Well James and I arrived safely in New York, where we will spend the next four days exploring the Big Apple and attending Book Expo America. Book Expo America (BEA) is the largest annual conference in the publishing industry, and the place to see and be seen if you’re in the business of BOOKS. My friend and colleague Edwardo once said to me – “If you make it to one conference a year, you have to make sure you get to BEA…” So here I am, travelling all the way to the East Coast, trying to get my network on…

Over the next few days I will be attending workshops/receptions/parties, cruising the exhibition halls, expanding my professional network, and pitching my book to people who can help make my publishing dreams a reality. It’s a very exciting time and I’m ready to put myself out there and raise my profile as an up and coming author 🙂 I also get to meet up with writer friends I’ve met over the past year (since we’ve all migrated to New York this weekend for the same reason), and catch up with old friends (Hi Omar!) from all over the country. I’m sure it will be a great time.

Not all business though 🙂 James and I also plan to do a bit of sightseeing while we’re here, which will be fun since this is my first visit to New York City. The most eagerly-anticipated event on my tourist agenda? Catching a Broadway showing of my favorite play EVER – RENT. No day but today baby 🙂

As an aside, we flew over on JetBlue Airlines, and I gotta say, JetBlue kicks all kinds of ass. I fully recommend and endorse this airline – best flight experience EVER, and that’s saying a lot cause I am one of those people who hates to fly… Tons of legroom, comfortable seats, decent selection of snacks, and most importantly, each seat has it’s own TV that has 40 cable channels. Watching TV totally helps pass the time, and this should be standard on all airlines, lol. Awesome, awesome, awesome. If JetBlue flies to where I need to go, they definitely have my business from here on out.

Okay, be on the lookout for more chronicles of my New York adventures! And wish me luck!!!

I have to apologize to my loyal readers (Hi Leish! lol) for the lack of updates and general MIA-ness. Truth be told, with the retrograde and impending Eclipses, I’ve been a bit of an emotional basketcase. Not really in a bad way — I’ve been experiencing just as many good/happy emotions as bad ones. It’s just that I’ve been feeling everything so intensely, all the time, and it’s been all over the map – up, down, up again, down again. When overstimulated and cranky, I tend towards hibernation. I can hardly stand to be around myself much less subject other people to it, lol.

Of course this is all compounded by the fact that the only person I feel like being around at all (besides Devin), is on a boat, in the middle of an ocean, somewhere on the other side of the world. Yup, I sure know how to pick’em, LOL. It is high, it is low, and all I can do is flow…

Anyway, just wanted to write something to let ya’ll know that yes, I’m still alive. Still dreaming, still writing. Still trying to figure out how I can help make the world a better place… Making progress on all of those fronts too, but that’s another blog 🙂

PS: Uploaded some more pics onto Flickr. (mostly of my handsome pimp of a nephew). The next generation is so beautiful and I can’t wait to add my own kids to this awesome posse of cousins 🙂

Awesome, just awesome. Those of you who’ve been reading the blog for awhile know I’m a card-carying Dixie Chicks fan and supporter. So I felt especially vindicated when I heard they not only SWEPT the Grammys by winning every category they were nominated in, but also took home THREE all-genre awards AND Country Album of the Year!

Chicks were winners in the following categories:
Album of the Year
Record of the Year
Song of the Year (Not Ready to Make Nice)
Best Country Album
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group

It’s delicious irony that the Chicks won “Best Country Album” since country music has pretty much disowned them and failed to support this album at all (only a handful of stations even play the Chicks music anymore). Natalie said it best when she quoted a popular Simpsons character – “Ha ha…” Note to Country Radio: The Chicks don’t need your stupid support to go double platinum and win an armful of Grammys *sticks tongue out*

This is a triumphant day for the Dixie Chicks and all Dixie Chick fans. When music and politics collided in a particularly ugly way, with three outspoken women at the center facing off against our infallible President (that’s sarcasm ya’ll), they stood their ground, championed free speech, refused to compromise their artistic integrity, and spit in the face of everyone who urged them to just “Shut Up and Sing.” And yesterday, their artistry was acknowledged and affirmed in a major way. It is about freakin’ time.

So so incredibly proud. You Go Girls!!!

Shortly after New Years, I decided to do my first Detox and Colon Cleanse. One of my best friends (along with her fiancee) decided to do it, and after hearing her rave reviews, I was convinced that a colon cleanse was exactly what I needed to usher in this next phase of my life. A phase focused on getting healthy and staying healthy. It is high time I made amends for the stuff I put my body through in my 20’s.

