THE UNVITATION

If you're a Seinfeld junkie like I am, you probably remember the episode where Elaine is given a late invite to a wedding that is taking place in India. You know, the place where they still have the plague.( i mean really, the plague?) Elaine swears that its a ploy for her kinda-sorta friend, the "braless wonder" to be able to say Elaine was invited, while not really inviting her. Because who can make plans to go to India in a weeks time?(Btw...out of spite - Elaine made it. Whimsy ensued.)

Well im kind of in a similar situation. Not that i recieved an unvitation - thankfully i don't have frenemies like the indomitable sue ellen mishky - more that...well let me just tell you.

One of my close girlfriends, N, is getting married. I found out yesterday, and she's very excited about it. Other than being taken aback(i had no idea she was seeing someone on that level lol) I was/am happy for her. Immediately i thought she would have the standard engagement time of about a year, give or take a month. I began making plans accordingly.

Then she told me it was in July...

of this year.

Oh.

(well thats cool - not all folks have a long drawn out engagement...)


...In Jamaica.


*record scratch*


Now, Jamaica is not as drastic a location as India, but still. Jamaica? July? You're telling me this now? When i have to make plans and get time off and get money together and get hotel reservations and get yall a gift?

oh Drama!

Seriously, this came out of left field. Not long ago she broke up with a previous fiance, with whom she had been best friends since they were tykes. There was some shadiness on his part. One of those nasty situations i hope to never find myself in.(and they wonder why women hate men...l.boogie) Because of this, i had no idea she was mentally or emotionally ready to see someone again, much less, be ready to marry. But what do i know? I'm notoriously private about my own love life, so i shouldn't be surprised that im not always up to speed on the amorous adventures of all my friends.

But, thats neither here nor there.

The question of utmost consequence is, How am i going to make this happen? I do not want to miss my girl's wedding.

I mean would it have killed her to get married in Trinidad?(she's trini) At least i know i could crash with her fam for a few days. I mean really. She could have least have sent out a save the date card or somethin'. Whats the deal with desti-weddings anyway? Actually ive been toying with the idea of a destination wedding for myself. But thats to keep people away...not to invite them to. Oooh im such a hater! lol

But yeah, folks are uppity and too good for city hall? I keed. Ima really have to throttle this girl though.

Not really. But, basically.

Anyway would yall do me a solid? When i start planning my wedding, pleez remind me that if its going to be destination - i have to give all my attendees ample time to get their affairs in order so that they can make it. I don't want to be the subject of any blogs.

i'm buggin.

END PROGRAM MOUNTAINFROMMOLEHILL (omg did i use fortran? lol)

And now, From the putting-it-all-in-perspective-files:

RIP Sean Levert. If you are anything like me, youre response to hearing this sad news was a mixture of "WTF?" and OMG nooo!" Him dying is so surreal. One moment he's going to prison - and the next he's dead? Craziness. My heart goes out to his fam and friends at this difficult time.

8 THINGS

So, I was tagged to take this survey by a fellow blogger and e-homegirl chubbs (can i call you that? have i level jumped? lol) And here are my responses. I must add - coming up with the eight things for each section was harder than i thought it would be. A few times my mind went completely blank, and i had to employ an ancient zen meditation method to get it functioning again. Well not really, but it was definitely an exercise. A lot of fun too. Thanks chubbs!

