ok first apparently i should explain the new name. stace was frightened. almost thought she was at the wrong place. so i'm at post 92. around 50 or so i realized i didn't particularly like the title of my blog anymore. don't know how long mindspace will stay either. but here it is for now. i think its accurate. blogging is a way for people to jetset thru my mindspace. if you read my blog, you have a pretty good idea of the basis of who i am. how you imagine me via regularly reading is likely accurate, right ashli and stace?
So as we speak (or as i write, http://www.wiseman7886.blogspot.com/ is in cagli, italy)! get it! and karamale, currently of bogota, colombia is always talking about jetsetting. *speaking of bogota, guess what! i wrote about bog at work the other day (i think it was flooding or something) and i thought of you! i was so excited! also when shakira was talking about shakin it like we do in barranquilla (ooh la la! you'll be proud to know i spelled it correctly w/o looking and only looked to ensure accuracy *wink*) or whatever she said i fell out thinkin about that post!! hahahahaha* so i became inspired to write about my own international travels. like to here it? here it go.
my senior year in high school, spring 2000, via the marching band, i got the opportunity to go to europe for 3 1/2 weeks on a music tour w/american music abroad playing the french horn. now, it was supposed to be for people particularly proficient in their instrument. however, i can't really say i was that anymore. at one point i was. but then junior year i became drum major. marching really makes you a better instrumentalist b/c you have to concentrate so much. anyway, becoming drum major meant i was only playing an instrument for half the year. clearly that's not enough to continue to improve.
didn't really matter to me because i knew i wasn't willing to make the time commitment for band (i been searchin, oh ohhhhhhhhhhh, for so loooooooong, nobody like the force, nowhere to be found. makes me wonder what i'd doooo, if i ever was as sorry as youuuuuuuuuuu!). ok i was originally looking for a link to the force but look what i found! the go-go band mumbosauce is featured on wikipedia! that's hot! it was est. at hampton. never a big fan of go-go until sr. year mr. sgrho was a member of mumbosauce. so i went to one of their concerts. they go-goed (new verb, use it) some dirty south songs, most notable some lil john. i was DONE. enjoyed it mucho.
i'm really sidetrack bob-in it right now (daaaaaaaang! two new verbs for you in one day). i can't focus. too much goin on. well, this was supposed to be about my trip to europe but i guess i'll have to leave you hangin a la davey wayne. i'm listening to wpgc (in dc) on aol radio and i LOVE IT!! see? this is part of the reason i want to move to "the urea" eww! if that looks nasty. not urea as in urine. the urrrrrrrea. (you gotta put some feelin behind it).
anyway. about to go to simme's, a soul food restaurant here. well, we'll see. that's what it bills itself as. as a southerner, i'll go be the judge of that. we shall see. oh yeah!! guess what guys? i didn't like my phone until i opened my latest issue of instyle magazine and saw it on pg 167!! that's the 2nd time i've seen something i already owned in that mag and was so crunk!! the first time i shared the info w/my book club. i think they were like ok... you definitely are as young as we often forget you are! lol. anyway. headed to simme's w/the head of engineering for lunch. we'll see how the grub is. i'll holla!
**update**
ok... so... went to simme's. it was alright. i had chicken and waffles w/lemonade. the lemonade was a no go. definitely from powder or something ridiculous like that. get that outta here!! i'm straaaaaaaaight. never had chicken and waffles before. it was pretty good tho the chicken was fried a little hard for my taste. my biggest beef: piss poor directions!! the kid was angry. its a maximum of 15 mins from my house right? how bout it took an HOUR to find it. no. never again. don't look for me round here. took some lil hood girls hangin out on the corner to finally get me there. even the people FROM THE RESTAURANT couldn't give me proper directions. hell. to. the. naw.
watchin real weddings from the knot, i think. chile. this need to be called bridezilla. this girl is cursing her parents out on her wedding day. she told her dad she would walk down the aisle by herself. told him to get the f*** out of the bridal suite... and he did it. and she walked down alone. then barked orders during the picture taking and they did whatever she wanted w/o question ... whoa. somebody needs a whoopin.
5.22.2006
Bidding Adieu
I've never been good with good-byes. Actually I guess I should say I'm horrible with good-byes. That would be far more accurate. I don't mean good-byes like death. I'm actually quite good with those. I attribute that to the fact that I was exposed to death at such an early age. When I was 6, my sister's best friend Cara got hit by a car. She was supposed to wait in the car for her father. But she chased after him instead. She was four years old.
When I was 6, my uncle died. He had had a kidney transplant about 10 years earlier. In those days, that was an extraordinarily long time to live with a transplanted organ. He used to call me "James-Ellen" because he said I looked exactly like both of my parents. I hated it then, but when he died, I was sad because he wouldn't be there to call me that anymore. That was October 1988. December 24, 1989, his mother, my grandmother died. I still have the last Christmas gift she gave me. It was a yellow sweater I loved. Now one of my bears at my mom's house wears it. I actually got the gift the night she died. She'd had one of my aunts take her to pick out gifts for her 20+ grandchildren. September the next year, days after his birthday, my grandfather followed his wife of 50 years in death. August of the same year, my softball coach was driving a tractor trailer back home from a long haul. He fell asleep from the wheel five miles from his home and was killed.
After that it was a while before someone I felt a strong attachment to died. I went to a lot of funerals. I even went to funerals of a guy I didn't know to support a friend. I cherished being able to say good-bye. I had to watch the casket lowered to the ground. If they would've let me, for every funeral I would've watched them completely cover it with dirt. When my parents die, it will be my request. Wait, nevermind, both of them insist on being cremated. I talk about death a lot. It scares everyone around me. Its not like I'm suicidal. I'm controlling. So I want things to be the way I want them, even in death. I have threatened to haunt people. Hahaha. But I was serious. If it was possible and they purposely ignored my wishes, I would do it.
My organs must be donated. Obviously. Organ donation saved my uncle for 10 years. And the organ of a relative just saved my cousin's life as well. Another uncle on the other side has had his donated kidney for about 4 years. You can't take them with you. Well, you can, but they'll do you no good. You can give life to someone else. That's amazing. Part of you can live on for years. And if that person has a baby, just think, you've helped bring another life into this world. Okay this is one of my (once) private obsessions. I could go on for quite a while. But I'm probably scaring you, so I'll get to the point. I'll blog about Kenny's death another time.
I'm going to have to say good-bye to Pittsburgh at some point. As much as I hate to admit it, the city is growing on me a little. (I don't want to hear it dp or duck). But I'd actually like to visit more than I'd like to live here. Which is very strange. I actually also like showing people around the city. As much as I can with these crazy streets that end and pick up and curve and wind and go down hills and have no street signs and turn into the blue belt or yellow or purple or orange and go over a bridge or 20 into Homestead, the South Side, Wilkinsburg, the Hill, McKeesport, Mount Lebanon, Moon, Cranberry, Ross Township, and on the parkway north, east or west (no south), also known as 376, 279, 22-30, or Rt. 60. But that's how I feel about Atlanta, too. I love to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. But I'm used to my life and I really hate starting over. But alas, I must. So if you want to offer me a job in my field, in a major city with upwardly mobile Black people.... I'll take it! (Be reasonable folks).
The tangents!! I was also supposed to be adding something in here about saying good-bye at Hampton and when I graduated from high school, but this post took over itself. So alas, you will have to wait.
********LIGHTBULB. I just realized why this post came to me today. I couldn't figure it out. And it was kind of disturbing. Katherine Dunham died yesterday. If you don't know who she is, let me help you. She was the woman credited with bringing African and Carribean dances to the mainstream. She began the first black modern dance troupe. It traveled to 57 countries on 6 continents. Ms. Dunham, an American icon, was 96 years old. I love dance. This sista even had a style of dance named after her. FIERCE. I wish I'd had more formal training. But you wait. When I get a little more money, I will dance again!!!! May the spirit of Katherine Dunham forever reign in the world of modern dance.
When I was 6, my uncle died. He had had a kidney transplant about 10 years earlier. In those days, that was an extraordinarily long time to live with a transplanted organ. He used to call me "James-Ellen" because he said I looked exactly like both of my parents. I hated it then, but when he died, I was sad because he wouldn't be there to call me that anymore. That was October 1988. December 24, 1989, his mother, my grandmother died. I still have the last Christmas gift she gave me. It was a yellow sweater I loved. Now one of my bears at my mom's house wears it. I actually got the gift the night she died. She'd had one of my aunts take her to pick out gifts for her 20+ grandchildren. September the next year, days after his birthday, my grandfather followed his wife of 50 years in death. August of the same year, my softball coach was driving a tractor trailer back home from a long haul. He fell asleep from the wheel five miles from his home and was killed.
After that it was a while before someone I felt a strong attachment to died. I went to a lot of funerals. I even went to funerals of a guy I didn't know to support a friend. I cherished being able to say good-bye. I had to watch the casket lowered to the ground. If they would've let me, for every funeral I would've watched them completely cover it with dirt. When my parents die, it will be my request. Wait, nevermind, both of them insist on being cremated. I talk about death a lot. It scares everyone around me. Its not like I'm suicidal. I'm controlling. So I want things to be the way I want them, even in death. I have threatened to haunt people. Hahaha. But I was serious. If it was possible and they purposely ignored my wishes, I would do it.
My organs must be donated. Obviously. Organ donation saved my uncle for 10 years. And the organ of a relative just saved my cousin's life as well. Another uncle on the other side has had his donated kidney for about 4 years. You can't take them with you. Well, you can, but they'll do you no good. You can give life to someone else. That's amazing. Part of you can live on for years. And if that person has a baby, just think, you've helped bring another life into this world. Okay this is one of my (once) private obsessions. I could go on for quite a while. But I'm probably scaring you, so I'll get to the point. I'll blog about Kenny's death another time.
I'm going to have to say good-bye to Pittsburgh at some point. As much as I hate to admit it, the city is growing on me a little. (I don't want to hear it dp or duck). But I'd actually like to visit more than I'd like to live here. Which is very strange. I actually also like showing people around the city. As much as I can with these crazy streets that end and pick up and curve and wind and go down hills and have no street signs and turn into the blue belt or yellow or purple or orange and go over a bridge or 20 into Homestead, the South Side, Wilkinsburg, the Hill, McKeesport, Mount Lebanon, Moon, Cranberry, Ross Township, and on the parkway north, east or west (no south), also known as 376, 279, 22-30, or Rt. 60. But that's how I feel about Atlanta, too. I love to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. But I'm used to my life and I really hate starting over. But alas, I must. So if you want to offer me a job in my field, in a major city with upwardly mobile Black people.... I'll take it! (Be reasonable folks).
The tangents!! I was also supposed to be adding something in here about saying good-bye at Hampton and when I graduated from high school, but this post took over itself. So alas, you will have to wait.
********LIGHTBULB. I just realized why this post came to me today. I couldn't figure it out. And it was kind of disturbing. Katherine Dunham died yesterday. If you don't know who she is, let me help you. She was the woman credited with bringing African and Carribean dances to the mainstream. She began the first black modern dance troupe. It traveled to 57 countries on 6 continents. Ms. Dunham, an American icon, was 96 years old. I love dance. This sista even had a style of dance named after her. FIERCE. I wish I'd had more formal training. But you wait. When I get a little more money, I will dance again!!!! May the spirit of Katherine Dunham forever reign in the world of modern dance.
5.13.2006
ROOMIE!!
Ok so you guys gave some excellent suggestions after my lamenting post which Miss Ashli scolded me about. She said you can't post about not wanting to post. But why not? Now that's some bullsh*t!! Don't you want to know if your beloved mellymell will not be around? i think you do. matter of fact i know you do. folks need to know!
So I decided I will write about roommates and begin a second series. This one about the life and times of the hamptonian known as jameil while matriculating at the good ole h of u.
You know how when you go to college everyone tells you not to room with your best friend b/c you'll end up hating each other? Well, coming from Charlotte, I knew no one going to Hampton. So that wasn't even an issue. My mom is a Hampton alumna, so I knew alumni in the Charlotte area. One of them had a daughter who was a senior my freshman year. Didn't really know her. Could recognize her on the street but didn't go in really knowing her.
Entered the dreaded "draft" to get a roommate. Ended up with Autumn, now known as the "O.R." (original roommate). The university sent each of us the contact info for the other. We got to know each other throughout the summer via email and prepared ourselves mentally to live in Kelsey Hall. When we got there we were directed to Stone. That's right. The building where you get mail that was for transfers and temporary housing. Except most everyone knew that but us. We completely unpacked and were told to move within the week. They wanted to split us up but we fought tooth and nail against that. She braided hair (probably for most of the freshman class). Freshman year was the year EVERYONE rocked braids, including the b.f. Soooo original.
So autumn told this dude rashad she would braid his hair for free if he got some of his friends to help us move. He brings harold, d, corey and marcus. i had already enlisted alex. i met him b/c his now sister-in-law clerked at the firm my mom used to work for. it took us an hour to move. LMAO!! everyone was like, how the hell did y'all get movin men? we got it like that. act like you know. so anyway. we moved to twitchell and there was some girl in our room. so we went to get that straightened out and ended up getting moved to virginia cleveland. VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV-C! CUTIES!! (hampton thing). don't ask why we repped our dorms so hard. i think it was an effort to bond the classes and make you attach yourself to the university. that and the whole class unity thing. "Q-U-I-N-T-E-S-S-E-N-C-E, Quintessence Five. Q-T-V!" "I love I love I love my Q-T-V!" i could really go on forever so i'll just stop now.
so we stayed together. she was cool. but b/c of her hair braiding, she got a million calls a day. it was so annoying being her damn secretary. and she would get stalkers. like the dude who called himself "lil ray ray" who was subsequently kicked out of school sophomore year for allegedly raping some girl. i say allegedly only because i can't remember if he was convicted. i know he was kicked out of school. i know he creeped me out. and i wanted to shake and choke him b/c he would call 5xs a day. i would be like hey stupid she ain't here!! like i told you 20 minutes ago!!! loser.
she moved off campus sophomore year. i stayed on. lottery again. this time i got a jersey girl. she was fun but she listened to music at MACH 10!! there would be days i was studying, no music and she would walk in and start blastin her music? what the hell? i don't get it. and she smoked. cigarettes. in the room. that is not allowed in the dorms. clearly. people would walk by my room like what the hell?!! a good thing: i got her liking a UGK song by the time she moved out! and introed her to 36 mafia before the oscars! ha! :)
that was my first of 3 years in good ol dubois hall. it was also the year i was coming into myself. no longer terrified i would flunk out. met the crew who i still keep in touch with including cc, deaconness troy aka down south georgia girl (dsgg), miss ashli, stace, michelle, morgan (my bmore girl). also met my former drinking partner who i no longer keep in touch with. i used to sneak my male friends in after hours all the time. it was one of my best years at hampton hands down.
she moved off and i wouldn't have lived w/her anyway. and i don't think she would've lived w/me either. lottery AGAIN! junior year i ended up w/a smelly girl who left food containers out. people would walk in my room like wth?!! funky. for real. she would have a trail of gummy bears from the door to the bed. what?! a trail? of gummy bears?! i don't get it. were you that hungry? are you trying to give the roaches directions? whatever. that semester i had abnormal psychology with kristen and joellen (also known as classy jojo). i had heard joellen's loud mouth and was absolutely not impressed. at all. then one night happened to go out w/her and some other people (the night i lost half my big toenail) and was so in love! (no homo. i think that phrase is hilarious!) that's my dog!! i love joellen! she's freakin hilarious!
so anyway. my roommate would also sit on her bed silently with her friend. they would listen to my phone conversations then use them for the basis of their own conversations, or comment. wth?! i'm not talking to you!!!!!!!!! kristen's roommate did the same thing. so we decided to move in together. the first week she had a nasty weeklong break up screaming at the top of her lungs, crying, stomping around, all that. i was like what the hell did i get myself into?! luckily. she was a great roomie after that. we both loved cnn headline news, ghetto FABULOUS music, food, not talking in the morning until you're walking out the door. it was great. best roommate ever. i will be going to her graduation for her master's in speech pathology at loyola university in baltimore next week. go roomie!!
she became an r.a. the next year. lottery AGAIN!! oh btw. if you're wondering why i didn't live w/some of these great friends, its because i would've killed them if i had to live w/them. and murder is bad. it ruins the friendship. the next year i get this sophomore who calls herself sheezy. this stupid bitch. everytime she had an issue w/me she would call her mom and have her tell me the problem. wtfh?!! so i wanted to shake and choke that loser. her mom tried to get me kicked out the room. then miss g (the dorm director oh so cool) was like, "you can't ask her to move out when your daughter can't even talk about her problems. if she has such a problem, she needs to move out." so she did! room to myself from thanksgiving, for the rest of senior year! yessssssss!! so that's it. that's my roommate story.
