Love and Farewell...

This weekend in some form or fashion, I will say goodby to two people,
I have known most of my life...
George Wilson, my husband's cousin passed away on Monday,
George was a gentle spirit,
Who had struggled for years and was finally ready to go,
He is only a couple years older than I,
However, when I saw him at Thanksgiving, for the first time in years,
He appeared to be on the decline, but at peace,
He and I had one of our better conversations, sitting side by side on the swing,
In his sister's yard, after eating a lot of food,
I am grateful to be able to remember him that way...

Mr. Elton Bellamy passed away two days ago,
He is the father of one of my best friends on the planet,
Beverly is someone I Love, Love, Love,
She and her family are some of the nicest, most loving people I have ever met in my life,
I remember all the amazing times, she and I had when in school,
And how her family loved me,
Her brother made me the most amazing birthday cake,
We were apart for years but now that we are close, we are closer,
Mr Bellamy presided over the local community college and was loved and admired by many,
He will be missed and leaves an amazing legacy,
A Loving Family....

Tomorrow George and Mr. Bellamy will have their homegoing celebrations but will never be forgotten....

LOVE, RESPECT AND BLESSINGS!
angelia

What Was I Thinking!?

Yesterday, I had one of those weird, out of body experiences,
One of those where one questions oneself…you know the ones,
I was sitting at home, proof of RAMBLINGS in hand, and even knowing that the only reason, I had done this at all, with me all up in it, even my face on it was because I had been encouraged to…THANKS ALL…I THINK!
I had to ask me, ‘Ms. A…who in the heck do you think you are, writing a book, filled with you, your opinions, supposed insights and wisdom (sic)…my face got hot, and it wasn’t just hormonal…and when I looked at that picture of myself on the front…oh lord, I saw my mama…wondering if she was thinking, ‘My child, done finally lost her ever-loving mind!...
Anyway, when I got to a meeting last night, and some of my sisters asked me when would it be ready…I cooled off a bit…
Then when I got in church, listening to my Pastor talk about doing what we are blessed to do and supposed to do, it felt like cool, spring water on my face…
So okay, it is hard putting myself out there like that, but heck it is what I am supposed to do, I think…
Well, this morning when I opened my email and saw the paypal emails with ‘you got money…’ I knew for sure at that point,
That what pitiful little I know, have learned or will learn is one of the things I am supposed to share with the world, even if it makes me feel, flushed, nauseous and butt-naked…
We must do, what we must do! Lawd!

Blessings!

PREORDER RAMBLINGS: VOLUME I @
WWW.ANGELIAVMENCHAN.COM

DIVERSE READING...

I love conversations, especially those about my books…
Preparing for lunch, I saw one of the young biologists in my office in the restroom,
She is thirty, a bit shy and white…no that doesn’t matter usually, but, stay with me…
She asked me if she could come and talk to me,
We do that periodically, about many things,
And it had been a while, so I told her I was eating at my desk today, so come on down…
She walked in and closed the door…I inwardly groaned, thinking this was going to be a budgeting or personnel issue…all of a sudden my spinach and chicken didn’t look as inviting, I wanted a cheeseburger…anyway…she grinned, saying, ‘I loved SCHAE’S STORY…all of a sudden my appetite was back…
We chatted vigorously for about twenty minutes, laughing and giggling, then she sobered up, thanking me…
She thanked me for telling her about my books and allowing her to learn about my culture, something she admitted she would not have done had it not been me…but, here is the beauty…she told me that now she read other AA authors…YAY…
I thanked her and then told her what a time we as black authors have getting other races to read our work…a light dawned in her eyes, realizing how much she had revealed and how much it all meant…I smiled telling her that, ‘we don’t know, until we know, now she needed to go out and tell others…’
She promised me she would,
And I believe her,
And not just because the next time it might be a budget or personnel issue!

Love!
Angelia

PRE-ORDER RAMBLINGS@
www.angeliavmencha.com

SMALL CHANGES!

