<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761551336052206132</id><updated>2024-08-30T00:01:43.586-04:00</updated><category term="african american authors"/><category term="book fair"/><category term="family"/><category term="growing up"/><category term="harlem book fair"/><category term="love"/><category term="mom"/><category term="parenting"/><title type='text'>m. madison...reloaded</title><subtitle type='html'>The Life and Times of m. madison</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Monica Madison</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06285724439590785818</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='22' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JLvuM7AJWDw/S0pjM7SH9pI/AAAAAAAAAI0/4W6cH9n23ug/S220/M3+Amin+Profile.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>4</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761551336052206132.post-455609866436722447</id><published>2010-01-16T23:04:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2010-01-16T23:04:41.490-05:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="family"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="growing up"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="love"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="mom"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="parenting"/><title type='text'>My Favorite Role: MOM</title><content type='html'>One would think after being a mother for 27 years now that the mushiness would subside.&lt;br /&gt;
Never.&lt;br /&gt;
My oldest son called and I could feel my face light up when I heard that magic word...&quot;MOM&quot;.&lt;br /&gt;
I was meeting my youngest son and I saw him half a block away.&lt;br /&gt;
Amidst a throng of weekend shoppers our eyes locked and there it was again...&quot;MOM&quot;.&lt;br /&gt;
No sweeter words have ever been spoken.&lt;br /&gt;
I tend to pore over their baby pictures and recount memories they sooo wish I would let go, but I can&#39;t.&lt;br /&gt;
I&#39;m a MOM by nature, I guess. It didn&#39;t come easy, I was a teenaged mother and I had no idea of what the hell I was doing but my family support was amazing. There was my aunt, grandmother, cousin, brother and a neighborhood full of old-fashioned folks who would have popped Kyle on the butt if he acted up.&lt;br /&gt;
My youngest Jordan asked me one day, &quot;why did I have him?&quot;&lt;br /&gt;
You really want to hear this, I asked him. He knew it was coming.&lt;br /&gt;
I told him I waited 10 years to have him, doctors told me to just keep trying. God knows I was patient and I prayed and put my faith in the Higher Power. And just like that it happened.&lt;br /&gt;
Jordan, I decided to give birth to you because I loved your father so very much. And you grew in my body, and I loved you without physically seeing you, but it was my job to love and protect you. I felt that God was giving me a precious gift that would significantly change my life. You and your brother have made me a much better person.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/feeds/455609866436722447/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/761551336052206132/455609866436722447' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/455609866436722447'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/455609866436722447'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-favorite-role-mom.html' title='My Favorite Role: MOM'/><author><name>Monica Madison</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06285724439590785818</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='22' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JLvuM7AJWDw/S0pjM7SH9pI/AAAAAAAAAI0/4W6cH9n23ug/S220/M3+Amin+Profile.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761551336052206132.post-6879414652786219595</id><published>2010-01-10T18:58:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T18:58:29.745-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Let me tell you...</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif, helvetica; font-size: 11px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;One day I fell in love. Hard. Like a Mack truck with a ton of bricks and the brick&#39;s mother as its cargo.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;He came into my life like a breath of fresh air. A rejuvenation. Made me believe in love.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Love at first sight.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;&quot;Let&#39;s go to Jack&#39;s.&quot; I said.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;I wake up in the morning and look at him lovingly.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;His love clear as the day is long as I go about my day.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;From mom to office wife&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;He is there, a part of my life&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;From the 30 second morning orgasmic jumpoff&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;to the 10am wake up call, My Man is there.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;He loves to act silly just like I do.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;While he prefers the Grinch, I can sing &quot;Mr. Heat Miser&quot; for hours.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;According to him, I speak funny, a New York, yawk, accent&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;And he has a snobby persona, that you just love to hate&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Wearing 4&quot; heels because he loves to see me in them&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Me, wrapped in his arms, looking damn good in them&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;I tend to snore and hog the covers.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;He slides into the bed trying not to wake me, his lover.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;In the middle of the night, I turn to see him there&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Comforted that he is there to keep me safe and warm&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;I can&#39;t look at him without wanting to touch him, his face, feel his heart beat&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Love is a beautiful thing, I exhale&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Thank you, God, for bringing me this Man&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;I look to him for guidance, discipline and strength.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;He looks at me...to look good on his arm.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Many years I have waited to be with him.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;That day finally came, and we&#39;ve been together forever and a day.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;I love him in a live life to the fullest, wild abandon sort of way.