Saw Lupe Yesterday & Stumbled Over My Words

(in photo: students forming a line outside of the auditorium to see Lupe Fiasco)

(in photo: Lupe Fiasco and Chris Moore)

Last week I had to call out on my Monday for the news at WPFW because I was way behind with everything. I had just gotten back from North Carolina, had an event and really needed an exhale moment. So, yesterday when I returned to do the news as I've done since August from 1pm to 3pm, I was returning after two weeks.

I was late getting in.

I had gotten cocky thinking that I didn't need that much time to gather news, but, yesterday proved otherwise. I got in so late that I had to scamble to get the news together and then when I got on the air, I was so halting and jumbly over my words, it was an effort just getting things out. It was a mess.

I got it a bit together at 3pm when I read it again, but I definitely wasn't rocking my radio voice in splendor like I strive to do each Monday.

Avoiding the Boot

After WPFW, I dashed to George Washington University to cover an event featuring hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco. I got lost and when I found a parking space, I got immediately nervous because I have unpaid parking tickets and even if you park legally, if the parking cops do a computer search of your license plate and find you have unpaid tickets, you can get booted. My car was booted after my interview on Fox 5 for the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. Nothing brings your high down any quicker than having a grand interview and finding out your car is booted and you are stranded miles from home. All of my unpaid tickets, ironically, have been garnered from past day jobs where I've been required to drive and park and get held up and can't move my car within that damnable two hour time frame. The wonderful places of employment (and I say that sarcastically) didn't even pay for the tickets when it was agreed that they were garnered during work time and because of work...but I digress.

So, I didn't want to get a ticket. I was feeding the meter and ran out of coins and this wonderfully nice lady stopped and gave me coins when she saw my expression of frustration when I ran out of coins. That made my heart feel good---> nice people still exist.

However, I still needed another dollars worth (had already plugged in about three dollars worth). As I was walking to this nearby bar to get change, I saw a parking cop. I saw him eye my plates and speak into a walkie talkie. And, then I did it. I began to follow him.

"Excuse me, um, excuse me," I called to him.

He turned around. And then he smiled. I think he thinks I'm hitting on him, I thought.

"Um, did you just call someone about my car?"

His smile disappears. "Which one is your car?"

I point. "Nah," he says. "We getting the one in front of you. You straight."

As I exhaled a sigh of relief, I wanted to write a note of warning to the car in front of me. See, they weren't about to get ticketed, they were about to get booted. As I looked in my purse for paper to write the note, thankfully, I saw the owner of the car jump in and pull out. If only they knew how close they were to getting booted.

Lupe Fiasco

So, I got to the GWU media center and signed in as press and later took part in my third press conference ever. It was fun. Check out the video below and photos from it. Read my article for Examiner.com about the event yesterday.

The Mosaic Literary Conference

Mosaic Literary Conference
So, yesterday, I was in NY for the Mosaic Literary Conference hosted by the Literary Freedom Project and Mosaic Books. I presented last year when it was the Re:Verse Literary Conference & Festival and was honored to be selected to be a part of this important conference again. The Mosaic Literary Conference gathers educators-- mostly from the Bronx area in NY-- and shares ideas on how to connect youth to literature and inspire life-long readers. I presented a workshop about how Story Quilting has worked for me for the past few years as a tool to connect students-- from emerging readers to relunctant readers regardless of age-- to literature through art. Above are some photos from my workshop. The group of six women in my workshop were wonderful.

Getting My Little Musical Angels Ready for their Big Day

I didn't mention earlier that I work one day a week as a music coach for students in an after-school program based in southeast DC. As a music coach, I am helping them prepare for a show they are participating in next month. The after-school program focuses on poetry and sports and they chose to incorporate music into the curriculum to help retain students who were more likely to lose interest. The contractual agreement with them entails me working with the students for 8 days to prepare one of their poems into a song and then record it for distribution.

Sounds pretty straightforward? Of course. The one missing fact was that these children have absolutely no experience performing before and absolutely NO interest in performing. At least they didn't the first day with them. I'd like to think that has changed.

"Uh, hell no"

On my first day with them last month, I had two girls and about 8 boys who were very endearing from day one. I did an activity with them called "My Museum" that I developed which allows me to introduce myself to the kids in a way that is interactive and is actually a very helpful icebreaker tool. I showed them my "Museum" which was a table I had laid out my book on, small percussion instruments, and other small mementos that are important to me. I shared what each item signified. They then, in turn, talked about three items that they would put in their museum and why they were significant.

