Ya Girl is HOT!!!

And not in a good way. But why am I fightin mad though? Like FIGHTING MAD!! It was one of those days at work but I left and today's my Friday. Can I get an Amen! I'd already planned to go to noon bible study at an unnamed church whose website I visited. I didn't know exactly where it was so I wandered a bit until I found it, then turned around to find some food. I stopped at Anthony's in East Liberty to get breakfast. It was ok but then it turned out they didn't take debit cards. The lady let me leave to go get money and since she was so nice about it, I gave her $10 for a $6.25 meal. Pay it forward. Holla!

I head around the corner to the church and THEY DON'T HAVE NOON BIBLE STUDY IN THE SUMMER EITHER!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok first, WHAT?!?! Who does this??? The whole city of Pittsburgh doesn't believe you need Jesus during the day in the summer?!?! Second, but why is this the 2nd church I've learned of their noon bible study online which had NO MENTION OF SUMMER JESUS BREAKS?!?!!? Lord, please holla at these web folk. Third, conspiracy. It's gotta be. This shows me I just don't need to go to bible study. Ever. I must need to do this my way.

Last Sunday I headed to another unnamed church (let's not hurt nobody's feelings). NO AIR!! Or open windows!!!??? The choir was off key. And worst of all, the woman they let speak for women's day in the pastor's place was beyond off topic and confusing. I still don't know what I was supposed to get out of Zachariah 5:5-11. I looked at this but still have the huh????? face on so (even though that blurb held more understanding for me than all 20+ minutes of her "speech") if you read it and you know, please spread the word.

I tiptoed out before the baptisms so I could go to the gym and realized I parked right next to Winslow Street. So I wanted to see the scene of the tragedy I'd been writing about for more than a month. I can't get this story out of my head. It breaks my heart that two mothers reportedly admitted to leaving their combined 7 children home alone in the middle of the night. They were 3 to 8 years old. The two 8-year-olds were the only ones to make it out alive. Now the burned shell is boarded up and the sidewalk is covered with stuffed animals and flowers. I said a prayer as I drove past.

As I drove around the corner, I saw a church I'd been looking for 2 months earlier but couldn't find. Then another church I saw during the first Jesus break debacle was letting out as I drove past. Turns out this one is also a black church so I may hit them up as well. There go the next two Sundays. So I've decided that was the purpose of going to the service I did not enjoy. After church I headed to the gym, the grocery store, then the bed!!

The point! Why is your girl so hot??? Let me tell you why ya girl is burning up but trying to calm down. Because on June 12th, the same day these children died, I was heading to work and was sideswiped on the highway by some kid who was not paying attention. We have the same insurance company. He ended up lying and saying he wasn't at fault. The people handling both ends of the claim are in Erie. A minimum of 2 hours away. Please let me know how you can investigate a claim when you don't even know what the highway looks like or where the accident happened. So when they said it would be a 50-50 claim, I said no thanks. I kept going up the chain until I got to the regional manager. He re-opened the claim. I went to the gym today to work off some of my frustration and actually felt way better.

Then as I pull up to my house, do you know one of his lackeys called me to let me know they came to the same conclusion WITHOUT COMING TO SEE MY CAR OR CALLING ME AGAIN?!? That is NOT an adequate investigation if you use all the same information!! No. Unacceptable.

I took my mother's advice and called an attorney. They said because of the amount of damage (a huge scrape but still driveable) it would cost more for them to get involved. That is oooooooooooook. Know why? Because I was captain of the debate team and have had several people try to convince me to go to law school because of my analytical mind and love of research and debate. I'll pass. But here's what I've done so far. First, the guy who hit me is in the Navy. Since he lied, I researched a little about his branch of the military. My great uncle served in the Navy for DECADES. Retired from the Navy. My father was in the Air Force. 2 uncles were in the Army. One went to Vietnam. My grandfather did two tours of duty in France during World War II. I know a little something about military honor. DON'T try me. So I looked up their Core Values. Take a look at the section on HONOR which is to apply "aship and ashore" as they say. If there is a problem, report it to the Inspector General. Trust and believe that's my next step.

