THE NFL BE TRIPPING...
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: NFL Suspension of Hollis Thomas for Steriod Use

Can you believe this? Talk about being overzealous. --Kiki

 

 NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 5, 2006) -- Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas was suspended for the final four games of the regular season for violating the league's steroid policy.

Thomas, backed by the team, appealed the suspension, which he said was caused by using asthma medication. He uses an inhaler daily and it apparently contained a banned steroid.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

 

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Here's my letter to the NFL. Let me suggest you also write them. This is crazyness. --Kiki 

December 6, 2006

Roger Goodell

Commissioner of the NFL

280 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10017

 Dear Mr. Goodell:

 As a football fan and a lifelong asthmatic, I'm a deeply offended by the suspension of New Orleans Saints' tackle Hollis Thomas for steroid use. Any competent doctor will tell you that the best preventative treatment of an asthma attack is the use of oral or inhaled steroids. I trust that the doctors employed by NFL teams are some of the best in the country, and they would not deny this fact.

To suspend Mr. Thomas for perceived illegal or abusive steroid use is to reveal your gross ignorance and horrible lack of flexibility. A steroid used in the treatment of asthma does not give athletes or regular people an unfair advantage. It provides the fairness of being able to breathe normally like everyone else. Other asthmatics, in and out of the NFL, will agree. Please revise your steroid use policy and rescind Mr. Thomas' suspension.

Beauty is Made For Me, Part 1
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: Making Bed Rest More Bearable with Beauty Products
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

Beauty and Hygiene Products That Make

Being Pregnant and on Bed Rest More Bearable

 

As you probably gathered from my last couple of posts, being home preggers and on bed rest is not very much fun especially if you do not have the credit line to indulge the shopping urges that QVC and the Home Shopping Network inspire. Not to mention, pregnancy hormones do things to your body that make PMS feel like a walk along the beach. (The parks in Brooklyn, NY are not that pleasant to walk through, in my opinion.) You get extra hair in all possible places; develop the most delicate of stomachs; and develop a sense of smell that would put a bloodhound to shame. There’s also bouts of oily skin and  back-acne. However, I’ve put together a list of helpful beauty products that have made this wonderful change easier to get through.

The skin on my body from the breasts up have been a mess. I did not have such an acne and oil problem during puberty. Fortunately, I’ve found some great beauty products that have helped  until my hormone fluctuations evened out and my skin started to control my oil production on its own. Everyday, I wash my face and décolleté with Black Opal’s Blemish Control Complexion Bar, which controls oil production and helps fade any of the acne scars you may develop. I then wiped my face, neck, and behind my ears (especially important if you wear glasses!) three times a day with Neutrogena’s Clear Pore Oil Controlling Astringent. If the smell is too strong for you, I also recommend Witch Hazel.

And since I’m on the topic of my face, let me tell you about the excess hair that I’ve been growing out of my chin, jaw line and cheeks. It isn’t the cute soft lady peach fuzz. It’s is dark, thick, coarse hair, and too many to just pluck! When you’re on bed rest, you can’t just waste standing up time by taking 30-45 minutes to pull hair out of your face with your trusty Tweezerman. You have to get hardcore! That’s right, ladies, I’m talking about home waxing. Avon makes a wonderful no-heat waxing products: Avon Skin So Soft Hair Removal Wax Strips . It comes in large strips that you can customize with scissors to fit on your face. The wax job lasts about 10 days to two weeks depending on how fast your hormones pushes out hair. Since your pain threshold will probably be lower than usual, I wouldn’t recommend using this product on your legs, underarms, or on your stomach which will also be struck by an overproduction of hair.

 
I have to ask: how is it biologically possible for me to have a stuffy nose and be able to smell everything at the same time? The further into your pregnancy you go, the higher the likelihood that you will develop a stuffy nose. This will force you to breathe through your mouth, and your lips will suffer the consequences. They will become dry, and crave more moisture than you can consume through just drinking water. Let me suggest a long lasting, moisturizing, and non-goopy lip gloss by Victoria’s Secret. Their Beauty Rush Lip Gloss is wonderful. They come in wonderful scents and flavors. However, if your stomach is too disagreeable to handle the scents, try Rite Aid Honey Pure Spring Lip Gloss. It doesn’t last as long but it is as moisturizing. In a pinch, petroleum jelly will do.

