I went to the gas station and asked for $5 worth of gas.
The cashier farted and handed me a receipt.
(i gotta give credit where credit is due AmyOops)
That was kneeslappin' funny!
4.25.2008
Do you and/or would you?
ATL is pretty segregated when it comes to a social scene. Friday night is typically "black night," and Saturday is typically "white + all other night." And there are of certain bars/areas that draw a black or white crowd no matter what night it is.
So Coffeemate is a social butterfly. I can't really feel her out. Initially, I thought she was a churcy type chic that didn't drink or go out much. But I'm slowly but surely starting to see that she's a party girl with a good heart. Coffeemate is kinda like Lucy-Lui's character in Cashmiere Mafia (so sad it was cancelled). I say that b/c 1) they're both asain and 2) in one episode LL's character said something about not dating Asian (ethnic) men. Just yesterday Coffeemate was telling me that she doesn't find ethnic men attractive and she prefers the "good ol' boy." Interpretation - she likes 'em tall tan and blonde. Plus, I know her circle from old firm...and they weren't "ethnic."
Well, I told her that I was wanting to go to this one event at a spot in which I KNOW the crowd isn't mixed. She somewhat invited herself along and I told her, "you do know that it's an urban crowd?" That of course is code for, it's an all black crowd. She said so, but then started asking, "well, it's not always that way is it? I thought there was a mixed crowd there."
I just don't want her to be caught off gaurd and uncomfortable.
So Coffeemate is a social butterfly. I can't really feel her out. Initially, I thought she was a churcy type chic that didn't drink or go out much. But I'm slowly but surely starting to see that she's a party girl with a good heart. Coffeemate is kinda like Lucy-Lui's character in Cashmiere Mafia (so sad it was cancelled). I say that b/c 1) they're both asain and 2) in one episode LL's character said something about not dating Asian (ethnic) men. Just yesterday Coffeemate was telling me that she doesn't find ethnic men attractive and she prefers the "good ol' boy." Interpretation - she likes 'em tall tan and blonde. Plus, I know her circle from old firm...and they weren't "ethnic."
Well, I told her that I was wanting to go to this one event at a spot in which I KNOW the crowd isn't mixed. She somewhat invited herself along and I told her, "you do know that it's an urban crowd?" That of course is code for, it's an all black crowd. She said so, but then started asking, "well, it's not always that way is it? I thought there was a mixed crowd there."
I just don't want her to be caught off gaurd and uncomfortable.
Economic Stimilus Package - Whoop whoop
Economics stimulate my brain. I recently read Alan Greenspan's book
Age of Turbulance.
I'm anticipating anywhere between $300 and $600 as a result of Bush's Economic Stimulous Plan. The intent of the stimulus plan is to obviously stimulate the economy; however if we're experiencing a credit crisis...wouldn't it simply allow folks to pay off debt? Or use it to buy food/gas? This guy surely is going to use it to feed his family.
I live reasonably within my means, so fortunately, I don't have any unhealthy or past due debts that I must pay off. I'll either use it to travel or save it.
What do you plan to do with it? I'm wondering if it will REALLY stimulate the economy.
Age of Turbulance. I'm anticipating anywhere between $300 and $600 as a result of Bush's Economic Stimulous Plan. The intent of the stimulus plan is to obviously stimulate the economy; however if we're experiencing a credit crisis...wouldn't it simply allow folks to pay off debt? Or use it to buy food/gas? This guy surely is going to use it to feed his family.
I live reasonably within my means, so fortunately, I don't have any unhealthy or past due debts that I must pay off. I'll either use it to travel or save it.
What do you plan to do with it? I'm wondering if it will REALLY stimulate the economy.
4.24.2008
Ghetto and Blackville
So last night's episode of my personal crack made me about NUTS. With the exception of the delicious eye candy - Will, it was almost more than I could stand.
So in one scene Kimberly (Southern Belle) calls Brianna (Philly Stripper) out for acting "Ghetto." You know what...I agree with Kimberly. Brianna completley lost her temper, started coming out the mouth with dumb insults like a hiyena. Furthermore, earlier and off camera Brianna let folks know that she 'could' act ghetto if provoked.
But Kimberly crossed the line with, "I don't care if you're from the most inner city Blackville."
Because Kimberly is not exposed to positivity that can thrive in an urban area (inner city)...she assumes that people from the inner-city are all like Pookie on on the 6 pm news.
So in one scene Kimberly (Southern Belle) calls Brianna (Philly Stripper) out for acting "Ghetto." You know what...I agree with Kimberly. Brianna completley lost her temper, started coming out the mouth with dumb insults like a hiyena. Furthermore, earlier and off camera Brianna let folks know that she 'could' act ghetto if provoked.
But Kimberly crossed the line with, "I don't care if you're from the most inner city Blackville."
Because Kimberly is not exposed to positivity that can thrive in an urban area (inner city)...she assumes that people from the inner-city are all like Pookie on on the 6 pm news.
Parenting and Politics
Earlier this week one question was thrown out on a blog that I frequent during the day. Later in the week, a variation of the same question was thrown out. In my opinion, if your answer was yes to one, it should have been yes to another. However that was not 100% the case.
Would you let your child sleep over at a his/her friend's house?
Would you let your child go to an away from home over night camp?
to me that's like asking
Would you swim in a tank filled with sharks
Would you swim in a tank filled with piranhas
Then I got to thinking, this is how politicians get caught up in the details of speech. I'd call somebody a "flip-flopper" if they said yes to one and no to another. To me, a parent's underlying issue is that they are not in control of their child's circumstances/situation in either case (and want to protect their child's safety). So I cannot imagine why the response would be different. I suppose it's all in how we perceive the underlying risks and/or circumstances of a given sitaution.