I also researched and found I should not sign ANYTHING lest they try to hold me to it. My mom said they didn't conduct a further investigation because they want me to give up. Yeah right. He hit the wrong one. THIS IS NOT OVER!!

On a brighter note.

Tell me that's not a drawer full of joy. And it's heavy as all get out, too. I know he wants to get EVERY SINGLE beer in, but D... come on.


Still need something to wear to the wedding and it grows closer every day. This is a possibility. I asked her if there were any colors she didn't want at the wedding. She thought and thought and said hot pink. I got quiet and then started to describe the skirt. She quickly interjected, "JAMEIL I DON'T CARE!!! Wear what you want." So this is a contender.

And let's end on the gorgeous view I get to look at 5 days a week. If I weren't always running around like a crazy person, I would enjoy it a lot more but c'est la vie.

Hot, Charlotte, Hell, Texas

Y'all. I am not yet able to deal with the heat of this city. I know this is my hometown and all but YIKES! I break into a sweat bringing things out of my car for 10 minutes. My momma talkin bout, "I don't believe you hot." Hater. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not there. I feel like a yankee. I was watching the weather on the news trying to plan when I'm going to workout outdoors like "OMG IT'S SO HOT!! 91 AT 8 P.M. BUT WHY????" Pitiful... and I'm moving to Florida, too? Jesus be a fence all around me everyday...

Speaking of Jesus and his followers... Why is my pastor from Pittsburgh doing a revival in town???????????? YAY!! SOOOO EXCITED! I heard him tonight and last night. AND remember how I told you my church there is ginormous, like 7500 members, and I don't get to talk to him unless there's bible study and... summer Jesus breaks ruined my life. Chile. Drives me bananas! They ended bible study for the summer while I was doing the noon and I didn't get a chance to speak to him. He was receiving people at the front of the church and I went up there to say hello and HE RECOGNIZED ME AND GAVE ME A BIG HUG!! YAY BIBLE STUDY!! I was so excited. Now I'm going to make sure my new church in Florida gets him down there so I can get another dose.

I can't go to the last night of revival tomorrow night because me and my middle school homies are going to happy hour. Does that make me a bad person? We're fellowshipping! I gotta see if Joellen wants to come, too. I LOVE THEM! I have the best friends. And Friday Rashan's coming to visit. YAY!! We're gonna have a blast. We're going to a museum and of course to eat some MEXICAN and an IMAX movie and to watch When Harry Met Sally. YAY!!! Alright homies, holla at a playa when you see me on the street!

Mindspacin Vol. 9

I actually don't know what volume it is. It may be more than that, but since I like the number 9 (no particular reason), we'll just start with that. I have a lot on my mind so heeeeeeeeeeere we go (shouts to Vanessa and her booski Slick Rick!)

*It's been on my mind forever to post about the bouquet toss at Wynel's wedding. I only went up there because everyone else did. I don't want to get married next (who on earth would I marry??? there are no current candidates) and something about scrapping over a bouquet just seems so desperate. Maybe the fact that people really have tug of war (:38 in) over a bouquet!! Okay PLEASE WATCH THIS ONE!! The first thing I said when I watched was, "You're throwing that at someone?!?!" It's a bush! I would clearly have to remove myself from that one just for safety reasons. I guess it's supposed to come apart. Don't watch the whole thing. Just start at 1:05 so you can see that monstrosity. Start at :41 on this one. Sigh.

That's pretty much what Wynel's toss looked like. First of all there was some girl in the front who was brushing her feet back and clearing out space. But the girl who actually caught it fell on the floor with it. Legs up in the air. The girl who was brushing her feet back sprained her ankle while leaping for the bouquet. Wow. I didn't even reach for it. I just watched it go. I would've been pissed if I caught it.

*The work ebola factory is back. We don't have set desks so we just sit wherever. One computer. Every time I sit there I sneeze. Sit down, sneeze. Get up, walk around for a few hours in another part of the building. No sneezes. Come back, sneeze. What?! E.bola.