We are now at a time when the word change is very necessary,
People are losing jobs, homes…money is tight,
And for those of us who are blessed enough to still be employed,
It is amazing how much we can save by making small changes…
For years, I stopped by Starbucks every day, to the tune of about thirty dollars a week,
Didn’t seem like much,
Most days I ate lunch from a nearby restaurant,
Usually ten dollars a day,
Okay we are already at eighty dollars a week,
And I would purchase a magazine or two a week, another ten dollars,
Which translates to over 4500.00 a year…
Wow think of that invested or heck, think of how many food banks or charities,
One can support with eighty dollars a week!
That is grocery money for some families,
And believe you me, we had all better start doing just a little bit for others,
Because one never knows when they will be on the receiving end…
And these kind of changes are really painless,
Because the coffee I make is pretty tasty,
And my own spinach and chicken breast is good,
And healthier,
And a one time subscription to those magazines,
Is usually about the cost of two magazines,
See how easy it is…
And there is still a little money for books…
Speaking of books…
RAMBLINGS: Volume 1,
Is ready for preorder!

http://angeliavmenchan.com/Books.html

Love and Blessings!
angelia

Why Even Go There?

Something that absolutely bewilders me is when people take on something:
That has nothing to do with them…
Something;
They can do nothing about…
Something;
Needlessly exhausting…
Or something that is straight up,
Not their business….
I can’t figure it out to save my life,
Yesterday I had a couple of conversations with people who were agonizing,
Over someone else’s business…
Trying to figure it out,
I was thinking, ‘Baby if you focus on and solve your own stuff, you will surely have accomplished something…’
Also as I was floating around blog land,
There were all these posts about this or that,
I could actually feel the anxiety or angst waft off the page,
I hurried up and got on past that…whew…
There are those who probably find me too be to laid back or too,
UNCONCERNED…
But I will tell you I am concerned about much,
And those things that I can change or fix or assist in,
I will take those on…
However, when I know from the starting gate that there is not a thing a sister can do…
I don’t even sign up for the race,
I leave those things to the better qualified and more talented,
‘Cause I know what I can do,
And God knows I know what I can’t,
And I refuse to wrinkle my brow,
Or aggravate my digestion by taking it on…
But hey, that’s just me!

Love and Blessings!
Angelia
http://www.angeliavmenchan.com/

COLLISIONS...

On Saturday my worlds collided, beautifully…
Since I started publishing books, three years ago this month,
I have for the most part, taken my show on the road,
I have done small book discussions and signings in my city,
And have sold quite a few books, but my gatherings were carefully selected,
And most of the people in the groups were of like-minded interests,
Mostly,
However, this weekend when I decided to do a book signing at one of the largest libraries in town,
I knew that my worlds would collide and it was time,
Mostly because I invited my work friends,
My church friends,
My home friends,
All the folks in my life,
And it was a nice merger,
I have always been careful about what I share and with whom,
When I started writing, I shared carefully and selectively,
Partly because I didn’t know where I was going with my work,
But mostly because I didn’t ever want people that I care about to think,
I was working them…
So I quietly and slowly built up a group of people,
Who I talked to and allowed them to do the work of bringing in others,
Because what I know at the end of the day is that,
Though I am a writer and want to sell books,
My relationships are more important,
And Saturday felt right as people thanked me for inviting them,
Other people thanked the ones who brought them,
And we all were able to sit down as though we were in someone’s living room,
And talk about my work, and our community,
And all the things that bind us,
What was most interesting and ironic is that January 24, 2009 was the sixth,
Anniversary of the passing of my mom, who succumbed to Breast Cancer, which I support with the proceeds of my work….realizing that I couldn’t have planned the date any better…didn’t even think about it until the morning of….so thanks Mama, for loving me and making me think I could do anything I wanted to so long as I believed in me…
It’s Good!

Love and Blessings!
Angelia
www.angeliavmenchan.com

Doing What I Love!

Today was so much fun, friends, books, conversation and supporting BREAST CANCER RESEARCH! YAY! GOD IS GOOD...

Love and Blessings!

angelia

http://www.angeliavmenchan.com/

BOOKSIGNING 01/23/2008

EXPERIENCE IS?

