That Teowonna!

I agree with most of the content in this blog. I h...

2010-08-20T22:31:36.377-04:00

I agree with most of the content in this blog. I have been a food stamp recipient and understand both sides of the debate. I am the oldest of 7 children, we grew up in a 2 bedroom mobile home, my mother stayed at home, and NEVER used any type of assistance. On the other hand, I have almost 5 children (the 5th being a HUGE surprise) and have been married for 10 years. The company that my husband worked for closed its doors last April. Since then, he has taken 2 temporary jobs, applied to over 250 places, gone to countless interviews and is now delivering pizza. We are on foodstamps, and I am the embarrassed one who slips the card discreetly through the machine. It is embarrassing to enter DFS and have them scrutinize me for my family size versus income. We did not plan that and had more then enough when the company was open. I agree that there are those who need it and those who abuse it. I fear that we may not be able to survive without them. This year alone, we lost our house, van, and all utilities. It is like we are Amish with Food Stamps. My frustration is this: there are programs to assist with childcare, housing, utilities, and other things IF you are single. We do not qualify for those things. Just last week, I traded milk & eggs for toilet paper. Food is all that we can have. AND when we become homeless, which in inevitable if jobs are not created, then we lose those! Something has to give. I think we need to get back to basics, provide only necessary staples, hygiene products and toiletries, and "teach a man to fish." And then LET him fish!!!

This would have been a cool memorable event that w...

2010-06-30T16:47:44.922-04:00

This would have been a cool memorable event that would be a notch above typical tourist treatment, but it certainly sounds like a token gesture to reach out to a group that was not perceived to have much influence. But what the heck--something is better than nothing.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Which Corey is this??? not jealous, just want to ...

2010-06-24T12:51:59.929-04:00

Which Corey is this??? not jealous, just want to know of all the other Coreys out there, especially when we spell our names the same!!!

http://www.plaintalk2011.com

Well, speaking of Drive-Thru service, don't ex...

2010-06-24T11:56:52.389-04:00

Well, speaking of Drive-Thru service, don't expect good customer serivce from Mr. Captain D's on Bush River. They are very nice in taking your order, your money, and then asking you to pull over and they will bring your order out. Now this happens all the time, not just with the mad lunch hour rush. My thing is, ask me if I would like to wait, before you take my money,. Now you got me committed without my permission. Oh and don't ask for your money back, you still gotta wait. Don't go inside to speak with the manager, she's busy, you still gotta wait. No Mr. Captain D's can't get my business anytime of the day.

Ed... no! Disappointment... That Teowonna does not...

2010-06-24T11:08:21.344-04:00

Ed... no! Disappointment... That Teowonna does not do disappointment very well! OK. I have been officially dressed down. I will do better! Alvin Green is coming for sure! I also have other wonderful things for you too... just wait!

Thanks so much for your feedback. I look forward to hearing from you! Also, REALLY enjoyed the blog about the father-son trip to MB. That was excellent writing! It made me smile...

Hello Ms. Teowonna, It's your friend Ed writ...

2010-06-24T11:06:16.692-04:00

Hello Ms. Teowonna,

It's your friend Ed writing here and expressing disappointment with you. No, it's not because you haven't found a treasure trove of information about Atlantic Beach and Punk's Patio (and maybe even a few pictures) for me, or that your blogs have become less scintillating (loved the latest brown bloggers at the White House and even the small slice-of-life commentary on Chick-fil-A).

So, what's the problem? You haven't been all over the Alvin Greene story! Could there be more fertile ground for your plow? Nope. Come on Ms. T. Where's it at?

With very best regards and hopefully a little evident humor,
Ed Shell

I suggest that you use the Drive-Thru in the futur...

2010-06-23T14:38:53.924-04:00

I suggest that you use the Drive-Thru in the future.

Trudy: Don't get me wrong... I'm was honor...

