I Just Wanna Break Out And Fly...

Learn To Fly from Christian Letruria on Vimeo.

Question of the Day ...

This Is So Me

I got this from Pearls Before Swine - it is by Stephen Pastis. Do you have this issue?!?!

Cracktracks Presents ... Motivation 504

So as I've been discussing lately, I REALLY believe New Orleans is about to make a serious impact on the music scene at large. I've been experiencing some truly great music lately and the last few weeks I have been all about this one producer Cracktracks. He puts out the best mixtapes and my favorite of his to date was Space Musik but ... he JUST dropped his latest entitled MOTIVATION 504. Hmmm, since I live in the 504 (New Orleans area code) and am desperately in need of some real, true motivation, I did something I never do and waited up for the midnight release! That was SUCH a good decision!!! This mixtape is REALLY good and features a lot of next to blow artists as well as the current "next biggest thing" Jay Electronica - all from right here in New Orleans!!!! I'm beyond excited I feel like it is just another sign I'm in the right place at the right time! Check it out and let me know your favs!!!!! (Might I suggest 2, 3, 15, 17, 19 or 24 to start?!?!)

Click here to download CrackTracks Presents ... Motivation504!

Ego Trippin' ... (there may be a reason why)

I was born in the congo
I walked to the fertile crescent and built
the sphinx
I designed a pyramid so tough that a star
that only glows every one hundred years falls
into the center giving divine perfect light
I am bad

I sat on the throne
drinking nectar with allah
I got hot and sent an ice age to europe
to cool my thirst
My oldest daughter is nefertiti
the tears from my birth pains
created the nile
I am a beautiful woman

I gazed on the forest and burned
out the sahara desert
with a packet of goat's meat
and a change of clothes
I crossed it in two hours
I am a gazelle so swift
so swift you can't catch me

For a birthday present when he was three
I gave my son hannibal an elephant
He gave me rome for mother's day
My strength flows ever on

My son noah built new/ark and
I stood proudly at the helm
as we sailed on a soft summer day
I turned myself into myself and was
jesus
men atone my loving name
All praises All praises
I am the one who would save
More...
I sowed diamonds in my back yard
My bowels deliver uranium
the filings from my fingernails are
semi-precious jewels
On a trip north
I caught a cold and blew
My nose giving oil to the arab world
I am so hip even my errors are correct
I sailed west to reach east and had to round off
the earth as I went
The hair from my head thinned and gold was laid
across three continents

I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal
I cannot be comprehended except by my permission

I mean...I...can fly
like a bird in the sky...

-Nikki Giovanni

Dreams by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

My Music Video Debut

OH MY GOSH! I'm a video vixen!!!!

I love living in New Orleans because I meet so many artistic and creative people that are always working on some project and need some people to help out. In December, my co-worker Iran asked one day if I wanted to be in a video. I asked what kind and when he said rap I was like I can't dance! LOL! He was like now it is a story. I was like OK. Who knew he'd weave together such an awesome video!!! It is shot very well and his FLORIDA STATE film school experience is showing!!! I'm so happy I got to participate! So without further ado, here's ME!!! in TATTOO TEARS by QUENTIN COLEMAN directed by IRAN KUYKENDALL!!!!!

Boy, You So Artistic

Have you checked out Kanye's new blog? Very great, very understated, very artistic. Peep it at www.kanyewest.com.