Last night, sitting in church, I heard my Pastor say, ‘Experience is not the best teacher…’ and I had to chuckle,
That has always been my motto,
‘You don’t have to go through everything, personally, to learn from it’…
My best lessons have been from watching and paying attention,
Watching people not handle their money wisely, not paying their bills and moving from pillar to post,
Made me know, I didn’t want any part of that,
So from the time I had a job, I saved a bit, paid my bills on time and filled my refrigerator,
Even if I didn’t have money for fun stuff…
I can remember as a young girl, I spent three years in what would be considered a less than good neighborhood, I saw people doing all kinds of things,
But I knew that I didn’t want any of that on me,
And though my mom was firm and strict,
It was ultimately on me to decide,
Because I had lots of time on my hands and was allowed to go and come,
Fortunately I mostly came and went to the library, movies, and my godmother or grandmothers, but I could have gone some places,
Guess mama trusted me…
The same thing was true in my high school years, when everyone was singing the praises of free love, I knew that nothing in life was free, not even free lunch, that a price was attached to everything…
And it was important to me, even then that whatever rep, I had was of my own doing,
Good, bad, or indifferent…
So while experience is a teacher, for real, for real,
Some things can be, and probably should be learned from a distance!
Hey, but that’s just me RAMBLING,
Speaking of Rambling, RAMBLINGS: VOLUME I, will soon be on sale for 7.95!
Yes! Thank Gwyneth, Shelia, Yasmin and all who suggested my blog should be in book form!

Love and Blessings,
Angelia, Write or Die Woman!!

www.angeliavmenchan.com

CHANGE...It's In Me...

Yesterday was surreal, I spent most of the day, sitting on my sofa watching Inaugural Events,
I have never been as touched by anything as external in my life, for whatever reason, it meant many things to many people, and Change is real...
However, what most of us are going to have to realize and own is that change is mostly internal,
Choosing to do things differently, see things differently and accepting that when things don't go as we wanted them to, it is only because it was not supposed to...
I reflected on my own life and why I am here, able to do what I do,
And I can tell you so freely (oh what a revelation) that there were things that transpired,
In my life, at a very early age that if God had been different,
And I had been different, I would not be here today,
What saved me is not realizing that I was supposed to be mad at anyone,
Or that I was not bound by my circumstances,
And only I could define who I was and what I would be,
Or bitter about things that were done,
Or so wrapped up in not getting my way that I was stuck, unable to move,
So in my innocence, (Thank God) for that,
I chose to pick myself up from every bad thing,
And continue to move forward, with my head held high,
There were those who thought my head was a little too high,
Considering,
But those I chose and continually choose to ignore,
Because my life is about me,
And as for the change factor,
Every single time I realized I was doing the wrong thing, going in the wrong direction,
I made a change and did something different,
I have pretty good tolerance levels,
But have no tolerance for those who choose to do the same things over and over again,
Getting the same results, and the choosing to blame it on someone or something else,
Sorry, but the first time is a mistake, the second time is a slip, beyond that it becomes a choice,
I told my sons that once they were men,
I was down for whatever the first time,
I would be almost down the second time,
But when the decision is made to continue a pattern of behavior,
Then it is time to handle it on your own or make a change,
Otherwise you will always get what you always got,
And do what you always did,
And if yesterday said anything,
It is that we can all CHANGE and do something different....

Love, Peace and Blessings!
angelia

http://www.angeliavmenchan.com/

THE PRESIDENT!

WHAT AN AWESOME DAY....CONGRATULATIONS AND MAY GOD CONTINUALLY BLESS YOU AND THIS COUNTRY....

Love and Blessings!
angelia

Gonna Party Like It's My...

January 19, one of my favorite calender days, It's my birthday and birthday's are all about US!



Mench's Baby, Maurice and Malik's Mama, Amira's Nana, Write or Die Woman!

