Not just another movie

I've been hearing the buzz about a movie based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire. The book, which I just read a couple of weeks ago, was good. I am anxious to see the film, which apparently won two of the highest honors at the Sundance Film Festival. Monique, the comedienne, plays a pretty frightening role in the movie and it seems that her performance also garnered an award at Sundance and is generating Oscar buzz for 2010. I hope that's the case. I love the grittiness of the book. I literally laughed out loud while reading some parts and wanted to throw the book against the wall at other parts. It takes a pretty talented writer to elicit such a range of reaction and emotion from the reader. The movie buzz is what made me read the book and I hope the film proves to be as worthy of my praise as the book did.

NO SNITCHING

That bull got Lil' Kim sent way the hell up the river. I thought it was stupid then, I think its stupid now. I warned a less than savory former acquaintance about ridin' dirty, at least with me in the car..."You've got about 10 seconds from the time the popo's find your stash to claim it or I'll tell 'em who it belongs to." So in the spirit of the 12 step program, allow me to introduce myself... my name is chrismiss and I'm a snitch.

For some reason, the issue of keeping secrets keeps presenting itself to me. I know what a secret is and I believe I know how to keep them. But my definition of a secret, and another person's definition of a secret are probably different. I keep my own secrets really well because I dont tell anyone my real secrets. I wonder about people who tell me something and then say "Don't tell anyody." Well is it fair that you got to tell me and I don't get to tell anyone? How does that work? And usually what's being told to me has zero relevance to me nor have I asked for the information.

I was channel surfing today and happened upon an episode of Brady Bunch. In a nutshell, Cindy was tattling. Eventually, Mike and Carol reprimanded Cindy for tattling but then later asked her if she knew anything about Tiger, the family dog, taking something he shouldnt have. Now Cindy had already been told to stop snitching. But now they wanted her to. See, that's what I'm talking about! Snitching is a double edged sword.

The Lost Art of Gratitude

They say that the two most important words in any language are "Thank You." I concur. I believe that the experience that warrants gratitude is taken to the next plateau for all involved parties when gratitude is properly expressed. I say "properly" because Thank You in deed sounds nice, but when someone has gone to great lengths to select, compose and mail invitations to an event and then they follow it up with a verbal Thank You , it annoys me. Its like this, you can pick up some thank you cards when you're getting those invitations. Especially if I have taken time out of my schedule to attend the function, buy a gift, a card, gift wrap, give a monetary contribution, I want a Thank You note.

IMO, when I receive a handwritten "Thank You" note, I know that the sender is the cat's meow, the creme de la creme, the have instead of a have not, well mannered and/or socially adept. In other words, the person who doesnt send a note is a creep. With the season for weddings, graduations, summer bday soirees and funerals rapidly approaching, I know that I will receive beautifully crafted invitations/programs with all the inserts( RSVP, maps, gift registry, local accommodations). And if I should choose to attend, I hope my hostess will find and restore the art of gratitude to proper place.

-Thank You for reading

Boo'd Up

By some strange stroke of the key or mouse, I selected "in a relationship" instead of "single" on facebook. Call it prophetic or a freudian typo but the attention I received as a result was amazing. I got a salty text while hard at work "Oh, I had to find out on fb that you're in a relationship?" Now, I'm not the "don't bug me while I'm working type"...I can multitask. But I am the "don't call or text me with stupid sh*t" type. What bugged me the most was I responded! Because I was so sure I selected "single", I had no idea what this person was talking about. But, I started thinking...its my fb page. Mine, not yours, but mine! If I want to put a picture of my face on the body of sheep and post it on MY facebook spot( my worst fear about my picture on the internet btw), guess what? I can do that (I think). Why? Because its MINE! But I'll keep it real...that's not how I responded. I said "What?? I chose single." Now this seemed to soothe the savages but I had to wonder what's wrong if I am in a relationship? And if I am, who is privy to that information? And if someone had to find out on facebook, is that a new cardinal sin? No, I'm not dating anyone, including the person who tried to chin check me. But I want to date, I want to check that "in a relationship" box. In fact, I want to do a Tony Wideman and put I AM MARRIED at the top of my facebook page.

Unique constellation of attributes

"Must Love Dogs" ran back to back tonight( I slept during the first run, surfed the web during the second run). John Cusack's character describes Diane Lane's character as a "unique constellation of attributes." I think I'm a unique constellation of attributes! Really, I do and really, I am.

All bundled within the constellation that is me is someone who, as my mother says, "will give anything a whirl." I've been a real estate broker, notary(insert my mom's laugh here), a train dispatcher, social worker(x4), substitute teacher, probation officer, drug counselor, waitress, business owner, errand runner. I may have left something out but moving on...

I like most animals, spicy food, wood burning fireplaces. I like to read, laugh and gossip. I dont like to be cold or to feel unwelcome. The airport is one of my favorite places. New Orleans is one of my favorite destinations. Gates BBQ(anything on the menu) and Pearl's Oyster Bar(the crab pan roast) in Kansas City are my favorite restaurants- I miss them when I come back to California. I like when IFC shows the blaxploitation films featuring Pam Grier.

I love funny men because my dad is a practical joker. Men who take themselves too seriously, especially those with no good damn reason, IRK me. Women too. I like my status as a "UCA."

My bed is my island

Those who know me know that I am not a "bed" person. I am not one of those people who always seem to be asleep or napping when you call them. In fact, I am usually doing something that is the exact opposite of sleeping when my friends call... working out, shopping, on my computer. But my bed is my island. I have always kinda had this idea that when I am relaxing on my bed, sleeping in my bed, reading on my...well you get the gist, my bed is my safe haven. Nothing can harm me, I am perfectly safe there. My Bible is within reach, as is my gratitude journal. So that probably explains how I ended up there on New Year's Eve night. All that day, I had these visions of being at a fabulous soiree. I made a dozen calls to find out where"the party" was going to be, only to end up on the island. Now the island is not a bad place to be, everyone seems to feel welcome. My BFF was visiting from Virginia during the holidays. She spent the night in the guest room but the next morning she hopped on the island and watched tv with me. She didnt ask first, she knows she doesnt have to. That's life on the island. Maybe I'll christen it, give it a name...Christa Rica, Chrimaica, Chrihamas, Chriwaii, St. Christa.