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Luxury Awaits
Believe You Can Achieve Amazing Things!
Anyway, a few hours before the deadline I managed to submit a shorter version of The Revolution Ain’t on Blu-Ray. (link to my You Tube vid- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biHjZ6yV6io) Why was it shorter you ask? Well, because that piece is originally 5 minutes long and the submissions had to be under 3 minutes. Geez, editing the poem was like deciding which of my vital organs I wanted to keep. I took out 2 minutes of the poem, recorded it with my Canon Cyber Shot and posted it to You Tube. I thought I was pretty fly too, but unfortunately as fly as I was, I didn’t make it on the show. 😦 Yeah bummer! But my submission was one of the top five so I get some kudos for that right?
Getting that submission done was a lot of work but what I really wanted to say is nothing is in vain when you believe in what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s not all about the win but the journey and what you gain or give along the way. And for me, who knows, there’s always Season 3 🙂 As a bonus for being in the top 5 submissions I was interviewed for the Luxury Awaits article copied below. My first official interview! Whoop whoop! The original article can also be found on http://luxuryawaits.com/lifestyle/submissions.aspx?nav=Scroll
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it! Your victory is my victory. My victory is your victory. Our victories give empowerment to the people!
Kimeko “Chick Under Construction” Farrar…. That really tickles me LOL
Verses & Flow Luxury Awaits
One of the most exciting aspects of putting together the second season of LEXUS Presents Verses & Flow has been the submission process. Thousands of potential participants sent in their very best performance pieces to versesandflow.com before the May 15th deadline, with each poet displaying their own unique style and love of words.
There were a few artists that stood out among the many who submitted, like Adam “Rage Almighty” Tench, who called the submissions rules “very easy to follow, even though it was torture trying to make sure I sent in the right poem. I wanted to be sure to include a piece that showed how good I was with crowds.” And that he did. The two year poet, who claims that going to a spoken word event with his cousin saved his life, submitted his ode to early motherhood with the piece “The Science to Loving A Pregnant Woman,’ or, as it’s more often called, “The Stretchmarks Poem.”
Finding inner peace was more important than finding a piece to submit for Willette-Angelic “Angelique” Palmer. The Manassas, VA resident called the submissions page “easy to navigate,” but found that it took the better part of two days to convince herself that she was good enough to toss her words into the ring. She finally exhaled, sending in her most poignant prose, “Nostalgia Sticks to Skin,” which is a war cry to abusive fathers everywhere.
Kimeko “Chick Under Construction” Farrar hadn’t even heard about the show’s first season, instead becoming aware of it after Season One stalwart Georgia Me performed at a venue in her hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. “I got excited after hearing about it,” she remembers, adding that folks kept calling her to make sure she submitted. Farrar, who started writing and performing poetry soon after one of her mentors was shot and killed as part of a massive school shooting, shared what she calls her signature piece, “The Revolution Ain’t On Blu-Ray,” a universal piece about the need to read that has as much impact in a church as it does in a school.
Evrick “Tro’juan Soule” Henderson wasn’t sure what to submit after a friend told him about the show’s call for poets. “It was a challenge,” he recalls, saying that he wanted to send something folks could relate to, “nothing too heavy.” The Dallas native, who remembers the day he decided to take poetry seriously–Valentine’s Day 2009–and finds himself studying the parallels between rapper Nas and poet Langston Hughes, finally decided on the poem written in honor of his mother, “Letter to You.’
These are just a sample from the thousands that submitted for the second season. And while it wasn’t possible to welcome each and every one of them to the Season Two stage, their submissions are a bold reminder of just how vast and talented the spoken word community remains.
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For more updates on Season Two of Verses & Flow, including all announcements and features, please stay tuned to luxuryawaits.com and versesandflow.com.
My 100th Blog Post!! There should be an award for this!
100th Post!!
I’ve been dying to post the 100th entry to my blog but I’ve been so busy that my creativity has taken a leave of absence. Sometimes things don’t happen as you plan but that doesn’t mean that things aren’t happening exactly as they’re meant to happen. Where there’s a will there’s a way so please enjoy the attached video of one of my spoken word performances in celebration of my 100th post. Whoo-hoo!
