Um, who is you?

Don’t they say that if you want to be something, act like that’s what you already are—or something to that effect?

Hi, my name is Angie L. Jennings, and I’m a writer (at least that’s what I tell folks anyway) and welcome to my blog.

I’d been playing with the idea of blogging for about a year or two and now that I have another unfulfilling job and a book about to hit the presses any day (or month) now, I thought now would be the perfect time to start.

In this blog, you’ll read me complain about my job (which no 9-5 can probably prevent me from doing because I DETEST the idea of the 9-5, five-day work week), chronicle my journey toward self-publishing my novel, gossip about my home life (both my own home and my childhood home), become even more blown by our country’s economic state and any other random tihs I think about to share with you.

So enjoy! [ENTER SHAMELESS PLUG] Oh, and look out for my debut novel, Twist in December. For audio chapters (where you can hear the preface and chapters 1 and 2 read to you in my lovely voice) check out www.callmetwist.com.

BTW, when I plugged my own tihs just now, I felt like DJ Khaled at an awards show or on MTV2’s HoodFab.

Didn’t Maceo tell you to “go sit down?”

Sidebar — what the hell is up with Jennifer Aniston these days? Still talking about the whole Brangelina mess, posing naked, all that jazz. Is she promoting a movie or something? Honey, go sit down. Oh damn. I just checked IMDB and she’s starring in the film version of  “He’s Just Not that Into You” (2009). How dreadful.

Oprah, meet Dr. 90210

While I was slaving at the gym the other day trying to lose the unsightly tire that sits on the front of my abdominal muscles, I saw that Oprah is now addressing her weight again. She says she’s embarrassed that she’s let herself go once again and that after all these years, she still talking about her weight. Let herself go? I think she looks great … at least on the cover of those daggone magazines! Besides, she’s on top of the world. Not only is she the number one media mogul and most influential woman in the nation (and maybe the world), she handpicked our nation’s president-elect and she’s about to launch her own network. But yet, she still feels the need to address her weight.

The hell with her weight.

If I were her, I’d find the best plastic surgeon I could find and get the gastric bypass surgery out of the way and be done with the whole mess. Hell, I’ve been contemplating lipo on my problem area for a few years now. You think if I had Oprah’s money and stature that I’d think twice? I could probably get it for free in exchange for national media exposure. Now, as an accomplished woman, she’s probably worried about the societal implications of such a choice. She’s made a success out of herself with her own sweat and tears, so she probably feels that she should be able to accomplish the same with her weight. But she’s tried and tried and obviously is not happy with the results. My wise friend, Lindsay, said that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. Why continue to drive yourself insane? Why not do something that may finally give you what you want? Just don’t commit career suicide like Star Jones and lie about what you’ve done. Be honest. Be an inspiration. You’ve done so much to make others happy. Why not do something to finally make yourself happy?

Honestly, would we fault her? I think not.

Staying the Course

Dominique told me today that she had begun to reread “Purpose Driven Life” in her quest to realign her priorities.

“I’ve become a workaholic again,” she said. “Sure, I know I could be the ‘World’s Best Adjunct Instructor’ but that’s not what I’m here in DC for. The Lord brought me here to go to school and get my Ph.D and that’s what I’m gonna do.”

I’ve also struggled with staying the course — worrying about money and sticking myself in some lame 9-5 job because I think paying the bills is more important than doing what I’m pretty sure I was put here to do. It was scary to walk away from my crappy association job … it was a steady check. But I’ve learned in the past few weeks that by constantly plugging myself in positions where I don’t belong, I’m saying to myself that I don’t trust God enough to provide for me. So as Omari always says, I took the leap of faith.

2009 will be my year. I have my book coming out as well as a bevy of other projects that have been simmering in my brain for quite some time. So stay tuned because I’m about to make a name for myself after all …

Crackberries and Cocktails

Omari and I have promised ourselves that this year, we’re gonna get out there and network until our feet hurt and our tummies pop from all the free appetizers and complimentary first cocktails. Tonight we hit the ground running and attended the Black Metro DC Chamber of Commerce function at the Cap City Brewery in Arlington and it was freaking awesome! First of all, I’m so glad I made myself get a mani, pedi and wax before going because there were some siditty folk up in there and I didn’t want to be looking all crazy … representing myself as a writer and carrying on. But it was great to interact with other black folk that are about something other than shaking their asses. I met a woman who designs her own line of jeans, a jewelry maker, a freelance writer, a fellow self-published author and a whole rack of IT folks. Double-teaming the event worked well because Omari and I could take turns breaking into circles and introducing ourselves. I’m so hype for the next event. Did I mention that I looked pretty cute with my new clothes courtesy of New York & Company’s pants for $14 sale? Sweet.

Meanwhile, I’ve upgraded my mobile communications from Motorola Razr to a Crackberry 8700. Although I do like having a qwerty keyboard, better calendar and tasking functionality, and better access to the web, the interfaces of this thing are pretty primitive looking. Oh well, I guess that’s what I get for the mere $29 upgrade.

Warren, what the hell?

Oh, so I was on the campus of the elustrious Prince George’s Community College this morning–looking like a student of course because I was WAY dressed down with my hair cornrowed and wearing a hoodie–and I ran into one of my former students, Warren.  I recognized him by that same red hat he always wore.

