Movies, Movies, Movies!

Over the past 2 weeks I have gone to the movies to see. a) Everybody's Fine, b) Up in the Air, c) Did you here about the Morgans? & d) Armored.

Why these movies? There really are quite a few more that I want to see. I guess they each had an actor I like for one reason or another, well, one of the movies...I just really needed to see black people after those choices. LOL Actually, I knew about Armored before the others, but I saw trailers and added them to my list. I didn't realize that Sam Elliott was in 2 movies until I saw them. He's another actor that I enjoy seeing.

If it wasn't for the $5 matinee before noon...I wouldn't go so much. But I need to make sure that when I go to another theater that isn't my normal stop. I should know the matinee price & hours. Also theaters don't advertise when they change prices or times for the bargain matinee so I guess I should check often.
a) I liked the trailers & and I am a fan of R. De Niro. The movie was ok. It's your normal holiday family with issues movie. Just the kind of mix that I like funny moments, serious moments & happy moments. The entertainment that I needed.

b) Another movie that after seeing the trailers & the lead actor, I just had to watch. I thought that the fact that some of the people used in the firing scenes had actually been fired recently was interesting. It also doesn't totally follow the “Hollywood” formula. I enjoyed it, it won't be a classic in my book. I am sure that there is someone more deserving of an award for best actor, but I'm not voting so what I think doesn't matter.

c) c)Well, obviously Mr. Grant is in this one...I must have wanted to see a romantic comedy. Guy does something stupid, guy loses girl, girl & guy work it out, guy gets girl in the end. No, I didn't ruin the ending for you. You know the formula...But I liked the movie. And Sarah outside of New York city was funny.

d) Diversity in the cast. Oh boy! I don't think that it was entirely believable but it was entertaining and a good movie overall. Bad guys never prosper & the hero does. :-)

Randomness again

I have started quite a few posts. It's the finishing part that hasn't happened, so I'll just be random.

The weekend of Dec. 5th I had a great birthday & attended another friend's surprise party. I was in my home state of Texas. I stayed with one of my best friends that I have known since Jr. High. So we were celebrating birthdays for those of us OVER 45.

I didn't realize how much I missed seeing burnt orange & white for the Real UT, the University of Texas; because here in GA I don't see many people in Texas jerseys; hats etc., it's always the other UT.

I waited until the last minute take my car for its emissions test & it didn't pass. Can't get my tags until it does. The parts cost more than I can afford right now. Ugh...

Sometimes I feel like I have stepped so far backwards in my life.

My landlord is a lunatic...not just my opinion. I live in a duplex & my neighbor says our landlord is the devil.

Maybe my next post will be more coherent.

Really an Award?

I saw the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" the Saturday that it opened in Atlanta. I typically don't do reviews, because I am afraid I'll give something away. And I also don't feel that I write well enough to do reviews. I think I tweeted that Monique did an amazing job. I almost tweeted that Mariah won't win any awards, but she did ok. However, I decided to be nice. Her role was important, but she didn't have as much screen time as some of the other characters.

But when I saw this article I had to write something. I really do not know much about the award, but if it is for someone new to acting, well Gabby Sidibe should win it. Or if it is only for a new actor in a supporting role then any one of her classmates should get an award. And Paula Patton as Ms. Rains had a more significant role than MC as Mrs. Weiss, and did a good job.

What did MC do that was so amazing? Should she get an award because she didn't wear makeup? Oh maybe because she wore drab clothes? It seems to me whenever someone praises her performance they stop just short of saying she did a Plain Jane so well. The role was definitely more noteworthy than her previous role, but please wait until she does something more signifcant before giving her an award.

Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe

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I got a laugh out of this, I hope you do too!

Randomness & things that make me go Hmmm

When did compound cuss words become common? Namely the word bitchassidness (my spelling) I have seen it spelled different ways; and think it is a very relevant term. I just wonder why I am stuck in single syllable cuss word hell.

When exactly did companies start making the bulk of their profit on fees, instead of just whatever they charge for their service etc.? And or requiring a contract instead of providing the best customer service to keep customers?

Why do people think that only voting in the "Big" elections is the thing to do? Don't they know that voting in the local elections is just as important? Especially if having enough police to control crime or keeping enough firemen employed to protect us & our property is important to them.

Is all publicity good publicity? Example of the week...Katt Williams.

I have to start somewhere

I blog in my head all the time...but it never makes it to the computer. There are so many things that I have running through my head. So today I guess this will be a very random post.

Fort Hood, TX was practically home for me as a child. My parents bought their house in the city just outside of the base. But everything we did was on Fort Hood. I took swimming lessons & went swimming at an indoor pool on base. All my medical care was at Darnell. I went to movies there...I can't really remember the 1st time I went to a movie off base, but I remember thinking "Did I miss the National Anthem?" According to my son...movies on a military installation still have the "National Anthem" before the movie starts. We went grocery shopping at the commissary, and also did other shopping at the PX.

I went to the only Catholic school in town, and some of my friends lived on base. One of my best friends lived near this field that we really shouldn't have been playing in at times, but we did and we could see the imprints in the grass where helicopters had landed.

My father's funeral was in a chapel on Post. The service is actually a blur in my memory, but I do remember the drive to the cemetery, and I remember the soldiers in uniform stopping & saluting the procession as we went by.

I lived on post when I was married. My son learned to walk in the house his dad & I lived in there. And as an adult he went through training & the processing that soldiers go through on there way overseas.

So someone shot our soldiers & civilians working on the post that I once called home. I have fond, happy & some sad memories there. But the families of those that were shot & injured or killed there, will just have awful memories about the largest military installation in Texas. That their family member was killed or injured there while still in the US.

They are in my prayers...

Maybe its the rain

It seems like the day I wake up not feeling certain aspects of my job is the day that I get to work & everything is broke, no really stuff ain't working...I have a funky e-mail from my supervisor, and if he had read/addressed the e-mail I sent a few days before then funky would not have been necessary. I make a phone call to some one in another department; introduce myself & get "What are you calling me for?" The statement itself wasn't bad, but it was HOW he said it. Breathe count to 5...

I still have over 4 long hours to go...Can I do it without strangling someone?

