Exes and No's

Mood Tune: Inside by Monica (YouTube link).

Whether s/he was a supermodel, a supermarket clerk, or a super psychologist, we often wonder what the ONE before or after us is like.

Pondering such questions and dilemmas is the new book, Was She Pretty? .

It's a series of short stories and pics and other anecdotes of how we sometimes fixate/thing/wonder about the one who was just before us... or the one who replaces us. The book is by Leanne Shapton.

Such an interesting and fascinating thing... We all do it.

Don't you?
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Sexy Blog

Mood Tune: Private Dancer by Tina Turner (YouTube link)

Well, I guess I'd better start living up to the title. Brainwash Cafe has listed Simply Fred as one of the 10 Blogs for a Sexier You. Uh, that's me?!?!?

And I thought the hotties at Hoodsworld or Most Proper were sexy.

Thanks for the mention Brainwash Cafe. That's way cool.

Now, who'd like their private dance first?
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Post Traumatic Syndrome: Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary

If you're in the L.A. area, you should think about attending this free event next Monday, October 23, 2006.

Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary explores the historical and current impact that slavery as a historical trauma has had on African American and U.S. culture in her lecture, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.

She will speak at Cal State L.A. on Monday, October 23, 2006 at 6:15 pm in the Golden Eagle Ballroom, 3rd floor, Golden Eagle Building. (additional information here)

Dr. Leary’s Theory of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome suggests that centuries of slavery followed by systemic racism and oppression have resulted in multigenerational adaptive behaviors, some of which have been positive and reflective of resilience, and others that are detrimental and destructive.

I've always loved hearing Dr. Leary on KJLH's Front Page radio show. She speaks truth to power... and to those not-in-power who need to hear a thing or two about themselves.

Have a good one.
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Black Gays. Black Churches.

Mood Tune: You Brought The Sunshine by The Clark Sisters (YouTube link)

This morning I caught what sounded to be a pretty balanced review of a new book discussing black churches and LGBT issues.

The review by Jacque Reid on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

The book... Their Own Receive Them Not: African American Lesbians and Gays in Black Churches by Rev. Horace L. Griffin.

Not a new topic, but a very necessary book in these times. What's particularly telling is 1) the review was very balanced and without all the jeering that usually goes along by co-hosts on the LGBT topic; and 2) that Jacque Reid apparently has a new job with the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Don't forget the rally and memorial for Michael Sandy, the NYC hate-crime victim who died last week. It's tonight at 5 pm at NYC City Hall. Info on Keith Boykin and Jasmyne Cannick sites.
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Isn't It Ironic?

Found this bit on Monica Jackson's blog tonight.

Via the St. Petersburg Times: "It's vile," said Rep. Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach. "It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction."

This was Mark Foley being quoted a few years ago, 1998 to be exact, during the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky thing. Yeah, the same Mark Foley who allegedly sent a naughty text message or two to underage male pages working in D.C.

Funny how the tables turn. Shows we all gotta curb the urge to judge others... at least down a notch or two, because one day it could be us in the hot seat. And being in the hot seat ain't pretty.
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Hate Crimes Still Happen

Mood Tune: I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack (YouTube link)

If you're in the NYC area on Monday, October 16, you should try and attend the rally at New York City Hall at 5 pm, in honor/memory of the recent black/LGBT hate crime death of Michael Sandy.

Information at Keith Boykin's site and also Jasmyne Cannick's site or any NYC-area news site.

But it all started out as an alleged meeting on the Internet, which led to a meeting at a NYC-area park, which led to an attempted robbery, a beating, a car accident, and a discovery that the gentlemen who lured Michael Sandy into a romantic liaison online were not who they said they were at all. Now, Michael Sandy is dead as a result of his injuries.

The National Black Justice Coalition is one of the organizations sponsoring the Monday 5 pm rally, and it is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black same-gender-loving, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. The Coalition works with our communities and our allies for social justice, equality, and an end to racism and homophobia.

The whole situation just continues my feeling that life is precious, that we take so many of our family and friends for granted, and that things can happen so randomly and quickly and unpredictably in our lives. I listen to that I Hope You Dance song on occasion to remind and motivate me around that fact.

Make it a good day for you and yours.
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Juggling.

Mood Tune: Get Together by Madonna (YouTube link)

Geez, what a week I've had. Super busy.

Not sure how the time flew so fast, and though I worked very hard in the day job, it seems that for every item I crossed off my to-do list, three more items popped up in their place. I'm juggling a lot of plates in my professional life.

Writing... I'm juggling with the idea of abandoning yet another manuscript that I'm about 130 pages into writing. Too many characters, too many points of view. I was very ambitious with my initial idea, but when it comes down to it... I don't feel like juggling all those characters in my head anymore. Ewwww. So lame, huh. I can't stay loyal to my manuscripts. Does that say something about me? If I stay with this manuscript, I know it's going straight to The Rejector Pile. Maybe not.

Looking forward to a concert tonight in Hollywood. Should be a fun time. Uh, but my personal life, and all the juggling I've been doing... may come to a head this evening. I've been hanging/talking with a couple of new guys. Got voice mails from two of them wondering if I'm going to the show, what time I'm arriving, it'll be cool to meet/hook up this evening. Uh, I planned to go solo with a platonic friend of mine.

Though I seem to do it well, I struggle with juggling several things at once. Especially more than one date.

You?
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Quickie

A quickie for you... for me.

Told you about the pageant I was asked to judge last week. I never got around to writing about the experience. It was fun.

You can read about the Quest Pageant on my friend Noel Alumit's blog. There's a few pics of me and the other judges.

So swamped at work. Had to get this quickie in, though. You know how it is sometimes ;-)
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