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Passion filled, ecstasy bound, I say&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;I&#39;d rather be with him&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&quot;=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 10pt;&quot;&gt;Than without him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/feeds/6879414652786219595/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/761551336052206132/6879414652786219595' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/6879414652786219595'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/6879414652786219595'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/2010/01/let-me-tell-you.html' title='Let me tell you...'/><author><name>Monica Madison</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06285724439590785818</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='22' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JLvuM7AJWDw/S0pjM7SH9pI/AAAAAAAAAI0/4W6cH9n23ug/S220/M3+Amin+Profile.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761551336052206132.post-103551878785469375</id><published>2010-01-10T18:51:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2010-01-10T18:51:28.168-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Blessings</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif, helvetica; font-size: 11px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Watching my sons sleep when the house is quiet, late at night. Recalling moments pass when they were much younger, curled up in a ball, their breathing labored, giving them kisses galore. Praying that they would grow into responsible and caring young men. Praying that God will keep them safe in their travels and may their life experiences be as joyful and a wonder as mine. May they always have love in their hearts. That&#39;s what I think of while I watch them, eyes closed, mouths half open, occasionally catching a drool.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;I gaze at them and think…Love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Talking to my sister, as she recants what seems like a lifetime ago of something from our childhood. The time we snuck behind the school and smoked our first cigarette, with me damn near passing out. Or the time I convinced her that we should ride our bikes, past the corner. Telling her to stop complaining, we won&#39;t get into any trouble. Well, at least I didn&#39;t. Or the time we tried out for the Mt. Vernon Knightettes and we both got in!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;Those rare moments in the morning, watching my man sleep, thinking to myself, &quot;I&#39;d rather be with him, than without him.&quot; Amazing how when I wasn&#39;t looking for love, it found me, and embraced me with a joy that I can&#39;t compare to anything else. Whether we&#39;re making the bed, preparing dinner or watching a game, I feel as if I have finally found that peace that I have craved for so long. At times I want to pinch myself and ask, &quot;is this real? If not, please do not wake me up.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;WHAT DO YOU FEEL MOST BLESSED ABOUT???&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/feeds/103551878785469375/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/761551336052206132/103551878785469375' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/103551878785469375'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/103551878785469375'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/2010/01/blessings.html' title='Blessings'/><author><name>Monica Madison</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06285724439590785818</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='22' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JLvuM7AJWDw/S0pjM7SH9pI/AAAAAAAAAI0/4W6cH9n23ug/S220/M3+Amin+Profile.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761551336052206132.post-6638117308093870186</id><published>2007-07-23T13:17:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2007-07-23T15:01:55.311-04:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="african american authors"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="book fair"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="harlem book fair"/><title type='text'>View from a Newbie</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;As I prepared for my first book fair all I could think of was, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;font-size:85%;&quot; &gt;I&#39;d rather stay home, chill out in my backyard and eat Bon Bons&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;According to those in my Inner Circle, that was a no go. Here I have this book that I struggled to get published and I wanted to play Susie Homemaker? So I got off my fat ass, prepared for it, complete with books, press kits, promotional items and guess what? I had the absolute time of my life!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The atmosphere was hypnotizing, there was much love from everyone I ran into, from Omar Tyree to Relentless Aaron. My entourage included my son who is putting together a cookbook, he&#39;s only 14 so its exciting to see him focused on something other than XBox 360! And my public relations diva, Ms. Rosa Metz. I cannot say enough about her, she knows how to talk to people, not AT them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Oh, and the food...&quot;make you wanna slap yo mama&quot;!! Fried chicken, ribs, yams, jerk chicken. I ventured that way but didn&#39;t succumb to the temptation. My son informed me that the food was definitely good, not as great as his Cracker Burgers, its not what you think, but it faired pretty well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There was every bit of African American literature you could imagine; poetry, anthologies, non-fiction, ficiton, &quot;street lit&quot;, booty call lit, and something of my own I like to call &quot;realist fiction&quot;. The weather was great, except for the gust of wind every now and then but otherwise it was a beautiful event.&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/feeds/6638117308093870186/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/761551336052206132/6638117308093870186' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/6638117308093870186'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/761551336052206132/posts/default/6638117308093870186'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://monicamadison2day.blogspot.com/2007/07/view-from-newbie.html' title='View from a Newbie'/><author><name>Monica Madison</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06285724439590785818</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='22' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JLvuM7AJWDw/S0pjM7SH9pI/AAAAAAAAAI0/4W6cH9n23ug/S220/M3+Amin+Profile.JPG'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry></feed>