Capricorn Woman:
Elemental Quality
Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign of the zodiac. It can be likened to the oldest and most valuable tree in the forest.
Surefooted and thoroughly practical, in the end the Capricorn goat always reaches the heights, beating others who are faster but less determined.
The cardinal signs must put their resources to good use. Earth resources represent practical skills: material, financial, and social resources that can be used to further an ambition.
Spiritual Goal
To learn to understand the feelings and needs of other people

LOVE AND PEACE!
angelia

We Learn As We Go!

One of the lessons I have learned as a writer, that I have to pass on, is this,

We learn as we go, and one of the biggest and best lessons, is that there are very few universal writers, what that means is this, WHAT YOU WRITE WILL NOT APPEAL TO EVERYONE...

So what writers must do is find the voice that best defines them and stay true to it,

And work to find the READERS who find what you write appealing, satisfying, purchasable and work from there....I absolutely know that we as writers all want to sell to everyone, of course we do, but life and time will teach us that it usually does not work that way....another lesson is to appreciate silence, when someone says nothing about your work, take it that maybe they weren't that into it, and leave it alone...again, everything is not for everyone one, and time spent trying to convince people to get it is time wasted, that could be spent on engaging those who are interested....

When I received the flyer from my favorite library I knew that I was finally focused properly,

I had worked as hard as I knew how to reach those who were interested and I had learned not to lose any sleep over those who were not....God was blessing me in the way that was right for me, and I would be guided, as I had been on how to proceed...I am grateful!

Love and Blessings!

angelia

www.angeliavmenchan.com

When We Know Better!

One of my many mantras, and you know I have many, is this;
‘When you know better, you do better…’
On the other hand if one chooses not to do better, even knowing better,
Then that is on them,
I recall several years ago, my son was about seventeen and he had done something,
That just didn’t make a bit of sense for him,
Often we forgot that he was as young as he was,
And when I was getting on his case, he looked me straight in my eye (he always did)
And said;
‘Mama, I didn’t know, now that I do, I won’t do it again…’
I still wanted to smack him up a bit, but, I couldn’t because he was right,
We can not do what is the right thing, unless we know it is the right thing,
Hello…that is why I try to leave people to what they do, unless they are a child,
Or they ask me, because I have to assume they don’t know any better,
Because if they did, they wouldn’t have done it,
Or, if they do and still choose to do…
Well, that’s on them,
Last night prior to church service, a friend and I were talking about the wonderful,
Upcoming happenings at our church, and I could see from her face, she was as thrilled,
As I was, we are a huge church in a challenged community,
And it is only right, that we do more,
And she made a poignant statement,
‘We thought we were doing right and enough, but now that we know we can do more!’
That is it in a nutshell, when we know better, we do better, it is all about growth, and the desire to do it once we know what to do!

Peace, Love and Blessings!
Angelia

www.angeliavmenchan.com
SCHAE’S STORY: A Woman’s Transformation
Is NO Not Clear Enough For You?
@ the upcoming
RAMBLINGS: Volume One: A Booked Blog

Controlling Your Brand...

One of the toughest challenges with the young people in my life, even my own children has been to get them to see that the choices we make has a tendency to follow us around. Particularly, if we act them out, publicly…
With my young women it is especially difficult,
And it is always painful to hear when they finally come to me, bemoaning how unfair it is that men get to do things and be applauded and lauded for them,
Yet when they do them, then…well we all know the scenario…
Promiscuous man is just being a man…
Promiscuous woman is less than a woman, certainly not a wife,
Strong man is just handling his business,
Strong woman is a ….
Are you feeling me yet?
Is it fair, heck no it isn’t fair, but it is real,
Someone dear to my heart is going through this now,
She made decisions based entirely on feelings and doing her own thing,
However as she aged, (she is still very, very young) she wanted to change,
Be different,
Perceived different,
Well, she is different, but perception is a beast,
And folks are not usually eager to change how they view a person,
Oh no, I am afraid not,
It is much like when kids start school,
One immediately establishes him or herself as the A student,
The other one immediately establishes her or himself as the opposite,
From the point on the A student can do no wrong,
And the opposite can do no right,
Yesterday and in previous days she was asking me why was it so hard for people to accept that she is different, I told her quite honestly, because she hasn’t yet accepted it,
Once that internal shift has taken place, then it won’t matter as much that people aren’t accepting it, and not only that once change has taken place we start to go different places and see new people and they see us as we are, not as we were…
She asked me how did I learn this?
I told her that I learned really young that I had no control over what the people around me did, and that I refused to allow someone else’s reputation to taint or color my vision,
As such I decided to control the brand…
Huh…
Controlling the brand, simply means, I decided to make choices and not mistakes about what I wanted to be and who and what I wanted to be perceived as…it was entirely up to me to be someone that I liked when I looked in the mirror, regardless of how others saw me, and also to make no excuses for my own weaknesses, but to do better, when I knew better….
She told me, ‘That is hard…’
I told her, ‘It sure is, but if you want to become known for your choices and not your mistakes, then it is hard, but, good work…’

