Opinion

Sara.h Palin, Please Run for President

Dear Sarah Pa.lin:
I hear you're pondering a run for the White House in 2012. Last week, you told Fox news it would be "absurd" to rule it out. I'm writing to ask that you rule it in. I very badly want you to run for -- and win -- the Republican nomination for the presidency. I know you're waiting for the punch line. Maybe you figure I think you'd be a weak candidate who would pave the way for President Oba.ma's easy re-election.

That's not it. No, I want you to run because I believe a Pa.lin candidacy would force upon this country a desperately needed moment of truth. It would require us to finally decide what kind of America we want to be.
Mrs. Pa.lin, you are an avatar of the shameless hypocrisy and cognitive disconnection that have driven our politics for the last decade, a process of stupidification creeping like kudzu over our national life.

As Exhibit A, consider your recent speech at a so-called "tea .party" event, wherein you dismissed the president as a "charismatic guy with a teleprompter." Bad enough you imply that teleprompter use is the mark of an insubstantial man, even though you and every other major politician uses them. But what made the comment truly jaw-dropping is that even as you spoke, you had penned on your left palm, clearly visible, a series of crib notes.
Mrs. Pal.in, if Obam.a is an idiot for reading a prepared speech off a teleprompter, what are you for reading notes you've inked on your hand like a school kid who failed to study for the big test?

In the Fox interview, you scored Oba.ma for supposedly expecting Americans to "sit down and shut up" and accept his policies. But when asked when the president has ever said that, you couldn't answer. Oba.ma, you sputtered, has just been condescending with his "general persona." I found that a telling moment. See, ultimately what you represent is not conservatism. Heck, I suspect that somewhere, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan are spinning like helicopter rotors at the very idea.

No, you represent the latest iteration of an anti-intellectualism that periodically rises in the American character. There is, historically and persistently, a belief in us that y'all just can't trust nobody who acts too smart or talks too good -- in other words, somebody whose "general persona" indicates they may have once cracked a book or had a thought. Americans tend to believe common sense the exclusive province of humble folks without sheepskins on the wall or big words in their vocabularies. I don't mock those people. They are my parents, my family elders, members of my childhood church. I honor their native good sense, what mom called "mother wit." But if it is insulting to condescend to them, it is equally insulting to mythologize them.

More to the point, something is wrong when we celebrate mental mediocrity like yours under the misapprehension that competence or, God forbid, intelligence, makes a person one of those "elites" -- that's a curse word now -- lacking authenticity, compassion and common sense. So no, this is not a clash of ideologies, but a clash between intelligence and its opposite. And I am tired of being asked to pretend stupid is a virtue. That's why I'd welcome the moment of truth your campaign would bring. It would force us to decide once and for all whether we are permanently committed to the path of ignorance, of birthers, truthers and tea party incoherence you represent, or whether we will at last turn back from the cliff toward which we race.

If the latter, wonderful, God bless America. If the former, well, some of us can finally quit hoping the nation will return to its senses and plan accordingly. Either way, we need to know, and your candidacy would tell us. If you love this country, Mrs. Pa.lin, you can do it no greater service.

Run, Sarah, run.

Leonard Pitts, Jr

Miami Herald

Good Morning...??

I call my favorite uncle in VA to talk to my fave aunt from Chile. He said she's in bed being lazy so I figured she hasn't heard the news... I don't want to be the one calling first thing in the morning to say there's utter devastation in Chile so I just chat with my uncle for a while.

"How's everything?"

"Cool. I've been a little off this week so I'm very glad it's the weekend where I can just chill and only do what I want to do."

"I hear that. How's Andrew?"

"He's doing fine. He's getting a lot of engineering work and a lot of shows. That's always good you know, being an artist"

"Yeah, tell him I said 'hi'. You know I'm waiting for your wedding."

*Carrie Bradshaw look of shock, the one where she blinks & shakes her head like, "the hell!?" Damn, no lube? no dinner? Just straight to the fcuked*

"Everyone is. Have you gotten Stanley's Save the Date? Isn't it cute? OMG, I'm so excited!"

"The magnet? Yes! We've saved it and the date. But when can we save your date?"

*Damn Taurus persistence*

"Uncle, I don't know. We've talked and he bought the setting so he's looking for a stone now... baby steps."

"Okaaaay, you know we can't wait for that one. We'll be there and bring the whole gang"

"I know you will!"

