This is a fest, right?

on our way. can you see my hair cut?

Me and Drew after 10 hours of music!

Anthony had CHURCH up in there!

Thanks, Mr. Joyner!

E. Badu was great!

The legend, Roy A.

Notice there are no pix of Will Downing.  Will Downer bored the ultimate HELL out of me! and he was so corny!! UGH!! ANNNNNNNND, he was up there FOR-EV-ER!! FOR-EV-ERRRRR!

On a sad note, I got no pics of Common :-(  I was so into his show that the camera was an afterthought. That man is too awesome when he hits the stage... as an MC (gotta get that straight cause I wanted to pull my eyes out and throw them against the wall while watching Smo.king Aces).

Now, I'm in the 'ville so be on the lookout from some more pics!

Doh!

I deleted the pics of the kindergarten field trip before I uploaded them to my mac and on the various websites... luckily, I printed them out the same day but still :-(

I have pics of the projects we did for Spring Break. We made a Lion-Lamb out of paper plates because....

"March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb!"

My students were so cute when they read that :-)


We also made a wind sock out of pretty printer paper and tissue paper. Both projects came out MUCH better than I expected!

*

I'm off to Hollywood for the day. Drew and I are going to See E. Badu, Common, Ath Hamilton, Roy A, and Will Down. Yazz in the Gardens 2009. Then tomorrow, my Spring Break road trips begin!! State of Florida, here I come!!

Yes, FB!

So normally, FB makes me feel like an unaccomplished slacker who is not living the life her personality was made for. Between engagements, weddings, baby showers, and just plain living in a real city with your college classmates a stone's throw away... I've come to "hate" FB BUT, derive some sadistic pleasure from being in the know no matter how much it hurts my pride.

Earlier this week, a girl I went to highschool with had a status that basically told everyone she's pregnant. Something like, "this baby is already wearing me out!" Naturally, my jaw drops. Then I text DaniQ. She got married a year ago and got engaged at her boyfriends pick day or whatever it is when newly graduated medical doctors pick the school of residency they want. Engagement at your doctor-BFs pick day? An awesome cultural conglomerate wedding of irish and hindu mix? Now a baby???

*sigh*

I tell myself not to compare cause I am right where I am supposed to be, even if I don't know it right now.

But daggumit! Can I get at least one fab thing in my 20s?!? Life in a big city? Living the nomadic party life? A ring on my finger? Buying my 1st house? A credit score without a negative sign?! Sheesh!

*Rant over. Back to original post at hand*

I went to aforementioned chick's page and read a wall post by another HS classmate of mine.

"You're pregnant?! How can you be pregnant? I've known you since we were 10! I suppose congrats are in order but you just made me feel old and unaccomplished. CONGRATS ANYWAY!!"

*snicker*

1. She's a Cancer and can "get away" with the compliments that follow condemnation

2. She said out loud what most of us are thinking. LOL

I love Liz.

Motivation

Look at my most recent posts... how bi-polar am I??

*

So, my dad was watching t.v. as I limped across the t.v. room to the couch. For whatever reason, my hip was paining me and it hurt to put weight on it. Pops noticed and told me to stand up in front of him. He turned off the t.v. and told me about myself.

"You are 26 years old and your hips hurt. You don't do anything for that to be happening; you have no kids and your job isn't strenuous. You are unhealthy. You live an unhealthy lifestyle that consists of work and home. The most you do is sit in front of the computer and type for hours. When was the last time you even went for a walk?

I really wanted to say, "I checked the mail today" but my better judgement got the best of me

There are two dogs that you can walk right now but you can't cause your hips hurt. Or you have a headache. If continue at this rate of eating mcdonald's every other day and not exercising, you will run into problems before you are 30. You think you're so small and cute now, this is your metabolism from highschool. What are you doing to maintain it? Join a gym. Pick up your tennis racket. Do something with your life."



*hurt face*

Damn, Daddy.

Did he really have to say, "Do something with your life"?

*serious pout with the lip poked out*


The teacher I did my internship with went from a 22 to a 18 in 4 weeks and she's getting smaller by the week. How? Boot Camp. $50 for 8 weeks? Tuesday and Thursday? I can do that.


*pronounced blink*


At least its an excuse to get some work-out clothes. Kitty and I did it big when we were in our yoga phase for all of a week. I can use some gear to match the gray sneakers I own...


SEE!?!? I'm alrady thinking about the wrong thing!! I need to be thinking about my health!! Its going down the toilet and all I can think about is finding some yellow clothes cause I like the way yellow and gray go... FOCUS!!

I actually can't wait. I remember doing tennis at FAM and I was so healthy it was disgusting. All I drank was water and ate well. Having a coach and nutritionist makes a difference... The conditioning before tennis practice alone made my life better. Everything was better. Skin, hair, nails, grades, social life, EVERYTHING! Okay, we're going to get back into the fit and fab life! Go Me!

Rain, Rain, DON'T go away

I got my new QG and read just about the whole thing already. I'm not too interested in J.W.Lind, so I skipped that article... everything else was read with such pleasure, even the sad Nebraska Safe Haven piece. I so wish I was a guy just so I can indulge in everything the magazine puts in between its covers. I would so be the man who wears a pink dress shirt and a gingham tie. And like the little black dress, you can NEVER talk too much about a trench coat!

Speaking of QG, talking about raincoats made me think about my weather wear. I have a pink, below-the-shin-but-not-the-ankle-length, London Fog raincoat with the slightest puff sleeve for that ultra feminine look (as if a yard and a half of pink combed cotton was girly enough). What I've been pining for is an umbrella to match the chic-ness of my coat! The ginormous orange and white or blue and white college umbrellas do NOT go with a LBD and popped raincoat collar! You cannot be fierce with a golf umbrella, I'm sorry.

Now my question is this: if you have an awesome raincoat, do you even need an umbrella???

I'm going to go with yes. Torrential downpour with winds to boot call for all the reinforcement you can get.

Now all I need are the boots...

I Want...

to get up and go to church

a new camera. I've gone through THREE since Dec 2006

an extra Saturday this week since yesterday was a TOTAL washout.

my hair to be a tad bit longer

a battery for my Makbook so I can use it tether-free

to win the lottery so I can travel at leisure

to get my Masters within the next three years

to get a A.A in Art History

Obama to stay out of the limelight for at least a week.

I want him to take a deep breath and take his time. He has at least 4 years to work things out. It hasn't even been 100 days.

to know what I really want in life.

Oh Yes!

Spring is in the air!

The merino wools and tweeds are gone; replaced with linens and white pants.

Corduroy? No thanks, I'll take lightweight jersey.

Bubbles? Nope! A cropped spring jacket will do!

I love spring! My name (Anastacia) means, "of the spring time" so its only right that I revel in the season I happened to be born in! (I don't think my dad knew all that but it obviously worked out).

Oooh, french manis and electric strawberry pedis! Tube dresses and strappy flats abound!

Gone are days of hot chocolate and clam chowders! I want a bellini martini with a capresse panini followed by lemon + strawberry gelato! Pronto!

**DaniQ, you were so right abt me doing SoFla chic. Broward and Dade Counties have my name all over them**

With 47 days of school left, I can't help but to be geeked at what the season holds!

Spring is in the Air! Let's get it!

March drives me MAD!

The month started FREEZING cold.

Then it was BLAZING, Africa hot.

Today, I woke up and it was POURING.
Like, "everyday in the summertime between 1-2:25pm anywhere in Florida" raining. You better ask somebody who knows about Florida summers.... hurricane season as we like to call it cause its pretty much summertime year-round. The house we built in Tallahsse was pushed back several weeks cause of raining and subsequent flooding.

*

In March, some over 100 days of school into the year, TWO of my children were full out crying. As if it was the 1st day of school and they had separation anxiety. To their young defense, we had our award assembly and they saw their parents in the audience. Still, act like you know we have snack and reading at this time! This is not a new day!

*

Yo, there are some 50 school days left in the year! I can't wrap my mind around that... I basically have two months to get my kinders even tighter than they are! OMG, my students have BLOSSOMED in the last few weeks!! There was a point where we were all on the up and up and then it seemed like they plateau-ed. I was worried. Oh no, these children are pulling tricks out their bags and are quite frankly, STUNNING me! For example, writing.