The Revolution Ain’t on Blu-Ray is one of the first pieces I ever wrote and performed. I was afraid that my knees would wobble and my voice would crack under the pressure. But alas, I embraced the spotlight shining in my face and I haven’t looked back. When I listen to this piece it reminds me of why I even started this journey in the first place. There is still work to do, changes to make, and goals to achieve. Don’t be fooled by what you see or by what you’ve been conditioned to believe and accept. Dig deeper!
Poets Rock!!
Thanks for reading!
ChUC
Please click on the link below to view the video on my YouTube Channel (meko1908)…
“Eye Water to Cry With” – Flash Fiction Series, The End: Crystal Clear
Whew! It’s the last Chapter of “Eye Water to Cry With”! I’m so glad I didn’t stick to my normal 300 word flash fiction or this story wouldn’t have been complete until May 2012 LOL! I had lots of fun writing this series, especially piecing all the info together at the very last minute 🙂 I hope you enjoyed it too. I will post some discussion questions and a poll tomorrow so please take part in those. Thanks for the support! Enjoy!!!
ChUC
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Crystal Clear
Jonas walked inside the Plaza Towers and wondered if he had said too much about Ashley Williams. Mya looked like she’d lost her best friend when he told her that Ashley had an office in 219. He knew Mya was still outside sitting in her car but he couldn’t stop to ask her what was wrong. When his truck broke down he was thrown off schedule and now he was in a hurry. As hard as it was, Jonas breathed in deeply to ease Mya from his mind and took the elevator to the Medical Center on the left side of the Plaza Towers. He rubbed his knuckles and the meaty crease between his thumb and forefinger. He had been inside the Medical Center several times before but he felt extremely nervous and anxious this time. He stepped out of the elevator and stood in front of The Nouveau Clinic. It smelled of old secrets and new beginnings. He hoped it would be the last time he had to see the inside of that place. He hoped today was the first day of the rest of his life.
…
Mya sat in her car with the air conditioner on full blast. Her temper raged and her heartbeat thumped inside her ears. Nothing made sense to her, but at the same time, everything was starting to make sense. She grabbed the last bottle of wine from the backseat and turned it up to her lips. Wine trickled down her chin and spilled onto the collar of her wool coat. With her eyes closed and breath held, she tried to drink as much as she could in one gulp. She finished a third of the bottle and flashed a confident grin like she had the strength of Popeye.
“I’m going to march myself up to 219 and demand to know what’s going on. If I’m going to jail I need to hear why straight from the jackass’s mouth.”
Mya grabbed her bag and took one last swig of wine. She didn’t want her courage to fade before she reached the building. Once inside, she noticed that the décor of the Plaza Towers was very plush and over the top. Exactly the kind of thing Harold had grown to like since they met in college. Mya couldn’t tell if she felt woozy because of the wine or from the glare of the gazillion crystals hanging from the ceiling. Before she and Harold started dating she was a struggling college student alone in the world. No mother, no father, no family at all. The only crystal she was familiar with started with a “K” and was open late on weekends. Now she was in an elevator preparing to confront the man who had brought her into his family and promised to give her the world.
The elevator stopped with a jolt. Mya fanned her coat trying to get rid of the smell from the spilled wine. She pulled out her compact and checked her face. Satisfied with her appearance, she walked off the elevator and opened the mahogany door to 219. There was a small stretch of hallway in front of her. Plaques and photos from Ashley Williams & Associates lined the cream colored walls. No photos were bigger than that of Ashley herself. Mya caught a glimpse of Harold through the glass doors at the end of the hallway. He quickly went inside another door about six feet behind the receptionist. Mya froze. She hadn’t thought about what she was going to say to Harold. She didn’t want to burst in with accusations when she didn’t know the full story. She tried to calm her nerves with a few deep breaths.
