Read, Red, Read...

...gotta love the English language and all its homonyms and homographs and homophones.

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Lots going on today.
First of all, newness! :-)

The red color reflects the extremely passionate mood I've been for the past week.

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Next, a meme.

Once upon a time--turns out that it was exactly 2 months ago--I was tagged by T. Allen-Mercado of Tea and Honey Bread to participate in a book meme where I'd list some of my favorite reads. It sometimes takes me a while to complete memes that I've been tagged for, but I never forget. So here we go...

List the following:

(a) Fiction book
(b) Autobiography
(c) Non-fiction book
(d) A fourth book of your choice from any genre
Explain why the books are essential reads in no more than 30 words per book.
(We'll see about that 30 words stipulation... :-)

I've got several favorites, but these are books or authors that I've read numerous times and have yet to tire of.


Fiction: Any book ever written by J.California Cooper--Seriously. Cooper's way of telling stories and relating the innermost thoughts and feelings of her characters draws me in every time. Plus, I'm sure I've encountered most of these characters at least once in my short life.

Autobiography: Black Boy by Richard Wright--Humorous, raw, and poignant. Wright's books are some of my favorite, and this autobiography tops the list. Much has been said about him both positively and negatively. I love the man!

(Runner-up: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. Considered a memoir)

Non-Fiction: Living by The Word by Alice Walker--Inspirational and thought-provoking, this collection of essays and personal journal entries explores a range of topics and situations. It appeals to the part of me that appreciates the human capacity for individual thought.

My Choice: Basic Herbs for Health and Healing by Rashan Abdul Hakim--One of my favorites for natural healing methods relevant to a range of bodily ailments. On the accompanying DVD the author takes the viewer on a nature walk through Jamaica where he points out various herbs and their uses.

New category added by me...What I'm currently reading:

Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington (ongoing)
Food and Society by Magnus Pyke
Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor
The Last of the Tasmanians by James Bonwick (been reading this for months)

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Lastly, towards the aim the of getting back on board with T. Allen-Mercado's Shutter Click and Chat Sundays, I dug through my photos in order to find one or two appropriate for today's theme:

Favorite Photo Outtakes




Taken on the streets of New Orleans around 2000-2002 when I was down there with friends for the annual football showdown known as Bayou Classic, these two shots reflect our yearly ritual of meeting and talking to random people then taken pictures with them. Sometimes we initiated the photo and at other times they requested it. In the first shot, I'm not sure what the guy had said to me right at the moment the picture was being taken, but apparently it was something I didn't approve of. The result: him smiling widely like it's all good, and me giving him the eyes like, "Fool..are you crazy??" The second one is pretty straightfoward, but it stands out in my mind because of the stir his colorful attire and gold teeth caused among a couple of the girls I was with. They were trying to determine if he was in a gang or what...

*sarcasm*
cause y'all know colors, bandannas, and gold teeth are automatically synonymous with gang activity, right??
*sarcasm*

It really didn't matter to me. I just recall that he was really personable and respectful when he approached me and funny when we started talking. And we're all hugged up in the shot like we'd known each other for years. When I look over all the pics taken out there from 1998-2002, though, I found that to be quite common. What can I say...I'm a hugger. :-)


Have a beautiful week!

peace.