2010-06-23T13:25:26.982-04:00

Trudy: Don't get me wrong... I'm was honored also! But are we just so happy to be at the table that we will be happy with anything? Yes, this is a step in the right direction, but look at the relationship with the Republican Party and their bloggers versus the Democrats and their political bloggers... There is a lot more that can be done. A glass of water would have helped the relationship tremendously!

Dang, I did not know about the Biden pool party! ...

2010-06-23T13:03:01.670-04:00

Dang, I did not know about the Biden pool party!

I guess for me I enjoyed the visit and was honored to be invited. But for headway to have been made with regard to the White House fostering a new relationship with the brown blogger community, I believe everyone invited should have been privy to the topic for the meeting so we could have had a more contructive discourse. It would have been nice to receive a formal email or letter from the new media team confirming our invitation and outlining the agenda.

Additionally, a proper tour of the actual White House and a choreographed photo op would have cemented a positive first impression for me. **bummed iim not showing in the group photo**

All and all a step in the right direction and next time it will be better.

Thx for speaking on it!

Great Post! You should send it to him :)

2010-06-23T09:07:11.858-04:00

Great Post! You should send it to him :)

I have to take some time to research Vook because ...

2010-06-21T12:56:23.596-04:00

I have to take some time to research Vook because I am just learning about it for the first time, but in my humble opinion reading is fundamental to success. If you are an avid reader that flows into your communication and writing skills and those skills are essential especially in the information world we live in. We've got teenagers how are photo addicts and just flip through magazines looking at pictures not pulling forth new nuggets of information to enrich their lives or the lives of those around them. Folks are getting stuck on short cuts and to me a Vook sounds like another short cut that cuts into the value one gets from actually reading... but Ms. Rachel @vooktv I will check out your links before I make my final assessment of vook. But these are my initial thoughts.

You know H, I don't know if women have taken i...

2010-06-15T16:23:59.885-04:00

You know H, I don't know if women have taken it upon themselves to stand in the role of men, or rather, it has been forced on women to stand in that role.

I think Mother's tell their little daughters to get a good education to be able to take care of themselves just in case the need arrives. Sort of like what I tell my son... "Yes you have a real shot at the NFL, but study hard and get your degree baby, because you never know."

The article is a good conversation starter... and ...

2010-06-09T11:16:05.669-04:00

The article is a good conversation starter... and I definately agree.... women have "taken it upon themselves to do our jobs and theirs" (the men)

It's a difficult conversation to have...as people will naturally respond defensively - at first... that is - if they get past the defensiveness.

I wonder.... How many Black women are successful at "allowing a man to be The Man" once they've achieved some career success?? It seems to me -- this is where the problem lies. Getting degrees and being successful in a career.... isn't the major problem... it's how women handle their "relationships" once they achieve that.

Isn't it interesting... white women seem to be more 'successful' at navigating this difficult path??

In no way did I say that women should be stay uned...

2010-06-09T09:57:21.281-04:00

In no way did I say that women should be stay uneducated and ignorant. That is a typical response that I get... people completely misinterpreting my words and taking them to the extreme. In fact, I specifically said that I am an advocate of higher education. I also said we need balance. I also said we can have family and an education. What blog did you read? Surely not mine...

To me it says, black women should teach their daug...

2010-06-09T09:56:11.281-04:00

To me it says, black women should teach their daughters to stay uneducated and ignorant. The problem is way more complex than getting a college degree. She did everyone a disservice to oversimplify the issue and blame the victim for the condition that they are in. Women can have careers and children. One is exclusive of the other. Maybe I'll quit my job and draw welfare so I can attract my dream husband.

That's really interesting. If that 53 year old...

2010-06-09T09:54:55.244-04:00

That's really interesting. If that 53 year old think that she can get divorced, walk out her front door and have men lined up, she is delusional. I promise you, men are not just waiting for her to be free so they can snap her up. Perhaps that would have been the case 30 years ago... but not today. When you are in your little married cubby-hole, you are clueless as to what is going on in the single world.