“Maybe the relationship could be saved”, Mya thought. “Maybe this is all a big misunderstanding and I can go back to my nice life with my nice car and spacious apartment and flirt with Jonas on Thursdays.”
Convinced that everything would work out fine she walked through the double doors and decided to talk calmly, rationally, and lovingly to Harold. After all, he was her fiancé.
“Welcome to Ashley Williams & Associates. Can I help you?” The receptionist looked at Mya and flashed a store bought smile.
“Hi, I just need to speak with Harold. It’s urgent.”
“Sorry, but we don’t have a Harold working here.”
“Umm, my bad, it’s Mr. Woody. I just saw him walk through that door.” Mya pointed to make sure the receptionist knew exactly which door she was referring to.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry but you must be mistaken.”
Mya’s voice grew louder. “Look, I don’t have time for this. You need to get Harold out here right now.”
“Lady, unless you’re buying a house I’m not trying to hear anything you have to say. Now, if that’s all I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Mya was a little tipsy but certainly not blind. She knew Harold was in there. What was the receptionist trying to hide? Mya tried to remember the happy feeling she had while in the hallway but it wasn’t working. “I’m not leaving until I see Harold.” Mya rolled her neck and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Harold, Harold!”
“Hey, this is a place of business!”
Mya stormed past the receptionist.
“I’m calling the police!”
Mya rushed into what looked to be an apartment. There were wall-to-wall hardwood floors, more opulent crystal like in the lobby area and a black piano in the middle of the living room. It was noticeably bigger and fancier than her apartment. She heard the shower running and walked toward the sound. The giggles began to drown out the water. Mya reached the bathroom. The door was wide open. She clutched her bag but didn’t make a sound. She just stood there and watched her fiancé kiss another woman. Both were wrapped in white robes. Both were unaware of her presence, but only for a moment.
“Mya! Wait, um, what are you doing here?” Harold’s eyes grew wider than silver dollars when he saw Mya standing in the doorway.
“What am I doing here? What am I doing here?”
Mya lunged wildly at Harold. Her fists pounded his chest as he fell to his knees and braced for cover. Ashley could only retreat to the corner of the bathroom, too scared to move any farther. Mya unleashed her wine induced fury on Harold. She punched him for every lie he told, every date he broke and every night he went missing. She punched him for not keeping the most important promise of all, to love her forever, until her fists hurt.
“I hate you, I don’t need you, and I don’t want you!”
Mya frantically reached inside her bag.
Harold watched the determination in her eyes as she searched. He had never seen her so angry. “Mya, please don’t do this!” He begged like he was pleading for his life.
Mya was so nervous her hands shook and she could barely hold on to the bag. The hot steam from the shower combined with the wine was affecting her balance.
“She means nothing to me, Mya.
Mya wiped the sweat from her forehead. “I could kill you right now.
“Baby, let’s talk about this.”
Mya pulled the stack of IRS papers from her bag and threw them in Harold’s face. Relieved it was just paper, his jaw loosened.
Mya wanted to cry but no tears came. “I believed in you, Harold. I believed in you and you betrayed me.” She started to back away.
“Honey, who is that?” Ashley managed to whimper from the corner.
“Who am I?” All 165 lbs of Mya’s weight pulsated through the palm of her hand and then across the left side of Ashley’s face. “I was his fiancé – Honey.”
Harold just sat there staring at the papers. His face was whiter than the robe he was wearing. Mya knew her real problems were just beginning seconds before the police stormed in. The receptionist came running in after them.
“That’s her right there, officers.” She pointed directly at Mya.
“Mya Monroe, you’re under arrest for embezzlement and fraud. Please come with us.” An officer cuffed her hands behind her back.
“Harold Woody, Ashley Williams, you’re also under arrest for embezzlement, fraud, and tax evasion. Stand up and come with us please. We’ll let you get dressed before going downtown.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” The receptionist was frantic. “No, I called the police on her.”
An officer flashed his FBI badge. “Ma’am this office is shut down. You’re gonna have to get your things and vacate the premises.”