 

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~~to be continued

Next up: gentle body washes, unscented deordorant, and combating dry skin. 

 

I'm No Queen of Sheba
Mood:  don't ask

Being home on bed rest while pregnant is starting to become a real pain in my ass both literally and figuratively. Not only am I nearly completely sidelined from my life, I’m starting to feel abandoned(well, that's really way too strong of a word) from my friends and family. While I'm stuck in dullsville, everyone is continuing to live their lives. I’m surprised how quickly the weekly phone calls and e-mails have disappeared. I would call them, but they’re all at work during the day. I like to spend time with my hubby and my darling daughter in the evening, before zonking out at 10 p.m. My anti-depressants keep me emotionally balanced and not depressed, but they don't necessarily cancel out any of my feelings of loneliness and helplessness. I try to convince myself that this is a life of luxury, but I think luxury living would allow me to leave my house to shop and go to the movies.

I'm not necessarily bored, because I do have video games, DVDs, daytime television, and gossip radio to keep me occupied and entertained. My favorite part of the day is when the mail comes, and one of my seven magazine subscriptions arrive. Or, when one of the samples I've ordered from www.startsampling.com comes. That's like a surprise birthday present since it usually takes 8-10 weeks to get a sample. Finally, I do spend a small amount of my day rubbing my belly and communicating with my baby telepathically.

I've reintroduced myself to two of my greatest pop culture loves while on bed rest. I have reacquainted myself with British pop music star Robbie Williams www.robbiewilliams.com, whom I discovered in 1999. (Let me recommend my favorite album of his, Sing When You're Winning, and the concert DVD What We Did Last Summer)  Although the crush has softened a bit, I'd still have sex with him (post-pregnancy) in a bathroom stall if he asked me nicely. Secondly, I've been rereading my collection of Peanuts (a.k.a Charlie Brown a.ka. Snoopy) comics and laughing out loud.

Enough of the complaining and self-pitying, it's time for this blogging baby carrier to hit the sack. My lower back is starting to stiffen from all this sitting up at the computer. Ta ta for now, and watch Ugly Betty!

 

 

I've Been Sidelined
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Pregnancy

I know some of you have been wondering where moi has been for the past two months. I've missed commenting on some of the most important fashion events like the MTV Music Awards, the Emmys, and the beginning of New York City's Fashion Week. Most importantly, I've offered no valuable commentary on the new fall season. Well, I've got a good explanation fans. Kiki's pregnant! Throughout July and August, I suffered terribly with morning sickness and fatigue. I only had enough energy to go to work and then drag myself home to sleep. 

 

Moi has had very difficult pregnancies in the past resulting in no biological children, so my doctor has relegated me to six months of bedrest. This means I have to stay home all the time except to visit my doctor. I have to be in the reclining position for most of the day. Not really a bad deal considering how tired I've been, but this is preventing me from window shopping at mall and creating my new Fall '06 wardrobe. But don't cry for me Argentina! I'll be able to blog more. Yeah for you. Since I can't really leave my house, most of entries will probably be about my pregnancy and gossip I see on E! I could be writing about worst things, right?

 

Speaking of gossip. Have you seen pictures of baby Suri Cruise, yet? Isn't she just adorable with all that black hair and big blue eyes? She does look older than than 4 months old, though, but I halt my conspiracy theories at children. 

 

This DeeJay Might Save Your Life
Mood:  party time!
Now Playing: My Brother Has A Radio Show


Check out my brother, Dj Eastwood, on new his weekly internet radio show spinning discs and vinyl. He will be featuring house, hip-hop, old school, and he hopes to have a segment where he breaks new artists. Check him out every Saturday afternoon from 12-2 p.m. starting on July 1st at Down Shift Radio. His shows will be archived the following Monday on the website. Check him out!

The Devil Wears Club Monaco
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: The Devil Wears Prada
Topic: Movie Reviews
The cinematic version of The Devil Wears Prada was a joy to watch, even from the front row. The theater was filled with couples of all shapes, sizes, races, genders and orientations. Even straight men with their girlfriends laughed at all of the appropriate moments in this so-called "chick flick"-- which doesn't leave the sickly sweet aftertaste of the majority of films that get slapped with that demeaning chick flick moniker. The Devil Wears Prada retains the bitter bite of the movie's "Devil," editrix Miranda Priestly.

