30's the New 20?

Why something always got be the new-new? Can't we just appreciate where we are? Maybe even take it back? Why come Jay Zee turned 40 so now it's the new 30? Is 30 where it's at? And when Drew turned 30 the other day, why did a 34 y.o we dined with say, "It's the new 20!"?

Did I miss a memo?

Was 20 the hauteness?

Now don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to re-live my college days, all 2,555 of them. (Well, not alllll of them.) But when Niko (RJ's new boo) made the aforementioned statement, I was INSTANTLY taken back to 2002.

*

Okay, I turned 20 in May of 2002 so sophomore year was clearly over. I just gotten word I'd be attending FAMU with my brother who just graduated from Suncoast High. In May of 2002, I got my 2nd tattoo, a star on where I guess would be an ovary. Summer 2002, my family and I drove to Hampton to get my things out of storage. I left a note for Martina and BB on a trunk. I really think we drove back to Florida without a word coming out of my mouth.

Summer 2002, the guy I was dealing with starts to show his ass. We go back and forth via snail mail. (LMMFAO) I don't even remember what was said but I come thisclose to telling him, "That's why you weren't my first like I said you were." But I knew I wouldn't be coming back to HU and I didn't want him talking iSht about me while I wasn't there. He stamps, affirms, and confirms my decision to not make my first person anyone special. I could only imagine how I would've felt if he WAS my first. Someone would've had had to die. And it wasn't going to be me.

Fall 2002, first semester at FAMU... interesting. "Does anyone have class here?" Not taking a class but social class.

One thing I did notice was how openly Greek stuff was here. EVERYTHING was claimed with two colors and two years. I thought that was cool.

I shared a townhouse with two chicks I've known forever but mostly from Suncoast. We had lots of fun. Some trying times of course but more fun like making up dance routines and watching the Best man EVERYDAY. We were also walking distance to campus. I dated a guy who was the equivalent of a Student Leader at Hampton. We went to football games together with Kim and her BF (now husband). Dee marched in the 100.

I went to an Oil Spill with Kitty and fell on the ground a lot. I wasn't drunk, there was just hella liq on the floor. Not cool. I NEVER want to fall at parties and look like "that chick". Kitty got bit in the ass. We got barked at and guerilla-style dry humped. My car got broken into and all my CDs were gone. DEVASTATED. I then decided "I don't like Ques." They weren't like the ones at Hampton. FAMU Ques were beyond nasty and uncouth. and the ones from Florida State were extra hype. I assumed they had to prove themselves cause they're crossed at a PWI. Oh Lord, there's a white one too. He wins the title for Too Hype.

Parties at FAM are called Cosmos, short for Cosmopolitans. No one knew what I was talking about when I said I wanted to go to Cabs, short for Cabarets. Oh well, they were fun either way.

Football games are BEYOND a blast at my new school. OMG, the band is the greatest. and I know a lot of people in the band so I make special requests. It's so cool to know so many people from home. I feel like I can be myself. But in classes where I don't know anyone, I'm seen as the bourgie chick. I think it's cause I intro myself as a transfer from Hampton university. well, that's what I was! I'm torn. I hated the pretentiousness of HU, the "keeping up appearances" the full out accepting of being bourgie. You don't have to be stuck up/stank to have class. People were full of themselves at HU. But then I get to FAM and the ghettoness has me shaking my head at every turn. Where am I? Where do I belong? I didn't make any new friends.

Christmas comes, EVERYONE is home. I love not having to catch US Air to come home. I HATED that airline. My hair is long again.

Spring 2003

I'm still 20. The Student Leader I was dating ships out on Valentine's Day. He's in the reserves. I meet the whole family when we go to St. Pete the week before. Cool, his mom ADORES me.

Classes happen, I have a 3.8 gpa, I'm an education major and I love it. I visit my beloved Hampton for CC's bday in February. OMG, I MISS ALLL MY HOMIES! IT'S SO COOL TO BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK YOU'RE BOURGIE, BUT NORMAL!!

Basketball games are okay... they're in the gym so I feel a bit claustrophobic. HU played in the convocation center which hosted concerts and other big events. Am I really sitting on wooden bleachers like I'm in highschool? Oh well, the Pep Band is great so I have fun.

