Desperate times call for desperate measures

I was talking to my white gay boyfriend about the election. He is convinced that Obama has it in the bag. And I confessed my fear that the Bradley effect will smack us in the face with a nasty surprise. He agreed that a month ago, he didn't think a black man could win; however, he said that the quasi-racist white men are finally putting their fear of losing their job/wealth ahead of race. He said, and I quote, "I mean SunFresh, Desperate times call for Desperate Measures."

Historical Beauty....

Is that not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?

What I want...

It's fall, the weather starts getting cooler and there's nothing better than...

snuggling up on a weekend morning with the windows open. You might not get out of bed until hunger begs you too. You might watch the Sunday morning talk shows.

you are sitting at work and flashback to 'last night,' and start sheepishly grinning.

random things remind you of them

you see something you want to do and immediately think of how fun it's going to be with them.

you don't particularly like a certain food/drink/???, but you're out and about missing your boo and have a lil' just to feel closer to them.

I want that type of love.

Love - in pictures

Part I

Part II

I hope and pray that I experience this type of love one day.

Nostrobamus

Encounters

Have you ever had a run-in with racism?

I was called a nigger on the playground when I was 8.

That's my story.

I love getting to know...ME

One major thing I learned about myself is that my memory SUCKS. I'll forget a name, date, ect within an hour. But I remember the colors, the smells, the tastes, the feeling that I have. I have always tried to communicate how much of a sensual person I am. Most confuse this for sexual. Like all the paintings I saw while in Madrid, the few that I fell in love with made me feel something, evoked an emotional response. I saw texture in the paintings, placed myself in the paintings.

Even when talking to the guys I date, I have a LOT of trouble feeling a connection if he doesn't show any vulnerability.


ANGELA BASSET + ER = I'll be watching it religiously this year.

Sorry Folks...but it was funny. #27 - That One

On another tmi note...got dayum why on the one rainy day does mother nature have to deliver me a punch to the stomach and head? C'mon...Mercy please.

Right?

Because life is so simple, right? And our judgments on other people's situations are always correct, right? Everything is so cut and dry, right? It's productive and healthy to muse over situations in which you aren't a player, right?

I guess so.

What are you doing on November 5th?

I will probably take a personal day. However, if I go in to work...

if Obama wins, I'm wearing all white. It's a celebration. When 'we' protest, we wear black. This would be a true American victory.

if McCain wins, I should probably stay home to prevent myself from getting fired for saying something ignorant. I'll wear black an mourn.

BTW - My Company is being Green and allowing us 1 day per week to work from home. Not good for my productivity. But I do have a mighty fine headache, so it's probably good that I'm not amongst the masses.

Go Biden

You can't be a Maverick when all you've ever been is a sidekick.

Don't be confused...

On CNN the group of undecided voters were constantly monitored for their reaction to Obama and McCain during the debate. What we found was that in general the collective group subconsciously responded more favorably to Obama than McCain.

However when Soledad asked who folks were learning toward, over half the crowd said McCain.

Did you see the demographics of those who rose their hand? White males.

Read up on The Bradley (Wilder) Effect

The absolute most offensive part of the debate was..."I betcha you never heard of them before this crisis."



A seemingly educated black man doesn't know what Frannie and Freddie Mac are? GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE WITH THAT BULLSHIT.

You know what I never heard about before this crisis? Sarah Palin.

That One

That One

I dare ya to click!

McKKKain is repulsive and disrespectful

Random

Yep, its random

My Sarah Palin Moment

Sarah Palin is to Foreign Policy as I am to Initiating Reconciliation.

A former friend's birthday is this week. I purchased a Maya Angelou Hallmark Card. I am attempting to put words on the paper...but my thoughts are as fragmented as Palin's response in a Katie Couric Interview. Hell, the next difficult will actually be dropping that bad boy in the mail.

My incoherence has me referencing quotes to capture the words that I'm either at a loss for or too prideful to write on the card. Essentially, my thoughts come out as such, "Well, um I don't know how to open up and I don't want to assign the responsibility of forgiveness to either of us. I'm not even sure that forgiveness is the word that I should use. But our friendship ended so abruptly over childish bullshit. I've never been one to enjoy having numerous superficial, forced friendships. What we shared was deeper, but it was set in the context of numerous superficial forced friendships. So erruhhh Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. And thereofre the umbrella of, "If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it. And ALSO, Grief and tragedy and hatred are only for a time. Goodness, remembrance and love have no end."