I went to sleep overs, whether it be at a friend's house or at an away camp. And let me tell ya, I did more dirt at camp than at a friend's house. At camp (basketball), the counselors are...what 4-7 years older than I was...and were doing their own dirt. At a friend's house, me and my friends were too scared of the immediate consequences of stepping out of line. At camp, I had freedom and no house alarm to sneak out with the other girls to go visit the boys. Because I didn't believe that I'd get caught, my conscious didn't ride me as it would have if I were in my own or a friend's neighborhood. Some would argue that you don't truly know the parent's whose house you are sending your child. I know my mother spent more time with my friend's parents than she did ANY of the camp counselors/directors etc. The risk was the same in either instance. Thank God, no crazies got to me in either situation.
Ionno - but that topic struck a weird chord in me.
Would you let your child sleep over at a his/her friend's house?
Would you let your child go to an away from home over night camp?
to me that's like asking
Would you swim in a tank filled with sharks
Would you swim in a tank filled with piranhas
Then I got to thinking, this is how politicians get caught up in the details of speech. I'd call somebody a "flip-flopper" if they said yes to one and no to another. To me, a parent's underlying issue is that they are not in control of their child's circumstances/situation in either case (and want to protect their child's safety). So I cannot imagine why the response would be different. I suppose it's all in how we perceive the underlying risks and/or circumstances of a given sitaution.
I went to sleep overs, whether it be at a friend's house or at an away camp. And let me tell ya, I did more dirt at camp than at a friend's house. At camp (basketball), the counselors are...what 4-7 years older than I was...and were doing their own dirt. At a friend's house, me and my friends were too scared of the immediate consequences of stepping out of line. At camp, I had freedom and no house alarm to sneak out with the other girls to go visit the boys. Because I didn't believe that I'd get caught, my conscious didn't ride me as it would have if I were in my own or a friend's neighborhood. Some would argue that you don't truly know the parent's whose house you are sending your child. I know my mother spent more time with my friend's parents than she did ANY of the camp counselors/directors etc. The risk was the same in either instance. Thank God, no crazies got to me in either situation.
Ionno - but that topic struck a weird chord in me.
4.23.2008
Problems in Africa
On over at my favorite black-centric blog they posted an article in which the UN reported that African Nations Lag Behind 2015 Goals. The goals are listed within the article.
On many levels the news stories out of Africa frustrate me. At times I liken it to the little sister that instead of going to school, dropped out and had 3 kids before age 20. Now it's hard to force an entire continent into a stereotype, so I do recognize that certain nations are advanced and making progress. Heck, oil business is booming in Nigeria.
However, the fact stands that the majority of African nations have a LONG way to come. And it's frustrating. The continent with the oldest documented evidence of civilization cannot seem to rise to become a true, respectable player in the global economy. I don't accept the notions that "the man" (whoever that may be) has kept the African nations down. Similarly to my opinions on gentrification...if you don't exploit your own resources and use those to your advantage...somebody else will. Then you can't be caught off gaurd when you don't own or control anything because you didn't collectively organize and over-come.
And sure you can say "institutionalized racism" is at play. While I recognize that it exists, I recognize that it exists for those that believe in it as much as they believe in God. I descend from a family in which 7 children from rural Mississippi all grew to be college educated during the 1930s-1940s. This allowed them to move into a higher economic class. Both my parents progressed from low-income conditions into middle-income tiers. They didn't buy into the institutionalized racism; therefore the institutionalized racism didn't own their destiny.
That story doesn't top the latest mess Stolen Penises? C'mon
Distress in Darfur
*sigh* Go to BBC. When you click on the right Africa link, it's simply disturbing. Perhaps they only publish negativity.
On many levels the news stories out of Africa frustrate me. At times I liken it to the little sister that instead of going to school, dropped out and had 3 kids before age 20. Now it's hard to force an entire continent into a stereotype, so I do recognize that certain nations are advanced and making progress. Heck, oil business is booming in Nigeria.
However, the fact stands that the majority of African nations have a LONG way to come. And it's frustrating. The continent with the oldest documented evidence of civilization cannot seem to rise to become a true, respectable player in the global economy. I don't accept the notions that "the man" (whoever that may be) has kept the African nations down. Similarly to my opinions on gentrification...if you don't exploit your own resources and use those to your advantage...somebody else will. Then you can't be caught off gaurd when you don't own or control anything because you didn't collectively organize and over-come.
And sure you can say "institutionalized racism" is at play. While I recognize that it exists, I recognize that it exists for those that believe in it as much as they believe in God. I descend from a family in which 7 children from rural Mississippi all grew to be college educated during the 1930s-1940s. This allowed them to move into a higher economic class. Both my parents progressed from low-income conditions into middle-income tiers. They didn't buy into the institutionalized racism; therefore the institutionalized racism didn't own their destiny.
That story doesn't top the latest mess Stolen Penises? C'mon
Distress in Darfur
*sigh* Go to BBC. When you click on the right Africa link, it's simply disturbing. Perhaps they only publish negativity.
I think I may have asked a dude out on a date
We've gone out before, and there is very little chemistry. He's still kind of flirty. For example, the other day I asked him if he knew of any Obama watch parties and he said no...but that I could watch with him at his house. Ummm...no thanks! But at this point, I'm not looking for love, just a buddy to go check out the music with.
Ya girl is new school and uses these here innernets to communicate at times. He's an avid facebook user (posts some political article like once a day), so I sent him a casual message asking if he wanted to check out the jazz show with me. I don't mean it as a date per se, but he's one person that I know would appreciate the jazz concert. (Plus he's easy on the eyes and has a bodacious booty - ha and on a more substantive note, I admire his passion for what he believes in).
Ya girl is new school and uses these here innernets to communicate at times. He's an avid facebook user (posts some political article like once a day), so I sent him a casual message asking if he wanted to check out the jazz show with me. I don't mean it as a date per se, but he's one person that I know would appreciate the jazz concert. (Plus he's easy on the eyes and has a bodacious booty - ha and on a more substantive note, I admire his passion for what he believes in).
4.22.2008
Marriage
How did you feel going into the marriage? Confident, scared?
Given that anybody is perfect, how did you decide that your spouse's flaws were something that you could accept for life? Did that person's flaws leave you feeling unfulfilled?
