Breaking News

Told Pops abt my move. Here's what he said,

"I don't think you should move, I'll clean up the room and put a full bed in there so it can be a real bedroom for you."

"I don't think you should move. You know Vanessa? She has some nurse friends who live by themselves and one night, someone was watching and forced her into her own house."

"You really shouldn't move if you don't have to. You have plenty of time to face hardships if that's what you're looking for."

"Don't you have bills to pay? Stay home and focus on those."

"You should save your money to use for all the traveling you will do."

Really, dad?

I don't think you guys know what happened for me to come to FAMU. Well, it all stemmed from my (then troublesome) brother (thankfully) graduating from high school and ONLY applying to one school, FAMU. That much, most of you know. But I didn't want to leave HU.

This is going to be a of stream of consciousness portion. Please don't pay attention to the structure.

Well, in the first place, I didn't want to go there cause I'd never heard of it and was sent there on recommendation of my godsister's godmother. Secondly, I WANTED TO GO TO FAMU! Whatever the case, I end up at HU and LOVE it. LOVE it. Having a scholarship helped. Well, I didn't maintain a 3.3 so I lost my scholarship. Oh well. Sophomore year rolls around and I am having the time of my life. Then comes the end of spring semester when I find out I'll be going to FAMU.

"We need you to look out for your brother"

"He needs to look out for himself!"

"What if we buy you a car?"

"I don't need a car to fly from Hampton"

"And you can live in a townhouse"

"Okay."

Then the following year, we get a house.

The point I'm making is: I WAS BRIBED TO LEAVE HU!!! AND NOW MY DAD IS TRYING TO CONVINCE ME TO STAY HOME!!!! I AM 27!!!! WHEN WILL I EVER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MYSELF??? WHEN WILL I EVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE ALONE?!? WHEN WILL I EVER BE STACEY AND NOT MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

I just want to do me for real. I felt like I was "got" into coming back to West Palm and this year is going to be my last! Let's make it my own. I want 27 to be awesome and fabulous, even if it is in West Palm... and 2.3 miles away from home...and I have to take out my own trash.

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.

No Ma'am

Cause Rocking the Reception is so passe'...

Any takers??

Patti, you're up to bat!!!

Last Year

I found my own place. Actually, it kind of found me and I've been thinking SUPER DUPER hard about it. I finally gave in, realizing I'm not going to Tally for grad school, I'm not moving to Austin, Texas, and I'm not moving to Fairfax County, VA.

*sigh*

that was so hard to type and see in print

Anyway, a teacher I know from the school I used to work at literally up and moved... like, put a message out on FB she needed a person IMMEDIATELY cause she's moving to NY in 10 days. I responded I wanted to check it out. I was sure I'd LOVE it cause she's a white version of me. Yeah, her place is EVERYTHING my dreams are made of. I'm actually beside myself right now...

Me: Whatchu doin over there?

Me: nothing, just posting on my blog. why are you beside me?

Me: cause we're getting our own place.

Me: oh yeah! August 10th, right?

Me: OMG, that is so soon. Luckily, I only have to bring my clothes cause the place is BEYOND fully furnished.

Yeah, ole girl was trying to get THE fluck out of here. She only took her clothes and her Wii. I have dishes, linens, detergent, I HAVE FREAKING GODIVA CHOCOLATE LIQUEUR IN THE CABINET!

So you ask why she left? Her brother's best friend has been crushing on her his whole life. She's always seen him as an older brother but last WMC, they had dinner in South Beach and really hit it off. He told her all that has been on his heart and she said, "Why not? I'm 31 and this is the opportunity of a lifetime." Oh yeah, buddy is a sports agent and has his own firm. Evander Holyfield is one of his clients. Yeah, Kim had a message from Holyfield on her voicemail. They're flying to see him box in So. Africa. Ben took her to Tiffany's and told her to pick anything she wants.

CAN WE SAY DREAM SEQUENCE!?!?!?

but she picks this necklace. you can buy your own silver!!! get something else!

Anyway, she's living the life with someone who adores her and I'm about to do the same... by myself :-)

SWITCH!

Villainess

That's how I'm chillin-ess.

My dad and brother come and go all day. Me? I sit in the sitting room (what else would I do here?) and play on the laptop. I jam to some iToons; flit between FB and tweeting, comment on pix or reply @s. Then there's my eyePod :-)

Brother: Oh, you got games on your ipod and don't how to act now?

Me: Don't hate. Have you ever played endless Bejeweled?

Anyway, the most pressing thing on my mind right now is what I'm going to wear to MJQ when some bloggers and I go to the A. Oh yeah, what the hell am I going to do with my hair?? I need something funky and fresh. But I don't know what to do with it. My hair is always longer than I think it is and grows so fast. A style I did last month wouldn't work next week. Decisions, decisions...

what do you think?? I'm looking at the 3rd and 4th pics

Also, I need to eat.

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

*BAWLING*

MICHAEL JACKSON IS DEAD.

Jaw Dropped

everything I've done since last Thursday just cleared my bank account.

at the same time.

JAW DROPPED

the hair appt, eyePhone for Pops, chic-fillet, gas, and pedicure from last Thursday

the oil change and new freaking tire, gas, mcD's, three plane tickets, more gas, and Mexican happy hour from Friday

ATM withdrawal from Saturday

and the wahlmart purchase from yesterday.

JAW DROPPED

iHop meal and the gas bought on Sunday hasn't even began to process yet.

*pouting*

I don't want to play anymore.

Where the freak is my AmX?

Who Wants to Party with Us?!!?

I GUARANTEE IT'LL BE SO MUCH FUN!!