Lol, see sounds just like Palin trying to put together an intelligent thought. Eek. Then I selfishly wonder, will my efforts to reach out be well received? I'm not looking to be thrusted back into that lifestyle...the incessant talk about sex, failed relationships, drinking and constant socializing with people I didn't fancy. But I miss the simplistic connection that I had with one particular person. It's kinda like...you like toothpaste and you like orange juice...but not necessarily together.

Errr - perhaps I'm still suffering from Jet Lag, or perhaps my mental faculty is on par with my Wii fitness age of 80. I'm rambling and not looking forward to returning to work after traveling overseas.

Greetings from Spain

I love it here. And on the day of the biggest drop in the stock market, I was in the Santa Ana plaza sipping sangria...a precursor to sipping rum and coke from "The Penthouse," which is atop of Me By Melia overlooking the city. Taking silly pictures with my travel mate, who has graduated to my new Work Boo (BFF at work)laughing and acting silly. We made our way to the room and looked at videos such as Paula Abdul's, "Cold Hearted Snake," and compared it to Britney Spears, "I'm a Slave." Next, I was introduced to the glory that is Father Ted. I was singing My Lovely Horse at the top of my lungs after a plethora of Guinness. So my Work Boo wanted me to understand where that came from. Then I introduced her to Ne-Yo...Miss Independent and Closer so that she could carry a cool conversation about urban/pop culture and the like.

*Sigh*

1. Hates it when people that have as much experience in something as Palin does in Russia speak on issues in which they have no experience.

2. I guess it's supposed to take me 30+ minutes to get gas when I get home

3. I wonder if I should go ahead and refinance my Mortgage

4. Last day of work this week - TGIF

5. Expects that each adult take ownership for their own actions, but understands momentary periods of out of character behavior

6. Cannot wait to go to Spain

7. Surprised by the latest fall out, WaMu

8. Cannot imagine how terrible things are in ATL, really. Somebody fill me in, I am hearing stories, but want the real deal. If you've been hit with an economic woah, holla atcha girl (including waiting for gas for more than 5 minutes).

9. I'm still waiting for a Republican to convince me for non-religious or non-emotional reasons why McCain/Palin makes sense

10. I talked to my mommy last night which made me happy as a well fed baby.

How often do you think

Barack Obama gets his hair cut? What if he started growing a Bobby Brown sloped box cut? Or even a solid Scotty Pippen box cut? Or perhaps a Michael Jordon fade.

Thank God, I can watch him from over here. I missed-ed him.

Favorite Song

This song accurately reflects me on the dance floor.

For one of my best friends on her birthday

Love Ya LBoogie.
(It's technically your birthday in Dublin Ireland, you've got another 5 hours before it's officially 9/24 in VA).

Rich v. Middle Class: A state of mind

You ever observe somebody and realize that yo' ass is truly middle class?

Like they casually mention shopping at some high-end store and/or having other luxuries that you always thought 'rich' people had.

Yeah, I'm as middle class as they come. In the same way that 'ghetto' is a mentality, I think being middle class is a mentality.

For example, when I started working and staying at nice hotels, I'd be annoyed by bell men. First of all, I can do it my damn self...hell, that's how I and my family had been doing it for the past 20+ years AND I don't want to tip you. Same concept with Valet. There is nothing that drives me more bat-shit crazy than when the valet walks 10 feet in front of me to get my car. If I valet, I want the attendant to have to run to some unknown location and bring my car which is nowhere in my sight. Or with cleaning. There was often a 2-3 hour block dedicated to the family cleaning the house during the weekend. To deep clean, my dad got some kinda industrial carpet cleaner or would purchase Amway cleaning materials. We didn't have help.

Is this middle class, or down right poor? Perhaps I was poor growing up, and didn't know it.

I guess my concept of the difference between 'rich' and middle class is the ability/ willingness to hire and/or employ help. I suppose I have the ability to hire help; however, I don't have the willingness.