One by one, Mya, Harold, and Ashley were escorted downstairs through the mob of onlookers. The blue and red lights from the police cars shined through the glass doors and bounced off the crystal chandeliers like disco balls. Mya tried to shield her face from the TV cameras and the bystanders. Her drunken courage had gone but she felt no fear while sitting in the police car. The ride to the police station was quick but no less hectic. News stations occupied every inch of available space to get a glimpse of Harold being taken inside the jail. Mya would have thought it was funny if she had not been going inside with him. She was booked and put into a cell until her morning arraignment. At 10:30 sharp she stood before the judge with a lawyer she had never met. It all went so fast.
“Ms. Monroe, do you understand the charges against you”, the judge asked.
“Yes, sir, but I don’t agree with…”
“I didn’t ask if you agreed, only if you understood.”
“Yes, sir”, Mya mumbled.
“Good, then bail is set at $250,000.”
“Your Honor, we are prepared to make bail immediately.”
Mya looked at the lawyer. “I thought he said my assets were frozen.”
“They are, but Mr. Harlem’s isn’t. He’s the one who hired me for you.”
“Mr. Harlem?”
“Of Harlem Wines. As soon as he posts bail they will bring you back downstairs.”
Mya couldn’t believe that Jonas had convinced his boss to post her bail and hire an attorney. She didn’t know how she would thank him or ever repay Mr. Harlem for his kindness. After posting bail Mya was brought back downstairs. The only people she saw were the attorney and Jonas. Even after all the craziness of the day, with her life in turmoil and out of control, she still thought Jonas was the sexiest thing alive. She had to keep from running towards him.
“Hi”, she said to Jonas.
The attorney shook Jonas’s hand before walking away. “I’ll be in touch soon, Mr. Harlem.”
Mya’s head turned so fast she could have gotten whiplash. “Mr. Harlem? Wait, I don’t understand. Are you his son?
“No, I am the Mr. Harlem.”
“You made me believe that you were just a truck driver. Is this some Coming to America type stuff?”
“No, I’m just a man with a past trying to have a future.”
“But you’re freaking Jonas Harlem of Harlem Wines! Why would you keep that a secret?”
Jonas looked at his hands. There was no trace of who he used to be. “I wasn’t ready until now.”
“You know I can never pay you back. Everything I have is tied to Woody Enterprises. The attorney said I can easily win my case but in the end I’ll only have my freedom.”
“I’m not worried about the money.”
“So why do it? Why risk bailing me out?”
Jonas pulled Mya close to him and squeezed her tightly. He breathed in the scent of his wine on her collar.
“Because tomorrow’s Saturday. The risk of not seeing you was greater,” he whispered.
Merry Christmas! ChUC’s Wish List…
Merry Christmas
Hello All! Can you believe that it’s the Friday before Christmas? Before I run out to purchase the last few gifts that I promised myself I wouldn’t buy, I decided to share my Christmas wish list with you guys. As a Chick Under Construction I am fully aware that my life is always evolving, and honestly that’s how I’ve designed it to be. I mostly concentrate on 5 life areas that keep me moving in the right direction (hopefully). The following wishes would make my life much easier so if anyone has an old genie lying around please don’t hesitate to hook a sista up! 🙂
1. Personal – A time machine thingy so I can spend more time with friends. I checked Best Buy already. They didn’t have one.
2. Spiritual – Jesus’s Skype number. There are some things going on in this world that I’d like to get his personal opinion on but I’m not quite ready to touch the hem of his garment yet.
3. Psychological – One of those memory erasers from Men in Black so I can forget most of the stuff I see and half of what I hear.
4. Physical – A nationwide ban on mirrors when I’m trying to squeeze into a size 8 pair of jeans though I really need a size 12.
5. Professional – A live-in stylist so I can spend more time writing books and less time doing my hair.
I don’t think I’m asking for much 🙂 Hey, it’s fun to dream and I hope you get everything on your wish list!
Enjoy your down time but start brainstorming your journey for 2012. Merry Christmas!
ChUC
Chick Under Construction - ChUC 