Writing has always been my least fave subject to teach. Its so subjective and there is no "right" way to teach kinders how to write. Math is cut and dry. Reading is letters, then sounds, then blending. Writing? *exasperated sigh*

I tried to do what other teachers have been successful with but it wasn't working for my class. Just this Monday, we put together a paper flower in science and I used it as a independent prompt for writing. I said, "Write about your flower" and let them do whatever comes to mind. Can I share the work I got?

"I like my flower. My flower is blue. I can plant seeds. My flower have a stem. The flower have a leaf."

Ummmm, that's 5 sentences. FIVE sentences!! Can I tell you how these children came in barely knowing how to hold a pencil and write their own names?!?!!!?!?!?!!?!? I asked my stellar writer, "Who taught you how to write so well!??!" and he replied,

"I just know."

Word???????? Ummm, don't make me pull out the paper when your name was a whole bunch of wingdings!!!!! Talking bout, "I just know.."

lol

*

So next week, we have a field trip on Wednesday...

Regular day Thursday...

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY!!!

SPRING BREAK IS HERE!!

You know once SB gets here, its a FOR REAL countdown to the end of the school year!

All I know, is that March better get right by next week!

trippin

that's what blogger is doing.

i like to type in 'edit html' mode and it won't let me.

i am trying to hyperlink some shoes drew has and it won't let me.

i'm trying to do a lot and it won't let me.

*face*












where is my phone charger!?!?!??!

Ni.ke

So you all know I have no qualms with doing something drastic to my hair.


You know, have a lion's mane going to college



and getting it cut the 1st month there.

Yo, I was rocking that Kelis before she was!

Growing it out, transferring schools, changing majors and rocking a serious, ear length stacked bob.

(can't easily find a pic on FB)

Grow that b!tc# out, get tired of doing it (surprise, surprise), glue some tracks in for 4 weeks

and cut EVERY thing off
3rd big chop

This is the style I want:

this is what I am afraid of getting:

DO WE UNDERSTAND MY APPREHENSION?!!?

R.A.P

random @$$ post


My initial excitement surrounding MJJ performing in London has met reality and recession.

Geeked Stace: OMG, Michael is having a concert!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Reality: You're going WHERE? for a WHAT?

Recession: Stace... Stace? I recognize the name...it's so nice to put a face to the name on those credit cards from 2005


Deflated Stace: I-I... I was just dreaming out loud. I'm sorry.


*


I went to the neighborhood ghetto hair store to try on a wig that matches the coif I want. I couldn't get a feel seeing how everything was deep waved, spanish mossed, two-toned, crinkle cut, curly-fried, waterfalled, banana peeled, etc.


*

I fear change. No, I don't fear it but I'm one of those people who think, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" while singing Bob's "Don't Rock My Boat"

Oh please, don't you rock, my boat
Cause I don't, want my boat, to be rockin

I know I want this fierce new hair cut but the salons that are FREAKIN the hell out some hair in Palm Beach County use a different relaxer than what I've been using...

not saying my hair is the fiercest and can't stand to take a change...

daaaaaaaah, I'm scared :-(


MAN UP, ADEI!!


*

I forgot what else I was going to write.

hair cut?

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dmalinda%2520williams%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dyfp-t-501&w=600&h=450&imgurl=www.d-nice.com%2Fjournal%2Fpik%2Fpeopleiknow01.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.d-nice.com%2Fjournal%2Farchives%2F000112.php&size=101.7kB&name=peopleiknow01.jpg&p=malinda+williams&type=JPG&oid=6e97e8782ba40fa8&no=8&tt=375&sigr=11hu5uedm&sigi=11c5jutot&sigb=1333ccsol


i think she is the sleeper fly chick. and i love her hair.

i'm thinking a little bit longer so i can curl it.

yes or no

Numbers

I usually put 10% of my paycheck in my savings account and literally go thru 89% of it in 2 weeks. So not healthy seeing how I have nothing to show for the hundreds of dollars I spend in a month. My jewelry was given to me and the last time I bought myself a pair of shoes was 9/2008... from Ross.
I will admit, I bought this brown bag.

Wait, there was that "sale" at GBCB...

Okay, so I have a gray dress and a brown bag.

Anyway, I decided to put 40% of my check away and play with what is left. I'm already in love with how the savings side looks and I'm okay with the checking side looking smaller than usual. I've written out tithing checks to place in the collection plate here at home and to mail off to St. Mike's in Tally. I didn't have my checkbook or cash with me when I went to St. John's in Hollywood :-(
No more broke Sundays!


*


On another numerical note, Dani and I decided to go to the sure to be entertaining bridal shower of her. Thinking about her upcoming marriage made me think of mine. Oh, I didn't tell you? I had a talk with Drew and marriage is in the future. the "not right now but soon" future. Whatever that means, I was thinking about who would be my 'maids.


8


I so didn't want to be that person with a harem, that person that Dani and I make fun of, that person who is usually in a sorority and picks her front, back, ace, tail, teen and double digit, neo and prophyte number,

THAT CHICK WHO HAS EVERYONE IN HER WEDDING PARTY!!!

I was sold on 6 till today. Then I realized, there is someone I JUST CAN'T LEAVE OUT!

and....... while we're still on the topic of weddings, I found out kindergarten homie of mine got married. Then this info came out,

"he's had a crush on you for the past 20 years"

*blink blink*


*


My 27th birthday is in 2 months.

What am I going to do?!

Go to Disnee???

I think so :-)

I just got back from the palm beach county event of the year.

everybody was there.

Gaines, Williams, Koteis, Cunninghams
Ryles, Rich, Issacs, Hills

people even came down from virginia for this event.

city officials, greeks, Links, chamber of commerce, who's who in business, education, law...





It was a funeral for JPH.

*

Ms. Jackie attended Hampton Institute. Lived in Virgina-Cleveland Hall right beside my beloved Kennedy Hall. Gamma I Delta married a Gamma I Alpha. She told my parents about a little school 3 hours south of D.C. when they were looking for a place to send me.


Ms. Jackie was the first black to own a shoppe in the Palm Beach International Airport; this was back in 1988. The first flight took off in 1936.


My godfather and Ms. Jackie's husband were the first black law firm in West Palm Beach.


fabulous Godmother to my fabulous godsister, pillar of her church, model citizen of her community, friend to ALL...

I can't stress ALL enough


even though she was fighting breast cancer, you wouldn't know it. smiles all around, eveyday, for everyone. on her last day, she cooked for her visitors just to make sure they felt at home. Then she got in her bed and closed her eyes.


She wouldn't want us to be sad. Matter of fact, she was probably looking down and thinking, "Now why are they crying? If they don't stop that foolishness...!"


She leaves behind an adoring and extended family and footsteps to walk in. All I have to do is think, "WWJD?"

MJ is back!

Lessons in Life

Lesson 1

Shot 1: Baby Stace and Stan the Mini Man happily sharing a bowl of green grapes

Shot 2: Stace making a face cause she just realized Stan is eating more than her

Shot 3: Stace yelling at Stan whose mouth and cheeks are full of green grapes

Shot 4: Stace slapping Stan's hand as he reaches for MORE grapes despite stuffed face

Shot 5: Stan looking at Stace like, "Yeah?"

Shot 6: Stan 5 finger slap/mush in Stace's face, smushing grapes in left cheek

Shot 7: Stace WAILING at Dad who is steady taking pics while Stan happily eats green grapes


I think I was 3 and Stan was 1.5 when I learned not to hit a guy unless I want to take the chance of getting hit back by a guy.

*

Lesson 2

Junior or senior year in highschool, this chick was all in dude's face. Coming out of the band room, all I saw and heard was; laughing at, ridiculing, neck rolling, I think a finger in his face, maybe a mush...

Suddenly, you heard, whoosh

DeVille just shoved Jina in the shrubs! Wait! Is she still talking ish?! With one platform flip-flop on the pavement and the other dangling off her foot?! Legs all spread eagle with the Aaliyah skirt* on!? How are you going to be pulling woodchips out your hair while talking about what you're going to do once you get up?! DeVille decided to finish. I think he got a couple shots in before dudes pulled him off of her. All you heard was, "Ay man! you 'ont fight girls! What's wrong with you?!" DeVille wasn't even fazed. He kind of fixed his oversized izod and prepared for the escorting to the office.

I PROMISE you, that cemented the lesson I learned when I was 3. Never hit a guy unless you're prepared to be hit back like one.

