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I want us all to say NO to white tights! After being away from DC for two years I forgot how truly fashioned challenged people are. I see way too many adult women in white tights and stockings. It's really ugly and sad on top of it all. If you are my friend and you own white tights please say goodbye to them or I will have to say goodbye to you. I only hang with fly people. I'm err umm kidding...maybe.



I'm also trying to figure out exactly how this type of pose protects your hair from the rain. Yesterday the rain came a bit earlier than expected and a few people were caught off gaurd. I saw various black women running from the rain in this pose. If I were them I would have caught a cab or walked into the CVS they just passed and got a cheap umbrella. I remember what it was like to make sure your hair stayed on point.



Now what do these things have in common? Usually nothing but at the gym this white blonde woman with bone straight hair was combing her hair with a afropic. It was the oddest things I had seen in a very long time. She didn't have a sign of kink so I wanted to inquire about her choice.

I was talking to this woman and half way through the conversation she zipped up her jacket. That's because I was staring at her boobs. It was unintentional and I felt bad that I mad her uncomfortable. The problem is that this happened several times recently. The thing is that I don't even realize that I'm doing it until they cover themselves. It comes partly from me not liking to make eye contact with people. I try to stare somewhere close to the face so they think I am looking at their face.

I don't want people to mistake me for a lesbian. I don't need that kind of confusion in my life. This all might contradict that fact that I have a crushes on Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansen but they are "flat chested" so that's different.

I've had my Macbook for 5 days now and I'm extremely happy with the purchase. The Apple online store had them refurbished for $899 or I could have bought a new one for $1199. I looked at another dell and with a warranty they would have run me $1200. I couldn't really see what a PC could offer me besides windows Vista.

What I did was buy a refurbished Macbook with a warranty, 160GB external drive, and a usb hub for $1200. If I bought anything new I would have paid much more for all of it. I couldn't be happier. Now I just have to find a software hook up. Now I am able to have my entire music collection on my hip since I'm not dealing with an overpacked hard drive. It's been a long time coming.

So Mac or PC? I would say Mac there are so many things that are easier. Things aren't buried way deep in a directory you don't know that exist. It's far more intuitive to way I think. There are only a few keyboard shortcuts that are different. It's just beautiful to gaze upon as well.

So the scales have shifted on my undying love for the east coast. People ask me how I deal with the weather and I always reply how snow is very pretty or something to that effect. Well today I realize I deal with the weather because I never reallly have to deal. I've never shoveled snow and until today I never had to deal with major snow removal on a car. Well right now I'm sitting here hoping that my roomate comes home with wine because I need to relax. I spent the last 45 minutes cleaning off two cars. Now I didnt have to do the second one but like a good roomate I cleaned off the car she is taking care of for her friend who is going through chemo. Now this was about 3 solid inches of ice I banged my way through. This wasn't ice scraping this was brute force. It was quite dangerous as massive pieces of ice came crashing down to the ground unexpectedly. I know my wrists will hurt tomorrow the way my shoulders and upper back do right now. In the morning the nex challenge will be getting out of my parking space. Thank God I don't have to park on the street. I hear people out there now struggling to get out.

Fortunately I came in the house and I turned on Itunes and low and behold....my neighbors music is showing up in my itunes. I didn't realize that my wireless connection was on another network. So I just listed to Corrine Bailey Rae and I don't care for her music. I listened to it because I could. I say if you don't want anyone else in your files don't leave them open. Nothing beats the Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique.

Snow Day!

Not! I could stay home but my computer is broken. So I have to go to
work to get my abstract in. If it wasnt for that I would stay right
here and do all my calls from bed. However I think I will leave early
and spend the rest of the day with my other. This would have been a
good cuddle boo day. We have never celebrated vday before. The last
time I celebrated I went on a blindish date with one of the regular
readers of this blog. He gave me a bottle of Reisling. My new Macbook
arrives tomorrow and I can't wait.

It finally happened. I knew this day would come. I never knew how I would handle it. I've dreaded this day but I knew it would happen. He opened his mouth and let it out, his British accent. I finally heard the man speak in his native tongue. It's so not sexy; repulsive even. Stringer Bell will you ever comeback to me?

(blogging on the blackberry is not the move...thus the initial typos)

This weekend I attended a party full of debauchery. I haven’t attended a party with this particular bunch of friends in a minute. So I decided to grace them with my presence. Every one was shocked that I showed up and someone said “It’s official now that you’re here.” Then another person inquired if “my man was around.” He wasn’t but I thought it was hilarious that this was their first statement after saying hello. I got there kind of late, fashionably late I thought, but it seemed that everyone was very intoxicated when I showed up. There were no more mixers really just Bacardi galore so I new I would be impaired shortly. I drank, danced, and entertained myself and those around me. In true fashion when I drink I can’t shut up. Just imagine this combined with having the hiccups. It was terrible even with my chest spasm induced interruptions every 10 seconds, I continued to blab on….and on…and on…..and on. I’m sorry for all of you who endure my blabbering. I'm not embarrasaed about it or anything it's just what I do.

At the end of night, my significant other called and asked me to pick him up from a restaurant because the train had stopped running. He gets in the car and I tell him how much fun I had. Then I exclaim “I didn’t even rub my butt on anyone. You can ask everybody.” I was so proud of myself! I didn’t try not to dance with other people I just never got around to it . I only need myself to have a good time.

The next morning I went to brunch with the roomie at a new place on U Street, Creme. The food was delicious and I can’t be mad at the bottomless mimosas. I highly recommend the brunch. The service wasn’t great but the waiter did everything he could to get the kitchen to get their act together.

The Super Bowl party I went to was decent. I was really tired at that point though and could barely stay awake during the second half. It was a good game and I’m happy for Tony Dungy. The low lights were the three patronizing “We are making Black History (Month)” commercials. The entire audience of about 60 people I viewed the game with were all annoyed with that string of commercials.

Lastly, who names their son Lovie? I hope he’s named after his grandfather or something.

I'm nursing a strange hangover. I woke up fine but after putting
together this ikea chair I feel sick. This is really strange. I cant
be sick on superbowl sunday.

So I might be on a bit of hiatus. I was working long hours for the last week so I had nothing to report. Actually just not a enough time to talk about clogging the toilet and going to home depot at 6:30am. My computer was damaged during a work related event so I won't have much access for at least a month as I work it out with them. It will cost $500 to replace the mother board. So I might not be able to blog that much. I'm working on setting up mobile blogging in the mean time. I guess I will be a "crackberry" addict for a bit.

Here I sit typing away on my blackberry. This is what happens when you
work 14 hour days and during the process your laptop breaks.

Complicit


When you find out your friend is cheating on their mate what do you do? I'm conflicted right now and I rather not know it's happening. I'm not friends with the mate but I do have respect for the person. It's hard for me to sit back and just watch. I really wish the person was smart enough to keep it on the hush ( i can't say DL anymore). Actually I think they tried to but I believe the person they are cheating with needs validation and keeps doing things in front of other people. I plan to do nothing because I already know shit will hit the fan because one of the people in this scenario is crazy...off their rocker. I just wish I wasn't being made to be complicit. When their mate comes to town I have to lie (by omission) like things are all good. I'm surprised that this makes it uncomfortable as it does.

Every woman needs a gay boyfriend

Finally, not that I was looking I found a gay boyfriend. I don't consider myself a fag hag (or fruit fly) in any way. I don't go out searching for them or anything that blatant. When they come into your life it's a blessing. I was lucky enough to spend four days with this wonderful man. He's orginally from DC but now lives in MD. We have the same sense of humor, he loves to dance, and we both love to shop. What more do I need? We are going to see Alvin Ailey next so that should be wonderful! I'm so happy to have met someone I totally clicked with. He's just a cool dude. Now everyone refers to him as my "gay boyfriend". Two boyfriends....I think I can handle that.

Adams Morgan

I haven't been there at night time in a very long time, years I don't think. Yesterday I met up with my friend from UNC and we went to Felix. An extremely cute and smooth latino dude talked with me at the bar and I loved the attention. It was really funny because I was going to find him to dance later because he just had that much "umph". Later on he starts having this thing with this other short light skinned black girl and I was like "the hell". She's stealing "my man (attention) yo"! It was just hilarious my reaction to that situation. My friend even was trying to play wing woman knowing that it was futile. I think if I was "on the prowl" I would have thought he was sleazy. Knowing it wouldn't go anywhere I could soak up thebrief attention.

Now Adams Morgan really isn't my scence and Felix used to be filled with a lot of pretentious trash. As usual in Adams Morgan things have changed. They had four floors two of which were great. One had a great DJ playing good music where I danced my little heart out. Then there was a lounge area with a band that was great. I would return to Felix on a Saturday.

I took this guys number and I thought I gave him mine but I think I got myself out of that one. I really don't recall giving it to him. I told him that I've been in a long term relationship but he insisted. I have no intentions of anything. I haven't figured out how to make platonic male friends in DC. It seems impossible when I'm so used to having them. It's just so weird.