Next, we did an exercise with the instruments that I had brought in and they shared with me information that they already had about instruments (wind, percussion and string) and rhythm. We had a fine ole time that first day. Until I asked them did they know that they had an upcoming performance in Dec. They all looked at me blankly.

"Performance. You have one. In December. Uh, hello?"

Silence.

"Ok, um, well, who here would like to perform in December in your upcoming show?"

No hands.

"Anyone?"

Garbled mumble from the cute little girl sitting next to me. I think she said "Uh, hell no."

Ok, so that was Day One.

Better it Gets

The second week was a bit more encouraging and we actually did a really fun hour-long activity where they played the instruments and followed commands as a band. This second day, only one girl showed up-- this time a different girl-- and three new boys showed up. Three boys from the first day were missing.

Yesterday was day three. I had called out on Tuesday due to a severe migraine and I just learned that I may have an allergy to peanut butter. But, I digress. So, I went in on Thursday and once again, I had two new kids and several missing. But, the boy from the first day who had called himself king of his team was there and I was so glad. This boy is 13, really loud, but a great leader and the kids follow him as if he was their preacher. Thankfully, he really enjoys my session with them and does what I ask him to do. I basically just give him directions and he leads his team.

They have split themselves into two teams, named themselves and are working on their song that I helped lead them to write using an excercise I developed called "Poetry Puzzle". I wrote a chorus for them and they went to work. Yesterday they performed what they had so far and it brought tears to my eyes. Here is an example of some of what they came up with:

"Call me nice, Call me mean, I’m something you’ve never seen" -Brandon

"I am strong Like lions, People call me tiger, Like the horizon" -John

"My life is free

My life is free

My life is free-ee

It’s all up to me

It’s all up to meI

t’s all up to me

I will shine like the sun

I will shine like the sun

until

The day is done

Cause I am number one, number one"

-Group 5 Stars

"We are fly like the sky

As we glide we wave good-bye"- Burrell

"My life is free like Sweet hot tea

And it makes me feel

Like a stingy bubble bee" -Alexander

My honey is a music producer and will be coming in with me on Tuesday to record them. Fingers crossed that they will shine like there those lyrics. I'm so proud!

Clean Underwear

I never imagined that I would leave the house in dirty underwear every morning once I started working from home, but, alas, that has become my fate.

Wait.

Before you begin to judge me as being nasty or the queen of TMI, I have to preface the comment with the fact that I don't just work from home, but I parent, too. And I have a spouse, who, contrary to popular belief that two makes it easier, does not help the workload when it comes to getting ready for the morning rush.

In his mind, it's every man, woman and child for themselves when it comes to getting ready in the morning. And, so since our six year-old is unlikely to meet the challenge without me nudging her along, it's pretty much him getting only himself ready (including feeding himself) and lining our faces with quick pecks as he rolls out in the morning before our daughter has even finished her morning poop. Granted, he has to arrive at work by 7:30am while my daughter can get to school as late as 9am, my point is that he is of absolutely no help with mornings.

Which leads to my musings on dirty underwear. Who would have thought that I would have lost all inhibitions to leave the house wearing them? I surely didn't. If you knew me, you wouldn't either, particularly given my very overactive imagination. In my mind, every second is a potential for a worst case scenario:

Leave the house without locking the top lock just that one time and you come back to find your house empty. Decide to not wear a seatbelt that one time and that's when the snowplow hits you from behind causing you to tumble fifty times in your car. Walk in the street while rounding a corner and at that very moment, a wanton car will mow you down. You get it, I'm a bit morbid and paranoid at times. So, with all of that racing in my head, the possibility of having dirty underwear on when the stats are high that something can happen at any second which will require an ambulance to carry me away in unclean undergarments is disturbing.

But, it is very possible now given that I have no morning moments to call my own before I am required to leave the house to deliver my child to school. My daughter is very mom-needy in the morning and being a non-morning person, she requires me to be a coach, hugger, disciplinarian and alarm clock all -in- one that results in a two and- a -half hour non-stop morning of yells, tugs, hugs, jerks and scurries that hopefully end in us making it to the car.

None of this time includes me bathing or grooming myself, because after I am done with her, she has to be taken to school immediately or she will be sure to spill something on her clothes, lose something (like her homework) or cause a chain reaction (like accidentally feed the dog something she can't eat) that will totally get us off schedule and result in her being late to school. Believe me. I tried taking a shower once and it just wasn't happening. So, there it is.

Our morning routine seems like it should be simple enough, I mean, she's only six, a first-grader and a girl, sounds easy as pie, right? Wrong. It is rough when put to any standard.