Repression breeds narcissism

My travel mate this phrase out. I think our topic of conversation was republicans and/or conservatism. Below I use the term republican and conservative interchangeably; however, I'd consider black people conservative in regards to sex, as evidenced by their general inability to simply talk about it candidly and comfortably. However, most black folks are democrats.

The problem with conservatives, in my humble opinion, is that they assume the best in human nature and ignore the capital vices. When capital vices are present (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth wrath, envy and pride), all humans will self-correct by following the word of the Lord (aka the Bible). Based on these assumptions, Republicans like to write law. So for example, nobody has premarital sex; therefore, abortion is not necessary. Or greed never seeps into capitalism; therefore, regulation is not necessary. I believe Democrats recognize the capital vices and instead govern via regulations and/or oversight to moderate the flourishing of the capital vices.

The most tangible example of 'Repression breeds narcissism' is America’s underground obsession with sex. I recognize that sex is as natural as eating and breathing. It is necessary for survival; thus it is amongst one of the most natural urges. However, in America we suppress a healthy appetite for sex and attach negative stigmas to it. Through religion we are taught to feel shame in our sexual selves. However, we are absolutely obsessed with sex as evidenced by (lol) the porn industry and high rates of unwed pregnancies and STDs.

I can also demonstrate this via a tale of one of my college hall mates. She started her freshman year as a virgin. She went to a catholic school and all that jazz. She would proudly claim her virginity. About 6 months into the school year, she was having anal sex...and the night she lost her virginity she got with two men. Had she been taught healthy concepts of her sexual self; perhaps, she would've at least engaged in sex with a man/boy that cared for more than her bedroom prowess. If that story was too graphic for you...take this example: Bristol Palin.

Make it make sense to me. My open-mindedness fails to extend to what I presume to be ignorant positions; thus I come off as condescending and judgemental. I'd try to change, but I kinda like me :-)

Overseas

Have you ever been overseas? Did it change your perception of the world, the USA?

I've been watching SKYNEWs which is akin to CNN or MSNBC. I believe that the British operate this station. I also enjoy the BBC, another publication owned by the UK. The one thing you notice about it most is the fact that it reports on global news as a part of its daily news.

I'm growing a distaste for the American mind. We are so narrow-minded. I just watched Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister, give a speech at the Labour Party Conference. I have chosen to stay ignorant about other countries and I don't believe that I'm alone in that. We turn our nose up at other countries and our arrogance has isolated and ruined our global image. Back to Gordon Brown...I learned that UK is going to offer free prescription drugs to all Cancer patients next year. Yes, you read that right. Under the Labour Government, UK prescribes to a slightly socialistic economy/government. Public service is paramount to the individual.

Most notably, in his speech Gordon Brown said a word that I haven't yet heard from either candidate: Global. I've cried several times that we are no living in a Global Economy. I'm also learning that the collapse of the US economy had a ripple effect worldwide. I'm sure we all heard that the stock markets in other countries were faltering; however, what I heard from a mother was that child care is growing unreasonably expensive because the overall cost of living is growing at a pace faster than her salary increases. For example, the cost of milk is up...milk compounded with other groceries have caused the day cares to charge more. It's not just the USA that is struggling to stay afloat, it's several other solid countries.

Again, I am a firm believer that we need a president that is diplomatic.

Could you, Have you, or Would you?

Date a person voting for McCain/Palin?

If so, why?

If not, why?

Greetings from Dublin, Ireland

It’s absolutely beautiful and wonderful over here.

We arrived yesterday at 9:50 am local time…Ireland is 5 ahead of eastern time. The plane ride was 8 hours. Basically I went 24 hours with maybe 3 hours of sleep. So when we arrived, to say I was tired is a gross understatement. However, all was not lost on the plane ride. I had an absolutely delightful time sitting in first class. My co-worker and I made it pretty obvious that it was our first time in an overseas first class seat. We over ate, but I’m proud to announce that we didn’t over drink. One major take away - I listened to the Madonna CD, “Hard Candy,” on the plane and I give it two thumbs up. Timberland and Pharell produced the majority of the songs, and it’s a high energy dance CD. I purchased the CD at a HMV here in Dublin.