*I left my gym clothes in the car while I went to work, of course. Today when I pulled them out they were cold. How sad. It reminded me of the winter when I had to put my clothes under the hand dryer to warm them up before putting them on after they'd sat in the freezing cold for 9 or more hours. Sad, sad, sad!!

*Summer will briefly return for its final hurrah before the official start of fall on Sunday. Thursday and Friday highs near or above 80. YAY!! I love you Pittsburgh summer!! Don't leave so soon!!

*I was talking to my mom yesterday about the sermon I heard at church. She said something that resonated with me: procrastination is really a form of fear. You're afraid of what you'll accomplish if you stop waiting and just do it. I'm kicking my procrastination habit something serious. When it's something I really want, there is no waiting around, no I'll get to it later. I'm actually getting stuff accomplished whereas I would've just said, "I'll do it tomorrow" over and over again. It's great.

*Now that the summer Jesus breaks are over, I'm going to noon Bible study tomorrow to see how it is. I'm also going to try to find another park to walk in since I have two hours before I need to be at church once I get off. There are a million parks in Pittsburgh so it's just a matter of picking one not far from the church and figuring out how to get there. That's it! Holla!

*Also... I hate TMI Tuesday. I know you guys call me a blog prude and I'm okay with that. I just don't need to think about you in that way. It truly is T.M.I.!!!

This is Life

Sometimes it's really, really boring. But some interesting things have happened to me this week. First, well, I guess this is really from last week, since it was Saturday. Remember that last post about me getting lost because they shut down portions of the highway YES ALL LANES (?!?!) EVERY weekend? Well because they shut down the same portions or similar portions, every weekend, in either direction, I've become quite accustomed to my detour and started to smell myself a little. I'm like HEY! I know where I'm going! I'm gonna learn this city if it kills me!!

Yeah... not so much. Last weekend they shut down an additional exit. WHAT!?!? And not only was the exit shut down, but the detour signs were trash. That meant I drove in a big circle and found myself in the same place I was 30 MINUTES PREVIOUS!! I just had to get out of the car before I started hollerin. Not yelling, not screaming. HOLLERIN!! So I stopped at a restaurant in Squirrel Hill (can't escape this place with the detours) called The Bagel Factory... but I don't like bagels. But it was around 7:30am so there wasn't much open. And I'd told myself before I left if I got lost, I would stop somewhere for breakfast that I'd never been before and that is unique to Pittsburgh.

I liked their menu even without the bagels. I got a Greek omelette with carmelized onions, tomatoes, spinach and feta cheese. It came with potato wedges. SO YUMMY!! And I had to leave some on the plate because it was HUGE!! 3 egg omelettes are the norm now. I forgot I have to ask for my omelettes with 2 eggs. I cannot eat all that egg especially when there's other deliciousness on my plate. (Do not assail me for not eating a bagel and at the Bagel Factory!! I don't need all that bread in my life! Lol) See what the joy of discovery and adventure does for you?

Sunday, I took a different route, this time along Route 28. I took it out for years and years and WITHOUT so much as a YES THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY from PENNdot (I need to file a complaint. It should not be this hard to find my way home), or a single wrong turn, I MADE IT HOME!!! May I tell you I don't think I've ever been so proud of myself?? It was fantastic! I had grand plans to go to church... but once I got home, I sat down and ate and didn't want to move. I turned on Dr. Charles Stanley, though and he HOOKED ME UP!! He's very down to earth and gives it to you straight. I love it.

Monday was cookie day at work, but most people were just bringing desserts. I really wish I'd taken a picture of my handiwork because it was GORGEOUS!! I took the angel food cake dessert shells you get at the grocery store, filled them with whipped cream, topped them with blueberries and a slice of strawberry. My coworkers were all in awe and I heard they were delicious. Another thing I don't eat... blueberries. What? I bought them because they were blue and I was doing a red, white and blue thing. Color is very big for me. My friend Mor used to laugh at me because when I would go out at night (minimum 2xs a week, sometimes up to 4xs in college), I would have color schemes for my outfits. Once she pointed it out, I noticed and it cracked me up! So funny. One thing I really like to do is have a pop of color.

