What's Good, Miss?

Spring time is here. Stoop snowbirds are returning to their perches. So you want to know what's good? Let me tell you.

1.

i hate ghetto people. the bitches on welfare with their wic checks taking forever at the grocery store but let's not forget their new and improved ugs, winter 2012 northfase, fresh mani and using their ifone 4... on speakerphone of course. yeah the face of welfare is actually white trash but damn it if the black people on public assistance aren't ostentatious as hell! you have four children before you reached 25 and ALL OF THEM ARE WEARING JORDANS; baby being pushed in a maclaren stroller... iCan't.

Speaking of ugs, what happened to just your standard sand colored classic boots? why does a winter boot have to have satin and sequins? and leave it to Starkeisha to get that pair and a matching set for her two daughters.

2.

our charter is being changed. well, just the brooklyn schools. priority in the lottery will no longer go to 'at risk' students. well damn. what's the point of opening a charter school for children who would otherwise be attending failing schools? 6 years of closing the achievement gap was good enough i guess.

3.

i have finally decided to do something the weekend before my birthday. Keep your calendars and stomachs open for Friday, May 4 thru Sunday May 6th. But don't keep it open for birthday cake, I want that on my actual birthday (make my cake, snitches!). I've already started on my beauty diet of vitamins, cocoa butter and a bottle of water a day. Bringing in 30 gorgeous!

4.

living soshul is going to be the death of me. you already know abt my 4-day mexican vacay i have to use before october but now i've been hitting up the restaurant deals as well. Those truffled fries I had last sunday????? OMG, I was in heaven. And let's not even talk about the baked potato soup amuse bouche, crabcake appetizer, or the most delish burger. then the fresh doughnuts with cinnamon sugar and whipped creme fraiche, AND the chocolate shortcake sandwiching salted caramel... (i don't like shortcake or salted caramel but everything else was so good, i just ate it. i tasted nothing but sea salt.) All for $30.

*weeps*

Soigne, I will be back.

I have a dozen oysters and a bottle of wine on tap, a 4 course prix-fixe dinner for two, and some tapas to enjoy this spring!

5.

yesterday evening, i text officer anderson cooper to ask him where a good place to enjoy the St. Pat's parade would be. he called me at 1030pm and I was knocked the fcuk out. What's really funny is how I just knew in my head, I sounded okay but he was clearly like, "Umm, I woke you up. I will call you in the morning."

Would you believe he called me on his way to the gym? I was like, "Sir! You're not doing the parade?! YOUR NAME IS PATRICK!" He laughed and said he's done it more than enough times, he's going to enjoy his day off.

I would find the one Irishman who doesn't drink more than a bud light and avoids the St. Pat's Day parade. No fun!

6.

me and the other 30 something teacher have decided to be in a heterosexual domestic relationship where each of us has a baby by a hispanic man. We asked Boo Thang and BeyAndre but they both grimaced, choked on air, and quite simply over-reacted to our proposition. Ew, it so would've been artificial insemination, duhhhh!

7.

I bought JJ some DVF. I'm so excited for her!!! and i'm even more excited to be that auntie! do country things with your momma's side of the family. when it comes to me and mini me, be prepared to get glamourous! The Glamourest!!! (shout out to trina!)

8.

counting down to Summer vacay! BRING IT! I EARNED THE HELL OUT OF IT!!

Liq'd Saturday

Like any and every other Saturday, I lie in bed for hours and around 4pm, get to getting. Yesterday started off a little differently. I didn't want to get up and go. Matter of fact, I was in such a bad mood, I wanted to stay home and feed myself papa jon's pizza. I cancelled plans to meet up with friends at 1st Saturday and chatted with my sister. we both decided we will get married under the radar. i used to wonder why people elope; make 200% sense now.

Anyway, around 6pm I knew I couldn't waste a precious saturday being pissed at family and in-laws so i text Lish to see what she's up to. she was with another teacher who just happened to text me at the same time. they asked what i wanted to do and i said, "The ideal place for me would be a lounge that happens to be a bakery and a bar. I want red velvet cake and red wine. I want dessert and drinks.

Well lo & behold, there is a place just like that. Well, minus the lounge vibe. The Chocolate Room in Park Slope Brooklyn was a bakery with wine (& one beer) pairings!! Are you freaking kidding me?! I can really get cake and wine only? And the cafe setting is perfect for you and a date or your girlfriends?!

I got the flourless chocolate cake with a Spanish port.

Fraser and Niles would be so proud!

The Weekender

my phone was tripping for most of the day. since it was saturday, i didn't really care. Around 10am when it went on the fritz, i said, "Okay, i'll go to ATT when i get up." Yeah, i never got up. I actually went back to sleep and didn't get up till 2 something. Phone was still frozen. Made the biggest and most delicious bowl of cereal (just corn flakes) and got an email my fave colleague (alisha) about a wing fest in brooklyn and hot chocolate fest in man. I SOOOOOO needed to be there! But that would mean getting up and getting dressed...

around 430pm, my a-hole phone was now dead. it committed suicide trying to unfreeze itself. i gchatted with alisha and we decided we're going into the city daggumit! i put on a see-thru shirt with sequined shoulders and made my way calle ocho in the upper west side for sangria and a shared plate of paella that had EVERYTHING in it... the best paella EVAAAAAAR!!! The portion was so huge we couldn't finish it but can i talk about the pulpo appetizer? the best grilled octopus i've ever had. i didn't even know octopus had fatty tissue but it was there and it was awesome; on top of a chickpea puree and a bed of diced smoked chorizo; get in my belly.

before that latin food made sweet, sensual love to my appetite, I was really thinking, "How crazy would i look with a bubble coat over a see-thru shirt? do those things go? isn't that like a coat with matching sandals?" Then I thought to wear the uniglo tank top underneath for an extra layer between me and the elements... didn't look right. Bump it, Hov said "en vogue with your skin out". Now was the time to try out my new NorthFase.