Anne Hathaway plays fresh-out-of-college Andrea "Andy" Sachs as the na?ve and idealistic journalist the way you would imagine a Northwestern journalism grad to be. As so sharply pointed out by Stanley Tucci's character, fashion editor Nigel, Andrea feels that working at the fashion magazine Runway is beneath her training and intelligence. She's only there because one year as Miranda Priestly's assistant will guarantee her a spot at any of the more "literary" magazines in New York City.

So desperate for that big break, Andy plays peon to Miranda's #1 assistant and spends every waking moment as Miranda's handmaiden--appeasing her most bizarre whims. She sells her soul to the job, leaving friendships, family, and a very cute boyfriend, played by Entourage's Adrian Grenier, twisting in the wind. Everyone sympathizes with Andy, but don't understand why she continues to allow herself to be abused. Andy knows but is afraid to say it--she wants to be successful. As the movie follows Andy down her career path, we realize that Andy is as fierce and as competitive as Miranda when it comes to her career. Who is the real devil in this movie? Is it Miranda Priestly who knows what she is and plays to win at all costs? Or is it Andy who pretends she has no choice to do what she does to get ahead?

Meryl Streep deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination as the cold, berating, insulting, patronizing, condescending, back-stabbing, anal retentive editor Miranda Priestly. With her asymmetrical silver-haired bob and air of superiority, anyone within 100 feet of her should be both duly impressed and scared. Even when Streep allows the bitch-editor to reveal her humanity, we never feel sorry for her. Why? Because Miranda doesn't want it and you better not give it.

The Devil Wears Prada is a whirlwind of Manhattan scenery, top shelf wardrobes, pretty men, good music, and stunningly beautiful fashion. Half-way through the movie, my eyes were as wide as Andy's black-rimmed doe ones. My heart was in my throat as they flashed the montage of Paris Fashion Weeks' top runway shows. I was envious. It was at that moment that I understood what fashion is as Miranda sees it. It is a fantasy land to the outsiders, and they long to be in the positions of Miranda and Andy.