Swag

Surfin
Swag
Clean

Jameil, how my shots do you have of this SAME pose!?!? LMAO!!!

WE HAD FUN!! PARTY IN THE 'SIP, COMING SOON!

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*

oh FB

I haven't been on FB all day. I log-on and this is somebody's status; the first thing I read.

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more. something to think about"

*sigh*

What kills me the most is who it comes from. He's an ATL head-busser who I affectionately call, Cuz. He rivals Wayne in tats, rivals T.I. in Bankhead/West-Side street savvy, and he is one of the most thugnificent young men I have ever met. He was kicked out of highschool AND JobCorps... his whole life is the "Dead & Gone" video...

I just don't know.

Impulse

i'm looking up trips to Japan. I can get one for $929.

I also looked up the UK. $862

but why is a trip to Honolulu the same price, if, not at times, more than a trip to a different continent? I don't want a trip to Hawaii to cost $859!!

*deep breath*

Ever since I saw a PBS-type show abt Kyoto, Japan while in Ghana two summers ago, its been a need. I need a trip to Kyoto at the end of summer. Plus, there are hostels by the yard. I don't need a Marriott while over there! I just want to be there.

My raggedy 8hr/week job can pay for it.

It's all about the silver linings.

waiting

I'm waiting for my summer to pick up

I'm waiting for y'all to post something

I'm waiting for the rain to hurry up and fall so the sky can clear up

I'm waiting for something good to come on tv

I'm waiting to see what kind of fcukery my summer "job" will be

I'm just waiting.

and it's boring.

Extraneous Protocol? *UPDATED*

So as usual, I'm on FB, stalking newly engaged people and counting the years I've known my beau...

sadistic? masochistic? both?

anyway, what I've noticed is a big thing is the engagement party. Since when was that the thing to do? To me, it seems like an awesome idea; I love a reason to have a party but then again, when you're planning a wedding, budget is a big deal and where does an extraneous party fit in? So, on the other side of that coin, the engagement party seems superfluous.

But it is a party. I like parties.


Another seemingly extraneous expense; STDs.

I was wary of STDs. I remember the first one we got in the mail. It was a postcard with a picture of my godsis and her fiancee. I was so confused. "Is this what wedding invitations are now? We're extra casual with the invites?" I mean, I saw the words, "Save the Date" but it didn't register. That was back in '06. Then as college classmates got engaged, they started flooding in, months in advance, warning us to 'Save the Date'. Magnets, postcards, mini movie posters (my fave) "starring" the couple. But now, like Jameil, I was swayed and amazed by Soon to be Mrs. Patti's approach.

But... that's an added paper expense!! Even if you're gansta with it like Miss Patti!! and I know I won't be!

Lastly, engagement pics.

Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with pictures. Well, I don't have a problem with pictures I take. I just keep thinking back to senior year when i was working my lil part time job and had to spend all my money on my senior AND cap and gown pictures. Professional pics/photogs scare me. I look at graduation albums of friends and wonder why I didn't have cap and gown pics shot all over Tally but then I remember, I didn't have a job. Professional pictures cost MONEY! So why is it the thing to have photo albums of you and yours? Jam and I went a wedding site today and were AMAZED with all the albums!!! Christmas, Just Cause, etc!!! Really?? All that??

I'm not going to front, I will probably do all the aforementioned. I think the e-pics are some of the best professional pictures i've seen. They are sooooo adorable!
With my friends split up between two colleges and sprinkled all over the place, STDs will be mandatory and I think and e-party is a wonderful way to kick off the wedding season for a couple.

Damn peer pressure.

*ADDED*
I think there is one more thing to add... if you have the money for it. The PRE-Honeymoon trip. Yep, I've seen it. The album was awesome and I want one. NOW.

STOP!!!

Group of dancers wearing Hammer Pants flashmob a trendy store and surprise hipsters in skinny jeans. It's HammerTime!

Vacay

you know the really good part of my summer vacay?

Mom Dukes is on vacay too!!

Now I don't mean that in a bad way, it just means that me and Pops get to bond!!

If you don't know, my Pops and I are so much alike. I am def his child. Our mannerisms, our demeanor, our tastes...

I got my love of music from him and come to find out, my love for visual art. Well, not just art but photography. You know my dad took pictures when he was in college?? Like, had a professional Cannon joint (i don't remember the name he spit out) and was snapping shots of College Life when he was at UMass Boston! He was also the school artist back at his school in Ghana. Whenever the school was having a game or match or event of some sort, holla at Rich! He did posters, flyers, and of course back then, all this was by hand!

If you've been to to my house, you'd know that there's art all over the walls. Some done by my grandfather, some by my dad. I'll leave the oil painting to them. Let me holla at a camera!!

Speaking of camera, my dad saw me in my eternal boredom as asked if I "want to take a summer photography class at the junior college"...

DOES HE KNOW WHO I AM!?!??!

So I'm looking up classes right now :-)

small comfort.

this makes me feel better.  i just got it and ADORE it already.  I might wear it to check the mail.

now if only I really had a fab place to wear it...

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??!!?!?!?

Fashion Convo Fail

Mini Me: do white strips work?

Adei von K:  With what? navy blue?  Yes.  Nautical is on the horizon, I said it last year and only Kelly Rowland had it on but if you wear it now, you'll be haute

MM: LMAO krest strips not stripes!!!

AVK:  oh $#!t LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.

          yes, they work.

MM: well they are buy one get one free and galwreens

AVK: thanks.  I'll be sure to stock up for when my braces come off NEXT April

MM: oh $#!t  LOLOLOLOL