Love and Blessings!

Angelia

www.angeliavmenchan.com

To Thine Ownself...

This morning as I was cancelling stuff,
I realized I was on the road to breaking my own commitment, to my ownself,
I can not say yes to everything!
Whew that was hard, but freeing...
I have to stay focused on the important stuff,
Faith and Service,
Marriage and Family,
Work and Books Stuff...
And the rest I will have to do,
When I can,
When the time occurs,
When I am rested,
As time allows,
Or in some cases,
Not at all...
So there, it is out for all to see....

Wheeeeeeee!

I feel better already


Smooches!
angelia

COUPLING!

One of my greatest joys are the quiet hours I have with my husband, our kids are grown and gone, we have finally gotten to the point where we are so cool with that, we miss them, but it’s good…we are coupling…small meals, naps on the sofa, conversations, snuggling, small car trips, here and there, so nice, just us two…
We both have ministries, careers, friends and family, but there is nothing like our time…
Which brings me to the subject of coupling…
This past Sunday in church, our sermon was on two is better than one,
And that was in regards to fellowship moreso than marriage or relationships,
But, I, of course will talk about the relationship coupling,
In my opinion, everyone would love to be part of a couple,
Whether they are willing to admit it or not,
We have all heard, the, ‘I got my own and don’t need no one’ mantras,
However, we all know, that for the most part that is to convince oneself,
There is nothing better than being part of something that works,
Having someone’s back,
And knowing they have yours no matter what,
Someone who gets a cough drop, unwraps it and hands it to you,
Because they know your throat is dry,
Umm hmm,
When I was writing SCHAE’S STORY: A Woman’s Transformation,
That was on my mind,
Because Schae was the quintessential, ‘Do Your Own Thang’…kind of woman,
But at the middle of her life, she evaluated herself,
And finally admitted that there were things she needed,
Such as faith and self-respect,
But something she wanted,
Such as love, a partner, to be part of a couple,
To do for someone,
And to be done for,
There is nothing in that to apologize for or to pretend about,
It is natural, real and wonderful to want to be coupled,
Almost as wonderful as being coupled…

Smooches!
Angelia

SCHAE’S STORY: A Woman’s Transformation @
WWW.ANGELIAVMENCHAN.COM

The Schae Bracelet

When I am on book tours, I always give a way gift bags, and this year my gift bags have all included bracelets made by one of my favorite people, one of the young people I love most,
Jennifer Coisierre, Jennifer is a major talented woman, wife, mother, reviewer for APOOO BookClub, Amazon Vine and a talented, aspiring writer. To find out more about her jewelry, she can be contacted at http://wordsmosaic.com/ Please support this amazing artist....Love you Sweet Jen...

angelia
www.angeliavmenchan.com

Don't Engage the Madness!

