Excerpts from the Diary of a Diva

It's been a minute since I weighed in on current affairs, but as I listen to all the flack Beyonce is getting over her $50 million-dollar endorsement deal with Pepsi , I feel that I must. To all you naysayers, leave that woman alone! We all know that Pepsi isn't the drink of choice if we want to be healthy. We all know that Beyonce probably isn't kicking them back on a daily basis. And the people who want to drink Pepsi -- or any other kind of soda -- will do it whether or not Beyonce is on the commercials. And let's be real clear -- if they gave you $50 million dollars, you'd shake your groove thing to the music of anything, too. At the end of the day, obesity isn't something that's thrust upon any of us. It doesn't hunt us down and overtake us while we're not looking. It's the result of active neglect. Contrary to popular belief, there's not one food or drink we can blame for being fat. And if we really want to lose weight, we know that...

I crossed a line. After six years of fighting, I crossed a line with a friend. It's not like I didn't know it would happen. It was always a matter of when...and how. When I first met him, I wasn't overly attracted to him. For one, he's really not my type. And honestly, he reminds me of every chauvinistic guy I've ever met. He insists on being "The Man" in every situation. Which would be fine...except he's too impatient to wait on all the information before he acts. That particular brand of impatience explains why he had his first baby at 15 with the woman who'd later become his wife. He couldn't wait to grow up and get educated like normal teenagers. Instead, he got married and raised three kids...and became a grandparent at the tender age of 36. Now he's playing catch-up on the life he should've had. He just got his degree last year. And now he wants to date. Here's what's wrong with that -- besides the obvious. This near...

Dear Republicans, Yes, you lost the election. Yes, your message didn't resonate with women, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians. And yes, the stupid members of your party really helped those on the fence decide to vote against you. Mitt Romney is running around saying that the Democrats basically bought specific voting blocks with 'gifts' like affordable health care and student loan forgiveness. For a party that prides itself on taking personal responsibility, you're playing the blame game like a champ. Did it ever occur to you that your willingness to let the auto industry tank would come back to haunt you? Did you think that endorsing (for all intent and purposes) a member of your party who told women that they couldn't get pregnant from 'legitimate' rape would be okay? Honestly, how did you expect people to vote for you when you wrote off 47 percent of Americans as freeloaders who're looking for a handout? You know, this isn't a time in h...

Today is such a weird day. It's a cold morning in Los Angeles. My east coast family is under siege from 'The Perfect Storm,' and I'm recovering from my first half marathon. Yes, you read that right...I, MackDiva, being of questionable mind and out-of-shape body, actually participated in an athletic endeavor over the weekend. What made me do it? The initial reason was to be with my cousin. She runs marathons as a tribute to beating cancer a couple of years ago. She was the one who told me about it, and I said I'd sign up, too. Well, she changed her mind because she had some other family obligations. Of course, by the time I found out she wouldn't be coming, I was already committed had already paid. Horrid, right? I thought I'd be able to make the best of it. At first, I was trying to train. I would update my Facebook and Twitter regularly with my exploits. Then reality set in I got bored with the concept. So I stopped. Honestly, I would've dropped o...

One day... I'll express my feelings to you Without fear crowding out my words. One day... I'll know what it's like to hear your whisper In the still of the night. One day... The love we feel for each other Will overtake us in ways we never imagined. To-day... It's all a fantasy that you may or may not share.

Am I too sheltered? Have I protected myself too much? I find myself wondering about these things lately. Especially when I see my Facebook friends happily hooking up with one person, then another. Each time their faces reflect the joy that can only come from love, both giving and receiving. In my quest to protect my heart, have I missed out on that? Although I've had my fair share of lovers, I haven't really dated much. And the guys that I've chosen to spend my vertical time with haven't always been sweet to me. Most times, they start off wonderful. I start seeing forever in their eyes. And then the sex comes. That's usually about the same time the clouds hit their countenance. Suddenly the funny jokes start to have an edge to them. Then, "Call me when you get home so I know you've made it," turns into "See ya." I let a few of them hang on after then, but not many. And now I wonder...is it necessary to hold on a little longer to get the...