If you think I fell in love with my food, i am ENAMORED with my Upper West Side 700 Face!! YOOOOOOOOO, that is the most amazing piece of clothing I own!!!!! I love it more than my Jordans!!!!!! It was 37 degrees, drizzling snow and BLUSTERY AF when I left at 6pm. Ask me if I was cold...

Not a lick. The only part of me that was cold was the space between my boots and the bottom of my coat. So my knees were cold. Here is this Florida girl wearing a bra and a mesh top and a coat that by the way packs to less than 50% of its size. I don't know what space age technology they use but that coat is balloon light and does the damn thing! I am sooooo the biggest fan of NF!!!

I BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!

you know what hype i don't believe? the uniqlo heat tech. i had on the tights. might as well have left them off.

So after we eat and drink, we make our way to the east side. Park Ave to be exact. The Gansevoort. Rooftop is stuffy and boring, 35+ somethings. I see the Dunk Contest is on and that's the most amazing thing up there . Back down, Alisha's BF is off of work and he escorts us to the Champagne Bar.

I don't know where this has been my whole life but a bar that serves champagne is pure genius!!!! There were $6000 bottles of Cristal in my line of sight. I overheard the manager talking about this is a good time for rose champagne, etc and then he brought over a glass for me and Lish.

Cheers to the MF'in weekend.

Buenos Dias

It's 221 in the morning. Do you know where your Adei is?

1. Whitney died today. Such a shock! Everyone who was born in the early 80s loved them some Whitney. EVERYONE. Men and women. Her national anthem rivals that of marvin gaye's (I think hers is better, less "remixed") and of course she was the talent show go-to for YEARS. (Sexual Chocolate anyone?) But of course, the thing with social networks is you get some people who have to let people know they won't join the bandwagon of whatever the public sentiment is. Valentine's Day, Father's Day, 9/11; isht, even B.I.C.'s pics yesterday, there's always that one (or four).

2. Boo Thang told me he went to meet someone he met online and they went out for drinks in the upper west side. He seriously thinks dude put something in his drink cause he's never had margaritas that "strong" before. Because he was feeling weird, he didn't think he'd make it home (BK) on the train so they went to dude's house. Dude asked if he could ____ and BT said ok. When he woke up this morning, dude was trying to ____ some more and this time BT said no and left. I hate that these things happen and i've been lucky to not have any friends get drugged. I'm so upset for Boo Thang. I told him he needs to go to the police but he's trying to brush it off saying he ok'd it. "No! You were clearly under the influence..." but he's not tryna hear me. Probably cause even though he's gay, he's still a man and you don't know? men don't get raped! *sarcasm*

3. my saturdays have been AWESOME! Last week had two glasses of cab while at the BK museum and because Don Corn. died, it was an old school set the whole night. You'd've thought I never heard the Jackson 5 before! IDK, there's something about hearing your faves on loud speakers that make the songs THAT much better! even songs you don't like hit in the clubs (this timbaland, timberlake, hilson song sticks out right now...). After that, speech pathologist and another 1st grader teacher and I hit up Manhattan. I got a peach cosmo at some cool lounge near Times Square and then we went to a club. A bit housey for my taste but we had VIP/bottle service so I wasn't complaining. We know how that night ended. phone left in the cab,

4. speaking of phone, i haven't been too pressed to get a new one. although there are times when I NEED to talk to people, I can still communicate and that's all that matters. No phone makes me more accountable for where I'm going to be at what time. I have to order my steps b/c if I don't, I'm late to work or lost with no-one to call. yeah, that happened on Thursday. (It had to be thursday, didn't it?) I took my assistant out to dinner for all the hard work she does in the classroom and when it was time to go, I had no idea where I was and where I should go. I walked forever. In that part of Brooklyn, there are nothing but yellow cabs. (close to Man). I HATE yellow cabs. They know nothing about the other boroughs. I climb into one and tell him my cross streets. Nothing. I finally tell him I live in Bed-Stuy (most yellow cabs don't go there) and still nothing (I think he was faking.) He asked if I needed to go to Queens so then i ask, "Do you have GPS???" He says no. I get out and slam the door.

OH THIS IS WHY I LOST MY PHONE IN A CAB LAST WEEKEND!!! I TOOK IT OUT TO GET DIRECTIONS TO MY HOUSE FROM FUCKING MANHATTAN!!!!! BUT DRUNKY ME FORGOT TO PUT IT BACK IN MY PURSE!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH! I HATE YELLOW CABS!

So I'm walking what seems like forever in luckily, the nice part of BK. But it's cold, late and a school night. I don't know how many blocks I walk, I finally see a livery cab. I tell him my cross streets, he tells me his price, i talk him down $2 and it's all good in the neighborhood.

5. I can't wait to go home and get my car. It has been consuming my mind since Christmas break.

6. I found a salon that does relaxers for $45 ($35 on Mon-Wed!) and she's a block away from my place. Yeah, basically the opposite direction as my Domi salon. She uses Mizani... what's a girl to do??????????????????? I really don't need to relax so why should I? cause it's there! and my hair is shinier with a relaxer! and I can do roller wraps with relaxers! and my edges won't look like Baa Baa Black Sheep!!!
Y'all know I'ma go back and forth with this. It's my hair, what else am I going to talk about??

