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.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Thursday, April 29, 2004
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
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.
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.
Friday, March 26, 2004
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?
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?
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
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.
"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.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
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.
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.
Monday, February 09, 2004
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 08, 2003
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
Saturday, April 05, 2003
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
Sunday, February 09, 2003
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
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
Sunday, January 26, 2003
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Monday, January 13, 2003
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.
Friday, December 27, 2002
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?
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?
Thursday, December 05, 2002
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.
Saturday, November 23, 2002
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.
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.
Thursday, November 07, 2002
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
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.
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.
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