8 Things I am Passionate About

1. La Familia. The kinfolk has alternately given me the best of times, and the worst of times. And oftentimes we are full of more drama than the VC Andrews trash i read as a youngin.(oooh dawn married her brother! But wait...it wasn't her brother after all! Scandal! )But, when it comes down to it, i wouldn't trade them for the world.
2. Star Wars. What can i say? I love it. Even better when an SO likes it too. I mean, he doesn't have to be the stan that i am - but if you can appreciate it then thats wunderbar! Don't get me wrong, im not one of those fanboys that dress like wookies and go to conventions. But i do love it. Boy...do i love it.
3. Reading. When i was younger id devour 3-4 nice sized tomes in a week. As an adult, not so much. My free time is usually allocated to other things. But the love of the written word remains. Its my favorite pastime. I still buy books like theyre going out of style. One day i'll catch up with my current inventory.
4. Dancing. One of my best girlfriends put me on to salsa a few years back, and i've been hooked ever since. I've done lessons, gone to salsa parties, congress - the whole 9. It surprised me, because its one of the few "non bluestocking" things i've attempted that im actually good @. This sounds so cheesy, but when i do it - i feel very much alive.
5. Learning. I love learning new things. I love being around people that can teach me new these new things. Be it something really deep, or something whimsical and silly(i STILL can't whistle!). If I didnt know it before, and you have put me on...well i'm forever in your debt.
6. Clothes. Need I elaborate? I've got a closet bursting at the seams and my drawers are insufficient for the sheer volume. And yet...i still don't have enough. And now with the internet...:/
7. Philadelphia. This is my city. I love it and hate it and everything in between. if you want to talk bad about it, then put your dukes up.
8. Eyebrows. Specifically? Mine. Not specifically? Yours. A badly plucked eyebrow can destroy an otherwise pretty face, as an artfully styled one can tone down fug. My mother was the first person to do my brows back when i was 15, and i've been an eyebrow connoisseur ever since. Btw, Im not sure if this is something im passionate about, or just obsessive. There is such a thin line sometimes.

8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die

1. See the Pyramids.
2. Road Trip! I want to drive across country @ least once. Take my time getting from here to there by sight seeing along the way. Get my kicks on route 66 and all that. Come with?
3. Complete my family tree. I know this is like saying become a trillionaire, because a complete family tree would mean id be tracing it back to Adam, which is impossible. But when you aim for the stars you land on a cloud right? Or...something like that. Anyway, alls im saying is i would love to take my family beyond where i have it now, which is like early 1700s. Im @ this brick wall and its driving me crazy.
4. Become a trillionaire.
5. Make a quilt. My grandmom makes the most beautiful quilts - a skill passed down from her mother and her mothers mother...and so on. I have dropped the baton, and become a true modern lunkhead, my talent with a needle and thread shamefully lacking. But quilts are just as much pieces of art as they are useful. I intend to to my grandma proud, and sew my own.
6. Visit the Keck Observatory. How better to see the stars and planets and distant galaxies than viewing them through the lenses of one of the most powerful telescopes in the world?
7. See the Redwoods at the Redwood National forest. I guess this would be the tail end of my cross country road trip. Im amped to see these majestic trees in person. Oooh the sequoia's too.
8. Get Married. Is this an obvi response? I was trying to think of something exciting and funny, but i decided to just keep it real.

8 Things I Say Too Often

1. Get over it.
2. I don't know.
3. Whatever.
4. Are you ready for some football? (i say this in random moments often as a total non sequitur. try it sometime. Its hilarious...until its annoying.)
5. Griiiiiits (see above.)
6. omg i hate people!
7. im buggin
8. thats gay

8 Books I Have Read Lately

1. Guns Germs and Steel - Jared Diamond
2. Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell(I usually read this 3 -4 times a year)
3. Godel Escher Bach -Douglas Hofstatder
4. A world lit only by Fire - William Manchester
5. Our Oriental Heritage - Will Durant
6. Going Nucular [sic] - Geoff Nunberg
7. Understanding Physics - Isaac Asimov
8. Italian Secretary - Caleb Carr

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over Again

1. Don't Disturb this Groove - The System
2. Whats Going On - Marvin Gaye
3. All this love - Debarge
4. Never Stop - Brand New Heavies
5. Luchini - Camp Lo
6. Zoom - Commodores
7. Perfect Angel - Minnie Riperton
8. Nappy Head - War

8 Things That Attract Me To My Friends

1. Great sense of humor
2. Kind/generous spirit
3. Selfless
4. Sarcasm - mo' raillery fo' you an' me!
5. Intelligence. Duh. :)
6. Cold goin stupid (what good are friends if you can't be silly with them?)
8. Common interests
7. They like me.

EXISTENTIAL CRISIS ALERT

Well, not really. But, i read somewhere that if you title your work something thought provoking, gripping and/or scandalous, people are more apt to read.

Did it work? Are yall reading? Is this mic on?

I digress.

Earlier today it dawned on me that in two months we'll be halfway through 2008. How bogus is that?

Btw, i HATE when people rush me through the year like that - i remember when i turned 21, the day after that my dad was like "you're almost 22" and i was madd cuz i was just barely 21! So why am i doing it now? I don't know. Im buggin.(thanks to run's house buggin is back in my repertoire).

