Who do you know that is awake at 8:15AM to have a full on conversation with you from Rockaway Parkway to Bushwick-Aberdeen? That’s a good eight stops.

Why must you have said conversation at that many decibels? My Zune is at volume 20, and I can still hear you. I really don’t care that you have tomorrow off.

It is 36 degress out…so why aren’t you wearing socks?

Please, for your own sake-find a better hair stylist. One who can match the color and texture of your ponytail to the hair that actually grew out of your head. I need to walk around with Connie’s* cards in my purse.

I saw you play with that booger. You have mascara; a mirror to look at yourself put on mascara; Eat, Pray, and Love; and lotion in your purse. You can’t carry tissue too?

Why do I know everything you carry in your purse? Becuase you kept pulling things out of it. Put on your makeup before you get on the train.

I was already in a bad mood when I left the house. I am sick, my throat hurts, and if I had my way, I’d still be asleep. Never before did I wish I carried a blow gun until I sat next to and across from you people on the L train.

*Master weave-ologist; 4 tracks for $65.

Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener
That is what I truly want to be…Okay, not really. But lately I find myself wondering what the H-E-double hockey sticks I’m doing. Sound familiar? Reminds you of my first post, now doesn’t it? I would think that by now I’d have figured it out. I mean, really. At what age do you know what you want to be when you grow up? At five, I wanted to be a judge. At 10, I wanted to be an attorney, because they told me I could argue with people all day and get paid for it. At 12, I decided I was going to work at Essence. Somewhere along the road of Journalism 101, I lost all desire to write. {I blame you, Professor What’s-Your-Face.} Somehow I feel like I should’ve stuck with Communication as a major instead of a just a minor…when was the last time I honestly used my English degree? My first job out of college was as a policy writer. That lasted all of five minutes because the department was understaffed, leading me to become an administrator. My frustration with that position and my Atilla the Hun-like boss drew me to the events planning world. Well, that and my insane list making, organizing, “presentation is everything” personality. So now that I’ve landed my “dream job,” {it’s really not, just my dream career field}why do I still feel like I haven’t gotten it together? I’d like to become more involved, to be an actual planner instead of just an assistant–assistant literally means “person I give things to do when I don’t feel like doing them myself”/copy machine fixer/secretary/mailroom attendant/gardener/cleaning woman/office organizer. It’s not that I don’t like my job–it’s 100% better than my last one; however I do wish I had more responsibilities relating to actual events. I’d like to be a point person, to handle the calls related to an event, to be the one stressing on the day of…in reality, I’m the one transferring calls, taking reservations and tables when the point person is too frazzled, counting the number of chairs at a table and relaying changes to the catering manager, and the one calming everyone down on the day of. All complimentary meals and swag aside, I’d like to be more involved. I plan to take some classes at F.I.T. next semester–hopefully that will give me more of a presence at the office and help me to officially launch my venture. I feel like I’m not asking the right questions~it’s been a year and I know very little about the inner workings of what goes on around here. I was told that the individual I wanted to speak to regarding his business isn’t someone I should get close to…and I can see why {he’s simply a little too touchy-feely for me}. I feel that one of my biggest hinderances is my inability to speak with people I dont’ really know in the right way…I feel socially awkward at times. I guess in addition to my F.I.T. classes, I should take some extra communications classes.  I suppose if I’m really going to enter this pageant (more on that later), I’d better learn to speak as eloquently as possible. So what do I do? What do you guys suggest in terms of how I can present myself better and become more outgoing, more friendly, more “network-y”? How do I let my boss know that I’m ready for more responsibility? And most importantly, how I get this damn Oscar Mayer song out of my head?

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

 -William Arthur Ward

 

Happy 2008! New year, new me. Although I say this just about every year,  I honestly am going to make changes for the ‘08.  I don’t have “resolutions”, just things I plan on improving this year.

 

• Eat better.  My nutrition game is severely lacking. There’s a whole lot of vitamins and minerals I know I’m missing out on…
• Save.  This year, my checking and savings accounts will not have negative balances. I plan to pay my bills on time, starting with my rent (renting from your parents has its privileges).
• Travel.  My itinerary for 2008 includes Toronto, Miami, Paris, and Amsterdam. We’ll see if I actually make it.
• Be a better girlfriend. My boyfriend is so patient and I feel like I haven’t been working up to my full potential. Never settle for less than your best.
• Clean.  Now that I live alone, there aren’t any more excuses.
• Entertain at my home.  This will mean I’ll have to learn to be a better cook and hostess.

What are your plans for the ‘08?  

 

Merry ChrismaHanuKwanzaakuh

Christmas Day has come and gone. Mine was spent with family and friends, eating and arguing…lol I woke up around 9am and headed upstairs to my parent’s part of the house (I live in the apartment below), only to find that the door was locked. So, I went back to my apartment and started measuring for the furniture I plan to purchase in the ‘08.

Around 11, I actually got in upstairs and was immediately told to get started on the cornbread. Merry Christmas to you too. We went to my grandmother’s house at 3pm. You would have sworn she had been on an episode of “Clean House” with Niecy Nash, ’cause the place was soooo clean. I’ve never seen it that clean. My borother and I kept walking around saying, “I can see carpet!” “I never knew there was a fireplace in here!”

My play cousin and her dad came over to see my grandmother, and we got into a discussion about locs. I am eagerly awaiting the day when my locs are as long and thick as hers. Right now I’ve got some that are locs and some that are perpetrating. It’s only been a month, so I’m not too worried. She says by this time next year I’ll have some length.

The family started up about housing costs, co-ops and condos, and how Brooklyn is becoming little Manhattan. We talked about how the neighborhood has changed over the years, how they mispronounced certain words when the first came to America…and then it was time to get down to business. Chicken, cornbread, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rice and peas, and callalloo…

And that was all she wrote.

Happy Holidays!

I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned…

Today is where my book begins… 

I used to be a really good writer–but somewhere around Journalism 101, I lost all motivation. I used to think that one day I’d even write for Essence, be their featured columnist and all that jazz…but that obviously hasn’t happened. I think I write best when given a subject to work from. So, I’ll write some random facts about myself until I can think of something more witty and interesting.

#1. I was born in Brooklyn, NY. I’m still figuring out my entire heritage so I can have a sense of where I “really” come from. My mother was born in Trinidad, my father in Harlem.  I know I’ve got a mix of Panama, Grenada, Carib Indian, and some Martinique blood running through my veins, but I’m not sure what’s what. I plan to go the Alex Haley route and trace it one day.

#2. I can be super lazy–but once I put my mind to something, it’ll get done. I can take an idea and run with it. I planned a huge Apollo-style talent show in college, in about two months. It raised $700~students were only charged $2.

#3. I’m on word press for the sole fact that I want to know what people outside of xanga have to say about what I write. Sure, I’ve formed relationships on xanga, but this will allow for outside comments from people I don’t know on that level. I like the word press spellchecker aspect, but hate that it counts my words, limiting the speed at which I can see what I type.

#4. I have an issue with conflict. I don’t like arguments, and I often let anger pile up until I burst. I know it’s unhealthy, but it’s very hard for me to confront someone the first time I’m upset without it turning into a big thing.

#5. I really like the whole triple period thing…I forget what it’s called, but lately I use it quite often. It’s so much more fun that a regular period. It’s like…hey, there’s more coming.

#6. I’m still growing. I fancy myself this “adult”, but I’m really just beginning to find myself. Somehow I believe that I should have everything figured out by now, but I’m not even close.