Move..Get Out The Way

I can't believe it's that time of the year again! You guessed it...new year resolution time. If you are anything like me you make all of these promises to work out, budget, eat healthier, not go postal on your much needed job, be nicer to aunt Thelma even though she continues to mispronouce your name after you've been on this planet for 30+ years and blah, blah, blah, blah. (Don't laugh because you know I'm telling the truth.) Deep down you really hate the beginning of a new year because you know good and well that by the time Feb 1st rolls around you won't even remember what resolution #1 was. Can I get an amen?

Do you want to know the secret to fulfilling promises to yourself? The answer is YOU! We are our worst enemies. How? Because we block our own success with negative thoughts and behaviors (like the ones you resolved to change at the beginning of each year). Well my goal for 2006 is to get the hell out of my own way and I'm starting by picking up a copy of Jovita Jenkins appropriately titled book, "Get Out of Your Own Way!" A former resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, Jenkins doesn't waste any time with her easy to follow prescription for creating a more compelling future. So if you really want to make a difference in 2006, move...and get out of your own way. Happy New Year.

Holla Back

Whew...I didn't realize how much you guys would enjoy reading my blogs. Thanks for the e-mails and comments. It really means a lot to me. But I wanted to let everyone know that you can post your comments on the blog too (see at the bottom where it says comments.) And make sure that you tell someone else about Cherie Quarters. Thanks again for visiting.

What's In A Name

What is Cherie Quarters...You're wondering why in the world did I pick this name for my blog? I guess you could say I'm a sentimental kind of girl. One of my favorite authors, Ernest Gaines, was born in Cherie Quarters. He also used the Riverlake Plantation slave quarters as the backdrop for his popular novel, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Like Mr. Gaines, I too am a descendent of Cherie Quarters which was the home for my paternal grandparents and two of my great uncles. It was the place where I first encountered an outhouse, thank you very much, viewed the beauty of Spanish Moss swaying from trees, and rejoiced in the refreshing taste of sugar cane and southern grown peaches. It is only fitting that my blogs come from the place where my artistic roots were first cultivated.

Merry Christmas Baby

That song brings back memories of Christmas spent with my extended family over the years. I guess that's one of the things that I hate about growning up...family members start to move out of state, some go to jail and the others are watching over us from above. You know how the story goes. You find yourself doing more reminiscing then anything else. But I am grateful for the family members that I currently share Christmas with including my hubby and two sons. I am grateful that my parents were allowed to see another Christmas and pray that God will grant them many more. Hey, at least I am not singing, "What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas."

The other day I had the opportunity to meet Byron Harmon, the author of "All The Women I've Loved" and "Mistakes Men Make" at a holiday party hosted by Ill Relatives member, Marcus Virgil and his lovely wife, Kay. Talk about down to earth. This guy is the coolest...If you haven't picked up a copy of one of his books make sure to grab one this holiday season. His novels were among the few that I've read that were from my era, the eighties (can you believe these college students are having 80's parties!) A native of Louisiana and a Southern University alumnus, Byron took me wayyyyyy back...Shoe Town on Plank Road, jellies and Soul Train to name a few. But it was refreshing to know that somebody else remembered the good ole days too. Merry Christmas!