But yeah...when i realized that, it was like a jolt. I mean, January 1st came and went, and then February, and now March...and in a few days, April begins. I made plans, you made plans, we all made plans for how we wanted this year to turn out. So far(for me @ least) its going smashingly - with the requisite bumps and bruises, natch - but, i have few complaints. Yet and still, with each passing day i feel like im being rushed towards an invisible finish line, a relentless timpani driving my feet. Faster. Faster. Faster.

Seriously, where do the days go? The hours? The minutes? When i was in grade school, the school year seemed soooo long. 10 months might as well have been 10 years. The time between september and june was a purgatory of assignments, mean teachers, early bedtimes, and no tv during the school week. All i could do was bide my time until summer vacation, where i could let the lazy slob out. Well not really, cuz the parental units weren't having it. But anything was better than having to get up early in the morning so i could catch the school bus. (yes i rode the cheese)

Now, the days rush by, each day seemingly arriving more quickly than the one before. It seems that just as im getting settled in one year(and more importantly, one age) another one arrives. I feel pressured. Pressured for what exactly, i dont know. But its there.

In one way its good(im sure you've heard tell about good stress and bad stress), because it makes me set goals and achieve them. At the same time, when im not channeling my energies properly, im on frazzle rock status. Blah.

In other news, i finally located my jazzyfatnastees "the once and future" CD, and in the spirit of my homie and fellow blogger RM im going to post up one of my favorite songs from that album.

'Hear me' - Jazzyfatnastees

In other, other news, I got called out by an male friend today for something i said completely in jest which hurt his feelings. Of course, i apologized. I didnt think what i said could be construed as insulting - ok maybe it could. But we had been joking the entire point up until my gaffe! What i said was relatively innocuous considering the context. I want to say these dudes need to get thicker skin, but maybe its me thats being an insensitive clod. I can't help it, i verbally spar with folks. Its not personal, its how i play. Ugh.
...

Rashad, you promised me. :(

OH...SO WE'RE UGLY NOW?

Calumny!

According to the morons over @ travel and leisure, Philadelphia, in an overwhelming vote, is the ugliest city in the U.S.

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Philadelphia is home to the least attractive people in the United States, a survey of visitors and residents showed on Friday.

The city of more than 1.5 million people was also found to be among the least stylish, least active, least friendly and least worldly, according to the "America's Favorite Cities" survey by Travel & Leisure magazine and CNN Headline News.

About 60,000 people responded to the online survey -- at www.travelandleisure.com -- which ranked 25 cities in categories including shopping, food, culture, and cityscape, said Amy Farley, senior editor at the magazine.

For unattractiveness, Philadelphia just beat out Washington DC and Dallas/Fort Worth for the bottom spot. Miami and San Diego are home to the most attractive people, the poll found.

But Farley pointed out the results don't mean people in Philadelphia are ugly or the city is a bad place to visit.

"We were asking people to vote on attractiveness, not unattractiveness. Travel & Leisure editors believe there are a lot of attractive people in Philadelphia," she said.

"The relative attractiveness of its residents is only a minuscule factor in evaluating a city's merit."

Philadelphians' self-esteem has been undermined by national surveys showing they are among the fattest people in the United States. The American Obesity Association ranked the city in the top 10 for overweight people every year between 2000 and 2005.

And sporting pride in a city known for the fierce loyalty of its fans has been hurt by not having had a national champion in any of its four main sports since the 76ers won the National Basketball Association title in 1983.

Now, i've traveled quite a bit, and had a chance to see goodly portion of the denz in a number of towns. Let me tell you, philly doesn't hold a candle to some of the brain scarring fug mugs i've been a witness to.

(i see you tulsa!)

Im not gonna stand up here and say that every woman in the city is a tomato and every dude is an adonis, cuz we DO have our fair share of the trog(lodyte), but dang. Also, what(is a) city is without its beasties?

In addition, im also taking umbrage @ philly being considered "least stylish" and "least wordly". I'll save my vitriol on that for later.

I mean we're fat, we're dirty, and now - to add insult to injury - we're ugly too?

Egregious Lies.

Btw...my Dallas and DC people, wipe the smug off your fugly faces. Yall aren't too far behind.