7. My principal wants me to teach kindergarten next year... IDK how I feel about that. After having a taste of 1st grade, will I be able to go back to Where the Wild Things Are???? And in NY, you can be 4 y.o. in kinder. #HolUp

8. I don't know what has taken me so long but I am soooooo ordering Ugly Betty s3 and s4 from amazon! I watched a totally random episode and it brought me sooooo much joy! Thank you B. Suarez for adding to my love of Saturday!

9. Tomorrow is brunch day. I think I will have a brunch of baked goods. There's a pie place in Park Slope (BK), my patisserie in SoHo, cookies in Midtown and Oprah's cake place in Harlem. Wait, seeing how the high will only reach 32 degrees, I need some 'strategery' on how to make all that happen...

10. I cooked last week. Ribs, baked beans, corn, cornbread. I don't think I cooked the ribs long enough (too hungry) and they make me sick. Maybe my body isn't used to pork anymore. Oysters and sushi it is.

Alright good people, this was your weekly update! XOXO :-)

Randoms

I'm home the earliest I've ever been since I moved to NY and I don't know what to do with myself! I called Officer Anderson to see what he's up to. He's not working tonight so we're trying to figure out what to do. In the mean time, some random thoughts.

1. I really don't like Indian food. I think it's way too expensive for what is never pleasing to the eye. It always looks like slop to me. You eat with your eyes first. Also, the flavors are just too much. I bite into something soft and white and I'm hit with a vinegary oniony taste? Does not compute. It messes with my head too much.

2. There was a student in my class two years ago named Giovanni. His brother was Leonardo and his sisters were Giada and Franchesca. Italian much?!?!? I loved that child! and I do like the name Giada. It's so feminine and pretty.

3. I took myself to a sushi restaurant last night. They didn't have any fancy rolls but I thoroughly enjoyed my food. The simple rolls were so fresh and delicious. It made me think of the restaurants Drew and I used to frequent. One was Nakorn, simple and fresh sushi, a few fancy rolls. The other was Sushi Room, the fancy flashy rolls, also DELISH. *sigh* Drew and I used to go INNNN on some sushi. and every time he picked me up from the airport, there was always a brown paper bag with some rolls just for me.

4. So my mom is still in Ghana. My dad came home yesterday. Our Christmas will be Pops and his two daughters. I think we will migrate to Stessica's or maybe they'll come our way. Whatever the case, I have my brother's gift. I need 3 more. And of course the one w/o the job wants the most extravagant things!! Mini Me's list made me bust out laughing, real talk.

5. Every time I unwrap my hair, I think, "Wraps are so boring. Do I want to cut my hair again?" I think I will have a long hair end date, like Nima. She didn't cut her hair till after her wedding. I may wait till the 30th for either the hair cut or the last long hair hoorah. Stay tuned.

6. Tonight was our holiday party, both at school and as a network. Yeah, I celebrated with Brooklyn and passed on the City. I don't like those people. If I don't have to spend anytime with those people, I won't. I don't care if it's bowling or not (and I like bowling).

7. I have a green bubble, a green FAMU hoodie, a dark green FAMU sweatshirt, a green FAMU tee, and an olive green smocked one sleeve dress. I need more green clothes. Damn you, Pops.

8. I really like kiwi strawberry flavor. I can drink KS snappl all day and eat KS candy all night.

9. I can't wait to be back in the DMV for a little spell! I really love being there! I think the area is calling me back! The urge has to be great for me to leave NYC, I just got here!

10. What can't I wait to do when I get home?? Drive! Drive to Publix! Drive to the beach! IN THAT ORDER! Well, maybe I should drive to my waxing place. But that's in Jupiter... oh well! I'ma be a driving fool! ROAD TRIPS ON DECK!

Okay, i'm done with this mid-week post. TTYL!

Christmas Menu

When Lyds sprung the menu decision on me, I had no idea where to even begin. I turned on the tv and Robin Miller was making a quick fix meal of turkey tenderloin.

Hmmmm, so we can have turkey without the big bird to-do? I'm there! She had hers with a mango lime dressing which I will be making as well.

Now we love us some ham so a brown sugar glazed one is on deck.

then the sides

green beans sauteed in garlic, EVOO, and butter
shallot smashed potatoes
cornbread stuffing
yellow rice (Africans gotta have their rice!)
fresh shucked white corn with orange and red bell peppers
spring mix salad

I's excited!

First Day

Due to all the excitement, i didn't go to bed till 4am. And in true to Adei fashion, I woke up sometime before 8a. caught up on twitter, emails, sent out more emails and texts, watched MikeNMike. Drew was knocked out after two shows and the nerves of proposing. He finally woke up around 9am and we decided we'll get breakfast on the water after running a few errands. Errands done, we take the long way to get to Hollywood Beach by driving thru the neighborhoods. I felt like we were little kids dreaming of the day when we could live in a "mansion".

We had breakfast on the water and decided the nap we were going to take was going to be epic. Go home, nap, wake up and decide I need a case for my new iTuch. To the aventura mall it is! Apul store is of course bananas so we just walk around. I tried on a couple dresses Drew saw in window displays at maxStudio and Barney's... DVF has a leather jacket i NEED in my life!! We pass wet seal and the window display has a racer girl costume! OMG, I wanted it but saw they had female prisoner, two kinds of Ms. Officer, french maid (how original), firefighter, bar wench, etc. I try on the racer girl, the prisoner, and the firefighter. Drew LOVED the same one I did so I got it! I'm wearing it to a Halloween party this Friday!!!!! Pics coming soon!