It's spring time so probates are happening left and right. Virgil crossed Kappa. Everyone is at his probate but I'm on the phone with SL's WIFEY. Yes, the guy I was dating has a main chick. I call Deanne and she can't understand a word I'm saying cause I'm wailing on the phone. She was also at Virgil's probate. She thought I was dying of pain or something. My heart was breaking as if it was made of poorly made glass. It's a bad time for me. I cut my hair for the 2nd time in my life. I look like a Supreme and I love it.

The end of March brings a wonderful party to my life. The Illustrious Champagne Sip. Kitty and I attend our first one Spring 2003. THEE best party EVER. EVAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR! We get dressed up in ball gowns and drink champagne all night? So there. We had no idea how loose it would get. But loose in a good way, not in a Champagne Sip 2004 way. *whew!*

April comes and goes. Exams and graduation come and go. School's out, "summer" is here. SL is still calling me, trying to make things work. I answer the calls as part of my American duty to boost the morale of our military but the feeling is gone. I'm like a hollow heart when it comes to love at this time. One day he calls while I'm at Kitty's and I start fake crying to make him feel bad. I remember why I was dubbed Ms. Drama freshman year at Hampton. He starts crying. But I don't think he's faking. I end with, "Don't call me anymore! Call Shay! *click*" Then, a guy in her section (french horn) who I had been eyeing on stops by and I get him. My motto for the year? "Fcuk the World, literally."*

So that was 20 for me. If 30 is going to be the 2.0 version of that, I'll pass.

*so even though Kitty and I said we were going to fcuk the world, we didn't. *LMAO* I didn't crush on anyone again till the end of Spring 2004.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Hi! I'm trying to post from my phone, let's see if it works!

So I'm in Springfield, VA, about 10 miles outside of DC and we're actually having a good time despite the freezing temperatures! We were excited it was supposed to get up to 40 yesterday, but it only made it to 36. But its all good, we were inside the Smithsonians pretty much all day, yet only covered two of them! You need 19 days to see all 19 of them! They are GINORMOUS! Aww man, its such a disservice to just peruse each flor but that's what you kind of have to do!

So we went to the Museum of American History (very cool), the MoAmerican Indian for lunch (goo.gle the menu. The baked oysters... HEAVEN in a half-shell. Heaven and ecstasy at the same time. Blue corn bread was banging, too!!) with my friend Bijal (soooooooooooooo excited! She is HUH-LARIOUS!) and then she dropped us off at the MoNatural History. We were tired by then. The mammals section was cool but at the ocean life, we came to the conclusion that 1) we're tired and 2) it would be so much better as an aquarium, not taxidermy. The gems and minerals were awesome once we got past rocks and soil... man. The jewelry in there... breathtaking. The pieces aristocracy wore back in the day??????? All the blinged out rappers are playing with fools good and genuine austrian crystal!

After we saw the hope diamond (meh), we drove to Martina's for some quick games of Mario*Kart! Yeah, I got the mushroom circuit and it all fell apart after that :-( We decided to hit up a sushi restaurant in the nearby hilton. Very good sushi, not crazy but good. They had meh virginia oysters that were too expensive so we decided we're going to Baltimore today for some real maritime cuisine! Can't wait!

For NYE, we're going to another SHS/FAMU alum's house party and to catch up with OTHER alums! Can't wait for that either! Ttyl

En Route

I'm packing for D.C. this morning. So excited! I love packing!! It means I'm leaving W.P.B for some place that's most likely more FAB! And D.C is DEF more fab than WPB!

*

I pack very methodically. I picture what my trip should be like and pack accordingly.

I try and make my wardrobe as cohesive as possible so I can bring as few accessories as possible. I lay out outfits down to the underwear based on a tentative schedule and I don't budge.

Tuesday: plane ride, hanging out with fam, mall (for my gift that Andrew says we're going to pick up... [FACE])- camel bcbg hoodie and pants, longsleeve green tee, socks, pink scarf and chucks

Wednesday: public transport, museum circuit, lunch/dinner on the town- bright green cable knit turtle neck sweater, dark jeans, thermals, flat brown boots

Thursday: hanging with Martina and beating her in Mario Cart and any other games, catching up with other Hampton Homies- jeans, long sleeve pink tee, cream cable knit zip-up sweater, pink scarf and chucks

Thursnight: NYE house party/parties- dark, dark cigarette jeans, long sleeve black wrap shirt, colored pumps OR brown camel cashmere sweater dress with flat brown boots and possibly some colored fishnet/tights

Friday: recoup day, I have no idea- GRAY SWEATSUIT!! and if we decide to go out, red cashmere sweater, dark jeans, flat brown boots

Saturday: heading back to WPB, I will most likely have more clothes/shoes/stuff than I came with (which is why I pack "lightly") so the day will be spent packing and chilling- jeans, long sleeve black tee, pumps or pink chucks and scarf.