I’ve been a smoker for half my life (scary!), though I have actively been trying to quit for the past couple of years. Thanks to the chain-smoking Poet, the road trip brought on a relapse, but I’m ready to be done with this already. I’m also ready to pay more attention to things like diet and nutrition, along with committing to a regular exercise routine. If there’s one thing you realize as you get “older,” it’s that no matter how young you may be at heart, we are all mortal with bodies that age. I want to slow that process down as much as possible.

So back to the colon cleanse. A bit of physiology — the colon is the organ responsible for eliminating toxins and waste from the body. When our colons are clogged, our body is not able to absorb nutrients efficiently, and the waste stored in our bowels is allowed to pollute the rest of our bodies and organs. Apparently, most human beings carry around between 10 and 20 pounds of impacted fecal matter in their colons! Can you believe that?!?! Ever wonder what causes beer bellies and unsightly pooches on women? Now you know! It’s backed-up waste!

According to the folks at Dr. Natura:

Research clearly proves that our bodies are not capable of eliminating all the different toxins and chemicals we inhale and ingest every day. They simply accumulate in our cells (especially fat cells), tissues, blood, organs (such as the colon, liver and brain) and remain stored for an indefinite length of time causing all kinds of health problems.

Cleansing your colon is basically like pouring Drano into your large intestine — the purpose is to clear out all the gunk and build-up that’s accumulated over the years so your body can operate at peak performance. I have to tell you, I was amazed, amazed at the stuff that came out of my body during this cleanse… All I can say is — thank god it’s not inside of me anymore!

The all-natural cleansing and detoxification program available from Dr. Natura is a gentle, gradual cleanse that is very easy to fit in to even the most hectic lifestyle. All it requires is a scoop of fiber powder in the morning, tea at night, some vitamins and probiotics throughout the day, and eight 8 oz glasses of water a day (which we should all be drinking anyway). I did a 30-day cleanse and I can totally feel the difference!!! I have more energy and I’ve lost twelve pounds. My stomach is flatter and my skin is clearer than it’s ever been. I’ve completely lost the urge to drink alcohol. I don’t crave sweets (as much). And I’m much more mindful of what I put into my body, on all levels. I find I’m much more sensitive to things that are not good for me, and tend to avoid them. Overall, I think I feel healthier than I have in years, and the physical changes seem to be impacting me in a positive way emotionally as well. I really cannot say enough good things about this cleanse — I plan to make it an annual event and I strongly encourage everyone to look into doing a cleanse of their own. Proactive and preventative approaches to healthcare could make a big difference down the line 🙂

Please check out Dr. Natura for more fascinating information and testimonials about this awesome cleanse! It has my highest endorsement as one very satisfied customer!!!

If he were still alive, Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 78 years old today.

Unlike the members of my parent’s generation, I did not live through ‘Separate but Equal’ era. I have to admit, in the predominantly-white middle class California suburb I grew up in, everything seemed pretty equal, all things considered. I don’t think I had a true grasp of what race relations in this country had been like until I got to college. But there, during courses like “The Civil Rights Movement” and “The African-American Experience,” I was able to catch my first unsanitized glimpse of our nation’s ugly history. It wasn’t all about independence from England and providing a safe harbor for immigrants and other victims of persecution, as High School textbooks would have us believe. The term “land of the free” was only true for some. For others, it was a demoralizing life of second-class citizenship.

I’ll never forget the pride and horror I felt watching documentaries on the 1960’s such as Eyes on the Prize. My generation is so out of touch with it’s history; we take so much for granted. People gave their lives so I could vote, own a home, go to college. I am eternally indebted to people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for everything I have come to achieve in my life thus far. I owe it to those who died for my freedoms to make sure my life means something…

(Click here to watch historic footage of MLK’s “I have a dream” speech on YouTube.)

It saddens me that there don’t seem to be any contemporary leaders with the spirit and vision of Dr. King. Or perhaps we, as a society, have become so selfish, compartmentalized, and complacent that we are too lazy to be mobilized en masse. Middle class apathy is as deadly as any disease people.