This is what I wore for 4th of July when I went to lunch with a co-worker and a former co-worker at Claddaugh Irish Pub. I just topped it with a black shirt. Get it? Pop of color. The red shoes. It works with neutral outfits. For lunch I had a meatloaf sandwich and a Sam Adams Summer Ale. Very yummy beer.

Back to this week. Sunday afternoon I also made whole wheat spaghetti with a ground turkey meat sauce... muy yumm-o!!! And I just made up the recipe based on your average spaghetti recipe. A few weeks ago I made chiptole turkey burgers and gave the recipe to one of my coworkers. She made them and LOVED them. I got it from my home girl Rachael Ray. Monday was very uneventful. Tuesday I went to the gym after work, then tried to go to a noon bible study. I get there and see hearses out front but there are still various and sundry people milling about outside. I ask a woman out front but she doesn't know anything about bible study so I ask a woman in the kitchen. She tells me there's no bible study because of the summer. WHAT?!?!? Let me find out we get summer Jesus breaks. Nonsense. I was more annoyed because I'd driven over there for no reason since I'd been on the website that morning and since and saw nothing about noon bible study being cancelled that day or any other. You know I'll be making a phone call to the chu'ch to find out why. That was my one chance to go this month. The rest of the month I'm producing the noon show on Tuesdays.

Oh well. I decide that day I'm going to find the Christian bookstore because obviously it will be a struggle for me to get to a church. I'm not going to stop trying but I see I'm going to have to take some of my instruction into my own hands. Wednesday after work I find the bookstore (again having to make too many phone calls because there are no signs from the road). I need Pittsburgh to work with me. For real. Right now they are TRIPPIN!! There are no signs anywhere or they are the most confusing things ever if they exist. Yesterday I saw 2 signs for the parkway right next to each other. One pointed up and left, the other pointed down and left. Right next to each other. Why? One sign will suffice if you're going in the same direction, right?!?! Why confuse people? Foolishness!!

So at the bookstore I bought Tye Tribbet's latest. There was a shout-out to Kenny on one of the songs, so that's really cool. I also bought a mixed cd and 4 books. I went a bit mad. But I figure since I do that when I go to the regular bookstore and Target, no need to stop now! Lol. One of the books is the Women's Devotional Guide to the Bible. I talked to my mom this morning about my purchases and where I am in my life. She is so helpful to me. It's great to have a mom who can help you and who is there for you. With her help and Wynel, I'm growing every day.

Yesterday the new Chick-Fil-A opened just a few miles from my house!!! Yay!! There are free-standing Chick-Fil-As everywhere at home. Here they were mostly at the mall until the last year or so. Now they're starting to pop up everywhere. Hurray! So I went there for breakfast. I got a chicken biscuit, oj, and hash rounds. Then I headed to the park to walk. I was really enjoying being in the sun because it wasn't too hot. I attacked some of those hills, too. I made sure not to run down them backwards!!! Then I came home, read some more, took a nap. My dad and I went to Uno's for Daddy-Daughter night. We got a half pepperoni pizza with half mushroom and spinach pizza. Yummy. My only beef was that the mushrooms weren't at all cut. Just giant mushrooms sitting atop the cheese. It made them a bit unwieldly as they bobbled all over creation. Can I get that cut in half if you don't do the slice thing? Just a thought.

Then we went to see Transformers. Not my kind of movie. It was kind of interesting and could bring out the kid in you. I was annoyed by the length. I really don't think any movie should be 2 hours long. 2 hours is dragging and dragging. Just get to it. Especially because if you watch enough movies, you can guess the end about 20 to 30 minutes in. So just get to it. Comedies are the worst past 90 minutes. You just sit there like ENOUGH!! Plus I get annoyed with action movies that have to have some sort of love story. The love interest in this movie is not a good actress. And I was irritated by her breasts pushed up to the heavens in every scene. Is that really necessary for us to understand she's supposed to be the "hot" girl everyone wants? I wondered while watching the movie if she was annoyed by her costuming. This is why you don't want to go to a movie with me. I'm analyzing things totally unrelated to the plot in addition to the plot. Thinking too much? Maybe. But it's who I am. I won't ruin your movie experience unless you want me to, but if you ask, trust, I'll let you know!

