Atlanta Style

Love, Atlanta Style takes place in the graceful city of Atlanta. It follows the lives of four intricate and particularly distinct women as they work through domestic struggles and family life. During their setbacks, they face secrets, unlawful acts and dubious concealed mysteries of their own. Yet, they continue to display a seemingly beautiful and so-called perfect life. Love Atlanta Style will begin airing September 2ND then every Friday thereafter on facebook.com/loveatlantastyle and www.TPN1.com

I watched the first two episodes and then the promo. I'll be honest the first episode was just OK, intriguing enough to make me want to keep watching but I feel the cast really began to gel by episode two. Episode 2 was not only well acted but much better written then the first episode and left me wanting more, so much so that I watched the season promo which gave snippets of future episodes. All I can say is between episode two and the promo I will be a regular fan of this series and am dying to see what's next. The season promo also revealed that celebrities like The Monique Show's Rodney Perry and legendary, Hollywood, Stunt Woman & Action Actress Jwaundace Candece will be appearing in episodes this season. I love anything homegrown and this ATL show made by Atlantans for Atlantans is a must see.

Just Like That

And just like that we are splitsville. Ladies here me on this, you've experienced this one before. You can no longer please him for some reason, he's so busy that you guys just can't seem to get together so you try and end it because you're bored with the relationship and are tired of being put on the back burner, he begs you to forgive him and promises to do better, so you let him squirm his way back in. Then out of the blue one day you say something that should only slightly annoy him at most and he loses his s*!t and dumps you. Of course you have no proof but you know this move, you've seen it before. The old I have another girl and that's the real reason I've been neglecting you but I must figure out a way to make it look like the breakup is all your fault move. Yup ladies, I just fell for that one, AGAIN! Just to add insult to injury read the blog I wrote just before this one, entitled "Can't Sleep".

Can't Sleep

I don't know why I can't sleep, I had a long day. Thank God for my Mom, she walked Drake to school for me this morning so I could get to my 8am class on time. Once I left school I ran some errands to kill some time before meeting my boyfriend to get in a few precious moments of time with our crazy schedules.
We both got so caught up with our day we literally only saw each other waving across the tracks to each other at the Marta (Atlanta public transit) station, headed in different directions. Don't worry, we may have been headed in different directions today but we are most certainly on track in our relationship, it's taken me a moment to adjust to his new busy schedule but I'm being a better girlfriend and am no longer allowing my past to effect my present. I think I was slightly insecure and for sure mistrusting of him before, not because of anything he did but because of the emotional trauma of my past relationships. I'm better now, I love him and he's so patient with me, neither of us are perfect but we're perfect for each other.
Once I got on the train, I don't drive, I headed over to the sports shop to replace Drake's cleats, I had the wrong size. On the way home I ran into an old friend and discussed some business concepts he was working on, he's looking for full time work until his passion shows some fruit so I referred to someone I knew was hiring. I was also glad to here he had gotten full custody of his kids, something I knew he had been working had at. Once I boarded the bus I met a young SCAD photography student and we exchanged information as I never cease networking, not even on the Marta bus. I got off the bus and picked Drake up from school, I was happy to see his teacher had returned to school after suffering a loss in her family. I walked him home, pleased with his report of the day by his teacher stating he was a stellar student. I allowed him to watch TV, something he hasn't been able to do since he was grounded for misbehaving in school last week. We both had a quick bite and I pulled together all of his soccer practice materials.
We went to assessment day for his soccer league where he performed impeccably, I of course immediately text my boyfriend, who although he's not Drake's biological father, is always proud of Drake's accomplishments. Also on the field was the joy of being one of the Senior soccer Moms. This is his third season, so I know most of the coaches and almost all of the returning parents, Moms and Dads. I introduced people around, greeted the new parents, welcomed them into the fold and enjoyed a fun, sunny, day out on the field. On the way home I chatted with the widow of my friend Ron, their daughter is playing and I'm always glad to see them smiling seeing as how Ron passed earlier this year, it's still a shock to my system to acknowledge he's gone, I'm sure I could never understand how his family feels.
Once we got home I fixed Drake's dinner plate and then helped him with his homework. I ran his bath water and watched a little of America's Got Talent while he had his tub time. Once he was out I read his bedtime story and tucked him in.
I had some homework I could be doing but I was too tired to do it. I decided to put it off till tomorrow. My phone rang, cool, it's my sweetheart. I chat with him for a while, which totally makes me happy and I hang up with a smile.
I answer a bunch of business emails and check my beloved Facebook. Now here I sit 2am, unable to fall asleep. Sleep, please, come soon.

It's 1:34pm

I woke up this morning at 6:30am, got my son ready for school and prepared his breakfast. I walked him to school, arriving at 7:45am and consoled his teacher who had just had a death in her family. I promised the para pro (secondary teacher in his class) I would come back at 9:15 am to read to the kids so she could catch up and get organized as his lead teacher left due to the aforementioned death in her family. On the way out of the school I scheduled a meeting with the school Librarian for 9:3o, to follow my story time. I walked back home, fixed my breakfast and scheduled myself a dental appointment. I went through my son's vast book collection and found the most entertaining read alouds. During the walks to and from the school I discussed some business concepts with my partner LaShunda Simpson of PPE (the film production company I own with her and Angela Dobbs). After disconnecting from her I sent a sweet nothing to my significant other, Greg Wright, that's right ladies, I am both literally and figuratively dating Mr. Right. I get to the school at exactly 9:15am and read to the kids until 9:30am. Upon completion of my story time I head over to the school's Media Center for my meeting with the Librarian. She and I discuss the many ways the programs I work with at The Little Shop of Stories can benefit both parties and I negotiate a booth at the school literacy festival in October at no cost to me. I leave the school and come home where I work out with my shake weight then get on-line to promote my other business The Learning Groove. One barter-tactic leads to me getting a free ad on a popular Mommie site that caters directly to the area where I teach my Learning Groove classes. I then respond to the sweet nothing my honey bunny has sent me and go back to promoting my Fall Classes. I look at the clock, it's 1:34pm, my day has just begun. I still have to go by the bank, buy Drake (my 5yo son) new soccer cleats, pick Drake up from school, come home and fix him a snack, do my homework (I'm in college full time at the Art Institute), take him to his first soccer practice for the fall season, prepare dinner, help him with his homework, finish my homework, put him in the tub, clean and then call my honey bunny, who's working 12hrs today at his job, and wish him a good night. I'm not complaining, just explaining.