One of the hardest things for people to do, seemingly, is to let someone have the last word,
I was guilty of that for years, If someone said something, you had better believe I was going to come up with some, laser sharp response, it became my defense mechanism, slay 'em with words...
And I can still do it when necessary, and alas, both my sons have inherited my mind and my way with words....yes, the fruit, don't fall far...I know, I know...
Anywhoo...
But what saves me and keeps me sane these day, and also allows my casualty list to stay low...:}
Is my ability to not engage the madness...to just walk on by,
I was talking to a co-worker the other day and he said, he had never met anyone who was so removed,
I told him that it wasn't that I was removed, it was simply that I didn't have time to get bound up, in endless conversations about stuff that never changes or is alway negative, just can't and won't do it...
I told him that how people see me or feel about me is going to be the same, either way,
So rather than be the so and so who gets in needless exchanges, I have chosen to be the so and so,
Who minds her own business and keeps on walking...he laughed for several minutes...but he knew what I meant,

I had to remind one of my sons of this the other day, he has moved on, and is enjoying a blessed life, but there are folks who are struggling with his choices, and as such want to engage him in foolishness....after allowing him to vent, I told him to not say another word to the person, don't feel as though he had to show or prove anything...and as the kids say, Let Your Haters be Your Congratulators and to say nothing to a brick wall because it will still be a brick wall...
I know he wanted to wage war, but he listened to his mother, because there is too much good work to be done to engage the madness....Way too Much!

Blessings,
angelia
SCHAE'S STORY: A Woman's Transformation
Is NO Not Clear Enough For You? @
http://www.angeliavmenchan.com/

Present and Represent...

How one presents oneself is lasting…yes the old first impression makes a lasting impression thing…is it fair? Heck no…but is it real?…oh yeah…
We are judged on how we present and represent and many people miss out on great opportunities because of presentation…
I recall a few years ago, one of my son’s friends had turned eighteen and was going on a job interview, he stopped by the house in a t-shirt and baggy jeans, I remember my son saying, ‘No son, you look real fly for hanging out, but for an interview, you gotta represent…’ I smiled and stayed quiet. When the friend came from my son’s room, he had on the same jeans, though now pressed and he had on a long-sleeved dress shirt, and shoes as opposed to sneakers…he had a grin on his face, he looked proud…I winked at him telling him to go out and handle his business, he got the job…was it just because of his appearance…no, but I can assure you that in the attire he had on at first, he wouldn’t have been taken seriously…and that is what it is about, when one is in a work environment, or even at the interview level, one has to be taken seriously and fair or not, the person that takes the time to present and represent will get the opportunity…

For most of us who are older, this probably just sounds simple, but since we are living in what I call the flip-flop culture, many young people aren’t being taught to make an impression. And those who are, find themselves bound by cultural oddness that tells them to dress up is to sell out…well you heard it hear first, it is not selling out if you need a job, it is smart and necessary…and once we have the job it is as important to continue to represent with our sharp job skills, our professionalism, our timeliness…and yes folks our appearance…this in no way means give up your ethnicity or identity but it means to be in the game, sometimes we have to play by the rules that are set…simple really…and not that hard to do…sometimes a simple thing will help to even the playing field, just a bit…

Love,
Angelia

www.angeliavmenchan.com to Purchase;
SCHAE’S STORY: A Woman’s Transformation
Is NO Not Clear Enough For You?

TRANSFORMERS...

What happens when one is in a season of transformation? That is the premise of SCHAE’S STORY: A Woman’s Transformation. Schae has spent her life after the gold, the money, the men. But when she realizes that there is more to life than that, she begins her season of transformation. But it’s hard, not because she can’t do it, but because those around her don’t want it to happen. The man she is involved with can’t believe he can no longer buy her love, the man she becomes involved with is struggling with the fact that now she is with him, she has given up her old ways, and her sister just doesn’t want her to be different…the question is why is it so hard for those around us to accept us as transformers…I have a couple of theories…

One is that when people around us change and get better, it makes us look at ourselves and how we are living. I can remember being a Job Corps counselor and discovering that there were parents who weren’t happy about their children’s improvements. They reacted as though it were a judgment of them that their kids wanted to live differently. It is a sad truth but truth, nonetheless. There is a huge range of folks who make it their business to remind folks of how they used to be…it’s as if they say it enough the person will say, ‘Umm, okay, you got me, I am perpetrating a fraud and to make you happy, I will go back to my old ways.’ Sounds absurd on paper but it’s as real as rain. And it is hard as heck because the old way is the easy way. But to be transformed one must often stand alone or find new people.