Change Comes Anyway

No matter what you do and how hard you try to fight it and how you plan to brace yourself, it comes. Sometimes it punches you in the face, sometimes it smacks you upside the head (I said oops upside ya head, said oops upside ya head). Sometimes you like it. Right now I'm trying to brace for change because I sense it coming. And I don't know what it is. And that's scary.

I've worked out a lot lately and I'm really enjoying it. One of my co-workers and I trade healthy recipes and workout tips. My new fave is Kelly Ripa's alphabet workout. It's uber fun. And she's funny. I used to love her show "Hope & Faith." My bathing suit came on Friday and it fits!!! Whoooooooo!!

More importantly, I LEAVE FOR VA A WEEK FROM TOMORROW!! YAY!!! And wonderful wedding weekend will commence. I've already been told I will receive an itinerary when I get there. Ooh la la. I'm doing the calligraphy for the place cards. I told her to send them to me along with the guest list so I can start... considering there are a minimum of 125. It doesn't take me that long but call me crazy, I just have no desire to spend hours and hours writing names while I'm there. I'd rather do it leisurely here when I'm bored. But whatever. I'm not going to stalk the bride. I'm sure everyone is driving her batty at this point. BUT if I must write names, then I'll be writing them in my hot new bikini on the beach!! Holla if you hear me!

The last week of college, me and one or more of my friends went to the beach every single day for a solid week. Here you don't have that many consecutive days without rain. It wasn't warm and sexy every day but it wasn't rainy or cold. Hot fiyah! We had a blast. No class because it was over for seniors. There was the pretense of studying. Yeah right. Plus I was a broadcast major so anything other than Media Ethics I may have taken there was no test to study for. The test is with a camera. I used to go to the d.p.'s (drankin patnah) creative writing class even though I wasn't registered for it just because I liked this guy in her class. (Did I tell you my mom says I've been boy crazy since birth? It's true.) Then I ended up having fun and writing some decent stuff. But the dude I liked... wow... he and my line sister are two of the best writers I know. He can take the most mundane topic and make it dream enducing. Yeah. Like that. Made me like him either more. It wasn't reciprocated but that was fine by me. I made sure to keep a stable of crushes.

Anyway I haven't been to the beach since that last week at Hampton 3 YEARS AGO!! I hung out with Wynel and her now fiancee for Thanksgiving but I haven't been back to campus since Homecoming 2005. Unacceptable. So we're supposed to get back to campus so I can get some more alum para but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. Esp. since her mom gets there on Wednesday, too. I'm sure they'll be uber wedding. I'm bringing at least 5 books including the bible. Speaking of the bible, how about I sent a letter to the webmasters of those churches on the summer Jesus breaks and one of them responded by asking me to pray to God that perhaps I'm called to be the webmaster since they're currently looking for one. Uh... don't think that's my particular calling. I can do blogger because it's essentially point and click. Everything is made super easy for you.

Did anyone see "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America"? I don't do celeb gossip. I just don't care and I think famous people should be allowed to live their lives like the rest of us. But one of my fellow journalists sucked me in. She had to write about the show so apparently everyone else had to watch too. Turned out this show had me on the floor dying. The DMV (the good part starts at 5:06) and the dolphin lady. Wow. Reminded me of Simple Life Goes to Camp. Paris and Nicole crack me up. I don't like to know every detail of their lives but pseudo-scripted comedy I can deal with. It's almost like watching a sitcom. But don't ask me their kids names or how many they have or what they do for a living. I don't care!! I don't even know my co-workers' kids names. I certainly don't care about someone I've never met (unless you're a blogger). Holla!