I am having the most uncomfortable conversation. Somebody is telling me that I need to reconsider ending a relationship because marriage isn't what it seems to be (at least on Univision Telenovelas). That from the outside looking in, marriages aren't perfect and you just have to deal (grunt) with it because it's the best institution to rear children. In other words, raising children in a two parent home is worth the trade off of personal happiness and basic fulfillment in a relationship. In other words, if a man can provide for you and future children, this is paramount to him being your friend.
They even challenged me to provide examples of what I envision having. *Shout out to Monica Mingo* I want to be able to, on a whim on a Tuesday afternoon, write a letter about the love and adoration I have for my husband. He may not be perfect, and he may not be my favorite person 100% of the time; however, in a relationship I do have an expectation that the positive will outweigh the negative. Furthermore, I will not (at least in the intial stages) of a relationship sacrifice my own happiness for my future family. Cuz if my happiness doesn't exist without the children, it won't automatically be there with the children.
Hell, I've been in a relationship in which I adored and loved the other person and got what I needed...timing wasn't perfect, it was hard work and circumstances were "extra." But even to this day, in friendship, this person is good to me...like good to the core. Like we don't need to talk for weeks, but if I need a friend, they are a phone call away. Current relationship - not so much. I'm pretty much on my own.
Ahhhh, I'm venting. But for real, I wish I was privy to very intimate details of other marriages. Not to be nosey, but to have a realistic view of the joys and pains of a marriage. We learn by example, right? I don't feel as if I have adequate examples. Furthermore, I feel as though the person were challenging me to stay in a relationship because I have unreasonable assumptions about healthy and/or satisfying relationships. I don't think there is anything unhealthy in expecting that my future life partner will be my best friend... I don't expect that we will agree on everything, but I do expect to experience more joy with them than pain.
Married folks, am I crazy? Is marriage more of a pain than a joy?
Given that anybody is perfect, how did you decide that your spouse's flaws were something that you could accept for life? Did that person's flaws leave you feeling unfulfilled?
I am having the most uncomfortable conversation. Somebody is telling me that I need to reconsider ending a relationship because marriage isn't what it seems to be (at least on Univision Telenovelas). That from the outside looking in, marriages aren't perfect and you just have to deal (grunt) with it because it's the best institution to rear children. In other words, raising children in a two parent home is worth the trade off of personal happiness and basic fulfillment in a relationship. In other words, if a man can provide for you and future children, this is paramount to him being your friend.
They even challenged me to provide examples of what I envision having. *Shout out to Monica Mingo* I want to be able to, on a whim on a Tuesday afternoon, write a letter about the love and adoration I have for my husband. He may not be perfect, and he may not be my favorite person 100% of the time; however, in a relationship I do have an expectation that the positive will outweigh the negative. Furthermore, I will not (at least in the intial stages) of a relationship sacrifice my own happiness for my future family. Cuz if my happiness doesn't exist without the children, it won't automatically be there with the children.
Hell, I've been in a relationship in which I adored and loved the other person and got what I needed...timing wasn't perfect, it was hard work and circumstances were "extra." But even to this day, in friendship, this person is good to me...like good to the core. Like we don't need to talk for weeks, but if I need a friend, they are a phone call away. Current relationship - not so much. I'm pretty much on my own.
Ahhhh, I'm venting. But for real, I wish I was privy to very intimate details of other marriages. Not to be nosey, but to have a realistic view of the joys and pains of a marriage. We learn by example, right? I don't feel as if I have adequate examples. Furthermore, I feel as though the person were challenging me to stay in a relationship because I have unreasonable assumptions about healthy and/or satisfying relationships. I don't think there is anything unhealthy in expecting that my future life partner will be my best friend... I don't expect that we will agree on everything, but I do expect to experience more joy with them than pain.
Married folks, am I crazy? Is marriage more of a pain than a joy?
What's the most effective way to break-up?
Not a bad situation, just one that is simply not going to successfully move forward into the future?
Letter (hand written)?
Phone?
Face to face?
Do you maintain contact with that person on a friend level? Do you need space before you accept friendship?
I was having a conversation with Cocoa and she was like, send a letter letting him know never to contact you again. My reaction was that is so impersonal. She responded with, it does not give him a chance to whine his way back into your heart. At this point, my mind/heart is made up, this is not the man for me and I'm not getting younger, so it is time to move on. But, he is a great good man that happens to be incapable of communicating with me on an intimate level. As friends, we can relate b/c I don't entrust him with my heart. Given that distance makes face to face impossible, I'm waiting to have the phone conversation. I don't want any emotion, just recognition of something that we're both avoiding, but that needs to be said. *Sigh*
Letter (hand written)?
Phone?
Face to face?
Do you maintain contact with that person on a friend level? Do you need space before you accept friendship?
I was having a conversation with Cocoa and she was like, send a letter letting him know never to contact you again. My reaction was that is so impersonal. She responded with, it does not give him a chance to whine his way back into your heart. At this point, my mind/heart is made up, this is not the man for me and I'm not getting younger, so it is time to move on. But, he is a great good man that happens to be incapable of communicating with me on an intimate level. As friends, we can relate b/c I don't entrust him with my heart. Given that distance makes face to face impossible, I'm waiting to have the phone conversation. I don't want any emotion, just recognition of something that we're both avoiding, but that needs to be said. *Sigh*
Oil Companies
Would you have a moral issue working for an Oil Company?
As I slowly approach my thirtieth birthday, there is a slight panic. I am guessing that I'm not alone in this panic. For some reason 30 is this "BIG" number. I think it's when we start to question everything that we did in our twenties. Start asking "what if I had done this, it's too late for me to do that."
In one of my "where am I and where do I want to be," pensive moods, I questioned, maybe I'm not living in the right city. Alternatives came to mind...DC or Houston. (Don't want to go further north than DC). I could consider Charlotte, but I feel like it's an ATL in training. DC was ruled out because I'm not a zillionnaire, nor do I have a double income household. I want a similar quality of life that I have now...meaning that I want to buy a place greater than 1000 square feet in the $200k-240k price range. That leaves Houston as a viable option.
