two words.

Pure. Bliss.

I absolutely love this image. It's so simple and sweet. It truly captures the essence, the beauty, of nature.

I want to inhale the scent of beautiful flowers like that, too. And I shall.

Happy (almost) spring!

sue simmons IS new york.

When I awoke yesterday to the news, via Facebook, that NBC New York would not be renewing Sue Simmons' contract, I literally felt knots forming in my stomach. And honestly, I was pretty much out-of-sorts for the rest of the day.

Let me just say this. I love Sue Simmons. She and Chuck Scarborough are an institution in New York, period. They've been on the air for over 30 years, together, and really, there's no other reason to watch the news. It's always been 'Chuck & Sue' and it should always be 'Chuck & Sue.' Oh, did I mention that the network renewed Chuck for three more years? Now, I can't be mad at him for getting his coins, but the thought of Sue not being by his side truly hurts.

For as far back as I can remember, I've watched Channel 4 in New York, only because of Sue Simmons. When I moved to Maryland as a kid, I remember coming back to Queens to visit my grandmother, who was the original news junkie (yes, 5, 6 and 11pm!), and we'd always tune in. 'Chuck and Sue' were a staple. I mean, "Live at Five?" Come on! I could probably hum the theme song right now.

OK, I have a story, one which is as ridiculous as it is true.

During one of my summers of youth, I took a job in Pennsylvania. I'd been living back in New York for a while and although I was excited about my new gig, I was kind of bummed that I wouldn't be spending the summer in the city. I know this sounds crazy, but once I got settled into my home-away-from-home, I was like, "Wait, I'm not watching this local news. I can't believe that I won't be able to watch 'Chuck & Sue' all summer!" I'm not kidding.

So, in typical Regina fashion, I embarked on my own, personal silent protest and decided that if I couldn't watch "real news" (translation: news reported by 'Chuck & Sue'), I wouldn't watch any news. This was before CNN took over our lives, so taking a two-month news moratorium wasn't as difficult as it sounds. I don't even think I missed watching the news, honestly. For the record, when I'm in the midst of one of my silent protests, I am quite stubborn.

One day, I was in the check-out line at the grocery store and saw the cover of People magazine. Wait, is there some crazy dude named Jeffrey eating folks in the midwest? Seriously? Where the hell have I been? Oh, right, I've been on a news moratorium. I had really not watched the news for the whole summer and had no idea what the hell was going on in the world. That's when I realized how ridiculous I'd been, but my actions were steeped in an honest place. In my heart, I was really just holding out until the end of the summer, when I could be reunited with 'Chuck & Sue.' I was, and am, fiercely loyal...even to my favorite news team.

Years later, a friend's daughter landed an internship at NBC and had the good fortune of interacting with Sue. How amazing! I remember asking my friend a barrage of questions - "Can I go to the office with your daughter one day? You think she can get me an autographed picture?" Needless to say, folks fell out laughing when they realized that I was very serious. I never did get that autograph.

When I was in New York for Christmas last year, I turned to Channel 4 at 11pm every night and every night, I was deflated because Sue wasn't on. Chuck wasn't there either. I was like, "OK, I'm here, where are my people?" I was so disappointed. After a week of 'fill-ins,' I finally had to accept that 'Chuck & Sue' weren't clocking in. Maybe they were on holiday, too, which they're certainly entitled to, but I was really looking forward to seeing them. Bottom line is, I know that I'm home when they're in the newsroom.

I hear that Sue's time is up at the station in June, which is heartbreaking. I've been planning on making a trip to the N-Y soon, so best believe I will be landing at JFK before she signs off. I still can't believe it. Sue Simmons is New York and even though I now live 3,000 miles away, I will miss her, just as I miss Ray's Pizza, corner Chinese and running to the bodega every morning for a pint of Tropicana Orange (no pulp!) and a copy of the Daily News, which always has the best horoscopes!

All that said, I salute you, Sue. You did your thing!

I will always love you, Whitney.

It's been just over a week since she passed and still, I am so brokenhearted.

I've loved Whitney Houston since the first day I heard "You Give Good Love" on the radio and through the years, I've cheered for her, always. Watching her service on CNN last Saturday brought me to tears, over and over again. I really can't believe that she's gone.

I wrote this piece, which originally ran on essence.com, two years ago. I meant every word.


"By now, everybody's seen the Youtube footage of Whitney's less-than-stellar vocal performance of one of her biggest hits. The blogs have been buzzing and just yesterday, Meredith Viera reported the story on "The Today Show." Even she seemed a bit saddened by the whole situation, so much so that she ended the segment with a question - 'Where are the people who are supposed to protect her?'

I will admit that I'm a bit biased. I am a die-hard Whitney Houston fan and have been since the first time I heard her voice on the radio. I've seen her live shows, bought her albums, saw the movies and yes, drank the Kool-Aid.

She was our star.

When she released her current album, "I Look To You," last fall, I can't say that I loved every, single song. Honestly, I was just so happy to have her back and most important, she seemed happy to be back. Many of my friends scoffed at me for caring, but I always countered with the fact that Whitney had put in far too much work, for far too long, to have her legacy tarnished at this point in her career. I was also afraid that the younger set would only know of her what they'd read in tabloids and on blogs. I wanted her to do better, be better.

Was I saddened when she began to slip, and eventually tumble, from her pop throne? Yes. Did I cringe each time I saw her and the ex completely bugging out on "Being Bobby Brown?" Without a doubt. Was disappointed in him, too. Have I prayed that she would somehow pull herself together, not so much for her fans, but for herself? Yes, and often.