I tried to read the novelby Lauren Weisberger in preparation of the film. Reportedly, the book is based on her experiences as Anne Wintour's assistant at Vogue magazine. The book was overwritten, tedious, and exhausting. I lost my patience of wading through for the conclusion at 250 pages with about 100 to go. The movie was significantly retooled, and is a faster and smoother story. The flick was better then the book, so don't read it. See it!

~~~~Trailer Report~~~~

There is a new movie coming out later this year starring Nicolas Cage as a New York City cop on duty the day the terrorists slammed a commercial jet liner into the World Trade Center. It is called, simply enough, World Trade Center. Even though they were using recreated and not actual 9/11 news footage, watching just a few seconds of the destruction and pain that day caused made tears run down my face. I can't say whether or not it is too soon for U.S. audiences to see a film about 9/11 considering Hollywood made World War 2 films during WW2, but I do know it is too soon for New Yorkers to see. (Especially since firemen, EMS workers, policemen, and other rescue workers are still dying from respiratory conditions developed directly as a result of the debris from the WTC.)

There's also a whodunit movie based on the real life death of George Reeves (the the 1950s TV Superman) starring Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane, and Bob Hoskins. I'm totally excited to see that movie. It is called Hollywoodland

Meeting a Fashion Web Icon
Mood:  vegas lucky
Now Playing: How To Be A Budget Fashionista: The Book Party
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
I was fortunate enough to score an invitation the Budget Fashionista's, Kathryn Finney's, exclusive book signing and cocktail reception last night. Can I tell you just how cool it was? I felt like I was swept up into the oft-portrayed-as-glamorous-world of a fashion editor.

The soiree was held at an out of the way bar in Greenwich Village (New York City) called Madame X. It was a dimly lit bar, which boasted excellent $5 drinks and red velvet settees. Be warned though, the door of the woman's body features a larger-than-life painting of a naked and busty voluptuous woman. The art is reminiscent of graffiti artist muse Vaughn Bode. (You have to appreciate the super-curvy female specimen he creates. Not one of his female characters makes you think of skinny as sexy.) The men's bathroom features the naked lower half of man, but not as voluptuously drawn.

Upon entering, I immediately met the Budget Fashionista's hubby, Tobias. He gave me a pink gift bag with faux pearl handles. I nearly giggled, but tried to remain cool. The second person I met was Kathryn--The Budget Fashionista herself. She was tall and curvy and was wearing a wonderful dress. (A Macy's sale peice, she informed me. But of course!) It was a drop-waisted white dress with tropical colors splashed across the front. I wanted to take a picture, but due to a human malfunction the batteries in my digital camera had died.*ack*

I hob-knobbed with four accomplished and professional black women: three book publishers and one PhD scientist. While enjoying jumbo shrimp and crudit?s from platters surrounding us, we talked fashion, science, babies, and scoring deeply discounted clothes. I was feeling severely fashion-impaired for the event since I had just come from job at the library, but the ladies assuaged my fears by complimenting me on my slim-fitting slacks, V-neck blouse, lavender & khaki-colored scarf.

All the women there were fashionable and well-dressed in their own styles, proving that having style doesn't mean emulating what the fashion pundits declare is stylish. There were also an array of well-, and a few outrageously-, dressed gay men who were introduced to people with prefixes such as "Sexy..." and "the Fabulous...." I'm not hating, they were fabulous! I also met a wonderfully effervescent woman who was a personal stylist. Her main clientele are fresh college grads who need help transitioning from the campus lawn to the corporate offices. (My first year after college found me wearing over sized Black Power tee-shirts over leggings to work!)

After my one cocktail, the Indecent Proposal (a combo of champagne, orange juice, and peach schnapps), went to my knees, I bid adieu. I complimented Kathryn effusively on her book, and thanked her for a great time. While on the train, I rummaged clandestinely through my goody bag. There was a handmade necklace from up-and-coming jewelry maker Jessica Hicks, a lariat necklace from Claire's Boutique, CVS' version of the Olay Regenerist night cream (which was true to the TBF's modus operandi), and a $10 gift certificate to Shoebuy.com. This made me squeal like a schoolgirl!!!

On the way to the subway station after leaving Madame X, I stopped by mid-level priced costume jewelry store--several varieties of these shops have been popping up all over Manhattan. The walls are covered from ceiling to floor with earrings of all lengths, colors, tiers, styles, and materials. The least expensive pairs are $5 and there was a buy 2 get 1 free deal for the least expensive ones. The most expensive pair of earrings I saw were $35. There shelves of bracelets, bangles, wristbands, chains, necklaces and pendants in leather, silver, goldtone, silvertone, beads, and plastic. There were also jewels for cell phones, key chains, and zipper pulls. It is the adult version of Claire's Accessories. If you were to spend a $100 in this place at the beginning of the Fall and Spring Fashion seasons, you would be able to update your entire clothing wardrobe with a season's worth of trendy and chic accessories.

The name of the store is Crystal Collection: Fine Jewelry/Silver & Hair Accessories. It has two locations: 177 Bleecker Street, NYC, between Macdougal and Sullivan Streets and at 1370 Palisades Center Dr., West Nyack, NY.

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To begin my long 4th of July weekend, I'm going to ride my fashion high straight to the movie theater to see The Devil Wears Prada. I hope to have a review up by July 4th. The critics seem to be enjoyiing it thus far although the fashion press seems to be balking at the clothing used in the movie. I've read a majority of the book, and it is more true to life about the magazine industry than anyone dares to admit. (I know, I used to work in the magazine industry!)

All That and A Bag of Chips
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: How to Be a Budget Fashionista : The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less
Topic: Book Reviews