Lately I’ve been on a spiritual kick, reading Deepak Chopra, Pema Chodron, and Thich Nhat Hanh. Like these international peace activists, Dr. King stands out in history because of his commitment to using nonviolent methods to achieve social change. Choosing to love in the face of hate and shower forgiveness upon your enemies is not something that comes easily for most of us. Locating acts of true compassion these days is rare, but we all have the capacity to lend our energy towards positive change. Most of us just need a little guidance…

Today, in reflecting on the legacy Martin Luther King Jr. left us, I stand solid in my commitment to be a proponent of peace and love, and resist the urge to harbor, broadcast, or reproduce negativity. I also pledge to cultivate more compassion as I go about my business in this cold and sometimes cruel world. I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Thank you Dr. King, for continuing to be an inspiration almost 20 years after your passing.

Hey folks… Very excited to be starting my 31st year 🙂 If it’s anything like year thirty, I’ve got lots and lots to look forward to…

About to head down to LA to celebrate my birthday with my SoCal peoples. Lots of wonderful activities on the itinerary and lots of Steph pampering! I’ve been looking forward to this (especially Saturday! 😉 all week.

Thanks in advance for all the birthday wishes. It’s funny, I’ve been receiving phone calls, texts, presents and myspace wishes ever since the 3rd, lol. I officially dub this my birthday week!

Love you all!

Happy New Year ya’ll!!! I can’t believe 2006 is behind us–it went so fast! It seems like just yesterday that I was celebrating my 30th birthday. And now my thirtieth year is done and a whole new year awaits. Wow, time really does fly when you’re having fun. 🙂

I’m not a big holiday person, so I don’t do anything big for New Years Eve. Actually, the past five years I’ve started a tradition of celebrating New Year’s alone by reflecting on the previous year, releasing unnecessary baggage (this is usually coupled with pitching things into the fireplace, lol), and setting my goals for the year ahead. A quiet, introspective, spiritual time that I truly cherish. I think the idea of New Year’s Resolutions is a good one, and I like to put a lot of thought into mine. Starting the new year with a clear direction will only help you get to the goal faster…

Looking back on 2006, I can’t deny what a monumental, milestone-filled year it was in my life. I turned 30. I shifted the main focus of my attention to pursuing a career as a writer. I embarked on my life-altering cross country road trip. I welcomed the birth of Isabel Santillan and my first official nephew Devin Anthony Casher. I added another member to my own family by adopting Jayjers. And I started work on my second book. To name a few. Yup, there is no doubt about it – 2006 was hands-down the best year of my life.

I’m trying to make 2007 even better 🙂 I’ve restrategized on the publishing front, and am going to come at this goal from a whole other angle which I’m convinced will increase my chances of success (stay tuned for more on that). I’m systematically ridding myself of all toxic influences (people and substances), and have committed myself to achieving better overall health. And I’m making room for love in my life (for real this time). Yup, my goals for 2007 are simple: Get Published, Get Healthy, Find Love. And not necessarily in that order 😉

Randomly, the final hours of 2006 ended up being just as eventful as the previous year. In an interesting twist of life, I ended up not having to ring in the new year alone after all because the Poet showed up on my doorstep out of the blue a couple of hours before midnight. Crazy, just crazy. Haven’t seen him since Albuquerque and then BAM, there he was, lol. It was nice to catch up and reminisce–the whole thing had a very ‘full circle’ feel to it… He was such a big part (and catalyst) of “the change” this summer, having him there I as did my whole “out with the old” ritual seemed fitting. Though it was also a bit odd cause I happen to be crushing hard on someone else right now too (I know, we should all have my problems, LOL)… But John is family, pure and simple, and it was very good to see him. The rest will sort itself out.

Well, I hope everyone had a very safe and happy new year… I have a good feeling about 2007–I think there is great potential for good things to happen, not just individually, but within the collective. We’re on the verge of a major shift methinks (love that word!), and the forces of war and evil are about to be dethroned in favor of something more… constructive. For the first time in years I’m looking forward and I am inspired, hopeful. Here’s to hoping I can sustain this ridiculous optimism well into the new year 🙂

Ever come up for air in the middle of a week and wish you could magically be transported back to the previous weekend? Yeah, that would be me right about now. I’m coming off a pretty amazing weekend in LA, and would give anything to be back there right now…

Ever since the life-changing road trip, I’ve been trying to satisfy my persistent wanderlust by taking a mini-road trip every few weeks. Last time I stayed close to home, venturing only as far as Big Sur, but this time I decided to head down to Southern California for a writer’s retreat. Great idea–I came home so inspired.

First stop was Irvine, where I got to visit with my beloved bubbly doll Jordana. Quality time with Jordi is always good for my soul, but this time she helped me with some research as well. Jordana is a behaviorial psychologist, and over dinner I interviewed her about some therapist stuff to help me with this chapter I’m working on. Lots of good info and it totally got my juices flowin’ for the rest of the weekend.

