“Come, Take A Look” (Flash Fiction)

His black, black neck glistens with sweat, shining against the blackness of the night. He’s the only vendor still on the street. The law firms, banks are all closed. Inside the steakhouse gentlemen make contracts with the clink of a glass and rub their steak-full bellies. He digs his fists into his hips.  Time to pack it up. Time to go home. He wipes the sweat on the back of his neck.

His face is illuminated by the soft glow of the low watt light bulb shining a dim spotlight on his wares. Earrings, oversized and ethnic—thin, cheap, overpriced; multi-colored cloth bags that give the woman who pulls $12 out of her wallet the illusion of having been to Ecuador instead of just haggling with this African immigrant, this man, who every day arrives at dawn to secure his spot here to catch women like her when they rush out for a big salad, a second latte, or to just stretch their legs in 4-inch heels. He sits; hoping they will look, and notice the brightly colored pashminas––folded carefully to hide the missing sparkles, the snagged fabric––and the assorted, majestic, beautiful dashikis.

–Willona M. Sloan

Make A Joyful Noise: Laugh, Sing, Love

Yesterday, I went to see Joyful Noise, starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah, with my friend. We laughed all the way through the movie. It’s adorable, sweet, funny, reverent, and irreverent. And there’s some pretty awesome gospel remixes of pop songs like Usher’s “Yeah” and MJ’s “Man in the Mirror.” I love the way Dolly and Queen were willing to make fun of themselves in the movie, which helped them to create real and sympathetic characters.

I am so sick of movies about psychopaths, and war, and infidelity. Joyful Noise “tells the story of an unlikely partnership between two strong-minded women (Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton) who are forced to work together to save a small town gospel choir after budget cuts threaten to shut them down.”  Thank you, Warner Bros. for having the courage to do this movie. In this era of big budget films that just end up making us feel worse than we went in, this movie celebrates spiritual faith, while also acknowledging the realities and temptations of being human. It’s fun, uplifting, and a little teensy bit bawdy.

I’ve been a life-long Dolly Parton fan, since I spent an entire summer inside as a kid, avoiding the North Carolina summer heat, watching “Dolly Parton Live” repeatedly on HBO. (The new channel really only had the rights to a few shows that summer.) And I think Queen Latifah is a talented comedian and musician. I was very happy to see these women who espouse such positivity come together in this movie. Nevermind what the critics say, or what your coworkers heard about it. Is the plotline original? No, it’s like Bring It On, but for a gospel choir (kind of), or a different version of that Beyonce/Cuba Gooding, Jr. movie (sort of), but come on, now– do you want to worry about what people say or do you want to have fun?

The Listener: Sunny Day Real Estate Radio (Pandora)

I created a Sunny Day Real Estate Radio station on Pandora last week. It’s the perfect moody, atonal melodic mix to get me through a winter work day. The station features Band of Horses, Radiohead, Pinback, Pixies, and more. Listen.

Or build your own Sunny Day station.

Enough is Enough: Six Inch Heels

OK. I have to say something. I have let this go on long enough. Ladies, in the 6-inch heels. You look stupid. It’s not even that you look like a hooker trying to tip toe down the hall to the office bathroom. Because honestly, hookers know how to wear these shoes and move from point A to point B. What bothers me about the women wearing 6-inch platforms to work and (by goodness to CHURCH) is that they think other women envy them. They think men are noticing how slender their legs look.

Ladies, everyone is laughing at you.

You are probably way too old to be worried about 6-inch heels, or you can barely make it to the kitchen for a cup of that single-cup coffee without counting your steps.

And please don’t try drinking in those things. I don’t want to watch you totter, totter, and fall splat on the sidewalk.

Consider the pain your feet, back, knees, and calves are in. If I didn’t know any better, I might think 6-inch heels were the perfect way to keep women immobile, looking like little Barbies with feet that could never take her anywhere. I’m sure that men respect you for your tiny stilts………but ladies, look in the mirror. You look like an idiot.

You can still be classy (and slightly crippled) in a 3-inch heel. Let’s take it down a notch, shall we?

William P. Gottlieb’s Photos Capture the Golden Age of Jazz

William P. Gottlieb’s photos are some of the most famous jazz photos in history. Gottlieb captured the energy of the D.C. and New York jazz scenes from 1938 to 1948.

