Angry Girl

I’m telling you angry girl. You should learn how to smile sometimes. Before your happiness passes you by. And you never get to know what love truly means!-Syleena Johnson & Tweet

I once recall one of my blog’s most faithful readers sending me an article about how all guys want Kim Kardashian because you never see her angry and always see her smiling. Now while poor Kris Humphries may disagree with that assertion right now, it drives home the point that guys do not want to invite negativity into their lives.  Everybody wants to be around positive people and that is so understandable.  No one likes being around negativity all the time.

This song definitely speaks to the point of being an angry woman, particularly one who makes a career out of being mean to men.  Some of us can look at the mirror and say we’ve felt the terrible impact such a woman has left on decent men.  Others of us must admit that depending on the time when a man met us, we may be the woman described in the song.

The first time I heard this song, I actually thought of all the times I was told that I look mean.  People have said I’ve looked mean since I was a child.  Actually, I’ve seen my newborn photo plenty of times and it does look like I was trying to cuss someone out.  Let’s blame that on my mother inducing her labor and putting me in fetal distress.  Yet, I digress and will point out that I have made efforts to smile more often.

Why? Because the perception of being an angry girl can often be just as bad as being angry.   Actually, very often, if I don’t look happy or enthused, it’s because I’m tired from all the running around that I do and complain about that actually fulfills me.  Yet, when you talk to some people, being involved, helping others and enjoying good friendships are no match for finding that one companion.  And people always tend to eye you when you are having that moment where you want to be in your bed.  And they choose that moment to ask why are you so angry.

However, being that I have spent most of my 20s working on myself, I can definitely say that I’m not angry. I may not be bubbly but definitely not angry. Tired? Sometimes. Lacking time for bullshit? Most definitely.

Trust me. If or when I’m angry, people can and will tell the difference.  And even if I’m angry, I still know that marriage is not supposed to last for 72 days or less unlike some happy-go-lucky chicks. 

Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves

"Sisters are doing it for themselves. Standing on their own two feet and ringing their own bells."- Annie Lenox and Aretha Franklin


So this weekend, I went to my very first conference of the American Library Association which provided me the opportunity to network and engage with others in my newly-discovered profession and I must say that I enjoyed most of it.  And I am tired as hell which is why I am writing this from home.


The company where I have worked since July 2011 switched me over from Diversity Fellow to a full-time employee as a Metadata Specialist.  However, attending this conference was one of my fellow duties.  I had to serve as a representative of my company's commitment to diversity.  This also entailed my badge photo being blown up for all to see as my company updated the rest of ALA on its happenings.


I knew this from my time participating in NABJ, but I really enjoyed being in the mix.  Every time I sat in a session to hear about the update of where librarianship was heading, I met someone new, business cards were exchanged and soon after this blog, I will have to send out some follow-up e-mails.  I plan on riding out this Diversity Fellow thing as long as I can to make contacts.


In writing this blog, I decided to just sum up my points on attending my first ALA conference in a list. 
1) Unlike journalism, librarians aren't necessarily used to seeing aggressive neo-librarians.  Actually, quite a few expressed surprise at how quickly I exchanged information.


2) Library conferences are seriously all about learning.  There is socializing but after sitting in session after session, you will just want to eat and go to sleep.


3) People are so super-eager to mentor you and help you out if they think you are young.  I can't tell you how many free cab rides and meals I got as a result of this.


4) Adding to the last point, if they help you out, they also want to see you contribute to the organization in some shape, way or form. Therefore, I will be joining at least five listservs after this blog.


5)  While I plan to get involved with the Black Caucus of ALA, I definitely don't want to limit myself within the bigger organization.  While it was more organized than some black organizations I have participated in, I did not feel the embrace that I did with the other divisions of ALA. And yes those divisions were predominantly white.  


6) Had a chance to talk with our other Diversity Fellow out of California who vented about what he wasn't doing and how he couldn't get what he wanted out of the fellowship. And how he didn't know what he would be doing with his life in six months once it was over.  Felt sorry for him, but one thing I've learned is the main time you can ask for what you want and prove yourself is when you're the new person.  I communicated my wants and needs into a job. Go me. This sister did it for her damn self.


7) I have gypsy written on my forehead.  Had dinner with my boss and she pretty much told me she doesn't see me trying to stay at my company forever.  I am a go-getter and she encouraged me to continue my raised profile at my company.


8) If there are black, experienced women at your company, they will pull you aside for a "keep it real" moment on how to move up in the company and how much harder you will have to work. And they will keep their ear to the ground for you. 


So there you have it. Less professional blog is forthcoming.

Red High Heels

"Oh you can watch me walk if you want to, want to. I bet you want me back, now don't you, don't you? I'm about to show you just how missin' me feels, in my red high heels."-Kellie Pickler

Happy New Year!!! Yeah, I'm a few days late, but once again I've been busy.

One particularly busy day was New Year's Eve. On that day, I was in Washington, D.C. visiting with two of my closest friends as we broadcasted our "shoe porn" for all the world to see.

For me, my hot pink pumps were a chance to do something a little different.  For the most part, my shoe collection consist of shoes in the hues of black or silver.  There is like one pair of royal blue shoes as well as a pair of goldish shoes and some brown shoes.  But the hot pink were definitely a departure from my norm.

Can we say five-inch heel?  Can we also say hot pink as has already been mentioned before.  Never in my life had I felt that tall.  Nor have I ever had the feeling of wearing some of the baddest shoes in the room.

Then, there was my friend who wore some hot and sexy shoes herself.  But her shoes had  a story.  See, this time last year, she was curled up in a ball mourning the engagement that was.  The shoes could've fell victim to the the death of that relationship. But instead, she turned them into a deadly pair of party heels and felt ever the better for it.  No longer the "wedding shoes", they are henceforth known as "the party shoes."

Who knew shoes had so much power? I think our "shoe porn" gave us the self-esteem orgasm we all need every once in awhile.