Another is that we are creatures of habit. If a thing has worked for us, it is easy to rely on it, because to do something different takes upsetting a whole bunch of apple carts. Because transformation can mean saying things different, doing things different, not allowing opinions to touch us. Hard work! I have a young woman in my life who’s in a season of transforming and she is scared to death. As such, she keeps sliding into the old, the comfort zone. But she is then hurt and ashamed when someone reminds her that, that is who she is. As I tell her you can’t have it both ways, either you are in there or out of there. And that is the point I tried to get across in SCHAE’S STORY, that once you make your mind up, one must become a warrior in the fight for the right to be your best person, even when it means some things, even some ones will fall by the wayside. Also, knowing that when you mess up, all you have to do is forgive yourself and move something. You know just like when you eat cake on a diet, you don’t then eat the whole cake. You wrap it up and give it away, so that it’s no longer there to eat!

Love you!
Angelia

SCHAE’S STORY and Is NO Not Clear Enough For You? AVAILABLE @
www.angeliavmenchan.com

In It's Time...

To be still is very difficult when one considers oneself to be a go-getter,
And it has been one of the hardest lessons for me,
I spoke of my faith for so long and I am faith-filled,
But I still had a tendency to try to make things work,
And discovering that I can’t make things work, I have to allow them to, was a hard
One for me,
Mostly, this lesson came in the form of my writing,
When I started, all I heard was you, ‘you gotta hustle, hustle, hustle.’
And hustle I did,
But for whatever reason it didn’t feel right, even when it was working,
I was mostly tired and frustrated because I was spending more time on my hustle,
Than on my writing or on telling my stories…
But a sea change came over me at the end of last year,
I knew I had found what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it,
But I was…umm, skurred…to relax and let it go,
I also knew that my situation was different, because I didn’t have anyone breathing,
Down my neck with deadlines or telling me how to rewrite this or how that would work,
I was beating myself to a pulp,
But once I decided to relax, write my stories,
Not worry so much about deadlines or bottomlines,
I have to smile here because I know my man is winking and thinking,
“I told her so…”
He would often get on me about not listening to my own voices and reminding,
Me this was just a side show, he had my food, clothing and shelter…
He reminded me to be still and allow myself, all the time I needed,
And it is true,
So many doors I knocked on, no one answered,
They are now knocking on mine,
The coolest thing was with every book I did,
I called this one venue, never got an answer, with Is NO Not Clear I didn’t even try,
But something told me, to try one more time,
So when SCHAE’S STORY was done, I sent an email,
And in less than an hour, I received several emails,
Asking me to do this thing or that thing,
Instead of focusing on why now,
I just gave thanks and got ready to do what I do,
With gratefulness, and with a bit of patience and some stillness,
Because every good thing happens in it’s own time…

Blessings!
Angelia

SCHAE’S STORY and Is NO Not Clear Enough For You? AVAILABLE @
WWW.ANGELIAVMENCHAN.COM

RAMBLINGS: Volume One – Available January 31, 2009

First Quarter 2009 Reading Challenge

APOOO Book Club has challenged us to read thirteen books the first Quarter of 2009...I am already two books in...

Murder, Mayhem and A Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney - This was a fun book about a psychologist, Amanda Brown who is running from her past, her biological clock is also ticking loudly in her ear, she knows that at thirty-five she needs to get busy. In the meantime she runs into fine, detective, Jazz Brown, no relation, who is doing some running of his own...and has no intentions of getting involved. But since they are both involved in murder and mayhem and he is definitely a fine man, all bets are off. Rated 4 stars Completed January 1, 2009

Jaded by Monica McKahan is a wonderful young adult book that explores how a young woman, Jade, feels when she discovers her parents are not going to get back together, and more sadly, he is engaged to be married to someone else. Hopefully with the help of her boyfriend, Terrence, she will survive it. However, Terrence has issues of his own...a great book for all ages, particularly, young adults...3.5 Stars Completed January 2, 2009