Random Friday

Who's smarter me or my dog...my dog or my last boyfriend?
When I put my running shoes on my dog gets excited, because he equates that with going somewhere, walk, car ride to possibly walk somewhere new etc. I was going to do some yardwork so I put the running shoes on in the bathroom (out of D-O-G's view). Then I went into the garage & opened the car door to get my sunglasses and he jumped in ready to go. (He doesn't jump in the car everytime I open the door.)

Did he notice the shoes? Hmm, if so he was more observant than my last boyfriend...Sooo, I took him for a short ride. Back window down just enough for him to stick his head out...He was a happy dog, he did look at me funny when I pulled back into the garage. Hey it was a 10 minute drive. I needed to get my yard done before it starts to rain.

I still didn't answer the question, maybe the D-O-G is smarter than both humans.

What is playing in my head

I didn't realize how much I missed Maxwell.

Thank you Cell Provider...I Won't be late!

We just sprang forward to daylight savings time. And the news reports that I watched said to change the clocks at 2:00am; and I may have changed mine at midnight in the past. But who in the 7734...(remember that one from childhood?) changes the time at or before 10:30pm? My cell phone provider that's who.

I use my cell phone as an alarm. Actually, everything that is on my schedule is in the phone. Or I just might not make it on time (or at all) if it isn't in the phone. So as scheduled my alarm went off at 10:30pm, and I got up and took a shower and dressed for work. Gathered my lunch/breakfast & was off to work.

I do notice people at the bus stop, and think that is an unusual amount of people for 11:45pm, does the bus still run this late? Oh well, it is a Saturday night, so maybe. Ok next stoplight, I look at my car clock...why does it say 10:45? Oh, yes...I haven't changed my car clock...so why does my cell phone say 11:45? I am sooo confused. So I stop at the convenience store...I need coffee anyway. OK my receipt says 10:45pm...I am going home, sooo not ready to be at work an hour early...This is not my favorite shift anyway.

But who changes the time before midnight? Please tell me t...mob...ile... Y, just Y?

I was wrong!

It's been 4 years and I thought he was Chinese, but nooo he's actually Japanese. I guess I can blame the Dr. well the vet. Yes, I am talking about my D-O-G, not a person. I guess it was the black tongue. He is by no means a full bred anything. He became a member of my family because a friend had 2 female dogs and too many puppies. He might be a combination of both, because his hair can grow long and he has that look like a lion. But the long snout always made me doubt his chowness as well as his size. He is smaller than a chow. I believe that he is part Shiba Inu.

When I was reading the information about the temperment of the Shiba Inu...I thought OH this is D-O-G. I think I read that they are born practically house broken...which amazed me about my dog. Once he learned where "OUT" was he was pretty much house broken. That took almost no work...Also when I read that they are fastidious and almost like cats about grooming...I thought wow that is my dog. I don't know how many times I have awaken to hear him in the corner just licking himself, paws & all.

Fortunately he doesn't have a high pitched scream that it appears the Shiba have...but like I said he isn't full blooded anything. Finally, this article/advertisement had me in tears (laughing), because I could relate. I already knew that if I wash him at home I needed to use the smallest bathroom in the house..or outside must stay on the patio..Want clean dog. When I could afford it I took him to a groomer. But now we can't afford that, so I try to go to the self-service dog wash...I can stand up & wash him, and there are hooks & restraints to help keep him in place.

It's good that I think I now know what my mutt really is. But I love him whether he is Chinese or Japanese, or both.

FYI that is a baby pic at the top...

It's Georgia Y'all!

I watched the weather last night, and yes they said there would be snow flurries. But this isn't the North Georgia Mountains...I just thought I would see a few flying through the air. I thought driving might be a challenge. But this is ridiculous.
I kept hearing thumping on my roof...I thought tree parts were falling. Not tree parts yet, but clumps of snow are falling of the pine tree branches.
I didn't sign up for this. It is March and I don't like snow. It's Sunday a snow day and I don't get to play hooky from work. Bummer...Just a few weekends ago, people were riding their motorcycles & had their convertible tops down. I am not a winter person. I don't care if my birthday is in December. I DON'T LIKE COLD WEATHER! It's March I am conditioned for springtime.

Springtime where are you? I need you.

This time last year

Last year if the president was giving an address to Congress...I would have been trying to find a TV station that did NOT have the address on. Gee now that I actually like our president...I will be watching the entire address.

I did see the View this morning talking about the Grammar police picking apart President Obama's speech. I think that during his term their job is VERY easy. So what if he mixes up his "I" & "me"'s...Grammar Police...get a real job!

Everything Seems so unimportant

I was on the internet trying to find some information, and discovered that one of my son's former classmates died about 7 months ago. According to the obituary it was the day after his 21st birthday.

I always get sad when I read about the death of our soldiers, especially when they are young. I tend to worry about (I guess I will call him the Pvt. ) since he is in the Army and overseas. He isn't in Iraq or Afghanistan although his job has had him in the latter on 1 or 2 missions.

The young man that was his classmate died from liver disease. He was ill when they were in high school, and had a liver transplant I think shortly after they graduated, but I think that liver didn't work and he was on the transplant list again before he died.

I was worried about some really unimportant things, or at least after finding an obituary of a very bright young man...I realized how unimportant they were.

A Penny & My Thoughts

• Why do idiots in cars speed up the minute I turn on my blinker to get over a lane or 2.
• I missed my exit earlier, passed a guy with a broken down van.
• Passed him again...black smoke, flames shooting from the hood. Not good, been there, no fun!
• Today was beautiful, it was sunny & 66 degrees (my kind of weather)
• Went to see that movie that gives dating advice, my friend & I enjoyed it. She read the book, I haven't. It had a very "Hollywood" ending. I wonder if the authors liked the changes.
• I think it's funny to see billboards of competing companies next to each other
• The 2 airlines that are headquartered here have quite a few dueling billboards LOL
• Should I be upset when the only compliment about how I looked the other day was from my blind coworker?
  
• I saw my doctor in the mall today, my friend wanted to know why I didn't introduce him to her. Well he didn't ask...Maybe he's Just Not...Yeah we used that statement for the rest of the day
• I saw my favorite author (Pearl Cleage) today in a restaurant, actually we spoke to each other, so cool, so cool LOL

Happy Inauguration Day!

