2007 Personal Highlights

Tavis Smiley Expanded Smiley Books

Good books. Thoughtful books. Intellectual books. We needed something to counter the smut and slut books out there like a hairy dog needs flea spray after a romp in the woods. Not that I think the books are completely horrible.

OK, so there’s more than a hint of what I really think about some of these books in the creative labels I’ve chosen. But seriously, I don’t think the books are wrong in themselves. I’ve met and admire some of the authors. They’re nice women and moms just like me. And there’s a time and place for everything.

But c’mon, people, do we have to have so many of them? I know that we’ve been denied the right to have our thoughts published for far too long but do we gotta air all our dirty laundry now just because we can?

OK, rant off. Now for the good stuff.

Tavis Smiley hosted a reception in October to announce the expansion of his book publishing company, Smiley Books, and to introduce new company president Cheryl Woodruff and a very impressive lineup of authors. Woodruff comes from a long line of publishing goodness including a stint at Random House, where she founded and headed up one of the first black imprints at a major publisher. Smiley Books’ new authors include luminaries Iyanla Vanzant and Dr. Cornell West. Others who attended the affair: Ruby Dee, Terry McMillan, Walter Mosley and Charlie Rose.

Top Photo: Connie Briscoe and Cheryl Woodruff
Mid Photo: Ruby Dee and Walter Mosley
Bottom Photo: Tavis Smiley, Ruby Dee, Unknown, Benilde Little, Connie Briscoe, Walter Mosley

Way Too Much Weight Snuck Up On Me

I finally quit smoking in late 2006, and 2007 was the year of weight gain. Every time I got on my scale I did a double take. I thought the thing was broken, so I secretly weighed myself on other people’s scales whenever I came across one. They were all broken, too. Or so I thought until my annual checkup rolled around and the doctor weighed me.

OKaaaay, so every scale in America isn’t broken.

Fortunately I was always a skinny thing and could afford to add a few pounds but I’m approaching the keep-this-up and you’ll-be-wobbling- around stage. Unfortunately, I now have to watch the pounds and I’m none too happy about that. I used to be able to eat anything anytime and now I’m paying a hefty price while I learn to count the calories….

So I Learned to Cook a New Low-Cal Pepper & Onion Dish

Two Red Bell Peppers
One Orange Bell Pepper
One Yellow Bell Pepper
One Package of Mushrooms, Sliced
One Red Onion
Kosher Salt
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Remove seeds and stem from the peppers and peel the onion. Cut peppers and onion into bite size pieces and place into a baking dish (I use a glass dish). Add sliced mushrooms and sprinkle with a dash of kosher salt. Dribble olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste (if desired). Stir it all up to coat the peppers with the olive oil.

Roast at 425 degrees for about 20-25 minutes depending on your preference for crispiness. Serves 4-5.

Delish!! And peppers are loaded with vitamin C.

Met Some Folks I Really Admire

Ruby Dee, Terry McMillan, Tavis Smiley, S. Epatha Merkerson, Marian Wright Edelman. OK, so I met some of them in 2006 but I didn’t have a blog then and couldn’t brag to y’all. Now I do.