Healing Waters by Nancy Rue....Healing Waters is an excellent book about self-love, faith and putting oneself first. Lucia is the older sister of evangelist and singer Sonia. Sonia is beautiful and world reknown, whereas Lucia sees herself as fat, pathetic and unlovable. However when Sonia has a tragedy, Lucia becomes the strength for her and her child. What Lucia needs to focus on is healing herself and psychologist, Sullivan Crisp might just be the help she needs...wonderful 4.5 Stars January 6, 2008

Divas: Veronique by Victoria Murray Christopher
The third book in this series is a wonderful additonal to the Divine Divas. Veronique is going through turmoil at home and though she wants to win the championship in New York, she wants to find her father, as well. Will the Internet be the way to find him, or, will she find trouble and heartbreak? 4.5 Stars

Sweetwater Gap...A wonderful Christian-lite book about learning to love, forgive and trust...3.5 stars

Apologize, Apologize by Elizabeth Kelly...this book is about an extraordinarily dysfunctional family, especially the mother and the youngest son...I am about a third in and am laughing out loud...scathing family dysfunction 4 Stars

What Doesn't Kill You by Deberry and Grant - a wonderful look at what happens when a sister allows things to simply happen and what happens when she hits rock bottom and decides to make things happen 4.5 Stars

50 Isnt a Four Letter Word - Wonderful book about the woes of turning fifty from a British woman's perspective. 4 Stars

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - an interesting look at life in Jackson Mississippi from the perspective of three women, two black maids, and a white woman who is interested in being and author...5 Stars

Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee - readin

Basketball Jones by E Lynn Harris - Gay man so in love and kept by his boyfriend, basketball player who is married and way in the closet. Lots of drama, sex and ELynn Harris stuff...3.5 stars

Sticks and Stones by Eric Pete - reunion book with twists, turns and fun...4.0

The Bishop's Daughter -



READ A GOOD BOOK AND SUPPORT BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
SCHAE'S STORY: A Woman's Transformation @ www.angeliavmenchan.com

Illogical Thoughts

Sometimes I am amazed, flabbergasted and aghast at how illogical we sometimes think;
For instance I have seen people in restaurants who will not sip from a clean glass, too many germs...they insist on having a straw...
But these same people will leave the restaurant and engage in sexual activity without benefit of a condom...risking life threatening illnesses...HUH
I am so fascinated by these kinds of thought processes,
And have figured out it is why many people struggle,
And it is because the focus is on things that can be seen and not things that matter,
That is much like people who spend their last dime on hairdos,
And the refrigerator is empty,
Or who purchase brand new cars,
And have no health insurance...
Illogical thoughts that lead to disenfranchisement,
That is why we must teach our young people to be safe,
While we are telling our girls not to sit on toilet seats in public restrooms,
We had better also tell them to protect themselves from live germs that are passed by body fluids,
And when we tell them how to be beautiful,
We have to also teach them how to think beautiful,
And how to save and prepare for futures,
We must make them understand that what is in our heads is more important,
Than what is on our heads,
And we must tell our young men that they are as responsible for disease and pregnancy,
Prevention as young women are and that no means no,
Also that it is not manly to unemployed or to have a lot of kids with a lot of girls,
It is great to teach them surface things...
But we had better get them some logical knowledge as well,
Our futures depend on it...

Mama Deep ranting just a little bit at the beginning of the year!

Blessings!
angelia

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOOGIE!

HAPPY BIRHTDAY, BOOGIE MAURICE,

LORD, TWENTY-NINE YEARS OLD...

MY GOODNESS, WHERE DID THE YEARS GO!

BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER DOES IT,

TODAY IS A NEW DAY...WE WILL MARCH FORWARD LIKE SOLDIERS...

ENJOY YOUR DAY SON AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE....NO ONE GETS US, BUT US AND THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH...HOO AH!

LOVE YA LIKE BREAD PUDDING!

ALWAYS, MAMA