"Alright Miss Afutu #1. I love hearing from you. Don't take any mess from your dad, you can tell him I said that. Talk to you later"

"*LOL* Okay Uncle Dzani, love you too, ttyl"

So much for a quickgardenweddinginMiamiBeachwheremy'maidswearayellowdressoftheirchoice followed by a wardrobe change and quickAstiandmarblecakereception chased with a fit change for the after-party at Ni.kki Beach South Beach...

Bad Mood

I haven't been in the cheeriest of moods this week. I don't know what it is and I can't shake it. It's like my sugar has been perpetually low. I think the weather had a little something to do with it; it was cloudy/rainy earlier this week. Today was sunny and cold but I was still not as ease. I don't like the cold.

My kinder-neighbor asked me if i'm okay. I told her I'm anxious. I can't relax. I feel like something is due or something is past due. I told her I feel like something big is about to happen and I just wish it would already. I don't know if it's something good or something bad but there's something on the horizon that's holding my disposition hostage.

I'm perpetually annoyed. I'm sure the new puppy has something to do with that cause I have to watch her constantly. and I've been cleaning like I've never cleaned before. I've pulled a Cinderella and scrubbed floors on my hands and knees more times than I will ever want to in life. And now my hands feel like shit and my nails break with the least amount of pressure.

Then I try to put things in perspective. I have a job doing what I love, a fabulous roof over my head, both parents, siblings doing well; I really have nothing to complain about.

But damn it, why can't I be unhappy??!! Why I gotta justify my baditude?

I am positive 95% of the time so on my off 5% days, can I have that? Please? Why can't I have a rant and just rant? How often do I rant? Why when I'm having a bad day, people like to challenge me and tell me I can't feel that way? I have no reason to be upset or stressed or angry? I have no reason to wanna curse out loud for no reason? Why the fcuk not? Anger/restlessness/anxiousness/nervousness are all valid feelings that we are ALL allowed to have and express. If I feel someway about something with or without a reason, let me feel that way. Thanks.

If you see me in the street, I'm probably smiling or at least giving off a positive vibe. On the 18 days out the year (once a month plus a few for good measure) I'm genuinely ANGRY for what.ever reason, if you want to ask me why, ask me and I'll tell you. But then leave me alone. Please don't try to change my mind about how I feel.

Godfather

He is so sick. Please pray for him. Pray that God will take it away. And if it is in his will, pray that will be as painless as possible.

My Godfather is wilting away. I try not to think about it cause he's been there for all of our major events. I can't imagin him not being a guest of honor at my wedding or the outdooring of my first child. I hope he can make it to StanKK's ceremony... and Mini Me's college graduation *sigh*.

He's too weak to go to work. His stomach is so far gone that the doctor said let him eat whatever he wants and can keep down. *laughing* last time I visited, peach cobbler and banana pudding were on tap.

No one this close to me has passed and I don't know how to deal with what's inevitable.

Pray for my Godfather. Pray for my Godfamily

Friday

1. I thought today was Thursday. I couldn't fall back asleep when I realized it's Friday. I woke up at 522a. This is going to hurt today.

2. Speaking of hurting, I don't like unruly children. I can *tolerate* them in the classroom cause I can give the the Look of Death and tell them to change their color. Come to find out, my class acts a straight DONKEY in the cafeteria. Like, 'screaming and pouring juice on peoples heads' donkey. Someone is always in timeout when I pick them up.

3. Speaking of lunch room behavior, I'm shooting for Silent Lunch today. I doubt that'll happen but what I can control is No Fun Friday. I should get to work early to prep for the All Work No Fun Day.

4. I'm mentally getting ready for TX. I think it took me visiting and enjoying myself to set that in motion. The last time I went to Texas, I was 23, it was summertime, I was in Austin, and I was visiting a guy. Totally different ballgame this time around.

5. Speaking of Texas, guess who found his monkey-a in Arlington/Dallas while I was there?? Little Mr. Big. His frat brother DJ'd K. Garnett's party. I really have to be more cautious with my FB status updates.

6. While on the subject of FB statuses, a teacher (right before a faculty meeting) hollered, "you don't look like you're in arlington!" I shushed the shit out of her and whispered, "my plane leaves at 6pm and I'm taking sick days thankyouverymuch!!!"

7. I need to see how many sick days I have... I know I haven't used them. Older women and my dad (random) say save them and tack them onto maternity leave. *FACE*. Thank-you for being concerned abt my eggs and days.

8. I was talking to a two week old baby and his 3 y.o little brother at the store yesterday. Later on, Drew was like, "Who was that baby you were talking to?" Damn lil... all in mine! Damn lil...watching me from afar!