Next thought was.. okay with my skill set (finance/accounting) what industries and/or fortune 500 companies are prevalent in that area? Of the top 10 fortune 500 companies, oil companies account for 30%. There is one located in Houston, and I checked out the website and was impressed about the earth-conscious message on the company website. BUT - I paused thinking to myself, EWWW work for the very type of Company that I loathe each time I gush out $45 for a tank of gas? The Companies for which people are dying in Iraq? The Companies in which I abhor the underlying reason why our president is such a moron on international affairs? Eeek - I have a moral dilemma.
Maybe I should keep my happy ass where I'm at.
Is this panic/anxiety over turning 30 common?
As I slowly approach my thirtieth birthday, there is a slight panic. I am guessing that I'm not alone in this panic. For some reason 30 is this "BIG" number. I think it's when we start to question everything that we did in our twenties. Start asking "what if I had done this, it's too late for me to do that."
In one of my "where am I and where do I want to be," pensive moods, I questioned, maybe I'm not living in the right city. Alternatives came to mind...DC or Houston. (Don't want to go further north than DC). I could consider Charlotte, but I feel like it's an ATL in training. DC was ruled out because I'm not a zillionnaire, nor do I have a double income household. I want a similar quality of life that I have now...meaning that I want to buy a place greater than 1000 square feet in the $200k-240k price range. That leaves Houston as a viable option.
Next thought was.. okay with my skill set (finance/accounting) what industries and/or fortune 500 companies are prevalent in that area? Of the top 10 fortune 500 companies, oil companies account for 30%. There is one located in Houston, and I checked out the website and was impressed about the earth-conscious message on the company website. BUT - I paused thinking to myself, EWWW work for the very type of Company that I loathe each time I gush out $45 for a tank of gas? The Companies for which people are dying in Iraq? The Companies in which I abhor the underlying reason why our president is such a moron on international affairs? Eeek - I have a moral dilemma.
Maybe I should keep my happy ass where I'm at.
Is this panic/anxiety over turning 30 common?
Hunks and Lakes...
So I'm at work and my co-worker sends me a pic of this attractive black guy, followed by the following conversation:
CoffeeMate: what do you think
SunFresh: is he supposed to be going to the lake this weekend?
CoffeeMate: he is single, yes he's going
SunFresh: ehh - kinda looks cocky
CoffeeMate: hmmmmmmmmmm
SunFresh: but cute
CoffeeMate: you know you want that kind
SunFresh: not me
CoffeeMate: whatever
SunFresh I like 'em quiet and kinda shy and not super cute
SunFresh: super cute guys have egos and like to cheat
CoffeeMate: not all of them
CoffeeMate: you cant let one pic be a representation of this guy, SunFresh
CoffeeMate is rather new to the job and I recruited her from old firm. She's a super-cute Asian chic with the thickest southern accent you will hear. It seems that she assumes I'm only into black men, so she asks me if so and so is cute. Little does she know, I'm the furtherst from boy crazy that woman could be and I don't limit my eye candy to chocolate flavors.
Am I way off in thinking that super-cute guys have egos and like to cheat? Yes, this is an over-generalized blanket statement, but one of my paradigms is that humans use stereotypes to make quick judgements to protect themselves. My quick judgement when I see a uber cute guy is that he's really into himself and that he's in player mode. And it's not just pure phyiscal looks, it's the packaging. I can't quite pin-point what I'm talking about...like Boris Kodjoe...uber-attractive, but has a low-key nice guy look. Nelly (yes I think he's cute)...attractive, but has a flashy "just because I wear a iced-out chain I'm supposed to have a bank account" look.
I'm beyond my player years and want a dude that wants to appreciate a lady. So I can go to the lake with the best of 'em and have a great time, but I have NO desire in continuing a relationship with some hottie that is attracted to me based off of what he saw in my bathing suit. Perhaps this is why I'm single... he he.
CoffeeMate: what do you think
SunFresh: is he supposed to be going to the lake this weekend?
CoffeeMate: he is single, yes he's going
SunFresh: ehh - kinda looks cocky
CoffeeMate: hmmmmmmmmmm
SunFresh: but cute
CoffeeMate: you know you want that kind
SunFresh: not me
CoffeeMate: whatever
SunFresh I like 'em quiet and kinda shy and not super cute
SunFresh: super cute guys have egos and like to cheat
CoffeeMate: not all of them
CoffeeMate: you cant let one pic be a representation of this guy, SunFresh
CoffeeMate is rather new to the job and I recruited her from old firm. She's a super-cute Asian chic with the thickest southern accent you will hear. It seems that she assumes I'm only into black men, so she asks me if so and so is cute. Little does she know, I'm the furtherst from boy crazy that woman could be and I don't limit my eye candy to chocolate flavors.
Am I way off in thinking that super-cute guys have egos and like to cheat? Yes, this is an over-generalized blanket statement, but one of my paradigms is that humans use stereotypes to make quick judgements to protect themselves. My quick judgement when I see a uber cute guy is that he's really into himself and that he's in player mode. And it's not just pure phyiscal looks, it's the packaging. I can't quite pin-point what I'm talking about...like Boris Kodjoe...uber-attractive, but has a low-key nice guy look. Nelly (yes I think he's cute)...attractive, but has a flashy "just because I wear a iced-out chain I'm supposed to have a bank account" look.
I'm beyond my player years and want a dude that wants to appreciate a lady. So I can go to the lake with the best of 'em and have a great time, but I have NO desire in continuing a relationship with some hottie that is attracted to me based off of what he saw in my bathing suit. Perhaps this is why I'm single... he he.
Do you think you are sexy?
And why...what is sexy about you?
I've been told that I ooze sexuality. I could be dressed like Jackie Kennedy and folks would still say that. I think I was conditioned to recognized that power that sexuality could have in various situation. However this choke holds me because at times I don't know how to relate to the opposite sex in a nonsexual manner. Even when I try to be friendly, somebody comes at me sideways. Ehhh - whatevers.
Now don't get me wrong, that ish is turned off the second I step into the plantation because I'd be damned if I advanced due to my sexuality.