Now I'm sure some of you probably think "B must get sick of you flirting and giving your number out." He really doesn't care because he knows me pretty well. He knows i'm a punk sometimes. So he laughs at me I'm sure the same way you all do when you read these stories.

Right now my face is all sorts of tones, patches, scales and flakes. I’m not sure what is going on. I’m feeling ugly for the first time in my life. A lot of people have self esteem issues and will never feel beautiful on the outside. I usually feel beautiful on the outside but not right now. I basically look like I haven’t washed my face or can’t afford moisturizer or something. So no matter how fly my outfit is, it just doesn’t matter when you have a crusty face. I’m going to the doctor tomorrow so hopefully they will do something about it.

I think my fiercely dry skin is giving a certain class of men a little confidence. My percentage of hollas from the “I wear a fake NorthFace bomber jacket no matter the weather crowd” has increased about 70%. They are probably wearing T-Skirts under them too. I don’t care what people say…I am very out of their league. The normal professional dude hollas have disappeared.

I’m kind of a classist in some respects but I try my hardest to at least be friendly to everyone. Although I pegged him for the purse snatching type, I made the mistake of having a musical discussion with a guy on the train platform the other day. I was just being friendly I thought. I didn’t see that he would try to “get to know me better” by the end of the conversation. . I couldn’t convince him that he didn’t want to know me so I gave him my home phone number. I never answer the phone.

A week passes and I use my home phone to call GEICO to change my insurance. I hung up with them and the phone was still in my hand and it rings again. So I answer it. It’s him. He starts talking to me and I’m like who is this since he never asked to speak to anyone. He said he was looking for Isabel and I told him he had the wrong number. He insisted that he really didn’t know my name but he knew it was me because of the way I talk. I tried damn hard to get him to hang up but I ended up hanging on him. The phone rings over and over but we don’t have caller id so I have to assume it was him. After two hours of calling he finally left a message asking me to call him back.. I wouldn’t have done that anyway but I couldn’t because I don’t have his number.

I need to learn to be firmer but I’ve seen dudes do some terrible things to girls for giving out fake numbers etc. Some men get their egos bruised so easily. This morning I saw and example of what I was supposed to do. I guy tried to talk to a girl when she didn’t respond he tapped her arm. She said “Don’t touch me” in a firm voice and kept it moving. I’ll try that next time.

RIP Momofuku Ando

Creator of Top Ramen and other Nissin instant ramen products dies at 96. For some reason I feel this man is very important and deserves a space in my blog. He shaped my childhood somewhat...it was one of the few bad foods my mother allowed in the house. A lot of us ate it in college. Where would we be without his man? (in better health certainly but...)

Today my one of my best friends called me today. We only talk a couple of times a year but it doesn't matter because we are friends of quality and not quantity. I blatantly sat at my desk and talked to her for 30 mins while my boss kept walking by me handing me stuff. I simply didn't care. We caught up on so much stuff. She's one person who really knows me and even where we differ, she accepts me fully. We usually spend the holidays together and she and her husband are like my second family. She has been there to console me through many wack dudes and the crazy family antics around my mothers death. Even 3000 miles way I know she'll always be there for me. I also forgot that I gave her the link to this blog so she read but she needs to start commenting.

It got me thinking about all the predictions you make about your future lives. We predicted who would get married first:

College Predictions: Aisha, Sher, Jen
Results: Sher, Jen, ....Aisha's still waiting

High School Predictions: Aisha, Lisa, Quynh, Michelle
Results: Lisa, Quynh,...Michelle would be married if it wasn't for superstitous in-laws, Aisha's still waiting.

It's funny what you think will happen but life has other plans for you. We always sit around (drinking) laughing at these predictions. I was at the top of everyone's list because I dated more than anymore else. I guess I just love trail and error. For a little while (like 24hrs) I was stressing being last but really, I enjoy my life so what does it matter? I think women are socialized to have this artificial sort of competiton. It's reallys stupid and pointless.

This is an interesting case....i could have sent a few people to jail. Please comment.

http://www.wilsonappeal.com/index.php

Happy New Year

I'm really tired right now because I just devoured a meal of ribs, grilled octopus, black eyed peas, greens, roasted potatoes and champagne. I passed on the quail, pig feet, vegetable medley and cornbread. I think I may pass out but not before I taste the rice pudding.

Last wee I was nearly ready to break up with my significant other because I thought he hadn't gotten me anything for Christmas. I don't give to get but come on! I came back from vacation and he made me creme brulee with the gift I gave him. So I'm just waiting for him to bless me with my gift. He hands me a book "101 Things to do with a Tortilla." Cute huh? But really umm I was still looking for my gift. Then he lets me know that he hadn't got me a gift. I was about to get a lil beligerent until he said it was because he didn't know what color to get.

Now I present to you the piece de resistance:

A five quart KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. As you can see I want Chrome. It also comes with a icecream maker attachment. I will be in full effect from now on. This doesn't bode well for my diet plans though.

I was trying to post something while I was in Atlanta but it was hate filled. So it was in my best interest that it didn't post. Let's just say that I was thrown a big curve ball for Christmas vacation. I was unexpectedly stuck in the suburbs and that sucks.

Chicago




I'm sure some of you were wondering where I've been. I've been in the lovely city of Chicago for a week. I've been to Chicago a couple of times and each time I fall more and more in love with the city. I could live there if it wasn't for the weather. It's just a great town with enough hustle and bustle and great local culture. There is delcious food and shopping just waiting around every corner. The city does have it's chain stores but there are many local spots to find that unique thing that you have been waiting for. Here are some reviews of what the city has to offer.

Yoshi's
Tuesday night we headed out to the Lakeview area for dinner. Out of our list of reccomendations we decided on Yoshi's. Given the name you would think it was an Asian place however, it serves "contemporary American" cuisine. I started off with a tuna tartare appetizer. On my plate I found a generous mound of tuna sitting a top a large dollop of guacamole with freshly fried tortilla strips on the side. The dish also included an oyster shooter flavored with jalapeno. The oyster shooter was orgasmic so I asked for another. For my entree I had the spaghetnni with shirmp and scallops. I was nearly full from the appetizer but I ate every last bite of my pasta. Yoshi's is a must eat if you like great interesting food. Entrees will run about $20-$25 dollars but it was well worth it. Also Tuesday is half price martini night.

Frontera Grill
Chef Rick Bayless is midly famous as celebrity chefs go. He is rarely on the food network but had a show on PBS. He is known as the best chef that does Mexican cuisine. I shared appetizers with the group to sample more of the food at Frontera. The ceviche was very fresh as the squid was very tender without a hint of chewiness. The guacomole was just okay and with it's high price it should have been much better. My entree of carne asada came out cold but I excused that because we ordered around the time the fire department and the EMTS showed up. They brought a delerious looking employee who may have been burned. The second plate of carne asada was much better than the first one. The meat was actually medium this time and the black beans and plantains were very flavor full. I didn't think the food lived up to the hype. I've had better Mexican many other times from less expensive places.

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me

For some intellectual stimulation, go see a taping of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. It's a very funny weekly news quiz they record every Thursday at the Chase Auditorium downtown. They have celebrity comedians every week who participate in the news quiz and they are hilarious and very politically incorrect. This week they had the very funnyMo Rocca who often does commentary for VH1's I Love the...(70s, 80s, 90's). I'm sure 90% of my taping was edited because they were so raunchy. It was very very fun.

Funky Buddah

Funky Buddha known as "The Buddah" to insiders is always a very fun club. People in Chicago dance their asses off. They don't care they just have fun. The Buddah plays a mix of hip hop, rnb, chicago house, oldies, rock. You name it they just might play it. A very mixed crowd comes to The Buddah and there isn't a hint of pretention. Be sure to shake your body when you are in town. Friday and Sunday nights are the reccomened nights for this place.

Be Thankful For Each Day


A friend of mine just lost a family member. His cousin died in a freak explosion. Actually, I few of you that read this blog have met my friend and some of you are friends with him.


I'm not as spirtual as I would like to be but I am indeed thankful for all that I do have. It is really weird how you could visit your cousin one day, fly home and then the next day he dies. That is what happened to my friend. I try to live one day at a time but if there is something I want to do before I die, I better put that on the schedule. You just never know. God bless his life.

So little time

Work is really busy these days. When I first start working there I took the time each day to read dcist.com and several of my favorite blogs. Then I thought I should start writing again and this is what we have here. Now my time to read blogs and write my own has vanished. When I come home from work I don't want to be the nerd who pulls out their computer to blog as soon as I get home. So now I have a dilemma.

Also DC Adventures isn't what it used to be. Much of the drama and funny stories came from dating and being new to my surroundings. Now I'm in a less exciting relationship (intercultural dating makes for great stories) and I pretty much know my way around DC. So what adventures could I possibly have? I really don't want to bore you all with stories of "How not to holla 101." I don't really know what I am going to do. I guess you have to just wait and see.

What if?