So I decided I will write about roommates and begin a second series. This one about the life and times of the hamptonian known as jameil while matriculating at the good ole h of u.
You know how when you go to college everyone tells you not to room with your best friend b/c you'll end up hating each other? Well, coming from Charlotte, I knew no one going to Hampton. So that wasn't even an issue. My mom is a Hampton alumna, so I knew alumni in the Charlotte area. One of them had a daughter who was a senior my freshman year. Didn't really know her. Could recognize her on the street but didn't go in really knowing her.
Entered the dreaded "draft" to get a roommate. Ended up with Autumn, now known as the "O.R." (original roommate). The university sent each of us the contact info for the other. We got to know each other throughout the summer via email and prepared ourselves mentally to live in Kelsey Hall. When we got there we were directed to Stone. That's right. The building where you get mail that was for transfers and temporary housing. Except most everyone knew that but us. We completely unpacked and were told to move within the week. They wanted to split us up but we fought tooth and nail against that. She braided hair (probably for most of the freshman class). Freshman year was the year EVERYONE rocked braids, including the b.f. Soooo original.
So autumn told this dude rashad she would braid his hair for free if he got some of his friends to help us move. He brings harold, d, corey and marcus. i had already enlisted alex. i met him b/c his now sister-in-law clerked at the firm my mom used to work for. it took us an hour to move. LMAO!! everyone was like, how the hell did y'all get movin men? we got it like that. act like you know. so anyway. we moved to twitchell and there was some girl in our room. so we went to get that straightened out and ended up getting moved to virginia cleveland. VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV-C! CUTIES!! (hampton thing). don't ask why we repped our dorms so hard. i think it was an effort to bond the classes and make you attach yourself to the university. that and the whole class unity thing. "Q-U-I-N-T-E-S-S-E-N-C-E, Quintessence Five. Q-T-V!" "I love I love I love my Q-T-V!" i could really go on forever so i'll just stop now.
so we stayed together. she was cool. but b/c of her hair braiding, she got a million calls a day. it was so annoying being her damn secretary. and she would get stalkers. like the dude who called himself "lil ray ray" who was subsequently kicked out of school sophomore year for allegedly raping some girl. i say allegedly only because i can't remember if he was convicted. i know he was kicked out of school. i know he creeped me out. and i wanted to shake and choke him b/c he would call 5xs a day. i would be like hey stupid she ain't here!! like i told you 20 minutes ago!!! loser.
she moved off campus sophomore year. i stayed on. lottery again. this time i got a jersey girl. she was fun but she listened to music at MACH 10!! there would be days i was studying, no music and she would walk in and start blastin her music? what the hell? i don't get it. and she smoked. cigarettes. in the room. that is not allowed in the dorms. clearly. people would walk by my room like what the hell?!! a good thing: i got her liking a UGK song by the time she moved out! and introed her to 36 mafia before the oscars! ha! :)
that was my first of 3 years in good ol dubois hall. it was also the year i was coming into myself. no longer terrified i would flunk out. met the crew who i still keep in touch with including cc, deaconness troy aka down south georgia girl (dsgg), miss ashli, stace, michelle, morgan (my bmore girl). also met my former drinking partner who i no longer keep in touch with. i used to sneak my male friends in after hours all the time. it was one of my best years at hampton hands down.
she moved off and i wouldn't have lived w/her anyway. and i don't think she would've lived w/me either. lottery AGAIN! junior year i ended up w/a smelly girl who left food containers out. people would walk in my room like wth?!! funky. for real. she would have a trail of gummy bears from the door to the bed. what?! a trail? of gummy bears?! i don't get it. were you that hungry? are you trying to give the roaches directions? whatever. that semester i had abnormal psychology with kristen and joellen (also known as classy jojo). i had heard joellen's loud mouth and was absolutely not impressed. at all. then one night happened to go out w/her and some other people (the night i lost half my big toenail) and was so in love! (no homo. i think that phrase is hilarious!) that's my dog!! i love joellen! she's freakin hilarious!
so anyway. my roommate would also sit on her bed silently with her friend. they would listen to my phone conversations then use them for the basis of their own conversations, or comment. wth?! i'm not talking to you!!!!!!!!! kristen's roommate did the same thing. so we decided to move in together. the first week she had a nasty weeklong break up screaming at the top of her lungs, crying, stomping around, all that. i was like what the hell did i get myself into?! luckily. she was a great roomie after that. we both loved cnn headline news, ghetto FABULOUS music, food, not talking in the morning until you're walking out the door. it was great. best roommate ever. i will be going to her graduation for her master's in speech pathology at loyola university in baltimore next week. go roomie!!
she became an r.a. the next year. lottery AGAIN!! oh btw. if you're wondering why i didn't live w/some of these great friends, its because i would've killed them if i had to live w/them. and murder is bad. it ruins the friendship. the next year i get this sophomore who calls herself sheezy. this stupid bitch. everytime she had an issue w/me she would call her mom and have her tell me the problem. wtfh?!! so i wanted to shake and choke that loser. her mom tried to get me kicked out the room. then miss g (the dorm director oh so cool) was like, "you can't ask her to move out when your daughter can't even talk about her problems. if she has such a problem, she needs to move out." so she did! room to myself from thanksgiving, for the rest of senior year! yessssssss!! so that's it. that's my roommate story.
5.12.2006
Help
I'm going thru bf withdrawal. I don't even feel like checking blogs. Now you know that's bad. And I don't feel like writing about either of my trips over the last two weeks to Charlotte and Connecticut to see the bf. So sad. I hate living 17 years away from my pookie. So give me something to write about or who knows when you'll get something worth reading again. Woe is me . :( I'm kidding guys! No woe is me. But I seriously don't know what to write about. And I really do miss the bf. So how about helpin a sista out? I'll preciate it!
5.05.2006
Unreasonable Requests
Apparently I am the queen of these. I just got off the phone with the b.f. He said, "There are a lot of rules for when you come here." I'm baffled. I said, "What? What are the rules?" He says, "I can't wash clothes. I can't play basketball. I can't call people back." Don't forget you can't play video games. Why? Because these are all things you can do when I'm not with you that you can't do when I'm here!!! Why?? Because you don't need me around to do any of those things. I'm not going to help you wash clothes. I don't want to sit around and watch you play ball. I don't play video games. And if you're talking to other people, you're not talking to me. I am almost willing to let the calling people back thing slide. He only gets the opportunity to call people back on his days off. I will be there for both of those. As long as its not taking hours, I don't see a problem. But the rest of it.... what the hell????? Are these unreasonable requests?
5.02.2006
Answerin the Bizness
1) D.L. Sands said...
I tend to read your blog posts as I imagine you'd read them aloud: extremely fast, and without breathing.
Ha! That's funny. I do actually talk like that when i'm excited. Its quite amusing.
2) Miss A. said...
what kind of car do you drive? who would you tongue kiss for $100,000 tax free dollars out of randy jackson from American Idol or kevin federline? (6) you don't look like you can :-P, but can you cook? and what's your specialty?
Ok I did see ashli and stace tried to get smart and answer those questions. ashli is right about the 100k. tho i'd rather go broke than do either. first of all i don't do old dudes and randy is definitely in that category. and there is nothing sexy about him. he looks like he wheezes. do you see how he has his mouth open all the time? uh uh. and i hate american idol. wack. but then, i definitely can't do the greasy white trash. so i'll just have to pay my taxes. and i'm gonna fight you hater!! yes i can cook. i like cooking. 365 no repeats!! go rachael ray!! i should get paid as much as i promo her book. but brekky is my specialty and my fave. and i make a mean peach cobbler from scratch. but i also do great burgers. and i love chicken dishes. i'm strangely good at following recipes. the first time i make just about anything, it ordinarily comes out the way i wanted it to.
3/4/5) Miss Ashli said...
Miss A, in Jameil's absence I'll answer your questions for you, lets see how good i am at this: drives a lancer, and for 100,000 tax free dollars she would kiss randy because i can't see her kissing a dirty lookin wannabe rappin white boy, and she can only cook breakfast since thats all she eats, specialty = western omelet and a side of homefries. And when's she's real saddity with it she'll make a frittata instead with a side scallopped potato casserole and for lunch a steak burger with chunks of gorganzola cheese, a pesto mayo all on a garlic & onion focaccia round. Holla!
and
Stacie von Kutieboots said...
Get it Ashli! Her specialty is a damn italian cheeseburger with gorgonzola, baby spinach leaves on a whole wheat kaiser rollDon't forget some other foreign terms like "Now and Afters" (now and laters) or "they are going like bagels!" (going like hotcakes)What I want to know is what did you wear everyday you were gone!
see what i mean? hoochies think they're funny. but to answer stace's question here we go. but first more of the stacey and ashli show.
Miss Ashli said...
stace: i know what she didn't wear; she didn't wear that yellow dress i fed-exed her ass
bitches. that question is too long to answer. i don't feel like it right now. so i'll have to get back to you. and no i didn't wear that yellow dress. sorry!
6) Epsilonicus said...
Have fun!!Did u get the myspace messge I sent you???
i'm sure i did. i didn't respond? let me go do that.
7) Karamale said...
thanks for showing me some love, jameil. next time, fuck me harder. meanwhile, question:goobers or raisinettes?
such language!! neither. both of them are nasty.
8) Stacie von Kutieboots said...
Nor did she mention the yellow crushed silk tank from express I sent her...can't be nice to some people!
sigh. the madness continues. THANK YOU SO MUCH STACEY FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME. WITHOUT YOU I WOULD BE NOTHING. YOU COMPLETE ME.
9) 4EverJennayNay said...
Ummm...I've been wondering this for sometime now.Who was Sweet Pea's daddy?You know, Olive Oil's son? She was always going back and for between Popeye and Bluto. Popeye would always have to save her from Bluto after he beat her ass or did something crazy. So who was Sweet Pea's daddy?
omg crazy! i haven't a clue!
10) Christopher aka CNEL said...
I want to know how come you're so confident? What's ya secret?
The proof is in the pudding. J/k. hahahaha. That was hilarious. You were sittin here like wtf?? Yeah, I've always been like this for the most part. There were times when I wasn't as confident in all areas. But I've been told I was intelligent and special my whole life. So you start to believe it.
11) Ladynay said...
What made you want to go into journalism? Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?How many kids you want (can have grandbabies unless you make or adopt a kid)?How long you and you bf been together?Did you get your liver pudding?What side of the bed do you sleep on?
It was either journalism, music, english, veterinary medicine, or genetics. music was out b/c i HATE theory. english was out b/c i don't like subjective opinions for a grade. veterinary medicine out b/c i don't like animals enough and i certainly don't want to see sick ones. i was only considering that b/c my cousin is a vet and i thought that was so cool. genetics b/c i think dna and all that is soooo cool. but i have always had awful evil math teachers so that was out, too.
10 years, I see myself doing something huge, making a significant amount of money, married with 2 or 3 kids. Leaning toward 3. I wouldn't mind adoption if my husband and I couldn't have kids and am seriously considering adoption anyway. I've wanted to adopt since I was like 13. i don't know why.
The bf. We went to Hampton together. Met freshman year and became friends thru several mutual friends. Got closer soph. yr. b/c we were in the same major, had a lot of classes together, and would give each other love/relationship advice. It was really great. Over the course of soph, jr and senior years, he became one of my closest friends and confidantes. He tried to convince me to kiss him (he claims once a semester, but i know it was more than that) but I didn't want to ruin our friendship. He was one of my few male friends to keep in touch with me throughout the summer. We went to Sr. Ball together. The night of graduation we stayed up all night talking and listening to music in his car. (Hmmm.... That's strange. He had an apt. I have no idea why we stayed in his car).
The year following graduation, we stayed close and in touch. Continuing to talk to each other at least twice a week for at least an hour and a half, and up to four or five hours. What the hell do we talk about? We try to figure this out everytime we have a marathon session (including yesterday's 3 hour convo). We talk about music a LOT, sports, work (those two go hand in hand for him), rachael ray (LMAO!!), tv. I think that's about it. But probably not. Oh yeah, and sex! So about a year ago, maybe even a year and a half, I started thinking about him in "that way." As more than a friend that is. And it took me about a year, from about October 2004 to August 2005 to convince myself it was ok to love him beyond our friendship love; and that it wouldn't ruin our friendship. So I sent him a letter. It was only one page but it said everything I needed it to. He didn't know how to take it. So we just kind of ignored it.
He sent me a package for my bday in August and it was just what I wanted. I was home alone w/no friends as I had just moved to Pittsburgh. So he talked to me from 1130 pm on August 22nd until about 3 hours into my birthday. In October, we made plans to meet in the middle for the first time. It was our first time seeing each other in a year and a month and a half. I knew then and he says he did too but we weren't honest with each other. We both acted like it was nice but not really a big deal. Then he called me in November to ask me if I wanted to fly in to see The Color Purple on Broadway w/him. Of course I said yes. We saw the play on December 5th. I went home on the 6th. The 10th he told me he loved me and asked me to be his girlfriend. So it has been nearly 5 months.
Didn't get my liver pudding!!! totally forgot until you said that!! i'm going to push myself off of something!!! ahhhhhhh!! lololol. i usually sleep on whatever side of the bed the window isn't on. i hate sleeping next to the window.
12) 4EverJennayNay said...
ever regret anything?
nope. for what? learn from it and move on.
13) Chris said...
what is your ultimate life goal?
happiness. i want to be financially secure and love my job. but most of all i want to be in love with life and my kids.
I tend to read your blog posts as I imagine you'd read them aloud: extremely fast, and without breathing.
Ha! That's funny. I do actually talk like that when i'm excited. Its quite amusing.
2) Miss A. said...
what kind of car do you drive? who would you tongue kiss for $100,000 tax free dollars out of randy jackson from American Idol or kevin federline? (6) you don't look like you can :-P, but can you cook? and what's your specialty?
Ok I did see ashli and stace tried to get smart and answer those questions. ashli is right about the 100k. tho i'd rather go broke than do either. first of all i don't do old dudes and randy is definitely in that category. and there is nothing sexy about him. he looks like he wheezes. do you see how he has his mouth open all the time? uh uh. and i hate american idol. wack. but then, i definitely can't do the greasy white trash. so i'll just have to pay my taxes. and i'm gonna fight you hater!! yes i can cook. i like cooking. 365 no repeats!! go rachael ray!! i should get paid as much as i promo her book. but brekky is my specialty and my fave. and i make a mean peach cobbler from scratch. but i also do great burgers. and i love chicken dishes. i'm strangely good at following recipes. the first time i make just about anything, it ordinarily comes out the way i wanted it to.
3/4/5) Miss Ashli said...
Miss A, in Jameil's absence I'll answer your questions for you, lets see how good i am at this: drives a lancer, and for 100,000 tax free dollars she would kiss randy because i can't see her kissing a dirty lookin wannabe rappin white boy, and she can only cook breakfast since thats all she eats, specialty = western omelet and a side of homefries. And when's she's real saddity with it she'll make a frittata instead with a side scallopped potato casserole and for lunch a steak burger with chunks of gorganzola cheese, a pesto mayo all on a garlic & onion focaccia round. Holla!
and
Stacie von Kutieboots said...
