A Publisher's Day

     I have to tell you about a wonderful  day I had yesterday. I had an interview with a young man and his mother in Hutto. He is going to be the cover on the July issue of Ujima. I had spoken to his mother but I wanted to speak with him and get photos. The thing I cannot believe is I did not have my camera handy or my phone camera for what was about to happen. After we spoke, he wanted to show me his new baby goats. I had never seen a goat up close nor the opportunity to pet one. So, I said why not? Well, because I know nothing about farm animals, I thought he would walk out to the pen and pick one up. But no, you have to chase them down, like you do chickens. He finally was able to catch one and he brought it so I could pet it. They are sooo cute! They almost look like small dogs. They were brown while the rest were white. I got to see the father and the mother's. But while we were admiring the baby goat, the other's came out of the pen. What do you do? You put them back in. Well, I did not know how to do that but I knew I had to help. So, I went to the fence door so I could help guide them back in the pen. 

The mother and the son guided them and I opened the gate up wide and got them in. It was such fun and a wonderful experience. I told this young boy, I would always remember him and the fun we had putting the goats back in their pen. I was tired and a bit sweaty, but it was fun. This is just another reason I enjoy what I do because I meet new people and experience things that are so out of my range. It's a memory I will never forget but I will start keeping my camera on me. I did recently purchase a Flip camera so I need to use it. It would have been a good video.

I told everyone I saw yesterday "I got to pet a goat and help them get back in their pen." This was a proud moment for me.

A Night On Lake Travis

Last night I took a ride on a boat on Lake Travis. It was a beautiful night, full of stars but quite windy. It was a family ride to celebrate the graduation of my great nephew. I had not been out to Lake Travis in a long time. I sat on the upper deck with my husband and we talked, watched the youngsters swim and everybody had such a great time. It was good to take a night off from working but I paid for it today, but that's alright because family still comes first in my life. 

The feeling of being overwhelmed has sucked up my energy and my brain.  With the fundraiser event only three weeks away, the crunch is on. I feel ready to take it on, but it's a lot to take in when you have never planned an event in your whole life. I pray people come out and support Ujima. I do understand that times are hard and people have to really think about what they spend their money on. So, I hope some people will spend it on a good cause which is the continuation of the magazine. We are almost at our year anniversary and in this short period I feel we have done good in the community. I feel we have reached people and celebrated our communities passions, creativity, and success.

I will prepare to go to bed knowing that tomorrow will be a new day and I will work just as hard or harder as I did today. Thanks for reading 

Embrace Your Community

Today was a great day for the Miller family. My great nephew graduated from Hendrickson High School! It was great to watch him walk across the stage to accept his diploma and his key to the future. He will step into the shoes of adulthood and pursue all the dreams and aspirations that lay before him. My nephew did a great job raising him. He is a smart, intelligent and fun loving soul. When he was younger, I didn't spend too much time with him or his siblings. But as I have gotten older and they have grown, I find myself talking with him more as well as his younger brother and sister. I enjoy them. But he will now attend college and start building his life and his identify as a Black male and a man in our society. I am very proud of him. He made it out of high school without doing drugs, becoming a father or going to jail. That's a great accomplishment for all of our Black males today. I am looking forward to watching his life choices and what steps he will take to leave his mark on the world. 

All in all I had a good day. I did hurt my feet wearing shoes that hurt my feet, but that's ok, it was for a good cause. But my feet do hurt :). Good luck Dre and I wish you all life has to offer. My husband and I talked briefly about how much older we will be when his younger siblings graduate, but if I can be 83 years old, like my mother who attended the ceremonies today, I will be happy. She was able to see her great-great grandson graduate. What a thrill and a blessing. 

Well, I'm going to sign off and rest because I have a busy writing day tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

Embrace Your Community

A Publisher's Day

Hello Everyone!

I have been busy and kinda tired, I haven't written in a couple of days. But I kept thinking I need to write something soon. Today, when I woke up I realized I didn't have to be anyplace. I could actually stay home if I like. So, after I tried to get up and go to the nearest coffee shop, I couldn't move. I did rise up out of my recliner, but I stopped and just sat back down. Guilt is running through my veins, but hey, I just couldn't move. I know I can't have any down time because I will sit and sit and sit. I got up for coffee and took my dogs outside, that is it. The good news is I started writing my July articles, so not all is lost. The Managing Editor had to do some errands for our mother, so I stayed in South Austin instead of racing to Pflugerville (across town) by 1o in the morning. I have to say it did feel good.

I had my usual drawbacks of spending too much time on Facebook, Twitter and searching for new blogs to follow. But I did some important writing. I am not meeting my deadlines and that is becoming a problem. I ask myself why am I procrastinating? Why? I don't know. I have to do better.  But overall I had a good somewhat productive day. I guess I better stop writing on this blog and get to work.  Thanks for reading.

