Holy Press Coverage, Batman!

I was a woman on a mission. I had two hours of sleep but I was armed with a cup of Earl Grey, video footage and the knowledge that I had exactly 24 hours to get the word out before my story was no longer newsworthy.

My friend and colleague, Rev. Lawrence Ragland had given a speech I wrote in the D.C. area on Sunday as part of the Inaugural Festivities to an audience of 2,000..not too shabby for a minister from Paris, Tenn.

I managed to have a new friend edit the video, write the press releases and order 50 copies of the video for the reverend.

On top of that, I went to class, got my homework done, managed to have cocktails with a friend and dinner with the boyfriend.

See my speech on YouTube!

. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NP-r64FLmk

One Love

Today is probably the happiest day of my life.

We have a new president who will bring this country into a new era of change. I think people will begin to continue the legacy of MLK's service to others, as Obama has encouraged them to do. I think this is the beginning of something big.

As for me, I have had a fantastic day.

I ran into an old friend who I had previously had some differences with and had a long talk.

One experiences a certain levity when they let go of old grudges.

I, hereby, resolve never to hold any more grudges.

I feel fantastic.

Speechless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auD9WDdaGXw

On Sunday, my friend, Rev. Lawrence Ragland, spoke to a crowd of 2000 people about service as a vehicle for social change. He was greeted with applause, praise and even a few people asking him for a copy of his speech.

That was my speech and Ragland was the keynote speaker at Inaugural Justice Sunday, an event that was designated by Congress as an official part of Inauguration Week!

I am so excited. The Reverend and I spent nearly two hours on the phone last night, going over promotional strategy.

I think this is it!

Feeling Bloggy

I have been really busy and haven't been feeling very bloggy lately.

Here are some updates:

• The Rev. Jesse Jackson will probably be at the Inaugural Justice Sunday Service


• Because of security, we don't know who else will be there:)


• I am an insane person for trying to do so many things


• I started classes


• I curled my hair

OK. So there are lots of exciting things going on. I guess that my new 'do looks pretty damn good, because I will start talking about all the excitement in my life and I get interrupted by, "Wow. So what about this hair? It looks awesome!"

Let's not get confused here. I am really glad people appreciate the virtues of a good grooming.

I just chuckle to myself and envision my big break, the day I finally make it. In my thank yous, I will be sure to add, "..and most of all, I would like to thank Big Sexy Hairspray, which has kept my hair looking this good every day. Oh, and my mother. Thanks, Mom."

I can't sleep.

I am too excited to sleep. The only time I ever felt this way was when I was a little girl on Christmas Eve. Once I knew Santa wasn't real, there was no point in staying up all night.

There is something to be said about faith.

When you are a child, there are all sorts of magical things to believe in--Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns...

...then you find out they are all a lie. You suddenly question your faith in everything. For the longest time, I had no faith in anything at all. Nothing was really magical after Santa Claus.

After the last month, I have no doubt in the divine. There is definitely something guiding me! More specifically, God is guiding me.

After a very long, miserable semester, I had nothing left but to pray for guidance.

After our client pitch for my Advanced PR class, our professor complemented me on "my speeches." She said when I spoke, it sounded like a speech.

That stuck with me.

Three days later, Rev. Ragland, one of my father's friends called me to ask me to run an ACT workshop.

I did not feel qualified...but after a long discussion, he felt like there was something else I could help him with. He needed a speech writer.

He said he was giving a speech in the Washington DC area, the week of Inauguration and needed help.

I spent the next few weeks writing, sometimes waking in the middle of the night, compelled to write.

As it turns out, the speech will be televised and Rev. Ragland is the National Commissioner for the Coalition for Freedom and Justice as well as a NAACP committee member.

Justice Sunday, the event where he is the key-note speaker, was designated by Congress as an official part of Inauguration week. Because of security purposes, we won't know who will be there...

He paid me $200. I think I just got my foot in the door.

I feel propelled forward. I have never felt so confidant in my life. I feel like I am right where I need to be.

The break up

I loath the break-up process.

I need to go out and have fun! Of course, the last big break-up, experienced two summers ago, involved a girl's night out. It was ill-fated from the beginning--tequila does strange and awful things to me. I woke up the next morning after a night of karaoke, drinking and cigarette smoking with a strange number in my phone. According to Miss Mary, I had spent most of the evening spilling my guts to a very attractive, but occupationally challenged young man...and the rest of the night with my tongue down his throat.

I don't want to do that again! Maybe I should go out to a gay club.

Anyway, I am trying to remain positive. Being single means I will have more free time and, thus, more time to concentrate on all my projects.

Who am I kidding? This is still fucking depressing.

Inspiration in the form of Lifetime made-for-TV Movies

I am writing this blog to convince myself to cease and desist!

I awoke in a Nyquil haze, full of self-indulgent feelings of fear and loathing..not in Las Vegas, oh never so elegant as that-- fear and loathing of this, the dawn of my 30th year of existence.

*Insert the screeching sound of a vinyl record halting to a stop*

Back up.

Last night was New Year's Eve and I was working. I was bartending, which means that I was facilitating the party, which means that I was not partying. Far from it! I was in a funk.

My snot-factory self was alone..or, rather, feeling very lonely in a room full of happy, drunken people enjoying the final moments of 2008. There was hugging, kissing and amorous dancing.

In my own defense, I was nearly incapable of smiling because of my red, sore nose which was peeling like a Rennaissance-era painting.

In the midst of this, I realized that I was nearly 30 and nearly alone on New Year's (since the boy was at a party in Paducah).

I wonder if all bartenders are lonely people. I wonder if they feel like voyeurs into the worlds of their bar patrons-- always on the outside, looking in.

So there I was, in the midst of a New Year's Eve party, feeling tragically, dramatically alone.

After three glasses of wine and a dose of Nyquil, I awoke on New Year's Day at approximately 1 p.m., puffy-eyed and ready to immerse myself in a day of crap TV.

First up, Lifetime made-for-TV movies. The first film starred a ridiculously beautiful woman with a low self-esteem and bad wardrobe, who made a list of things to do before she turned 30.

Hmmmmm.

Was this a sign from the great beyond?

I may not look like our Lifetime movie star, with her sleek body and pouty lips, but I am not too bad, I guess.

Doesn't every great romantic comedy begin with a woman who doesn't realize her full potential? Food for thought.