9. He brought my setting over to see if I approved of it in person.

10. Let the countdown begin.

I Get It From My Momma

Although I'm not the richest person in our pseudo household (household that includes the state of Florida), I like to think I give the best gifts. This Sunday, I gave mommy her fave chocolate (anything Cadbury's... British bred girl) and a peach rose. She loved them and called me TWICE to thank me.

Really mom? Some milk chocolate and a rose? I see where I get it from; it's the little things.

So today, I went to Spencer today to hang out with Lyds. She opens the fridge and pulls out the remaining third of her chocolate bar. Surprised, I say,

"Wow Mom, you have discipline!"

to which she replies,

"Who said anything about discipline? I ate the one you bought me, went out and bought two more. Ate another one and was too embarrassed to eat a third. I took a piece of the last one and put the rest in the freezer. Then I made myself some hot chocolate and oatmeal."

*blinking* "Word, Mom? That's a little gross."

"It was like something came over me and I had to have it."

"That sounds impulsive."

*breaking the third into manageable pieces to feed her face with*

"Whatever." (said in Lyds accent)

"We Just Gon Show Out Like That?"

Y'all need to give Dreezy a hand. When you see him, please pat him on the back or give him a Hi-5. This Sunday was the BEST Valentine's Day EVER.

ever?

EVER.

When was the last time you heard me say anything like that about a gift-giving holiday?

I'd venture to say it's been about 3 years.

Well, let me break down the day for you and explain what made it perfect for me.

It's 1230am. I'm just getting back from my Ghanian godsister's wedding. Her wedding was in Kendall and the reception was in Brickell. Both of them far. Mind you, I literally hopped off a plane, hopped in the shower and hopped into Pops' Sequoia for the trek to the bottom of Dade county. We got lost (of course) but eventually made it. Then we drive another 30+ minutes north for the reception. I'm guessing cause it was V-Day weekend, everyone was on the road getting last minute gifts.

Reception was nice, got some pointers, made me want a big wedding again. And speaking of weddings and receptions, boy did we have some discussion while doing our tour of So. Fla... I figured my wedding will be a party for my parents that I will be a guest of honor at. Watch and see. Now I digress.

I make it back to my place at 1230am. Drew shows up at 1245 with a little brown bag in hand. With the biggest grin, he walks thru the door and says,

"Happy Valentine's Day, babe! I love you!"

"For me?? On actual Valentine's Day!?!? OMG, I'm so excited!"

I open the cards. The first one is a Hoops and Yo-Yo. If you don't know about their cards, get thee to a Publicks or Wahlgreens and check them out. Trippith.me.out.

The second card had me ROLLING! It started off all sweet on the front, "Valentine, I love you more today than I did yesterday". Then inside it read, "Yesterday, you really got on my nerves."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I'M DYING ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

*whew* There was no reason for that card to be that funny.

Now it's time for the presents.

I unwrap the first bundle of tissue paper... Juicy Cout underwear! One of them had pink glitter on it!! OW!!! The other was gray and dark pink, my two fave colors to wear!! THANKS BABE!

Second bundle, a Queen of Sleep cami nightgown from Juicy!! Ow! I've been eyeing their nightgowns cause I feel like they speak to me! Queen of Sleep??? So me! I don't care where we are, as long as my head can be tilted, I'm good! Dreaming of Sleep? I get excited at the thought of taking an AdvilPM for that good-good sleep. But I fall asleep before I remember to take it!

The final item came in a box. His monkey ass actually took a picture of it a week ago and sent it to me. I think it killed him holding onto my gift for so long. I open the box and it's a pearl necklace!! Awwww!! I got a strand from mommy and daddy when I graduated from college but I haven't seen it since I left Tally :-( (*side-eyeing mini me*) Now Drew has given me the necklace I've been missing!

Now all this excitement, in addition for being up God knows how long brought a crashing on me. I promise you, I had him put my necklace on me and I hit the bed, HARD.

Woke up V-Day morning at 6am cause I forgot to turn off the alarm. Bastard, I only got 4.5 hours of sleep :-( Oh well, I get up and start cleaning... in my pearl necklace and nightgown! I felt so Donna Reed-ish!! By 8am, breakfast was ready. Egg over medium well, hash brown, buttermilk biscuit, turkey sausage (for me) salsa, and guac in the shape of a heart. Yum-O.

We went back to sleep. woke up, took my mom flowers and chocolate came home and killed wii.

Yes, we played wii. We both unlocked our Miis on mario kart!!! So excited!

Nap-time.