Since I've become a boring lame ass, I spend my friday nights curled up with netflix eventhough there are clubs just a few blocks from my door. Last night I watched Akeelah and the Bee. The movie is simplistic but it is extremely heartwarming. The ficitional character is from the neighborhood I'm from. I could identify it all just by the way the house looked. In fact, almost every Los Angeles hood film is filmed where I grew up. Safe enough for a film crew but still south central Los Angeles. I consider myself blessed in many ways because my life could have been just like Akeelah's. The only difference was that I had two parents, although divoriced who made sure I did my best. I did however, have a sister who was like Akeelah's brother and no matter what my parents did she was on her own thing. She always bought into the peer pressure to be the cool kid. So even with the same rearing you can have vastly different outcomes.

What if my father didn't come around after the divorice?
What if my mother didn't care?
What if they didn't get me into better schools?


I might have been that akward kid in an environment where my peers shunned learning. I'm so glad that wasn't the case. I really appreciated that this move took the time to show how hard to succeed when everything is against you. People are lying to themselves if they think it's a level playing field out there.

Brainfood

Every Thursday at 3:55 I leave the office early for the highlight of my week. I volunteer with a program for high school kids that teaches them life skills through cooking. They are not only learning how to measure and chop; they also learn to share, make decisions, organize and to lead.

Although my day job helps children, I never see the kids we help. In fact I don't want to see them. Having to deal with kids everyday is not for me. However, once a week for two hours that I can do. All the kids are really sweet and not assholes in the way I think of DC teenagers. They still try to show bravado but at the end of the day they all love coming to class. Attendance is dropping now but going there two days a week can be a big commitment.

It's so fulfilling for me and I hope the kids are getting something out of it. They learn to try new things every week and none of them know how to cook. So far we've covered baking with Sweet Potato Biscuits as the highlight. This week they just started using knifes and the collard greens were pretty good. All the kids are inner city youth of color so I'm glad to be doing my part. I think it's good for them to see that I've moved across the country and that I went to college because many of them may not. So hopefully they like me and I'm a role model for them. So if you have just a little bit of time in your day please find a way to give back to others.

Adventures in bra-lessness.

The day started out great. I went to the gym at 7:30 AM and did 45 minutes on the elliptical. I'm really trying to lose weight and I am committed to that.

When I finished showering I reached outside of the stall for my towels and they were not hanging on the hook. I looked down and noticed a towel on the floor. I screeched "who took my other towel?" I really didn't want to put on a towel that had been on the floor but I had to. My wet hair was dripping everywhere and I needed my second towel. I got out the shower rounded the corner and I see a black girl standing on a towel. I could see the guilty look on her face. I'm pretty sure she took my towel. But you know we don't need people making public false accusations now do we?

I calmed myself down and tried to remember that it's just a small thing. I was annoyed at the inconvenience. I ended up putting on my hoodie and sweatpants and running out and getting another towel. I started to get dressed and realize I didn't put a bra in my bag. There is no way in the world that Aisha should be walking around without a bra. I'm mad uncomfortable but I need to get to work for a meeting at 9AM. Soon as I walk out the gym the sexual harassment starts. There was no way to hide the bounce even with my hoodie on. In a 5 block walk I got holla'ed at 4 times. This includes the cab driver who pulled over and rolled his window down to talk to me.

I get to work and have my meeting but everyone kept asking me what was wrong. They could see on my face that I was uncomfortable. When I had a break, I ran across the street to Macy's to find a bra. I'm lucky that it was that easy to remedy the problem. I find a sale bra in my size. I approach the counter and the cashier says, "I can't remember if it's still tax free day. Let me call security." I was puzzled as to why she would call security. Security didn't know and they wouldn't even tell her to whom she was speaking. Then she saw some stockboys and tried to get their attention and they wouldn't talk to her. She laments in her best urrea accent, "I don't know why they couldn't just say they didn't know. Why did they have to ignore me? If I was a white man they would have answered. But that's okay because Jesus still loves them and so do I." I stood there thinking that this is what it would be like if my "Ghetto Sister" had a job in retail.

The cashier calls around to other departments but no one answers. At this point at least 5 minutes have passed and I'm getting rather impatient. I just wanted to say just charge me tax "I don't care I'm only going to save 99 cents." The only reason I didn't do it was because I wasn't feeling that confident without a bra on. Finally she calls the "big boss" to find out about tax free week. He confirms that there is no tax. I pay my $9.99 and start to hurry off since people at work have no idea where I went. The cashier tells me to wait because she wants to give me some coupons for my patience. She gives me four 20% off coupons and it's tax free week...holla.


The last subject for today. I think I changed ethnicities again. In the past two weeks I've been asked many times if I was Ethiopian or people have just walked up to me speaking Ahmaric. This includes a toothless, afroed, trench coat wearing, homeless looking man who I swear was going to steal me or my purse. I was trying to tell him I was not Habesha but I couldn't find the words because I was scared. This was part of the reason the cab driver tried to hunt me down this morning. He thought I was one of his country women. I'm not sure why I go through varying states of exoticism. It's made for an interesting time on the east coast.

Lynchburg, VA




The town was nothing like I thought it would be. I imagined farm land for miles and people sitting on their porches with shot guns. However that wasn't the case. As we approached the city we got a lovely view of the city of seven hills. The city looks a lot like Providence, RI. If no one told you, you might think that you were in New England. The city has very historic architecture and is not a bunch of sub-divisions and strip malls like many cities in the south. I could clearly imagine Civil War battles happening in this town. I could also still see remnants of segregation as I passed by what was once Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School for Coloreds.

It's not a hick town at all. They have two colleges, malls, farmers markets and even a Gold's Gym. They have sidewalks everywhere while Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham aren't even paved everywhere.I don't think they have much night life though. It doesn't really matter because families are close and you just hang out with your people drinking cocktails.

The only strange thing that happened was that I was offered a meal of chitlins, greens, rolls, and champagne! I politely declined.

Food Blog?

Since leaving Carolina, I’ve spent a lot more time cooking and making love to my cookbooks. Right before leaving Carolina, I was really into Weight Watchers “Meals in Minutes”. I wasn’t using it for diet purposes at all; it really has some very good quick meals you can make in 15, 20, and 30 minutes.

The problem with my cooking and baking is that I hate to experiment. It’s really my fear of failure or more like “ewww cousin Aisha can’t cook for shit” fear. I’m always in search of the “Best Recipe”. I want other people to perfect it and then I’ll make it. I might experiment with basic things like pasta but other than that I won’t try. So in some ways that makes me not a cook but a recipe follower. So this year I’m trying to branch out.

Over the summer someone asked me to make some banana chocolate chip mini pound cakes. It was so hard for me to make anything other than plain or chocolate cappuccino. I had to figure out on my own how to flavor them. They came out great and people at Drew’s Cookout really liked them. Another thing I did differently were my Magic Bars, at Game Night. I made them with chocolate, butterscotch and coconut. They were sinfully sweet and got rave reviews. In general I’ll take bigger risks when baking because sweet is sweet in some respects. However savory stuff, I’m not so confident.

The chili I made the other day actually came out great despite me botching the measurements. It was also a patient dish, 4 hours in the making and I couldn’t be more proud of the outcome. It’s always good when something taste like it was made with warmth….hot chili peppers too.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup, chicken nooddle soup, chicken noodle soup with an apple juice on the side. Let rain....clear it out. I saw a little girl perform this on the metro yesterday. Well not apple juice but that's been my main meal for the past few days. I'd also like my respritory system to let it rain and clear it out. Maybe that little chick was more profound than I thought.

On Wednesday I was sitting around and realized that I ran out of soup. Then I got to thinking who would bring me soup when i'm sick. I knew of three people who would bring me soup but none of them were available. I started to think about who were my friends and who would bring me soup. That's the true friend who will bring your soup. So in DC I wasn't really sure who I could call to bring me soup outside of those three people.

So then there is the reverse. To whom would you bring soup?

A Day of Mishaps

I woke up this morning feeling a lot better. I didn't have the urge to cough immediately and I think I inhaled through my nose. In fact I was hungry....I must have been feeling better. I checked email and decided that I would run to WholePayCheck to get some things so that I could make chili. I also felt the urge to set up my workstation so that this overheated Dell laptop can stop burning my naked thighs. I had tons of energy.

I put everything together and typed out my grocery list to test out the print. I press print and the printer doesn't show up as an option. My first instinct is to find the install disk. Oddly I know exactly where it is. I put it in and it tells me the printer is already installed. I decide to reboot. I try to install it again and starts to install and then tells me I need to reboot. I press Ok and it then tells me I can't reboot while it is trying to install. I shut it down and decided I would try to uninstall it. It tells me that there is nothing installed but there are some useless files still installed. So I uninstall those and then try to reinstall. I finally get it to work.

I'm ready to print out the grocery list and I press print once again. It prints but there is nothing on the page. I now remember that I had expended all my ink on my thesis. So being the smart girl I am I change the text to red so I can just use the color cartridge. It prints but now it's only showing 1/3 of the things on the list. I dig around and I find another color cartridge and now my grocery list is complete printed in blue letter.

