Diary of a N.E.R.D.

Oh, how I wish I could quit you.

MTV Diary of... N.E.R.D from Adrian Hylton on Vimeo.

I missed them in San Francisco a few weeks ago. They did a smaller show at USF before their gig with Jay Z in Fresno. My heart--it breaks.

American Dad

I loathe FOX tv. First, the station has too many ridiculous reality TV shows. Second, FOX kills off all the good shows: Arrested Development, Firefly, and now Dollhouse--how in the hell am I going to get my Tahmoh fix? I try not to ever become invested in any of the network's shows, but still I do. When I'm up at midnight having problems falling asleep, HULU is my friend, and why shouldn't I watch fifteen episodes of Family Guy?

American Dad brings the funny. I've suffered laughing fits from several episodes. It makes no sense, of course, but how can I not laugh when Steve, the alien, and Stan, the "American Dad" and conservative FBI agent, "accidentally" get high because they are trapped in a barn full of burning weed? And they end up in a convenience store? This is one of my favorite clips ever.



Or how about when Roger fools Steve, Stan's son, into believing he's been admitted to the American Hogwarts--which turns out to be a traphouse.



Oh, it gets better.



I'm in ghetto-nerd heaven over here.

the new header picture

My face was much too large in that last photograph. Every time I logged into my blogger account, I felt assaulted by my own picture. I also felt sort of King-Kong-ish, so I changed the image in my header.

That is the legendary Buddy Lee Dungaree and my little boyfriend/cousin (the boyfriend part is a joke) Jaylen about to jump off a cliff at Wolf River. Or that could be the twins from Where the Line Bleeds as younger kids, swinging from a rope out and into their river.

I miss my boys--both sets. So whichever caption you like works.

all over

This is a schizophrenic post.

First, I really want to embed this slide show about "hip-hop muppets" from the The Urban Daily, but I can't figure out how to do it. So, here's a (cut and paste) link:

http://theurbandaily.com/special-features/gallery-hip-hop-muppets/

Check it out. It's funny.

I haven't updated my blog in a while, and the reason I haven't is because I've been very busy this quarter: I'm a teaching assistant for a class on some of the hardest modernist authors (I read As I Lay Dying one week, and Absalom Absalom the next week), I'm working on my third novel, attempting to revise my second novel, and still doing promo for my first novel. I traveled twice this fall for my book and once to attend the best.wedding.EVER: hi El and Lo! And on top of all this, I'm currently applying for jobs for next year. That is to say: this fall has been rough.

Anyhow, I know it's older, but I wanted to post the preview for Chris Rock's Good Hair.



I also wanted to post a (cut and paste) link to an article, originally posted at the Miami Herald, that refers to Good Hair, which I haven't had the opportunity to see yet. (I think I'll try to catch it at the Lumiere tomorrow).

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard-pitts/story/1309381.html

I've worn my hair natural for around nine years now, much to the shame and dismay of many folks in my family; it's nice to see a film about natural hair in the black community be made, and also see the natural hair movement gaining steam. When I began growing my hair out nine years ago, there was no movement. The shame of it is that one of my white friends, my beloved Sarah, introduced me to the world of natural haircare blogs this year; I had no idea that they even existed. Now, I spend hours procrastinating while I peruse natural hair blogs and tutorials online. Lol. Anyhow, if you're at all interested in seeing Good Hair, read Leonard Pitt Jr.'s article. This is the most lovely paragraph, I think.

I am your brother, your father, your husband and your son. I've seen you in church with big hats on, giving children the evil eye. And at the jail on visiting day, shoring up that wayward man. And at the bus stop in the rain on your way to work. And at the dining table with pen and paper, working miracles of money. When I was a baby, you nursed me, when we were children, I chased you through the house; when we were dating, I missed half the movie, stealing sugar from you. I saw you born; I took you to your prom; I glowed with pride when you went off to school. I have married you and buried you. I love your smile. A million times, you took my breath away.

You are the rock and salvation of our people, the faith that remains when all hope is gone. So if it's about the need to be beautiful, maybe it's time somebody told you:

You already are. You always were.


It makes me tear up each time I read it.

And I know you've probably heard about Precious as well, if only because Mariah Carey has been doing publicity for it while only focusing on how "ugly" she looked in the role. Mariah, that's what the rest of us call "walking out of the house without applying makeup." You should try it sometime. Anyhow, here's a preview for Precious as well since I'm blabbing on and on about movies and inner and outer beauty instead of working on my mini-lecture I have to give on Hurston next Thursday. Eek!





And now, since I'm slowly healing from the flu, I'm about to lay up on the sofa on this action-packed Friday night and drink warm apple cider while watching basic cable; this means toggling between the Discovery channel, Cartoon Network, and old movies. I promise I'll write again, sooner rather than later.

it's not easy

Happy Birthday, Joshua.

so ambitious

I'm not a huge Jay-Z fan. And I'm beefing with Pharrell right now, too. But I love this song. Sometimes when these two get together, it's a sonic revelation, and I'm the sucker peon in the situation, getting rolled over.

(Edited to add: So, Warner objected to copyright content and removed the "So Ambitious" video link from youtube. And I was tempted, for about 30 seconds, to find another version of the video on youtube and link to it. Then I got pissed off and decided if Warner and Jay don't want free publicity, then fuck 'em. Besides, I'm sure you'll hear the song on the radio. Oh well, I guess "the streets" won't be "A&R'ing this," huh Jay?)

And Pharrell and Clipse?



Make me mute with admiration. I beat this song in my car for at least two weeks straight before I left home. Windows down, hot air, clear sky before the September monsoons hit, and Kalani in the passenger seat. It was as if being home in Mississippi was a feeling in the car, and it was so good.

This is why Pharrell and I are beefing. I'm mad that I have nothing but abject devotion for this man and his beats. (I know that Chad is his partner, and they're his beats as well, but Pharrell is the figurehead, so he gets all the blame.) They work me over like good literature, and who likes being a junkie? Not me. Lol.

i'm back, more obnoxious than ever

I know that is an extremely big-ass, obnoxious photo of myself at the top of the page, but until I find another one better than that, you're going to have to deal with it. I am so happy to finally be able to put an image in my header that I immediately slapped one up there with no regard for what the consequences were going to be. Oops.

I spent my summer doing three things: swimming, drinking, and revising my second novel (which now has a new tentative title). It was a good summer. More on that later when it's not damn near four in the morning Pacific time. Just enjoy the tacky picture for now.

the hurricane that won't end COOKIE MONSTER

I am caught in a hurricane that won't end. Being in Katrina, even fictionally, is depressing. This made my day a little brighter, though.