I stayed with Jordana Friday night, but got a room in Laguna Hills for Saturday night because history has shown that I write incredibly well in hotel rooms, lol. And after checking in early, I actually did spend the entire afternoon holed up in my room, papers spread all over the bed, editing and writing. It was awesome–I was totally in a zone and got so much done. Nothing feels better to me than creative productivity…

Rounded out my trip by hooking up with another one of my writer friends that I met at the BWRC in Dallas – Mr. James W. Lewis. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again — I love my writer friends 🙂 A chance to commune with another author about the ups and downs of the “bidness” always lifts my spirits and refocuses me, and my visit with J-Dub was well-timed and very good for my soul in that regard. He’s a talented brotha, incredibly good peoples, and I’m proud to call him friend. I swear, ole boy went from colleague to homeskillet in record time! LOL!

Okay, it’s starting to rain and the holidays are right around the corner, so I probably won’t be able to get away again until late-January or February… But the juices are flowing, and I think I can get a lot of writing done over the next few weeks as I’m barricaded in the house… That’s the plan anyway. 🙂

Well, the first four days of December have been 70 degrees and sunny here in Santa Cruz. It’s way strange, but I’m enjoying every second of it 🙂 Santa Cruz, especially in Fall, is one of the most beautiful places in the world. My Sunday bike ride down West Cliff only affirmed this incredibly biased opinion. Spong-e requested that I post pics of the outing on the blog, and I always do my best to accommodate requests from friends (Huh, J-Lew?) 😉

Looking across the Bay towards Monterey…

The lone sailboat on the open seas…

Picture perfect sunset from the outside of my new office at Cowell…

Hope that helped with your nostalgia fix Sponge! I can’t wait to see you, cook, and catch up over a bottle of Bonny Doon’s best Riesling 🙂 And for the rest of you — I got a empty spare bedroom and two kitties who LOVE it when mama has company… So come check out the scenery for yourself before the rain shuts down Highway 17, lol.

So yeah, I know I’m a little late, but Happy Thanksgiving Ya’ll! Or as Poet John would say, ‘Happy “We stole ya land, killed ya fam, and got the rest of you living in utter poverty” DAY!!!’ lol Not that attempted mass extinction of the Native Peoples is a laughing matter, but it is interesting how the origins of some of our Holidays get completely overlooked or sanitized.

I’ve never been big on the Holidays myself. I’m all for a day off work, but I really don’t appreciate society dictating when I should be thankful, celebrate my love for my partner, and buy gifts for all my friends and family. Think about it – the Season of Giving. Everyone is supposed to be charitable from November thru New Years. My question is–why for only two months? Why can’t we be charitable and giving 12 months of the year? And does the mere existence of holidays and holiday rituals let people off the hook from being attentive, loving, and generous the other 360 non-holidays???

Oh well, at least we get a day off work. 😉 Naw, I’m just playin’, there IS a bright side to the Holidays, and I DO have a lot to be thankful for. This has been an incredibly blessed year for me, filled with a lot of love. I don’t feel half as inspired to hate on the holidays as I usually do 😉 The holidays also brings families together, and lately, I’ve really enjoyed our “family times.” I swear, Devin makes family functions so much fun, and we all seem to get along now. Devin is Magic!!! 😉

The Sunday before Thanksgiving we had a pre-Thanksgiving at mom’s house, complete with gumbo and pumpkin cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. This was an awesome day because it was really small, just the “core” family. Sometimes I really miss those times when it was just the five of us, four of us, three of us… Every time you add another person to the mix, the dynamic changes, and while I love those other people, I do get nostalgic for the times when it was just me and the twins… But the family will only get bigger from here on out, as people get married and more babies are born. And I have to admit, watching the onset of the next generation is cool in a really trippy way.

Thanksgiving at Auntie’s was chill and low-key. All the married family members were off with the in-laws, so Bill, Kim and their families were absent. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to not having Bill around on the holidays. It always feel like less of a holiday when he’s not here–I guess after 28 years, you just get used to having folks around 🙂 But we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless, hanging out watching football and being entertained by Big Eric. Now begins the countdown to Christmas, which is going to be historic this year because the Jackson Fam will be coming to Cali for Christmas for the first time EVER! I am so excited that I’m not even going to bother breaking out my Grinch costume this year–between Devin’s first Christmas, a Casher Family Reunion, and a week off work, the holidays are going to be off the chain. Bring it On!!!