IM TOO TIRED TO BLOG

So much to say(well, not really, just really the same pointless prattle im sure you guys are used to by now) and so little energy to type it out. Must be those late hours i kept this past weekend, finally catching up with me.

I guess i was having too much fun © dave chappelle © rick james

Does this mean im officially old? (Don't answer that!)

:(

Anyways, i'm a few days late on this, but its a officially spring(yay vernal equinox!). Im excited. Its still feels like winter outside, but @ least there is warmth on the horizon. Bees and things and flowers yall.

In honor of the new season, I'm posting a youtube clip of a performance of one of my favorite orchestral pieces: "Rite of Spring" by Stravinsky.


This is the final movement, the Sacrificial Dance, and it has quite a complex rhythm. Its simply amazing. Stravinsky is one of my favorite composers.

The conductor is Hiroyuki Iwaki w/the NHK symphony orchestra, and notice how he conducts from memory - no score. Awesome.

by the bye - if any of you guys are star wars fans(my homie R- dont know abt anyone else) the music may sound familiar, it may be because george lucas used this piece as the tracking music for certain scenes in Star Wars: A new hope. John Williams then heavily borrowed from its dissonant synchopation.

oh yeah...it was used in fantasia too.

SATURDAY RANDOMNESS

Well i can't say its saturday exactly, since its two o'clock sunday morning, but you follow the general idea im sure.

Anyway

- Crown me queen of the eLLe. What happened? Well lets just say attempting 3 consecutive salsa spot turns makes my innate clumsiness readily apparent. :/ (when i get it right im extra nimble though. lol)

-Speaking of clumsy, i got a nasty little burn on my forearm today by doing something completely thoughtless and stupid. I would go into detail, but i refuse to embarrass myself. I'm just mad that as the time approaches to bare arms, mine is gonna have a grody scar. Boo.

-I am revisiting and rediscovering my almost-boho neo-soul self of the early 2000s. D'angelo's voodoo was on repeat earlier today for the better part of two hours, and since then ive jammed to Mama's gun, and now im blogging to the dulcet sounds of Bilal. I think my visit to my DLand blog is whut dun it.

- fresca is gross

- Black soap is the BOMB. i've been sleeping. i recommend it, highly.

-my love affair with the mall is officially over. i mean i haven't really enjoyed going to the mall since i was like 18 but i figured it was because i only went on occasions when i was harried, and needed to have a million stores @ my disposal @ once. i went on friday for pleasure(y oh y?), and realized i just hate the mall. King of Prussia is a menace.

- the poem in "love poems" is wack. Ugh, it reminds me of the few spoken word thingamadoodads i went to back in the day, when everybody thought they were ursula rucker and/or saul williams. Spoken word. *shivers*

-That sports tourney? Yeah. Um...I still suck. :(

-And this is still one of my favoritest songs evAr:

SO I UM...JOINED THIS SPORTS TOURNEY

Courtesy of this gentleman, and i gotta admit it - so far...i suck. For the first round i correctly picked 11 out of 16.

:/

Im a pretty laid back gal, but @ the same time i have a competitive streak, and well, i don't like to see so many people doing so much better than I am. I guess i shouldn't be surprised, i totally picked my teams by closing my eyes and pointing.

Seriously, I think i took more time making my avatar. Which was a lot of fun btw. (yes i know i was being extra chick-like but whatevs!)

...

In all honesty, my team picking process was not as haphazard as closing my eyes and pointing, ...though not far from that. The thing is, my knowledge of college hoops is just about nil. In order to make my picks i took a crash course on who was whom and what the top seeds were and then, made educated(ha.) guesses. Emphasis on the word guess. lol

I guess this blog is my way of doing preemptive plea copping, in the event that i lose horribly. However if i come anywhere CLOSE to a win, best believe i will be recanting all of this stuff, and saying how i knew everything all along. :)

LAST FM IS A MENACE

For the last hour and a half i've been working on a LAST FM playlist. Are yall up on this last FM stuff? Ok yall prolly are. Im usually mad late when it comes to internet phenomenon. I swear its like crack though. Every song leads to another. And a sister. And a brother...lol. I'd post up my playlist but there's some rule that you can't post/share until you have 15 tracks. I think. I wasn't really paying attention to all that crap when i signed up.