I watched the ceremony today with my son that is home visiting from overseas. I do wish I could have been there in DC witnessing the ceremony in person, but I hate cold weather. So being at home with the heat on makes me happy, too. And when I didn't particularly like the view etc. I just changed the channel.

One of the more memorable moments while we watched it was when they mentioned that President Obama (ooh President that sounds soo good) is the Commander in Chief, I turned to my son and asked, "Wow how does it feel to have a black Commander in Chief?" We both smiled & laughed. I also thought about the fact that my father joined the Army when it was still segregated, and wonder what he would have thought if he were alive today. For me today it was exciting & bittersweet to think about those that didn't get to live to see this day.

Any comments about what this day means to you, or your friends & family?

Conversations with my Toaster

Now that my son is away, it is just me and the Dee Oh Gee. Aww what the heck, I was talking to Dee Oh Gee even before my son left. He is a very good listener though.

Even though he is 4 yrs old, he is still quite a hyper dog. When I let him out and he is ready to come in he jumps on the door & I herar is paws hit the door. Many times I yell to him..."I'll get you in a minute Dee Oh Gee!" And then he waits about a minute & jumps & hits the door again. Although this particular time when I looked outside he wasn't near the door he was at the end of the yard near the tree.

Oh, that sound....wow...I guess that was my piece of toast popping out of the toaster. It does sound like his claws on the door. Hmm am I crazy if I talk to inanimate objects in the house? Ahh, don't answer that ;-)

She seems smart otherwise

Sometimes it seems that that women that appear strong in some areas are fools in love.

There is this woman that I work with that will call a person out with their BS. But her live in boyfriend has not worked for almost 2 years. I know the economy & job market are difficult out there, but I know people that have been laid off of different jobs. But they find a new one & work until they get laid off again.

And based on hearing her end of the conversations on the phone, in regard to either applications being filled out or a possible interview, it really sounds like he gives lame excuses. So when I hear her say something like "He didn't really want to do that." And I know it's a company that has good benefits it's hard to keep my eyes from rolling. However, I don't know her as well as other people in the department. She is someone that doesn't take advice.

Also, the other day she was on the phone again with a close friend of hers, and I may be wrong but it sounded like her boyfriend may have gotten someone else pregnant during one of their short break-ups.

He has her car while she is at work, and the more I hear "He wants to go shopping...He thinks such and such" The more annoyed I get. It is her life, but like I said she seems so smart otherwise.

I am no relationship expert, especially since I am not in one right now. But that whole situation just floors me. Rather than gossip about her, I am just waiting to see if I am wrong about someone else being pregnant about her out of work boyfriend.

I Miss This

I haven't written in soo long. My excuse was that I had school and studying. However, I am done. I then wanted to "relax" my brain. I occasionally read some blogs, but not all that often. Some of my favorites seem to have taken a break, or quit. And I have been gone so long, that others are password protected, so I feel that maybe I have been gone too long.

So, I am back, and will post at least once a week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What was I doing at 10:30 this morning? One of my favorite things, I went to a movie...yes I know it's early, but that is the only time that the matinee only costs $5.00.

I went to see "This Christmas" and I enjoyed it. It was centered around a family for the holidays and the secrets that some of the family members had. It had its comedic moments without the "slapstick buffoonery"that so many comedies have. Although the girl fight in the rain...well, I guess that was for the men. LOL The dramatic scenes about each of the characters made the movie complete. I must say Regina King did a great job, and she has me "thinking" about working out...but with first I have a big dinner to eat. :-)

I read a few critics comments about the movie that weren't very favorable about it. However, after seeing the movie, I realized that he mis-stated some of the information. He gets paid for being a critic, you would think he could get info about the story right.

This Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for being able to go to the movies, and later enjoy a great meal later with family and friends. I have a lot to be thankful about. I hope you enjoy your holiday!

More Thoughts

on a recent movie that I have seen. Go..ne B.ab..y Gone

There were some typical hollywood moments and outcomes in this movie. However, it really surprised me. Morgan Freeman did an amazing job as the police captain (not surprising.) Who would think Ben Affleck would do such a good job writing & directing this. I think I read a review that it was his directorial debut. But he did direct another movie.

I never really do a synopsis of the movie because I am afraid of giving something away. The trailer of course shows that it is about a private detective that helps investigate the kidnapping of a toddler. Even though he doesn't have experience in that type of case, family members hire him because the local people won't cooperate with the police.

One of the lines in the movie that I remember (not sure I am quoting it exactly right) "Murder is a sin...it depends on who you do it to."

That statement for me is the key to at least one of the moral dilemmas in this film. (I think that in an overview of the film it has another tagline, but I focused on that one.) I watch so many movies that I tend to know how it will end before the 1st or second scene is over. This one surprised me. The moral dilemmas that this presents tears relationships apart, and I think is a very good discussion point for those that like to debate or at least have an interesting conversation.

I hope that if you watch the movie, you will let me know what you think.

What's Good?

If anybody is still around to read my blog, you may know that I like to watch movies. I wil start with two tha I watched one a few weeks ago when it 1st came out, and one today on DVD.

Why 2 you ask? Well, because a reporter compared the 2 when interviewing Tyl..er Per. ry. OK you guessed it the 1st one is "Why did I G.et Mar. rie.d" I went to see it the Friday that it came out...matinee of course.

I enjoyed it. Why? Well, because all the men in it looked GOOD! Umm the sheriff, oh yeah, the movie. I think it covered many of the personalities that one might find in a group of 8 or so people. And in Tyle.r Per..ry fashion, he had humor mixed with the moments that had eyes watering, and the conclusion with a message.

I think the can be a catalyst for some great discussions about communication, relationships and honesty or lack of honesty. In my opinion the best performances were of Sheila, Mike & Angela. So if you haven't seen it, you will have to in order to know who the actors are that played those characters.

The second movie is one that I watched because one or two reporters, critics compared it to (what some call a classic) "The Big Chill." The comparison was because they are both in the comedy/drama genre? oh yes about collge friends getting together. Hmmm ok, whatever.

