2000 Journal Entries
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One Week Out Of This Writer's Life . . .

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Friday, December 21, 2001 Happy Holidays to everyone who visits my site! I'm not going to write much today. I'm actually getting ready to head back home from North Jersey. I wanted to take the time to wish each of you the most blessed and happiest of holidays!! I have one more gift to get and then I'm done. I finished early this year. Odd for me as I'm usually miss last-minute-running-around-through-the-store-looking-for-gift-after-gift. But not this year. I broke a trend! LOL!

I'm out! Have a good one! In February I'm in Delaware. Maybe I'll see a few of you there.

Be blessed! -- Denise

Sunday, October 28, 2001

I had a rush-rush kinda morning. I went to the 8AM service at church, then I stayed for Sunday School (which hasn't started on time in weeks). Anyhow, I got home around noon, took off rushing to get my laundry done, cook something, yadayadayada. I told the director of the Space and Science Club at the University of Pennsylvania that I would definitely make their annual dinner today at 2PM. I guess you can figure out the rest. I didn't make it. I felt terrible. I called Dr. Mosley and apologized, but time wasn't on Sister-Girlfriend's side. It takes me about 40-45 minutes to get into the heart of Center City Philly, and I gotta tell ya - I tend to get turned around when I get down there with all those one-way streets. I do not love driving in Center City Philly. I love Philly, just not driving in Center City. If any of the members of the Space & Science Club click to my site -- I am so proud of you and the accomplishments you've each made! I will make a donation and support you in other ways also.

The Eagles lost again today. I thought they would have a much better season than they're having. And I can hardly believe how the Tennessee Titans are playing!! Dawg! What is going on with Eddie George? What a surprise year they are having! It's time for basketball now. I'm ready to cheer for the 76ers and get my 76ers t-shirts. I heard Allen Iverson likely will not start when the season opens. I sure wish both he and McKie would have had surgery right after the season ended. I also wish Lynch could have remained with the 76ers. He was a hard worker. On another note, if Derrick Coleman plays, the 76ers will be better this season than they were last season. I want to order some tickets to some of the games tonight. I am not going to make them all or even try to. I want to see Philly play the Orlando Magic because I think Tracy McGrady is a force to be reckoned with. He is one of the leaders in the game. And I want to see them play the Raptors and the Pacers. I remember watching Reggie Miller play years ago when I lived in Hawaii and he was still in college. Not putting any money down for a Lakers game, because beyond Derrick Fisher and Rick Fox, I just don't care for the Lakers. I know Shaq dominates and Kobe is incrediby talented. I just don't like their team and haven't since Magic, Kareem, Worthy (that Lakers team) left the floor. I used to be a HUGE Lakers fan then, but no more.

My travels for the rest of the year will be close to home. I'm glad! Earlier in the year it seemed like I was out-of-town nearly every weekend. I have to finish completing a "Call for Presentations" app. I was sent from African American Women on Tour for 2002. I'm gonna do the tour, but want to basically travel on the East Coast.

I'm gonna run. I gotta get up at 5:30 in the morning, get in some exercise then head up the interstate to Princeton. You all be good and have a blessed week!

Saturday, September 22, 2001

I am slowly starting to feel like I'm finding my ground again. A lot of my colleagues were directly affected by the events of September 11. Although I served in the military and definitely did not have a fairy tale environment to grow up in, this shook me. It's odd. I'm glad my life hasn't been sheltered. I can't think of a time when I lived in an earthly paradise. Somehow I feel it works together to equip me to know that - "The same God who got me through past events will get me through this too."

I know hate will never drive out hate, as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said years ago. "Darkness will not drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate will not drive out hate. Only love can do that." (Words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) Your actions will let the world know which you want - darkness or hate -- light or love. If you want love, push love and light back into the world with your thoughts, your prayers, your kindness, your warmth . . . the very best of you! It's a universal effort and I do believe that as human beings, we can and will choose love . . . choose light . . . choose life!

My birthday came and went free of much noise. I must be getting older. LOL! I always get lots of cards and phone calls, but people who know me realize I am not big on gifts although if someone bought me a new computer printer, I certainly wouldn't have sent it back. My printer is on its last leg -- I do think. I'm off to get a new one this weekend.