Yep, that's it!! Now I know we have plans to find some cool restaurants to eat at and we might even take a trip to B-More cause there are some SHS/FAM classmates living there now... SO EXCITED!

One more thing to be excited about:

IT MIGHT SNOW!!!!!

Mrs. Patti

We've been following her blog for several months and to think, her day of careful and meticulous planning has finally come!! Might I add, from an outsider's point of view, it went off without a hitch!

A blogger shot of Soon to Be Mrs. Patti, her MOH Dani, and MnOH KBrock. See her DIY hair flower?

Remember her talking about this?

and the bouts for the honorable ones are GORGE!

It was so cool to be in attendance to the lovely wedding and to see everything we've been reading about serving it's purpose. Mrs. Patti, you did a WONDERFUL job! Congratulations, girl!!

Christmas So Far...

Its been GRRRRRRREAT! Well besides the fact I got in at 430am and I'm already up... it was so worth it!

So the latter part of yesterday, the part that STILL had no sunshine, I was not the one. Ba.dee.tude. I decided to go to sleep.

I couldn't sleep in my room cause Big Mini Me (freshman 15 y'all) is here and was gabbin it up on the phone. My oh so comfortable mattress topper is on my bros bed but he's here for the month and if Mom Dukes (MD) caught me lying on her bed whilst she was "cleaning" (see: making a mess to clean up) that'll be drama into the new year.

I decide to get my sleep mask, something I RARELY use cause I fall asleep so easily ANYWHERE, and sleep in the sitting room. Got my Alumni Status blanket and hit the couch; GONE!

My thing was, there is no point in trudging thru housework today when we're probably going to have to do it tomorrow. I know how md operates, I'm hip to her game... plus a cranky Adei doing housework is the last person you'd want to be around. If you even THINK about looking at the floor I just swept and swiffered, you got another thing coming! And I don't care if you have to pee, hold it till my floor dries. Then you can walk across it.

SO! I GO TO SLEEP! IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE "CLEANING" ACTION!

I wake, I clean, I shower, I go.

I'm in church and I start to feel better. I notice the new tapestries hanging and love them. I peep all the college students home for the holidays and wonder why the boys aren't my age. I sing Christmas hymns that I love more than carols. I hug my fly friend Dani of Dani Colored Glasses and her fly sis and their beaus. I offer the sis an xpress gift card for her red-headed boo but she says "sharing is not caring". Scrooge.

During communion, the church sings Silent Night. We turn off the lights and the ushers and acolytes light candlesticks that were given out as you walked into church. So beautiful. Not as beautiful as I remember in the past but still very nice.

So church is over and its now Christmas. What a nice way to bring in the day! Its the afterparty (is that appropro?) that had me coming in at 430am.

Its been the buzz that this restaurant/lounge is the place to be. Chat it up with a fellow parishoner and its official. I go home to change out the mary janes and sox and don a pink, black and white halter dress. Tre.cute. Although it was RAINING by the time church ended and my hair was a tad bit frizzed, I'm still fly with it. Drove, parked and walk to the spot and one of my fave homies is at the door. He says, "come child. Hold on to me." and we walk right in. Yes! No cover! Thanks Cover!

EV.REE.ONE.IS.HERE.

EVERYONE!

Yo, my crew is here of course but the dudes of the graduating class before us are in full effect! No, FULLLLLLLL EFFECT! Its always bomb when 99 dudes and 2000 chicks are around! And especially since a couple of them I haven't seen in YEARS are in the spot? Aww man, I was geeked.

What song comes on as I hug all my girls?


Get Me Bodied.

You know we cut up something serious! Then while he played a song that has a line dance to it, this dude interrupts my dance! He grabs my hand mid spin and just holds me there! I look at him like, "uh? Dancing here!" and he replies in my ear, "I just had to stop you so I can admire you."

Aww shucks. When you interrupt me for that, I can't get mad. And you're cute. But, I gotta man.