The Budget Fashionista has released a wonderful style, fashion, and shopping book. Aside from the The Pocket Stylist, Kathryn Finney's debut guide, How to Be a Budget Fashionista:The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less, is the best fashion and shopping book out there. Kathryn takes the wit and humor that made her website famous and turns it into a very helpful book. She takes you through the steps of getting your finances straight to defining your style and where to get the best look for less. Folks, this is the most thorough book you're going to find on how to look great and how to shop. What's best is that it isn't a weight read filled with fashion and style jargon that goes way over the readers' head. It also enlightens the new fashionista to the tricks of the trade in the fashion and retail industry relating to vanity sizes to the true definition of a sale to how to spot a fake designer bag. It also has the quality that makes fashion magazines helpful: quizzes! This quick five minute questionnaires help you to define your style, and they are surprisingly reliable. There also homework assignments that help you with making smart style choices. How to be a Budget Fashionista gives readers lots of opportunities to highlight important facts and make notes inside the margins. Since it is quite a small and lightweight book, you can stuff it into your purse and take it to the mall with you. You will fly through the incredible easy read in about a week, and find yourself going back to it as an important reference. My favorite chapter is the one developing a proper underwear wardrobe. She lists wonderful stores and websites to fill all your underwear needs no matter if you're as flat as a board or your breasts make Pamela Anderson look like a 12-year-old boy. Many of my womankind brethren, especially the older ones, are in a serious need of a bra makeover. Girls, your breasts can be separate from your stomach!!!

I LOVE THIS DAMN WEBSITE
Mood:  chillin'

I Think What I Think
Now Playing: BET's Walk the Faith
On Sunday morning, BET aired a show called Meet the Faith which is a weekly talk show. I watched it because there was going to be a discussion on overweight black women and their positive self-image. The three guests were controversial Thomas Lopez-Pierre, the social director of the Harlem Club, plus-size model Toccara, and author and spiritual adviser Iyanla Vanzant. What could have been a thoughtful conversation turned into a shouting fest where nothing useful or positive or intelligent was said. I like Toccara for being pro-big women, but the girl is about as smart as a bag of rocks. Putting Lopez-Pierre was just an excuse to have a dubious target. (It has been widely documented in the mediathat this upper-class Black man is a chauvinist and believes in a very outdated/colorist notion of Black female beauty.) The conversation then turned to the topic of upper-middle class and upper-class Black women aggressively pursuing men outside of their race, since it is very difficult for them to find a black men who is on the same educational and professional level as them. Even less useful things were said, and basically ended with Iyanla shouting "But what's your of Black?"

Well...Here's my two cents.

1-cent. I have no problems with men or women entering into relationships with people of other races. I don't believe interracial relationships should be pursued out of a need to satisfy a fetish or ; to make "pretty light-skin" babies; to have children with "nice" hair; to leach off the opposite races' supposed advantages; and out off self-racial/ethnic hate.

I believe that each ethnic race or nationality has its own attributes of beauty that can be appreciated from someone outside of that race. Deep down, pheromones recognizes other pheromones. If social, religious, or familial constraints forces a person to stay within their own race, I think that is okay and not necessarily racist. A Catholic who prefers to marry a Catholic is not necessarily anti-Semite. Romantic relationships are tough enough without adding cultural differences to the mix. However, if a couple has the guts for it, then go for it. I'm not hating.

2-cents: Being overweight or fat or chubby or plump or even slightly obese does not necessarily make a person unhealthy, irresponsible, a glutton or unattractive. According to the weight charts, I am obese at 180 lbs on a 5'4" frame but ask my doctor about the results of my last physical.

My sugar-levels are fine; my cholesterol levels are low; my EKG results were excellent; and my blood pressure is in normal range (squarely not barely in normal range). I do have fair to poor lung capacity, but that is only because I am a lifelong asthmatic. My bones or my joints or my muscles don't ache from carrying this weight. Yet, as soon as someone would hear my weight, they would automatically assume that I am unhealthy. Studies have proven that a naturally slender person with a sedentary lifestyle is more unhealthy than an overweight person with an active lifestyle. In the end, weight really doesn't add up to all that much.

There are thousands of reasons that people are overweight that have nothing to do with not pushing themselves from the table. Many women, including myself, have a hormonal condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which causes uncontrollable weight gain. Thyroid problems can also cause people to be overweight. Not having access, due to your neighborhood or salary, to healthy food options, a gym, or affordable health care can all be factors. Suffering from undiagnosed depression or taking certain types of medication for depression or arthritis can also make one overweight. It isn't just about gluttony.

It is true that African-American and Caribbean men find beauty in women who are over a size 14. But as my brother would say: "you can be fat but you can't be sloppy with it." Meaning, you have to take care of yourself from the inside out and not walk around like a self-pitying mess. And as I say, Black women got too much other shit to worry about in this country then to obsess over then their weight.

Not the Same Ol' Black and White
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: Something New
Topic: Movie Reviews