I've been told that I ooze sexuality. I could be dressed like Jackie Kennedy and folks would still say that. I think I was conditioned to recognized that power that sexuality could have in various situation. However this choke holds me because at times I don't know how to relate to the opposite sex in a nonsexual manner. Even when I try to be friendly, somebody comes at me sideways. Ehhh - whatevers.
Now don't get me wrong, that ish is turned off the second I step into the plantation because I'd be damned if I advanced due to my sexuality.
Earth Day
My small contribution...I purchased the $0.99 reusable grocery bag from Publix. And then 2 days later at work, they hand out free reusable grocery bags. In the Grocery bag, was the New York Times Bestseller, "the green book," by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen. It's a 200 page book that talks about the small things that you can do to conserve energy and be more "green." One tip I'll leave you with...
Try Organic Wine. Why? Because...
"A bottle of conventionally produced wine may contain up to 250 different types of chemicals. If you're a wine connoisseur, a year's worth of organic wine purchases would keep roughly 2 pounds of fertilizers and 50 grams of pesticides out of the environment (and out of your wine glass)."
Do you have any green-conscious activities that you do?
As a side note, I'm officially old because I want coffee but am wanting to steer clear of cafinated...so I actually pondered getting decafinated coffee. Who does that? Oh yeah...old people. :-)
Try Organic Wine. Why? Because...
"A bottle of conventionally produced wine may contain up to 250 different types of chemicals. If you're a wine connoisseur, a year's worth of organic wine purchases would keep roughly 2 pounds of fertilizers and 50 grams of pesticides out of the environment (and out of your wine glass)."
Do you have any green-conscious activities that you do?
As a side note, I'm officially old because I want coffee but am wanting to steer clear of cafinated...so I actually pondered getting decafinated coffee. Who does that? Oh yeah...old people. :-)
4.20.2008
Happy Box
So I've been rather down lately. When I'm like this, I get extremely introverted, keep to myself and try to find things that make me happy so that when I am ready to be around people, I'm not a sour puss. Every so often in my life I'm abandoned by those that I casually called friends. At this point, being 27 - I'm over seeking some kind of refuge in a large group of girlfriends. Women are sensitive, complicated, and manipulative. I can say that I'm sensitive and complicated, but honestly, I don't put energy into thinking about "well what can I do to get so-n'-so to do what I want" or to seek revenge. My heart doesn't lead my brain to work that way.
Okay, I'm trying to be less personal on these here "innernets (c) G.W.Bush" so enough with that. Fact is, I'm not happy with my current situation, and my faith in the general good in people has faltered. But, I realize that I cannot go on being sad and in the dumps for the rest of my life. If I took one quality from my mother, it would be resilience. So with that, I've started a happy box.
Life is a rollercoaster. There are periods of extreme highs and lows. In lows, we need energy/inertia to pull us back to the top. Since I have just started the happy box and I have one passage that I clipped off of a green tea box.
Do you have any quotes and or passages that you refer to when sad? What would you put in your happy box.
As a side note, I'm becoming increasingly interested in all things Eastern. Eastern religion, Eastern Exercise, Eastern Food. Perhaps my next trip will be to the Far East.
Okay, I'm trying to be less personal on these here "innernets (c) G.W.Bush" so enough with that. Fact is, I'm not happy with my current situation, and my faith in the general good in people has faltered. But, I realize that I cannot go on being sad and in the dumps for the rest of my life. If I took one quality from my mother, it would be resilience. So with that, I've started a happy box.
Life is a rollercoaster. There are periods of extreme highs and lows. In lows, we need energy/inertia to pull us back to the top. Since I have just started the happy box and I have one passage that I clipped off of a green tea box.
Do you have any quotes and or passages that you refer to when sad? What would you put in your happy box.
As a side note, I'm becoming increasingly interested in all things Eastern. Eastern religion, Eastern Exercise, Eastern Food. Perhaps my next trip will be to the Far East.
My Personal Crack
Confession: I religiously watch MTV's The Real World. The show is the original reality show...7 strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives video taped. A lot of the conflict is trivial and shows the growing pains of post-pubescent attractive people, but what I appreciate is that it shows the rawness that is US during a very confusing time in life. So with that being said, here is the first episode where we start diving into the personalities.
4.19.2008
Cruise
We board around 12:30...and go straight to the pool deck because our room and luggage weren't quite ready. I notice two other black females about my age and make small talk. One is very friendly, the other is less than friendly. Nonetheless, we mainly kept to ourselves and enjoyed the sun. The first day was mainly laid back, I went to the casino, blew $30 bucks and had a good time while doing so. Drank my fair share of vodka tonics and just relaxed. I did go to the ship club. Initially they were playing 70s/80s music which I love, but I wasn't quite in the mood to dance to it. This OLD (65+) white man sits next down next to me. He speaks with a English accent and tells me he's from Welsh. He was very condescending, he would've fared better had he been a professor and we were in a classroom setting. Shortly thereafter a black dude sits down next to me. *PAUSE - CONCEPT OF PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP....WORKS FOR SOME WOMEN, DOESN'T WORK FOR ME." I figure, cool I can have a FRIEND for the cruise, so I'm not flirty, I'm nice and when a good song comes on, I immediately jump up to go dance and tell him to save my seat. He doesn't dance, all he does is [THIS]. We'll call him BM#1.
Well, I'm enjoying the music...now one thing folks don't initially see when they see me is a woman that likes to dance and who can dance. I stay on the dancefloor and this other black dude comes up to me and starts imitating my dances. He says he's 33, but he looks and is acting more like a 21 year old. But he's harmless and cool. I'm dancing my HEART out...giving Shakira a run for her hip action and enjoying the attention. I do find it funny how competitive black women are in general. There was another black woman on the cruise who was very attractive and as I danced, she'd come like right next to me and flick her hair around as she danced. I looked up to smile as if to say - dance your heart out girl. She just gave me a blank look. Hmmmpph. The entire cruise she didn't acknowledge my presence. Call me old school, but when my family was one of the ONLY black families in our small-town Ohio, we'd smile at another black family in passing. It was to acknowledge their presence, show joy that we weren't the only ones, and to empathize. All of that in a simple smile-nod. Perhaps times have changed and I haven't.