Do I think she should be touring if she's not in good voice? No, but she is trying. Right? Meredith was right, where are her people? All that said, I hate to watch and listen as folks continue to tear her down. She's trying to get back up, ya'll, and I think we owe her some support and definitely, some respect.

We still love you, Whitney. Really, we do."

a day late and a dollar (plus a coupla posts) short.

Perhaps it's been more than a day since my last post. OK, OK, it's been over a month.

If I had to really admit to myself why I can't seem to stick to a reasonable blogging schedule, the following words would be rather fitting:

tired.
lazy.
frazzled.
distracted, unfocused...

I'm sure there are a few more adjectives I could use to describe my guilty-about-not-blogging-more self, but I can't think of them right now. (sigh)

All that said, I was just stopping in to sorta 'check in.' I don't have too much to say today, but I wanted to prove to myself that I still remember my Blogger password.

Shall be back soon. I promise!

one word.

Legacy.

September randomness.

It's September.

Actually, it's almost the end of September. Where is the time going? And why are the arms on the clock and the pages in the calendar moving so damn fast?

(Deep breaths, calm thoughts)

Well, since autumn is upon us, I thought I'd just rattle off a few things that have been driving me crazy, making me think and piquing my interest. As always, this illustrious list was written in no particular order.


Penny For Your Dreams
Is it just me or is the whole "talent competition" show format wearing a bit thin? I mean, American Idol, America's Got Talent, The Voice, The Sing-Off...it's all giving me a headache. And while I certainly applaud the contestants for getting out there to make their dreams a reality, I feel like, in the end, they're just getting pimped by Hollywood (like the rest of us!).

The Basketball Wives Franchise
Seriously? I truly can't believe that grown women would stoop so low for a paycheck. I am embarrassed to admit that I've been watching the LA chicks (or more specifically, fast-forwarding through via DVR) and I think I'm just in shock. Talk about taking us back a coupla decades...eesh!

The Miseducation of 9/11
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks and I've noticed that each year, the images of those affected seem to get paler and paler. I remember exactly where I was when the planes hit and the towers fell. It was a devastating experience for everybody, from all walks of life, not just a select few. It's so interesting how the media seems to pour white paint over any story that includes people of different backgrounds. It's so, so tired.

An Eye for An Eye?
I'm all for sending folks away to rot in their own misery for eternity, but who really wins after a death row inmate is administered a lethal injection? Add to that the fact that the wrong person might have been arrested and convicted of a crime, and the whole thing is just a hot, wrong mess. Again, does anybody really win or feel that justice is being served? I don't know...

What To Read Next
As per my usual, I'm torn between about three books and don't know which one to pick up next. Oddly enough, I have such self-inflicted "literary guilt" that I can't start the next book until I'm done with the current book. Right now, I'm halfway through Belong to Me, which I bought during my local Borders' close-out sale, and then there's Martha Southgate's The Taste of Salt and Scott Poulson-Bryant's VIPs and then, there's a bunch of other titles I've read about over the last few weeks. Oh, and not to mention, I've got sparkling, new October mags strewn all over the crib.

Where, oh where, do I begin? On the page that I last bookmarked, I suppose.

Fall TV
I've still not watched The Playboy Club (it's DVR'd), but I did watch Up All Night and Free Agent...hmmm, so far, not so good. Not really sure I care about Maria Bello's new show. It could be good, but I can't stomach any more crime dramas at the moment.

Of course, I can't wait for Maher's return on...wait, when does he return? Yikes. Although it's now been shelved into DVD history, I was actually quite pleased with the Entourage finale. It all seemed very possible in this land called Hollywood and at the end of the day, Ari shall always be Ari, which I love. As a sidebar, I saw Adrian G. at a party last weekend...Q-T!

OK, I'm supposed to be talking about fall TV. Sadly, I can't think of anything that I'm really all that excited about.

Thanks, but "No Thanks"
I've had many folks open doors for me (literally and professionally), speak kind words on my behalf and a select few have even paid my invoices in a uber-timely fashion. That said, I understand the power of a genuine 'thank you,' whether it be in the form of a note (handwritten or even an e-mail), a dozen flowers or sometimes, a simple phone call to let someone know that you appreciate them. Truth be told, I have boxes and boxes of blank 'thank you' notes at home. It's not a game for me.

Last week, I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from someone who was pleased with a story that I wrote about her. I thought it was a lovely gesture, so I let her know via an e-mail and told her again when I later saw her in-person. This week, I got a late-night call from someone whom I've been very helpful to over the past year or so. Long story short, a lead that I sent her way panned out and she wanted to share the news. Now, I'm not suggesting that I be honored with a parade or even a box of Godiva, but what I don't want is another coat of shellac on an old promise of a real 'thank you' that wasn't really a 'thank you' in the first place. I know that might sound shady, but again, this is coming from someone who knows what a proper 'thank you' is...and that ain't it. The next time she calls, I think I'll just say, "No thanks."


That's all I can think of at the moment. I'm sure something else will come to mind as soon as I hit "Publish Post." If so, I promise to log on, jot it down and hit "Publish Post" one more time!

ready, set...

See that little frog, sitting upon the big, green leaf? Is it me or does he seems a little tentative...maybe even a bit overwhelmed? Then again, I could just be projecting my own stuff on the little guy - who knows?

OK, I'll be frank. I'm about to leap onto my next lily pad and honestly, I am as excited as I am totally-freaked-out and ready to make it happen. As I prepare to take the plunge, I vow to keep my eyes, and my heart, wide open to the possibilities.

Wish me luck!