When the movie Something New was being advertised earlier this year on the Black radio station that I listen to, it was being touted as "a movie by Black women for Black women about what Black women want." Because the movie is about a love affair between a Black woman and a White man, are we to believe that what Black women really want are White men? My husband and I would guffaw imaging how Black women would react if African-American sex symbol Morris Chestnut would star in an interracial love story claiming to be "a movie by Black men for Black man about what Black men really want." Can you imagine the riots in the street that Black women around the United States would have started? They would have been burning Morris Chestnut in effigy! As the DVD came to the stores, they changed the marketing a bit. It's now a romantic comedy about a Black woman trying to find Mr. Right, and race is not even mentioned. After watching the movie, the latter marketing strategy was more accurate. This movie is not as much about race as we are led to believe although some people are not going to get past the race issue and pay attention to the deeper issue. (For a movie about Black women and the White men that love them that discusses race, check out the indie flick Restaurant starring Adrien Brody and, 'lo and behold, the male lead of Something New Simon Baker!)

Sanaa Lathan plays Kenya McQueen, who is a top executive at a financial firm, a homeowner, a six-figure earner, and is the daughter of an upper-class Black family. This character is smart, beautiful, well-off, and a successful professional. All of the Black people in this movie are all smart, well-off, successful professionals, educated, and firmly entrenched in the middle-class and upper-class and all the long-standing traditions that go along with being a part of the Black Bourgeoisie (also see Talented Tenth) There are no single mothers, drug addicts, slackers, or hustlers among these people in this movie. It is a slice of Black America that is rarely, if ever, portrayed in the media. It is also a life most Americans believe only White people live. Although it was probably not Something New’s intention, this movie reveals the real division in the United States. It isn’t racism at all, but classism.

(On an extreme side note, the Black Bourgeoisie could also be called the Talented Tenth that W.E.B. DuBois wrote about--educated Blacks who would come back to their poorer Black communities and lift their people up. In reality, this has not happened to the degree that DuBois probably envisioned. The TT/BB separated themselves from the lower-class of their race causing a type of intra-racism. Educated and professional Blacks have been slapped with the monikers of Uncle Toms, sell-outs, and wannabe White folk from those in the Black communities they left behind. See, they also believe that middle- and upper-class living is only something White people can achieve.)

When Kenya and her girlfriends go out for champagne together on Valentine’s Day, they give a list of their ideal man. Besides being Black, he has to be well-spoken, well-educated, have a job, and be close to the same professional caliber of these ladies. They want a man who is their class equal. It has been theorized that this is a problem among new generations of Black women. They can’t find a Black man equal to them, because Black women are outpacing them in getting a higher education and in the workplace. What’s a woman to do? If this were the typical Black and White sister-girl movie or an episode of the now-defunct Rikki Lake Show, the women would have shallowly agreed that it was time to go White. This is not Kenya’s plan at all. It is to keep hope alive to find a Black man that meets her qualifications.

Enter landscaper, Brian, played by Simon Baker, an Aussie native. He’s a man who wears blazers over tee-shirts and spends his days elbow deep in dirt and flowers. He’s not rich but he makes a decent living. He is also White. Brian and Kenya have a strong chemistry, but Kenya is very resistant to their relationship even before it begins. On the outside, she plays the race card saying she would prefer Black men. As the movie moves along and we get a deeper look into her upper-class upbringing, we realize that race is only the second problem. Brian is not upper class in the slightest. This is clearly illustrated when Kenya’s younger brother refuses to shake Brian’s hand upon meeting him for the first time. With a shocked look to his sister’s look of reproach, he declares rather indignantly that “He’s the help.” and not "he's white."

As the romance goes through ups and downs familiar to all rom-com fans, class and race battle it out for the cause Kenya and Brian's relationship problems. When Kenya wants to discuss the subtle racism she bears at her job, Brian wonders if she’s being paranoid because her upper-class education and life has taken her further than most White people. Kenya isn’t being paranoid, but as the argument continues you can understand Brian’s stance. A moneyed life has given Kenya a leg up over everyone even with the racism she endures.

As a romance movie and a study of class in the United States, Something New was a refreshing movie albeit the metaphorical language was heavy handed. Simon Baker and Sanaa Lathan heat up the screen with their furtive glances brimming with lust. When they finally come together romantically, you’ll exhale as though you were in the romantic clinch. Sanaa Lathan proves she is a great actress as she conveys a thousand inner feelings with just a mere expression. Simon Baker is no chump either, with his genial charm and his rugged pretty-boy looks, letting his eyes and gentle touches convey his feelings more than his words. I don’t know where Hollywood has been hiding Simon Baker, but they need to get him into more movies pronto. Preferably with his shirt off, but that’s my own Black woman’s bias. ;-)

I'm A International Reader
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Blackhair Magazine by Haversham Publications
Topic: Book Reviews
I discovered the UK magazine, Blackhair at my local library. I devoured the latest three issues. As a Black woman, Blackhair is the beauty magazine I've been longing for. Each issue is divided into three sections--beauty, fashion, and hair. There are plenty of stories on how to care for all types and Black complexioins of skin, as well as hair from weaves to braids to relaxers to natural styles. Most United States Black hair magazines seem to forget about natural styles or attach a story that seems tacked on at the end.

Blackhair also offers a glossary of chemicals and ingredients featured in most beauty and hair products. This gives women a chance to figure out if they're using the right products based on their needs. There are also plenty of advice columns that answers readers' questions. I really love the fact that they use real-looking models and dark-skinned models as the norm, and not as an afterthought. If a subscription wasn't $79 US, I would certainly plunk down money for one.
I love Blackhair magazine and I hope my library keeps carrying it.

Seriously, My Doctor Told Me To Buy New Shoes
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: Gladiator Sandals
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