Get it Ashli! Her specialty is a damn italian cheeseburger with gorgonzola, baby spinach leaves on a whole wheat kaiser rollDon't forget some other foreign terms like "Now and Afters" (now and laters) or "they are going like bagels!" (going like hotcakes)What I want to know is what did you wear everyday you were gone!
see what i mean? hoochies think they're funny. but to answer stace's question here we go. but first more of the stacey and ashli show.
Miss Ashli said...
stace: i know what she didn't wear; she didn't wear that yellow dress i fed-exed her ass
bitches. that question is too long to answer. i don't feel like it right now. so i'll have to get back to you. and no i didn't wear that yellow dress. sorry!
6) Epsilonicus said...
Have fun!!Did u get the myspace messge I sent you???
i'm sure i did. i didn't respond? let me go do that.
7) Karamale said...
thanks for showing me some love, jameil. next time, fuck me harder. meanwhile, question:goobers or raisinettes?
such language!! neither. both of them are nasty.
8) Stacie von Kutieboots said...
Nor did she mention the yellow crushed silk tank from express I sent her...can't be nice to some people!
sigh. the madness continues. THANK YOU SO MUCH STACEY FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME. WITHOUT YOU I WOULD BE NOTHING. YOU COMPLETE ME.
9) 4EverJennayNay said...
Ummm...I've been wondering this for sometime now.Who was Sweet Pea's daddy?You know, Olive Oil's son? She was always going back and for between Popeye and Bluto. Popeye would always have to save her from Bluto after he beat her ass or did something crazy. So who was Sweet Pea's daddy?
omg crazy! i haven't a clue!
10) Christopher aka CNEL said...
I want to know how come you're so confident? What's ya secret?
The proof is in the pudding. J/k. hahahaha. That was hilarious. You were sittin here like wtf?? Yeah, I've always been like this for the most part. There were times when I wasn't as confident in all areas. But I've been told I was intelligent and special my whole life. So you start to believe it.
11) Ladynay said...
What made you want to go into journalism? Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?How many kids you want (can have grandbabies unless you make or adopt a kid)?How long you and you bf been together?Did you get your liver pudding?What side of the bed do you sleep on?
It was either journalism, music, english, veterinary medicine, or genetics. music was out b/c i HATE theory. english was out b/c i don't like subjective opinions for a grade. veterinary medicine out b/c i don't like animals enough and i certainly don't want to see sick ones. i was only considering that b/c my cousin is a vet and i thought that was so cool. genetics b/c i think dna and all that is soooo cool. but i have always had awful evil math teachers so that was out, too.
10 years, I see myself doing something huge, making a significant amount of money, married with 2 or 3 kids. Leaning toward 3. I wouldn't mind adoption if my husband and I couldn't have kids and am seriously considering adoption anyway. I've wanted to adopt since I was like 13. i don't know why.
The bf. We went to Hampton together. Met freshman year and became friends thru several mutual friends. Got closer soph. yr. b/c we were in the same major, had a lot of classes together, and would give each other love/relationship advice. It was really great. Over the course of soph, jr and senior years, he became one of my closest friends and confidantes. He tried to convince me to kiss him (he claims once a semester, but i know it was more than that) but I didn't want to ruin our friendship. He was one of my few male friends to keep in touch with me throughout the summer. We went to Sr. Ball together. The night of graduation we stayed up all night talking and listening to music in his car. (Hmmm.... That's strange. He had an apt. I have no idea why we stayed in his car).
The year following graduation, we stayed close and in touch. Continuing to talk to each other at least twice a week for at least an hour and a half, and up to four or five hours. What the hell do we talk about? We try to figure this out everytime we have a marathon session (including yesterday's 3 hour convo). We talk about music a LOT, sports, work (those two go hand in hand for him), rachael ray (LMAO!!), tv. I think that's about it. But probably not. Oh yeah, and sex! So about a year ago, maybe even a year and a half, I started thinking about him in "that way." As more than a friend that is. And it took me about a year, from about October 2004 to August 2005 to convince myself it was ok to love him beyond our friendship love; and that it wouldn't ruin our friendship. So I sent him a letter. It was only one page but it said everything I needed it to. He didn't know how to take it. So we just kind of ignored it.
He sent me a package for my bday in August and it was just what I wanted. I was home alone w/no friends as I had just moved to Pittsburgh. So he talked to me from 1130 pm on August 22nd until about 3 hours into my birthday. In October, we made plans to meet in the middle for the first time. It was our first time seeing each other in a year and a month and a half. I knew then and he says he did too but we weren't honest with each other. We both acted like it was nice but not really a big deal. Then he called me in November to ask me if I wanted to fly in to see The Color Purple on Broadway w/him. Of course I said yes. We saw the play on December 5th. I went home on the 6th. The 10th he told me he loved me and asked me to be his girlfriend. So it has been nearly 5 months.
Didn't get my liver pudding!!! totally forgot until you said that!! i'm going to push myself off of something!!! ahhhhhhh!! lololol. i usually sleep on whatever side of the bed the window isn't on. i hate sleeping next to the window.
12) 4EverJennayNay said...
ever regret anything?
nope. for what? learn from it and move on.
13) Chris said...
what is your ultimate life goal?
happiness. i want to be financially secure and love my job. but most of all i want to be in love with life and my kids.
4.26.2006
Get out my bizness
First, I'd like to say F YOU Karamale!! LMAO!! I'm off to the queen city and will likely be unable to correspond w/the beloved blog fam. But worry not! I will not leave you in the lurch nearly as long as MISS A!!! or Karamale!! Oh yeah, I'm callin folk OUT!!
Anywho, when I said get out my bizness, I meant get in it. I've seen some very interesting concepts on other blogs so I'm going to try this. I'm gon let y'all ask me any question, as many as you want that you've been wanting to know or some philosophical bullish. Whateva. Reader's choice! So that's how you will entertain yourselves while I'm gone. Variety people. It's the thyme of life. Hahahahaha. I sound like a nationalized citizen. I know this lady from Spain who messes up all colloquialisms. "It's like a catch 77." or "Close! But no potato!" LMAO!! Anyway ask away.
Anywho, when I said get out my bizness, I meant get in it. I've seen some very interesting concepts on other blogs so I'm going to try this. I'm gon let y'all ask me any question, as many as you want that you've been wanting to know or some philosophical bullish. Whateva. Reader's choice! So that's how you will entertain yourselves while I'm gone. Variety people. It's the thyme of life. Hahahahaha. I sound like a nationalized citizen. I know this lady from Spain who messes up all colloquialisms. "It's like a catch 77." or "Close! But no potato!" LMAO!! Anyway ask away.
4.23.2006
Bonjourno!
Hola mi amigos! One day I was bored at work and I realized I know random words/phrases in 5 languages other than English. Isn't that strange? I don't know how I keep meeting all these people who teach me strange languages. Spanish, French (know that one best), German, Italian and Japanese.
Soooo there was this crazy girl at work right? She was new. She asked me to get her a cup of coffee. A what? What does this look like? Its self-serve trick! I was shocked. How bout in case you didn't know, slavery is over. I don't drink coffee. I can't make coffee and I sure as hell can't get your coffee. I directed her to the pot. Don't try me. But I don't have to worry about her. She irritated the hell out of everyone by not doing her job and got fired the next day. Oh well. C'est la vie.
Last week was the week from hell. It was honestly the worst week of my short work career. The entire thing was enough to make me want to jump off of the tower. Me, the morning and the noon producers were all going to hold hands and jump together. Did you know people in Japan have been making suicide pacts? They meet on the internet and agree to meet together to kill themselves. They either get in a car and let it run in an enclosed place or pill overdoses. Now that's just crazy talk. Clearly you could not pay me to commit suicide. One because it would do no good. Not like you can take it with you. And two because its not that serious. I will not let my surroundings drive me to that. But the week was terrible. 56 hours but it felt like 70. I don't even want to think about it anymore. So that's it. I won't even tell you about the horridnessosity.
I will be home on Wednesday. WEDNESDAY FOLK!!! I can't wait. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas. My mommy and her friend will be making ribs, green beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, and broccoli-rice casserole. I can't wait. I will also be attending the Northeast Regional Conference for Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. I bought a FABULOUS royal blue dress w/a blue and gold brooch to wear to the banquet. My girls will be going out with me. I should see some of my fellow Hamptonians. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! I will also need to hit up my fave hometown restaurants, or at least places I can't eat at in Pittsburgh. Showmars, Bojangles, Backyard Burger. My mom was like, I'm mad all you're talking about is food! Lolol. Ok also, Nordstrom, a decent-sized Nine West store, Dillard's, Hecht's, go back and see my Express people. That shall be great fun!! Can't wait! And I get to see my line sister!!!!!!!
Speaking of the l.s. how bout she just joined a new church, right? In the new members class, the dude said, "Did you know 58,000 people go to hell a year?" HAHAHAHAHA!! God gives annual reports? That's AMAZING! Who knew? Not me! Can I sign up? Wow... is that how you get people to give their lives to Christ? By making up random stats? Nonsense. I told her she should have walked out. But then I would not have that gem for my blog, so I guess its good she stayed through her skepticism. LOLOLOL!
Omg! and I found out me and the b.f. are even more compatible than I thought/knew we were! He's at home right now and went to visit his neighbor and her new baby. His mom asked him if that made him want to have a baby. He said, "No, if anything it turned him off." Then, are you ready? He said, "I want to skip fatherhood and go straight to grandfatherhood." YESSSSS!! That is so hot! I was going to link you to the post where I said I only want to be a grandma and skip motherhood so then I could give them back. But I couldn't find it. Sorry guys. But yeah, isn't that beautiful?! Lolol.
Also, I would like to issue an apology for all of you who have ever been the recipient of a drunk dial from me. The b.f. drunk dialed me 5xs in one night. Luckily I didn't have to go to work the next day. But I was still like, I'm going to cause bodily harm to you!! He's the sweetest, though. He would pass people on the street and say, "I'm on the phone with my girlfriend who I love very much!" I told him to quit talking to strangers. Do you know then some white guy was like, "Hey that's great man! I know all about you guys my best friend is black." What the fu.....??" What is it with white people. Back at home I laughed in this white girl's face when she said that to me. I was like how is it that all white people have a black best friend? If that was true, racism wouldn't exist. That's bullshit. And its amazing how your black best friend wasn't able to tell you he is not the representative for all blacks. We're not a homogenous body and you should shut the *boop* up.
Soooo there was this crazy girl at work right? She was new. She asked me to get her a cup of coffee. A what? What does this look like? Its self-serve trick! I was shocked. How bout in case you didn't know, slavery is over. I don't drink coffee. I can't make coffee and I sure as hell can't get your coffee. I directed her to the pot. Don't try me. But I don't have to worry about her. She irritated the hell out of everyone by not doing her job and got fired the next day. Oh well. C'est la vie.
Last week was the week from hell. It was honestly the worst week of my short work career. The entire thing was enough to make me want to jump off of the tower. Me, the morning and the noon producers were all going to hold hands and jump together. Did you know people in Japan have been making suicide pacts? They meet on the internet and agree to meet together to kill themselves. They either get in a car and let it run in an enclosed place or pill overdoses. Now that's just crazy talk. Clearly you could not pay me to commit suicide. One because it would do no good. Not like you can take it with you. And two because its not that serious. I will not let my surroundings drive me to that. But the week was terrible. 56 hours but it felt like 70. I don't even want to think about it anymore. So that's it. I won't even tell you about the horridnessosity.
I will be home on Wednesday. WEDNESDAY FOLK!!! I can't wait. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas. My mommy and her friend will be making ribs, green beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, and broccoli-rice casserole. I can't wait. I will also be attending the Northeast Regional Conference for Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. I bought a FABULOUS royal blue dress w/a blue and gold brooch to wear to the banquet. My girls will be going out with me. I should see some of my fellow Hamptonians. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! I will also need to hit up my fave hometown restaurants, or at least places I can't eat at in Pittsburgh. Showmars, Bojangles, Backyard Burger. My mom was like, I'm mad all you're talking about is food! Lolol. Ok also, Nordstrom, a decent-sized Nine West store, Dillard's, Hecht's, go back and see my Express people. That shall be great fun!! Can't wait! And I get to see my line sister!!!!!!!
Speaking of the l.s. how bout she just joined a new church, right? In the new members class, the dude said, "Did you know 58,000 people go to hell a year?" HAHAHAHAHA!! God gives annual reports? That's AMAZING! Who knew? Not me! Can I sign up? Wow... is that how you get people to give their lives to Christ? By making up random stats? Nonsense. I told her she should have walked out. But then I would not have that gem for my blog, so I guess its good she stayed through her skepticism. LOLOLOL!
Omg! and I found out me and the b.f. are even more compatible than I thought/knew we were! He's at home right now and went to visit his neighbor and her new baby. His mom asked him if that made him want to have a baby. He said, "No, if anything it turned him off." Then, are you ready? He said, "I want to skip fatherhood and go straight to grandfatherhood." YESSSSS!! That is so hot! I was going to link you to the post where I said I only want to be a grandma and skip motherhood so then I could give them back. But I couldn't find it. Sorry guys. But yeah, isn't that beautiful?! Lolol.
Also, I would like to issue an apology for all of you who have ever been the recipient of a drunk dial from me. The b.f. drunk dialed me 5xs in one night. Luckily I didn't have to go to work the next day. But I was still like, I'm going to cause bodily harm to you!! He's the sweetest, though. He would pass people on the street and say, "I'm on the phone with my girlfriend who I love very much!" I told him to quit talking to strangers. Do you know then some white guy was like, "Hey that's great man! I know all about you guys my best friend is black." What the fu.....??" What is it with white people. Back at home I laughed in this white girl's face when she said that to me. I was like how is it that all white people have a black best friend? If that was true, racism wouldn't exist. That's bullshit. And its amazing how your black best friend wasn't able to tell you he is not the representative for all blacks. We're not a homogenous body and you should shut the *boop* up.
4.14.2006
State of Black America Part V: Names
"In contemporary usage and in the work of pop entertainers such as rappers, "nigger" (or "nigga") is spoken as a form of "liberation" from convention. To those who use it freely and even fiercely, it means that a black world exists with its own rules in which the word is well understood in its various meanings. In the real world, nigger is a traditional insult; it applies to a position down below, which black swagger, comedy routines, and rapping have no power to change. If racists believed any of that theory about liberation through repetition, they would already have found another word to express their contempt, their paranoia, their hatred."
--Excerpt from The Artificial White Man: Essays on Authenticity by Stanley Crouch.
This book is not as engaging as the previous quote may lead you to conclude. However, that excerpt is the best part, and therefore worth exploring. This is not just about the word nigger. It's about all words used to demean and demoralize our experience and place in America and conversely uplift or simply identify. Nigger, nigga, nigra, coon, darkie, monkey, African booty scratcher, jungle bunny, Uncle Tom, sellout, Black, African-American, Afro-American, Black-American, Negro, Colored.
We fight for and against these labels throughout our lives. It makes me wonder where we will be in terms of our identities when our children grow up. How will we explain to them the evolution? Because I think the current generation and the coming ones have somehow and may continue to miss that lesson. Many of us have some vague sort of understanding of the progression from the slave nigra to the African-American. But apparently not enough to escape from calling each other niggers. Oh excuse me, that's nigga, right? I never got that. What's the difference? Either way you'll be mad if some white person calls you that. I'm not going to act like nigga is not a part of my vocabulary, but it is increasingly annoying to me. Like, do you have no other way to address me? My friends love that word.
The more I work around white people for the majority of my life again, the more sensitive I become to the word. Its like if one of these people were to get so comfortable around me that the word slipped, there would be a huge problem. And while I have some sense of the fact that they know there is a line that should not be crossed, I also feel them getting more and more comfortable. There have been several questionable things that have slipped out that were right on that line of making me want to harm someone.
