When I finally decided that California was going to happen, I compiled a mental list of full of logistical questions. Where would I live? How would I get around once there? What in the name of all that was holy was I going to do about my clothes and shoes? I worked in apparel retail for nearly four and a half years during that second stay at home, and no matter how responsible you say…

What I've Learned: The look on a person's face seeing a green-eyed black girl for the first time after speaking to me on the phone can be daunting. A Los Angeles rental story. In 1988, after my dream apartment fell through, I went looking for another. This was before the internet, kids, so I did it old school:  scouring the newspapers' want ads, circling in red those that looked interesting or driving around a neighborhood…