As I mentioned in my previous entry, I’ve been swamped with deadlines this month (YAAAAY!). Not only that, I celebrated my 33rd birthday (quietly with a staycation) and I tragically lost a relative that was laid to rest yesterday. February has been such a busy month I barely had time to slow down for Valentine’s Day. Then again, I don’t mind missing out on the hyper commercialized day of love because I was never THAT girl. Meaning, I’m not into the VDay hype. Plus my birthday is a week before and I’m loved on by all (that matter) around and on that day. Through all the madness of this month I made sure not to skimp on GIVING or SHOWING love.
Hiding her face, Mahoganie Jade Browne Showing her #Southeastlove
I’ll start locally with my city or really my quadrant of the city. Nikki Peele, the savvy and extraordinary lady behind the blog Congress Heights On The Rise (CHOTR), has started this wonderful campaign; #SoutheastLove. Peele has a hardcore love for Southeast (that includes parts of Wards 6 and 7 and all of Ward 8) and in particular her passion runs deep for her beloved Ward 8. Her passion is evident as Peele is beyond vocal for this to be more than “the little quadrant that could.” It’s no secret that Southeast has been bound by stereotypes or a stigma in which outsiders, perpetuate. Peele is no stranger to conducting a random search on social media to see what folks are saying about Southeast and the results yield embarrassing and sometimes racial tones. While she may place her findings on CHOTR, Peele also takes a moment to educate the misinformed. Furthering her impromptu lesson(s), Peele created the #SoutheastLove campaign where residents download and print the above sign and take a photo of themselves and the sign (preferably) at a Southeast location or where they happen to be as a way to show their love for this thriving quadrant. Once pictures are tweeted they appear in a streaming slideshow on Peele’s CHOTR blog. Already Mayor Vincent Gray (a Southeast resident in Ward 7) has joined in as well as D.C. Public Schools’ Chancellor Kaya Henderson and more. I’ve printed out my sign, but haven’t found the proper time to run outside and snap a picture. I tried my best to get my fellow yogis to take a picture after yoga class on Monday, but it seems everyone was suffering from a bad case of yoga hair. So that was a no go. Ha!
To read some of the Peele’s findings on the negative things people had to say about Southeast, D.C. and more about #SoutheastLove and view the slide show of love visit Peele’s Congress Heights On The Rise blog.
Two years ago I did a post about a dating article I came across. It was a fun(-ny) post about five things you should know in case you are thinking about dating a journalist. Just when I thought jokes about dating a journalist was loosing its spark I came across another article via the site NewsCastic: “Ten Reasons You Should Date a Journalist.” Of the ten reasons, my favorites are these:
“In addition to our phone number, we also will give you our office number, Twitter handle, Facebook page, LinkedIn profile, and fax number.”
“Not only will we remember your birthday but we’ll also memorize your license plate number, your address, polling location and school board district.”
” We know the mayor.” – From NewsCastic.com
When I read those, all I could think about was:
1. The time when I first received professional business cards. I got carried away with a potential gentleman caller and gave him my business card that held all the info (sans social media as it wasn’t really a phenomenon then). That’s how I exchanged my info. HA!
2. Pretty much this goes for anyone in my life; I may not have your license plate down or your bankcard PIN, but I know a lot of your vital info. I’m not sure how that happens, but it does. I guess I’m just that trusting. And it’s not just vital info, it’s everything about you. Even with my current boyfriend (of six years), I pretty much know where all his grey hairs are on his head! I study his face and head for like hours. I don’t know. I’m fascinated by his hair follicles? Sad thing is, he doesn’t know it.
3. The mayor bit….that’s kinda true. You see, my family is very politically active in our community. While I’m more acquainted with other local politicians, the mayor does know who my parents are, but not necessarily me as we’ve only met like twice. Oh but he can point out my parents in a crowd in a second. So yeah..I KNOW people.
The article also has additional reasons by tweeting journalist. My favorites from that list are:
“@SPJDana: Journalists are good listeners. #DateLikeAJournalist“
“ @RandiMShaffer: It’s totally normal to perform a background check and request the criminal history record of any guy you date, right? #datelikeajournalist“
“@Kleckinator: @JournalistsLike I can get you into any sports event you like (as my “photographer”) #DateLikeAJournalist”– Tweets taken from NewsCastic.com
To read the complete list head over to NewsCastic.com
Lastly, if anyone knows me you know my love runs deep for house music and all its sub genres. I’ve been fortunate to met a few internationally known DJs that are in the house music scene, but my wish list to meet more is still rather one. It includes South African DJ Black Coffee, who had a show here in D.C. a year or two ago and I totally missed it!!!!! Based on videos I’ve seen of him on YouTube, to see him perform his set live is an absolute treat. Imagine how thrilled I was when I saw the above flyer late last night advertising his performance for the upcoming annual Winter Music Conference (WMC) going down next month in Miami. Sadly, I won’t be able to go, but at 3 a.m I tweeted the following.
“@Mahoganie_Jade: Ooooooo. Anyone going to WMC will be in a for a treat if they get to see/hear
@RealBlackCoffee set.#SouthAfrica#HouseMusic“
Within minutes my tweet was re-tweeted among South African tweeters. The retweeting caused a flurry of South African tweeters to hit the “follow” button and began speaking to me about their love for DJ Black Coffee. What made my early morning a bit brighter was DJ Black Coffee (HIMSELF) hitting the “follow” button. Yay! Then interesting conversations followed that led to this…
Basically, I received mad love from South Africa early this morning.
I don’t know what it is about the month of February. There always seems to be a high energy of love in the month for me. Maybe Valentine’s Day has something to do with it. I don’t know. I just know that lately, I’ve been living with an abundance of love that I’ve been dying to share more of, even if it is online.
Mahoganie: Musings East of the Anacostia River 
Posted on February 20, 2013
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