“Warren, what the hell?” I greeted him.  I gave him a hug and asked him how he was.  Then I thought, “Is a appropriate to hug my former students?” He told me he’d been getting my email blasts about “Twist” and that he’d support me. 

Two things that I found interesting about our conversation: one-he asked if there was an audio book. Wow! I’d thought about asking my few readers if I should go ahead and record a full a full audiobook.  Now, I think I’ll give it some serious thought. Two-he asked if I’d be back this spring.  How’d he know I was gone for a semester?

Instantly I knew I’d made the right decision to quit my lousy 9-5 and return to teaching–more on that in another post.  I felt at home when I stepped on to campus and it felt good to have a former student checking for me.

It was almost as if God said to me, “Dude, trust me on this one. I know what I’m doing.”

It’s been a long time…

What up, G’s?

Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I was watching Arianna Huffington on The Daily Show this morning.  She has a new book out about the ins and outs of blogging.  One thing she said was that blogging is sort of a “first thought” writing process, meaning a blogger writes what first comes to mind.  I’ll adapt this school of thought now as I attack blogging.  For some reason, I’ve been treating this medium like I treat my other writings–I agonize over it because I feel like whatever I write will never be good enough according to my standards.  I like Arianna’s approach much better.

Will work for [insert motivation here]

So, I sent the following message via MySpace to my 17-year-old niece:

So I was thinking … you should think about doing an internship next summer. You could stay with us and work in the city…

She replies:

naw i don’t want 2 do anything i’m not gettin paid for and a intership for what??? like on what???? but tha coming down there and stayin of course!!!(LOL) but newayzwhat colleges are up there???

This from a chick who claims to want to study pediatrics, but doesn’t want to wear latex gloves because “they’re not cute.” She also says she wants to be married with a child by age 24—where she picked THAT jewel up, I don’t know.

Robert Kiyosaki said that if you want to be successful, especially at your own business, you have to be willing to work for free. Money and success don’t just materialize out of thin air (no matter what hip-hop tells us), and sometimes I think that my nieces and nephews don’t realize what the generation before them (particularly their parents, aunts and uncles) went through to get what little they have today. I wonder where I’d be now if I hadn’t taken the leap of faith and went to college, knowing damn well I didn’t have the money to pay for it, or worked an UNPAID internship on Capitol Hill, or worked for an ABC affiliate for just pennies a day. If this generation doesn’t work hard and pay its dues now, will they miss out on their potential in the future?

Do-Do Brown

Among my many gripes about this job is the restroom situation.

Our office is really a townhouse in Old Town Alexandria.  Each floor has a single bathroom, single toilet, single sink, single everything because a family or two probably lived here back in the day.  Now, when you only have one toilet that you share with about four other people, proper #2 etiquette is of the utmost importance.  I am on a personal campaign to educate everyone in the office that:

1.    #2’s should always be relegated to the top floor restroom.  No one works up there which lessens the chance of any coworkers getting nasally assaulted by what you had for dinner last night or breakfast this morning. (Last week, I discovered that the toilet in this restroom was clogged and couldn’t be flushed.  Then, I saw the MyPlumber guy walking in the front door of the building carrying a brand new toilet.**)

2.    When you must use the restroom on your floor, #2 etiquette dictates that you flush the toilet (ensuring that ALL the contents disappear), spray air freshener generously (usually in one fluid motion from the toilet bowl to the ceiling), and SHUT THE DOOR.

I’m still working on hammering home the SHUT THE DOOR rule as I have, on numerous occasions, walked out of my office and been given the smack down by the smell which has walked down the hall and down the stair case looking for the copier.

**BTW, I just tested out the new toilet. It’s like riding in a new Cadillac!

Ballers are Not Immune.

WTF? We’re never gonna get to buy a house, are we?

For sale: Allen Iverson’s six-bedroom home in Villanova, PA

By J.E. Skeets

Unbeknownst to me, Denver Nuggets guard Allen Iverson has been looking to sell his 14,000 square foot home in Villanova, Pennsylvania for over a year now. (A.I. usually calls me about such matters. I thought I had his financial ear.)

According to the Wall Street Journal’s Private Properties column, Iverson has dropped the price to a “desperation deal” of $3.999 million — a million less than he paid for it in 2003. (/crunches numbers on calculator watch.) Yep. That’s not good business. The details, via Luxist:

The six-bedroom home is on four acres that include a pool house, stream and waterfall. The chateau-style home on Chateau Lane has four levels including a great room with floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows. The master suite has his and hers marble bathrooms, a coffee bar, media area and a veranda overlooking the grounds. There are four additional en-suite bedrooms and a separate guest quarters with a bedroom, living room and kitchenette. The entertainment level has a 12-seat movie theater, billiard room, and a lounge with a custom wood carved bar accommodating 200+ wine bottles.

If you’re interested in purchasing this perfect little getaway pad, you can check out the listing here.

If you’re seriously interested in purchasing this perfect little getaway pad, I could really use a new winter coat. Please share your riches. I accept Paypal.

A few weeks ago, Omari and I were watching “House Hunters,” on HGTV in which this woman and her son, both Katrina survivors, were looking for a new home in Atlanta.  Two of the houses were in her price range.  One was $200k above what she was willing to spend.  She chose the house with the extra $200k attached to the price tag.  She said with the help of “creative financing” she was able to get into a house that she could see herself in for a long time to come.  Then she cried.

I just hope those tears are still happy ones.