10 Things About Books

I'm overwhelmed with emotion regarding the New Orleans Saints winning the SuperBowl! So much so I can not write about it yet (so much more than a football win). Until my thoughts are formulated into words, I thought it would be a great idea to do some questionnaire type posts. My dear blogspiration *kay posted the following on her new Ice Cream and Peonies blog so I followed suit. I love books so this was a fun way to celebrate them! YAY! Enjoy ;)

• Favorite books when you were a child and why? I've always loved to read since as far back as I can remember. I do not remember a kiddie book that I loved but I do remember around third grade going BANANAS over everything Judy Blume I touched. I do recall reading FRECKLE JUICE first but it was ARE YOU THERE GOD ITS ME MARGARET was THE book that made me a "reader". This book made me feel like I wasn't so alone in the world if that makes sense. Even at that young age, I realized that I had more in common with people I've never met than some people I saw everyday. I felt like I knew Margaret and I wanted to experience feelings of connecting with characters over and over again.
• First "grown up" book you remember reading? Maya Angelou's I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS. I was still in third grade but to be honest I only read it then because this girl told me it had sex in it. I read the whole thing and was a bit overwhelmed. I revisited when I was older and understood it so much better.
• Favorite movie that came from a book?
  Hmmmm I have so many but I'm going to go with COLOR PURPLE because its one of the few ones were I enjoyed the movie more than the book. I think they did an awesome job of determining what to include and what to eliminate. And it was aesthetically gorgeous.

More...

• Movie that you loved so much that you WISHED there was a book out so that you could find out more about the movie?
• Worst book you've ever read? Hands down, MRS. PAINE'S GARAGE. Ok, I joined a book club randomly on Craigslist. In our first meeting one of the girl's had gotten several of these books donated to us. I soon saw why. IT SUCKS! It was literally like Mrs. Paine's attempt to say she had information so someone gave the ok for this book to be written only to find it was all crap! Horrid horrid book.
• Book that everyone raves about that you either a)haven't read and feel slightly dumb for not having read or b)have tried to read and hated and so feel slightly dumb that everyone is getting something you don't?I'm going to go with B-I feel slightly off because EVERYONE raves about Toni Morrison books and I have trudged through several and just don't get the acclaim. BELOVED was torture to me but everyone raves about it. I. Just.Don't. Get.It.
• If you were forced to choose only 3 books that you could read for the rest of your life, which ones would they be? Hmmmm, YOUR FAITH IS YOUR FORTUNE is super super great and inspiring. It is a "new age" spiritual book but it is so on point. It takes Bible verses and stories and breaks them down into practical applications that apply to everyone's individual life. SOUL CATCHER is a journal book I love and finally THE ALCHEMIST (see next question for reason).
• Name one book that you would recommend everyone you know read.
  If I had money to spare I'd buy cases of THE ALCHEMIST and hand them out to anyone who has never read it. It is a a book I think ANYONE can relate to if they are open to it. The overall point of the book is that everyone has their own special and unique destiny. That destiny requires some effort on each of our parts though and that's why I'd share the book with the world - in hopes that everyone reaches their specific destiny.
• What is your guilty pleasure reading? Anything by E. Lynn Harris. I have no idea why. Some strange fascination with the downlow brothers I guess ...
• What book (excluding the Bible or other major major document of your religion/faith) has changed your outlook on life the most?
  Hands down TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD! Where do I begin. This is my all time favorite book. I've read it over 100 times and every time I learn something else about myself or about mankind or about the characters or the town or the courtroom - simply put I learn something new each time. As simply as I can state, is the one that said people are all people no matter their color. You have to take folk as they come and I learned this lesson by reading this book. I LOVE THIS BOOK!

My First "Movie"

As you know I have a ton of creative ambitions. I want to make films - I want to tell stories that affect change and make people really think (and by make I want to produce, write, edit, all of it). It is of extreme importance to me to become abreast of the process of being a filmmaker. I want to learn everything I can. While in L.A., I worked with so many talented writers and saw how the story came together on the page. I decided that at this stage in my career, it was time to learn how to "show" the story. I am seeking all I can about the various programs to make films. A friend of mine shared his Adobe Premiere package (I can go to his office and practice). I was extremely fortunate that a workshop was being offered her in Final Cut Pro. I've learned so much in my time here! So I wanted to share with you my first ever "movie". It is a two minute story. Take a look and let me know your thoughts. (I know some of the transitions are cheesy but I had to for class!)

The Journey by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.


~ Mary Oliver ~