We walked some more, decided Bebe is more miss than hit, there are a lot of high end latino shops in the mall, and we should look at apartments...

!!!!!!!!!!!

We check out a couple towers that look absolutely amazing!! When I say check out, I mean drive-by, lol. We also decided to get oysters in Brickell for happy hour so we weren't trying to do any tours. Who wants to live here!?!?!??! *RAISES HAND!!*

We make it to HH and are debating on half off sushi rolls or half off bar food at a high end bar. Oysters trump toro so we go to the River. The bartender gets Drew a Toddington and I order a white russian, mine was AWESOME! We then get the oyster po boy sliders to start...






heaven







on





earth.




Soooooo cementing my want for an apps only reception!!! O.M.GAWSH those things were amazing!!! We contemplated ordering another plate (there were only 3) but decided to start on the oysters.

We've already had fanny bay and kumamoto so one to the next ones. We like east coast (bigger, saltier) more than west coast (smaller, sweeter) but are open to anything. We order three kinds, 4 each. First time down, just raw. We want to know how they taste unadorned. Cotuits from MA were SALTY as the fluck. I cringed and had to drown the next one in this cucumber wasabi dressing that is only at River. AWESOME dressing for oysters!! The cucumber is so mild and absorbent of whatever quality can be harsh.
Dabob oysters from WA were very good by themselves and even better with mingonette sauce. We converted to west coast off of that one! The lesbian couple next to us reccommended them and I thanked them profusely. On my side of the bar was a lady who Drew thinks is a high end gypsy. She was def European so I deduced Spaniard. She only eats oysters.

her explanation was fried food doesn't do her body well and it has grown accustomed to raw food so that's what she feeds it. and she drinks mingionette sauce. Yes, champagne vinegar and diced red onion is what she takes shots of. Wow.

I don't remember the names of the 3rd one or the other 3 we tried the second dozen Drew ordered. And they change daily so looking on the menu today will do me no good. I do know I got another drink, this time a Greyhound (grapefruit and vodka). That hoe bartender squeezed the liquid equivalent of a supreme into my cup and the rest was vodka. I was drunk. I was nice off the russian but by the time it was time to leave, I was wobbly. and giggly.

Drew and I make it home and I change into the gray nightgown he got me!!! Woo hoo!!! I love my gray nighty and I'm SOOOOOOOO wearing a gray wedding dress!!! He finds the aux cable and we listen to kanye's goodfriday releases from my itoones. I fall off the bed trying to rewind a line in Power remix. Yes, I was that chick who fell off the bed after two drinks. We laugh our asses off and I take to tweeting my engagement. I'm just glad I didn't make it onto FB that day cause I'd still be fielding phone calls!! Before I wrote "All my old guys know I'm the one who got away", I asked Drew if he thinks he's the one who got away from all his exes. he says, "Hell yeah! I'm a good guy!" We high five cause i think i'm a good girl for all my exes and THEN I tweet.

I'm in the silliest mood and I'm tripping myself out about the past 24 hours. Then I fall asleep! HAHAHA!

Recap- breakfast on the water, nap, window-shopping at mall, apt gazing, happy hour oysters + drinks, kanye, sleep!

Day 4- What You Ate Today

I got up at 555a and started getting ready for my trip back to SoFla. I figured I could eat something once I get to the airport for my 730a flight.

Yeah, no. Security at DCA is foolish. One person for a whole terminal?!? OMG, I was abt to cry cause I thought I was going to miss my plane!! I was ready to be back home; I missed Drew and my family.

Once I got on the plane the only thing I got was cranapple juice. I like it and thought I need to get the cans from the store.

Detroit. I should get something to eat here. Yeah, I don't want quiznos at 930a. *sigh* more juice and this time, I got pretzels.

We land, Drew is on his way, he has arrived. There are three bags in the passenger seat. One from Vicky's PINK (UM 'nalia) , one from Juicy (boyshorts), and the other was a plain brown paper bag. I SQUEAL at the sight of the brown paper bag cause I know it's sushi from my favorite restaurant in Hollywood, Nakorn. Hmmmmmmm! a shrimp tempura roll, two pieces of salmon sashimi and a ginormous tuna roll with tempura flakes and avocado.

HEAVEN in my mouth. So glad Drew thought of feeding me.

We nap, I wake up and want ice cream. Not grocery store ice cream but like coldstone. There's no coldstone nearby so we walk downtown. One place was too expensive, then I decide I want gelato. I get to the gelato place and want ice cream. I meet in the middle and get a chocolate chip gelato.

FAIL. I should've stuck with my usual strawberry & lemon but SOMEONE told me to try something new. Last time I do something like that...

We end up walking to the circle in the middle of the city and getting some lemon icee that was more water than icee. It was alright.

Now I want some more sushi. I'm going to order some from the place that stays open till 1a... hmmmmm, sushi. I would SO have a sushi reception if most of the people who'll be invited to my wedding were cool abt raw fish... oh well!!

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)

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

Day Off

This is a post that I started when I woke up and will post before I sleep tonight.

658a- yessssss, I don't have to go anywhere I don't want to today. I think I might watch Office Spayse to continue the good feeling of doing NOTHING.

730a- damn. I have to go to the post office and figure this thing out. I could drive to the main one but that's far and I don't really know how to get there.