I have to admit that since I was at home, the second movie didn't have my full attention at some points, so I did get some of the characters confused once or twice. But what did I really like about movie 2 you ask? What might make me watch it again? The sound track. There were quite a few Motown classics in it from the Temptations, to Smokey Robinson, to Aretha Franklin, and one of the songs my dad & I used to sing together...sit down please, you may not believe this one. "Jeremiah was a Bull Frog" ok the real title is "Joy to the World" but just so you realize we weren't singing Christmas Carols. LOL I know all the words...Didn't understand them then..now I realize why my mom was so irritated with us when we sang it, but it was fun.

"...never understood a single word he said, but I helped him drink his wine
and he always had some mighty fine wine.

Joy to the world... Ok flash back is over. :-)

Helloooo!

Not sure if anyone cares, because it appears I fell off the face of the earth. There are days when I have a subject to blog about in my head, and then I forget when I get in front of my computer. Or I have some homework to do...but for as long as I have been away, you would think I am ahead in all my classes making straight A's. Ha! It seems I am always doing everything at the last minute.

But I think I need to squeeze in a little blogging at least once a week. If only to clear the thoughts in my head.

I feel better now...Well a little better anyway

I am having one of those days. It started off wrong when I got to work and realized that the scheduling people had me down for the wrong time. I know it's them & not me because I have an e-mail detailing what it should be. However, it is the weekend, so they weren't available...I know human error, but I had already spent so much time trying to get this straight, and it still isn't.

And then as the day went by of course other little things were magnified just that much more...so when I realized that the gas light was on in this car that I am driving I was ANNOYED. I am using a friend's car because she needed to borrow my practical 4 door car for a bit. And her car seems to DRINK the gas. But as I was pulling off from the gas pump...I thought...damn! Remmy make the best of this. It's a freakin' convertible. USE IT!

So after securing my papers...the documention of the incorrect schedule. :-) I put the top down and rode with my hair blowing in the wind. Whew! it felt good.

Aunt Arthritis & Mrs. Hip Replacement

The title might suggest that these ladies are slow and have a hard time getting around. Well, yes, they move a little slow, and it takes them longer to get in and out of a car. However, I am 43 and they are 70+. But I have a feeling that I won't be able to keep up with them in some ways.

What made me come to that conclusion? Well, I had to go to the store for them. They sent me to get a bottle of E&J VSOP, not the little bottle, and not just one bottle. Well, it was one bottle one for each of them. :-) They are the mother and aunt of one of my friends, and I volunteered to run some errands while she was at work. They are visiting her for a few weeks. And I have a feeling that neither of us will be able to keep up. Thank goodness we have a little something that slows them down...the canes...so we can take a breath as we wait for them to walk from te car to the door etc.

Helloooo! Is anyone out there?!

I have been gone for awhile...School has kept me busy. I didn't realize how much I wasn't doing (besides work & studying) until, I came back here & saw my last post & started catching up on some of my favorite bloggers. And considering that I didn't get straight A's; maybe I should have taken a break now & then. I got 1 A & mostly B's & a C.

Well, I have a few weeks off until summer school, and I think I have a few noteworthy posts in me. Now that I don't HAVE to write according to MLA standards. Geesh if I had 1 more research paper to write, I think my head would have exploded.

So I am off to get a pedicure before work, and hopefully, I can recall some of the postworthy thoughts that I had while studying.

Oh, yes, and I added a button on the side for the "Webtender"; so during my break...I may be trying 1 or 2 new drinks. :-)

New Favorite

I've recently discovered how much I like Joss Stone. I think my new favorite song is "Right to be Wrong" She has a beautiful voice. I haven't really heard her sing anything that I don't like.
She has a voice that is much more mature than most the 19 year olds.

Unfortunately, I don't know how to attach a music file to my post, because if I did you would be able to listen to her sing.

Busy, But Alive and Well

Work and school has kept me very busy. I haven't even really been able to keep up on my reading of blogs either.

Even my spring break was full. I had to work, but I had visitors. A friend of mine that had been here maybe 10 years ago, brought her daughters during their spring break. And the day they left I went to lunch with another friend & her husband that were in town with their daughter who was touring colleges. It's funny how both of these people hadn't been to Atlanta in years, and they both come in the same year.

Not much has changed, the D-O-G is still spoiled. As a matter of fact, I have a feeling that he has claimed the guest room as his room now. LOL

I finally bought a bed for it just before my visitors arrived. The other morning when I came out of my bedroom, he wasn't at my door to greet me. So I called his name, and he didn't run up the stairs, as he has done in the past. So when I walked into the room, he jumped up surprised, from where? The middle of the bed. That mattress must have been oh so comfortable for him.
I have to get some sleep, but I am going to try to post regularly.

Just a little update

It seems like there a major assignment due in every class that I have.

Although Saturday I was able to squeeze in some fun.

I went to the mall and lunch with my mom. And returned home to sleep in my own bed. Yeah, yeah so what people do that every day, right? Well, she lives over 500 miles away in Virginia.
Maybe next time I will be able to stay longer. But I was able to fly there in the morning and caught an evening flight home.

We had calamari, and she tasted first, and then asked what it was. I paused before I told her. I'm glad she liked it. I had to promise that I wouldn't say "Taste this" and then inform her that it was snails. LOL That was NOT a difficult promise to make, because I won't be eating that myself.

I apologize for the brevity and rambling post...so I will go to bed now.

I hope your Valentine's Day was great!

100 Things About Me (Pt. 1)

I have been working on this for awhile, so here is the 1st fifty.