My parents raised us, "If someone hits you, hit them back. Hit them harder so they know not to do it again"

How many of you know people that were raised similarly? Maybe the 'fighting talk' you got was, "Never hit your siblings" and that was it.

Who knows what was going through CB's head on Feb 8. I wonder what sparked such rage from a 19 y.o. boy. He went into 'beast mode', y'all. All the details are out and all I can do is pray for Ri Ri who (thru her lawyer) asked the judge to NOT prohibit contact with her boyfriend.

You mean like...?

So yesterday, I guggled the group whose latest song has me singing all day. The song is 'Beggin' and its by Mad*con. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the song! Found out the original music is by Franky Valley and was already on my Good List for You're Just Too* Good to be True, brought to my attention by L. Boog herself.

Whatever the case, I find out this song came out in Dec 2007, this duo has been doing the damn thing in Europe and the whole world since 2000 (a great year if you ask me), and... they are a mix of "cold.play and the r.oots, narls barkly and blak eye pees". I tell Drew to check them out and the following convo ensued.

D: coldplae and roots, huh?

S: or gnarls and BEP

D: I'm thinking mozart and led zepp

S: what came to mind for me was backstreet boyz and ded prez

D: maybe a little NWA and Otown?

S: or ozzie and issac hayes

D: the beetles and electrik red [group that opened for jaz sull, et al]

S: jamiroquai and TI

D: elephant man and boy gorge

S: mike mcdonald and john mayer (a reference to j. timb on fallon)

D: john forte and jarobi

S: you won

??

Can you all see my posts? when I come to my page, I see nothing. all i see are the frames. my profile box, who I'm reading, etc.

WTH?

QG Saves Me

So maybe once a month, mom and I take anything made with fabric and do it big at the laundromat. Comforters, pillows, sheets, towels, EVERYTHING. Yes we have a fully functioning laundry room in our house but washing and drying comforters alone makes the laundromat worth it.


As you can imagine, the population that most laundromats serve is...




yeah.

I overheard 3 too many conversations about what, "he had said 'bout you to Qwon an 'nem".

As a matter of fact, for those of you on twitr, I heard that "orientated" commercial at the 'mat.

Hampers and baskets full of paco jeans, doo rags, and team jordan tees.
Citi Trends' (or is it Trendz?) Spring 2009 Line, Baby Fat (yes, Fat) tattooed on jeans, and the bedazzled/grommetted/chain-linked top to match.

I sat there with the "mess with me if you want to" face as this guy rode up on his bike. Please kind sir, continue on your route to Pleasant City Estates. He pretended to ask the associate on duty a question:

"so... I can drop my clothes off and y'alla wash 'em for me?"

*eye roll*

Pissed I left my Podi in its dock at home, I sat and thought of how Lyds owes me big for making me do this by myself. Then I remembered...

My newly arrived magazine was in the car. With a huff, I left the "comfort" of the 'mat whose version of ventilation is opening the front and emergency door and got it from the front seat. I've never been so happy to see Justin Timb. "Hey there, boo. I can't wait to read you."

With new found swag, I took my seat by the pay phone, propped my feet on one of three baskets and read. How awesome was the letter from the editor? And can I talk about the model in the Ralph L BlackLabel ads?? I scoffed at the Siva Black Card and took notes from the All You Need to Know about Cologne column.

I don't even need to make a, "please don't try my life by breathing by me" face when I have my mag out :-)

I'm allowed one

After my hellish week (you guys don't even know the half of it) that culminated with the previous post, I think I deserve this.



Ode to Me

I am so pretty, I still look good donning hair rollers and a satin head scarf.

I take mundane GAP clothes and make them pop.

I make the color gray bright.

I am the perfect shade of browns.

I have great hair.

Braces are too cute on me.

Kinders ask their teachers if they can come "see what Ms. K is wearing cause she's the prettiest teacher at school"

All my friends are fly cause we're birds of a feather.

And to quote Ms. Nikki, "I'm so hip, even my errors are correct".



Meh. It only worked a little bit.

ouch

35 hours, axle boots, trans flush, arm, power steering flush, leg, rotated tires, a pint of blood, air filter, alignment, 1st born draft pick if its a boy...












$1081.41


Okay!!!! I don't want to play adult anymore! The towel has been thrown in!

Random Day

1. Ummm, I have FIVE pairs of Chucks.
Pink, Cream, Green, Yellow, Red.

Really, Stace?

The next number I have multiples of is 3. Then there are a lot of fraternal twins


2. I don't think I'm going to get tired of American Boi. Estelle is my GIRL! and you know I love 'Ye

3. I just found out an ex, the first boyfriend I had at FAM, passed away last week. Gastric bypass gone wrong. I was shocked, more so by how big he must have gotten to need gastric bypass.

4. I have to get my chronic sinusitis in order. Just found out my grand uncle and Ghanian godfather found multiple myelomas in his nasal cavity. He's been a long time sufferer of sinusitis.

5. I still can't open my mouth to its widest cause of what the ortho tech did to me and the resulting infection. I was almost in tears trying to eat a breakfast sandwich from Micki Dee's this past Tuesday

6. Last week, I was thinking if marriage is what Drew and I do on the weekends but everyday, I'm not sure I want that. Kinda boring.

7. I still don't know what the Poke feature on Stacebook means. Mini Me said it's to get someone's attention. the person who has been poking me EVERYDAY has my phone number and unlimited text... I don't know what the problem is.

8. My car has been at the shop since yesterday evening. You know how much money that thing is going to cost if its been getting worked on for 24 hours? Now I know they aren't working on it round the clock but damn! Where is my Tima?!

9. Diana Ross is my celebrity idol. I love her almost as much as I love MJJ. When I was younger, I used to fluff out my hair out and sing along to her videos; much to the dismay of Mom Dukes

10. Drew and I have challenged Dani and Shayne to a game night. Jam and Rah, Joy and Kesi, Patti and PHI, La and BOB, y'all are next in our Will and Grace-esque domination.

11. I am seriously going to have a coffee table book of children's art one day. It's like invented spelling without words. So straight to the point and literal. and don't let there be a caption like, "It is sunee. We can rid bix" (It is sunny. We can ride bikes. the long 'I' is tricky, as is the trailing 'y')

12. On the way home from work on Friday, I realized I only want one child. A girl with the prettiest name I can think of. But that can be lonely...

13. I really want a black Coach with gold hardware. This one. But she's too big for me. I cyber tried her on.

14. I think I might send myself some flowers on Friday. Naw, I'll just get some from Publicks.

15. I'm bored.

16. I'm waiting for 'Single Ladies' to come on the radio while Drew and I are in the car so I can abruptly ask Drew if/when he's going to put a ring on it. I think that would be an awesome ice breaker.

17. I need new music in my life.

18. I think I need a good cry. I feel like I'm on emotional auto-pilot

19. My bro is turing 25 this Thursday. I can't believe it. I hope 25 is as good for him as it was for me. Then there's the other side of 25...

20. I burst Jameil's bubble about going to the beach in Virginia in October and it was funny.


-log out-

Oh, Kids

In honor of Black History Month, my class made a mini book of May Jemeson. Four little pages that are appropriate for their age:

"Mae was the first black woman in space." and they color a space shuttle in space
"She is a doctor too." they color a picture of Mae with a stethescope and a patient
"Mae won lots of awards" they show trophies and certificates

In hindsight,


I really should've put her picture up on the presentation station while I was talking about her, kinders need visuals.








Guess how many children colored Dr. Jem BLACK? Like, the actual color BLACK? She looked like a halloween costume in her orange NASA suit!

One kid exclaimed, "Oh! She's not black! She's brown! Like me!"

Oh, the simpler days.

Today's Baby Step

AdeivK: you talk to your sister yet?

DreezyfBaby: nope.



*sigh*



Talking about moms, I lamented the fact I know nothing of his.

AvK: Will I get to meet your mom one day?

DfB: yes you will

AvK: do you think she'll like me?

DfB: I know she will

AvK: she'd just prefer I was Jewish, right?

DfB: yeah. Its this weird thing Jewish people do to preserve the religion. Jews have been persecuted since the begining of time and almost wiped out countless times, so people take marrying very seriously.

AvK: wait, its to preserve the religion and not the race? well, they lost that battle with you a long time ago. You don't even practice your religion so what difference will it make?

DfB: that's very true. only some 20% of American Jews practice. They are old school and they aren't American.