758a- Drew's up! Let's see who else is up via Twitter. Apparently, its Q Psi Phi's 98th birthday. Just found out my American godfather is a Que via facebook... who knew? I thought he was just sigma pi

8ooa- dee dee deeeeee, nothing interesting. Ooh, new friend accepted. He was someone I thought was cute in HS; brooding, cynic, british cute.

I think I will make a wahlmart list. I cannot go in there without a plan cause I will go in there needing ribs and milk but leave with glue sticks and a camera case. Oooh, I should hit up the post office, then do publix for veggies and continue down to 45th for wally world! Yess!

829a- Yoga pants and tank top, zip-up hoodie and flip-flops, hoop earrings and bag, and I'm out!

fcuk. it would be school zone time when I leave. I can't win with school zones. damn you middle school walking distance from my place!!

Pull up, remembering how much I hate this post office.

let's see what mess I'll get into today. Are you serious? How is there a line already? Whatever. Let me get my license out...

FCUK!!! I LEFT MY WALLET AT HOME!!!!

Maybe she'll forget to ask.

Did y'all know if you don't check your mail in three days, it can be considered 'unclaimed'? that's that bull-ish if i've ever heard any! and she tried to make me feel bad for not coming to claim it at the post office!

1. I didn't know what the fluck was going on to even come into this raggedy post office

2. how come I've never heard this rule before?

And she needs a picture ID... "I have my teacher badge in the car..." Don't give me that look that I'm supposed to be at school!!! Fcuk, I'm outta here.

and now my clever plan to grocery shop in 2 steps has been de-railed cause my wallet is home. back to the school zones that, I swear, take up a square 7.8 miles...

At wallmart and what's the first thing I see? a lady in her C-i-t-i Trendz dress and a polyester (she doesn't get satin) bonnet on. Her jacket race-car driver jacket says, "Don't Hate"

If you insist.

Damn, why am I in the toiletry aisle? I don't neeeeeed shaving cream, but would really like some.

Ooh I'm thirsty. lemonade, peach punch, milk, AND berry punch.

My bones haaaave been hurting me... string cheese and yogurt

Oooh, I did want a hotdog yesterday... ball park bun size

Damn, all I need is ribs and milk. Well, I could use some garbage bags for my recycling bin... and these candles smell good but I think I will close my eyes and get some real ones from bb&b; I don't want 'angel whisper' or 'aloha', ole victoria secret ass scent names... WHAT IS A SWEET TEMPTATION?!!?

FOCUS.

RIBS and cornbread.

Where did cornbread come from? I do want some with corn in it... is that considered cornbread casserole? let me ask what to do *pull out phone and tweet*

Oooh, Mrs. Smith posted a delicious looking shrimp recipe... I'll need bacon. Oooh, while I'm cooking, I might as well make spaghetti so i'll need ground turkey. And chicken is so versatile but I don't want a whole chicken like last time... not feeling the leg quarters over here... i'll look to see what publix has. Wait! I should try the farmer's emporium for veggies! yeah, I'll go there instead! let me get out of here before I find a scarf I "neeeeed". ooh, jewelry! Is the biggest diamond at wallmart a 1/4 carat? I can buy that! Right hand ring!!! ow!

focus.

1000a- this is farmer's emporium? this is what mommy's been ranting and raving over? all they have are hella kinds of apples and lots of leafy stuff! and jewish pastries!!! Booooo, I should've gone to publix.

1007a- where am I going? I passed publix! I guess that means I'm going home. Hmmm, are this many people on the road at this time? shouldn't y'all be at work? I'm sure EVERYONE didn't follow my suit

1015a- home supposed to be putting groceries away but I decided to post about my day off so far. Its amazing how many times I've tweeted since I woke up. Too much time on my hands.

1130a- spent hour doing nothing. well, i put the groceries away and thought about the yankee candle scent I want to get from BB&B, juicy peach.

Made a publix list for the pssgetti I'm going to make, ooh! i need potatoes for my 'tato salad I've been wanting!! You know who BEASTS 'tato salad? my brother. Matter fact, let me text him and find out what he does... I bet his monkey ass won't tell me. Or he'll say, "Potatoes, paprika and love. If it doesn't come out right *insert shoulder shrug and innocent face here*"

Okay, going to BB&B. I need my place to smell like fruit. Not, nothing. and then publix. and then the cooking marathon will begin! So excited!

1200- almost finished at publix when the most ghetto of my parents walks by the condiment aisle. she's the one who drives a tricked out 300 (the hood-rich car of 2007) with the spearmint glitter paint job and 24" blades, etc. Daughter STAYED decked out in Polo and Coach... HOW ARE YOU IN KINDERGARTEN WITH MORE COACH ACCESSORIES AND SHOES THAN ME??? Anyway, I get the smirk and "why you ain't at school?"

Tend. tend to your own business.

1p -an unreasonable amt of time in BB&B. They don't make juicy peach anymore so I was deciding btwn blood orange, tangerine & vanilla, apricot sorbet, and peach mango salsa.

All that?? Meanwhile, the other scent I bought (sage & citrus) is still going strong.

I want a peach scent that I don't have to light a match for. I almost bought apricot potpourri but that brought me to godparents house in the 80's. potpourri and eucalyptus for days. I don't want that. I settled for the ridiculously expensive jar of yankee mango peach salsa. and a candle warmer so I don't have to light it. Oh, great aNOTHER parent! Don't y'all hoes work!?!? then SHE asked me, "YOu don't have work today?" "I took the day off."

my gosh. I feel like I'm back in high school and I'm skipping with fave ex!!!