Embrace Your Community

A Cool Publisher's Day

Have you ever met someone in a coffee shop, interviewed them and before they leave, you stand up, hold hands and say a prayer? Well, it happened to me today. I met a wonderful woman today. I interviewed her about Sickle Cell Anemia. Her son has the disease. He is the spokesperson for the National Sickle Cell Organization. He met President Obama. Can you believe it? She is a dynamic person. It caught me off guard, but once we grabbed hands and bowed our heads, we prayed and the other people in the coffee shop faded away. I couldn't believe I did it and felt good about it. The experiences I have with people is just wonderful and interesting.

Each time I meet someone new, I am positive I'm doing the right thing. Because there are so many wonderful people in Austin and each person that I have come in contact with have so much to give to our community. But it reaffirms everything for me. I love telling someone's story and watching it unfold in print. I just had to share my cool day. 

I was suppose to get up early (5:30am) to start my morning because I knew I had to be at my interview at 10:00am. But of course, it didn't happen. I have to work on this. But managing editor and I decided after the interview to take the rest of the day off. So I stopped working around 2pm today. We are still working on finalizing the June issue, but it will be out the first week.  I'm excited. I will work some tomorrow and Sunday. My day ended with a phone call from the Trella Foundation. I have been asked to be on the board of the foundation which is the first for me. I am not sure how it will work, but I will learn. I believe in Trella's House and I'm glad to be apart of the foundation. My first board. Wow! I need to pinch myself.

Well, tomorrow's a new day and thanks for reading.

"Embrace Your Community" 

My Life

I woke up this morning feeling good. I was rushing to get out of the house to be at my team meeting by 10:30am. I made it barely, but that's ok. I can't seem to be on time as I once was. When I worked for someone else, I was always on time. I realize I need to treat my business as I did when I worked for a company. I need to get up at 5:30am as I did before and start my day with my mediation, coffee and my plans for the day.  I felt good when I arrived at work. So, I have to make this a priority.  I may be getting to relaxed with my time issue, but I can't afford that mindset.  

My meeting went well and we accomplished a lot and new ideas were put on the table. I'm excited about them all. I received my invitations for the Wine Tasting fundraiser and they are so pretty and so ME. I got a lot of work ahead but I think it will all be worth it. I have been writing on my short story blog and I'm developing a story that I plan to share at some point. But I just don't have enough time to do all I want to do. I"m squeezing in small amounts of time for me to play on Twitter and Facebook and just find things of interest on the internet, but it is limited. But I have made a goal to get up earlier and act like I work for someone else and make solid expectations for myself. I didn't have a problem adhering to other people's expectations. Having my own magazine is MY JOB and I have to remember that . I have to do what is needed to be successful, just as I was in my old job. Taking back some of the habits I had established will work the same in this situation. 

I'm glad to be feeling good though. It helps to enjoy yourself. I did get a little stressed and frustrated yesterday, so I just came home and vegged on my recliner. I love my worn recliner. My babies, Mia and Tanner, lay in my lap or whatever they can find space and we just relax and enjoy each other's company. They are so wonderful to have around.

I have a interview tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. It will be about Sickle Cell Anemia and how it affects many Black people in our communities. It is a medical issue that we don't know a lot about but it affects quite a few Black people. After that, I may take some time for myself... but I doubt. 

Well tomorrow's a new day and I will keep writing. Thanks for reading.

"Embrace Your Community.

A Publisher's Day

I woke up feeling pretty good today. I have been working like crazy staying up late to finish everything, even though I realize I will never finish.  I listened to my Gospel music as I do everyday to get me feeling really good as I drove to my coffee shop office Java. I thought about a friend who reached a year of her book of poetry being published. I am so happy for her.  It is so good when you reached a goal that started out as just a thought but ended up to be a dream come true. Way to Go Shametra! It is only the beginning for you. As I thought about her, I thought about my own year coming up in September. My thought that turned to a dream will be upon me in September. I will definitely have to reflect just as she did.

Today I was able to work from an agenda and accomplished everything that was listed for today. It is such a good feeling when I do this. The editor and I realized we have to have an agenda to keep us on track. It makes us feel good and we feel we have met our goals for the day. The magazine continues to move forward and grow. People continue to be responsive and apart of the growth. Thanks Austin. I'm working hard to have a great fundraiser event. I have great people surrounding me, so I have no doubt. But because again, I'm completely out of my comfort zone, I am afraid and fearful. But it comes from my own insecurities. I have a lot by the way. 

I have an interview tomorrow morning and then the team will meet to review the June issue. It will go out on time. I'm excited about it. It is our Father's Day issue. I love celebrating the Black man and the good black men who are working, loving and providing security to their family. They are out there, we just have to give them light to shine. They are covered by all the darkness that drains from a wound created by our society. Ujima will always give them the power and the positive light they deserve and need. 

Tomorrow is a new day, and I will continue to write. Thanks for reading. See ya soon.

"Embrace Your Community"