Going to WholePayCheck is fun for me. They usually have everything that I need especially some of the more exotic things. I really need some Yogi Tea to deal with this cold otherwise I might have gone to Giant. Also I love the bulk spice section. You scoop your own spices they cost about 80 cents/oz. compared to the $3 or so you pay for a jar of the same spice. It really helps when you are buying an exotic spice you don't need a whole lot of. I got everything and went to the meat counter to buy beef shoulder. I didn't see any beef shoulder and asked the girl behind the counter for it and she told me it was prepackaged. I went over there and didn't see anything labeled shoulder. So I just picked up some brisket since I know I like brisket.

I get home and look up beef shoulder and find out that's the same as chuck roast. Chuck Roast is way cheaper thank brisket. Due to my lack of knowlegde....I spent more than I needed too at Wholepaycheck. Also chuck roast is better for stewing and I should have thought of that considering I am making chili.

After viewing the recipe in the morning I decided that I would half it since I really didn't need 12 servings. I cut up the beef and the spices and I made my own chili powder. I start putting together the wonderful creation together. It smells really good and then I realize that I halved everything except the spices.

I run over to my computer to google some suggestion on how to work on this mishap. My first instinct is to just add water but I'm trying to concentrate the flavor so that probably won't work. I try to google and the page won't come up. I try other pages they dont' work either. So I check my wireless connection no IP address. I walk over to the modem no cable. I cut on the TV no cable!

Comcast actually cut off the cable! My roommate got into a fight with Comcast over the weekend because they wouldn't send anyone out to fix our fuzzy cable. Most channels were so fuzzy we couldn't see them anyway plus I thought we were just going to be without TV not internet too. Actually, when we moved in the cable was on so I didn't really think they were going to cut it off. Since they wouldn't fix it I thought they would be too lazy to cut it off. I'm at home sick....I need me some internet. So I’m writing this right now in the hopes that I can jack someone’s internet. Did I tell you I need my internet?

I was already planning to go to work tomorrow but now I have more incentive to. I found out my new Blackberry arrived today. It functions as a modem. I have the significant other hook up so I pay very little for unlimited internet.

Hopefully I will have a better day tomorrow.

It's that time of the year

The time of the year when Aisha gets bronchitis. It starts with a sore throat and a little congestion. Now I am at the full fledged mucus filled coughing stage. This sucks and there isn't anything a doctor can do about it. I cough about every 30 seconds all day long which irritates my throat even more and my chest and ribs get sore. I have to settle for broth and water only.

I'm trying to figure out how to play this with work. My boss is a pediatric nurse practitioner so she understands this very well. However, I took three days off last week and now I'm about to take 3 more at least. My bouts with bronchitis usually last about 3 weeks. So I plan to do conference calls from home. I think I am going to go in today and grab some work to do. I don't really care about work that much but I care about my paycheck. I zapped my savings over the summer when I was unemployed.

So as you enjoy your delicious meals for today be thankful as I eat yet another can of progresso soup.

As a result of my last post someone went on a little stalking session for me. She found out that he is in New Jersey and he's married. So I guess he got that green card after all? Of course the girl is Indian. Okay let me log off of his wedding website. I think that's closure for me!

The other things is that our information is not safe. My friend only knew his first and last name and she was able to find way too much personal information about him. I felt bad that she was able to intrude into his life like that. Then I googled him just to see and before I never found anything. Recently he must of added himself to a "social networking" site and I found his resume and websites that link to the rest of his life. I think we all need to be more careful about what information we put up on mypsce and other places. Seriously I really wanted to know that he was okay. I found out way more than I wanted.

I just realized something else. This is yet another one who got married after dating me. Since I was 19, I have a 100% record. If you are in a relationship with me and it ends, you will get married to your next girlfriend. I'm not sure what tht says about me. I'm sure here must be someway I can make money from this, lol.

Edit:

I read my horoscope like once a week but I really don't believe in them. However, this one is very ironic:

It's time to free yourself of old expectations and stale situations that are more trouble than they're worth. Letting go of the past can be difficult, but it's one of the most rewarding tasks you can take on.

I think they are right considering today's events. Free!

Back Down Memory Lane

I went to Boston for a conference and it was great to be back in the city. I was finally reminded of why I fell in love with the city. The city is so beautiful. The history is in the archetecture is amazing.

So last night I had walk through the Christian Science Complex. My ex boyfriend used to work there. He may still work there but he cut off contact with me for very good reason. We had a high recidivism rate. As I walked through the complex I stopped at the reflecting pool. I reflected on how so much of Boston is enveloped in that relationship. A relationship that I don't know why I cannot get over. Just when I think I've forgotten about him something reminds of him.

As I stared into the pool I wasn't thinking about our memories. I was thinking about how much I would love to see him. But why? I guess I didn't really get the closure and I can't let it go. It's all absurd because as most of you know....I was calling to break up with him when he did it first. So what's my issue? That was three years ago why can't I just let it go?

Sexual Harrasment count today:

3 Honkers
7 Craned Necks

Total: 10

Race rears it's head

I didn't want to say "ugly" necessarily. This weekend I took a risk and invited friends from all my circles to a party at my house. I knew it was risky given that most of my friends really speak their minds but have differing backgrounds. Also, I didn't know how my roommates friends would mix in with my friends. Fortunately, only two white people showed up and that was enough. Unfortunately, the white girl in the room stopped by on her way to a costume party. However, none of us knew what her costume was about. Simply, she was wearing a black blazer and no shirt or bra under it and a short skirt with thigh-high stockings. Somehow the party was briefly segregated and all the Black people were in the kitchen whispering about her outfit. Then someone inquired, "What are you, a whore?"

It turns out she was Jessica Cutler . There was no indication and the Washingtonienne scandal happened years ago. Ms. Cutler is no longer water cooler talk. My roommate gave her a copy of the book to carry around so at least she could explain herself.

Then the conversation turned to our other friend who recently moved in with two white men. There was so much discussion of what it was like. I'm sure we all would have been offended if a white person was inquiring about what it is like to live with a black person. I recognize there are differences because I have lived with everyone under the rainbow. However, the same convo different people...disaster.

"What the fuck? Are we not human? What do you mean what's it like? Fuck you whitey white racist ass cracka."

After about an hour the white people left and no more showed up. At first I was wondering why none of my white friends showed up but that's okay. I didn't think about Halloween parties and Hampton's Homecoming when I picked the date. It was for the best though. Race relations haven't come as far as I think they have. When people are trying to let loose who wants to worry about racial offenses? Who wants to explain spades? Who wants to explain why they are slamming the dominos on the table?

She found my diploma!

For the second time, there has been a mishap with my diploma. This time there is at least a funny story to go with it. I get a message on Myspace today saying.

"Hey Aisha did you ever get your diploma? I met this guy on match.com and I mentioned to him that I recently got my MPH. He tells me that he got girls diploma named Aisha M. and she also has an MPH. Might it really be yours?"

Why yes it probably is! So she is going to let him know that indeed I never got my diploma from UNC.

As for Berkeley apparently I really didn't need it. I managed to work for four years before I figured out that I didn't officially graduate. It wasn't until I applied to graduate school that I found this out.

Washington Sports Club

...here I come! Now that my new home is nearly in order, I feel that I can make a return to my workouts. I don't want to waste that $60 that comes out of my account every month. I've decided that I will come into work thirty minutes earlier so that I can take a longer lunch to go to the gym. Since I'm walking to and from work right now, I don't want to leave downtown too late with the impending time change. I estimate I will walk about 15 miles a week just going to and from work. Therefore I can just work on flexibility and muscle strength at the gym during the week. On the weekend I can take one dance class and I should be fine. I talk about my weight a lot because I'm unhappy with it. Hopefully writing about it will keep me more accountable.

I was also inspired to cook this weekend. I managed to make a sesame crusted seared tuna Asian salad, salty oatmeal cookies, and foccacia. The foccacia was disappointing because the yeast was old so it didn't rise. So it became pizza instead. It still had an excellent flavor.

You never get over the death of a parent

On July 12, 2003 my mother died of cancer. It is the event that has shaped my life. Not only her actual death but, her 20 years fight with breast cancer. Every now and then something reminds me of my loss. Something that makes me upset that she's not here with me. I do have to remember how fortunate I am. I could have lost her when I was three and barely have any memory of her. So I am happy that I even have something to remember.

As I continue to unpack I find things I haven't seen in a very long time. This morning I found the book for "Little Miss Los Angeles 1983". As a child my father put me in many pageants. In the booklet people bought advertisements to support me and offer encouraging words. On my three pages are the names of friends and family many of which who are no longer with us. These include my mother, aunt, grandmother, god mother.

The book also shows how much life has changed. Al King, our family mechanic bought an ad. He is now the partner of my cousin Attricia. Also both of my parents Post Office buddies bought ad and now my dad is retired. Another thing I noted is that businesses from Compton, CA bought ads in my book. I may not actually be from Compton but Compton is for Aisha!