140p- heading down village when the smell of beef hits me. ooh, i think I want a champbrger. I make a u-turn and head to the spot. Decisions... the short line I'd have to reach over the passenger seat for or the long line on the driver's side? I go for short.

and knock my side mirror off. It's hanging by it's veins.

TO BE CONTINUED

Cooking Cautiously

Jam and I were talking about... duh, food and what we WON'T touch. Basically, things we don't feel we're ready to or even want to attempt to deal with right now.

It all started when she asked how my veggie diet is going. I answered, "I need more shrimp recipes. If I could eat sushi everyday, I'd be set." One way to eat sushi everyday is to make it yourself. Yeah, I'm not there yet. Besides actually making it, I'd need to go shopping for very specific ingredients and tools/utensils. Don't feel like doing all that right now.

We talked about fennel. How often will I need that? If a recipe calls for it, we're passing it.

Various vinegars. Rice wine, red wine, white wine, balsamic, etc. Do we really need 40 different vinegars in our pantry? I'ma go with no. Next recipe.

Leeks. Pass.

Endive. Uh, no.

French cuisine. Nope.

Sesame oil. Too expensive for the one dish I'll use it for and make maybe ONCE a year.

Jam tripped me out with this one: egg yolks. "Two egg yolks? Next." She's so straight on separating eggs! LOL! I think I'm going to start separating my eggs and beating them separately so I can get a fluffy consistency by folding that whites back in...

Oooh, one thing I'm not ready for: lobster/shrimp bisque.

Do you know what goes into that thing?!?! I had a taste for some and looked up Ty Florence's recipe...

I should've known better than to look his ultimate ass recipe up. But recipes on other sites weren't too far off which lets me know I will be going to Hole Foods for my bisque.

The last thing I will hold off on is risotto. I've seen too many bad endings with that dish on TV.

Maybe over the summer, I'll try one of the above. Maybe.

30 Before 30

This is interesting. 

Not since high school have I really set a goal*.  I mean, I'm all for a vision board, but to actually visualize my goals and put them on paper...? this is hard!  I'm more of a 'go with the flow' type and end up where I figure I'm supposed to be, nah mean?

I'm not sure if I can come up with 30 things.  Or maybe I can, but I think they are superfluous and not really worth mentioning...  or, I do have goals but don't see why I have to reach them by 30.  Spread 'em out! Make life interesting! 

How bout this: I make a list of goals.  and if I want to do it within the next 2.6 years, I'll bold it.

get married

have twins

travel to Japan (preferably Ky.oto)

get another tat

live in another state for a year

earn my Masters in something education related (looking at reading ed and bilingual ed)

earn my Bachelors in Art History

earn my Bachelors in Photography

drive across the country (I-10 West, jet-set back)

drive back across the country (I-95 North, I-90 West, I- something east, I-95 South)

buy myself a SERIOUS piece of jewelry

stay in a hostel overseas (for example, I want to ball on a budget in Italy)

go to Brazil

go to Chile with my favorite aunt and cousin

go back to Ghana as a tourist and not a dual citizen

go back to London as an adult

have an all girls trip with my homies (even if it just NYC)

pseudo ball till I fall in Vegas (I'm not a gambler so I'll spend money on shows, a luxurious suite, and food)

eat at a Michelin rated restaurant

to have 5 figs in my bank account on a VERY consistent basis

I think that's about it.

* my only TRUE goal in LIFE was to get the prom dress of my dreams. I saw it in a Seventein mag my freshman year; cut it out and had it on my wall.  I wanted a green/gold A-line cami dress with a beaded bodice. the dress I got was the blue/purple version. I had it in the house for TWO YEARS! Mommy kept it in her closet so I wouldn't try it on every chance I got and get tired of it by the time my prom came around!! LOLOLOL! 

 

I still have that dress. I still love it.  I even wore it in the pageant I was in in 2004.  

Damn, I still have my senior prom dress too!  Best believe I wore that thing to Freshman Ball at HU AND APhiQ's Champagne Sips in 2004 and 2006!!! (I cut it to make it knee length for the latter event. re-use and recycle, people!!)

Damn. you have no idea how hard it is to find a nikki livas formal dress from 1997

Feed Me!

New post at Record Dish!

Black Bean and Pink Shrimp Enchiladas!! Get your football season, fall/winter weather grub on!

Random Ramblings

1. for real, what happened to blogging? i miss being so involved in your lives!

2. i don't like 'ego' that much. i especially dislike it in the club. i feel like ever since i saw the video, i was pissed abt it.

3. i want a wii. all the people living the fab life i should be living in/around D.C have one. i know "thou shalt nit covet" but dang!

4. i've been ring shopping with DFB. believe it or not, I don't want a ginormous ring/stone. he doesn't believe me.

5. i text my mom this weekend and she was talking abt pushing her trip back to the middle/end of oct. i'm not even going to say anything else on it.

6. i'm not talking to my sister for a long time.

7. my brother's diploma is here and i looked at it for a long time. doctor of pharmacy. soooooooooo proud of him! it makes me love FAMU over and over again :-)

8. when will our HBCUs get their lives together?

9. i am ready for my 'long hair, don't care' to make a comeback. at least the chin length bob or something.

10. living single party has been postponed. unless y'all just to come over w/o the fanfare i like to have going on...

11. i want 2 more tatts and both of them on the inside of my wrists. they will be constant reminders of why i'm here.