AvK: I suppose. I guess i'll go out and find me a nice Ghanian to bring home to my family.

DfB: daaaah.

Meh

I knew V-Day wouldn't be a big blowout cause the band had a show on SoBe and I knew that the surprise tix to see Jaz Sullivan, Mewsic and Nee-Yo on Wednesday were my V-day gift but still


St. Valentine's Day was wack.


I ended up not going to their show cause I knew that while couples from all over South Florida would be pouring into the club on 8th and Ocean, I'd be sitting on a couch watching Fashion TV. It was 10pm when I told Drew, "I'm not going" and he had a mini hissy fit.

"You don't want to be with me on Valentine's Day?!"

"I don't want to sit on a barstool for hours on Valentine's Day"

"But it's Valentine's Day!"

"Since when were you a stickler for holidays? Plus I won't be WITH you, I'll be watching you work. I'd rather stay here where I have a bed and the option to change the channel"

*shoulder shrug*

What?


We exchanged gifts the day before for some weird reason. I got a white gold bracelet. The top half looks like iced out lace. It looks like the estate jewelry I'm digging. Very pretty, can't wait to show it off.
He got a juicer and was sooooo geeked. Pineapple juice was the best. Kiwi was good and would taste awesome mixed with liq. We need to add lemon juice to the apple juice to prevent it from turning brown. It may taste good but, you do eat with your eyes too.


This weekend, I was supposed to talk to him about what I've been screaming on this blog (thanks Rashan lol). He shut down about his family. I told him I feel like he's hiding something from me and as his best friend, I'd really appreciate it if he told me what's going on. I got a borderline curt response. Okay....?

I expressed my anxiousness at turning 27 this May and what I'm going to do with my personal and professional life. Told him TX is out of the picture and he suggested moving to Broward. I told him, "I couldn't live here with you. This place is way too small. Plus, I'm not trying to be a roommate." His response? "If I wanted a roommate, I'd move in with Lawrence" (lead singer/friend. not real name) Okay. we're taking some baby steps here...

I'm so much better at writing. I think I'm going to send an e-mail. This talking thing is for the birds.

*

Seeing how Twitter isn't on my new page, another frat boy homie got engaged this weekend and there's a video on yootube....?!?!



*blank stare*



*eye roll*




Booooooooooooo.......

He's Got a Point...

In class, we are doing a unit on weather and seasons. During science, I ask the class to give me different kinds of weather:

"Rainy!" "Cloudy!"

"Partly Cloudy!" "Sunny!"

"Foggy!" "Windy!"

"Snowy!" "It doesn't snow in Florida!!"

"It snows in Georgia!" "And Virginia!"

Okay, they know what they're talking about! Granted, we choose the weather for day during calendar so it was just a matter of remembering what weathers they've seen. Learning at its finest.

We talked about how sky looks during each weather, what it feels like, something we can do, etc.

"You can fly a kite when it's windy"
"You can go to the beach when it's sunny!"
"You can play four corners when it's rainy!"

Okay, y'all know a lil sum'!! Now its time for seasons which is a harder concept to grasp.

"Who can name the seasons? There are only four of them."

"Winter"

then silence so I gave them a hint

"When its really hot outside, and you don't have school, its...

"Summer!"

This next answer came from my favorite boy.

Jordan, you have your hand up. What's another season?

"Basketball"

"Basketball seas-? You know what? You are so right"

SWAG

This one goes out to Dani

Y'all have seen my favorite movie, The Best man, right? T. Howard played Q, a lothario or charming futhermucker if you will... he got his skills from this one:

Adei walks into room quickly, adjusts the scarf over her scarred face. Places teacher bag on table and reads over agenda just passed to her.

Old (but still can get it) Spice: Boy, you a pretty little thing! They didn't have pretty teachers when I was in school! They were all big... ugly...

Adei (despite the pain to even think about cracking a smile): *giggling like a school girl* Now you need to stop!

Business at hand... discussing time, talents, and tithes...

OS: If I had a school aged child, I'd want him in your class, Adei. Or at least tutored by you

Adei: *batting eyelashes* Well, it is FCAT season

*Cue Old Spice commercial music*

is blood thicker than the color of water?

Written 2/15/08

so La had a post about family. her birth family and the one she chooses to have. i remember her comments on my blog when my brother and I were having a positively HEINOUS living experience and I have to say that b/c they're your family, doesn't mean you have to put up with them. in her most recent post, she noted that if a boyfriend was treating you horribly, you'd dump him so why not the family member? all for a little blood?


something you don't know.

recently, i told drew i needed some time to think about things within me, about him and about us. not a break-up, just a time to reflect and project. as you've read before, his family was a sore spot with me. read the post and come back. ummm, we talked yesterday and i found out some things.

his parents are very jewish and have the "don't bring a non-jewish girl home" thing going on.
they know what drew's doing and are not amused.
drew is basically disowned.

he hasn't talked to them since... spring '07 is what's coming to mind. i remember telling him to go hang with his peeps while my parents and I packed for ghana or something. he said, "yeah right. i'm going home". Its so funny how i didn't put 2 & 2 together... also, the time his sister came over and she was filling drew in on family biz. it didn't cross my mind that drew should know about his own parents, he should know that they are on vacation in Colorado


Its almost a year since I wrote hat post and I'm sad to say, not much has changed.

To be continued

Double Face

More like Two-Face.

I went to the orthodonitst last tuesday. The latest tech they had working on my mouth was a bit too rough for my taste and she ripped the corner of my mouth and stretched out my bottom lip. You know when someone's head is too big for a tee shirt? And the collar is all stretched out? That's how my bottom lip looked after getting a new bracket placed on my last molar. A bit painful, I meant to tell her about herself but she was called into the office and didn't come out for a while. I left it alone and made a note to request someone besides her next time I came; if she'd even be there next time.

Fast forward to Thursday. Slight discomfort in the region, nothing I didn't think a little vaseline wouldn't cure.

Friday after school, I have a headache and the corner of my mouth is really hurting now. I get an ice cube out of the fridge in my kitchen at school (kinders got it like that!) and pretty much hold it there 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off. By the time I get home from work/school, I notice a little bump has formed in the corner. By 7 pm, several bumps have formed and the area is getting hot. Must be a delayed allergic reaction to latex, powder, a chemical used to make latex gloves, something. damn that technician.

Saturday morning, its a little colony of bumps; the corner of my mouth has swollen to jellybean size and my lower right face is swollen. The area under my mouth, beside the jaw bone is tender to the touch and the inside of my lip on the right side is swollen.

Okay.
Attack mode.

benadryl p.o. (pill)
benadryl topical (cream)
Advil pm.

As the day progresses, the right side of my face gets more swollen (think someone put cotton balls in your cheek) and I only get more drowsy. Drew finds an urgent care clinic and didn't listen when I told him to call for directions. We get there and there is no clinic. Office space for lease. I pop some pills and sleep on my left side; the side I'm not used to sleeping on.

Sunday, we find another clinic and Drew calls this time...Apparently, its NOT an allergic reaction, but a full on viral infection. The ben was doing nothing but getting me drunk.

When techie ripped my mouth apart, "an otherwise latent virus that lives in all of us came forth from the trauma".

*blink blink*

So... if ole girl had been more careful with hers, I wouldn't be here?

Basically.


So I am home today cause my face is not as swollen as it was but the infection looks grosser than before. It would've been my worst nightmare to go to school with my face looking like this and have my kinders wonder and tell their parents some off the wall thing. "Ms. K's face was fat on one side and by her mouth, it looked like a she threw up but didn't wipe it off her face".

or something like that.

Plus, I can barely open my mouth and you can't be a kinder teacher who can't talk!!


You already know I went straight to the orthodontist this morning and let them know I will NOT be paying for next month. Between the clinic, the rx, and my day off, I need a month of treatment free. There is no need for me to have a different technician everytime I have an appointment! What kind of job turn around do you guys have?! If your practice is too big, scale it and the employees down some!


Yeah, I'm at home not able to open my mouth more than an inch wide unless I dare to re-rip my now healing cut. I have numbed the area with benzocaine film that makes the area turn weird gray, cream, and brown colors... real talk. I've eaten nothing but french fries and thinly sliced corndogs. I can only drink out of straws. Do you know what songs I've heard all day today?? *eye roll*

If I hear anything from paper trail again... I will pull a Chris Brown and punch someone dead in the face.