Hard to believe the nba season will be starting again in just a month. Phew! The summer flew! I'm rooting for the 76ers! Can't help it being that they have a player like Allen Iverson on the team! I was invited to an award event for Moses Malone. I think I'll support the event financially, but I don't plan on attending. I was also invited to a boxing event Sugar Ray Leonard is sponsoring in Philly, but I'm not going. I have to REALLY be interested in something to show up. Believe it or not, I wasn't a 76ers fan when Malone and Dr J played on the team. I was a rock solid Kareem Abdul Jabar fan then. A lot of that had to do with the fact that, as a little girl (I must have been around 7 years old) I hated watching Wilt Chamberlain score so many points on Kareem and have such an air of arrogance about him. I met him (Wilt) in person at a track and field meet at the University of Tennessee years ago. I still had a tight lip from the years he arrogantly dominated the league. Anyhow, Kareem (from what I saw as a kid) was the ONLY player to give Wilt a real game. When he changed his name I admired his uniqueness, his courage not to be a follower (something I admire about Allen Iverson). I became a die-hard fan to the core then. Back to the 76ers . . . I do remember how Dr J took the game to another level -- now that I definitely remember. That's back when Converse was the shoe! In the projects I grew up in if you had a pair of high top Converses, you were it!

I digress . . . My son's school is on strike. This is a first for us. I never went to a school that was on strike all the years I was coming up. They have been on strike nearly 3 weeks. I hope they go back to work next week. I told my son he may end up without a summer if the strike goes on and on. I do think teachers should be amongst the highest paid government employees. Perhaps they can lower the salaries of those on education boards and more evenly distribute the wealth.

I trust that you all are trusting the Creator for a brighter future and working toward that. Remember, you might feel like the wind has been knocked out of your sails at times in life or feel like you've been knocked down, but you can always get your second wind. You can always get back up again. Do that! I'm out! To all the readers and supporters of my books, Portia and Love Has Many Faces - Much Thanks!

Saturday, August 18, 2001

I'm sitting here watching some type of talent show on TV. Two little girls are singing. They have strong voices, but you can tell the difference between a strong, well trained voice and a strong voice that's been allowed to run free. Okay. I know what it is now. Showtime At The Apollo. I was up that way a few weeks ago. A friend of mine is performing there this weekend. She used to work with hip hop music groups. Today she writes and performs standup comedy. She is hilarious! She's the author of the Sister Betty series. I don't know when I'm going to get back to NYC - sometime before winter lands on the East Coast I hope.

I took my son to the mall today. He wanted a Marshall Faulk jersey. Modell's gets their share of money from me. Me. I want to get another 76ers T-Shirt. I haven't worn T-Shirts a lot since I ran track and cross-country in high school. As busy as my schedule is these days, having something to pull on without ironing it like mad is a treat! I want something I can throw and go!

Speaking of football (I used to be a MAJOR sports enthusiast - MAJOR!)-- Anyhow, watching my son grow up is pulling me back into sports. My son has switched from basketball (he always loves Allen Iverson though!!) to football. He's big on Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Eddie George and Randy Moss. Because of my son I found out Tennessee has a pro football team. Child, where have I been!! My son told me the Titans nearly beat the Rams in the Super Bowl. Well. Yesterday the Titans did beat the Rams. I know it's pre-season, but a loss is a loss is a loss.

This month I'm working in Philly. Tomorrow is WDAS' Unity Day. After that I'm at Penn's Landing. Next month I'm in Baltimore at a book event. When winter comes I tend to slow down on my traveling. Some winters here on the East Coast get a little mean. I remember the year we got 20+ inches of snow. Seemed like it snowed every day. That or we got ice storms left and right that same year. I'd come out of work feeling like I was on a skating rink. The good part was when it snowed so hard we got the day off from work. The downside was leaving for work - no snow or ice on the ground - it starts snowing and it took me 4-5 hours just to get home. No fun.

I'm gonna get out of here. Wanna get some rest so I'm not sleepy in church tomorrow. Not that I'm going to bed now. I usually stay up late and turn around and get up at the crack of dawn.

I'm out! Peace!

Tuesday, June 26, 2001

I'm not going to write much today. It's about 9 PM as I write this. I've been home from work for about an hour. It's gorgeous outside and hot too, but I enjoy the summer. I definitely plan to get away this summer on vacation. I haven't decided whether I'm going home to visit or going somewhere I haven't been before. Wherever I go, I think I'll drive. I can take my time and enjoy passing through different cities and small towns, especially if I do go home and head South.

Whatever each of you does this summer, I trust that you will enjoy yourself and create sweet-sweet memories for yourself and your family, that you can return to years from now.

I stayed up late last night, so I'm kinda sleepy. I want to finish updating my website, working on my third novel Spiral and then I'm gonna get ready to head to bed.

This weekend I was in Philly quite a bit. I was helping to promote the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. It's there from July 5-7. I'll be at the University of North Carolina at a writer's conference, but when I was asked to help promote the Music Festival, I said yes. It turned out to be more work than I anticipated, but I'm glad I did it. I also promoted a Spring Revival and my books while I was out.

I'm gonna run. Be blessed!

June 10, 2001

I know it's been awhile since I've updated my online diary, but I have been busy. When I finish working, doing daily mom things, working on my third novel, promoting and marketing "Portia" and "Love Has Many Faces", I often forget to update my online diary or feel too fatigued to do so. You know, when you're real tired - falling into bed looks rreeaall good!