Woke-up again and ordered sushi. So ridiculously good. But that was just a snack cause for V-Day dinner, I planned on fresh 4 cheese tortellini with a baby bella and pink shirmp alfredo sauce and a lobster tail on the side.

yeah, we made dinner but didn't feel like eating! Just drank Asti and played more wii! Haha! Then we watched the All-Star game stuff and I fell asleep.

Monday, Drew made lobster omlettes. So beyond good. To drink, we finished the asti with freshly squeezed cali orange juice. *sigh*. "So we just gon show out like that? all weekend, Drew?" I think he's making up for special days past ;-)

We hung around all day. We thought about going to the movies, thought about renting movies, ended up picking beads for my MardiGras lesson today and heading back to my place. I don't even remember the rest of yesterday except for naps and olympix. Don't even matter, my Valentine's Day was AWESOME!!

Texas, so far

it's awesome.

I know my day hasn't started yet so we'll see what's really good but just passing Dallas Cowboys Stadium made my heart skip a beat. Then passing Six Flags Arlington made me giggle like a little girl. Then the snow...

O

MY

FU(KING

GOSH.

Then to top it, I have some FAMU and Hampton Homies in the area, a HU homie is flying in tomorrow so I'm supposed to have lunch with him, annnnnnnd, my dad told me my cousin from the UK, an AVID basketball fan and player is coming into town for the All-Star Game! He comes every year! and he's bring his fiance this year!!!!

My hotel room is amazing and 0.5 miles away from Six Flags, if that bitch was open I'd explode.

My campus visit is scheduled for Friday at 10am

OMG, watching the news and the snow coverage is so amazing! It's so BEAUTIFUL!! they say it's the fluffy wet snow that is good for snowmen!!!

OMG, I am having a blast and it's only 631am Central Time!

Saturdays: Hair Edition

I remember having standing appointments with Ms Katie on Saturdays for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, it was wash, blow dry, and curl in some ponytails. When I was a senior in elementary school (LMAO), I got the half up half down with a bump and when I was being fresh, I told her to flip the half down part.

6th grade, I experimented with a roller set. I kept my jacket on my head the whole day cause I thought I looked like Ronald McDonald. That was until this 7th grader in my band class told me the curls looked good... I guess I can take the jacket off during band class ;-)

It was in 6th grade I took a break from Ms. Katie and did my own hair, well everything except a relaxer. Man, I was hot-curling my hair EVERYDAY. One Sunday, I got up for church and saw what had become of my hair. Scraggly ends, uneven length, dull... I almost cried!! I vowed not to use the curling iron for the rest of middle school.

I succeeded. Every other Saturday, I washed my own hair and put some conditioner on that mug. I went on about my Saturday chores with a shower cap on. Rinsed, braided, and used a roller on the end. My hair grew back like wildfire. You can see it in my freshman year yearbook photo. (yech!)

In high school, I went back to Ms. Katie every two weeks but she was getting old and I was getting grown. Half up half down was only good for freshman year and she said my hair was "too thick to wrap". I told her I want my hair like Aaliyah's so she should use "TCB's Bone Strait" on me and she played me with, "No one really wants their hair bone straight. That's not healthy". *grumble* Fine. She'd wash and blow dry it then curl the ends. Flat irons weren't really out but there's a marcel beveling iron I wanted her to use... she'd use a one inch curler. Can you imagine long thick hair with a little bump at the end? Ugh.

We found another hair-dresser my sophomore year. Those Saturdays were much more fun than the ones in Ms. Katie's old lady salon. 1st of all, my hairdresser (looking back) was no older than 30. Secondly, she was in a salon of family members. She worked with her aunt, cousin, and cousin-in law. Oh, the stories of family get togethers! Hahaha! The last reason why this salon was the highlight of my every other saturday was what Ms. Connie's cousin did. HE was a barber. Yes, there was a barber in our salon! All the black men of West Palm Beach came to Al! Mangonia Park, Westward, that whole established black part of West Palm would roll thru there!

Now to be honest, it was nerve-wracking walking INTO the salon looking a hot mess. And while ms connie was the last chair, the barber's chair was right in front. I dreaded walking by dudes from high school and boys home from college with my two week band-practice hair...

Try not to make eye contact, Stace... damn! there goes Boomer!

"Hey Boomer, what's up?"

With his D'Angelo face and eyes and voice oozing like dark, masculine honey, "Chilllllin, wuss up witchu?"

"You read Fahrenheit 451 yet?" GEEK! Who talks about school on Saturday?!!?

Molasses smile and answer, "Nah, I ain't finna read that thing"

"Me neither, I'm not going to read that junk!"

You so see thru!! I bet he has x-ray vision and can see the copy you have in your bag!