The music was banging and the DJ got into this mid 90s set and played guess?








Scrub the Ground.










Game.

Over.



Do you know what that song does to me? Well, DO YOU??

Jam does. She's Scrubbed the Ground. A party is officially hot if you play Scrub the Ground, there's no denying it! My girls and I are scrubbing the ground, killing it in stilletos and dresses. A dude grabs my hand during the "Round and round we go" part. Then the scrubbing starts and it helps that I have a tether. Thanks dude! No go away cause you're not cute.

So my song came on, cool. Then the reggae set had the 99 boys in the same frenzy the booty music has us girls. "Moah Fiyah!" and "bloodclot" had the most American of dudes reppin hard and singing every word. It was at that time I was glad Drew sent me hella mixtapes.

DJ got into a trini soca set that is ALWAYS high energy and he even bust into a haitian song that I actually like and reminds me of my graduation. Drew made a mixtape for the occasion and threw on some vintage zouk music. Again, much thanks to the Dreezyfbaby :-)

Man, the night is going by and its 3am already! Michael Jackson had me doing the City Boy Slide from Miami... Noo Edition had me Lauderdale Dropping...pulled out the Cabbage Patch during Chubb Rock, got our thug on during a khaled set that had teachers, financial analysts, med students, lawyers, and bankers GRINDIN. We are SO HOOOOOOD! Wait, take out the 'are'... WE SO HOOOOOD! That's better.

By the time 4am rolls around, its a wrap. I didn't even know we had a spot with south beach hours and I'm loving it! We all hug, I get numbers from homies whose numbers changed and find out the 99 crew will be in ATL for new years!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

"We pop champagne like we won the championship, mane"

And go ahead and throw that dirty J.Jones on too. I can't front, that song is hot. South Florida is about to do it big in the Peach State.


And that's my Christmas so far.

Sunday Dinners

So on Sunday, we decided that someone would host a game night. that person hosts an evening of fun, food, and laughter!

We road tripped to clewiston this past sunday. its right on Lake Okeechobee; about an hour west of us.

this is me walking up to the lake. look at my hair!


after we ate chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes, we decided to dance while the boys watched the finals.


get me bodied


old school dance


drop down


i don't know the lines at the end of the song


damn them girls are FLY! not even trying!!

the last one!

one more child in the Kutieboot household has graduated from Suncoast High School, the NUMBER 3 school in the NATION!!!

my godbro and mom holding up a 1 cause steph is the last ONE!


As usual, the ceremony was boring but you know what? i've been to waaaaaay worse. I think its worse when they bring some dignitary or person of "importance" to speak. Whatever. just the val and sal spoke and they were good.


you know i have to upload a sample of pics!!

pops and i looking for mom and bro... well he was looking and I was snapping shots!


FAMU College of Ed grads of yesteryear and today :-) also a church member AND we work at the same school! she told the principal to grab me up when I was excessed from my school!


brothers of the grads. we're also neighbors!


my uncle who comes to EVERYTHING we do!!


family shot. oh yeah, that's one of the 4 shirts i got from baybay

"you know who you remind me of?"

"that Chinese bitch from old school Soul Train"


one of MANY memorable quotes from Sunday night!






Sunday night, I attended a vanglorious Christmas party that re-united some of my favorite people in the whole world!! A Suncoast High School 99-2000 get together is always FOUR things:

young
flashy
fly
FUN!

I don't know anyone who hangs DEEP with their highschool crew... not the way we do! Our special mix include favorite exes, (some shared by two people in the crew), play-play enemies, homies from the neighborhood, aces from summer camps, churchmongers, BFFs from elementary school... at the end of the day, we are ONE BIG FAMILY! College grads doing big things in our respective fields. No-one is married yet but best believe we can't wait for that party! Here are some pics (of course):

sexy Taureans. One time for May babies

middle school connect

who can pose in front of a camera better than V and I?

pan hell connect

2000 chicks. we took this picture 7 years ago before I went to Hampton, Kitty went to FAM, DQ went to Howard and PJ went to Spelman!!!!!!!! I love HBCU products!!

99 guys AKA GDP

GDD

my Biggie!


p.s. looking at the pics, there are a good FIVE people missing from our core group!

look for the little one

she's me... she plays sousaphone. the only girl at suncoast who's done so... so far