12. being at BB's wedding made me want a wedding but I got over that. the feeling for the "next step" comes and goes; waxes and wanes. maybe i just want a large party in a ballroom with a really pretty dress on

13. the district has printed out our lesson plans. i have never been more confused in my life.

14. boom b.oom pow can stop now. so can every girl. and anything by drayck. i am tired of him.

15. i really need to make more effort to go to the beach. it's really just right there and it always turns out to be awesome. even if your hair gets wet against your prayers, wishes, and pleas.

16. drew likes to hot curl my hair. i don't so it works out. now i need to teach him how to use rollers and end paper.

17. i still fux with the clipse. they.are.GREAT. and have been since fall 2000. LOVE.

18. I am neater and cleaner in solitude than i have EVER been sharing living quarters. i love it. now if only the car can get the same attention. the tima is straight up FILTHY (on the outside) and not too neat on the inside

19. i have to tell myself, "it's not abt finding the person you can live with, but the person you can't live without". PREACH.

20. you guys know I saw a clip of a cow trying to get away from dying a couple of years ago. and then a few weeks ago, I read a clip about horses being slaughtered for their meat. It was then I decided to be a vegetarian. Someone asked if I was and I said, "most of the time. 98% of the time." we'll go with 95% of the time. Its been explained to be that i cannot afford to cut ANYTHING out of my diet. so, when that time comes for me to eat red meat (see: large loss of iron), I will. If there was another way to get the mineral (besides a vitamin) I'll be all over it. Till then, bring on the Stamps quarter pounder every 30 days.

Monday Mindspacing

But it's Tuesday!!!!

Live on the edge a little, guys.

1. As you may or may not know, I'm at my brother's place somewhere in the central part of southern florida. Like, right under Lake Okeecho.bee. If you imagined there are mosquitos galore, you are absolutely correct!!

2. His place is awesome. I really wish I could bring people here. It's like a country inn resort. Maybe I'll take pix and upload them via twits.

3. I've never been a fan of the Atlanta Classic but considering my affinity for that southern piece of HEAVEN grows with each visit, I think I will go this year!! And I know how to use the TARMA? Oh, it is ON!!

4. I really want to wear smocked dresses for a looooooooooong time. Stank actually made a comment abt them the other day, "How many of those do you have? I guess they are the perfect dress, huh?" They sure are!

5. I am kiiiiinda looking forward to the school year starting.

*cringe*

I feel like my remaining 2 weeks are going to go by a warp speed now that I've put that in the universe...

6. There are 4 celebs that I follow on Twitr. I had to remove E.Dabu cause something is going on in that brain of hers and I didn't want to and couldn't stand to be privy to it. I removed Talib cause I remembered I liked Mos more. Lastly, I removed Joel McHail cause he's so much funnier on TV. All that's left is Ghostface (my boo!) Estelle (my british boo!) Johnny Boy, and Steven Colbert (huh-larious!).

7. I have a sudden LOVE for soft tacos. I mean, I've always liked them but now I want them ALL THE TIME!! I think I will make them tonight. I blame Jameil. She made some the last night we were in ATL and they were AWESOME. Quite simply, awesome.

8. Everyone wants to know where I'm going before school starts. I've been away more than home this summer and the question I get from Pops, Stank, Mini Me, other relatives and even some teachers is,"So where's the next place you're going? You still have time!" Word?! Don't let me find a cheap ticket to the Queen City cause it'll be on like popcorn! If I planned properly, I'd be there now. Then again, it's more fun to be spontaneous in the summer! Who knows where I'll be before Aug 6

9. Would you be offended if someone asked you to be a hostess at their wedding?? That question as be PLAGUING me the past couple of days!! I guess I need to know what role the hostess plays... what does she do, guys?

10. There are TWO wedding invites I haven't recieved yet and I'm not too happy about it. One of them is for a wedding in August and the other is for September. I'll be VERY hurt abt the August one. The September one, not so much. I know I'm going to that with or without an invite.

11. One for the road: In J-Hud's latest song, who is that guy HOLLERING "Worldwide" (or whatever he says) in the beginning?! OMG, he IRKS me!! I HATE that part! What does it do for the song?! Absolutely NOTHING! And then the ATL "oh!" thruout the chorus?? Sooooooooooo not a fan. The song is wack and I kinda think she is too. yeah, I'm talking about a pregnant woman.

12. speaking of preg chicks, WHYYYYYY do celebs deny being pregnant??? Is it to build more intrigue? Have people wondering about you? To keep your name in peoples' mouths?? It took her Dreamgurls co-star (A. Rose)to put it out there! Maybe they are afraid of losing the baby? I know when J-Lope FINALLY announced she was expecting it was like, "in other news, Tupac Shakr has been shot". Whatever.

I'm Back

Sorry for the delay. Two days after my MJJ died, I left town and didn't really have internet handy. Plus, I was trying to stay away cause the coverage of his death was too much. Y'all already know I was done. I almost called of my trip to the A and Mississippi cause I just wanted to mourn and listen to MJ. Rah asked Jam if I was still coming... I ALMOST DIDN'T!!

As you may or may not know, I've been in Jackson, Mississippi for about a week. I got to hang out with Jameil, her mom AND grandmother :-) I had a blast! Just chillin and seeing and eating... so what summer vacation is supposed to be about. and you already know Jameil and I make fun WHEREVER we go...

in Atlanta. (i am in LOVE with my bang!!!)

in Jackson. the heat made a Kate out of me. no swoop.

the infamous pig ear meal
we be grubbin!

me leaving. smiling on the outside :-(


yeah, we eat for fun

Brunch Convo with Pops

I was making brunch when I heard the master bedroom door open. Wow, Daddy's up!