After a while, I break a sweat and decide that I just want to sit and breathe. I see BM#1 and get up and ask him if he was having a good time. Again making small talk. I tell him that I'm bout to head in for the night. He tries to entice me with some late night conversation, but I didn't know him enough to know that he wasn't a rapist and I was plum tired. So he does offer to walk me back to my room, which I accept. We have small talk, he asks what I'm doing tomorrow. I say hanging out in key west, and that I was sure that I would see him tomorrow. I smile and give him the type of hug you give a cousin (ass out) and say goodnight, see you around tomorrow. So skipping to the next time I encounter BM#1...the next night I simply didn't have the energy to go out again. So I went to bed. I wake up around 3:50 to go to the bathroom and my phone rings. Given that I'm on a cruise and not expecting any calls, I assume a call at 3:50 is an emergency of some sort...so I answer.
Me: Hello?
3:50 Voice: Hello, Uhh I think I have the wrong number...who is this?
Me: Uhhh, You called me, who is this?
3:50 Voice: This is BM#1, is this SunFresh?
Me: Yes. What time is it?
BM#1: Hey baby, it's late, or it's early. Where were you baby. I was looking for you tonight baby.
Me: I was tired, so I went to bed.
BM#1: But I was looking for you baby.
Me: Umm, I'm tired, I'm going to bed.
My Internal Thoughts: WTF, are you serious? First you call me at 4-effin-AM. Then you call me BABY as if I we had some type of special moment and fell in love last night. WTF did I miss? Whateverthehell, I'm going to bed.
Key West: This was a VERY laid back place. I do a bit of great shopping, have a margarita at Margaritaville, take a picture at the southernmost tip in the USA. Oh, and most importantly, I took pictures of the wild chickens! The day was short, we docked 7-2. So there wasn't thaaaat much time to enjoy key west. I do think that one day I might want to go for a few nights. (Went back on the boat, laid out, sipped drinks, ate wayy too much and fell asleep...this is the night that crazy BM#1 called).
Cozumel. This was awesome. We went kayaking and snorkeling. Crazy man #2 - the Kayaking trip consisted of we, 2 small families, a group of 8 sixteen year old girls and an older white guy that was by himself. The kayaking trip was a challenge for me b/c I had never done it, and on top of that b/c I was lighter, I was in front and the front person is supposed to be the leader. We kayaked probably the length of 3/4 of a mile. Clearly I was the worst out there; however, it was fun and I know how to laugh at myself. At the end of it, I had noticed that the single dude was pretty good and had the water shoes. So I asked him if he kayaked often. He told me that he did and where and this that and the other. We go sit on sun-chairs and he sits down next to us and tells us all about his job and how he's recently divorced and came on the cruise instead of disney world. I could clearly tell that he was more lonely than anything, and I above all people can appreciate being lonely. But I deal by becoming more introverted and keeping to myself...he was total opposite. And almost turned into stalker. Later that evening he ran into us and followed us around. He told us how he saw our pictures and how good I looked. He even followed me over to the hip-hop bar. He followed us around like a sad puppy. The next day he stopped by to say one sentence to us that was somewhat out of context at least 3 times. I gave him no indication that I was interested. Since when did a bit of conversation and a smile indicate that I want you?
Back to Cozumel...after the kayaking and snorkling we did a bit of shopping. And then stopped in an open bar that looked like a load of fun...cuz it WAS. There were fun lil' $shots, huge margaritas, a congo line and a bit of dancing. Sooo much fun. The waitor had a thing for me.
The Indian men were crazy over Cocoa..probably because on formal night, she wore a beautiful Sari. HIlarious, she tried to wrap it herself the first time and this Indian photographer was like uhhh, that's not how my mother or sister wear it. There was an Indian woman at the Info Desk who wrapped it. She did an amazing job and Cocoa looked fabulous.
It was a much needed vacation. The equilibrium in my ears is still floating with the rhythm of the waves :-( And I'm back to reality and coping with a bit of depression. I believe that this will pass, as do all bad/good times. But it's hard for me to envision a positive future and not look to God with a furrowed eyebrow. The scariest thing is that I've lost faith again in the general good of people.
Well, I'm enjoying the music...now one thing folks don't initially see when they see me is a woman that likes to dance and who can dance. I stay on the dancefloor and this other black dude comes up to me and starts imitating my dances. He says he's 33, but he looks and is acting more like a 21 year old. But he's harmless and cool. I'm dancing my HEART out...giving Shakira a run for her hip action and enjoying the attention. I do find it funny how competitive black women are in general. There was another black woman on the cruise who was very attractive and as I danced, she'd come like right next to me and flick her hair around as she danced. I looked up to smile as if to say - dance your heart out girl. She just gave me a blank look. Hmmmpph. The entire cruise she didn't acknowledge my presence. Call me old school, but when my family was one of the ONLY black families in our small-town Ohio, we'd smile at another black family in passing. It was to acknowledge their presence, show joy that we weren't the only ones, and to empathize. All of that in a simple smile-nod. Perhaps times have changed and I haven't.
After a while, I break a sweat and decide that I just want to sit and breathe. I see BM#1 and get up and ask him if he was having a good time. Again making small talk. I tell him that I'm bout to head in for the night. He tries to entice me with some late night conversation, but I didn't know him enough to know that he wasn't a rapist and I was plum tired. So he does offer to walk me back to my room, which I accept. We have small talk, he asks what I'm doing tomorrow. I say hanging out in key west, and that I was sure that I would see him tomorrow. I smile and give him the type of hug you give a cousin (ass out) and say goodnight, see you around tomorrow. So skipping to the next time I encounter BM#1...the next night I simply didn't have the energy to go out again. So I went to bed. I wake up around 3:50 to go to the bathroom and my phone rings. Given that I'm on a cruise and not expecting any calls, I assume a call at 3:50 is an emergency of some sort...so I answer.
Me: Hello?
3:50 Voice: Hello, Uhh I think I have the wrong number...who is this?