1. I was an only child
2. My mom was an only child.
3. I went to Catholic elementary school.
4. I was raised Catholic, but as an adult I attend a non-denominational church.
5. I lived in Germany before I started school.
6. I grew up in Texas.
7. I was an Army brat.
8. I was an Army wife.
9. I am now an Army mom.
10. I was an Air Force Reservist.
11. I was a brownie and a girl scout.
12. I had dogs growing up, but not house dogs.
13. In states that I have lived more than 2 years I have lived in the Capitol city.
14. My 1st major in college in the 80's was interior design.
15. I like to go to new subdivisions and look at the model homes.
16. I love peanut butter & other nut flavors like almond, but I will not eat nuts
17. I was hit by a car once.
18. I like power tools.
19. I love to go to the movies
20. One of my cars burned up on the side of the highway.
21. I used to take ballet & tap when I was little.
22. I was The Little Red Hen in a school play.
23. I wanted to be a nurse when I was young; now I get queasy when I see blood.
24. I have only hospitalized 3 times; once includes when my son was born.
25. I don't mind shots (vaccinations), but can't stand IV's.
26. I wear contact lenses.
27. My uncorrected eyesight is so bad, I am almost considered legally blind.
28. I lived in Texas 22 years and never crossed the border to Mexico when I lived there.
29. I have been to Mexico 2 times in the past 3 years.
30. My favorite color is purple.
31. My favorite sport to watch is football.
32. I am not good at any type of sport.
33. I love warm weather.
34. My favorite car is almost any convertible.
35. I wear a size 7 1/2 shoe.
36. In the summer I hate to wear socks, love sandals.
37. In the winter I love to wear boots.
38. I have a major crush on Her.m.an Ed.war.ds coach of the KC.Ch.iefs.
39. I was on the ROTC rifle team in high school (drill team, not marksman).
40. I was also on the drill team (dance, with the marching band) in high school.
41. My S.A.T. score was the reason I got my college scholarship when I graduated high school.
42. I met Bar.ba.ra Jo.rdan.
43. I have been to the St.at.ue of Lib.er.ty.
44. My favorite band of all time is EWF.
45. I love Mexican food and I make a mean guacamole.
46. I can not make a good gravy or sauce of any kind.
47. One of the few things that I can make from scratch without a recipe, I learned from my dad.
48. I am a big fan of Den.zel Was.hin.g.ton.
49. I love seafood.
50. I like to travel and wish I could do it more.

¡Silencio, por favor!

Information overload. I guess there has always been background music when you are out, in stores or some public places. That evolved into commercials, or maybe an announcement that something is on sale in the store.

Even at the gas pump I have heard commercials over the speaker. However, recently I have been going to a gas station that has TV screens at each pump. Basically it's commercials, and the advertising for the gas station that I am already pumping gas...is a waste of time and money IMHO. It also had a traffic update, but I had zoned out, so it was going off when I realized that it was information that I could use.

It seems that no matter where I go there are tv screens with news or some sort of advertisement. When I rode the train into town to work...TV's were on the train, actually they were also on the bus.

Where can I go for a little bit of silence?

A Grave Mistake

I am not sure that if I was walking past a cemetary & I heard someone screaming for help that I would even stop. I'd probably run faster than I ever had in my life. LOL

I also can not understand why someone would want to knock over grave markers. But this guy got at least some of what he deserved. Here is the story.

Twenty-One Years Eight Months

Do you think that is a long time? Yes? No?

If I said that was the age of a soldier that died in war. "He died too young." Not a very long time on earth. So it seems like a short time, especially to me a 43 year old.

But when I say that was how long a man was in jail, and for a rape that he did not commit. OMG! That is a very, very long time. Here is a link to the story.
He is now 44 years old, and he was in jail for half his life. Fortunately, there was DNA from the crime, and the DNA tests were done to free him.

Doing the happy dance!

It's Friday! Not much going on here, not sure why Friday made me do the happy dance. It's not like I have a long work week anymore. I have quite a bit of homework I need to finish this weekend. I guess it comes from years of working Mon-Fri, so it's habit. LOL

I do start a part-time job next week. It has been ages since I was paid an hourly wage, and my hours ain't paying much. But I am excited, and I will have to manage my time better.

I did make it to the Aquarium for a short visit, and I must go back. I can because I have season ticket. I had to take my picture and meet a friend for lunch, so I was probably only there for an hour. I must say that standing under the walkway that had the whale sharks swimming over was pretty exciting. As I looked up the theme from jaws kept running through my head. Maybe I am a little strange.

Have a great weekend!

I'm just not in the mood!

Ok, maybe I am a witch...It's been a 12 hour day.

I was playing voicemail tag with a friend of mine. (We've known each other since, jr. high.) I knew that when I heard the message, and her grandbaby was saying call us, that I would wait until I thought grandbaby was in bed. Damn! I forgot they are in a different time zone.

I had the pleasure of starting the phone call talking to the 2 year old.

Me: Hello!

2 yr. old: Hello!

Me: How are you?

2 yr. old: lkj aig veb ub ub.

Me: Saying "Hey there Where is grandmom? " Me Thinking "Why aren't you in bed?"

2yr old: more unintelligible baby talk.

Ok, I won't take you through anymore of my painful phone call. Oh, except when she finally got on the phone she said (in her most proud grandmom voice) You got to take to "grandbaby"

Me: Saying "Yes, I guess he is getting to be a big boy." Me thinking "Yip(frikin)ee! Shouldn't he be in bed? Dammit!"

OK, I love them both...but I just wasn't in the mood.

Yes, I know you are thinking, "Shouldn't YOU be in bed?"

Thanks, I am going now. Sleep tight!

What are you doing to live the dream?

That was the question asked today by Atlanta's mayor. I feel like I should have done more than sit home and watch the celebration of Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Day on T.V.

I had planned to volunteer, but didn't take the time to register last week. I could have at least gone to the parade.

I know that there are many things that need to change, especially living here in the south. Although, Atlanta is different than some of the Georgia towns that aren't many miles away.

However, I must say that as a child growing up in the south (Texas) in the 70's, I benefited greatly from the sacrifices made by Dr. King and the many others that endured water hoses, and hate filled crowds to just do go to school, or to be able to sit where ever they wanted.

I have been on buses, trains & airplanes. Why is it that as children the seats on the back of the bus were the most coveted? LOL I have witnessed black men keeping their seat as white women had to stand; and then he gave his seat to a black woman. That tends to bring a smile to my face...am I wrong for that? I have even had the pleasure of sitting in 1st class on an airplane. Don't hate both times were for 45 minute flights, but it sure was nice. ;-)

And those are just the minor things. I do have to make it a point to volunteer more this year, especially since I didn't on this a "Day on, not a day off."

4 Bucks

I went to a matinee today, and I only paid...well you can figure that out. But I had to go at 10am, OK, so maybe I am crazy.