I have unfortunate feet issues. In 1999, I was subjected to wearing sneakers through the entire summer while I received physical therapy for my fallen arches and torn heel muscles. (Sneakers were the only acceptable form of footwear that would accommodate my special-made orthotics.) By the summer of 2000, I was able to sport cute sandals as long as they had proper arch support.


Last summer, my arches fell after spending the winter running up and down the stacks of the library in my non-supportive faux Uggs (until this winter when I discovered my orthotics could fit in them). I went the route of Birkenstock sandals and nurses' clogs to support my re-fallen arches. Not terribly cute, but at least in the Birks I could still show off my pedicure and toe rings.


Then...I badly sprained my ankle. For six weeks, I had to wrap my foot in an ace bandage, walk with a cane and wear high top sneakers. Oh the fashion agony to wear the same pair of shoes everyday for six weeks. *sigh* (During the healing process, a case of soda fell on my foot forcing another two weeks in the damn ace bandage.)


As the weather started to warm this April, I was looking forward to sporting a whole new collection of nurses' clogs in multiple colors and maybe a new pair of girlie-looking Birkenstocks. Then the unbelievable happened. An industrial fan fell on my foot at work breaking my baby toe! Can you believe this crap? It's going to take like eight weeks to heal. For the past six weeks, I've been regulated to wearing an ugly orthopedic boot to keep my foot flat and my toes from flexing. But there's been a break in the clouds my dear fellow fashionistas! My podiatrist has told me that I can start wearing sandals. He said I can alternate between sandals and the open-toe orthopedic boot. Closed-toe shoes will squeeze my toe, cause more pain, and slow down the healing process. EUREKA! A doctor who recommends buying shoes for medical reasons.


Regular sandals with bands that went across the top of my foot rubbed my injured toe, so I decided to go with this summer's huge trend of Gladiator-style sandals. Essentially, they're flats with a thong styling and criss-crossing across the top of the foot. I bought two very cool pairs from Payless Shoes. One pair was a barely there jeweled silver sandal. They are very comfy, sexy, and a beautiful neutral to all of my cool-based color summer clothing. (I have a beautiful deep blue silk shift dress that these sandals would dress up wonderfully!)


The second pair I bought is a pair of sexily-strong and sturdy sandals with man-made leather straps criss-crossing in the front and a zipper up the back. They came in white, orange, bronze, and spring green. I opted for the orange because they looked more tan and was the perfect neutral for all of my ware-based color clothes. Here's a picture of a similar styled shoe from Target:

Now, what injury could I get next year that would make it medically necessary for me be the library's ultimate fashion icon? lol. Just kidding...I don't want to be injured anymore.

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Cultural Heresy
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Now Playing: Defending (sort of) Tom Cruise and his ilk...
Topic: Celebrity News/Thoughts
I am taking a moment to post my opinions on celebrities and pop culture that might go against the grain of what everyone else is thinking. This might earn me some enemies or, at the very least, cause me to get a pair of discount designer shades at CrystalShades.com to protect my identity.

First off, I am a fan of Tom Cruise. I have been a fan of his since I was 12, and that was nearly 21 years ago. Back then, I carried his picture in my wallet and wept when he married Mimi Rogers. I was envious of Kelly McGillis in Top Gun. I also thought Tom Cruise was robbed of Oscar recognition for The Color of Money and Born on the Fourth of July. I thought Tom Cruise did an excellent job as the ambi-sexual vampire mentor Lestat in Interview with the Vampire. (Stuart Townsend didn't bring as much glee or depth to his Lestat in the horrid Queen of the Damned.)

I also believe that Tom Cruise is a good actor with a winning personality with a nose and a smile that only a mother could love. (Have you seen his mother? They look exactly alike!) I have loved Tom Cruise as a lover, a mother, a friend, and sort of like Rosie O'Donnell. Last year's appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show ruffled my feathers. His open disdain of antidepressants and post partum depression felt like a mighty stab in the back since I am an antidepressant user and was suffering from post-partum (post-adoption if you will) depression. Tom, if you're reading, you really hurt my feelings! The press has spent the better part of the last six months documenting his reportedly faux or apparently crumbling relationship with Katie Holmes. She was the victim, she was duped, Tom Cruise was brainwashing her.

Um? Okay.... Perhaps, but I couldn't feel sorry for the then-pregnant Katie Holmes since she took no precautions not to the get pregnant. (Right, they're all anti-Catholic. What about pre-marital sex? I believe that is also a big Catholic no-no.) Poor, innocent Catholic Katie Holmes and big bad Scientologist Tom Cruise. My goodness! Tom Cruise is the size of an ant. Kick him in the nuts, make a run for the border and get a restraining order if he is that crazy and evil. I don't feel bad for Katie Holmes. Dating Tom Cruise is the biggest thing she could have done for her career. (BTW, indie movie girl and former Dawson's Creek costar has gotten nominated for an Oscar. Go Michelle Williams. I suppose Dawson pined after the wrong girl.)

Scientology is a weird-sounding religion. From all I've read, it seems like a cult. It seems scary. However, Catholicism and Jehovah Witnesses seem like a cult and scary to me. The leftist liberal in me still celebrates the freedom to speech and the freedom of religion in the United States, and I believe that Tom Cruise has the right to say what he wants to say about antidepressants and to practice any religion he wants. Although I am classified as a Universalist Unitarian, I follow more of a Word of Faith movement spirituality which generally relies on positive prayer and thought (to achieve the greatness that God has for his children). WOF detractors believe that it is cult like and is trenched too much in the secular and not enough in the world. Kind of like Scientology, no? (Unitarian-Universalists aren't staunch Christians favorite religion either.)

Tom Cruise, I am defending you! You go with your crazy antics and your oft-criticized religion, because I don't care that much. I love your movies, especially your action movies. Nobody runs like a bat out of hell in an action movie like Tom Cruise. I can't wait to see Mission:Impossible III.