"Alriiight, see you later"

I swear I talked to him more on my walk to Ms. Connie's chair than I did our 4 years in high school.

The bonus to having a barber in the salon was walking out, with keys in hands and a FRESH 'do. What?!?! Couldn't tell me NOTHING with my flat wrap! Now I head to the mall and grab that Aaliyah skirt I've been eyeing...

Ms. Connie held me down thru high school. I also remember rocking what we called the Aquarius look (front half of hair is braided or flat-twisted to scalp, back half is out) hard. And I brought the roller set back. Ms. Connie knew how to roller set my hair so they were big ringlets, not Jew Fro.

My saturday hair appointments started continued when I got to HU. Best believe, I found a salon walking distance from Hampton. And you already know my hair was done every other Saturday! It was at Hampton, I was introduced to the roller wrap. Shoutout to Shalizar!

When I came home for break, I tried to explain to ms connie what she should do to my hair and she didn't get it. She actually got mad at me for making her roller set my hair, then take it out to wrap it and stick me back under the dryer! My hair didn't come out good looking that day. I stopped going to ms connie that Saturday. She was good for high school and locals. I'm cosmo now. I'm a college student now, the Aquarius doesn't work anymore. Yeah, I know you did my hair like that the day before I left for school and that was only 2 months ago but things have changed.

Left HU and got to Tally. That's where my usual saturday ritual got funky.

TBC

Ring the Alarm

We met in kindergarten and became fast friends. She was the only other person who used the brown crayon in self-portraits. Our moms became friends and you know the whole deal. Birthday parties, skating rinks, park dates, etc.

So after kindergarten, we met again in middle school. 6th grade, we both learned how to play the clarinet. 7th grade we both dated the same guy. 8th grade we both transferred to our county's school of the arts.

With the advent of FB, we reconnected after YEARS. We exchanged numbers and promised to do lunch sometime over the summer. That was going on 3 years ago. We called each other with plans to meet over the breaks and our plans never coincided.

FAST FORWARD to January 2010.

I walk into my salon on an early Saturday morning and there she is, sitting at the shampoo bowl with conditioner in her hair.

"OH MY GOSH!!!! OH MY GOSH!!! OMIGOSH I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN FOREVER!!"

and we jump right into each other's lives. "How's your momma/daddy/brother/sister?" I find out both our sisters attend State, both our brother's are doing big things, and on and on. Then the convo turns to our personal lives.

"I don't think I can take another year in Palm Beach County"

"Me neither!"

"Every week, I'm ready to move somewhere else"

"Man, I looked at Fairfax County, Va. Austin, TX, Atlanta, Ga..."

"Omigosh, I looked into Texas, DC, and Dekalb!"

Our convo was basically one of us saying something and the other going, "OMG, me too!" we both realize we're too young to be where we are right now, we have no hubbys or chaps (#shoutout Jameil) so we need to get our YFF on and on and on and on.

Then the convo turned to our mens. She let me know that for personal and professional reasons (more personal) she has to move. She needs a change and a place where she can start over. Her mentor has a job open for her in case she decides to move but she just hasn't done it yet. I shared that I simply have a strong urge to live somewhere else before I settle and speaking of settling, I caught her up on my sentiments regarding Dreez. Blah, blah, blah.

As of Saturday, she was ready to move to Georgia. Like, stoneface, "I need to get the fluck out of here". The guy she's been dating for years and who she hung around for doesn't seem to be getting his act together or is "waiting for something big to happen at his job". Well "something" hasn't happened so they've been stagnant. She also told me she "got into HU for grad school but stayed in town for him", with the tiniest bit of regret/resentment. Aww man, I saw what was me in that statement.

We kind of agreed that we're going to do US once this school year is over. We said it with such conviction that out hairdresser was like, "What is all this talk about leaving!?" and then she laughed when we told her, "We're 27! We need to get out before we get stuck!"

Anyhoo, her"man" proposed to her last night. And she accepted. She text me last night and I saw the message this morning.

I thought I was still sleeping and I had to check the name. Yeah, I know only one person with that name... but the Maxine I was talking to was "reds to go"! The Maxine I was just talking with had lots of issues to deal with regarding Julian... the Maxine I was conversing with made an unofficial pact with me about being young, flashy, and fly somewhere besides WPB, FL!!

So... a ring makes everything better?

I may come off as Miranda from SATC but what happened to all those dreams and plans you were just talking about on Saturday? and that dream job hand-made for you by your mentor? I'm trying not to be a skeptic as I type this and I know Corinthians told me love heals all wounds but...

RING the ALARM.

to be continued