Chu'ch

I've decided on one. When I first moved here, I got mixed reviews. It's Pittsburgh's only (in my opinion) church that might be considered a mega church. It's one of those places where you have to join something to know anyone. Some people said not to go there because it was too big. Others said you have to go there to see any progressive young people in Pittsburgh. Others didn't want to fight for parking (not an issue for me since I always get there uber early since I'm always trying to kill time between the time I get off work at 10 and the start of service at 11:45). Four services and something going on every night of the week. It may be too large, but that remains to be seen. Right now I just need a sense of family and support and somewhere to learn more about the Bible.

You have to take 4 "lessons" before you are considered a member. I know. I was very taken aback and a bit turned off by the thought. Like THIS IS GOD!! You don't have try-outs for God!! The Bible says, "Whosoever will, let him come." (Please don't ask me to tell you the specific scripture. I know scriptures because I've heard them all my life and they just stuck. Here's another, "Train up a child in the way he should go so that when he is old he will not depart from it." I'm like a fount of scriptures and have no idea where to find them... problem? Maybe.) My friend wanted to make sure I hadn't joined a cult when I told her about the classes!! Insanity! Nope, not a cult, just Bapist! Lol. My mom had heard the pastor when he did a revival in Charlotte a month or two ago and was so gung-ho about it that I said, let me go see what all the hype is about.

Last night I went to my first lesson and I liked it. This one was about the foundation of the church, baptism, and communion. It's essentially bible study, which I'd been looking for FOREVER but had been thwarted by the summer Jesus breaks (you'll be happy to know they are over). They want to make sure you understand what you are getting yourself into. So I'll keep going.

How about when you join they do this uber intimidating thing where everyone's standing but they ask the members to sit and those who are members other places to sit so you're left standing. Every other week I visited there were several other people standing. Regardless, I knew I was joining this week so I said, let me make sure I look good so I feel less nervous. So I put on this dress-inspired trench coat


with these shoes


and cream pants. I got lots of compliments and felt FIERCE!! BUT I WAS THE ONLY ONE STANDING THIS WEEK!! I've never been so glad to look appropriate. I like a spotlight probably more than the average person but in front of 400 strangers with no microphone or character to hide behind??? SCARY!! The pastor says, "You're the only one standing today, sista, I guess that means it's all about you." So I waved with flourish because I do like it to be about me. Then when I walked up, there was a standing ovation... um... ok... So, I'll keep you updated.

On another note, these are the birthday shoes I bought in part with a gift card from my beloved homie Ashli.


Since we are getting a winter preview this weekend, the suede pumps get to make an appearance. Lucky them!!!

And when I was in Florida, I got to fulfill another New Year's resolution and get my Rosa Cha bikini!! And since there was a sale... I GOT TWO!! YAY!!!!!!



Speaking of bikinis, I showed my coworker a picture of me in mine in Florida (no I won't be posting it here because the entire world does not need to see me in a bikini, as adorable as it is!), and she said, if Brit looked like you in a bikini, she wouldn't be getting so much crap right now. WHAT?!?! FIYAH!!!!!!! She is definitely on my Christmas list this year!! Lolololol. Yes, there is a Florida post in the drafts, but I don't feel like dealing with it right now.

BTW, do you know how this week flew by for me???? My weekend starts at 10 Wednesday morning and how about Tuesday when I left work, I said, "Is it really Tuesday???" Yeah... that fast. Good times! I want a margarita. A lime one. Just one. And it better be good. MEXICAN!! Alright loves, that's all for now! Wait!!! I have some new commenters of late. I'm not doing an official de-lurking, but if you're a first time commenter, let me know how you found me. Thanks!

Really Though?

You're really gonna ask me who's going to be working my shift when I leave? Really though? That's a big I don't care.

Summer Jesus breaks have started again? Really though? I'm gonna jump off of something!! I might not get to say what's up to my pastor before I leave if I don't get the chance to make an appointment. That's no fun!

I can't stand Fridays because they suck with my schedule. I have 4 Fridays left. FOUR!!! Really though? LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are also just 24 days of work left!!! YEAH!! My coworkers feel some sort of way when I say that. Don't be jealous. I put in work on this shift and now it's time to go. You really hatin? Really though? Whatev. I'm still leavin... YESSS!!