Anyways, i was supposed to go see the distinguished Dr. Alan Lightman tonight and listen to him wax poetic on Einstein's theory of Relativity @ the local University. (yes this is the kind of thing that get my knickers in a bunch. Don't laugh.) Unfortunately, the weather, coupled with a temperamental vehicle(its needs an oil change i been procrastinating) made me decide to stay in. I mean i could have taken pub. trans but...no.

What else?

Well my favoritest flipflops(you may recall them as guest stars in the entry "there's an eclipse tomorrow" where i fell and busted my booty) have lost the flip to my flop. Just before summer too! The thong part that goes between your toes has somehow gotten loosed from the sole, rendering them useless. I guess i could go to jcrew and get a new a pair...but do i really feel like dropping 50 buck on a pair of flipflops??? I don't think so. I'm going to buy some crazy glue and see if i can salvage the suckers.

Also i want to take this this moment to thank you guys for indulging my "moody men" rant from yesterday. I sat back and re-read what i wrote, and while i stand by everything i said, i realize that i was writing from a hurt place. Yes friends, my feelings were hurt. Usually i'm able to laugh stuff off, but yesterday i guess i was on some other. Maybe its the rapid approach of the spring equinox thats got folks all in a dither.

...But don't get it twisted, i still think these teste-men(new word im trying out. whatchall think?) need to get it together. We can't both be hormonal.

MOODY MEN

Stop it.

I'm not sure if something is in the air, water, doritos, or that axe yall be wearing...but just about every man with whom i'm acquainted is going through some kind annoying mood swing. What's up with that? I would call it PMS but i don't want to sully PMS' good name with this nonsense.

Whats really irritating is that whatever the reason for their vicissitudes - i have nothing to do with it. (Ask about me, im a sweetheart *wink*) Even i do - and i maintain that i don't - but if that is the case, then tell me. Don't be all 'tudey with me. Beating around the bush isn't going to get either of us anywhere.

...Unless the goal is some abused shrubbery and hard packed earth.

Por ejemplo, here's an excerpt from an AIM convo

Me: ...yo when we gonna hit up star wars?
STUPIDMOODYBOOBHEADBOY08: ?
Me: um, me. you. a light saber or two. lol
STUPIDMOODYBOOBHEADBOY08: *shrug*
ME: lol wtf
ME: whts yr problem?
STUPIDMOODYBOOBHEADBOY08: nada
ME: ok. HOLLA.
ME signed off at 2:32 PM

Yes, i got a little huffy, but i'm a woman and i can do that. Seriously, I couldn't be bothered trying to decode him. Everyone who knows me relatively well knows that im crazy empathetic and always willing to be a listening ear when you got a case of the woes. But if you give off a nasty vibe, its whatever. Besides, if you aren't my man im not going to beg you to tell me whats wrong, if indeed something is wrong. Im too much of a hater for all that. Later on this evening i got a text talking bout:

HIM: What about next week?
ME: next week what?
HIM: star wars
ME: ...
ME: yr kidding right?
HIM: ooh you so sensitive

lol wtf. Now i'm the one being sensitive? PUH and SHAW. Way to deflect you bum. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Im guessing whatever it was that was annoying him was over and he could be back to his usual self. Its almost amusing, but it isn't. If this particular male had been the only offender, then i could let it go. But lately it seems like my entire cadre of male friends is going through something, and its wearing on my patience. I mean, i expect my girls to go through stuff on occasion, but DUDES? Come on yall. If anyone is going to have a head scratching, utterly confusing, completely exasperating, unexplained mood change in our interactions, its going to be me. Last thing this world needs is an army of men who could benefit from the soothing effects of midol. Or quaaludes.

Another example:

I went past my brother's crib Sunday to pick up something, rang his bell in his lobby - no answer. So i call him - he doesn't pick up the phone. I leave a message stating something to the effect that i'm downstairs and if you're home answer the door. I wait a second. No answer, so i go back to the car. I'm about to pull off, when he i see him running across the street...T-U-D-E written all over his face.

Here we go.

He's shrugging his shoulders in annoyance, palms raised heavenward, face twisted in irritation. I head his smart mouth(a familial trait) off at the pass, and tell him what i came for, reassuring him that i did not come by to just shoot the breeze so he can just relax. His face untwists and he runs back to his house to get the stuff(some books).