To begin, she hates being awaken. No matter how it's done, she is going to whine and grumble and she is going to try to make as much noise as possible. The threat of a spanking doesn't stop her. The actual spanking just makes it louder. The choice to ignore it delays the getting-ready process, so it has to be responded to.

"Baby girl, I know you don't like waking up, but it's time for school. Today is going to be a great day."

"I don't waaaant to go to school. I want to sleep some more."

"Well you can nap when you come home but its time to get ready."

"Agggghhhhhhhhh!"

Yes, she is yelling. This takes place for about a good five minutes and then I start counting. I don't know what it is, but when I start counting, she will still continue yelling, but will get to doing whatever it is I am counting down for her to do. After waking up, its getting into the bathroom. Once she's in the bathroom, she uses the toilet and then gets to brushing teeth. By gargling time, she has stopped yelling because, based on past experience, yelling and gargling doesn't work quite well together. She hasn't mastered doing both without choking.

Please note that I am like a coach the whole time while she is doing all of this. If I were to leave for a moment to,say, let the dog out, or put a load of laundry in the washer, she would have gone back to sleep or forgotten what step three is.

So, after gargling, she then is put in the shower which allows me a few minutes to do the before mentioned of letting out our poor dog and putting a load in the washer. She is usually out of the shower by the time I'm done and then the tussle over clothes begins. She wears a uniform, so, its usually over whether she is going to wear tights and a skirt or her uniform pants. As petty as this is, it is necessary in her mind to have some influence over at least one item of clothing she is wearing. Not being a dummy, I forsee this and usually make the choice be two things I don't mind her wearing from the get-go. Her hair gripes, I wish were easier.

Nagging me from the beginning of me unbraiding her hair to the point where the last barrette is clipped on, she is making a demand of what she does NOT want her hair to look like. So far, buns, plaits that are thick and puffy, braided balls, and cornrows that go straight back are all out. The styles she prefers are thinner braids, side cornrows, side bangs and every style that requires extended use of the comb that she hates. So, a head tussle always ensues.

"Owwww, Mommy, that hurts!"

"I'm not trying to hurt you baby, you just have had these braids in for a week now and I'm combing out the tangles."

"You are trying to pull my head off. Why are you trying to pull my head off?"

"You're being dramatic."

"I'm not being dramatic. What does dramatic mean anyway?"

I can be faulted for even entertaining these conversations. I guess, since she is my only child, I don't have other kids in the house to use as distractions. Being the oldest of five kids, I've watched my mother do this with such finesse but the thought of an additional child for me to go through this morning routine with makes me shudder in fear. So, I pander a bit.

After hair, it's a quick dash downstairs and coats are pulled on and we're off to school. She-- beautiful coiffed, freshly groomed, sweet smelling, shoes polished and clothes neatly tucked. Me-- eye-browless, hair frizzed and sporting sweats or (often more attractive) the outfit from the day before.

Once she is delivered safely to her school, and I wave to her as she sits down and sweetly smiles as she is served school breakfast, I dash to the car and head back home. My mind then becomes a haven a peace as I envision how good a shower would feel at this very moment and the thought of clean underwear makes me smile.

-Moon

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The above post is an entry in the MyBrownBaby blog writing contest. Click HERE for details.

Saul Williams' and Afropunk

(In photo: a feather from Saul Williams' headdress worn during his Sun, Nov. 1 concert at the Black Cat in DC. Yup, I'm a groupie! My iPhone didn't have enough light to capture a pic of me and Saul, so, this'll do! I got a hug, too)

My spouse and I went to see Saul Williams this past Sunday and the show was amazing! Many know Saul as a spoken word artist and poet, but he is every bit of a rock star and gives a high energy show that is exhilirating.

Part of the Afropunk tour, his opening acts consisted of one band, Smyrk, that I really dug. The lead vocalist had a soulful voice that easily flowed over the strong band that played some of the best rock arrangements I've heard of late. I'm looking to get their CD soon.

Another opening band was non other than soul rock legend Living Color. I didn't know much of their music other than "Cult of Personality" from the late 80's, early 90's , but I am a bonafide fan now. Just downloaded their music.

The dud of the group was the group called Krak Attack. They were beyond wackness. One song they had "Fat girl, skinny girl" was the worst song I've ever heard. I started laughing, literally, because I thought they were joking. They got mad because we the audience weren't feeling them. One of them just walked off the stage at the end of their set and didn't even say goodbye. He just happened to be the DJ for Saul Williams' set. I could tell he had complained about us back stage because at one point Saul asked were we ok. My whole opinion about that is that all the folks there were there to see Saul Williams. Those of us there that love Saul Williams love him because of the lyrical genius that he is. All of those that performed him were expecting a punk rock crowd. That wasn't us. The whole crowd surfing, hanging from rafters thing, that wasn't this crowd. We were the working-30-somethings-who-are-staying-up-extra-late-because-we-want-to-see-Saul-but-we-would-normally-be-sleep-by-now-crowd.