One of my corporate America friends had this conundrum in the last couple of weeks. Someone at work asked her if there was anything she preferred to be called. Of course the first thing she smartly said was her name. Then they asked if it mattered if she were called Black or African-American. She said it never really mattered to her, and there was only one word that was unacceptable. Then one girl asked, "Well what about colored? Is that okay?" I have no idea how I would have reacted if put in that same situation. But my first thought was not well intentioned. Let's just put it that way. Obviously I wouldn't have been murderous, but like I said, I don't know how I would have reacted.
Another friend was at a party with majority white co-workers present. They were sitting at table playing cards. The friend we'll call Y was the only Black person at the table. One of his co-workers was listening to Biggie's "Juicy" on his ipod and felt comfortable enough to say the word nigga singing along with the song. Y didn't say anything but everyone close enough to hear it was instantly uncomfortable. Y didn't want to make a scene and turn the few Black people against the ignorant white boy who thought that was acceptable, ruining the mood of the party. On the one hand, you don't want to be that problematic Black person and ruin the relationship with your co-workers. But on the other hand, you don't want to give the impression that that kind of language is acceptable. I think in that situation I would have been a lot more willing to make a scene.
Another friend has a problem with being called African-American because she's not African and "has no ties to Africa." She also cites the fact that people who immigrate from Africa and gain citizenship are considered African-American. I never understood either of those lines of reasoning when I heard them before, and they were not any clearer when reiterated recently. I am Black, I am Negro, I'm probably even colored. But I am not a nigger. I am African-American if for no other reason than it reminds someone that my ancestors were brought to this nation in chains in the bowels of ships, stripped from their families for centuries while they built this nation to what it is today. So what is in a name?
Nigger has been used as a means to keep Black people in their place. Yes, many believe that we are stealing the power from the word. But if the power was truly gone, perhaps we would not be so offended by its usage among other races.
--Excerpt from The Artificial White Man: Essays on Authenticity by Stanley Crouch.
This book is not as engaging as the previous quote may lead you to conclude. However, that excerpt is the best part, and therefore worth exploring. This is not just about the word nigger. It's about all words used to demean and demoralize our experience and place in America and conversely uplift or simply identify. Nigger, nigga, nigra, coon, darkie, monkey, African booty scratcher, jungle bunny, Uncle Tom, sellout, Black, African-American, Afro-American, Black-American, Negro, Colored.
We fight for and against these labels throughout our lives. It makes me wonder where we will be in terms of our identities when our children grow up. How will we explain to them the evolution? Because I think the current generation and the coming ones have somehow and may continue to miss that lesson. Many of us have some vague sort of understanding of the progression from the slave nigra to the African-American. But apparently not enough to escape from calling each other niggers. Oh excuse me, that's nigga, right? I never got that. What's the difference? Either way you'll be mad if some white person calls you that. I'm not going to act like nigga is not a part of my vocabulary, but it is increasingly annoying to me. Like, do you have no other way to address me? My friends love that word.
The more I work around white people for the majority of my life again, the more sensitive I become to the word. Its like if one of these people were to get so comfortable around me that the word slipped, there would be a huge problem. And while I have some sense of the fact that they know there is a line that should not be crossed, I also feel them getting more and more comfortable. There have been several questionable things that have slipped out that were right on that line of making me want to harm someone.
One of my corporate America friends had this conundrum in the last couple of weeks. Someone at work asked her if there was anything she preferred to be called. Of course the first thing she smartly said was her name. Then they asked if it mattered if she were called Black or African-American. She said it never really mattered to her, and there was only one word that was unacceptable. Then one girl asked, "Well what about colored? Is that okay?" I have no idea how I would have reacted if put in that same situation. But my first thought was not well intentioned. Let's just put it that way. Obviously I wouldn't have been murderous, but like I said, I don't know how I would have reacted.
Another friend was at a party with majority white co-workers present. They were sitting at table playing cards. The friend we'll call Y was the only Black person at the table. One of his co-workers was listening to Biggie's "Juicy" on his ipod and felt comfortable enough to say the word nigga singing along with the song. Y didn't say anything but everyone close enough to hear it was instantly uncomfortable. Y didn't want to make a scene and turn the few Black people against the ignorant white boy who thought that was acceptable, ruining the mood of the party. On the one hand, you don't want to be that problematic Black person and ruin the relationship with your co-workers. But on the other hand, you don't want to give the impression that that kind of language is acceptable. I think in that situation I would have been a lot more willing to make a scene.
Another friend has a problem with being called African-American because she's not African and "has no ties to Africa." She also cites the fact that people who immigrate from Africa and gain citizenship are considered African-American. I never understood either of those lines of reasoning when I heard them before, and they were not any clearer when reiterated recently. I am Black, I am Negro, I'm probably even colored. But I am not a nigger. I am African-American if for no other reason than it reminds someone that my ancestors were brought to this nation in chains in the bowels of ships, stripped from their families for centuries while they built this nation to what it is today. So what is in a name?
Nigger has been used as a means to keep Black people in their place. Yes, many believe that we are stealing the power from the word. But if the power was truly gone, perhaps we would not be so offended by its usage among other races.
4.09.2006
I'm Not an Alcoholic...
...Im a Drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings-Bumper Sticker
I got this survey from ChezNiki and I'd like to say damn her b/c I said I wouldn't do another of these... But come on!! This is tooooo up my alley so stop cursing me all those who have tagged and I have not obliged. I'm just onery. So here it is....
1. What is your favorite beer? Honey Brown. Yuengling and Amber Bock are tasty, too
2. Favorite mixed drink? tanqueray and tonic
2a. Favorite straight drank (as opposed to a straight "drink" which would involve better liquor) oh honey, no! I only drink good liquor. No bottom shelf for me! Ain't that right Miss Ashli? Lol
3. Favorite shot? No shots for me anymore. I always used to lose count of how many I had and not count them along with whatever else I had been drinking. So I'd be on like drink number 4 and have a beer and be like, why do I feel so drunk? Oooooh. It might be those 3 shots I had. Yeah....
4. Who’s your favorite person(s) to go drinking with? Morgan, Michelle, Stace, Ashli, Chantee, dear old Dad! :)
5. Favorite bar? Hmmm... in Pittsburgh, I would say Sports Rock. At home, I don't think I have a fave.
6. If you are trying to get really drunk, you drink... tequila. Or two of anything I make. There is a reason I call myself the one hit wonder. I can knock most (esp. girls) out w/one shot!
7. Favorite day of the week for drinking? Any day b/c any day could be my Friday.
8. First drink you ever had? Blackberry rum. Sooooooooo good!! You can drink it straight and it tastes like "kool-aid!" :)
9. First drink you got drunk off of? Thug Passion. Wow...
10. When was the last time you drank? Right now. I couldn't remember so I decided to go get a beer out the fridge. Now that I think about it last Friday I had a Bailey's and Hennessey and I think Thursday I had a parrot bay mango w/oj.
11. Last time you got really drunk? Thursday a week ago
12. Last time you got sick from drinking? I think 2003 but I could be wrong
13. Last time you passed out? never
14. What’s your favorite holiday to drink? doesn't matter. ooh! but my cuz always has these cook-outs 4th of July so I'll say then
15. Have you ever started drinking before noon? Yep. By that time I've either been up for 9 hours or 12 so that's happy hour to me.
16. Favorite thing to eat when drunk? breakfast! love it!!
17. Favorite drinking game? we don't need drinking games. chug-a-lug!
18. Favorite person to have drunk conversations with? the b.f.
19. Have you ever had drunk sex? No.
20. Favorite person to call when you are drunk?the bf
21. Favorite song to sing when drinking? whatever's on the radio, usually something really ghetto and hyper, either southern or bmore club
22. Best drunk story you ever heard? stories about me from my friends that I ordinarily don't remember or can only remember after they tell me. like "what?! for real! no i didn't! I did? damn... oh yeahhhh!! damn... oh well!" oh yeah and stories about the CT and NY parental parties!
23. What famous person would you like to go drinking with? Henry Simmons, but only if I could grope him afterwards (that's what chezniki said and I have to agree! be-yoooooooooutiful!!)
24. Where’s your ideal drinking location? anywhere my friends are that I don't have to drive from
25. Any alcohol related arrests? nope!
I got this survey from ChezNiki and I'd like to say damn her b/c I said I wouldn't do another of these... But come on!! This is tooooo up my alley so stop cursing me all those who have tagged and I have not obliged. I'm just onery. So here it is....
1. What is your favorite beer? Honey Brown. Yuengling and Amber Bock are tasty, too
2. Favorite mixed drink? tanqueray and tonic
2a. Favorite straight drank (as opposed to a straight "drink" which would involve better liquor) oh honey, no! I only drink good liquor. No bottom shelf for me! Ain't that right Miss Ashli? Lol
3. Favorite shot? No shots for me anymore. I always used to lose count of how many I had and not count them along with whatever else I had been drinking. So I'd be on like drink number 4 and have a beer and be like, why do I feel so drunk? Oooooh. It might be those 3 shots I had. Yeah....
4. Who’s your favorite person(s) to go drinking with? Morgan, Michelle, Stace, Ashli, Chantee, dear old Dad! :)
5. Favorite bar? Hmmm... in Pittsburgh, I would say Sports Rock. At home, I don't think I have a fave.
6. If you are trying to get really drunk, you drink... tequila. Or two of anything I make. There is a reason I call myself the one hit wonder. I can knock most (esp. girls) out w/one shot!
7. Favorite day of the week for drinking? Any day b/c any day could be my Friday.
8. First drink you ever had? Blackberry rum. Sooooooooo good!! You can drink it straight and it tastes like "kool-aid!" :)
9. First drink you got drunk off of? Thug Passion. Wow...
10. When was the last time you drank? Right now. I couldn't remember so I decided to go get a beer out the fridge. Now that I think about it last Friday I had a Bailey's and Hennessey and I think Thursday I had a parrot bay mango w/oj.
11. Last time you got really drunk? Thursday a week ago
12. Last time you got sick from drinking? I think 2003 but I could be wrong
13. Last time you passed out? never
14. What’s your favorite holiday to drink? doesn't matter. ooh! but my cuz always has these cook-outs 4th of July so I'll say then
15. Have you ever started drinking before noon? Yep. By that time I've either been up for 9 hours or 12 so that's happy hour to me.
16. Favorite thing to eat when drunk? breakfast! love it!!
17. Favorite drinking game? we don't need drinking games. chug-a-lug!
18. Favorite person to have drunk conversations with? the b.f.
19. Have you ever had drunk sex? No.
20. Favorite person to call when you are drunk?the bf
21. Favorite song to sing when drinking? whatever's on the radio, usually something really ghetto and hyper, either southern or bmore club
22. Best drunk story you ever heard? stories about me from my friends that I ordinarily don't remember or can only remember after they tell me. like "what?! for real! no i didn't! I did? damn... oh yeahhhh!! damn... oh well!" oh yeah and stories about the CT and NY parental parties!
23. What famous person would you like to go drinking with? Henry Simmons, but only if I could grope him afterwards (that's what chezniki said and I have to agree! be-yoooooooooutiful!!)
24. Where’s your ideal drinking location? anywhere my friends are that I don't have to drive from
25. Any alcohol related arrests? nope!
4.04.2006
Oprah? Stupid? And other "neat" stories
So the model republican (at work-- called such b/c his fave outfit is khakis, navy blazer, white shirt, red tie, american flag pin on the lapel, and "dock shoes") tries to tell me Oprah is an idiot. Yo. I almost had to jump up and show him what set I'm claimin. Don't try to play Oprah. He doesn't know who he's talking to. That's grounds for a beat down. Clearly Oprah makes more in a day than you make in a whole year, so perhaps you need to get up on her special brand of idiocy.
How bout PA has some rich ass teachers. So they will strike anytime they feel. Don't like your contract? STRIKE! and the parents get all pissy and pressure the school district to just give 'em what they want. 80k. yeah, you read that right. there are teachers in the pittsburgh area who make 80k a year!! wtf?! i'm in the WRONG profession! are you kidding? and in one local district, they just approved a contract that gave the teachers an avg. yearly raise of 3.9%, again i say, WTF?!! now i have more than the avg. appreciation for teachers, but come on now. teachers in NC might not even make 1/2 that. I agree, that's not right, but 80k?! geez!!
if you have not seen "inside man" directed by spike lee you need to go see it RIGHT NOW. its not a game. the man is a genius. i love him anyway, but him, denzel, and clive owens showed their asses (in a good way). phenomenal. and if you are a regular reader you know i am very picky and kind of stuck up, esp. when it comes to my entertainment! examples? ok here, and here and how about here. so when i, as a filmmaker and journalist, tell you to go see a movie because it is cinematic genius, trust.
22 days until i am in charlotte, nc for the first time since july 8th. THANK GOD!!!
duke v. memphis. the model republican spewed some more foolishness. he went to memphis so claims memphis is a better team. this belief is based partly on memphis making it to the elite 8. wtf?? you beat the 13th seed, bradley to get there! get outta here. stop the madness. so then he's like i'm willing to bet you right now memphis will be better than duke next year. you're on. stop the madness.
duke women tonight, do the damn thing. win it all.
barry bonds. ok may or may not have done steroids. not a baseball fan so i'm not really caring either way. but "fans" have gone too far when they throw a SYRINGE at him on the field. are you kidding?!! that is foolishness. the black male athlete character assassinations are still rampant, in case you missed that memo.
smoking pregnant girl. there's one at work. that is ridiculous. if you don't care about your own health, can you care about your child's health? i hate to say trailer trash, but come on. my cousin loves her cigarettes, but she sure as hell quit while she was pregnant. and that fat baby proved that! lol. low birth weight and all sorts of defects is what you're setting your child up for. asthma. come on. that is ridiculous. so appalled.
aight i guess i'm done ranting and raving about everything and nothing. i'm sleepy. oh yeah and i love my boyfriend. he is wonderful.
How bout PA has some rich ass teachers. So they will strike anytime they feel. Don't like your contract? STRIKE! and the parents get all pissy and pressure the school district to just give 'em what they want. 80k. yeah, you read that right. there are teachers in the pittsburgh area who make 80k a year!! wtf?! i'm in the WRONG profession! are you kidding? and in one local district, they just approved a contract that gave the teachers an avg. yearly raise of 3.9%, again i say, WTF?!! now i have more than the avg. appreciation for teachers, but come on now. teachers in NC might not even make 1/2 that. I agree, that's not right, but 80k?! geez!!
if you have not seen "inside man" directed by spike lee you need to go see it RIGHT NOW. its not a game. the man is a genius. i love him anyway, but him, denzel, and clive owens showed their asses (in a good way). phenomenal. and if you are a regular reader you know i am very picky and kind of stuck up, esp. when it comes to my entertainment! examples? ok here, and here and how about here. so when i, as a filmmaker and journalist, tell you to go see a movie because it is cinematic genius, trust.
22 days until i am in charlotte, nc for the first time since july 8th. THANK GOD!!!
duke v. memphis. the model republican spewed some more foolishness. he went to memphis so claims memphis is a better team. this belief is based partly on memphis making it to the elite 8. wtf?? you beat the 13th seed, bradley to get there! get outta here. stop the madness. so then he's like i'm willing to bet you right now memphis will be better than duke next year. you're on. stop the madness.
duke women tonight, do the damn thing. win it all.
barry bonds. ok may or may not have done steroids. not a baseball fan so i'm not really caring either way. but "fans" have gone too far when they throw a SYRINGE at him on the field. are you kidding?!! that is foolishness. the black male athlete character assassinations are still rampant, in case you missed that memo.
smoking pregnant girl. there's one at work. that is ridiculous. if you don't care about your own health, can you care about your child's health? i hate to say trailer trash, but come on. my cousin loves her cigarettes, but she sure as hell quit while she was pregnant. and that fat baby proved that! lol. low birth weight and all sorts of defects is what you're setting your child up for. asthma. come on. that is ridiculous. so appalled.
aight i guess i'm done ranting and raving about everything and nothing. i'm sleepy. oh yeah and i love my boyfriend. he is wonderful.
