Damn…I’m hungry

I need to make me something to eat.

But on the real…Each weekend is more fun than the previous. I sit and ask myself, “Is this my life for real?” It seems like someone else’s life to me.

How did I end up here having way too much fun working in my actual desired career, living it up socializing with amazing people and looking damn good in the meantime?

The power of God.

Last Friday I was so nervous because I set up a 2nd (phone) interview with Young Buck because my first one wasn’t good enough. During the first interview I was so scared that I would seem foolish that I asked some very elementary questions and none of them connected so it turned out that out of all the info I had, none of it would make a good story.

But this time I prepared. I sat down with one of the other writers on my team. He’s a Cancer like me and his writing is extremely engaging. The thing I respect the most about him is his ability to engage an interview subject. When we interview a popular subject, our purpose is to pull information from them that hasn’t been written before or hasn’t been exposed. While I had prepared random elementary questions for my first celebrity interview, my co-worker gave me a suggestion.

“When you interview someone you have to walk in there with your story already written in your mind. That way, you ask specific questions and you get specific answers by guiding them to say what you need them to say,” he told me. “What do you want him to say? What story hasn’t been told yet? It’s a good idea to try to get psychological when you’re talking to the subject. Get into their mind and get them to show us who they really are.”

As I prepared for my 2nd interview I considered his advice. In my first interview he mentioned that when he met the chicks on Flava of Love he thought they were too wild for his taste and he wouldn’t choose any of them. So I thought about that and I remembered that song he did, Shorty Wanna Ride Wit’ Me. I decided to delve into what he wants in his woman and if he believes that artists glorify a certain type of playa lifestyle when in reality they want something completely different.

I also wanted to touch on the topic of fatherhood and what it means to him since he grew up with a drug addicted father.

~sigh~

The interview went so well! We really connected during my 15 minute set and he even complimented me saying, “I’m feeling this whole conversation! I can’t wait to read what you write.” ~cheese~

He is not what I expected but I guess I should learn not to place my expectations on people based on their careers. He proudly told me that he takes care of his daughter and her mother completely even though the mother is with someone else. He says it doesn’t matter to him that the woman is not his anymore, what matters is the fact that when his daughter lays her head down at night she has a very nice place to rest that he provides- he says that helps him to sleep at night.

He also mentioned that his faith in Jesus is very important to him and that young men shouldn’t grow up neglecting that area or waiting until something bad happens to turn to the Lord.

Yeah….I was a little surprised too. Seems like someone has his head on straight.

And…he fine as hell…

He said he likes thick women ya’ll. Thick women who don’t wear weave or fake eyes or makeup or anything. He says he wants to recognize the woman he wakes up in the morning with.

Anyway…I’m so excited. I did a great job and got a compliment. Those are always nice. ~smile~

As for the rest of my job, man…it’s great to wake up everyday and go do something you love. The crux of what I do at the magazine is manage the other writers, encouraging them to fulfill their writing requirement. I give out assignments and fill the editorial calendar which means, every week I have to look at all of the stories the writers are turning in and choose the ones that will run in the magazine. Our magazine is 100% original content produced which means we only use original photos and original content. No AP stories or getty image pics. If the writers aren’t writing then we have no content.

It’s kinda interesting being the manager. I want to remain firm with the writers when I need something from them, but I don’t want to be a bitch. I’ve been told that I talk to them like they are 3. LOL! My publisher told me that because I have a way of explaining things to people that I must admit is kinda..uh….simple. That comes from dealing with my kids so much. I have to step it up.

Everyone is super helpful and I am learning so much from the other journalists, we call ourselves Scribes. There is only one woman on the team besides myself because the journalism field is dominated by men although you’d think things would be different since having a love for writing is sometimes seen as girly.

My publisher is amazing. I was in his office the other day and I noticed a few paintings leaning against his wall. They were vivid and full of bright colors much like the pieces Romero Britto produces. My mouth dropped open when I saw the signature.

“Um…Why is your name on these pictures?” I asked him.

He looked at me.

“Cuz I painted them.”

Not only did he build a publishing dream for the Black community, he is also an accomplished artist and he’s delving into television too. A week before I arrived he began building his team for his television show.

Very impressive.

And everyone is always making fun of him because he’s a bit eccentric, but they all give him much respect. The women who work for him WANT to work for him and there’s no craziness going on behind the scenes. He’s a giver, extremely generous and he is a Cancer too.

I’m learning a lot from him but I am sure to keep my distance because I don’t want it to turn into the same thing that developed between me and my former Pastor. I don’t want any man to recognize my potential and try to exploit it for their personal gain. I’m so eager to learn and to grow and show what I can do that it would be easy for a man to take notice of the fire inside me and want to be a part of that. But you can’t join yourself to everyone that blows your way.

I’m learning to be selective. Call me weird but I feel like the men I take seriously should be on another level. Sometimes It’s cool when my co workers flirt with me. It lets me know I still got it. But there’s something in my mind that won’t allow me to take them seriously. It puzzled me for a minute but then I realized what happened. I have raised my standards quite a bit.

Having a man with a stable income is a beautiful thing. But instead of going goo goo over the man who RECEIVES a steady check, I’d actually prefer the man who WRITES the checks.

Am I loony because I don’t feel like I don’t want to date anymore EMPLOYEES? If you don’t have CEO, COO or Owner/Founder behind your name I don’t get excited anymore.

I think it’s because I spend a lot of time interviewing these business owners. ~shrugs~

I don’t know ya’ll. I haven’t been on ONE date since I’ve been here and already I’m canceling men out. And by the way, the barbeque guy, whose name is Ty, called me back as soon as I finished writing the last post.

~shrugs~

I’m very much attracted to him but..something is missing. He’s a nice guy though and he lives 5 minutes away from me. I’m sure we’ll hook up again just to kick it.

~stretching~

I’m off to lay around and watch TV until Flavor of Love comes on. Those chicks are crazy and I hope Delishis gets kicked off because she’s one hatin ass chick! They are ALL hating on Krazy because they all see her as a threat. Krazy is the closest thing to white on that show so I can already see her winning. ~smirk~

Alicia Keyes and India Arie. Who wins? Hoopz and New York. Who wins? Anybody notice a pattern?

I was very happy to see Terrance Howard play the villain in Idlewild. For once a light skinned Black man played the bad guy. Do you ever notice that in Black movies it’s always the dark skinned brother who is devilish? Think about all of Tyler Perry’s movies.

For once I’d like to see darkness overcome light.

So as strange as it may seem, I’m rooting for New York.

Later!