You'd think I use this time to catch up on some reading. I'm so not trying to finish The Plague with my right side looking the way it is. Oh well, tomorrow, I'm rocking the DVF scarf.



without the kool aid smile.

Heart to Heart

Pops and I went to dinner yesterday. Nothing extravagant; just Chicken Tropical... we were there for a good 2+ hours listening to the world music they had going on, people watching and of course, talking.

He touched on 3 subjects that have been on his heart.

He doesn't think me moving to TX would be the best for me... or him.
"In this economy, unless a school district is paying for your relocation, gives you a signing bonus AND finds your housing, I wouldn't feel comfortable you just upand heading to texas cause you 'love texas'". I graduated from Northeastern, up and left for Florida and was miserable. Mommy was pregnant with you in Boston and I was practically homeless in Florida. I don't want that to be you. I can't, in good conscience let you drive off to Texas without a plan. And I know you're paying off your credit card bills and you're helping out with Steph... Secure a job, think about it."

He wants to know what's going on with "Hollywood". I told him at the end of the school year, I'll either be in Hollywood or Texas.
"Have you discussed your concerns with Andrew? Have you even met his parents? Ok, they're super Jewish. We're super Ghanian! If his parents are the reason why things aren't progressing as fast as you thought they would, you guys need to talk about it. maybe you guys would be better as friends. I know you think you can just leave things at the end of the year but you need to talk to him. Guys don't think they way women do. He might think everything is okay and obviously, you don't. Tell him you have plans and goals for your life, you guys aren't 18, 19 years old so the dating thing is getting old. You're going to be 27, its not like you all don't know eachother, he's definitely welcome and comfortable with our family if his family isn't the same with you..."

my dad is too perceptive.

Plus, it seems my situation is the family topic. My uncle in New York wants to know if I need him to talk to Drew or if he should just go ahead and find someone else for me. No, thanks Uncle. *eye roll* as if I needed more pressure

Lastly, about 2 weeks ago, I broke down and told my dad how hurt I was by my brother when we were in Tally. I think I deleted those posts but some of you may remember what was going on. The shoe is on the other foot and bro asked me to do something for him. I did it cause that's the type of person I am but something Pops asked me opened floodgates on something I haven't talked about since Fall 2006. I was bawling about how a short 2 years ago, my own blood broke my heart and did me wrong. About how the tables have turned, about how if this was 2 years ago and I asked Bro to bring me something to eat, or borrow money cause I don't even have a quarter to make a call on a pay phone... my request would've met with a swift and harsh NO. I was sad cause I like to think that its all in the past but I two weeks ago it call came back like it was yesterday.

My dad wants us to be as tight as he and his siblings are. I can't see past 2 years ago. When I was at my lowest and needed the closest person to me, he damn near spat on me. I couldn't even call my family in West Palm to tell them I needed help. NO house phone, no cell phone and I wasn't allowed to use either one of Bros cells. He had two. He was throwing parties and making money and I was literally counting PENNIES to put gas in the car so I could make it to school and work.

You know what? I need to go. This isn't even about me and Pops anymore.

work in progress

I cleaned out much of the juvenile trash of yesteryear; all that stuff I was talking about when I realized I needed a new blog but didn't know how to get one I just tidied up a bit 'round here. 2005 and I think 6 are gone unless its a post with pictures in it. I love pictures.

Stars have always been my thing. Sirius reminds me of Christmas/Jesus cause it what people use to depict the star the wise men and shepards followed to find Him. That's who I need to find as well.

Sirius is also music at its best. What you want, when you want it, wherever you are.

*

So. Drew and I were making plans for V-Day which was going to be D-Day for him. I kinda let him know how he dropped the ball TWICE over the holiday season every chance I get and its ALMOST running joke how he'll do something before or after a special day. We were going to spend the V-Day/Pres Day 3 day weekend in Orlando but duh! 3 day weekends are the WORST time to go to a theme park! And it's v-Day weekend?! I wasn't to geeked about that idea before I realized it was a 3 day weekend. Wasn't trying to be around hella couples making magic happen at Disnee while we're waiting to ride the tea cups. I don't want Diz to have a bad taste in my mouth as "the place where Drew SHOULD'VE done something but didn't." So we nixed that idea.

Then we were thinking key west.
St. Pete for the Dali Museum.
St. Aug., the oldest city inthe U.S.A
Cape Canav. eventhough a rocket would've launched the day before

We finally decided on staying in town and doing it big. Hair done, Fairchild Gardens, new exhibits at the museums and a top notch restaurant we haven't been to yet.

The band just got notice from the club the played at this past Saturday that the owner/manager would like them to play weekly...





Starting Valentine's Day.


*with the exception of my adopted star, the rest of y'all b!tches are aligned against me*


Yeah... it looks like Dreezy dream of NOT doing anything special on a specific day has come true. I'll keep you posted.

the weekend wrap-up

so Friday took forever to get here but it finally did!! I stayed at work much longer than planned b/c it was our principal's birthday and we had to go to the media center to sing to her and eat cake. I'm a fan of publix cake, but not when I want to get out of here with the quickness!! I knew I was taking a reverse half day (come in at 1130am) on Monday so I needed my plans done and on my desk before I went anywhere! Clearly, singing to someone I don't care for wasn't in my plans for Friday afternoon. Whatever the case, it was all done, made it home to shower and pack for the weekend. Dani called to tell me she and her boo are on their way to pick me up so we can ride to the s-telle and JL concert when mom dukes came out the woodwork with, "don't forget to do the bathroom. you didn't do it last week." yeah, giving TWO large dogs a bath kinda kills my bathtub cleaning mood, sorry. I told Dani abt that and she made my side split with a similar story abt her M.Dot.


"I know you're going to prom but can you sweep the front porch right quick?"

Really Moms? That's how we get down?


Anyway, we make it there listening to a mix of Raph (who didn't show up :-<), S-telle, and Johnny Boy. Meet up with the Drewski and go to our seats. John's backup singer opened the show. he sounds JUST.LIKE.JOHN. Come to find out, it's his brother. Cool.

S-Telle is next and she rocks it of course. Drew loves her now. Her Brit wit and language had him cracking up the whole time and he being the hypercritical engineer thinks her voice is awesome. We both noticed that her band was HORRIBLE. Drummer over played and you couldn't hear the guitar half the time. oh well,

her hour set was followed with a 20 minute break for JL's stuff to come out. Before you know it, this cinematographic masterpiece of JL as a boxer is coming from a big screen. So he's a fighter now? Black and white with a red pop of color here and there. He's throwing punches and jabbing left and right... then "HOLLA HOLLA HOLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" He comes swagging* down the aisle and hops on stage to "Maybe, its me. Maybe I bore you"...

I was geeked.

GEEKED!

Singing at the top of my lungs and whatnot; so excited! Johnny rocked for 2 hours. He played a bit of EV.REE.SONG he has!

EVERY SONG?!

every song.

My fave? Sh.e Don't Have to K.now. I have no idea what it is about that song but I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I annoyed the dude in front of me using my full singing voice in ALL its potential and glory.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh.hhhhhhhh! Stealing momen.ts just to beee with yooooou"...

*catches breath*

YES, JOHN! SANG, JOHN!!

This man was great. I have so much more love for him now! Now I see what all the white people were fawning about!

Oh you didn't know who his fan base is? Can I tell you who was MOBB DEEP at this concert?!

This guy Drew and I called J.Cru. Picture your stereotypical yuppie; probably pretends to be a vegetarian, drives a jetta but talks about getting a prius; blue eyes, collared shirt under a sweater vest, blond crew cut with the slightest frosting... sang right along with John the whole night.

THE WHOLE NIGHT.

every single word, ad libs, runs...

but then there was this guy who I called russian bad guy. he looked like an eastern european goon. weird buzz cut, crooked teeth, putin without the prestige. red track jacket (commie) having the TIME OF HIS LIFE! Oh my gosh, I was throughly amused between the two. But then there was a middle aged well dressed woman who pulled out her lighter and was rocking back and forth, the old couple who looked like they were going to the opera, the vast array of white people from all walks of life who were in that piece, singing along to whatever JL threw at them!! It was great.

That was Friday.

Saturday, your girl was bummed out the whole day. I felt so unfab and didn't want to do anything but wallow in self-pity. I passed on the tube dress and wore tight blue jeans, brown calf-high boots and my quilted express jacket to match. I still looked good even though I felt like ish. Drew and crew played and I sat there with the, "Don't approach me" face the whole night. Luckily, fashion tv was on and I watched fashion shows and fabulous people sitting in the 1st row. It bummed me out a bit and then I got over it with aspirations to sit front row at a fashion show one day.