Sometimes I wonder if I look the old woman at the club. You know who I'm talking about. She's the one whose time is clearly past, yet she's still out there looking for the one. She puts on her best hot girl outfit, the one that makes her feel like a million bucks. Never mind that the outfit -- and her -- are long past anything like hot, but yet out she goes. That's the sum total of my feelings this evening. Like I'm chasing something that's completely out of my reach. Let me explain... As you know, I'm still in search of my very own Mr. Wonderful (although this particular post has nothing to do with that.) But even more, I want to find my dream job because the current one is a nightmare of sorts. Have you ever had a job that you loved on some levels, but hated on others? That's where I am now. The job is fun because I get to do what I love -- entertain people on the air. However, the content of the show I'm on is not something I can discuss in po...

I've always believed that revisiting a romantic situation that didn't work was pointless. There's always a reason things don't work out, and for the most part, those reasons don't change. So why, I ask you, did I find myself at The Baby 's house last night? After our disastrous first date, I didn't really cut him off, but we didn't really hang out again. I would see him around town on occasion, and we'd text every now and then, but nothing major. Then I saw him on Monday, and there was something different about our conversation. He put his arm around me, and it felt good. Then, he was like, "You're looking good. What's up?" Next thing I know, he's asking me to hang out. I was kinda ambivalent, but I didn't rule it out. A few days later, he invited me to "chill" at his house. I probably should've said no, but I didn't. So I went. And I had a good time. Now what? It's been a minute since any decent guy pa...

Over the years, I've felt that sting of racial injustice...when Amadou Diallo's killers were let off the hook for shooting an unarmed man 41 times...and when Rodney King's attackers were acquitted despite videotaped evidence. Now, I feel that way about the Trayvon Martin murder. In case you've been under a rock, George Zimmerman shot the 17-year-old in cold blood because he looked "suspicious." Martin was armed, alright...with an iced tea and some Skittles. His killer hasn't been arrested because he supposedly shot him in self-defense. Seriously? This child was 100 pounds lighter and 11 years younger than him. He was told by the 911 dispatcher to stop following the kid. And call me crazy, when someone is begging for their life -- as heard on the 911 calls from neighbors -- they're hardly in a position to be "threatening." The thing that makes my heart ache is that Trayvon could be any of our sons, brothers, nephews, cousins, and friends. Do y...

Sometimes I wonder... What did I do to end up single at 41. Why none of the guys I loved really loved me back. Where I'd be if I'd never taken chances. Sometimes I wish... That I was skinny and beautiful. That I had children. That I was a better housekeeper. Sometimes I think... That being me is better than being someone else. That my choices have landed me in this quagmire of foolish indecision. That I need more than I probably do. Please explain to me why... My job make me sad. I want to unburden myself, but find myself too afraid to reveal my heart. Rainy days make me too reflective. This is one of those days that I wish I was lost in someone's arms. I'm so tired of being alone. Honestly, I just want to be someone's special someone. And I wonder if if I missed that train because I was too busy working, or socializing, or sleeping. I find myself reflecting on situations that were completely impossible, looking for the redemption that was never found. I'm tired...

One of my good friends is about to turn 30. She asked me if there was any information I could share with her that I wish I'd known at that age. That question alone is one of the many reasons I love this girl. Here's what I told her. Please feel free to add anything you think I left out. Turning 30 is a milestone in a woman's life. It's not the end. In fact, it's more like the beginning. With that in mind, here are a few things I wish I knew when I reached it. 1. Have standards . That means that there should be some non-negotiables in your life. If drugs/smoking/etc. go against your personal code of ethics, don't settle for a person who engages those things just so you can say you have someone. 2. You are worth more than the sum of your parts . Guys will praise you for your body, but keep in mind that you have a brain that works quite well. If a man can't come up with more than, "You so fine," keep it moving. 3. Sometimes it's good to be alone ....