Me: Uhhh, You called me, who is this?
3:50 Voice: This is BM#1, is this SunFresh?
Me: Yes. What time is it?
BM#1: Hey baby, it's late, or it's early. Where were you baby. I was looking for you tonight baby.
Me: I was tired, so I went to bed.
BM#1: But I was looking for you baby.
Me: Umm, I'm tired, I'm going to bed.
My Internal Thoughts: WTF, are you serious? First you call me at 4-effin-AM. Then you call me BABY as if I we had some type of special moment and fell in love last night. WTF did I miss? Whateverthehell, I'm going to bed.
Key West: This was a VERY laid back place. I do a bit of great shopping, have a margarita at Margaritaville, take a picture at the southernmost tip in the USA. Oh, and most importantly, I took pictures of the wild chickens! The day was short, we docked 7-2. So there wasn't thaaaat much time to enjoy key west. I do think that one day I might want to go for a few nights. (Went back on the boat, laid out, sipped drinks, ate wayy too much and fell asleep...this is the night that crazy BM#1 called).
Cozumel. This was awesome. We went kayaking and snorkeling. Crazy man #2 - the Kayaking trip consisted of we, 2 small families, a group of 8 sixteen year old girls and an older white guy that was by himself. The kayaking trip was a challenge for me b/c I had never done it, and on top of that b/c I was lighter, I was in front and the front person is supposed to be the leader. We kayaked probably the length of 3/4 of a mile. Clearly I was the worst out there; however, it was fun and I know how to laugh at myself. At the end of it, I had noticed that the single dude was pretty good and had the water shoes. So I asked him if he kayaked often. He told me that he did and where and this that and the other. We go sit on sun-chairs and he sits down next to us and tells us all about his job and how he's recently divorced and came on the cruise instead of disney world. I could clearly tell that he was more lonely than anything, and I above all people can appreciate being lonely. But I deal by becoming more introverted and keeping to myself...he was total opposite. And almost turned into stalker. Later that evening he ran into us and followed us around. He told us how he saw our pictures and how good I looked. He even followed me over to the hip-hop bar. He followed us around like a sad puppy. The next day he stopped by to say one sentence to us that was somewhat out of context at least 3 times. I gave him no indication that I was interested. Since when did a bit of conversation and a smile indicate that I want you?
Back to Cozumel...after the kayaking and snorkling we did a bit of shopping. And then stopped in an open bar that looked like a load of fun...cuz it WAS. There were fun lil' $shots, huge margaritas, a congo line and a bit of dancing. Sooo much fun. The waitor had a thing for me.
The Indian men were crazy over Cocoa..probably because on formal night, she wore a beautiful Sari. HIlarious, she tried to wrap it herself the first time and this Indian photographer was like uhhh, that's not how my mother or sister wear it. There was an Indian woman at the Info Desk who wrapped it. She did an amazing job and Cocoa looked fabulous.
It was a much needed vacation. The equilibrium in my ears is still floating with the rhythm of the waves :-( And I'm back to reality and coping with a bit of depression. I believe that this will pass, as do all bad/good times. But it's hard for me to envision a positive future and not look to God with a furrowed eyebrow. The scariest thing is that I've lost faith again in the general good of people.
Miami
Got there Saturday evening. We ate, stopped at Wet Willies and went to Mangos. We were standing by an odd couple - on the surface it appeared to be an older Caucasian man and younger African-American gorgeous woman. They had a table which had a bottle of wine, vodka, and brandi. The man turned around and in broken English, offered me drinks. Because the drinks were already in bottles, I accepted his offer. I turned to the woman and started talking to her; however, she gave me a blank stare and said in broken English, "Do you speak Spanish?" Come to find out the dude was 57 from Switzerland and she was 30 from Panama. She was a fabulous dancer and he wasn't so fabulous - but they looked very happy. She would say, "speak to Mi husband," with such a thick accent if I wanted to talk to her. The guy gave me his/her e-mail address. Kinda makes me think that they might be into some "extra" curricular sexual activities...heyyy to each his/her own.
I had my fair share of drink, so I didn't think that I would be able to get up the next morning for a jog. But I did wake up and amazed myself even. I got dressed and started my lil' piss poor jog and all these people were dashing by me. In my head I chuckled and said, "well dayum, this isn't a race." But then I noticed numbers on joggers ....and they were in a race. It inspired me to keep going. I ran at least 4 miles...and got little blasts of energy when I saw a father-son duo who were in it together and a woman with a prosetthic leg. I would really like to be able to run; but I admit it takes a lot of effort...sometimes I have the energy sometimes I don't.
Next we at breakfast. Chatted about whether to go to the beach or parrot jungle. Parrot jungle is like a zoo - but not really. Much smaller than a real zoo and with a limited variety of animals...mainly parrots and other types of exotic birds. I've always loved birds, and the more exotic, the better, so I had a great time. Met Polly who really does think that she is a pretty and wants a cracker.
After we left parrot jungle, it was like okay definitely beach time...but which beach? SoBe is sooo pase (in an English accent); so we decided on walking on the wild side and going to Haulover. SoBe is about about 3rd-16th street...Haulover is at 108th. So it was a bus ride...yes we got on Miami Beach public transportation; it was like a 45 minute ride. While on the ride, it starts raining and we're kind of disappointed. But we continue onto the beach wishing for the best. We get off at the first sign of Haulover Beach and notice that the rain is about to pass so we just wait under the buss stop shade/protection. We stay there for about 15 minutes until the rain clears and walk over to the beach. No naked people. I've never been so confused as to why there were no naked people in public. So I ask a lifegaurd who says that the clothes optional part is about a mile up. So yes, after that long ass rainy bus ride, we still have a mile and a half to go. We look off into the horizon and then down at our feet in the sand. Walking in the sand is like walking with 40 lb weights on your ankles. We get about 1/4 of the way and I stop like ehhh whatever. I look up and see a car riding smoothly over pavement that is right past the small brush of glass. It was like an oasis...so we immediately walk up there. All this pain and anguish just to get to a freaking nude beach.