Sunday, I did lesson plans. We went to tarrget with plans of getting a juicer so i can make lemonade, a grater so i can make eggrolls, and rice cooker so drew can make rice, and some sponges so i can wash dishes. yeah, we got nothing. at hole foods, i got some crab meat and pink shrimp to make this dish i saw in tyler florence's cookbook... yeah, must get jumbo lump crab meat. apparently, if its not clearly labeled as such, you'll get a shredded mess of crab. my dish tasted good but looked a mess. and we're not going to talk about he garlic bread i attempted to make from scratch... i can't deal with bread stuff. i can toast bagels and that's it. and even then, i'll lose one bagel in the bag to burning. *face*

I barely watched the superbowl. slept on and off thru-out the whole thing. saw larry make the touchdown run with 56 secs left and thought cards had it. drew woke me up less than a minute later to tell me the steelers won. boooooooooooooooooooo!!! i am happy for the local boys (holmes, boldin, mcfadden, etc) who made it there :-)


and today is monday monday. TTYL


* so John comes out in black pants, black button down, cream tie and cream track jacket. with fingerless gloves. he has this new machisimo that I found hard to believe for much of the show. plus every 30 min, he took of a piece of clothing! really john? what happened to the piano geek we fell in love with? and did you really tuck your undershirt wifebeater in? what's with the buff body? I asked Dani if he bought some swag to go with his fingerless gloves... he is such a star now! calling chicks to come on stage and grind on them...!! REALLY, JOHN?! Whatever floats your boat. i still think you're gay

Dilemna

Did I spell that right? I feel like I'm missing a letter...

So here it is: you know the dress I wore for NYE; the fantabulous tweed and leather piped dress? Yeah, I talked it up so much that Drew wants me to wear it to a party we're going to on SoBeach. I told him I can't because I have too many pics on bacefook. You know I can't go to a party and not take pics! But I don't want to look like I only have one party dress!!

Yeah, its not really a life or death situation. But I'd like your opinion.

Yeah!

What she said!

That's my damn dog.

Baby Boom

Like Jameil, I don't want to be the last person in my crew to be wedded and have children. Actually, I am less worried about that and just pressed about being engaged. Isn't that the fun part Miss Patti?

Anyhoo, perusing FB as I'm oft to do, I noticed all the highschool chicks I know that have children. There was something in the water about 3 or 4 years ago cause I PROMISE you, there is a whole cohort of 23-25 year old who have toddlers. The two highschool classes after mine went to college and came back with more than a degree if you know what I mean. As for my classmates, I think we pretty much escaped unscathed.

I mention this cause it just seems like the people who shouldn't be having babies, do. I mean, the girls came out okay, doing big things in law school or their chosen profession and whatnot... it's just that I used to watch A Babee Storee on TeeLCee and I can't even count the number of couples who've tried and tried and cried and cried over conception or miscarriage or pregnancy complications. And then down the street, there's LaQuanTanish'ah who is 20 and having her 3rd child from a 3rd baby daddy. Or a college student who would do anything not to be pregnant and shame her family. I don't get it.

Here's a IM convo btwn Dani and I about her sister

DQ: Marica is pregnant with TWINS????????????????????????????

AK: shut up shut up STFU!

DQ: so that makes 3 kids?? Am I counting right? Didn't she just have a baby?

AK: OMG, she just had one all of four months ago!!

DQ: my womb hurts right now...fallopian tubes are throbbing. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

AK: 2 words: clown.car. oooh. i think my ovaries just shrunk a little bit. Or swelled with pride cause that HAS to be a gift or some sort of talent!

DQ: I'm sooo... I can't close my mouth from sheer shock

AK: all I can do is SMH. I can't. and it's not just 3 kids but three kids under or just about ONE YEAR OLD! Dani, I think my uterus just fainted.


Lord, when my time comes, please let me be as fertile as Marica and honestly, her WHOLE family.

Reds?

I'm ready for a new tattoo.

Who wants to join me?

Let's make an Inked Blogger Day and get tats on the same day!! Yes?!

Anyone?

You in the back?

Clu? We're about due for a new one, you think?



Bueller?


Bueller?

7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable | Cracked.com

7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable. Some days, the Internet reads like humanity's huge, whiny suicide note. Here's why.

View >>

Wow.

I left my phone at school :-(

How will I check CNN at 5am without getting out of bed? and my she-mail? and bacefook???

*

I left school with plans to go to Narnes and Boble and buy some books for my classroom library.

I did just that but...






I accidently fell in CBCG before I got to the bookstore.

They had this 70% off sign right in front; in the brightest red...

They had their winter wear on sale...



I saw a jacket I liked. Kinda like the one from Ranana Bepublic I haven't worn yet, but khaki. I would've preferred it in black...

I didn't get it.




I saw this sweater dress in the prettiest cream color. Double breasted with big black buttons. Knee length and fit just right.

I didn't get it.




They had a winter white waist length pea coat. A smidgen too big but CBCG runs big (on me at least) and I'm sure I'd be wearing more than a tee shirt under it...

I got it.


Then this gray dress that had nothing to do with anything but it was gray and I don't have a nice gray dress and I love gray clothes so much, I seriously would wear a gray wedding dress and want gray as a wedding color if it wasn't the same color as eeyore and everything else drab or hazy... *sigh* run on sentence, I know, train of thought, hop on.

That thing was the most expensive item I have EVER bought for myself. Like, too much for one piece of clothing that wasn't leather, cashmere or embroidered in 24k gold thread.
The dress was more expensive than the wool COAT!

*sigh*


*


Thinking about cutting my hair... the chick on the zertec commercial has a Stacie haircut. A long-ish, layered bob.

cute.

*

On a brighter note, my new GQ came today. I've seen LeBron look better.

M.O.

Liked her dress and matching coat and pea green gloves during the inauguration process. Did NOT like her ball gown. IDK what those tufts or puffs were all along the skirt. Gosling feathers? Cotton balls? Baby's Breath? She is hit or miss with fashion for me. I wasn't a fan of her red & black election day dress either.

Mr. President. I don't know if its his ears or I'm just used to him in ties, but the big white bow-tie didn't do it for me. Maybe it should've been black. Or smaller. Something wasn't right to me.

Joe and Jill? Loved. I mean, can't really say too much about Joe's classic look but Jill B's red strapless was gorgeous. Simple and beautiful. And that dress could translate into any color.

I watched the Neighbor.hood Ball. I wish I was there but... *eyeroll* Must Beyawnce be ev.ree.where? It reminded me of when she performed for the Oscars THREE times! French, Spanish, and English!! There are COUNTLESS talents out there! It would've been awesome if etta sang her own song! Or has anyone ever hear xtina aguilera sing "at last"? OMG. Shut.it.DOWN. Whatever the case, that 11 track double disc diva and her hubby need to sit down. Does Jay think he's 'Ye? Can he really wear anything and get away with it? Where did those glasses come from? I know he's been rocking them for a lil minute but that doesn't make him look better in them. I think he looks lame in those perpetrators. They aint real, Hov! Take 'em off and get a haircut! You're from NY! You're supposed to stay with the caesar!

Mariah looked like a controlled mess. Like she planned to almost spill out of her dress.

Vanessa Williams looked good as usual. She knows herself. Alicia? Meh. Not the worst I've seen her. We'll go with safe.

Ummm, I'm not watching the Youth Ball. Are Sash and Lia in attendance? I want to see their pretty little heads! How fab is their hair? I know their hairdresser loved straightening that hair! I am so excited that their daddy is the president!

Okay. I must go to sleep now. Ttyl

TODAY

Yeah, blogger and I are going to fight. I had this post that was realtime typing and apparently, it didn't post. Oh well, my last sentence was this:










MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK

blah

I don't really have much to say. but I don't want a week to go by without ANYTHING so here are some random things on my mind


I am more excited to see what M.O. is going to wear as her inaugural gown. I hope she picks the no name chick from the Chi she's been wearing and not one of the big name designers who dress celebrities all day, everyday.