But the theater was nice & empty. There were a few other people, and a nice looking couple that was probably in their 60's. Which was good for me, because I was feeling a little silly about rushing to a movie about..."stepping". So I wasn't the oldest one there. LOL

I went to see "St.o.mp the Ya.rd." Hmm, let me see if I can tell you about it without giving telling too much.

I enjoyed it. Of course, it had the "love" story, and the "hard/bad luck" component to it as well. The main character DJ comes to Atlanta to attend Truth University after his brother was murdered. It centers around him and the 2 fraternities that compete for him, and always compete against each other in a major step show.

I think the love story between DJ & April is sweet as well as the one between DJ's Aunt & Uncle.

There are many underlying conflicts in the story. Educated vs. Blue collar; ghetto vs. non-ghetto (sorry I couldn't think of an appropriate antonym); old-school vs. new school. But I don't think that distracted me from the main story-line. I was a little annoyed with some of the close-ups during the step/dance competitions. There were a few great shirtless scenes for the ladies :-).

If you are interested in step shows, dancing and fraternity life, this might be the movie for you.

Shhh! I have to be discrete

And I absolutely hate it.

Is there logic to this union?
I am searching and sorting out the ways
to make this relation function.
It shouldn't be a conditional probability,
it must be a finite probability and have an expected value.
I'll be counting the principles;
I have to be discrete and I hate it!
But I'll be discreet,
I won't tell my professor that I hate math.

Wish me luck, I have to pass my
Discrete Math class.

Disturbing trend

Well, it disturbs me anyway. During my holiday time off, I have caught quite a few movies. I may do some reviews here. However, I never feel like I can do them very well without giving away some of the plot. But I guess I could work on that here.

Since I like going to movies so much, I tend to go during the day when it isn't as crowded, and supposedly when it is cheaper. But it seems that they are doing away with the matinee's. I am hoping that maybe I am wrong, and after the holiday season it will return.

Last year I went on a Saturday, expecting a matinee price at an "_ M _" theater, and was told that only the 1st movie of the day on the weekends had the cheaper price, so I paid the high price, and started going to their competitor. Then it appeared that only the movies that started before noon were given the cheaper price. Now, it looks like they are doing away with matinee prices all together. Maybe it will only be the weekend movies, and possibly only here in the Atlanta market. I will have to research it and see.

But it just seems to me that the way the industry calculates box office sales and the fact that they have made it too expensive for movie going to be a family outing that movie going may be a thing of the past soon. I know many people prefer to wait for video and watch at home, but I like seeing movies when they first come out. There is something about the big screen, and the smell of popcorn that makes that one of my favorite things to do. I know there are ways around the high prices of the snacks & the movies...and I will admit to nothing here. :-)

But I may spend less money if I invest in a big screen & popcorn maker at home. The prices are on the way done on the TV's.

I stole a New Year's MeMe

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? I went to the Bahamas.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions? I don’t make them.

3. Did anyone you know give birth? One of my former co-workers did, it was baby #4 for them.

4. Did anyone you know die? No one personally, and I didn’t attend any funerals.

5. What countries did you visit? See # 1.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More travel to other countries.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory? My son’s high school & basic training graduations, and the day I quit my job of 13+years.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Returning to college

9. What was your biggest failure? There were a few tests. J

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a hysterectomy that ended an illness, and I am happy about it.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My car & my laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My son’s

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I can’t think of any

14. Where did most of your money go? School

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Well, if having an orgasm is really, really, really excited…then I would have to say sex. J

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2006? Anything by Gerald LeVert

17. What do you wish you’d done more of? Traveled

18. What do you wish you’d done less of? Watched TV

19. Did you fall in love in 2006? No

20. How many one night stands in this last year? one

21. What was your favorite TV program? Grey’s Anatomy

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Spending time with my mother.

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. Having a laundry room upstairs is not as great as I thought before

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year? EWF’s “On Your Face” it is really my theme song.

He caught me cheating on him.

Have you ever been caught red-handed? I was today, dang I thought I was better at this.

I was on my way out this morning, and walked to the mailbox. It was pretty full there was a box, and when I looked up there he was standing in my driveway. Oh my! What are you doing here? You could tell by his posture that he knew he wasn't supposed to be in my driveway.

Maybe, just maybe...I looked up, and yes standing in the window, he was watching. Oh, I am soo busted. But I guess I have to finish this, turning my attention back to the cutie standing here in the driveway...

He's wagging his tail, and he comes up to me, ahh no tag. Who do you belong to? Go home! My D-O-G is in the window, don't you hear him barking? Yes, I guess you do "Lost D-O-G" there he goes running off down the street.

I am going to have some explaining to do when I get home...I better just pick up some doggie treats at the store. He'll understand...well, he'll be happy for the treats any way.

Happy Holidays!

I passed all my classes! Yea! I was worried about my math class.

I also made it through the flight. It was so fun! Taking off my shoes, taking out the quartsize bag and taking out my laptop and then getting out of the way of those behind me. And I forgot to buy gum on the way to the airport, so I had to spend big money on gum.

Oh, and where did I go on my short trip? I went to KY to see my son graduate from Basic Training. He did well, and I am very proud of him. I didn't actually get to see him until the graduation ceremony, and it took me almost the whole ceremony to be able to pick him out of the sea of green. And it seems that he has grown up soo much in 10 weeks. He is home for the holidays, and then he will go to another 6 weeks of training.

So we have a few holiday things to do, and he is catching up & hanging out with his friends.

I am sure I will be posting more during the holidays, but I still want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

A Joke to make your day

It made mine.

An extremely modest man was in the hospital for a series of tests, the last

of which had left his bodily systems extremely upset.
Upon making several false alarm trips to the bathroom, he decided the latest
episode was another and stayed put. He suddenly filled his bed with diarrhea
and was embarrassed beyond his ability to remain rational.
In a complete loss of composure he jumped out of bed, gathered up the bed
sheets, and threw them out the hospital window.
A drunk was walking by the hospital when the sheets landed on him. He
started yelling, cursing, and swinging! his arms violently trying to get the
unknown things off, and ended up with the soiled sheets in a tangled pile at
his feet.
As the drunk stood there, unsteady on his feet, staring down at the sheets,
a hospital security guard (barely containing his laughter) who had watched
the whole incident walked up and asked, "What the heck is going on here?"
The drunk, still staring down replied: "I think I just beat the shit out of
a ghost".