Saul Williams moved me to tears almost when he performed Niggy Tardust and then stopped when members of the audience obviously didn't get the song (he says in the song "When I say Niggy, you say nothing" and you aren't supposed to say anything, but the whole audience yelled "NOTHING") and gave this mini speech on how all of the illusion around us is not meant for us to imbibe, but, instead, to mobilize us to move towards center. He said it in his own with such eloquence and it was like surreal how you could hear the silence of the audience. Few folks can do that in a crowded room.

This was a great way to start my November.

FreeSoul@ArtSpring this past weekend

(Photos from top: Quineice Clarkson, Lyle Link & Gary Young; Lil Kitty; Gary Young & Sadie Flick; Moon & Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art; Mommy & Bumble Bee there to make crafts; Arts & Crafts fun)

FreeSoul @ ArtSpring was an event this past Halloween at ArtSpring in Silver Spring, MD presented by my production group Liberated Muse Productions and Authentic Contemporary Art, an art organizaton led by Sharon Burton.

The event featured singers Quineice Clarkson, Ne'a Posey and Sadie Flick and fantastic musicians Gary Young and Lyle Link. Arts and crafts were available for youngsters to participate in and, of course, there was candy!

The event was not well-attended at all. A handful of people came through and the weather was pretty rainy. I was not in the best frame of mind given the things that have taken place this past week, but, I had a wonderfully enjoyable time hearing the great sounds from the playing musicians, most of them who are my friends. My mom led the arts and crafts table and I appreciate her help knowing that she is dealing with a lot as well with my brother being deployed less than five days ago.

I was really sad at first about the turn-out, hoping that it would boost my spirit. But, instead of focusing on the dismal turn-out of audience goers, I looked at the turn-out of folks who participated as performers and volunteers. My spouse worked sound, his oldest daughter helped with arts and crafts, my business partner hosted, my friends performed, folks I didn't know well performed as well-- WITHOUT PAY-- and those who came out bought our book and participated in what we had to offer. There is blessing every which way you look. Sometimes you have to make sure you are not choosing to be ungrateful, because there is always a reason for gratefulness. I wanted to make sure that those who participated know that I am sooo grateful they were a part of the event despite our small turn-out!

Been a While: Kentucky, School visit & Saying Good-bye

(In photo: Moon at the State Theatre in Elizabethtown, KY)

To say the past two weeks have been hectic would be an extreme understatement.

Week before last, I traveled with my spouse to Kentucky for a week-long trip sponsored by his job because we may potentially move there. His job is moving and we may go. Right now, we aren't sure, but we have to make a decision soon.

(In photo: The Brown is a Kentucky favorite dish. We had it at the renowned Brown Hotel)

(In photo: Outside in Kentucky. It was pure beauty.)

Kentucky is beautiful. Autumn is so lovely there because of the expanse of rural life and limited urban development. I don't think I'd feel too sad if I left DC. I have been having some feelings of discontent in the area for some while, but, it is where I have called home all my life. The decision will be hard for us both; he is a DC baby like me, too. Our daughter definitely says she does not want to move. We will see. I'm working on trying to convince my mother to come.

(In photo: Participating in a Bourbon tasting in Kentucky near Louisville. Elijah Cray was the top choice!)

Before Kentucky, I visited my daughter's class and did my story quilting exercise with them. I was really pleased to spend time with my little one and her class. I got a chance to check out her teacher who is so very impressive with her absolute chill nature. She doesn't yell and has a very mature relationship with the children. They react and respond to her in a very advanced way. It was an interesting contrast to the class next door where I could hear the teachers yelling for the students to "Be Quiet!"

(In photo: With my daughter's class and teacher)

Last week, my only brother was deployed to Afghanistan. This has been the saddest thing for me to handle as of late.

My brother, who is eleven years younger than me, is so very dear to all of us in my family. The last days we spent with him before his deployment were very hard on us, especially my mother. He was deployed on her birthday. I am anti-war and not the biggest fan of youth joining the military (they are still adolescents!) but my brother and all of us have been raised to practice our own ideals despite how contradictory they may be to what we were raised to believe. I pray for my brother's safety and for all of the children who are in our military.

I am emotionally drained and totally off-kilter. I haven't been following my Artist Way regiment nor exercising and eat properly like I had been doing. I have to get it together.