It's not just for old ladies

What do you think about when you hear somebody talking about book clubs?

Me, I think of a bunch of older women gathered around a table talking about the plots, similes and allegories in a book I would probably never read.

Well, last month my friend Ashley started a book club and I'm enjoying it. The first book, Things Fall Apart, was a rough one for our group. Not that many people read it (Including me...sorry!) so the discussion was short.

But this month we read The Coldest Winter ever by Sister Souljah and it was drastically different.

I'd read this book before, but I read it again to refresh my memory and really enjoyed our discussion afterwords. Our group of seven had a lengthy discussion and other readers bought up topics, situations and ideas I hadn't thought of before.

For June we're reading my pick, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

So, once again my assumptions about something have been wrong. Our group is young, lively, opinionated and even has a couple of men.

Book clubs definitely aren't just for old ladies...

Forget Los Angeles

Yep. Forget Beverly Hills, all the glitzy events and swanky, exclusive night spots.

I live in Hollywood South.

Since Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans, a prime location for movie production, Shreveport has not only acquired more than a few evacuees, but a substantial portion of the movie industry as well.

It seems like everyone's been in town lately. Rob Corddry from The Daily Show, Mike Epps, Martin Lawrence, Denzel Washingon, Jessica Simpson and Queen Latifah have all been in town or still are, filming movies. And that's a very short list of actors that have come to the area.

Just today I was walking into Starbucks and who was holding the door open for me? Forrest Whitaker.

I was so shocked, I didn't even have time to get star struck. I said hello. He said hello. He was off with two other men, back to whatever they were doing.

I guess that was better than my episode with Rob Corddry, where I followed him to the bathroom in a downtown bar.

Now, I met these two when I wasn't even trying. Just going about my everyday business. I wonder what could happen if I actually tried to put myself in the places I know they're going to be.

Hmmm...maybe I should start carrying around a camera to capture these moments and post it on here for ya'll to see.

Then maybe ya'll will want to move to Hollywood South.

I.S.O. real journalism

I graduated from college with a load of debt, a print journalism degree and visions of what I thought a career as a journalist would be like.

I’m starting to think that those visions were naïve if not completely outdated.

Classes and research on journalism of the past had me thinking that I’d be able to change the world with tough, hard-hitting stories. I thought I’d have the time to do in depth series and features on issues of concern to the world. I thought that at the end of the day, everything I did, and my newspaper did, would all be in the name of quality journalism.

Nope.

I don’t have time to do those stories I dreamed of, instead I’m bogged down with a lot of other random stories and tasks. And I feel like even if I did have the time, there wouldn’t be the space. Advertisements and obituaries sometimes seem like the priority since they bring in the money.
It’s all about the bottom line, everywhere I go.

Maybe my original visions of journalism do still exist. Maybe I’m just not at the point in my career where I can do what I want. I guess I’m still paying my dues.

I hope that’s the case and not what many have suggested – that the world of journalism that used to exist and inspire is no more.

Either way, I’m going to keep searching until I find it…

Never say never

Like most women I had a detailed idea in my head of my Prince Charming and never thought I’d stray from what I wanted.

Someone who’s…
…college educated
…employed in corporate America
…taller than me – at least 5’10
…equipped with a great sense of humor
…a hopeless romantic
…sensitive
…caring
…blah, blah, blah

Unreal.

As I continue to meet people I realize that part of growing up is realizing that no one is perfect. Not even me. (Can you believe it?) So who am I to expect perfection when I can’t offer the same?

I also realize that prince charming comes in different shapes, sizes and backgrounds and my prince charming could be the next girl’s frog.

Now I’m with a man that is hilarious, taller than me, and caring, but…
…never went to college but is smarter than me most days. (Ok, everyday. Lol)
…doesn’t wear loafers or button ups but has his own style that I love just as much.
…isn’t a hopeless romantic but does things in his own way that makes me feel special and cared for.
…doesn’t work in corporate America but works to defend his country everyday and is trained to do things most folks can’t do.

This is my prince charming and he’s nothing that I imagined or expected – he's even better.

(Thanks Bestest!…our conversation earlier today got me to thinking and made me want to write this.)