Now mind you, i haven't seen my brother since January. Which is a shame because we live in the same city and really have no excuse. lol Our lives are wildly divergent though(he's hip and cool and im not). But thats neither here nor there. The thing is, why the the attitude? If you didn't want to be bothered then why come running to the car? If you're ignoring visitors ignore them all the way. Id have assumed he wasn't home and moved on(he prolly had a girl over). Instead he had to make this big production and acted like i had knocked over his jenga tower(didn't that suck? im a jenga champ by the way).When he comes back to the car he makes some attempts @ small talk, but at this point im thru.

And then my married friend is not speaking to me because i didn't make it to his house for a get together last month. What in blue blazes?? Are you kidding me right now? I'm so annoyed with him i don't know what to do. My sister swears its because he's still in love with me.

...but thats another story for another day.

Anyway.

Its really irksome because when i'm feeling funky i do my best to remain on an even keel with everyone. Just because im bothered doesn't mean you have to be. I kind of expect the same courtesy. Especially from the fellas.

Was there a mandate issued that required all men to become life sized versions of David Van Driessen? Is this emo behavior gonna be de rigueur now? I mean we got lil wayne kissin his best boy on the lips and terrence howard sporting purses.

Somebody give me the craig david special cuz i am FED up.

MEMORY LANE

On a whim, i decided to go to diaryland(does anyone still use that site anymore?) and see if they still had the few entries i made so many many moons ago.

After racking my brain and finally remembering my login - btw, i don't know why i struggled with recalling my login and password, because save for a few sites i use the SAME password and login for everything. Str8 up if anyone found out what my password was i'd be screwed. lol

But, back to diaryland. So, i reinstated my account and was finally able to take a gander at the entries i had written, in how they say in common parlance, "back in the day".

It was only four entries. I remembered it being few, but not THAT few. It sucks because i was looking forward to reading it like a good juicy novel. I think i'm far enough removed from it now, that i could read my words as one would read a a complete stranger's - with total objectivity. Hm. Okay who am i kidding? I wouldn't be objective in the least. It is me after all. At any rate i still would like to read my thoughts again. Unfortunately i was not a very diligent blogger. Alas Alack and Alaska.

There are some other journals/blogs of mine out in cyberspace that i would love to read, if only i could remember which blog hosting services i was using. I've been having fits and starts with blogging since Y2k. Its sad cuz i haven't stuck with any of them. I'm trying with this one however.

And because i'm all open and feel like sharing, here is my first entry on Dland:

beginnings 4:17 p.m. @ 2001-10-22 Um. This is my first entry. My mind is going in a lot of different places right now. As Jennifer would put it: "My emotional plate is full" and it is. forreal. the 20/20 needs corrective lenses. I can't seem to focus. Work, friends, fam, noneofit. *sigh* Post Traumatic stress? Maybe. I dunno. World trade center mess has me a lil shook. Anthrax. People up in arms. My psyche is disoriented. Information overload. I need to take a break from the media... The new Michael Jackson "Butterflies" is giving me that feeling. I can't describe it. I'm in love it. I have big hopes for this album. I hope it lives up to the hype. Its monday..and i'm gettin into the workweek groove. I may have more to say later, i may not. stay beautiful yall...

Yeah, so thats my first entry. As i read it, I remember how i was feeling @ the time. It was not long after 9/11 and i'll admit, i was freaked. I had been living a pleasant sheltered life up until that point, and when the towers fell i suddenly became conscious of the goings on in the world around me.

I don't know what the "stay beautiful yall" thing was all about, but i'm figuring it was some kind of residual fallout from listening to BOBS five times a day and hanging out @ coffee shops.

I have changed so much since then, yet...in many ways i am still the same.

Let me stop. I'm getting all emo now.

...I really wish i had written more.

EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING

I don't know what the weather is like where you are(you being my one or two readers) but here, its gloomy and chilly.

Perfect weather for loafing about the crib, doing absolutely nothing. I love the sun, but every once in a while - a day like this is just what i need.

For once i've got no place to go, and i just rolled out of bed 30 mins ago. Good stuff.

Now i'm sitting in my chair, indian style(ooooh my dad would have a fit back in the day when my sibs and I would put our feet on the seat!) eating a humongous bowl of apple jacks, sipping this darjeeling, and reading the times(yes..new york. shutup.)

oh. and, blogging, of course.

yummm.