3.31.2006
Just Pee On Him Already! or It Ain't Fun til You Split Your Pants
I know it is quite ironic that the title of this post would be as such considering my last post, but its too appropriate for me not to use that title. I mean, come on. Doesn't that just sound like the beginning of a classic post? exactly. being lazy again today. recovering from a hangover so you may or may not get mixed capitals. i'm bombarding my system with water so hopefully i'll be good to hit the streets again tonight (again, not in the streetwalker kinda way).
so last night went out with a coworker who always knows the thursday nite hot spots. remember the one with the crazy girlfriend? yeah him. and i don't know if she planned to be there the whole time, but she sure as hell wasn't missin this night once she heard i was riding with him. 5 words. IN. SE. CUR. I. TY. does that count as five words? so anyway, we hit up this place called nakama that's a sushi bar by day for drinks. the largest tanqueray and tonic i've ever had in my life. i got the drink and was like ok who serves "adult beverages" in the regular coke or water glass?!! i shoulda known right there i was in for one hell of a night.
so we're standin around talking, (me and said co-worker), and his friend R shows up w/his gf Wendy right. Wendy and I start talkin b/c her and R are about to start up a long distance relationship and they don't know if they can do it or how hard it'll be, whatever. i'm like, you can do it you got it in you (dun dun dun, no eggs, dun dun dun, no baloney!-- sorry random brown sugar moments abound w/me, mostly b/c i watch it at least twice a month. already watched it 1 and 1/2 times this week. i'm thinkin about puttin it in right now. its like background noise for me. you know how most people have music? too distracting. i have brown sugar.) anyway. i was like yeah it'll be hard, but it won't be that bad b/c they'll see each other every weekend and they've been together for years already. come on now. if me and the bf can deal w/seeing each other only once a month, you can do every weekend for a little while. chill.
so anyway we're all havin a good time and in walks the gf. we'll call her "miss i." she walks in w/a friend who she's obviously been bad-mouthing me to, b/c she's all givin me the once over and shit. i'm like bitch don't try me, i ain't from pittsburgh. i'm from matthews bitch and we don't play that. HAHAHAHA!! you would be fallin out laughin if you saw where i grew up. two-story house in the suburbs of charlotte. hilarious!! but for real. i have a real nasty streak and i can be a bitch if i need to. don't try me. don't do it. so the g.f. gets all up in my bizness when wendy and i are talkin about my man askin all kinds of questions but still trying to be superior, esp. when she finds out how old i am. BITCH!!! STOP BEING SO INSECURE!! you ain't got to do all that!! i mean damn! wouldn't it just be easier to pee on him?! it would. then you wouldn't have to waste all this time kissing up on him or holdin him tight. whatever you were doing b/c i sure as hell wasn't paying you any attention while you were doing that. and he was kind of confused by it. so anyway then she buys me a cosmo. hey. i'm always good w/free drinks. but that bitch was tryin to patronize me and i don't take to kindly to that.
so whatever we head over to another club district. btw if you are a bar head/alcoholic/club rat and not too picky, pittsburgh is the city for you. this place has so many club areas its not even funny. south side, carson street, the strip district (one of my favorites, and no its not a bunch of strip clubs. i don't even know that there's one), station square. i'm sure i'm missing something. and then bars EVERYWHERE. But anyway. So we headed to this club Matrix (ignore the techno on the website! lol). Big fan of Matrix. But it could be the 3rd free drink I got. This time it was a cranberry and vodka drink. A cape cod. Yesss! (I'm working on learning drink names).
So I'm loving it up in there. There are 3 rooms. An 80s room, a techno room and a top 40s (meaning mostly negro music) room. You know where I stayed. Ok maybe you don't. the negro music room. not a big fan of the old school. its too hit or miss for me. plus i like to hear the newest shit possible. not quite the right club for that but you get what i'm sayin. so whatever. "marcus" (co-worker) takes me on the tour of the place to show me all the rooms. and that's when i split my pants. you know that fat man scoop song "drop"? yeah that shit came on and you know i had to show off. split the pants but no one knew. i just tied my jacket around my waist and kept it moving. it was great!
we go get the rest of the crew to bring them into the room. i start dancing and i danced w/this dude for mad long b/c it was just dancing. there was no, what's your name, can i hold your hand, inappropriate touchin. none of that. just do it. that's how its supposed to be. like a one night stand on the dance floor. see how i'm not even looking into your face? i have no idea what you even look like. names are immaterial. i'm not going home w/you tonight anyway and you're not getting my number. lolol. so yeah, i was having a good ol time showin out dancin w/ol buddy. then we stopped dancing and i was dancing by myself for about 3 seconds when some other random dude comes up breaking all the rules. asking my name, do i got a man, you not from here, you here for the nsbe convention (nat'l society of black engineers). why are you asking me all these questions?!! damn! is this an interview? i already got a job! just shut up and dance. and he couldn't even get down like the last dude. it just made me miss my baby. definitely one of my favorite people to dance with even before we were together. that's what i'm talking about!! i can always take you to the club! lol. the foundation of a good relationship, right?
miss i is still showin out. pee already!!! do it. just mark your territory. then if i get within smelling distance i'll get a whiff and know, oh ok that one's taken. i'm ignoring her ass. so ridiculous. esp. since everyone else is chillin and she's on 10. i need you to take that down to about a 4 1/2. don't nobody need all that. see? she done got me breakin all my english down so maybe she can understand it. and she had the nerve to tell me accounting's fun.... right. like a root canal. ain't that right michelle? lololol at the end of the night, i'm sure she gave me some trite good seeing you again bullshit. like i said i wasn't payin her ass that much attention. about as much as you can ignore that gnat buzzin around your ear. to an extent but its always on the periphery until finally you have to smack that ho. lolol. the good news is the hangover is gone and i am ready for more debauchery tonight. i killed it with water. fyi drink an entire glass of water (force yourself) after a night of too much drinking where the room is doing crazy things when you lay down, get up and get that water. it will cut that hangover in half or eliminate it all together. its great. that's all my lovelies! see you soon! if you didn't read the last installment on the state of black america, head over there. just scroll down. see it? good. now start reading.
so last night went out with a coworker who always knows the thursday nite hot spots. remember the one with the crazy girlfriend? yeah him. and i don't know if she planned to be there the whole time, but she sure as hell wasn't missin this night once she heard i was riding with him. 5 words. IN. SE. CUR. I. TY. does that count as five words? so anyway, we hit up this place called nakama that's a sushi bar by day for drinks. the largest tanqueray and tonic i've ever had in my life. i got the drink and was like ok who serves "adult beverages" in the regular coke or water glass?!! i shoulda known right there i was in for one hell of a night.
so we're standin around talking, (me and said co-worker), and his friend R shows up w/his gf Wendy right. Wendy and I start talkin b/c her and R are about to start up a long distance relationship and they don't know if they can do it or how hard it'll be, whatever. i'm like, you can do it you got it in you (dun dun dun, no eggs, dun dun dun, no baloney!-- sorry random brown sugar moments abound w/me, mostly b/c i watch it at least twice a month. already watched it 1 and 1/2 times this week. i'm thinkin about puttin it in right now. its like background noise for me. you know how most people have music? too distracting. i have brown sugar.) anyway. i was like yeah it'll be hard, but it won't be that bad b/c they'll see each other every weekend and they've been together for years already. come on now. if me and the bf can deal w/seeing each other only once a month, you can do every weekend for a little while. chill.
so anyway we're all havin a good time and in walks the gf. we'll call her "miss i." she walks in w/a friend who she's obviously been bad-mouthing me to, b/c she's all givin me the once over and shit. i'm like bitch don't try me, i ain't from pittsburgh. i'm from matthews bitch and we don't play that. HAHAHAHA!! you would be fallin out laughin if you saw where i grew up. two-story house in the suburbs of charlotte. hilarious!! but for real. i have a real nasty streak and i can be a bitch if i need to. don't try me. don't do it. so the g.f. gets all up in my bizness when wendy and i are talkin about my man askin all kinds of questions but still trying to be superior, esp. when she finds out how old i am. BITCH!!! STOP BEING SO INSECURE!! you ain't got to do all that!! i mean damn! wouldn't it just be easier to pee on him?! it would. then you wouldn't have to waste all this time kissing up on him or holdin him tight. whatever you were doing b/c i sure as hell wasn't paying you any attention while you were doing that. and he was kind of confused by it. so anyway then she buys me a cosmo. hey. i'm always good w/free drinks. but that bitch was tryin to patronize me and i don't take to kindly to that.
so whatever we head over to another club district. btw if you are a bar head/alcoholic/club rat and not too picky, pittsburgh is the city for you. this place has so many club areas its not even funny. south side, carson street, the strip district (one of my favorites, and no its not a bunch of strip clubs. i don't even know that there's one), station square. i'm sure i'm missing something. and then bars EVERYWHERE. But anyway. So we headed to this club Matrix (ignore the techno on the website! lol). Big fan of Matrix. But it could be the 3rd free drink I got. This time it was a cranberry and vodka drink. A cape cod. Yesss! (I'm working on learning drink names).
So I'm loving it up in there. There are 3 rooms. An 80s room, a techno room and a top 40s (meaning mostly negro music) room. You know where I stayed. Ok maybe you don't. the negro music room. not a big fan of the old school. its too hit or miss for me. plus i like to hear the newest shit possible. not quite the right club for that but you get what i'm sayin. so whatever. "marcus" (co-worker) takes me on the tour of the place to show me all the rooms. and that's when i split my pants. you know that fat man scoop song "drop"? yeah that shit came on and you know i had to show off. split the pants but no one knew. i just tied my jacket around my waist and kept it moving. it was great!
we go get the rest of the crew to bring them into the room. i start dancing and i danced w/this dude for mad long b/c it was just dancing. there was no, what's your name, can i hold your hand, inappropriate touchin. none of that. just do it. that's how its supposed to be. like a one night stand on the dance floor. see how i'm not even looking into your face? i have no idea what you even look like. names are immaterial. i'm not going home w/you tonight anyway and you're not getting my number. lolol. so yeah, i was having a good ol time showin out dancin w/ol buddy. then we stopped dancing and i was dancing by myself for about 3 seconds when some other random dude comes up breaking all the rules. asking my name, do i got a man, you not from here, you here for the nsbe convention (nat'l society of black engineers). why are you asking me all these questions?!! damn! is this an interview? i already got a job! just shut up and dance. and he couldn't even get down like the last dude. it just made me miss my baby. definitely one of my favorite people to dance with even before we were together. that's what i'm talking about!! i can always take you to the club! lol. the foundation of a good relationship, right?
miss i is still showin out. pee already!!! do it. just mark your territory. then if i get within smelling distance i'll get a whiff and know, oh ok that one's taken. i'm ignoring her ass. so ridiculous. esp. since everyone else is chillin and she's on 10. i need you to take that down to about a 4 1/2. don't nobody need all that. see? she done got me breakin all my english down so maybe she can understand it. and she had the nerve to tell me accounting's fun.... right. like a root canal. ain't that right michelle? lololol at the end of the night, i'm sure she gave me some trite good seeing you again bullshit. like i said i wasn't payin her ass that much attention. about as much as you can ignore that gnat buzzin around your ear. to an extent but its always on the periphery until finally you have to smack that ho. lolol. the good news is the hangover is gone and i am ready for more debauchery tonight. i killed it with water. fyi drink an entire glass of water (force yourself) after a night of too much drinking where the room is doing crazy things when you lay down, get up and get that water. it will cut that hangover in half or eliminate it all together. its great. that's all my lovelies! see you soon! if you didn't read the last installment on the state of black america, head over there. just scroll down. see it? good. now start reading.
3.28.2006
The State of Black America Pt IV: Rapists and Child Molesters
There is no doubt that rapists and child molesters exist in nearly every community. This, like many, is not an issue unique to the Black community. However, we seem to push our issues to the side. We refuse to get counseling when we have them or ignore them until we have convinced ourselves that they have gone away.
This post was inspired by R.Kelly. Most of you have probably seen the infamous tape. I had no less than 5 opportunities to watch it, but I couldn't. Why and how could I watch that? Pittsburgh is preparing itself to welcome the alleged molester to the town of three rivers. I heard the radio announcement lauding his concert appearance at Heinz Hall, one of the most hallowed musical establishments in the city. On and on the announcement went until I had to turn the radio off in disgust. Why is it all of that?
At least 4 of my friends have been raped, near raped, sexually assaulted or molested. And two of them within three months my senior year in high school. One of them was white, but it took a horrid tole on her life, too. The first was my friend Y. She was in college and one of her friends wanted to take her out on a date. She said sure and felt comfortable drinking with him. They got quite drunk. He walked her back to her room and thought she was so drunk she would willingly have sex with him. She wasn't THAT drunk. So she said no. He kept going. She said no again. He still kept going. She started crying and begged him to stop. He still kept going. He kept going until he had raped her of not only her trust, and security, but part of her spirit as well. By the time she called me, she had reported him to the university. He was found guilty, even though he denied it, because she had gotten a rape kit immediately afterward. He was expelled, but she still didn't feel safe. So she left school and went back home. Even 100 miles away from him, she couldn't sleep in her room alone so for months she slept on the floor in her parents' room.
I had another friend tell me she had been nearly raped. L was a junior in high school. A cheerleader, very popular, very pretty and a straight A student. Future valedictorian of her class. She had a lot of friends, both male and female. One day she went to the bathroom after school and her football player friend followed her. He tried to rape her. But she was able to get away. She told school officials but they didn't believe her. The policy, the school claimed, in these situations was to suspend both students. He was the star and had a game two days later so he was only suspended for a day. She was suspended for a week. And by that time, he had convinced most of the school she was a lying whore who wanted it. She found out who her real friends were. There were only about 3 of them.
My third friend to tell me she had been raped was R. She says she's been date raped multiple times, at least 5 She didn't really think it was a big deal, though. She said, she told them no she didn't want to, but they kept going anyway. She didn't think it was a big deal because in at least 3 of the cases, they had had sex before. I said, R, did you tell them you didn't want to? She said, yeah, and I pushed them off of me, but they kept going. This disturbed me because it made me wonder how many times it had happened to her that she couldn't count or how many other women thought it was acceptable for a man to do that when she had clearly said no.
My fourth friend was molested by her uncle. She never told her mother. He raped her multiple times when she was 9. He was her mother's brother. She still has to see him at family functions.
Only the first friend got any counseling. We have got to stop creating a culture of silence. We have got to stop making it the victim's fault. Well she wore short skirts, well she was drunk, well she, she, she. When its someone famous, whether an athlete or whatever, I never automatically believe he is a rapist. But I also do not automatically believe he is not a rapist. I wasn't there. I don't know. But I do know this. Rape is never about availability of sex. It is always about power. So no, I do not want to see the R. Kelly tape. No I do not want to go to the concert. And no, I will not be buying any of his music. Because while I do not know, I do know child pornography was found at his Florida home, and that nearly five years later, he has not gone to trial.
This post was inspired by R.Kelly. Most of you have probably seen the infamous tape. I had no less than 5 opportunities to watch it, but I couldn't. Why and how could I watch that? Pittsburgh is preparing itself to welcome the alleged molester to the town of three rivers. I heard the radio announcement lauding his concert appearance at Heinz Hall, one of the most hallowed musical establishments in the city. On and on the announcement went until I had to turn the radio off in disgust. Why is it all of that?
At least 4 of my friends have been raped, near raped, sexually assaulted or molested. And two of them within three months my senior year in high school. One of them was white, but it took a horrid tole on her life, too. The first was my friend Y. She was in college and one of her friends wanted to take her out on a date. She said sure and felt comfortable drinking with him. They got quite drunk. He walked her back to her room and thought she was so drunk she would willingly have sex with him. She wasn't THAT drunk. So she said no. He kept going. She said no again. He still kept going. She started crying and begged him to stop. He still kept going. He kept going until he had raped her of not only her trust, and security, but part of her spirit as well. By the time she called me, she had reported him to the university. He was found guilty, even though he denied it, because she had gotten a rape kit immediately afterward. He was expelled, but she still didn't feel safe. So she left school and went back home. Even 100 miles away from him, she couldn't sleep in her room alone so for months she slept on the floor in her parents' room.