So after a while I look over the grassy part and I see this piss-poor fence. You'd imagine that a fence that encloses a nude beach would be at least 4 feet high and have no spacing. For example good fence = (}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{); bad fence = (/ | \ { } ). From far away, my bad eye-sight registers a fully nude backside. Relief washed over me, knowing that we found it. So then we start on the pathway between the brush to get to the beach. The first thing I see is a dark-skinned black man's twig and berries. Immediately I look down. I'm not necessarily embarrassed, but it's not often that you see penis when not expecting to see it. So finally I force myself to just look up and deal with it. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!! Penises were EVERYWHERE. And they were all shapes and sizes.There was a mostly nude volleyball game going on in back of us, nude couples, nude families, nude women with clit piercings, nude men with penis piercings...and these people were definitely over 40 years old. The only people I saw that appeared to be between the ages of 25-35 were a group of attractive women; however, they were topless (not bottomless) and smoking weed (I always ask...who does that over the age of 21?). And after a while I could see them mooching off of nude men near them (drinking their alcohol).
We plop down in a spot and I take my clothes off and kind of try to act like "Oh yeah, I do this all the time." This guy (presumably gay) turns toward us and says, "Good thing the rain passed quickly." After he turns around we look at each other and giggle on some, "a naked man just casually talked to us." After a while I get up to get into the water. I don't notice much around me, but I'm slowly getting used to the water and there is an Italian older dude (probably late 50s) that sees me try to ease into the water. He starts talking to me and offers to hold my hand and lead me out into the water. I refuse to take his hand...but we shitchat about the differences between American and European culture in regards to nudity. As he talks to me, two other Black men approach. They're Haitian and make little talk, but clearly flirty. They all were flirting, messing up my good naked time in the ocean. So I started feeling uncomfortable and got out. So shortly thereafter, we got up and left the beach. We ate, and I think I went to bed early.
I had my fair share of drink, so I didn't think that I would be able to get up the next morning for a jog. But I did wake up and amazed myself even. I got dressed and started my lil' piss poor jog and all these people were dashing by me. In my head I chuckled and said, "well dayum, this isn't a race." But then I noticed numbers on joggers ....and they were in a race. It inspired me to keep going. I ran at least 4 miles...and got little blasts of energy when I saw a father-son duo who were in it together and a woman with a prosetthic leg. I would really like to be able to run; but I admit it takes a lot of effort...sometimes I have the energy sometimes I don't.
Next we at breakfast. Chatted about whether to go to the beach or parrot jungle. Parrot jungle is like a zoo - but not really. Much smaller than a real zoo and with a limited variety of animals...mainly parrots and other types of exotic birds. I've always loved birds, and the more exotic, the better, so I had a great time. Met Polly who really does think that she is a pretty and wants a cracker.
After we left parrot jungle, it was like okay definitely beach time...but which beach? SoBe is sooo pase (in an English accent); so we decided on walking on the wild side and going to Haulover. SoBe is about about 3rd-16th street...Haulover is at 108th. So it was a bus ride...yes we got on Miami Beach public transportation; it was like a 45 minute ride. While on the ride, it starts raining and we're kind of disappointed. But we continue onto the beach wishing for the best. We get off at the first sign of Haulover Beach and notice that the rain is about to pass so we just wait under the buss stop shade/protection. We stay there for about 15 minutes until the rain clears and walk over to the beach. No naked people. I've never been so confused as to why there were no naked people in public. So I ask a lifegaurd who says that the clothes optional part is about a mile up. So yes, after that long ass rainy bus ride, we still have a mile and a half to go. We look off into the horizon and then down at our feet in the sand. Walking in the sand is like walking with 40 lb weights on your ankles. We get about 1/4 of the way and I stop like ehhh whatever. I look up and see a car riding smoothly over pavement that is right past the small brush of glass. It was like an oasis...so we immediately walk up there. All this pain and anguish just to get to a freaking nude beach.
So after a while I look over the grassy part and I see this piss-poor fence. You'd imagine that a fence that encloses a nude beach would be at least 4 feet high and have no spacing. For example good fence = (}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{); bad fence = (/ | \ { } ). From far away, my bad eye-sight registers a fully nude backside. Relief washed over me, knowing that we found it. So then we start on the pathway between the brush to get to the beach. The first thing I see is a dark-skinned black man's twig and berries. Immediately I look down. I'm not necessarily embarrassed, but it's not often that you see penis when not expecting to see it. So finally I force myself to just look up and deal with it. LMAO!!!!!!!!!!! Penises were EVERYWHERE. And they were all shapes and sizes.There was a mostly nude volleyball game going on in back of us, nude couples, nude families, nude women with clit piercings, nude men with penis piercings...and these people were definitely over 40 years old. The only people I saw that appeared to be between the ages of 25-35 were a group of attractive women; however, they were topless (not bottomless) and smoking weed (I always ask...who does that over the age of 21?). And after a while I could see them mooching off of nude men near them (drinking their alcohol).
We plop down in a spot and I take my clothes off and kind of try to act like "Oh yeah, I do this all the time." This guy (presumably gay) turns toward us and says, "Good thing the rain passed quickly." After he turns around we look at each other and giggle on some, "a naked man just casually talked to us." After a while I get up to get into the water. I don't notice much around me, but I'm slowly getting used to the water and there is an Italian older dude (probably late 50s) that sees me try to ease into the water. He starts talking to me and offers to hold my hand and lead me out into the water. I refuse to take his hand...but we shitchat about the differences between American and European culture in regards to nudity. As he talks to me, two other Black men approach. They're Haitian and make little talk, but clearly flirty. They all were flirting, messing up my good naked time in the ocean. So I started feeling uncomfortable and got out. So shortly thereafter, we got up and left the beach. We ate, and I think I went to bed early.
4.10.2008
Haulover Beach
is a nudest beach. and I will probably go with my mother.
i'm getting a brazilian to get prepared.
i'm getting a brazilian to get prepared.
There's more to the inconvenient truth
Al Gore shares a little bit more about global warming. It's a good look.
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