Okay, so we get off the plane…the first thing we do is drop our bags off at our hotel. Unfortunately we couldn’t check in. We decided to stay at “The Modern,” in Temple Bar. Temple Bar is an area South of the Luffie River that is equivalent to Buckhead/Pharr Street bar scene circa 2001, (the year that I got way too intoxicated and had to take it back to the house by 11:00 pm). After we dropped our bags off, we went to an information/tour plaza where I exchanged my $180 in exchange for NO 120 Euros. Yeah, that kinda hurt. We also bough city tour bus tickets. Before boarding the bus, we found a cafe in Temple Bar where I sat down and had a delicious coffee. I requested milk and sugar to decorate my coffee. They brought out milk and what I thought were rocks…however, it was simply sugar. lol. I can be so simple at times.

After we finished the coffee, I had enough energy to do the bus ride. The bus tour took us around the major streets of Dublin. I saw the Guiness Compound - the place is HUGE. Other things of note that we saw: Pheonix Park (2 times as big as Central Park), Trinity College, and some other stuff. lol…I must say stuff because at one point on the bus ride, I fell the hell asleep. KNOCKED OUT.

After the bus ride we headed back to our hotel; however, we were not quite starving, yet a tid bit hungry. There was an open food market in Temple Bar and we walked around. Initially we were going to pass it up, because nothing tickled our fancy. However, I spotted the largest oyster shells that I’ve ever seen. Knowing that Dublin is a hop skip and a jump from water, I figured that the oysters would be amazing. Well, I sure was right. They were HUGE and tasted just like the ocean smells. Perfect…they even had Tobacco sauce! Delicious!

From there we went back to the hotel and checked in. At this point it was about 4:30 local time. I took a much needed shower and then we slept until about 7:00. We woke up ready to take the world on. Temple Bar at this time was packed to the brim with crazy Irish Folks.

As an aside. I’m not sure what I expected Irish people to look like. Some over generalizations, they are of course pale. Dark hair. And a handful of them have beautifully blue or green piercing eyes. There really aren’t black people as I know them to be in America. I saw people of direct African decent; however, most black people in America are muts that don’t truly resemble Africans.

We found an Italian place to eat. Interesting, Italian food is supposed to be some of the best. So anywho, we did Italian food. After that, we stepped inside of one of the rowdy bars in Temple Bar. It was packed to the brim with people drinking beer. I walked in and became somewhat of a wonder. People did look at me. A handful of men tried to speak to me. Between the drunk slur and Irish accent, and loud music, I could not make out much of what they were saying. We made our way to the bar, and some short Irish man was being facetious with me. I ordered a red bull and vodka - safety drink, plus I needed a boost of energy. We chatted a bit with the older Irish lads. Random other Irish lads would stop and talk to me. We found a corner to stand in and some guy from Poland tried his best attempt at flirting with me. However, after seeing his scarey tattoo, which he said, “it’s a tattoo of my monster,” my coworker and I made a fresh exit when he went to the bar for his next drink.

We walked away from Temple Bar, as it seemed like it was full of the Fighting Irish. We ventured slightly away and came upon a lovely wine bar. My coworker and I have a very casual relationship; however, traveling iwth a person for two weeks forces a relationship upon you. I’m pleasantly surprised. We shared a bottle of a lovely, deep oaky and spicey red-wine and talked about men, politics, and work gossip. For the most part we are on the same page. We’re twenty-something women who have come thus far successfully and have trouble being comfortable being vulnerable in a relationship. All is well in the world.

After we finished our bottle of wine, we merrily walked down the street. We made our way back to the rowdy Temple Bar area and continued walking up the cobble stone street. We were quite amazed with the women wearing barely nothing and stillettos. First of all, it was like 55 degrees outside, second of all, cobble stones + stillettos = disaster. We stopped to listen to a band playing on the side of the street that gained a pretty large audience.