It's time to update the book a little bit: We Love and Miss You Mommy-Gina, Trice & Aisha

Stripping vs. Prostitution

I was thinking hard today as to whether I want this blog to be focus or unfocused. I decided that each entry should be focused on something. So I think I 'll keep it to one topic with maybe a mention of a Daily Random Happening.

"Why did she quit stripping to go in to prostitution? Stripping pays a lot more and is safer."

I overhead someone say this the other day. Does stripping pay more than prostitution? Is stripping safer? I think stripping is seen as a more noble profession than prostitution. But does it really pay more? Personally I don't think so. When you get up to strip there is no guarantee that you will ever get tipped. No one has to give you money but if you work it out a little bit you may get a few dollars in your g-string. With prostitution you get to negotiate up front the cost of doing business but, you must attract business first.

Now let's make a few other observations:

Stripping vs. Prostitution

you get to take breaks between each set vs. walking the hoe stroll all night
you're less likely to split money with a pimp vs. more likely to be split money w/a pimp
you collect money in small amounts vs. you get larger lump sums per client
you get "loyal customers" vs. you too get "loyal customers"

I don't really see the benefit to prostitution unless you are a "call girl". Which one is safer? I can't call it.

I have contemplated stripping...just to do it once (or thrice). I mean public stripping, not stripping for my significant other. I was once almost coerced to jump on the stage at amateur night. I didn't do it because people I knew would be watching me. I really think I could do this if I was in a town where no one knew me. I think that ship has sailed though.

I'd like to hear your own stripping vs. prostitution comparisons.

Daily Random Happening: I was eating my morning oatmeal and my pasty white neighbor of mine was making his bed in his underwear. I can easily see into the second and third floors of the houses across the street. I thought I had an advantage having the bigger room with all the light but I have to keep my blinds closed.

We are back!

Rather I should say "I'm Back". I've been inspired to blog again. I just didn't have the time for a Carolina Adventures. Besides, Carolina just wasn't exciting enough. The strangest things have happened since I've been back in DC so I think they deserve my written time.

Since I've been back in DC for about 4 months, I've noticed that I get harrassed/holla'ed at/ogled way more than I ever did before. Yesterday I was involved in an "ogle" gone wrong. I was in the middle of my daily walk from the office. I'm feeling real Ally McBeal these days except I don't dance around in the snow...not yet. I was waiting for the light and I notice someone trying to get my attention. However, he was backing up his Lincoln Towncar while doing this. Unfortunately, he backed into an ethiopian woman. She jumped out of the way to escape bodily injury. He is not aware and continues to back into the crosswalk. So she starts yelling and he doesn't realize she is trying to get his attention. I began pointing so he will notice her. Of course he thinks I'm trying to send him the "yeah i wanna holla at you too boo" signal. Finally, the woman starts banging on his window. All I could do was laugh.

This is the third time someone has caused bodily harm to themselves or someone else in an attempt to get my attention. I'm like my own little public health problem. Aisha Moore the 250th cause of unintentional injuries in the U.S.

That leads me into my next topic "It's All Relative"

I think I need to lose weight and I'm actually doing something about it. I'm the biggest I've ever been and it's not cute to me. The men of DC seem to disagree. So I often wonder what catches their fancy. Everyday I walk downtown and I see stomachs hanging out and pants about to burst. Then I see rather large woman who have learned how to dress appropriately despite the fact that they are a size 22. So in the grand scheme of things I'm on the larger side of small. But if you compare me to the vast majority of woman going to and from PG county on the green line, I'm a drawf. So I suppose on the DC/PG Black Woman scale I'm relatively small?


(note this is my first blog in 2 years. so dont' get confused that the older postings are from october...but 2004)

I haven't posted in almost two months. It's because I don't really care anymore. So here is an non proofread rundown.

I just wanted to say that I saw my first chipmunk today. I've never seen one in my life. I tell you it was so adorable.

School is hectic and I haven't seen a dime of loan money.

John Legend is coming.

Halloween is coming.

DC is coming

Thanksgiving is coming.

Christmas is coming.

I took a ride from a stranger today. The tropical storm is coming through the area today and I was waiting at the bus stop to go to school.

I saw a crackhead couple this morning on my way to school. They were all cute and hugged up on the bus. However, the woman had white powder on her chest. She didn't look like she could afford cocaine so I'll just go with talc.

So finally an update. As usual it comes from having an interesting story. So yesterday I finally decided to get my entire house organized. So I started putting together my office chair. As soon as I attempted to put my first wheel on, it slipped and I busted my finger open.

So I go knock on the neighbor's door because I'm really bleeding and I need a BandAid. So I go over there and he answers. He looks for a BandAid and finds me one. We talked before but he asks if I want to talk more then. So I go in and sit down and we chat. Come to find out that he is also from California, Oakland to be exact. He then tells me that his sixteen year old brother loves the way my food smells. Last week he was home alone and he really wanted to come and knock on the door and ask from some. He refrained from doing so.

So we talked abut families and school. Apparently he is a Sociology PhD student, poet, Christian and Chaplin who curses. So then by the end he asked me if I wanted to go with him next week to see Sting and Annie Lennox. I'm like okay this cool. I'm going offer to pay for my ticket to make it sure that it's not a date. Not that I have delusions of grandeur, but I'm assuming it's friendly but I suffer from "Duh he likes you but you aren't paying attention" Disorder. I've had the affliction for quite sometime. I've learned to cover my tracks just in case.

So then his brother comes home from football practice. He tells me how much he loves the smell of my cooking. So I gather that they don't cook much. So his brother is taking care of him because their mom wanted to move and that his older brother, 19 years older, was able to handle him. The kid is a former drop out and since he has been living with his brother has done a complete turn around. They are half brothers as the young one is gorgeous and the other one is not to my liking.

So then the little brother decides to come over and help me fix the chair. He spends like 30 mins doing it graciously. Next he then tells me that he knows how to get me free cable. So let's take inventory: A BandAid, concert, chair, and cable. I can also use their microwave if I really need to. I see this is going to be a great neighborly relationship. There aren't that many blacks over here so we have to stick together. See what a little clumsiness can do for you?

My friend told me that my blog is lonely. Honestly these blogs have been quite personal. Most of them dealing with relationships and the like. I'm just chillin' for the summer. Also my real and online lives have become so mixed up that i would hate for most of these people to get inside my head.

A quick rundown:
My Ipod is broken and now it looks like I will have to sell it and its accessories on eBay. I've never done that and I will let you know how it goes. Hopefully I don't become addicted.

I was chased down the street by a man who called me Angie Stone and demanded that I sing for him.

I have two weeks off before I leave for Chapel Hill and I have no idea what I am going to do with myself. Other than pack that is.

I went to Philly for a BBQ and I left because "They weren't crunk enough." I went to a fourth of July BBQ and was demanding they play crunk music. I went to a club Friday and was wondering when the DJ was going to play his crunk set. When did I become crunk? I've been shaking it like a salt shaker so long that I forgot to dance. My two step was off. I forgot what choreography was. I no longer want to be Britney Spears I want to dance for the latest Lil' Jon remix. Yeeeaaaahhhh!

Video Killed the Radio Star

I'm so glad that there isn't a CD player in my car. I wasn't at first until I found out that I can use my Ipod through the radio. This means that no one can come into my car asking me to play thier cousin's new mixtape. Whatever is on my Ipod is what's on the menu.

The Ipod is doubly great. I was listening to NPR all of the time because Clear Channel and Radio One really suck. NPR is informational but I need not keep up with every detail about the war.

Earl "The Curl" Miller

He was the guy that every girl wanted but I was taken and never really paid much attention to him. Smooth skin, nice round bald head, and amazing eyes. All the girls swooned over his eyes but I was into his smooth bald head. He only attended the school his senior year and graduated a year before I did.

Senior year came and I am suddenly single. Earl's friend Craig was the DJ for a school dance and he brought Earl with him. Earl had moved down to San Diego after graduation. So we are just shooting the shit or whatever. We all go out to lunch and when lunch is over, we head to the record shop. Right before we walk into the door Craig says , "You have to pretend like you are one our girlfriends." I look around grab Earl's hand and walk into the store. We wen to buy the 12 inch of Groove Theory's "Tell Me". I give Earl a ride home and there is an awkward moment when Earl and I realize that we are feeling each other but we don't act on it.

Valentines/Black Celebration rolls around and he is back on campus. I see Craig and he says "Earl is looking for you." I didn't really know why. So he come to the Valentine's dance and he is there with his ex girlfriend Lorena who just couldn't be happy with her Mexican heritage and wanted to be black very badly. I see him we dance shoot the shit and that's it.

Sunday morning rolls around and my mom is like "Some guy name Earl called you." "Mom, what did you tell him?" "I told him to call you back." I'm trying to figure out how he got my number. So I wait and try to play it cool. I mean Earl they guy every girl wanted was trying to talk to the kid. I sat and tried to figure out who would have given him the number.