I swear today was everybody get married or engaged day on facebook. I know I swore it off last year but that was when guys were doing the damn thing and proposing left and right. today, it was chicks I know and family in ghana. albums from everyone's vantage point. i was actually surprised about how nice one wedding was... based on the couples' website, i thought it was going to be some hood ish.

the school year is half over. we have reached the 90 day mark. 100th day of school is jan 30 and I can't wait. i think my kids will count out 100 cheerios and m&m's for math. do 100 jumping jacks? read 100 books? we'll figure something out by then

i think jill b.is so cute. its too funny that she got shushed. "did you just 'shush' me?!" is my automatic question to that! LOL I wish somebody would shush me...

it was overcast all day today. no rain or anything. just clouds and wind. it made the temp feel much cooler than it really was. and 2 cold fronts are coming thru this week. so much for my barack tees everday this week. maybe i will layer...i'm good for that. i love the longsleeve/short sleeve look. yeah. there it is.

been doing some thinking... 2009 is not looking cool. i can't say that i've been happy yet. the one person who used to be my hero isn't anymore. it saddens me and i just wonder, if other things pick up in his life, will I?

had good ole convo with God on the way home today. I seriously asked him, "let me know what's up, Dude."


I need to be missed. Pull a disappearing act or something.




that's where I am today. toodles.

genius

I love to hate Apul. I talk ish to Drew abt his mak obsession, but I don't laugh at that stock he has in it! Anyway, itoons has thing called genuis and it is just that: genius.

In a early 90s, elementary school mood, clicked on Color Me Badd's "All 4 Love"

*swoon*

Ayce of Bayse, M*JJ, Thike, Jilly Boel, UBe40, Jahmiroquai and even the Steve Miller Band's Abracadabra!

Love.

Taking note from Shani, I'm publishing my playlist from the latest greatest thing that I can't believe I lived without from Appul

Based on We Major my favorite 'Ye song

1. We Major
2. Hurt Me Soul (loopay)
3. The Blast (tahlib + teck)
4. Mathematics (mose)
5. She Lives in My Lap (3 Stax)
6. That Girl (Dymond Dee + farell & snupe)
7. Yolanda's House (GFK)
8. Get By remix (quali, hove, bussa bus)
9. What a Job (dehvin + snupe, 3 stax)
10. Two Words ('Ye, mose, freeweigh)
11. Guess Who's Back (the god)
12. So Sexy (twista + kellz)
13. Do You See (warren gee)
14. Diamonds & Wood (KGU)
15. K.O.S. (Blakstar)
16. Hurt (t.I.)
17. Whose Gonna Take the Weight (gang staar)
18. The People (commun)
19. Late ('ye)
20. You're the Man (nahz)
21. Hip Hop (mose)
22. Selfish (slum villa)
23. Phone Tap (the firm)
24. Git Up, Git Out (ONP)
25. Higher (do or die + 'ye)

How great is that list? Even with the Twista track thrown in the mix, this ish is hot!

I can't front, "So Sexy" was my joint for a hot little minute. It started when I called a dude and heard that was my ringtone. Head swole.

So we know I love 'ye. And mos. And dre. And you may know from an old post that I had a crush on warren for the longest.

Ghost is my fave wutanger and I may have more of his albums than most chicks do...
phone tap... i just love the concept and the filter over their voices, I wish I was from NY for 3 min and 46 seconds...

who doesn't love knowledge of self and the blast is a neo-classic.

What a Job? The other side of the rap game as only devin and dre can spit it. Not too geeked on snoop's verse

Aww man, I need a drop top and it to be Saturday. This is feel good, crunk without "bus a nigga head" feeling music! I need to burn it and blast it in the Bose out front. Makbook speakers aren't doing this justice!

gotta do this more often

just woke up from a 4 hour nap

I don't know if it was something I ate (agae tofu, miso soup, raw tuna)... no, it's cause I left the radio on louder than usual while I was asleep. I usually fall asleep to the radio; set the sleep for somewhere between 90-120 minutes depending on how tired I am. I think "sleep" is the coolest invention on a stereo/radio BTW.

You know what else it might be? I don't fall asleep to "hip-hop and rnb" stations. I find my quiet storm channel or even some 80s wonderbread; meatloaf, jefferson starship sappy stuff to fall asleep to.


let me tell you about my dream.

First, I was in my classroom, in my reading center, sitting on one of the seats I have for the kids, calling the radio station. It must have beena teacher work day cause the students weren't there. I was caller number 10 and I didn't know what I won. The DJ told me and I said, "what?!" He got a little attitude and we had to do the call over so he can record me being excited. I thought he was looking over my winning record and telling the program director I can't get the john legend estelle tix cause I just won something else. Turns out I won the DVD "The Xpress", the nidsey movie about the 1st black heisman trophy winner. I feigned excitement (rather well), "OMG, I LOVE that movie! and I am the biggest fan of this station!" and it turns out, they forgot I won tix to the concert last month.

Then I was running around Sleapy Brown's house. he has leopard print floor tile. But not real leopard print, more like paw prints you'd see on a bulletin board at a school whose mascot is the bulldog (like mine). Matter of fact, his floor was my 'Wow! Wall' background. I was running around trying to catch him and Issac hayes was there chilling on the couch with my friend Kitty. Sleapy didn't want to be caught so I just went and took a shower in another part of the house that was totally different. It was sterile white and bland as opposed to the paw print side that had wood carvings and masks and paintings like a mini Africa exhibit (like our house). Kitty explained that Sleapy lives two lives; one based on who he is and the other based on karma coming his way. I blame that little gem on "Chopped and Screwed" playing sometime during my nap. Thanks Looda.

Then I was on a swim team and we were on our way to a swim meet. Our transport wasn't a bus or van but a G Wagon with sand colored interior. our swimsuits were light turquoise and white, down to the caps and goggles. the driver was the grandfather of a boy I had a crush on when I was in kindergarten. I kept on asking him to turn up the radio and he'd hold his hand up like, "Uh-uh-uhhhh!" I think we were supposed to get in the zone or something. Turns out our g wagon was also a boat cause we were driving over the ocean. The bottom of the truck was a raft and someone had a pocketknife. it punctured the bottom but what it REALLY did was inflate a submarine under the car. We were driving over them as there were speed bumps placed really close together. I feel like 2Poc and Pookeisha Cole were on at time.

Next, I was at publix getting food for the team. They sold subs for $.89/pound, I had an 8lb sub and everyone was like, "whoa!" *eye roll in dream*. I thought about getting this pre-made ham wrap for $.59 but my sub was made to my specifications, with shredded carrots and something else. That part I blame on the waitress where I had lunch. she was giving someone the ingredient run-down and I overheard.

I guess the team won cause the last part of the dream I remember was being at the club, (Rok Bar) popping champagne with j. Jones. Its obvious what song was on.


Then I woke up.

How fab is that dream?! OMG!

Fab

I got my GQ (Christmas gift from Jameil :-).

It is the bright light in my very unfabulous life right now. Read the Record Dish for more.

Not Happy

And being sick is the least of my worries. I can take medicine for that.

I am a 26 y.o. sleeping on the same TWIN bed she had since forever. I am in the only house I've ever known, with the same furniture and the only thing new is the junk and the color on the walls.


I am so not happy right now. It hits me like a ton of bricks how unfab this is and how it wasn't supposed to be like this. Up until Christmas Eve, everything was okay. Then people showed their asses and I've been on thin ice since then.

I am going to be 27. TWENTY SEVEN years old in 4 months. You think I still want to be cleaning the bathtub in my mother's house as if I'm getting allowance?


I washed my hair this afternoon. Blow drying it left some hair on the bathroom floor. Naturally, I swept it up, wipe the counter down and basically left the bathroom a little neater than I found it. Mom comes home and says, "I see you swept. Go ahead and take out the trash since you added your dirt to it"

Are you fucking kidding me? Are you serious? How many ti-

OMG, I can't.

My bro comes home from work and she asks him to take it out. The nice way to say "hell naw" comes out and the guilt tripping, hollering and shit begin. "Yeah, people want to lie in bed all day and not doing anything but be on the computer and do their hair and they expect me to clean up after them..."

Really? So after working 5 days -3 of them sick, 1 very sick- I have a Saturday to rest and actually sleep in seeing how I get up at 530am M-F and this is the bullshit I have to hear? Are you fucking kidding me??! Get the fuck out of here with that bull shit!