I had another friend tell me she had been nearly raped. L was a junior in high school. A cheerleader, very popular, very pretty and a straight A student. Future valedictorian of her class. She had a lot of friends, both male and female. One day she went to the bathroom after school and her football player friend followed her. He tried to rape her. But she was able to get away. She told school officials but they didn't believe her. The policy, the school claimed, in these situations was to suspend both students. He was the star and had a game two days later so he was only suspended for a day. She was suspended for a week. And by that time, he had convinced most of the school she was a lying whore who wanted it. She found out who her real friends were. There were only about 3 of them.
My third friend to tell me she had been raped was R. She says she's been date raped multiple times, at least 5 She didn't really think it was a big deal, though. She said, she told them no she didn't want to, but they kept going anyway. She didn't think it was a big deal because in at least 3 of the cases, they had had sex before. I said, R, did you tell them you didn't want to? She said, yeah, and I pushed them off of me, but they kept going. This disturbed me because it made me wonder how many times it had happened to her that she couldn't count or how many other women thought it was acceptable for a man to do that when she had clearly said no.
My fourth friend was molested by her uncle. She never told her mother. He raped her multiple times when she was 9. He was her mother's brother. She still has to see him at family functions.
Only the first friend got any counseling. We have got to stop creating a culture of silence. We have got to stop making it the victim's fault. Well she wore short skirts, well she was drunk, well she, she, she. When its someone famous, whether an athlete or whatever, I never automatically believe he is a rapist. But I also do not automatically believe he is not a rapist. I wasn't there. I don't know. But I do know this. Rape is never about availability of sex. It is always about power. So no, I do not want to see the R. Kelly tape. No I do not want to go to the concert. And no, I will not be buying any of his music. Because while I do not know, I do know child pornography was found at his Florida home, and that nearly five years later, he has not gone to trial.
3.26.2006
Damn All of You
But especially Michelle for being the most recent person to insist I go to myspace and get a page. I decided to do some looking around. I said to myself before I even went, I'm just looking. But its like going shopping and you can afford it. If you see something you like, you look a little more, then a little more, and finally you just have to buy something. So I hope all of you are happy!!!! Especially you and you and you. But for real YOU. I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS YOU BITCH!! You and your damn peer pressure!! LAAAAAAAAAAA!! That was me trying to let off some steam. And it didn't work!! As if blogger isn't addictive enough. You give me crack with pictures. Thanks. For nothing.
P.S. You might want to come back in two days if you want to see me sane again. But I make no guarantees.
P.S. You might want to come back in two days if you want to see me sane again. But I make no guarantees.
3.24.2006
Chasing Me
I am determined to be successful. I'm hell bent on the shit. At one point, it was all about the awards. I had a teacher at Hampton who had 5 Emmys. I said, "Oh yeah, that's what I want." I want 5 Emmys by age 30. When I decided I wanted to be a photojournalist, it was Pulitzers. Now its the success that will make me happy and change the face of Black America. That's what I want. I want to propel us to new heights. To inspire children to reach for the best when all or most of their immediate influences are subpar.
You know when the Powerball was at an astronomical level and people were talking about what they would do if they won the lottery? Well, I thought hmm... I would start a production company and start making movies. Mostly documentaries about Black people. Well... I guess that's just what I should do. And then there are all these things I love to do and am good at. I know that sounds ridiculously vain but its true. You have to know your strengths in order to achieve. Otherwise you'll find yourself chasing failure and I'm not down with that. Why chase failure when you can chase success? Sometimes I get tired of being the familial model, though. I feel like both of my parents look to me to be the most successful person in the family. That shit is a burden sometimes. And that's not to say they don't want my sister to be successful, but I'm the oldest. So they expect me to do it first and lead the way. Be the shining example.
So the other day I'm walking the scripts up to the studio and I say to myself, I love to argue, research my point and win. What career is that? Duh. An attorney. But I just don't know about that. I did have an offer to go to law school for free though. I love school, but if it means I'll have to stay in Pittsburgh, no thanks.
BZ is talking about moving to Miami b/c she loves Florida. She said when she's there she just feels at home. I know its strange, but that's how I feel about DC. People always look at me like I'm crazy when I say that. But its my favorite city. I have to drive through/around DC to get to Hampton from here. Every single time I go through, I always think, damn. I don't want to keep driving. I want to stay here. I love that city. I don't know what it is. It just feels like home. And it doesn't even have to be in the city. Just on the outskirts and I'm already happy. I love that there are a minimum of 3 radio stations playing music I like. You know what else does it for me? That there is always something to do and a lot of people.
And then I love writing. I really do. But only non-fiction. I can't do the whole novel thing. That just ain't for me. So I'm also on this whole what is my life goal thing. And what will I do with my life. Its kind of fun. I'm glad to be 23 with a moderate level of success and little responsibility. And you know what, I really love my job. I love being in news. But I cannot live in Pittsburgh for more than 3 years. And I think even that is a stretch. A big one. I would have to have a significant raise and promotion to do that. I heard about an opening as a producer at one of the other stations here. I didn't apply because I am horrified at signing a contract requiring me to stay here for a minimum of 3 MORE years. That is appalling. So like I said, I'm still working on it. I don't know what I want, but I love that. I have plenty of time to "find" myself. Self! Where are you?!
You know when the Powerball was at an astronomical level and people were talking about what they would do if they won the lottery? Well, I thought hmm... I would start a production company and start making movies. Mostly documentaries about Black people. Well... I guess that's just what I should do. And then there are all these things I love to do and am good at. I know that sounds ridiculously vain but its true. You have to know your strengths in order to achieve. Otherwise you'll find yourself chasing failure and I'm not down with that. Why chase failure when you can chase success? Sometimes I get tired of being the familial model, though. I feel like both of my parents look to me to be the most successful person in the family. That shit is a burden sometimes. And that's not to say they don't want my sister to be successful, but I'm the oldest. So they expect me to do it first and lead the way. Be the shining example.
So the other day I'm walking the scripts up to the studio and I say to myself, I love to argue, research my point and win. What career is that? Duh. An attorney. But I just don't know about that. I did have an offer to go to law school for free though. I love school, but if it means I'll have to stay in Pittsburgh, no thanks.
BZ is talking about moving to Miami b/c she loves Florida. She said when she's there she just feels at home. I know its strange, but that's how I feel about DC. People always look at me like I'm crazy when I say that. But its my favorite city. I have to drive through/around DC to get to Hampton from here. Every single time I go through, I always think, damn. I don't want to keep driving. I want to stay here. I love that city. I don't know what it is. It just feels like home. And it doesn't even have to be in the city. Just on the outskirts and I'm already happy. I love that there are a minimum of 3 radio stations playing music I like. You know what else does it for me? That there is always something to do and a lot of people.
And then I love writing. I really do. But only non-fiction. I can't do the whole novel thing. That just ain't for me. So I'm also on this whole what is my life goal thing. And what will I do with my life. Its kind of fun. I'm glad to be 23 with a moderate level of success and little responsibility. And you know what, I really love my job. I love being in news. But I cannot live in Pittsburgh for more than 3 years. And I think even that is a stretch. A big one. I would have to have a significant raise and promotion to do that. I heard about an opening as a producer at one of the other stations here. I didn't apply because I am horrified at signing a contract requiring me to stay here for a minimum of 3 MORE years. That is appalling. So like I said, I'm still working on it. I don't know what I want, but I love that. I have plenty of time to "find" myself. Self! Where are you?!
3.22.2006
Racist Children, A 20-minute Ipods and Hot Rock Rubbin
Aight so here is the promised second random post. First let me just say, for everyone who is reading this and did not know me in college, I am a college basketball/march madness ho! I loooove me some march madness, more specifically DUKE!! Whoo hoo!! I love the best rivalry in college basketball. If you have to ask, let me school you. Its Duke-Carolina. So today this guy at work tries to tell me that Memphis is winning the championship. I'm like, no way. He says I'll be you Duke will not win. I'm honest. I know it will be a surprise if Duke wins. But not really any more than any other team. I mean really. Who is the team you've known all year. You knew ok its _______'s year? There isn't one. We've been talking about it over at Rell's Place all season. But Memphis? I'm goin w/no. So he tries me. So I did what I always did when some man underestimated me. I went straight to ESPN. Let's compare. All day it was straight stats, players, strength of schedule (my personal favorite). Don't do it. He finally let it go (for most likely the first time in his life) when he realized he wasn't winnin this one. Uh uh. That was fun! Very exciting! :) lol I LOVE to argue.
So I went to Columbus and went to shopping heaven! It was like *insert angelic choir* "ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Ohhhh it was so great. My favorite store, Nordstroms! Express, Lucky Brand Jeans, Guess, BCBG, Gap, Apple (computers, not like the kind you eat as the bf thought. :) he's so adorable), this store called Ruehl that was like Hollister upscale, pretty cute, the biggest Victoria's Secret I've ever seen in my life!! great!!, and 4 day spas. And on and on. We were there for 9 hours. Yes, you read that right. 9! We ate twice, got hot rock rubs, and shop, shop, shopped!! It was great! No, I'm not rich and I don't make that much, but I also don't spend that much. I go shopping once every month or two. So its nice. Me and my friend Michelle the accountant from the good old H of U met in the middle. She lives in Ft. Wayne, IN.... right. That's why she needed to get thee hell to civilization... and negroes. Lol.
So she asked me, "Do you think children can be racist?" I was like, "Hmmm... no..." Then she tells me about this kid of one of her co-workers who runs and hides every time he sees her. And guess what the co-worker said, "Oh he just likes blondes." I fell out laughing. Hahahha!! She swears that's code for "he don't like niggers." Lolololol!! So then when I'm waiting for her to finish trying on clothes at Macy's, these two little white toddlers can't stop grinning at me. So I decide, no. Children are not racist.
We walk by the Apple store and I'm like ooh! I get a discount with Apple w/my company (hot right). We go in to look around and she's like I think I'm going to buy an Ipod. She has the shuffle but wants to buy the big one. The real deal. So I'm the bad influence and I'm like, yeah, sure. You're a corporate america accountant, you can afford. (Yes most of my friends are hugely successful for new college grads! :D I'm so proud of us!) So anyway, she does (no, not w/my corporate discount.. ooh la la I have a corporate discount! hehehehe). Then spends the next 20 minutes depressed about spending 425 in the first hour. So I'm like, well then return it. I'm that girl too. Just do what makes you happy, geez. Lol. So she does, and creates the 20 minute Ipod. She was so cool and hip and happenin for 20 minutes.
So the massage right. My first. I hated it. I know that sounds stupid and kinda crazy, but y'all know how I feel about strangers touching me. I hate it!! And especially when its some whispering white woman touching me like my man should. Too much. Then the rocks are all heated to 150 degrees. Ok again. Too much. And you're supposed to say something but I was so bothered by the whole idea that I was like uh uh. The fact that I walk in its all dark and candlelit, there's a table w/a sheet and she's like ok remove everything and then get under the sheet. ewww. ok I watch Style network more than the next person so I've seen it, but that was not cool w/me. Not even a little bit.
My mom's bf (whoops in that case I mean only best friend, not the double bf like me), our soror Karen says she doesn't like massages for the same reason. Now, being that I don't like people touching me, that should've clicked for me. But I was like, "What's she talking about? Its professional." Umm.. no. And excuse me. Its called a "hot stone massage." I mean I understand why they call it that. Because who would go if it was called a "hot rock rubbin?" i wouldn't. Or as Mich says, "Hot rock body ruuuuub." You gotta make the ugly face ill grill when you say rub (imagine you're doing the sexy TI snarl) lolol. No, no. That's not right. Try it again. This time try the Que ill grill. Now say ruuuuuuuuub. Hold the "u" out. Ruuuuuuub. There you go! Owww! That was hot! Lol. I'm practicing. I'm going home in a month. Its bad enough that I will know maybe 3 songs played the entire night. I must be able to at the very least lean wit it rock wit it and make the ill grill. Or I will be shunned. My friends will disown me and I'll be all alone. It will be so sad.
And now I think my cds have been stolen. I'm depressed. All of my 112 cds, my trey songz, my raheem devaughn. those are the ones i'll miss the most. i'm still in denial. like oh they're still here. they're just misplaced. but there's nowhere they could be. i think they were stolen. i'm gonna go jump off of something real quick. if you don't here from me for a couple of days, that's where i am. no i'm kidding. wasn't that hilarious. just kidding. i know it wasn't funny but hey i have to laugh so i don't go slit my wrists. oh shit i'm doing it again aren't i? damn that morbid streak. i've known a lot of dead people really young so death is not a big deal to me. not like in the fake gangsta "i'm always ready to die way," but in the "part of life is death" kinda way. i plan my funeral all the time. ok this last paragraph has weirded you out enough i think so i'll just go now. kisses! :) lolol
So I went to Columbus and went to shopping heaven! It was like *insert angelic choir* "ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Ohhhh it was so great. My favorite store, Nordstroms! Express, Lucky Brand Jeans, Guess, BCBG, Gap, Apple (computers, not like the kind you eat as the bf thought. :) he's so adorable), this store called Ruehl that was like Hollister upscale, pretty cute, the biggest Victoria's Secret I've ever seen in my life!! great!!, and 4 day spas. And on and on. We were there for 9 hours. Yes, you read that right. 9! We ate twice, got hot rock rubs, and shop, shop, shopped!! It was great! No, I'm not rich and I don't make that much, but I also don't spend that much. I go shopping once every month or two. So its nice. Me and my friend Michelle the accountant from the good old H of U met in the middle. She lives in Ft. Wayne, IN.... right. That's why she needed to get thee hell to civilization... and negroes. Lol.
So she asked me, "Do you think children can be racist?" I was like, "Hmmm... no..." Then she tells me about this kid of one of her co-workers who runs and hides every time he sees her. And guess what the co-worker said, "Oh he just likes blondes." I fell out laughing. Hahahha!! She swears that's code for "he don't like niggers." Lolololol!! So then when I'm waiting for her to finish trying on clothes at Macy's, these two little white toddlers can't stop grinning at me. So I decide, no. Children are not racist.
We walk by the Apple store and I'm like ooh! I get a discount with Apple w/my company (hot right). We go in to look around and she's like I think I'm going to buy an Ipod. She has the shuffle but wants to buy the big one. The real deal. So I'm the bad influence and I'm like, yeah, sure. You're a corporate america accountant, you can afford. (Yes most of my friends are hugely successful for new college grads! :D I'm so proud of us!) So anyway, she does (no, not w/my corporate discount.. ooh la la I have a corporate discount! hehehehe). Then spends the next 20 minutes depressed about spending 425 in the first hour. So I'm like, well then return it. I'm that girl too. Just do what makes you happy, geez. Lol. So she does, and creates the 20 minute Ipod. She was so cool and hip and happenin for 20 minutes.
So the massage right. My first. I hated it. I know that sounds stupid and kinda crazy, but y'all know how I feel about strangers touching me. I hate it!! And especially when its some whispering white woman touching me like my man should. Too much. Then the rocks are all heated to 150 degrees. Ok again. Too much. And you're supposed to say something but I was so bothered by the whole idea that I was like uh uh. The fact that I walk in its all dark and candlelit, there's a table w/a sheet and she's like ok remove everything and then get under the sheet. ewww. ok I watch Style network more than the next person so I've seen it, but that was not cool w/me. Not even a little bit.