He calls back and asks me to the prom. I'm like cool that is settled and I got a really good looking one at that. So word gets out that I am going to the prom with Earl. No one could be believe it. I guess I wasn't popular enough and/or pretty enough to pull Earl. They were also shocked that he would come up from San Diego for me. So then I started to figure out that Earl had messed with quite a few girls. Chicks I didn't know was coming up to me like, "Tell that nigga earl to give me the ring my momma gave me." "Ask him if he still has that picture cuz I want it back."

So three months passed of girl making complete fools of themselves for me. We used to talk on the phone as he rang up customers at Target. I thought that was sweet. Prom day comes and my sister goes to pick him up from Craig's house because I was driving to Prom. He come in the door and I am trying to figure out who he is. He has the worst s-curl that I had ever seen. It didn't turn into greasy nap balls but it was more Little Richardesque. I was very upset because my fine ass prom date had and s-curl. I was almost brought to tears but I remember that I was going to prom with Earl Miller and that I was the most hated girl in school. It's fun being hated.

Giving Back

Yesterday I went that God awful place Chipotle. I don't know why I keep going there but I do. So as I wait in line there is a black and a white guy in front of me. They are having a conversation and the black guy is trying to explain the greatness of Rep. J.C. Watts. So as he is talking he is explaing to the white guy how it is imparative that black people give back to the community. So they get up the front of the line and it became painfully obvious that the black guy had never been to Chipotle before. He was confused and it became a big spectical as he salivated over which items he could put in his burrito shell.

Meanwhile he begins to scratch intensely. He starts off slowly but it gets so bad he begins to expose his back. From there I can see the massive chalk lines he is creating upon his back. I pictured ashy flakes flying from his back over the glass into the barbacoa. After all of the commotion I finally got my food and sat down. I was concerned for this brother. So I began to write on a napkin "you wouldn't be scratching if you used lotion. go home immediately and have your girlfriend/wife lotion you up." I wanted to at least assume that he was with someone. I was trying to give back the community. I started to give it to him but then I remember he was with yt. I couldn't let him go out like that in front of yt, even if he had the ape scratch down.

Confessions of a Reality TV Junkie

I'm the nosiest person you will ever meet. I am very intriqued by the world around me so I am always well, observing things. So when the Real World first appeared on television it was the perfect drug for me. Since then I've watched just about everything. I was pretty loyal to all the MTV shows since they were the originators.

This season I decided that I didn't really need reality TV anymore. As much as I enjoy it I decided to give it a rest. However, I am privy to a message board recaps of everything that happens. Just as if I watched it myself.

I'm coming off of the high that it gave me. I craved the drama. I am trying to quell my drama queen tendencies. So watching the masters of drama surely wouldn't help me, right? I have not missed it at all. Yet I yearn to be able to chat around the water cooler.

I just clicked on a Making The Band 3 post on a message board. I quickly became engrossed and then I realized that it was time for a confession. I had to close that post immediately.

Now that I think about it, that messageboard is like it's own little reality TV spin off. Will I ever get off the crack?

On my way home on the Green line last night round about 9:30 I get to Gallery Place and the lights go off and the train shuts down. Next thing I know I see everyone run down the the platform towards the front of the train uncluding 7 metro police officers.
"Attention Customers we will be holding here because of a police situation."

I sit on the train for about 5 minutes and then get off to try and take the long way home on the Red Line. As I am going up the escalator the train comes back on so I run the escaltor and run back down on the otherside. I barely escape death by chime with the doors.

So cool we gonna get going. We ride into the tunnell and the train stops. So I notice that there are 6 or so Metro police officers in the car in front of me. They open up one of the doors and hop off. So we sit there for another few minutes.

So passengers are restless and one in particular. Big Black African Bernie Mac. He's got on a red, white and blue Knicks cap and the rest of the fit to match with dark sun glasses. He sounds just like the "Suck you Muthasucka" dude from Comic View.

"Dammit, fuck you muthafuckin' police situation. I got to get home to my lady." He says this about 3 times. It just so happens that he is sitting right next to the intercom button. He presses it and begins to shout into it.

"Fuck your police situation. I got to get home and make love to my lady."
"Sir we are having an emergency and this is not the time."

The intercom light goes off and he continues to complain. He presses the intercom like 8 more times but she continually cuts it off. We eventually start moving and the old man next to me starts talking to me but he smells of coffee, cigarettes, and day old crotch. I'm thinking I have only 2.5 stops to go. There was .5 due to the fact that we are still in the tunnel. We eventually start moving again and I figure things are all good.

I get to my stop and stand up so I am much closer to Big Black African Bernie Mac's colorful ass. So I notice that he is talking to this girl that is sitting in front of him. I hear her say "I'm in highschool." He says, "You mean like like senior highschool," he pauses. "Well that's not like too young you at least eighteen isn't you ?"

I gave her a look of horror and proceeded to take my tired as home.

I got into Columbia in their Master's of Public Health Program. I am so excited and I am seriously considering a move to New York.

I'm a lunatic.
I'm a drainer.
I'm intense.
I'm needy.
I'm dramatic.
I'm an intense feeler.
I'm fixaited.

The first step is identifing the problem they say. I did that years ago so why can't I stop the cycle. Maybe I get off by staying on the merry go round?

Happy Valentines Day!

Belated but the sentiment is the same. I like holidays because it's fun to give and think about positive things. So I am single but oddly I had two engagements this weekend. Friday lunch with an acquaintance that went well. I would call him a friend but I hesitate on using that term so loosely theses days. He is really cool people though. Saturday lunch again with someone I barely knew but it was cool to get to know yet another person in the city. I got some cute gifts too.

May 2004
I can't wait until I get back to Cali. There are some things I need to come to terms with back there. So after two days of sub par Mexican El Cholos is really, really, really, calling me. I can't wait to eat my ass off in LA. There are so many gems that I miss. Johnny's Pastrami, Phillips BBQ, Koo Koo Roo, M&M's soul food, Fatburger, In and Out. I am fully prepared to gain 10lbs.

I've Been Summoned

So many people have told me I should write again. Really, I have a lot to say but I'm too lazy to write it down. Now that someone who I didn't even think knew anything about my blog (I see you Celeste) or my online banter, asked me to update so I figured I would do so.

There are lots of deep, personal, and long winded things I could say but let's stick with minor musings. This is DC Adventures right?

I saw what appeared to be a 7 year old attempting to do the newspaper crossword puzzles.

W. Ellington Felton and Raheem Davaughn are quite the comedy duo. However, they aren't comedians, they are singers. O how I don't quite get Urban Ave 31 but the Street Experience Mixtape is on constant rotation.

As the true shopping diva I am. I returned to my throne. So the woman accidentally under charged me for my new pair of Lucky Brand Jeans. I knew it wasn't meant for me to pay that much for a pair of jeans.

Some people are only fun when you drunk with them.

I'm walking the streets to train for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. So I am sure that I will have lots to say.

True DC Adventures

My housing situation in DC has deteriorated and I'm on the apartment hunt. This past weekend ones roomates' friends (Roomie #1) came to town. I haven't interacted that much with them in the past but I'll give my observations/judgements really quickly. They are loudest people I have ever met. They blow the stereotypes of black people being the loudest people that roam the earth. The are the loudest white girls I ever met. They are all also very dramatic so the mission of the weekend was to get out of the house and stay out!'

Friday Night

I come home and greet my other roomate (Roomie #2) and we quickly agreed that we needed to vacate the premises. We both seperately contemplated all day how it be most horrible if we had to endure a night with the loud triplets. We decided to get dressed as quickly as possible and get out before they came. However we moved a little slow. I was too busy contemplating wearing these fashion fish nets I bought last fall. They dressed up my work outfit just enough that I didn't have to change clothes. We finally escaped without too much interaction and headed down to the U-Street section of North West DC. I had never really hung out there as I was in the Adams Morgan all the time and I feel too old for that area. So we stopped for drinks at Utopia. This place had cool vibe and it was a place I felt comfortable. However I would have like to interact with people more. We were sitting close the door and really close to the band which made it hard for us to interact. We had a really good piece of Turtle Cheese Cake. It was a smooth style cheese cake topped with nuts and caramel which gave it a great texture. I would definately go back to Utopia to chill out.

From there we moved onto Bur Nun. Bar Nun was a very intersting place. It has two levels and two completely different crowds. Downstairs is the commercial hip-hop crowd. We were looking for some place to chill so we headed upstairs. It was filled with nice cushy couches and fluffly pillows. The only downside is that they had incense everywhere. I just don't like incense. I grew up around it but I have never liked the smell. We chilled and these two brothers came and asked if they could grab a seat. The two brothers from NY brought a new meaning to sweatsuits. They made them look really good. They had driven down to come to a birthday party/house warming. It was refreshing to just chill and chat instead of running from being groped. As the night went on I noticed that my skirt was rising up my leg and the thigh part of my net stocking had pretty big holes in them. Nothing wrong with showing a little wholesome leg. We head downstairs towards the end of the night. The guys wanted some girls they could get some play from. For some reason they didn't see Roomie #2 and I that way (they didn't even try?).