~~~

I admire Nicole Richie. She transformed herself from the skanky-looking and drugged-out sidekick of Paris Hilton into a lean (a too-lean, she and I and everyone else admits), sober, and pretty glamour girl about town in her own right. She graces best dressed, best tressed, and best makeover lists of dozens of magazines. She's getting solo fashion magazine covers, and recognition of her own. Even her feud with Paris Hilton makes her look good, since she didn't publicly start the feud. (The issue, I believe, is that Paris became jealous that Nicole didn't need her anymore for press.)Like Paris, Nicole is generally famous for nothing but I like her anyway. I'd rather see the made-up doe eyes and razor-cut bob of Nicole Richie than the overexposed long legs and pointy elbows of Paris Hilton. (I'm even going to take a glance at Nicole's debut novel, The Truth About Diamonds.

Here are some other things that go against popular beliefs:
1. I like Jennifer Love Hewitt. I think she's cute and genuine, and I like her TV movies except for the Audrey-biopic.

2. I think Keanu Reeves is kind of a good actor.

3. I don't like Jennifer Aniston. I think she's plain and her acting ability can't support anything bigger than a sitcom.

4. On that note, Friends, not that funny.

5. Beyonce Knowles is not a triple threat anything. Neither is Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, or any other of those singing-dancing-acting stars. Dance with the date who brung ya.

6. Madonna hasn't been relevant for ten years.

7. Gisele Bundchen has nothing on Cindy Crawford.

8. Best celebrity ass does not belong to Kylie Minogue, but Beyonce.

9. Matt Damon is an underrated actor. Ben Affleck is overrated and gets way too much press.

10. Wrestling is not fake. Those dudes can and do get hurt!

11. Playing gay in a movie, not that brave. Being openly gay in America, very brave.