We continued walking and along come two drunk Irish men. Mind you, a guy here or there would stop to look at me as if he’d never seen a black woman before. They’re prety complimentary…and eyyy - who am I to deny a compliment. So anywho these two come along and want to go dancing. Well by golly, we followed them to a half way decent dance club. They were playing familiar music (losts of songs produced by Timberland and then older 80s American hits). The only thing of note that happened was that I tasted my first taste of Guiness. I like it. I wouldn’t buy a pack and bring it home or anything, but I was pleasantly surprised. Especially given that my first drink of beer was Natty Lite. So anything above and beyond that is a step in the right direction. We all danced a bit, and then they got a bit creepy. So my coworker and I decided to call it a night.

And that was my first 24 hours in Dublin, Ireland.

Impulse Buy - I bought a Wii

So I have one now. Thanks to Lil' Fingers for aiding me in consultation.

That was pretty stupid given that I leave for Europe in less than 24 hours.

But game stop had it, I wanted it, so I got it.

I'll be uber frugal when I get back.

I won a debate against a black republican!!!!

I am so proud of myself.

Here is what he wrote (which I disected into 5 points):

What have I started! I think we need a conference call so we can have at it. It would be fun! I really enjoy doing this especially in the tasteful and educated manner we have conducted ourselves.

Couple things on taxing the wealthy, keeping well benefited jobs at home, and healthcare. I am sure most of us have taken some kind of Economics and/or accounting class.

1. You have to be careful anytime you mess with the wealthy corporations balance sheet. They will find ways to stay profitable. For example, you guys work at XYZ_Corp. When XYZ_Corp has to pay higher taxes it will ripple down. Jobs will be cost, raises will go down, and the price of XYZ_Corp's product will go up. This ripple effect of Obama's tax plan could affect the middle class and the poor more than the tax breaks we might get.

2. In a nut shell when the rich are happy the poor are happy.

3. Every time the government messes with the free market it backfires. Clinton wanted every American to be able to afford a house, and pressed Fannie and Freddie to give loans to those that didn't previously qualify. Times were good, but those subprime loans which only made up only 8-12% of all loans and the Fed's lowering of interest rates during the early Bush years are crumpling the economy now.

4. When products are American made by well paid and benefited American workers, the poor will not be able to shop at Wal Mart, and having a $100 extra dollars a pay check will not help them.

5. Also, all Americans are compassionate on health care, but can you tell a small business with a gross profit of $300K to give all its workers premium health care? They will fail. Do you want government run health care? I had it in the Navy. I saw people die of Cancer because it took them 3 months to see a specialist. I know many Canadians that come here when they have major health issues. Serioulsy, talk to a Canadian about their gread federal health care system. Not saying either side can fix it, but just like drugs that cure you there can be harmful side effects. Anyway, the poor have always had it bad and that is a depressing fact or life. Better ways to make helath care affordable would be to get rid of frivoulous lawsuits. Doctors make mistakes, period, but you shouldn't be able to sue them for milions of follars everytime they do. Make the 12 million illegal immigrants that way down our clinics, nurseries, emergency rooms get registered and pay taxes. And force people who chose to be unhealthy to pay higher health care. In Japan everybody's waist size is measured to determine their insurance rates. I am one of those fat Americans that have to go the doctor often and take medication. Why should pay the same as a helthy person that takes cares of themselves.

Best Regards,
Black Republican

My Rebuttle:

I also enjoy debates. It was

1. Using Yahoo Finance, I researched the stock price of XYZ_Corp from 1992 (Clinton Era, when taxes were higher) through 2008. As Obama has stated that his tax plan is similar to Clinton's in the way that taxes would increase for certain demographics, I thought it'd be interesting to see how the XYZ_Corp stock price fluctuated between the Clinton era and GW Bush era. Surely, if taxes rise and company's lose out; then your theory holds.

January 1993: $16.21
Peak during Clinton era (Nov 98): $60.12
December 01: $40.01
Increase in stock price of approximately 150%

January 2002: $30.37
Peak During Bush era: $60.87 (2007)
Sept 08: $52.66
Increase in stock price of approximately 73%

And given that this is a consumer product, it benefits us most when the middle class has more disposable income to afford consumer products. Given that the majority of Americans fall into the middle class....Obama's tax plan would be beneficial to drive volume of our sales.