We headed onto the dancefloor and immediately I was asked to dance by two drunk guys. I know that it was 2:30 but really I was just trying to find something other to do than stand around. One dude actually gave me "the hand" when I wouldn't let him drag me off to a corner for a personal bump 'n' grind sesion. Yeah I said "the hand." When was the last time someone did that to you. So we left and headed to the pizza shop down the street. We got our pizza and grabbed a seat. Then a bunch of guys came in to get pizza also. One guy asked if the pizza was good. Before I could answer he said "Well at least I know which one of you is hungrier," pointing out the fact that I was almost finished while Roomie #2 handed cross the midpoint. He finally sat down next to us and we started chatting. He then proceeded to touch my fro. To my surprise I felt more violated by that than when my ass is grabbed. He quickly apologized as he could sense that i might attempt to bust a cap in his ass :) We sat there and we saw a cab pull up outside.There were three guys in the cab and they sat out there arguing for at least 15 mins. We see them get out of the cab so we dash out the door to grab it. As we were walking by the guys who had just gotten out of the cab, one of they commented "she's fine and she's fine too!" So they kind of hemmed us up before we could actually get into the cab. So they engaged Roomie #2 more than me. As we were finally making our escape one of the boys from the pizza place was also trying to holla at Roomie #2. So she respectfully acknowledges him and he tells her he was talking to me. So I turn around and he says "What I'm not good enough for you to take my number?" I was blown away because I didn't know what he was talking about. Then I realized that he was drunk. It always takes me 2 extra seconds to realize I can't try and have rational conversations with drunk people. I always argue with them while wondering why they aren't logical.

Finally we are able to get into the cab but somehow the three guys got back in the cab with us. So they were inquiring on where WE were going. Our response "was not with you". So the cab driver speeds off before we can get them out of the cab. When then realize they don't all know each other because they are exchanging names and phone numbers. The entire time we are trying to assesss 1) how they know or don't know each other 2) why are they in the cab with us? weren't they getting out in front of the pizza shop? We have the cab drop us off near our house but not close enough so they could see where we lived. We walked about a block and a half and we surmised they may have gotten kicked out of the cab and decided to follow us. Lucky for us we were way ahead of them and we were quickly going to round a corner where they could not see where we going. That was slightly dangerous.....being followed home. However it was all good in the end.

As we walked we also got a call that Roomie #1 was locked out. This is what we wanted to avoid. We didn't want to interact with her and her friends. We get there let them in to find out that one friend is puking and the other one brought some guy home from the club. She offered to take a shower with him. What the hell? If he accepted I would have stabbed the bi-polar anorexic friend and the guy while the were screwing in our shower. This is one of the reasons I'm glad Roomie #2 and I are moving together. We have already learned to share with each other and I don't want to learn how to play nice with anymore people.

Finally two observations that confirm why I made good choice to leave Boston:


"What does Boston have?"
"Not much. No black radio. No black clubs. No black political power base. No drive-thru fast food." - excerpt from Paul Beatty's "White Boy Shuffle"

The Friendly Take Over

SISRAHTAC

She was used to bearing her soul to the world

That was her catharsis

Instead she decided to let the words stay inside

because she tends to overshare

This time around


Her catharsis came from keeping quiet


Her comfort came from letting her thoughs roam from ear to ear


listening to one another


competing for the spotlight


wanting to be the lead in the play

when the stage was set

the cast appeared


ghost, souls, drama, and pain


however this was only a rehersal


no crowd in sight

the show didn't go on


the show didn't go on


the must not go on

Road Travellin'

The month of February is proving to be a great month. So I have visited Philly and New York. Philadelphia is a dirty ass city but there is a scence that is brewing (well it's kind of cliched by now) musically like no other. A lot of the music that I like these are from people born and raised in Philly. While I was there I had a celebrity sighting. This person is not from the aforementioned musical revival. While chowing down of a cheesesteak at Ishkabibbles in walk a flashy dressed man. I immediately recognized him as Carl Thomas (CT), a singer on Bad Boy records. I though to myself that this is kind of cool but I wasn't going out of my way to acknowledge him more than I would acknowledge and regular person on the street. We continue to eat while watching the CNN coverage of the shuttle explosion. After a while CT whips out two color cell phones in full floss mode. So I am thinking wow he really wants to be noticed. We continue to eat and then he starts humming. Obviously he wanted to be noticed. I had no problem speaking to him but he wanted on this long show so then I couldn't. He was wearing a waist length fur coat, an oversized kangol-esque hat, and a pair of sunglasses. What is wrong with this you ask? It was raining! Fur coat and sunglasses on a rainy, foggy day in Philly.

This weekend I went to New York to see the Chappelle Show, starring Dave Chappelle from Half-Baked and You've Got Mail. I think he is a brilliant comedian. I have not seen the show because DC does not offer Comedy Central. The footage we saw was great. The skits weren't that much of social commentary as I have heard about some of the other episodes but it was hilarious. I have a feeling that his skit Blackzilla will never air. He has sex with a volcano and pissed (litterally) on the Japanese.

While riding through New York I realized that many things seemed familiar because of all the references I hear in rap songs. For instance:

Flatbush Ave Brooklyn: referenced in every Mos Def Song
Junior's Bakery: I saw Jay-Z go there in one of MTV's diary
Westside Highway: referenced in Nore's "Nothing"
106 and Park: The BET top 10 live countdown
Ft. Greene Brooklyn: The Neo-Boho capital (or so they say)

It was quite interesting over there. I would love to spend more time in that city. It is so large and there is so much to see and do. I think I would be slightly overwhelmed but I would rather try and fail than to not try at all. Next I am going to Boston and the last weekend of the month someone may come to visit me

Super Bowl Sunday

That is one of the good songs from Ozomatli's first Album. I am currently sitting around contemplating whether I should rock a fro tomorrow or not. I am not a fan of picking my hair out so I kinda look umkempt but at the same time I think I look sweet. It would be a new milestone for me. I have been wearing twist for quite sometime and I felt like I really needed to let my hair be free for today. The problem is I don't feel like putting them back in. When I did them the first couple of times I didn't have as much hair as I do know now. It's about 3inches or so depending on where you look. I also experimented with straightening today with a ceramic iron. I must say that if I decide to straighten all of my hair one day I will use one of those they are miraculous.

On friday we went bar hopping in Georgetown and they got me drunk again. I have no idea how many drinks I had. The first place we went to had a piano bar. So everyone was singing along to songs that I had never heard or didn't know the words. I was deffintely out of place. Eventually a rather large black man appears and thinks that he has to impress Simon from American Idol. He was just over doing it. Everyone was rather light hearted and having fun but he was serious and kind of messed up the mood. I will give him his props on his singing ablility and passion but he was just in the wrong venue. He was extra loud and was as big as Heavy D so he could belt very loud. He was beast (pun intended).

Next month is operation slim down. Slim down spending, debt , and me. Wish me lot's o' luck, prayers, and the like. I am going to need it.

It's 70 right now in LA! I want to go home! Oh no I don't.

Bubble Burster

I constantly walk around and burst people's bubbles. I didn't realize this until today. So this is what I am going to work on for me right now. For my birthday my dad gave me a tape. Now he is always trying to get me to listen to a political show or an inspirational speaker (read: pyramid scheme advertiser) so I was really reluctant. I asked him what was on the tape. He told me just to listen to it. I informed him that I need a reason to listen to it. He tells me it was a tape of me when I was younger. He had such a bright beam in his eyes as he sat there remembering the little girl I used to be. I replied, "Oh I heard this before. It has me talking to you and [my uncle] in my grandmother's kitchen." His faced dropped and I didn't think anything of it. Today Mr. Tortilla calls me to let me know that he is now renting a premium car for when he comes to DC on Friday. I replied, "Why did you do that? It will be huge and there will be no place for us to park." Why could I not just let him revel in the fact that we are going to have a nice car? He likes nice cars and I know this. Immediately my bubble started to fizzle as I realized that I am sometimes an asshole without realizing it. I need to fix this now because you can't survive a long distance relationship with an asshole. Otherwise I will find him playing with someone else’s ass hole.

Merry Chistmas and Happy New Years!

Oh you don't celebrate Christmas? Really you do just might not be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christmas! I love this time of year mostly because I enjoy watching the History Channel. They have many specials on Jesus. I enjoy these because they put in a historical and not a religous form. I am a believer in good people and everything that uplifts people. Recently I am just a person is satisfied with any positive and is for the greater good. I know longer get involved to religous rituals other than prayer. I will still go to church with my family because there is nothing wrong with that. What could go wrong is that if I use that to hate others, feel superior, or to not think for myself.

I am at home in Los Angeles and well things are reall different. My mother has lost all of her hair from cancer. It is really weird but I try not to focus on that. My cousin has moved in with my mom because she has a baby. Yesterday the baby thought it would be fun to throw up on me. Also I shot myself with my neices allergy needle. So now I have a whole on both sides of my thumb. If went from my palm through my thumbnail. Sick isn't it?

