Where you been?

It's a new year and I've been absent. No excuses. No more. I've been thinking about ways to enhance this blog and make it more of what I initially intended it to be: a forum for conversation and dialogue for my family, and family of friends. I joined Twitter and Facebook this past year and spent some time reading and posting there. Then, I heard from family, more and more and more, that I should have a blog. Funny thing is... I do have one. An underused, often ignored, outlet for the random moments and thoughtful insights that just don't fit 140-character bytes of talk. The time is now and we're going to beginning the new year off right. Check back soon for the right mix and information and dialogue to help you all Dream Loud.

In February, we'll talk Love and Relationship.. for sure. Seems that last year was the year of break-ups and breakdowns. Married couples found it even harder to stay together, and mistresses were becoming newsmakers often thru illicit gain. Not fair. What happened to playing by the rules. Mistresses are not to be seen, nor heard.

Also, in February, let's talk about non-traditional images in film, particularly people making an impact now. Kathryn Bigelow won a DGA for The Hurt Locker. She's nominated for an Academy and if she wins, she's one of a handful of women directors to do so... she's my American Idol... what I'd like to be when I grow up. At 54, she gives me hope and inspiration that it's not too late to make my dreams come true.

Of course, I'll throw in some diversity for Black History Month. Right now, I'm thinking of Lee Daniels, Precious, that was also nominated for an Academy Award along with his actresses Gabby and Monique. If you recall, it was the early-90s when John Singleton was nominated. Too few ppl of color being recognized. And, Lee isn't a film school guy. He's just one more reason to keep pursuing my dreams. I still haven't seen his movie yet... just not the kind of thing to take in on the big screen for me. I might need to pause, decompress, and hit play again. All kinds of abuse run rampant there and as a mother, it might be too much to handle. I'm honest with my emotional state.

That's not all. I'll hit on the actresses making moves like Zoe Saldana and Anthony Mackie, two young talents selecting purposeful roles, some times under the radar, but making good movies in the process. Did you see Avatar? or The Hurt Locker?

March is Women's History Month and the official kick-off of my mentoring initiative, Daughters of the Glades. I'll be giving young girls a foundation in "being all that you can be."

Between now and then, there's the Super Bowl in South Florida. the Academy Awards, my trip to Snow Mountain/Stone Mountain (Georgia) and of yea, the regular job, teaching college students the importance of the spoken word.

Ciao!