ISO 3 ounces

I realized that flying could be rather frightening now in these days of tight security. And no I don't mean that being on an airplane thousands of feet in the air at a very high rate of speed is scary.

The decisions one has to make in regard to what to take in carry on luggage. I am only going out of town for 2 days & 1 night, so I do not want to check my bags. So, I have to decide will I be ashy? Take my contact lenses yes, but I won't have fluid for them? Oh, maybe I can do without toothpaste. But I can take my corkscrew & cigar cutter, maybe I should start knitting, because I can take knitting needles. Who needs a corkscrew on a plane? Or shortly after landing? Smoking is not allowed, so cigar cutter? WTF?

What to wear? Cute boots boots with a zipper, or ugly shoes that are easy to slip out of, or better yet sandles. They go with socks, right?

And I am a black woman, lets not even go into the list of hair products that won't fit in a 1 quart sandwich bag. Decisions, decisions. But I can buy all of this once I have gone through security at the airport. Yeah right, I want a $20.00 bottle of lotion with that $5.00 pack of gum.

So if you are in the airport and see a woman with no makeup, ugly glasses, ashy skin, don't be scared, just ask me to open your bottle of wine with my corkscrew. ;-)

Don't give up

on me. :-) I am trying to finish assignments & study for finals. So after the 15th, I will probably try to blog every day until the next semester starts in January. I will also be catching up on all the blogs that I read as well.

I actually passed a math test, there IS hope!

Great Thanksgiving!

I had a very nice Thanksgiving Day yesterday. I spent a good bit of time on the road, but it was a beautiful day and traffic was moving smoothly. And I got home in time to get a phone call from my son.

I cried today.

I signed the list, and took a seat and started reading my magazine. "Remnants! 1st chair to the left."

I take the seat, lay back, and hold my eyelid closed. Then the beautician (torturer) starts threading my eyebrows. She is quick, but the hairs are still being yanked out by the roots. My eyes start watering, But that's o.k. I will hold my eyelid shut with my fingers. So I participate in this torture.

When she's done, she hands me a mirror. I guess it is for my approval. I can't see, because my eyes are full of water, and one of my contacts is folded in my eye.

But I paid for the torture, and I left her a tip. Now that I can see, it looks like my eyebrows are even and quite natural looking.

So I cried today, and in about 2-3 weeks, I will go do it again.

Yes, I have done that

and other things even dumber. Thanks Chele for making me think about it. I can't even say that I had anything good to drink to cause it. Maybe I was just hungry, yeah that's it.

It was a couple of months ago. My son had a guy work on his car, and owed him some money. So, since my school is near his house, we agreed that I would call him on my lunch break and we would meet in a parking lot so I could give him the money.

I pull into a parking space & look frantically for the money in the many compartments of my purse. Just as I find it I look in my rearview mirror...and think "Dang he does live close, he's here already?" So I get out of the car, and give him the money. And then I go in to the sandwich shop. There are a few people in front of me, but I have some time before my next class so I wait. Now, I have them make my sandwich, will this be for here, or to go. Hmm, I think I will take it to go, so I pay, and on my way out..."oh, no, where are my keys? Oh, here I go in the purse again, damn!" I didn't realize I had so many compartments.
The light bulb goes off! You know what the keys are not in my purse...Is the car still there? Whew! Yes it is still where I left with the keys in it and the ignition still on.

What is that saying about fools & babies? And we know I am not a baby.

We Lost another one

Yesterday, I was surprised to hear that Ed Bradley died. He was probably the 1st black man I saw on TV doing the news.

But, I was floored today, when I heard that Gerald Levert died. I think he just turned 40 this year.

They say bad news comes in 3's. I am afraid to watch the news or listen to the radio.

2 Things

This is going to be a drive-by or a quickie.

I saw a dead armadillo on the highway this past weekend. Yeah, rather unremarkable bit of information. However, I grew up, and did quite a bit of driving in Texas, and it dawned on me that it had been years since I saw an armadillo, dead or alive.

When I was in girl scouts, and went camping. We had tents that were on a platform about maybe 2 feet off the ground. Yeah we were really roughing it, because there were 4 twin sized cots inside. But at night the armadillos used to make a lot of noise under those tents. Thankfully the didn't do steps. That was thing #1 on my mind.

Thing #2 on my mind...well you may think it's a gross & and a strange thing to have on my mind. But it is something that I learned in college, and I don't even have a science class. There are ducks, swans, and geese (actually they may have migrated) on campus. I used to wonder who was letting their small dog poop on the sidewalk, that is until I started parking on the other side of campus. Then I realized that it is actually, large bird (duck/swan/goose) poop. They are rather messy. LOL

Ok, now I am off to learn something else...in class. I wonder if it will be so profound. Heh-heh-heh.

Saturday Ramblings

I heard from my son and he sounds like he is doing well. He was so addicted to the video games, that I was worried that he would have trouble with the physical training. But he makes it through the daily running, and has passed the other physical things that he has to do, so I guess I was just being overly mom-like.

I really have a quite a few things including homework that I should be working on right now, but I have detoured here instead, because I feel like I have been away too long. It's funny how when I am in the car or doing something else, I will say to myself, I need to write about that. However, finding the time is the problem.

Sometimes it seems that plans that happen at the last minute are the most fun. I was invited last Sunday to a gathering that was happening only 2 hours later, and had a great time. Maybe the fact that I do things on the spur of the moment makes me open to that. Because I have friends that plan things well in advance, and even if they don't have plans, they wouldn't have accepted. I have to admit I love my friends that plan things, so I don't have to.

Although, a few years ago I did want to scream at one of my "friends that plans ahead" when I was getting a call at work in December about a trip we were going to take in July. Maybe if there was a deadline for the payment or something, I wouldn't have been so frustrated, but it wasn't. She was just off, and had questions. I on the other hand was at work and it was the busiest time of the year for us. I have to admit though, that was a great trip, her early reservations allowed for us to have a great condo very close to the beach.

I know this is rather short, and probably boring, but I have to run some errands. I will be back, because I a number of things that I want to blog about.

Kill that freakin' bird!