2. When rich are happy poor are happy. That is the republican viewpoint on economics. However, I do not hold the same view point. As a rich person, I can come up with wonderful business ideas; however, if the poor do not have disposable income to enjoy my product...I end up poor as well. Right now there are factors other than taxes that impact the poor more greatly than increased taxes would effect the rich. Need an example? I invite you to watch the following Video.


3. I greatly respect Alan Greenspan, a republican (who sometimes leaned independent) set economic policy during Clinton years. I encourage you to research the facts around the mortgage/credit crisis. Hopefully we can agree on a couple of factors that have caused this credit/ mortgage crisis. Speculatory residential investment purchases in 2000-2005 drove the value of property up (one source indicated that 40% of home purchases in 2006 represented investment properties rather than primary residential). It appeared to builders that there was a large demand. Hence building boomed. Laws of economics show that when supply outweighs demand, prices fall.
Thus...when demand waivered....prices dropped dramatically. This represents true capitalism. Also, Subprime Mortgages are a phenomenon of the Bush era. Subprime Mortgages represent a clever capitalists idea to get rich by giving folks what they want. While I'm not for socialism, I do expect that the government's oversight of certain industries and practices aims to protect the greater good of the people. Perhaps if regulation wasn't the key, the increased oversight should have been. Creative destruction is a key element to capitalism; however, it's intersection with the American dream has proven to be disastrous.

My lunch break is running out, so I'll resort to emotional / non-fact based arguments for the remaining points...

4. I see your point. Keeping American's healthy and well paid is costly. However, it seems unpatriotic to auction off our assets (both financial and resources) to other countries to keep prices down. Perhaps a new set of ideas (aka Change) could come up with a new way to determine the most cost effective way to leverage our resources. Another point on the concept of auctioning off our assets. We no longer live in a USA-confined economy. On one hand, we have a hot-head POTUS hopeful and a VP hopeful whose foreign policy experience rests on the basis that she can see Russia from
land in her state. Diplomacy is so essential given that we now live in a global economic environment. I simply don't trust the McCain/Palin + potential cabinet & foreign policy advisors in regards to diplomacy.

5. I expect that American government would study healthcare systems in other countries and learn. Again, it seems rather unpatriotic to look at my low-income family members and tell them that I refuse to allow my taxes to help them...errruhhh...live.

Lastly...even if I weren't GUNG-HO Obama, McCain's voting record stands against the essence of what I believe in. To better educate myself on McCain's voting record I visited On The Issues. I then had a bit fun with his positions as seen below...

-McCain Opposed Equal Pay Bill for Women, Said They ?Need Education and Training? Instead. (Women, except Sarah Palin, are generally pretty stupid. They just need to get smarter if they want equal pay).
-McCain Voted Against Increasing Benefits For Children With Special Needs In The Social Security Act. (I'd like to hear Palin's take on this).
-McCain has voted consistently against women?s health, and he supports overturning the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Roe v. Wade. (I LOVE it when men get to dictate what I do with my body! I mean, it was the act of him dictating (pun intended) me that got me preggers in the first place!)
-McCain opposed spending $100 million to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies. (Two Words: Bristol Palin.)
-McCain Voted Against Providing Tax Credits to Small Businesses That Offer Health Insurance To Employees. (Ehhh, you?re not worth saving until you're big business.)
-Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (Because you know, a low-income mother has the time and money to hire a private tutor).
-Voted NO to protect workers? overtime rights. (Slaves didn?t get paid overtime, neither should you).
-Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (I want my gun and I want it NOW!)
-Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (If you want a gun, it totally makes no sense to have restrictions. I love it when unstable people get guns, it makes for interesting news?like Va Tech).
-McCain Opposed Extending Coverage To Uninsured Children. (This is the alternative to the pro-life position. The uninsured child might not get enough coverage to erruhh?....live).
-YES on limiting death penalty appeals (because the legal system is fair and innocent are NEVER executed).
-McCain opposed requiring insurance coverage of prescription birth control. (After I take my Viagra, which is covered, I'm going to go populate Alaska).

