This Aint Oprah's Book Club, Part V

Ladies and Gentlemen I have just completed Confessions of a Video Vixen, by Karrine Steffens. This book definitely WAS NOT and WILL NOT ever be a part of Oprah's Book Club, but it was a very interesting read. The stories that make up this "memoir" are quite unimaginable for someone like myself who's romantic life has been fairly "by the book".

The book begins with Karrine (or Yizette as she was commonly know as for many years in both the hip hop circuit and stripping arena) telling the reader about her childhood, which was marred by abuse and rape. She discusses her abusive common law marriage with Kool G Rap and then transitions to her life in Los Angeles, California. It is when she moves to LA that her sexual escapades and prowess takes form. All I can say is "WOW". This chic here...Let me just tell you this, she has been with the likes of everyone. If you can think of the name, chances are...she's been there...

However, my feelings for Karrine flip-flopped throughout the read. Sometimes I felt sorry for her, as her past is what drove her to such slack behavior, and at others I was like..."DIS 'ERE BITCH IS A HOE". But guess what, this book has definitely made her some money...and for that I 'aint mad. She was smart and capitalized on her story. This book is a New York Times Best Seller and is quite entertaining to say the least. My suggestion, if you want to laugh or just say "HOLY SHIT"...pick this book up. Its a quick read...I did it in 2 days (could have done it in 1, but a girl's gotta work...because unlike Karrine I don't use my body to get ahead...just my mind).

On a scale of 1-5 (with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest), I give this book a 2.5. Now you probably wonder why I scored this book so low...Well it really has NO literary content. It was like reading US Weekly or InStyle...but it was funny.

Again, all I can say is...WOW!!!!

Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen

This happens to be my favorite graduation speech. It is buy Baz Luhrman, who was responsible for writing Moulin Rouge.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '99... wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long benefits of sunscreen have been provided by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience... I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and the beauty of your youth; oh never mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked... You're not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve algebra by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be the things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours'.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind... the race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life... the most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary... whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either - your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body, use it every way your can... don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on to. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when your were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time it's 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen... "

The Countdown Has Begun

OH MY GOSH!!!! The countdown has begun...14 days to go...

So I am about to hit the big 25, and I am having a 1/4 life crisis. I am about to be a 1/4 century. And trust me I know its young, but 25 is the point where it really hits you...SHIT I am an ADULT. Once you hit 25, that's it. You can no longer be irresponsible and do things at your whim and fancy. Granted, once you hit 18 you really you have to start looking at the big picture of life to some extent., but 25 is the kick in the ass. I was wondering why that is.

I mean turning 25 is not like turning 18 or 21. There are no rights of passage that you get for turning 25 (unless you count the fact that you can now rent an SUV w/ no penalties and extra charges). But 25 has me re-assessing my goals. We all set goals for ourselves to some extent, and for the most part I am achieving mine. But the time frame I set when I was 17 is certainly not realistic. Life moved at a slower pace when I was in my teens, but shit man, once I hit 20...I swear to you...that shit just started flying by. Seriously, you blink and its the next day, you blink and its the next year, you blink and all your firends are getting married and have kids, you blink and you got debt and grown ass responsibilities.

No longer can I make that pitiful plea for help from my daddy. You know what response I get now..."Hun, you are a professional". But truth be told...that feels so bizarre to me. Like seriously, I don't feel like I am at the age where I can have kids and a family...but in reality I am. That is so fucking crazy. Who would have thought that little old Nandi who was, as giddie and clueless as the next young girl, flipping around and bouncing off the walls of the gym (gymnastics) would be having these thoughts? I can tell you one person who didn't...ME. I just thought life would just follow a course and things would fall into place, but that is not true at all. In fact it is quite the opposite. And what I have learned recently is that "LIFE HAPPENS", so you better jump on and enjoy the ride because you blink and its over.