Furthermore, this we can 'have our cake and eat it too' business has put the female gender in a precarious predicament. That's why we are expected to do and give so much... that's why the men aren't expected to do nearly as much... because we have taken it upon ourselves to do our jobs and theirs. This predicament is completely self-induced.

Also, ask her to take assessment of the women she knows who are over 45 and who have never been married. Ask them how many think they will actually 'get' married. Most are hopeful that they will get married, but have accepted that they are single and trying to make the best of it.

The author of this blog assumes that being educate...

2010-06-09T09:54:19.351-04:00

The author of this blog assumes that being educated and 45 decreases your chance of getting married because what?????. That of course in my opinion is faulty thinking. Personally, I would rather earn an education and become independent before I add anyone to my equation. It's far more important to be happy with who you are before you can make anyone else happy. Not to say that the young uneducated woman who chose to get married early and had 2.5 children and has now reached 45 years of age will be unhappy. But let’s take pride in knowing that women now have the choice to make contributions aside from children. We can have our cake and eat it too. I don't know about you, but at 53 I still feel that I could attract a man, but Oooops, I only have 2 degrees and 3 children. GO FIGURE.

Kisha: I agree... we need BALANCE. And I understan...

2010-06-08T14:19:07.523-04:00

Kisha: I agree... we need BALANCE. And I understand and agree with what your husband said. Everyone should be able to bring something to the table... but let's be carefyl about raising a generation of girls that are TOO independent; too independent to see the value in marriage and a family... until it is too late.

Balance is what we are looking for! My husband lik...

2010-06-08T13:58:42.603-04:00

Balance is what we are looking for! My husband liked that I had an education. He said it meant that I had something to bring to the table. I was independent when I met him, but I have allowed him to wear the pants while carry the purse.

Interesting............and very thought provoking....

2010-06-07T21:46:53.673-04:00

Interesting............and very thought provoking.

Et tu' Kay?

2010-05-30T14:38:54.642-04:00

Et tu' Kay?

I loved this post! Very amusing. I have to admit,...

2010-05-29T12:50:32.541-04:00

I loved this post! Very amusing. I have to admit, though - kinda diggin' the concept of a Vook! I know crack is whack, but vook-can-cook up new opportunities: it is potentially an innovative way to reach readers and to cater to people with different learning styles...

Well, well, well... if it isn't the chief crac...

2010-05-28T19:54:48.358-04:00

Well, well, well... if it isn't the chief crack dealer herself... I'm going to check out Miss Due's blog AND accept your offer. Miss. Due first came to my attention when her book Joplin's Ghost was reviewed on NPR. Do they know she's pushing this vook? This better be good... or else I'm gonna have to recommend they kick her out of the club!

Hey Teowonna, Rachel from Vook-here. I have to ad...

2010-05-28T18:13:55.273-04:00

Hey Teowonna,

Rachel from Vook-here. I have to admit, even though you spoke our name with contempt, I found your blog post really amusing and well-written.

Two thoughts for you:

1) Tananarive Due just wrote a great blog explain why she likes the Vook, and how she relates to it as a writer: http://tananarivedue.blogspot.com/2010/05/tennyson-hardwick-now-showing-on-ipad.html

2) Why don't I give you a review copy of "From Cape Town with Love?" and let you see what you think. (Warning, Blair is all the videos, so you may find yourself using that softer tone...)

Anyway, tweet me @vooktv or email rachel at vook dot com if interested.

I hope you guys in Columbia don't get too star...

2010-05-27T10:53:59.348-04:00

I hope you guys in Columbia don't get too star struck!!! LOL Thanks for keeping me informed about what's going on. You bring up a good point about celebrities and books. So many people don't realize that when they buy a celebrity book like Sarah Palin or Andre Agassi, they are not buying their actual writings. It makes actual writers like us, seem a dime a dozen. When in actually, writing is not an everyday thing. That and the easy access to Print on demand, has led to the saturation of the literary market. Keep up the good work!!

Fellow writer,
Corey washington