I thought about cooking a large breakfast but i was feeling lazy, natch. However i'm still feenin for some pancakes and bacon, and/or sausage. I think i know what's for dinner tonight.

THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA

(Not the tornado in Atlanta - just a picture)

here was a tornado in Atlanta tonight. Downtown Atlanta even.

Anyone who knows me for any amount of time is aware of my inordinate fascination/fear of tornadoes.(and now YOU know. see how quickly that info is disseminated? lol) When i heard the news of tonight's twister in ATL, well, my ears perked up, and my heart beat a little faster. At about the age of five, i developed what was to become my signature fear of tornadoes. I have no idea what caused it(too much wizard of oz?) but i was terrified that one day a tornado would flatten the entire city of philadelphia.

My mother, ever soothing, would reassure me that tornadoes never came into urban areas because the landscape wasn't conducive to them forming. Of course, once I got older I realized that that was not entirely true, and she was just trying to quell my fears. Thankfully, as i've matured the fear has given way to an intense fascination. The inner workings of these monsters, and what causes them have been a basis for many hours of recreational reading and study. Its my goal to one day go on one of the storm chaser tours, and see one forreal. However, hearing that tonight, one touched down in Atlanta reminded me of my youth. Storms are wild and wonderful, but more than a little scary.To be a witness to the power behind nature is a humbling thing.

Omni Hotel

I have some people down there, and they're fine, for which i'm thankful. I hope everything is well(at least physically) for the rest of the folks down there.



This is an awesome video. There is some language(so if you're at work you may wanna turn your speakers down)

THATS WHAT YOU GET...

...for being polite © The jacksons

You? Nah. Thats what I get for being polite.

Ugh.

I swear, i kill me sometimes

So um...

If you're:

Short
Don't like Star Wars*(and don't want to even try)
have no idea how many years a score is
and you think veracity is a big word...

yeah.

I need to stop being so polite.




*yes i didn't know people like this existed either. Its tragic really.

I MIGHT BE MOVING

So, word on the URLs is that wordpress is the new place for all things blog related. And after visiting some blogs hosted by the aforementioned, i gotta admit, it appears to be truth(iness). Of course things always seem greener.The formats are clean and neat, and the templates(themes in WP land) are a LOT better than Blogger's, which really suck. So in true lemming fashion i may be packing up my kit bag and moving all this stuff over there. Ima mull it over though, cuz i do be having separation anxiety. But i dunno, i've been over there and what they got seems mighty appealing...

Kanye's fiance Alexis has become an amusing obsession(i use the word lightly its not that serious.) of mine:

But yeah, i don't know why. Perhaps its because we share the same given name, and anyone that i share a name with is automatically interesting to me. Or maybe its because she is his fiancee, and i marvel at how she can put up with his flagrant arrogance. Perhaps its because she's as stylish as i imagine myself to be. (yes, i do do normal things like fashion when i'm not being a nerd. lol) Anyway, i saw some pics of them from the latest rounds of fashion shows in gai paree and they looked quite cute together.

I wouldn't call it a girl crush, because that term is way overused, but i do find her intriguing.

KILLING ME SOFTLY

"I had always found it easy to express myself lucidly...It was when it came to my emotions that i was a novice."

I stumbled across this quote while doing some reading this evening, and it struck a chord within me. Was the author describing me? Obvi not, but still. Maybe this is why i can be so vexing. I haven't learned to convey my emotions properly. My neophyte tendencies reign supreme when it comes to "asuntos del corazon".

But everyday is a new day for growth yes?

And, enough about my love life. Though we can talk about yours if you'd like ;)

I made a pot of chicken soup, and let me tell you - it was slammin! I still haven't completely recovered from whatever it was that was ailing me, so i made a tureen filling pot of soup from scratch(even the stock) and it turned out fantastic. I have a feeling ima be eating off of it for a few days though.

We lose an hour of sleep this weekend, as we all become victims of William Willet's brainchild(with a touch of Ben Franklin): Daylight-saving time*. Now i understand the logistics of it, and appreciate it when its warm and the summer indolence sets in. But that initial Monday is a doozy. In fact, i am anticipating all of next week to be off.

My hair needs some attention, desperately. I planned on doing it tonight, but the thought of washing, drying, and subsequent blowing out is tying my stomach in knots. My hair is thick and pretty long and doing all that is such an ordeal sometimes.