Then there's the BF who quite frankly, has been on my list. Last year when I was sick, he picked me up, took me to his place and cared for me. His ole physical touch self was even demanding kisses despite my runny nose and sneezing fits. Yesterday, I get the text, "are you contagious? Maybe you should stay up there cause I don't want to get sick"

Are YOU fcuking kidding me?! I'm over you right now. I'm over this 13 year bestfriendship 2 year relationship and all we do is meet up on the weekends as if we're some college students in a long distance relationship. 2 years of a pseudo long distance relationship? Really?! I'm good enough for sushi only on the weekends? That was cute at first, but not when you're a 26 bout to be 27 year old who is still sleeping on the same twin bed she got when her little sister was born almost 19 years ago. If this is what you want, come see me in Texas.


Oh yeah, I ended up taking the trash to shut her up. You know I'm pissed the fcuk off now. On top of being sick. This is NOT the beat.

Intrinsic Rewards

I'm a teacher. Obviously, I'm not doing it for the money, I do it for the love of children. For Christmas, one of my favorite students got me a snowflake! It was the cutest little craft thing; had a letter from my name hand-painted on each of the little arms + an S in the middle. I should've taken a picture of it before we put everything away... but the little things are what drives me to teach. The notes with inventive spelling, the hugs before they go home...


anyway, there are some "rewards" I can do without.


Colds.



My internship semester, I had a nasty cold.
My first year teaching I had two nasty colds...
I was surprised I made this far in the school year unscathed but alas...


This week, two girls came up to me and said, "Ms. Kutieboots, my throat hurts!" and "Duele mi garganta" (my non english speaker). I told them to drink water and everything should feel a little better. Then, a boy in my class brought a hacking cough to school and didn't know he's supposed to cover his mouth! I wore off on him, talking bout, "Hey!! Are you trying to get me sick?! I don't want to be sick! And I ESPECIALLY don't want whatever you have! You need to cover your mouth when you cough! We don't share germs in here!"

Upset! I get visibly irritated and disgusted at the sight of people not covering their mouths! That.is my pet peeve. That's the only thing I'm germaphobic about. Not big on hand sanitizer, don't wash my hands before every meal, have kids spit gum, pen caps, paper, erasers in my hands... whatever.


So I wake up Friday morning with a sore throat. Ahh, a little achy, I can make it thru the day. Get some hot tea in me and I'm out the door. The day and my throat get worse. 1130, I realize I'm not hungry and I can't even finish the orange juice I bought that monring. It took me forever to corral the kids off the playgroud 'cause I couldn't call them! I waved frantically till I got someone's atterntion and my Teacher Helper did the rest. By 1230, I'm laid out on the reading rug and the kids are doing whatever they want. Luckily, I have my kids so scared to get a color change, they self regulate their behavior. They are playing with the big playdoh (as opposed to the little playdoh they used for fun writing), they're on cartoon network on the computer (supposed to be PBS kids or something educational) the girls are writing on the board with my dry-erase markers... all the while I'm just buried in my sweatshirt on the floor.

"Ms. Kutieboots, can we play wi-"
"yes. I don't care"
"What abo-" "
Yes, knock yourself out"
"Juan Carlos is on-"
"Its Fun Friday, have fun"

Daah. I'm freezing even though I have on a camisole, fitted tee, college tee and a sweatshirt. My voice is totally gone and my temperaure is going up. Dismissal at 2pm took forever to come. It did, I signed out at 225 and was out. Got home, realized I don't like hot tea but was forced to drink it by mom. When she left the room, I dumped it down the bathroom sink. Since I "liked" it so much, she made more. I took two advils and a benadryl and tried to go to sleep. My body was asleep but my mind was wide awake. The 3 hour nap felt like I was just closing my eyes trying to fall asleep. When I did actually wake up, it was weird.
Fever gone, appetite back, I struggled to eat my weight in rice and corned beef stew. Did it twice. It hurt to swallow but the food was great. Dozed on and off for a couple of hours, drank some water, sent texts since I couldn't talk, watched TV and went to bed. Fever returned so I took some more advil but no ben. that ish is wack. I don't know how I fell asleep cause my throat was killing me and I was getting up to cough up ebola/mad cow... oh well.

Now this morning, I downed two mugs of hot chocolate and my throat feels better. Since my docs aren't in, I might stop by a clinic to get some antibiotics cause this bird flu is not getting it.

love languages

Toni had this book that captured my attention with its cover. I don't know about you, but I judge books by them. The title was simple: The Five Love Languages.
I read, studied, took notes, and heed.

1. Words of Affirmation.
Encouraging, kind, humble words. Love requests, love doesn't demand.

2. Quality Time
Undivided attention, genuine conversation of not just speaking, but hearing as well; togetherness

3. Receiving Gifts
Gifts and money or gift of self (physical presence)

4. Acts of Service
Doing things wouldn't neccesarily do as an act of love.

5. Physical Touch
Implicit or explicit


After reading about the different languages, I tried to figure out which one I "spoke". Not the touchy feely type, #5 was out. Born with so much swag, my hair got game, #1 was out... after further discussion and thru everyday conversation with Toni, we figured out that I am #3. I feel love thru gifts.

Few people know how horrible my holiday season was and after reading the book, it all made sense. I was DEVASTATED I got nothing for my anny or Christmas from Drew, brother, or sister. Like, "boo hoo crying, taking hella advil and benadryl to get rid of splitting headache and go to sleep" devastation. "Eyes still puffy the whole next day" devastation. All I wanted was a token of appreciation; it didn't have to be expensive or grand and no-one thought enough of me to get even, a card.

One year, my FAVORITE Christmas gift were colored bobby pins my sister got for me. I just cut all my hair off and she truly surprised me with something less than $2 from Claire's.


Last night, after watching back to back football games with Drew and his crew, I was headed to bed. When I got there, there was a pink hibiscus on my pillow. You would've thought I just hit the lottery. So geeked off of that little token of love. Didn't cost anything but meant so much to me.


Most guys think they are #5 Physical Touch but that might not be the case. True, men are more prone to be physical than emotional but don't be surprised to find the guy who just wants you to share the couch during the game, whether you're watching or not. Or the guy who LOVES how you picked up his dry cleaning for no reason. Or the guy who beams like a kinder when you tell him, "damn baby! You look so good!" You might be thinking, "who doesn't like all of these things?" but one is def dominant and make it your mission to figure out what language you and yours speak.


My mom is an Acts of Service person day in and day out. She holds grudges if you didn't do something for her and will sulk in misery cause you didn't volunteer to iron her dress. I am learning to do little things for her and we'll see how this year goes.

I get my confidence from my dad but I still think he's a Words of Affirmation guy. I'm sure in a household with 12 kids, praise didn't go around freely and I do see him glow when I compliment him on a wonderful wardrobe choice or cool music selection.

My brother. My fragile brother who has this demeanor of having his ish together and being self assured... def depends on what others say. If its negative, you can bet that pisces is headed downstream. If the words are encouraging, the request is humble, (now) he will go all out.

My sister, I have just figured out, is a Quality Time person. She wants you to be there. I think she's still hurt my mom didn't attend many of her softball games but come to find out, mom probably didn't go to the games b/c mini me didn't take out the trash before she left BECAUSE mom didn't pick her up from practice the night before BECAUSE... you see where I'm going with this.
Softball, cheerleading, stepshows, tryouts... we'll see what I can make this semester.

Now my Drewski speaks Physical Touch. It used to annoy the HELL out of me how touchy feely he was. Either I've gotten used to it or he's calmed down... nah, I've gotten used to it. I have to constantly be touching him or vice versa. Holding his hand, rubbing his belly or back, massaging his head, forehead kisses, hugs... he gets despondent if I push him to his side of the bed cause its too hot to be all up on me *shrug* what? I'm in Florida where its 76 degrees at night! But yeah, my Drew needs the PT.

Its really cool finding out what makes your loved ones feel really loved. You could be keeping the cleanest house for your man and he still spends his time somewhere else. You could be showering her with gifts and she's still not happy. Take the info I read and make your 2009 great!

Daaah.

IDK how to make a blog that equals my fantastic-ness. So until then, just fantastic and fabulous pics of the week!

I wonder where I am????? Could it be... the A?


Fun times with Joy and Jam! Please ignore my hat hair.


The next day, before we hit up the NY's party. How good do we look? OMG, disgustingly good.


At the spot


HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Next day at the aquarium. mesmerized.


How cool is this shot?


The lovely couple at dinner :-)