My mom's bf (whoops in that case I mean only best friend, not the double bf like me), our soror Karen says she doesn't like massages for the same reason. Now, being that I don't like people touching me, that should've clicked for me. But I was like, "What's she talking about? Its professional." Umm.. no. And excuse me. Its called a "hot stone massage." I mean I understand why they call it that. Because who would go if it was called a "hot rock rubbin?" i wouldn't. Or as Mich says, "Hot rock body ruuuuub." You gotta make the ugly face ill grill when you say rub (imagine you're doing the sexy TI snarl) lolol. No, no. That's not right. Try it again. This time try the Que ill grill. Now say ruuuuuuuuub. Hold the "u" out. Ruuuuuuub. There you go! Owww! That was hot! Lol. I'm practicing. I'm going home in a month. Its bad enough that I will know maybe 3 songs played the entire night. I must be able to at the very least lean wit it rock wit it and make the ill grill. Or I will be shunned. My friends will disown me and I'll be all alone. It will be so sad.
And now I think my cds have been stolen. I'm depressed. All of my 112 cds, my trey songz, my raheem devaughn. those are the ones i'll miss the most. i'm still in denial. like oh they're still here. they're just misplaced. but there's nowhere they could be. i think they were stolen. i'm gonna go jump off of something real quick. if you don't here from me for a couple of days, that's where i am. no i'm kidding. wasn't that hilarious. just kidding. i know it wasn't funny but hey i have to laugh so i don't go slit my wrists. oh shit i'm doing it again aren't i? damn that morbid streak. i've known a lot of dead people really young so death is not a big deal to me. not like in the fake gangsta "i'm always ready to die way," but in the "part of life is death" kinda way. i plan my funeral all the time. ok this last paragraph has weirded you out enough i think so i'll just go now. kisses! :) lolol
3.21.2006
Where you been girl?!!
I know you're saying to yourself, "Self, where has that jameil1922 been?" Well I'll tell you, all over creation and nowhere at the same time. I know you have also said to yourself, "Self, jameil1922 is gettin awfully deep into my black business up in heah, when is she going to do one of those crazy sidetrack bob-ish things again?" Well, here it is! And today, there will be two. You know why? Because I can do that. Also b/c I will not have time to write all of it at once.
So the schedule has slowed down considerably, thank GOD!! I was in danger of losing it. So its lent right? I "gave up" soda. All that means is that I have drank one soda a week (or two) instead of 4. And there have been times where soda was available and I drank water or juice. I'm very proud of myself so THERE! Lol. I know, so weak right? Anyway. Pittsburgh is more than 50% Catholic. That means there are fish sandwiches on sale everywhere here. Arby's, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, the Italian Market. And do you know I went to Taco Bell and there were at least 5 "Lent Specials"????? Hahahahaha!! How hilarious is that?! Its like the whole area is like, yeah, you're not gonna catch me slippin, no way! I will be offering my meatless options, yes indeedy!
And on St. Patty's Day, Al on the Today Show said "It's noon somewhere!" when he was about to have a drink! I second that emotion! But then again, since the latest I go in to work is 430 in the morning, I usually only drink before 7 anyway!
I had this crazy dream last night that Cole from Martin was one of my boys. So we're in this club (he was himself, not Cole, so of regular common sense, but still funny) and he decides he's going to carry me everywhere. Not like a baby or on his back but like w/his elbows under my armpits. Strange but hilarious. He does this for a good 20 minutes. Talking to people, dancing, leading a conga line. The whole 9. It was great. Then we decide to throw a party. We're in VA/West Va. for some reason. We go to this grocery store and our friends steal a case of lobster. Then they decide to pay for some of the other stuff they stole. So one of them comes back in with a bag of greens with a giant live fish flopping around inside. They throw the fish back and go to pay. O...kay right? Lol.
March Madness is ever be where!! I love it!! But only b-ball. I hate the car sales, women's networks and everywhere else that tries to get it on it. I'm like booooooo! I love, love, LOVE this time of year! George Mason knocks out Carolina (kisses rell! :O) lolol). Duke still doin it big then. I would say 80 % of the teams I picked are out. Ok I just checked again. I'm doing better than I thought. I picked 10 of the Sweet 16 teams. That's not bad for March Madness.. But I had Pitt in the Elite 8.
Congrats to my little sister for crossing the burning sands into the Illustrious Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, Omicron Eta Chapter.
Block Party. If you love Dead Prez, Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, the Roots and the vibe they all have, you need to go RIGHT NOW to see it. (But finish reading first). The joint is tight. I wanted to stand up in the movie and act like I was in the concert. But I was w/a white person. And the only Black person out of 7 people in the theater (it was the middle of the day). I didn't want to be stereotypical. Lolol.
Before that I went to the Church Brew Works. Just wrong. But the food was so good. I had the potato and leek soup; the spinach, feta and artichoke dip; and the sun-dried tomato pesto pasta. Deelish!! Love it! :)
Less than two weeks ago, there wasn't a day below 60 in the five-day forecast. This week there isn't a day above 38. What kind of ish is that?!! Its almost April!! Give us us free!! Down with winter, down with winter! (That's my picket sign). Winter is now a part of my boycott on holidays. How fitting seeing as how the holidays I'm boycotting are in said season.
My Rachael Ray book is the BOMB!! Too great! Love it so much. Miss A asked me if it had vegetarian/vegan dishes. Yeah girl! But let me tell you about the two I've made since the book. The first was a chicken cacciatore stoup (thicker than a soup, thinner than a stew). It had chicken, garlic, onion, spinach, mushrooms, chicken stock, tomatoes. It was DEEEELISH! (To quote the illustrious Rachael Ray). The other meal was gently seared pork chops w/a homemade mushroom gravy, baby red skin smashed sour cream potatoes, and spinach. So great, my brother, who was in town for a day left me no leftovers. I was a little pissed about that b/c I love leftovers.
So the schedule has slowed down considerably, thank GOD!! I was in danger of losing it. So its lent right? I "gave up" soda. All that means is that I have drank one soda a week (or two) instead of 4. And there have been times where soda was available and I drank water or juice. I'm very proud of myself so THERE! Lol. I know, so weak right? Anyway. Pittsburgh is more than 50% Catholic. That means there are fish sandwiches on sale everywhere here. Arby's, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, the Italian Market. And do you know I went to Taco Bell and there were at least 5 "Lent Specials"????? Hahahahaha!! How hilarious is that?! Its like the whole area is like, yeah, you're not gonna catch me slippin, no way! I will be offering my meatless options, yes indeedy!
And on St. Patty's Day, Al on the Today Show said "It's noon somewhere!" when he was about to have a drink! I second that emotion! But then again, since the latest I go in to work is 430 in the morning, I usually only drink before 7 anyway!
I had this crazy dream last night that Cole from Martin was one of my boys. So we're in this club (he was himself, not Cole, so of regular common sense, but still funny) and he decides he's going to carry me everywhere. Not like a baby or on his back but like w/his elbows under my armpits. Strange but hilarious. He does this for a good 20 minutes. Talking to people, dancing, leading a conga line. The whole 9. It was great. Then we decide to throw a party. We're in VA/West Va. for some reason. We go to this grocery store and our friends steal a case of lobster. Then they decide to pay for some of the other stuff they stole. So one of them comes back in with a bag of greens with a giant live fish flopping around inside. They throw the fish back and go to pay. O...kay right? Lol.
March Madness is ever be where!! I love it!! But only b-ball. I hate the car sales, women's networks and everywhere else that tries to get it on it. I'm like booooooo! I love, love, LOVE this time of year! George Mason knocks out Carolina (kisses rell! :O) lolol). Duke still doin it big then. I would say 80 % of the teams I picked are out. Ok I just checked again. I'm doing better than I thought. I picked 10 of the Sweet 16 teams. That's not bad for March Madness.. But I had Pitt in the Elite 8.
Congrats to my little sister for crossing the burning sands into the Illustrious Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, Omicron Eta Chapter.
Block Party. If you love Dead Prez, Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, the Roots and the vibe they all have, you need to go RIGHT NOW to see it. (But finish reading first). The joint is tight. I wanted to stand up in the movie and act like I was in the concert. But I was w/a white person. And the only Black person out of 7 people in the theater (it was the middle of the day). I didn't want to be stereotypical. Lolol.
Before that I went to the Church Brew Works. Just wrong. But the food was so good. I had the potato and leek soup; the spinach, feta and artichoke dip; and the sun-dried tomato pesto pasta. Deelish!! Love it! :)
Less than two weeks ago, there wasn't a day below 60 in the five-day forecast. This week there isn't a day above 38. What kind of ish is that?!! Its almost April!! Give us us free!! Down with winter, down with winter! (That's my picket sign). Winter is now a part of my boycott on holidays. How fitting seeing as how the holidays I'm boycotting are in said season.
My Rachael Ray book is the BOMB!! Too great! Love it so much. Miss A asked me if it had vegetarian/vegan dishes. Yeah girl! But let me tell you about the two I've made since the book. The first was a chicken cacciatore stoup (thicker than a soup, thinner than a stew). It had chicken, garlic, onion, spinach, mushrooms, chicken stock, tomatoes. It was DEEEELISH! (To quote the illustrious Rachael Ray). The other meal was gently seared pork chops w/a homemade mushroom gravy, baby red skin smashed sour cream potatoes, and spinach. So great, my brother, who was in town for a day left me no leftovers. I was a little pissed about that b/c I love leftovers.
3.13.2006
State of Black America Part III: Hair
This post has been on my heart and mind for a long time. I have natural hair. But because in the south, I'm considered dark skinned, I've always been made to think and believe only light-skinned girls had long or "good" hair. But I had a good foundation. My mother, though light-skinned (relish the terms, people. get the message without getting caught up in that for now. we'll discuss "skin tones" in another part of the state of black america), never made me feel negatively about my hair. She always told me my hair was beautiful.
I used to want hair like my sister's because it was thick and long. Mine was short and "fine." Isn't fine a hilarious word to use for hair? Its like the consolation gift. Kind of like skinny people who like to be called "thin" or "slim." Call it like it is. I have thin and often weak hair. But its mine. I cannot and will not subscribe to the idea of "good hair." Believe it or not, there are people who still use this term. Its mine. My line sister has very curly hair, what most people would refer to as good hair, but she has just as hard a time controlling it as any other black woman.
I wanted to cut my hair and "go natural" for a long time before I did it. One of my male friends from home told me I should cut my hair because I have a great head shape. Isn't that hilarious?! Lol. That was back in high school. I just kind of laughed it off. I was afraid to cut my hair because I had been told I was ugly for too long. Then I started consulting people. All of my Hampton friends were all for it. My family was another story.
My father and my aunt tried their hardest to discourage me. I think that just strengthened my resolve. It made me stop and think for a while, then I did it. It took me the entire summer before my senior year. April 17, 2004 I did it. I went to my hair dresser and told her to cut it off. She was horrified. I think that made me want to do it even more. But by that point, I had made up my mind. There was no turning back. My hairdresser at home is in her 70s and couldn't do it. She just couldn't cut my hair. So the younger assistant did it and I loved it. The next week, I went to a natural hair place and got my hair twisted. My boyfriend at the time was so scared of me cutting my hair. Then he saw it and loved it. My mom loved it. Everyone I saw could not stop talking about how much they loved my hair. And it turned out my hair was soft and curly. Not at all like my new growth. And I had no idea what my natural hair felt like. But once I saw it again, I loved it. I wondered why I waited so long.
From Pittsburgh, my father asked why I would do that. Whatever he was trying to imply, I really didn't care. I was like forget it. It's done. I was scared to go back to school, though. I didn't know how people would react. But again, everyone loved it. Then I started, well continued to worry about how I would get a job in journalism w/natural hair. After I graduated and started looking for jobs in earnest, my aunt told me I should wear a wig to my interview. She and her husband tag teamed me. They said I could do whatever I wanted once I had the job, but I would not get a job with my hair like this. When I finally got an interview up here, I said, you know what? I don't care. I'm going to wear my hair naturally, and if I don't get the job, then its not meant to be, but I am NOT changing who I am. They loved my resume, the 6 stories I wrote in 30 minutes, and my personality. Exactly a week later I started at my current job. Without feeling like a sell out.
I hear all the necks and eyes rolling of the women with perms. Hear me out. That's MY personal journey and struggle. We all have our own journeys. That's the point. We have come a long way in our hair struggle, but we have a long way to go. Not only do we not accept ourselves, we don't accept each other. Embrace your hair, whether its natural or relaxed, curly, straight, "fine," thick, nappy. Whether you're tender headed or whatever. Its you and its your hair. Don't let anyone tell you what to do with it. Love it. You'll miss it when its gone.
So what's the state of black america? We're not there yet. We are still letting what other people think and feel sculpt how we think and feel about our hair. That must stop if we are going to continue to advance. Be who you are. One day, I'm rockin the fro.
I used to want hair like my sister's because it was thick and long. Mine was short and "fine." Isn't fine a hilarious word to use for hair? Its like the consolation gift. Kind of like skinny people who like to be called "thin" or "slim." Call it like it is. I have thin and often weak hair. But its mine. I cannot and will not subscribe to the idea of "good hair." Believe it or not, there are people who still use this term. Its mine. My line sister has very curly hair, what most people would refer to as good hair, but she has just as hard a time controlling it as any other black woman.
I wanted to cut my hair and "go natural" for a long time before I did it. One of my male friends from home told me I should cut my hair because I have a great head shape. Isn't that hilarious?! Lol. That was back in high school. I just kind of laughed it off. I was afraid to cut my hair because I had been told I was ugly for too long. Then I started consulting people. All of my Hampton friends were all for it. My family was another story.
My father and my aunt tried their hardest to discourage me. I think that just strengthened my resolve. It made me stop and think for a while, then I did it. It took me the entire summer before my senior year. April 17, 2004 I did it. I went to my hair dresser and told her to cut it off. She was horrified. I think that made me want to do it even more. But by that point, I had made up my mind. There was no turning back. My hairdresser at home is in her 70s and couldn't do it. She just couldn't cut my hair. So the younger assistant did it and I loved it. The next week, I went to a natural hair place and got my hair twisted. My boyfriend at the time was so scared of me cutting my hair. Then he saw it and loved it. My mom loved it. Everyone I saw could not stop talking about how much they loved my hair. And it turned out my hair was soft and curly. Not at all like my new growth. And I had no idea what my natural hair felt like. But once I saw it again, I loved it. I wondered why I waited so long.
From Pittsburgh, my father asked why I would do that. Whatever he was trying to imply, I really didn't care. I was like forget it. It's done. I was scared to go back to school, though. I didn't know how people would react. But again, everyone loved it. Then I started, well continued to worry about how I would get a job in journalism w/natural hair. After I graduated and started looking for jobs in earnest, my aunt told me I should wear a wig to my interview. She and her husband tag teamed me. They said I could do whatever I wanted once I had the job, but I would not get a job with my hair like this. When I finally got an interview up here, I said, you know what? I don't care. I'm going to wear my hair naturally, and if I don't get the job, then its not meant to be, but I am NOT changing who I am. They loved my resume, the 6 stories I wrote in 30 minutes, and my personality. Exactly a week later I started at my current job. Without feeling like a sell out.
I hear all the necks and eyes rolling of the women with perms. Hear me out. That's MY personal journey and struggle. We all have our own journeys. That's the point. We have come a long way in our hair struggle, but we have a long way to go. Not only do we not accept ourselves, we don't accept each other. Embrace your hair, whether its natural or relaxed, curly, straight, "fine," thick, nappy. Whether you're tender headed or whatever. Its you and its your hair. Don't let anyone tell you what to do with it. Love it. You'll miss it when its gone.
So what's the state of black america? We're not there yet. We are still letting what other people think and feel sculpt how we think and feel about our hair. That must stop if we are going to continue to advance. Be who you are. One day, I'm rockin the fro.
3.06.2006
Can You Repeat that Please?
And the OSCAR goes to.... y'all know who I'm talking about. I know I'm late, but I've been busy. I just got off of an 8-day week, and celebrated by meeting the b.f. in the middle for a one-day love fest. It was great. You may have it bad if you will drive 8-hours roundtrip in less than 24 hours. Wow...
Anyway. I used to be a HUGE 36 fan back at the good ol h of u. Like I had a playlist that was all 36 and UGK. My roomie soph. year was from NJ. Sooo anti-Southern music, right? By the end of the year she had favorite 36 and UGK songs!! How hilarious is that? You know if she went home singing them, her people would've looked at her like she had sprouted a new head. I also passed the Southern love on to some of my New York friends.
best line of oscar night: in case you're keeping score, martin scorsese: 0 oscars, 36mafia, one.