You Renigged!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I celebrate a time to be thankful with friends and family. I do not celebrate the massacre of Native American tribes. Honestly how many people even think about that? This was the first thanksgiving in two years that I spent with my family. I went to Atlanta to see some cousins that I had not seen in years. We all had a truly warm, fun, and grand weekend. In the south they seem to be real big on playing cards so there were endless amounts of spades games on going. Now I am not one for cards or dominoes because black people are super competitive and you might get cut if you don't play well. Since they were short one person for spades I had to play. My cousin spent the entire night talking shit and because I was his partner, I was a little nervous. Well we sort of ran everyone off the table. I was better than I thought and as the night went on I figured out some actual strategies. Then I did the most awful thing. I threw out the wrong card and they caught me. It was an accident. You RENIGGED! You RENIGGED! Who thought of this term? It is highly comical when you are in the moment. People yelling and screaming. They take that shit seriously.

The Party
Friday I went out to Atlanta's Buckhead district. This is where all the bars and clubs are. We went into this place called the World Bar. This is one of the most ghetto clubs I have been to.....well ever. It was a little better than some of those Oakland clubs because it was bigger. There was nothing but bootyshaking and grinding going on. So the Britney Spears/Aaliyah/Missy dancer in me had to perform. So there I was sweat dripping, thighs shaking, ass bouncin' having a good ol' time. Now really, under normal circumstances I would have left because I got in free. I didn't want to be the party pooper though. So I just got into the spirit and let my body move. I sort of felt intimidated because girls in Atlanta have some big asses. My ass is currently on shrink mode. I hung with them though. I pride myself on fitting in just about anywhere.

Saturday it was off to the Talib Kweli show with Okayplayer dirtydee. Dude is mad cool and he is originally from Inglewood. Kweli always keeps it hype you know! This is also where I found my crush of the month DJ Chaps from the Long Island 12 Inch Assasains. He was the DJ for Kweli. Kweli put on an awesome set and he reminds me why I love hip hop.

The Friend
I have this friend that I got to know online. We met in person but because he was leaving the country we commuted for about 2 yrs or through email only. You have heard about this guy before haven't you? Well on Sunday we just chilled talking to each from noon to midnight. It was truly a wonderful feeling. That is what I needed for the weekend. Although I choose to live far away from my friends and family it was nice to be around them. My cousins were cooler than I thought and G pretty much made me a happy little lady. I can talk to him about anything and he keeps it real. Real intelligent. We don't sugar coat and I love that about our relationship. It was truly a peaceful time for me to remember what friends and family are all about. So yesterday I call up a bunch of my friend and some of my family. Remember who loves you.

p.s. If you are in a bad mood downland By myself from the Yin Yang Twins. That song is gauranteed to get you "crunk" for real.

We've been Robbed!

Welcome back the friendly land of the blog. Well so far DC hasn't proven to be that adventureous. Normally I would have gotten into all kinds of trouble by now but I think I have been playing it really low key. So what has happen lately well not much of anything.

The No No No of the week:
Santi White, she is a very talented song writer but I must say no to her Black Rock Girl singing. I thought my ears were going to bleed at any moment. Me and my girl are still lauging about this.

The Yes Yes Yes of the week:
Once again this goes to Jergens' Skin Smoothing Lotion for Extra Dry Skin. It keeps me touchably soft.

The What the hell just happened of the week:
This goes to my love life. The man of my life that I left behind came to visit and get his girl back. He got her. I was shocked and elated at this turn of events. I didn't know that I would but after 36 hours of deliberations(much longer than the O.J. trial) I decided to give love a chance.

The how urban unsavvy of you of the week:
This goes to my beloved Capricorn roomate. She left $100 worth of paint and paint supplies on our back porch and some one politely walked off with them. We live in DC people. She gets the greastest thrill from telling people we were robbed. She is so cute.

The how urban unsavvy of me of the week:
Obviously this goes to me. DC has hella rats/mice. So we think there might have been one hanging out on our kitchen counter the other day. I could not participate in the antics that were, get the mouse from under the stove. In LA you have to be pretty damn nasty or have nasty neighbors to have rodents in your house. The east coast is a different beast. During the winter rodents come inside of the houses because it's warmer than being outside living in our trash cans. They aren't that stupid, or at least it is instinct. They get a two for one because there is food inside.

Hindsight is a mutha

Last year on valentines day I went to Atlanta to visit a friend. At the time I was with Ajay and it didn't seem so wrong then. He's not into V-day and it is just an excuse for me to act like princess and prance around. I didn't plan to go to ATL on v-day but it just happened to coincide with President's Day weekend. So now looking back I feel that was big mistake. I went to visit/stay with a male friend on v-day weekend. Could I have done anything more suspect? Some people live life without regrets but I am not one of those people. There are hundreds fo moments that I would do over again. I forget how my actions look to others. I am the most well intentioned person ever but sometimes, often, I live in my world of reality. I have finally come to grips with the idea that if I prance around in front of a heterosexual (hell a ghey boy even) in my thong underwear he is going to want to fuck me. Now that seems so logical to the rest of the world but someone how I thought I was expempt from that.

Thinking back again I realize how much I thought that I control the world or that the world revolves around me. I realize that I am not Superwoman but I am a super woman. So I just have to have the wisdom to know the difference. I'm so fuckin' cool now it's not funny. People call to tell me their problems and the advice I give is all based on me having been in similar situations but acting in an unrealistic manner. So now I'm much smarter and wiser. I *heart* me.

The Government Controls the Media

I never felt that phrase was so true until two weeks ago. I participated in a very large antiwar protest, protesting the preemptive strikes on Iraq. There were anywhere from 80,000 to 200,000 by some estimates. The most poignant speaker was actress Susan Sarandon, well of course she is one of the highest contributing tax payers. Her speech consisted of a series of questions that she would ask the President if given a chance.

Honestly I can’t understand the logic behind preemptive strikes on Iraq. What I believe the US government is saying that we have to strike first and take out any threats. They are doing it in the name of security and protection. I cannot see how that will provide any protection to American citizens. Sadaam Hussein is no angel but I believe he wants to protect his monetary interest in oil. We also have a big stake in the procurement of petroleum because it is a major energy source for the United States. If we lose our oil the entire area of Orange County, CA will cease to exist. So the big bank hanks in Orange County are the type of people who are invested monetarily for oil, whether they are conscious of it or not.

Nothing good came come of a war with Iraq. I feel very vulnerable right now. I know that there are many people who wish to cause harm to citizens of the US so that we know what it feels to live in a war zone. Terrorism is not born of people who play for sport. It is what happens when people feel desperate because they have been betrayed. If we attack Iraq the terrorist cells here and elsewhere will attack again. I feel like my government is betraying me because they fail to think further than their own interest. Most Americans want to feel protected and a preemptive strike is a way to make people feel that way. I am just not sure that I see the benefits.

I see another Vietnam coming on because we do not have support from our allies. Saudi Arabia said today that we could not use their military bases for strikes against Iraq. We want to be the world police but we have a corrupt police force. There is so much documented throughout history about how our government lies to us and who knows how many covert missions take place so that we can remain an economic powerhouse. It is weird for me to say this while outright enjoying life at the expense of others.

The way to solve these problems is the same way we can solve racism in this country. Those who benefit from the corrupt systems have to give up our privileges to make life better from others. When this will happen, the world may never know. Although Dr. Harry Edwards says that change only comes from catastrophe. I wonder how big of a catastrophic event it would take for real change to happen? Are you prepared to give something up? Of course this is over simplified because I am not writing a book right now, maybe later.

So I marched that day and listened to great speakers. I came home thinking that it would be on the news and that everyone who had not been there would see that people weren’t just blinding following Bush but, it was minimally covered. I felt I participated in something great and hopefully at least one person was touched to think critically about the situation.

History Fact that I learned this week:
President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara told the public that the North Vietnamese attacked a US ship in international waters with out being provoked. As a result the Congress gave the President power to declare war on Vietnam. However this was all a lie, they invented this attack in order to go to war. The ship was not in international waters and it was on a spy mission. No torpedos were launched at American targets. This info will forever make me a skeptic and cynical.

This weeks music tidbit: Goapele is a very talented singer from Oakland, CA. I had the pleasure of hearing her sing at a political rally over two years ago. Her vocal skills are superb, she has great sense of style, y es muy guapa . Unfortunately, I moved to the east coast and lost track of her because she was not yet on a label. In April I found out that she released an album but I was spelling her name wrong (Guapale, guapa means pretty in Spainish and I thought it seemed to fit her) all this time but alas I found her on the front page of Groovenation. So everyone enjoy the sounds of Goapele. Buy an album and a t-shirt even, I did.

6 degrees of TV seperation:

On the Real World New York season 10 there was a guy who was in the cast and his name was Malik. Ironically he went to UC Berkeley and his appearance is very striking and I always noticed him. In one episode his friend Namane comes to visit him. Namane is also a DJ in Oakland and I thought he was the most handsome thing I had ever seen. I once saw him DJ for this girl name Guapale. Namane is Guapale’s brother. They should have pimped Malik’s TV moment and put Guapale on Arista. This is TV seperation because I don’t know any of these people.