Have a fantastic day,
SunFresh

His Response (In 2 seperate e-mails)

1. I know everything about the mortgage/credit crisis and Bush had nothing to do with it. Note that I did not assert that Bush had anything to do with the mortgage/credit crisis

2. SunFresh has had the best comeback yet. If you have time read my paper on the subprime mortgage crisis. I love the subject.

BBBS

Are any of the readers/commenters/lurkers also Big Brothers or Big Sisters? I have an interview today and I'm very excited about the prospect of becoming a Big Sister. If you have a Little Sister/Brother, what are some activities that you have done with them in the past? If you're not one and have time, would you consider joining? If not, would you consider donating to the Obama campaign? (lol, okay the last thing had nothing to do with BBBS!)

What your girlfriends think...

So many moons ago I agreed to go a date with this one guy, we'll call him Java. I wasn't completely attracted to him; however, he cleaned up nicely and his conversation was engaging. He was perhaps the first guy that I went on a date with after I broke up with THE EX. We had a really nice time; however, I was still in love with the EX and once I realized this I more less cut-off communication with Java.

I ran into Java when I was out with a few girlfriends. He approached and said something to the effect of, "Hello stranger." My girls beckoned for an explanation. I told them that we went out on a date. They giggled, looking at him being less than 6 feet tall, and a bit of this that and the other. Because I valued their opinions a bit way too much, I joined in on the giggling.

Fast forward current times. Well, Java found me on facebook. He's rather aggressive...or rather assertive. I've been hanging out with him a little bit. Nothing too heavy or nothing to write-home about; however, I will say that I genuinely enjoy his company. And to think, I had let the girls that are still single and continue to be single to influence my perception of him. He wasn't the physical prototype per se; however, WHO THE FUCK IS?

I'm glad that I met him second time around when I am no longer dealing with that group of women. I've grown a lot and learned a lot from that experience (which I will say time and time again). I do have a mind of my own; however, I admit to insecurities at times. Sure I want to walk down the street with a man that people sit back and think, "wow they're an attractive couple." I think they played into that insecurity. I suppose that I fell into the trap of being an insecure single woman instead of a secure single woman. I choose the later.

Really it only matters that I find the person attractive. And for me, attraction prevails only after I see a person's inner spirit. I don't care that he's a little shorter than the desired standard, 'talks white,' or dresses in button ups and khakis all the time...he stimulates my brain and makes me feel beautiful.

Catholics - How are you coping with this election?

I recently read a painful article in which a Catholic was denied communion due to his support of Obama.

These actions underscore my apprehension toward Catholicsm. It appears to the one popular sect of Christianity that is furthest from the foundation of Christianity principles: LOVE.

That is simply my opinion, and I realize my opinion could be offensive. But after reading something like this...I just shake my head.

Confession re: Patriotism

I'm headed out to Ireland and Spain in less than 72 hours. I'm ashamed to claim that I am American right now. I'm aiming to pick up an Irish accent so that when I get to Spain, people will not be able to detect that I'm American. I'm not comfortable with it right now. Not only that, but I'm vetting Europe to see if I could realistically live there for a short period of time in the event that McCain/Palin win. Next year, I'll visit England and Italy to see what I think of those locations.

*note that I'm being a bit sarcastic and extreme; however, these are random thoughts of mine*

Is that bad?

Just say no...or maybe not?

I had dinner last night with one of my friends who I love because she is so atypical. She's traveled the world, she marches to the beat of her own drum, is gorgeous, and has a very diverse social circle. In a nutshell, the second you think you have her pegged, she surprises you with something new.

So last night she was casually telling me a story. As a part of the story she casually revelas that she's done lines of coke.

Had she said weed, I wouldn't have flinched. But the only white powdered substances that I've ever seen are sugar, salt and flour. She said it so casually that I had to interrupt her and ask her more about her 'recreational coke' use.

I passed no judgement cuz to each their own. I just hope she's safe about it. She's by no means a drug addict, she said it's just something that if it's there and somebody offers, she won't necessarily say no. I just found it fascinating.

Do you use white-substance drugs? Do you have friends that do so? It's so foreign to me. As ignorant as it may sound, I imagine coke to be some hollywood white person drug. (and perhaps the drug of choice for the Browns/Houston household).