Happy friday and have a great weekend!

*factoid: The official spelling is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight SavingS Time.

Saving as it is used in DST is a verbal adjective (a participle). It modifies time and tells us more about its quality and how it is demonstrated by the activity of saving daylight. Saving is used in the same way as saving a ball game, rather than as a savings account.

However, most folks feel the word savings has a more melodic feel, and flows better off the tongue.

THE SUMMER LIST

::LA BOHEME VERSION::

Cracker Barrel:


Moleskine:


Cross Pen and Pencil Set:



Polka Dot Bikini:


And a solid one piece:


Jewelry by Lana:


And more gold hoops:




A Maxi Dress:(Not this one necessarily)



Homemade Sangria:




And, Lots of Books
Starting with:

I FEEL FAT

I know. I know.

Yes, i was just talking about how i lost twelve pounds. But there comes a time in every woman's life when she moans about her weight. And as a woman, I reserve, yea, DEMAND the right to complain about my weight - no matter how slim trim and svelte i may be.

And, well, now i'm exercising that right. In my blog.

(thank goodness for our freed0ms)

Today was one of those funky days. Everything i put on seemed tight and ill fitting. No outfits were coming together like they usually do. My closet seemed curiously devoid of viable gear(yes i said viable. as in necessary for life. i feel like being dramatic.) and to top it all off, i was having a bad hair day. I was just a mess all the way around.

Ach. the perils of being short. Yeah its "cute" and all, and people give you pet names and comment on your lack of height incessantly, but do they understand how hard it is to maintain the delicate balance of avoirdupois-to-height ratio? I don't think so. If im not with in a certain range, then im well on my way to chubby-land. Its a cross to bear really.

I dunno, i shouldn't complain, because i'm not fat at all. But its just that lately i've been wanting to get back to my college weight. I hovered around 105 which, thinking back, was mighty sweet. I'd love to be that thin again.

Unfortunately i have all of these obstacles in my path. Namely; ice cream, pie, fried foods, and my granmomma's biscuits(which i learned to make)

Blah.

Fortunately the warmer weather is upon us, and i can stop kvetching and start doing. My sister and I are gonna get together and bike on the west river drive - once it closes for the summer months and I'm back doing my salsa.(yall ain't no i could dance did yall?)

Randomness -

-No TV in the bedroom has proven to be a boon. Im reading more, and sleeping more soundly.
-Christian won Project runway. Yes! I was hoping jillian would but im happy for him. Anyway, as long as Rami lost everything is good.
-My quads are killing me. I can't think of what i've done differently in my workouts, or in my day to day, but i must have done something. They hurt so bad.
- So im not alone w/ the random fantasies with elaborate fight scenes and things of that nature? Word. Im not sure why it matters that i'm not, but im sure glad thats the case
-My tea addiction has reach new gravity defying heights. Its scary how many cups i drink a day
-im selfisher than i thought.

HA! I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE

who did this kind of stuff...

...this means im not weird right?

RITES OF SPRING

Can one feel like utter crap and still be in an awesome mood?

I guess i shouldn't be asking that, because i know its possible. Its how im feeling right now.

It seems i've caught a cold - or something - that has my body feeling achy and feverish, throat sore...

::Sidenote: it may seem like i'm always sick or something(i know ive blogged about not feeling well more than once) but really im not! I hardly ever get sick, but the past few months have been kind of wack, health wise. I dunno. Maybe i need to take some more vitamins or something...::

But yeah, despite all of that, i feel absolutely wonderful.

Why?

Its March.

Did you get to get out today? It was friggin beautiful outside. High of 64. Sunny. And because its March, we can only look forward to more days like this. Hooo-ahhh!

Yall ready for the warmer weather? I know I sure am. I am so over winter its not even funny. I've already begun shopping for spring summer clothing. Now is the time for me to step up my workout/weight loss game. Im ready though, already lost about 12 lbs so i'm on my merry way.

Of course now would be a good time to start epilating all those areas that i've been letting go simply because they've been covered up. Its really a shame. Other than my *ahem*, i haven't been too diligent with my legs and stuff. Then again, i'm not a really hairy person either, so it wasn't gross. Yet and still, thank goodness for the opaque tights that were de mode this season. Don't screw face me! Please. Yall know how it is.