A jazz journalist and a self-taught photographer, Gottlieb photographed Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, and many more. The Library of Congress has shared his collection in its photostream on Flickr. Check it out, here. In accordance with the wishes of the photographer, the photos entered into the public domain in 2010. Learn more about Gottlieb’s story here.

(Poem) A Titian Twilight

Purple twilight sky looks painterly like a Titian
with soft broad strokes
deep lavender, streamed with ribbons of white, hints of gold
and a light that radiates from just below the surface.
A gentle streak of fire curls the edges of the clouds
From the window of the Metro train
The sky beckons, reflects me, plays tricks with my eyes  
Purple with grief with passion with peace, a mixture of swirling emotions
The sky hovers, expands over the heroes’ cemetery

Artist Residency: Banff Centre

This 2012 optimism has already started paying off. I am honored to have been awarded a residency at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, where I will work on my novel manuscript later in the year. After many, many rejected applications to residencies last year, I am so excited to finally be invited to an artist residency where I will have the time and space to work on the new manuscript I am developing. Wow. Positive thinking really does work! So, what’s next?

Blame it on the New Year

Right now, today, I am feeling excited. Giddy even. I don’t know if it’s New Year’s optimism, the Blue Mountain coffee my dad gave me for Christmas, or the relief of having survived a grueling interval run last night. (Run for me, slow jog for others). Either way––and maybe for the all the reasons above––I’m feeling good.

I stayed up late last night to watch the ’Bamas bore LSU to death. I had sided with the Tide––but that’s only because I revel in upsets and I practically always pick the underdog to win. (Maybe it’s because I started watching the Rocky series during my most formative years.)

The game was dull; and eventually just embarrassing for the #1 team, LSU. Although Brent Musburger’s quote, “It’s a mauling folks; a mauling!” is something I’ll probably quote for a very long time. Especially seeing as how I’m a Redskins fan.

But, anyway, I went to bed happy and full of satisfaction because I rooted for the hungry, scrappy little fighter. (Yes, I know Alabama is a powerhouse; go with me, here.) And I woke up feeling energized. Well, kind of. David Bowie started his routine at 5:30 AM but I paused him for about 8 minutes. But after that, the coffee was brewing, the medicine was ingested and here I am sitting, banging the typewriter keys, espousing on my New Year’s optimism, and it feels good.

I have a lot to do this year. I’ve been talking a big game about 2012. New novel manuscript spinning from my fingertips. I finally laid aside my first novel-in-progress. Maybe one day I’ll get back there; but maybe (probably) not. And, I’m finally O.K. with that. I am very excited about this project I am writing.

What else? I am working on my five areas of health in an organic and holistic (and realistic) way. I’m trying to improve my spiritual, financial, emotional, mental, and physical health. Who isn’t, right? Well, go ahead and do it and stop worrying about whether or not it’s fad.

2011 had its challenges. Overall I am grateful for so many of the things I experienced, as they helped me to prepare for the next mountain I want to climb, but it was a tough road. And, don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of good times as well. But I learned a lot about love, and loss, and the fragility of human life, as well as the resilience of the human spirit. Not just from facing my own challenges but also from supporting the people I love, and allowing them to support me.

One thing I’ve learned in the last couple years is that it’s OK to let go of people, situations, jobs, habits, that cause me stress or anxiety. It’s OK to not know the hot new music, to not have the latest phone, to not have been to the most bumpin’ club, to not have the cutest boots. And, I don’t say that lightly. For some people that’s a given; for me that’s a revelation. My spirit feels calm today. And it did yesterday.

I can only speak for myself; but I’m sure this is going to be a good year.

 

 

 

Classic Punk Show Flyer: Punk Protest to End the Drug War (DC)

The fine print: “A war on drugs? A war on some drugs–and some people.” Build Community Not Prisons: A Rally to End the Drug War, organized by Positive Force with Fugazi, Equal Justice, ACLU and more in Malcolm X Park.

Classic Show Flyer: Fugazi at Fort Reno Park

I used to have this flyer pasted on my wall at my old apartment, which was right next to Fort Reno. This flyer was my favorite Fugazi show at Fort Reno. Great energy, awesome crowd, incredible vibe. And I want to say that this is also the show where a few thousand people (fools) were rocking in the dark as lightening struck overhead, with rain clouds moving closer, just hoping for one more song, hoping the band wouldn’t get electrocuted before they pulled the plug. And then Ian announced, “OK, this is going to be our last song. After it’s over RUN home!” Over the hill and down the street I ran; I didn’t look back.