Last weekend I was racing up and down I-95. I attended the 10th Annual Go On Girl Bookclub Retreat in Richmond, Virginia. 300 members in the club turned out. Authors from around the country were there. Some flew in from the BEA in Chicago. For some reason I thought Richmond was closer to Philadelphia than it is. I like to drive, but I also like to accomplish things quickly and I don't like sitting still for long periods of time -- it's a reason long distance driving is not up my alley. It's also a reason I'm not big on taking long flights. I remember when I flew back from Hawaii. Phew! I actually thought about jumping out the window. LOL! Just to get off the plane.

Next weekend I'm in the Meadowlands. I need to connect with the event organizers. The end of June I'm in Plainfield, New Jersey for the Soul Book Literary Expo. I'm looking forward to that. I used to visit a bookstore in Plainfield. The very next weekend, I fly to North Carolina for the Black Writer's Emerge Conference. One thing about traveling - well, really two things - for me, anyhow. You kinda get used to it after all, but at the same time I am always REAL HAPPY to be back home and know I don't have to travel again for one to two weeks. Artists that travel several days a week - I tip my hat to you! I don't think that would be my thing. Traveling a lot makes me feel like I'm moving around without roots - just going from hotel to hotel to hotel. Funny thing. After you travel a lot, it starts to matter less and less how nice the hotel you stay at is. I start feeling like, "I want to do an excellent job while I'm here, get out of here and back home." The HIGHEST payoff for me is connecting with readers! That is one of if not the BIGGEST reward for me as a writer.

My son and I went to Modell's today (my son's idea). I bought a Philadelphia 76ers t-shirt. They mass produced the Philly gear faster than cock roaches make babies! There were boxes of gear in the store. I like those 76ers flags that go on car windows. I saw a guy with two of them on his car one day last week while I was driving to work. I want to get one to two of the flags. Modell's was sold out today, but said they hoped to get more in tomorrow. Yes! You better believe it! I'm a 76ers fan!! Allen Iverson is so incredibly competitive. I think he looks adorable when he's with his kids and his girlfriend. I'm big on family! I am so proud of the 76ers!!! They stepped up to the plate sure nuff!

I hadn't watched basketball regularly since Kareem retired. I know that was awhile ago. My son being so into Iverson got me started watching the game again. I admired the 76ers fighting spirit so much, I rooted for them for the first time in my life. I think the most talented player in the nba is Vince Carter. If he had the fight Allen Iverson has (and maybe Vince Carter does have that same fighting spirit but just needs the right ingredients to pull it out of himself). Anyhow, if he had that same fight, he'd be near unstoppable. I say near, because we're all human and anyone can be stopped. But Vince Carter would be the baddest player in the league if he stirred up more fire within himself. I think part of it is because he doesn't - and perhaps this is at his mom or family's advice - want to get so wrapped up into basketball that he finds himself lost if he gets hurt or the game is over. I think it's wise to have more than one thing to enjoy in life. However, while the game is being played I think a player should play as if the game is all there is.

I'm gonna go finish up the June issue of my newsletter, The Book Lover's Haven. Then it's back to working on my third novel - Spiral - a murder, mystery set in Memphis, Tennessee. Oh. And I want to tell you, I'm reading a book of poetry titled "Hear My Cries". The author is Chris Slaughter. I met him at a conference I attended three weeks ago. His live delivery was powerful! I'm digging on his poetry.

I'm out. Be cool!

January 1, 2001

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

To our many readers and site visitors, I wish you the happiest of new years yet. Take the time to write down your goals for the new year and the steps you will need to take to bring those goals into reality. Midway through the year, stop and revisit your goals to see how far along you are at making them come true.
I am enjoying winter. It snowed here on the East Coast over the weekend. The wind made it cold yesterday. I still got out and went to the store and ran a few errands. After being in the house all day Saturday, I was ready to get outside. Today I'm gonna clean my son and my pet turtle's tank, exercise, put away the laundry and finish mapping out my goals for 2001. I think I'll wait until next weekend to take the holiday decorations down. I was on vacation from work all of last week, but would love to have one more week of vacation!
Late last night while I was up watching the New Year's celebrations on TV, I heard that the Philadelphia Eagles won their game. I know lots of folks in Philly were happy to hear that news. My son's favorite team, the Rams, lost in a very close game. I told him that I know how it feels to watch your favorite team lose a game, especially a close game. When a team gets blown out, you have lots of time to prepare for that final buzzer. When it's a close game, it's tougher to swallow - I think.
I'll be doing more traveling/book signings and speaking this year. Next month I'm in Alabama. I hope the weather is kind. I like to travel in the spring and summer. I hope I get to meet several of you while I'm on the road this year. I'm also going to be doing more radio interviews this year.
Gonna run! Have a blessed 2001! Remember to thank the Creator for another year - it's truly a blessing!