Mouth of Babes

"Are you registered to vote?" she asked when I picked up the phone.

No hello, no good morning. Took me a second to comprehend. It was Saturday and my first morning to sleep in weeks after working 12 days straight. I had spent the night before being a good friend and helping my buddy see if a male review was worthy of the upcoming bachelorette party she's throwing . . .

"Yes," I answered with a smile. And cradled the phone to talk to my 9--year-old baby sister, who I keep realizing is no baby. She was hanging with my dad outside of Wal-Mart as he helped register folks to vote. See why I love them? Earlier this year after the primaries she asked me had I voted and if I had voted for Hillary or Barack. If I could vote, I'd vote for Barack she said. She's been learning about weather at school and Native Americans (and excited I volunteered us to make some different types of corn for the holiday). She tells me to hold on as she applies her lip gloss. Then we sing our fav song: Peanut Butter Jelly Time.

This pic is from when the three of us went fishing for her 6th birthday. Dad made a rule whoever caught the biggest fish won. After fish 3 for her, I was still waiting for one to tug my line. I caught one. She caught 3 more. I catch a big one. She leaves with 9, me 3, but I did have the biggest . . .

I feel guilty I dont see her more. She asks when Im coming everytime we chat. I want to see her step team break it down at the PTA meeting next week. One day. Today duty calls

A lovely day

If I haven't returned your call/facebook message/text/bberry ping/twiter reply/email, missed your birthday or just been plan MIA, here's why . . .the new ESSENCE.com launched today!!

Take quizzes (and not just because I wrote the first date and Tyler Perry ones;), watch video and view photos!

Got a sexy social network too (friend me;)!

Also, Mo'Nique's October issue is now sale. I loved seeing this issue come together as a special tribute to full-figured women. Watch out for the big girls!!! Her story of surviving sexual abuse touched my heart and she really is a survivor.(changed this text because when I reread seemed like I had been a victim and I am so blessed to have never gone through any thing like that. Sitting around talking to my girls after my Charm Trunk sale a few weeks back it was scary how they said the stats is like 1 in 4 girls. Freaks me out! )

This morning walking in seeing all the news cameras outside to report the fall of Lehman Brothers was surreal. Made me a lot more thankful for a steady gig - and reinforced the importance of getting yo savings up.

Read a really good article by my buddy Courtney on American Prospect on how Palin would set women up not advance us if elected. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Me and the McCains

One of the perks of working at Time Inc is having access to all the titles. I scooped up the Obama family on People and put a cover up in my cube within minutes. That Sasha. What a Ham:). I had Reggie Love's profile asap when checking out the hot bachelors issue. And when the Obama's and Biden's made their debut inside, and Michelle referred to them as "her crew," I loved her even more. She is the homie!
So when we got the issue this week with the McCain's on the cover I zeroed in on the fact that one of these things is not like the other! Their Indian daughter has always intrigued me and I can't wait to read her story, which would be great if it were with us. So I was pissed to see her regulated to the floor, where you would put the family dog. J and Michelle I think enjoy how emotional I can get, and were quick to say, that it almost looked like me . . .

The next day in our morning staff meeting I went on a rant on as it sunk in how on newssatands you won't even see her the way magazines are stacked on each other and continued on my soap box again once, when I saw not only was she all down at the bottom on the cover, but inside the issue it was even worst how the whole family is sitting on the couch or standing behind and she is sitting on the floor. Not one of the brothers could say," hey sis, you don't have to sit on the floor. take my spot."

Had me speaking French. WutInDeeeHel. Later that night, I see Michelle and J chuckling and looking in my direction as we all work hard in prep of the new and improved site. J, saunters over to my cube and quickly pins this to the wall. We all BURST out laughing. I can't even lie, I blended perfectly. Photoshop is the devil