From the b.f.: Crunchy Black, Juicy J and DJ Paul win an OSCAR for best Original Song from a Motion Picture!!!!!! "You know it's hard out here for a pimp. When you try to get da money for da rent. When da Cadillac and gas money's spent. You'll have a whole lot a b!+che$ jumping ship. FREE PIMP C" apparently he does not read the blog. BTW, this goes along w/my thing about rappers and their names. And these two are absolutely in the running for wackest rapper names ever: Jordan Hunter and Paul Beauregard. Word? Jordan and Paul? Wow.
So I got a flurry of emails and text messages and phone calls about this. I didn't believe my l.s. when she said 36 got an oscar (of course i was sleeping thru the actual event). Here are a few AP blurbs written about the group.
THREE 6 MAFIA: WINNING IS EASY FOR THIS PIMP SONG
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Juici J of Three 6 Mafia says he was running around so much backstage at the Oscars, people must have thought the police were chasing him. But his running was for joy -- as the rap group picked up the Oscar for best song. The Memphis-based rappers did "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," the song from the movie "Hustle and Flow," without cursing or the graphic language that made producers of the show cringe. Not only did they pull off a major upset with the win, they were the only Oscar winners to take to the stage to pick up their trophy clad in throwback jerseys, sneakers and bling-encrusted overlays on their teeth. During the performance, they were joined by Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, who also performed the song in the movie. At one point, she substituted the word "witches" for one of the words in the original lyrics.
Hip-hoppers Three 6 Mafia `Pimp' the Oscars
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Oscar people showed they were ready to embrace a song called "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," and the hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia couldn't have been happier -- or more surprised.
When Three 6 Mafia's name was called Sunday as the winner of the Oscar for best original song, its members bounded joyfully onto the stage, where they offered shout-outs to friends.
"I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't stand still," Jordan "Juicy J" Houston said backstage. "I had to run somewhere. I started to run somewhere. People thought the police was probably chasing me somewhere."
Host Jon Stewart was especially impressed.
"That's how you accept an Oscar!" he gushed.
Stewart joked that the Memphis group might have to "get into it" with Itzhak Perlman's "posse." The classical violinist had earlier performed a medley of Oscar-nominated film scores.
Really? Hip hoppers?
Here's how one of my friends responded to the first article:
of the many things wrong with this, these are my key points of irritation:
1. grills. at the grammys? maybe. at the oscars? are you kidding me??
2. "running around backstage like police was chasing him". geez. stereotypical much?
3. juici j. enough said.
Now, perhaps you are not very familiar with the level of nonsense 36 has rapped about. So let me give you a few song titles to help you along. Please remember this song is now in the same category w/Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." Now the song titles.
Mafia FT Trillville- Who I Iz
Juicy J - Slob On My Knob
Project Pat-Azz Clap
Who Gives A Fuck Where U From
Project Pat-Gel & Weave Breakdown
36 Mafia FT Fiend - Get The Fuck Out My Face
Fuck That Shit
36 Mafia, UGK - Sippin On Syrup
Lord Infamous - Where Is Da' Bud
Project Pat- We Gon’ Rumble
DJ Paul-Still Gettin My Dick Sucked
36 Mafia-Weak Azz Bitch
Who Run It
Hit a Muthafucka
I'm So Hi
Mafia Niggaz
Hook Up W/ Hoes
From da Back
Fuck Y'all Hoes
Where da Cheese At
Tongue Ring
Barrin' You Bitches
Whatcha Know
Act Like You Know Me (Point 'Em Out)
Take a Bump
Ridin Spinners
Ass and Titties
Playa Why You Hating
J Lo Booty
Two Way Freak
Late Night Tip
Baby Mama
Don’t Turn Around
Let Me Hit That
Testin My Gangsta
That is not anywhere near the full list of their songs. Now, you don't even want to know how many of those songs I know most of the words to. I don't want to talk about it. And I'm sure some of you are surprised by how many you know, as well. "Testin My Gangsta" is one of my favorites. And tho I'm from the South, I was pretty sheltered, so I had never heard most of these songs until I met people from St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans and strangely enough, Richmond. That's a hood city on the low.
Also, the b.f. calls me "Juici J" occasionally. I have now asked him to only refer to me in that manner if he is going to use the proper title: Oscar Winner Juici J.
Anyway. I used to be a HUGE 36 fan back at the good ol h of u. Like I had a playlist that was all 36 and UGK. My roomie soph. year was from NJ. Sooo anti-Southern music, right? By the end of the year she had favorite 36 and UGK songs!! How hilarious is that? You know if she went home singing them, her people would've looked at her like she had sprouted a new head. I also passed the Southern love on to some of my New York friends.
best line of oscar night: in case you're keeping score, martin scorsese: 0 oscars, 36mafia, one.
From the b.f.: Crunchy Black, Juicy J and DJ Paul win an OSCAR for best Original Song from a Motion Picture!!!!!! "You know it's hard out here for a pimp. When you try to get da money for da rent. When da Cadillac and gas money's spent. You'll have a whole lot a b!+che$ jumping ship. FREE PIMP C" apparently he does not read the blog. BTW, this goes along w/my thing about rappers and their names. And these two are absolutely in the running for wackest rapper names ever: Jordan Hunter and Paul Beauregard. Word? Jordan and Paul? Wow.
So I got a flurry of emails and text messages and phone calls about this. I didn't believe my l.s. when she said 36 got an oscar (of course i was sleeping thru the actual event). Here are a few AP blurbs written about the group.
THREE 6 MAFIA: WINNING IS EASY FOR THIS PIMP SONG
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Juici J of Three 6 Mafia says he was running around so much backstage at the Oscars, people must have thought the police were chasing him. But his running was for joy -- as the rap group picked up the Oscar for best song. The Memphis-based rappers did "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," the song from the movie "Hustle and Flow," without cursing or the graphic language that made producers of the show cringe. Not only did they pull off a major upset with the win, they were the only Oscar winners to take to the stage to pick up their trophy clad in throwback jerseys, sneakers and bling-encrusted overlays on their teeth. During the performance, they were joined by Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, who also performed the song in the movie. At one point, she substituted the word "witches" for one of the words in the original lyrics.
Hip-hoppers Three 6 Mafia `Pimp' the Oscars
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Oscar people showed they were ready to embrace a song called "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," and the hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia couldn't have been happier -- or more surprised.
When Three 6 Mafia's name was called Sunday as the winner of the Oscar for best original song, its members bounded joyfully onto the stage, where they offered shout-outs to friends.
"I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't stand still," Jordan "Juicy J" Houston said backstage. "I had to run somewhere. I started to run somewhere. People thought the police was probably chasing me somewhere."
Host Jon Stewart was especially impressed.
"That's how you accept an Oscar!" he gushed.
Stewart joked that the Memphis group might have to "get into it" with Itzhak Perlman's "posse." The classical violinist had earlier performed a medley of Oscar-nominated film scores.
Really? Hip hoppers?
Here's how one of my friends responded to the first article:
of the many things wrong with this, these are my key points of irritation:
1. grills. at the grammys? maybe. at the oscars? are you kidding me??
2. "running around backstage like police was chasing him". geez. stereotypical much?
3. juici j. enough said.
Now, perhaps you are not very familiar with the level of nonsense 36 has rapped about. So let me give you a few song titles to help you along. Please remember this song is now in the same category w/Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." Now the song titles.
Mafia FT Trillville- Who I Iz
Juicy J - Slob On My Knob
Project Pat-Azz Clap
Who Gives A Fuck Where U From
Project Pat-Gel & Weave Breakdown
36 Mafia FT Fiend - Get The Fuck Out My Face
Fuck That Shit
36 Mafia, UGK - Sippin On Syrup
Lord Infamous - Where Is Da' Bud
Project Pat- We Gon’ Rumble
DJ Paul-Still Gettin My Dick Sucked
36 Mafia-Weak Azz Bitch
Who Run It
Hit a Muthafucka
I'm So Hi
Mafia Niggaz
Hook Up W/ Hoes
From da Back
Fuck Y'all Hoes
Where da Cheese At
Tongue Ring
Barrin' You Bitches
Whatcha Know
Act Like You Know Me (Point 'Em Out)
Take a Bump
Ridin Spinners
Ass and Titties
Playa Why You Hating
J Lo Booty
Two Way Freak
Late Night Tip
Baby Mama
Don’t Turn Around
Let Me Hit That
Testin My Gangsta
That is not anywhere near the full list of their songs. Now, you don't even want to know how many of those songs I know most of the words to. I don't want to talk about it. And I'm sure some of you are surprised by how many you know, as well. "Testin My Gangsta" is one of my favorites. And tho I'm from the South, I was pretty sheltered, so I had never heard most of these songs until I met people from St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans and strangely enough, Richmond. That's a hood city on the low.
Also, the b.f. calls me "Juici J" occasionally. I have now asked him to only refer to me in that manner if he is going to use the proper title: Oscar Winner Juici J.
3.02.2006
The State of Black America Part II: Katrina
Who is tired of hearing about the people affected by Katrina? Raise your hand. If your hand is in the air put it down and give it to me so I can smack it. Then read on.
If you're wondering why the Katrina debacle is still a story 6 months and one day later, let me help you. There are so many issues and so many people who will be impacted by Katrina, directly and indirectly for the REST OF THEIR LIVES, that I would really love a Katrina channel. I'm not kidding. That would totally be the first thing I turned on everyday. Think about it. It would offer the latest news, with breaking news scrolling across the bottom of the screen. The last couple of days would be the first Mardi Gras after Katrina: Party 'til It Hurts No More. or 6 Months Later and Still no FEMA trailer. Today would be, New Video Released Shows Bush knew the Severity of the Storm Before Katrina Hit. Get it? And there would be features. Not just New Orleans, but the entire Gulf Coast. Cost-wise and particularly in our community, this is the most expensive natural disaster ever. Ever.
The channel could also have features. It would show the story of someone, who may or may not have returned. Some people may never return, some will only return for a visit, but refuse to live there again. In case you don't know what I was talking about with the FEMA trailers, let me help you. There are thousands of trailers sitting in NC because the agency has not yet determined how to give out trailers. One woman has had her trailer and just got electricity on Sunday. Sunday. As in 6 months since the storm hit on August 29th, Sunday. The sewer system is still nearly non-existent. More than 200 New Orleans police officers either deserted or quit. And that's only in New Orleans. Along the Gulf Coast, and further inland, there are people who did not attend school for weeks. There are entire towns flattened.
My family is from Mississippi. I also have family and friends in New Orleans. This is not something that can be fixed in a year or even five. This is something that will be an issue for most, at the very least, psychologically for the rest of their lives. Imagine this. True story. One of my closest friends, my favorite roommate in college, Kristen is from New Orleans. Her then 14-year-old brother left home that day with his mother, grandmother, other sister and niece. Their grandmother hadn't wanted to leave their house. They're used to flooding in New Orleans. It's below sea level. It floods all the time. Kristen's sister was hysterical after hearing the reports and insisted on leaving. So they all left, taking some pictures, important papers, and three days worth of clothing. They went to Alabama and have been there since. Kristen was on the phone with me watching CNN pointing out her high school, her sister's best friend's house, parts of Xavier University, recognizing streets and knowing her entire two story house had to be under water. Her brother took none of his favorite things. When Kristen asked why, he said, "Because I thought we were coming back."
Then I saw another news story about these kids who finally got to come together and play a football season, and a set of brothers who liked their new school, but just wanted to go back home. One of them just wanted to finish his senior year. That's when I started thinking about how all the kids are effected. I can't imagine what it would be like to leave not knowing there were people in your life, at your school, in your neighborhood, you would never see again. Can you imagine that? The neighborhood you lived in all your life is completely gone. Decimated.
But what if your parents decide they want to rebuild? Then they may need to find new jobs, or get insurance money when the company has said there was only flood damage and you don't have flood insurance. And not only that, everyone around you has been given money for wind damage. Then there's the issue of the other people in your neighborhood. You have to make decisions based on what your neighbors want to do, as well. You can't live in a neighborhood where you're the only home and there's only blight surrounding you.
When I have a minute, I just search Katrina on the AP wires. Every day I find a story. Every. Single. Day. The Katrina Channel. Check it Out.
*If you know someone who would like to make this idea a reality, I don't mind. Just ask them to offer me a job. I already have several ideas. I only need a contract with benefits and due compensation for the contacts I already have. Anyone know Spike Lee?
For the part I of this series, click here.
If you're wondering why the Katrina debacle is still a story 6 months and one day later, let me help you. There are so many issues and so many people who will be impacted by Katrina, directly and indirectly for the REST OF THEIR LIVES, that I would really love a Katrina channel. I'm not kidding. That would totally be the first thing I turned on everyday. Think about it. It would offer the latest news, with breaking news scrolling across the bottom of the screen. The last couple of days would be the first Mardi Gras after Katrina: Party 'til It Hurts No More. or 6 Months Later and Still no FEMA trailer. Today would be, New Video Released Shows Bush knew the Severity of the Storm Before Katrina Hit. Get it? And there would be features. Not just New Orleans, but the entire Gulf Coast. Cost-wise and particularly in our community, this is the most expensive natural disaster ever. Ever.
The channel could also have features. It would show the story of someone, who may or may not have returned. Some people may never return, some will only return for a visit, but refuse to live there again. In case you don't know what I was talking about with the FEMA trailers, let me help you. There are thousands of trailers sitting in NC because the agency has not yet determined how to give out trailers. One woman has had her trailer and just got electricity on Sunday. Sunday. As in 6 months since the storm hit on August 29th, Sunday. The sewer system is still nearly non-existent. More than 200 New Orleans police officers either deserted or quit. And that's only in New Orleans. Along the Gulf Coast, and further inland, there are people who did not attend school for weeks. There are entire towns flattened.
My family is from Mississippi. I also have family and friends in New Orleans. This is not something that can be fixed in a year or even five. This is something that will be an issue for most, at the very least, psychologically for the rest of their lives. Imagine this. True story. One of my closest friends, my favorite roommate in college, Kristen is from New Orleans. Her then 14-year-old brother left home that day with his mother, grandmother, other sister and niece. Their grandmother hadn't wanted to leave their house. They're used to flooding in New Orleans. It's below sea level. It floods all the time. Kristen's sister was hysterical after hearing the reports and insisted on leaving. So they all left, taking some pictures, important papers, and three days worth of clothing. They went to Alabama and have been there since. Kristen was on the phone with me watching CNN pointing out her high school, her sister's best friend's house, parts of Xavier University, recognizing streets and knowing her entire two story house had to be under water. Her brother took none of his favorite things. When Kristen asked why, he said, "Because I thought we were coming back."
Then I saw another news story about these kids who finally got to come together and play a football season, and a set of brothers who liked their new school, but just wanted to go back home. One of them just wanted to finish his senior year. That's when I started thinking about how all the kids are effected. I can't imagine what it would be like to leave not knowing there were people in your life, at your school, in your neighborhood, you would never see again. Can you imagine that? The neighborhood you lived in all your life is completely gone. Decimated.
But what if your parents decide they want to rebuild? Then they may need to find new jobs, or get insurance money when the company has said there was only flood damage and you don't have flood insurance. And not only that, everyone around you has been given money for wind damage. Then there's the issue of the other people in your neighborhood. You have to make decisions based on what your neighbors want to do, as well. You can't live in a neighborhood where you're the only home and there's only blight surrounding you.
When I have a minute, I just search Katrina on the AP wires. Every day I find a story. Every. Single. Day. The Katrina Channel. Check it Out.
*If you know someone who would like to make this idea a reality, I don't mind. Just ask them to offer me a job. I already have several ideas. I only need a contract with benefits and due compensation for the contacts I already have. Anyone know Spike Lee?
For the part I of this series, click here.
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