"Hey Pops, you want breakfast?"

"Yeah, whatever you're making plus a big cup of tea. Well, I want scrambled eggs"

I flip my omlette, peel a couple shrimp that have THANKFULLY been deveined, take some lox out of its package and split my croissant in half. Plate my food and scramble dad's eggs with garlic salt and roughly chopped spinach. He's sweeping the house when I ask if he even likes lox. "I've never had it. What is it?"

*gasp*

Quel horreur!

"Ay caramba, Dad!! You don't know what lox is?!?! OMG, where have you been your whole life!?!? How do you not know what lox is??!?!? Well, do you like salmon?"

"I love salmon"

"Oy. And you still don't know what lox is. Well, its breakfast salmon that has been smoked. Taste"

He loves it. I have another follower of lox.

Amy is in the background while we're eating in the sitting room. His big ole cup of hot tea and my mug of sweet tea... we talk about how painful it can be to be an artist, and specifically a musician. Take after take; rehearsals can be maddening for other musicians who don't feel what you feel, hear what you hear... then the physical pain. Callused hands from the upright bass, deformed fingers from any brass instrument, shoulder/neck pains from a string and on and on...

Now we're vibing to Louis Ar.mstrong and Duke Ellin.gton's Master Takes. Dad pops out with,

"You know what? I will feel sorry for your children"

*listening to Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, ignoring Dad*

"I said, I'll feel sorry for your kids"

"Okay, Dad"

"You want to know why?"

"... why Dad?"

"I'm glad you asked. Because you cook so well and you like to cook, they will never get to have McDonald-s or Kurber Bing, 'Mommy, can we eat at Dennies?' 'No! I make better breakfast than they do!'"

"Is that what was running around your head all this time?"

"Yeah. I'm thinking I'll be the cool grampa who gets them happy meals cause you won't"

"Really? All that?"

"Yeah, I'll be so cool. Catch a baseball game and surprise them with Pissa Hut afterwards"

"You really have all this planned out? More power to you, with your cool self"

"Hey, I can't help it"

*eye roll + SMH + giggling*

Keep Me Near the Cross!

It's the first official day of summer vacay.  Fine.  Just left a middle school where I applied for a summer job... *sigh*  sat down and not one but TWO people from highschool walk in.  Chick was an acquaintance so it was the, "hey! what's up? how ya been? how ya momma doin?"  bit.  The guy on the other hand is one of those people who prolly got on my nerves but I forgot.  Oh, he reminded me.  he says really obvious things.  i.e., "if you notice, people who smoke weed talk reaaaally slllloooow"

. . .

1. did you really slow motion yourself?

2. really?  i NEVER noticed how people talk when they smoke!  I lived my whole college career under a rock in Wisconsin.  I wasn't a part of a hip-hop hippie group that smoked and listened to music for fun.  

Camp hasn't even started and I'm already annoyed.  But wait! there's more!!!

So I get the phone call to come in before 12 noon.  This was 1045.  I tell the sec'y I'll be there at 11am.  I get there at 11 on the dot and she tells me the director "will be back right quickly"

RIGHT QUICKLY?  Did you really say "right quickly"??  as if that's better than "right quick"??

*face*

But wait!!!  She's the sec'y.  I soooooooo failed to mention what happened at the interview 2 weeks ago.  The actual director is one of those people who try to sound intelligent but come off as dumb as the fcuk.

*she's in script, i'm thinking in my head in italics*

"So Ms. Kutieboots, tell me pacifically (specifically?)what your strenfs (strengths?) are?"

or

"These kids are phenomenom! I love working with them! (phenomenal? or a phenomenom?)

or

"I know it may seem low but that's what we do here, we bring these kids up to part" (par?)

"I ordered materials for arts and crafts... glue, construction paper, sequence..." (sequins?  that one is a bit tricky  but still NO)

I can't even begin to list the rest of the oratorical offenses.  I really wanted to bring my phone out and jot them down but that would've been rude.  And if you see her face when she speaks, you KNOW she thinks she's doing big things.  Ugh! She got on my last never and made the left side of my face itch!!  

But wait!!

As mentioned earlier, I get there at 11... why this ghetto b! not show up till 1148???  you black woman from the depths of hell!!!!! ANNNNNND wearing something my sister would wear!!! She had on a red v-neck with a yellow cami underneath.  Not my choice for a color combo but, whatever.  Did you really pile on yellow bead necklaces and hella plastic red and yellow bracelets?!?  How old are you!?  Why are you dressed like a highschool senior with too much money to spend at Claire's or the Icing?!?!?  let me find a pic of Mini Me in all her plastic glory...

*two people just got engaged in the last 5 minutes.  damn you bacefook!*

man, i'm going to eat something now.  where's my comfort food??!!?!?!?

Ain't I?

bored.

Just made mac and cheese, brown sugar baked beans, mashed potatoes, ribs... boiling water to make sweet tea.

My brother is here studying and I am here cooking.  Oh yeah, failed to mentioned that I already made four cheese tortellini with italian turkey sausage.  

I might go get some peaches so I can make peach cobbler.  and lemons so I can make lemonade.

*sigh*  It's only Saturday.  I have the whole summer.

I hope I get the job at the academic summer camp.  Teaching either reading, math or science to 6th graders.  Cross your fingers and pray for me, lest I slit my wrists from sheer boredom!!!