It's not what you think. So P.E.T.A. doesn't have to start a picket line outside in my yard. I am still a dog lover. Yes, Shaggy is laying by the door looking at me as if to say "What is this dog creature that you keep talking about?" LOL

I was in the restaurant, and I use the term loosely. For those of you familiar with Georgia, it's on every corner, open 24 hours, and has House in the name. ;-) I like to go in the morning, and listen to the conversations between the waitresses & the regulars. Mr. Floyd was the man of the hour that morning. He looked to be about 70, and all the waitresses seemed to know him.

Oh, yes, back to the bird.

I am talking about the annoying chirp from the cell phone. Why does it have to chirp between each part of the conversation? Example: Guy at counter.
"Hey! Where are you?" (Annoying chirp)
"Wauwau, wau wau, wau." (that's the adult speak from Charlie Brown, 'cause I couldn't understand what the other person was saying.)
(Annoying chirp) Guy at counter. "Yeah." (Annoying chirp)
Wauwau, wau wau, wau." (Annoying chirp)
Guy at counter. "uhh, huh." (Annoying chirp)
Wauwau, wau wau, wau." (Annoying chirp)
Guy at counter. "uhh, huh." (Annoying chirp)
and so on.

I was ready to jump up from my seat, stab his hand with my fork, snatch the phone from him, throw it on the floor, and stomp it. And then sit back down and finish my grits, cheese eggs, and raisin toast. :-) Fortunately for him his to go order came out.

Why does it have to chirp between each part of the conversation? If there is a response within 10-15 seconds there should not be a chirp. I don't know maybe it's just me. Maybe other people like that noise.

Who is going to drink the milk?

I tried to post this a few times, but it seems I chose to try when blogger was down.

It was a week ago, but last week my son left home. To go where you ask? He is in Basic training. He joined the Army Reserves. I certainly didn't want him to join while we are at war. But his 19th birthday was a few weeks ago. I think "the do as I say not as I do/did" is beneath him. Or that he is too smart to fall for that one.

I was a reservist myself before he was born (not Army) and his father & both of his grandfathers were in the Army. He also has an aunt that retired from the navy about 2 or 3 years ago. Fortunately he chose a job that isn't one that would have him in direct combat. But anyone that goes overseas is in harms way. So I will have to pray that his unit will not go anywhere anytime soon.

And I am lactose intolerant, so I guess I will be pouring out what is left of the gallon of milk. He should have pretty strong bones, because he went through quite a lot of milk in a week.

So the d-o-g and I are getting used to life without him for the rest of the year. Which will take a lot of getting used to for me, because he was never gone for more than about a month at a time.

He doesn't know!

I was going to write a cute little ditty, using the tune to Shaggy's "It wasn't Me"...Yes, I said ditty...But it is after midnight & I have to be up by 6:30, so I will tell the story.

My best friend made that statement to me about my dog, and after an episode on the park on Saturday, I had to call her and tell her she was right. Well, her exact words were "Remnants, he doesn't know he's a dog."

I drove to Piedmont Park in Atlanta, so that we (me & the dog) could find the dog park there. An area, that is fenced in so the dogs can run free. And since my dog is always on a leash or a chain, I thought this would be soo exciting for him. And I would enjoy it too, since I wanted to see him happy...yeah, just like I do for my son.

So we finally went down the right path that leads us to it, and since it was a nice sunny Saturday, there were dogs & owners of all shapes and sizes. We walk in and I see dogs all over the place, so I walk away from the entrance, and take his leash off. Immediately about 3 dogs run up to great him...Well, he sees them and he takes off...the chase is on.

However, I could tell by the look in his eyes...yes, I said the look in his eyes. That he was scared, and not playing "catch me if you can," but trying to get away from these 4 legged creatures that were right on his tail. The faster he ran, the faster they ran, as he would stop and pivot right, so would they, oh a turn to the left, no he didn't lose them that time either. Finally everyone was tired & went their separate ways, he came and stayed right next to me, panting heavily. This is the dog that always runs away so I can chase him to hook the leash on him. So I tried to get him to go drink at the water fountain (it had a big bowl under it) But he would not go near it...Even when the other dogs left it.

I walked casually around, and he stayed right next to me, greeting the humans that we passed. But when another dog would come to sniff him, he was having no parts of it. So, I started talking to another dog owner there,, and we both agreed, that our dogs were probably more comfortable looking for the couch & the TV. So, my dog &I left, and I finally had to pour water out of my bottle for him to drink before we got back to the car. So yes, I was a little thirsty, but since I didn't run anywhere, I decided he needed it more than I did.

And, I will have to break the news to him slowly...Shaggy...You are a dog.

Life & Death

Both have been on my mind lately. A number of things have happened recently that brings both subjects to light.

About 2 weeks ago one of my long time friends called, and told me that she was on medical leave, because she had a stroke. What?! We are only 42 years old, and I am older by a few months. She is still having various tests done, but she is ok. Of course in our conversations, she mentioned some of the things she had in place for her son. And a family member being upset because they wanted her car...WTF? Ok that will be another post.

However, all of this had me thinking about friends and/or relatives that didn't live to see certain milestones in their life.

1. My dad, who died shortly after his 50th birthday, but before his grandson was born (my son who just turned 19 yesterday.)
2. A highschool classmate that died in a car wreck, before our 5th year highschool reunion.
3. A close friend of mine, his birthday was the day before mine...he died of cancer a few months before he would turn 40.
4. Another friend of mine lost her sister to breast cancer a few months after we turned 40.

There are others some that I may not remember in this moment.

And I also remember things that have happened to me where I think, "Wow, I lived through that?" All of this makes me think that each day I get I need to be thankful for. Even if that is a day that I failed my math test, or don't quite have the money to pay that bill. I am not going to be happy every single day, but I have to make the most of the days that I have. And fulfill whatever purpose that I have on this earth, even if I am taking a little longer than most to figure out what that is.

Actually as I write this there is a report right now on the news, about a local 15 year old that died after a battle with cancer. They were interviewing children from the middle school he attended.

In Black and White

I think quite often race "colors" our perspectives. And of course I can only speak about my own experiences. I am a black woman (stating the obvious) and even though my elementary school years placed me in predominately white environments in the 70's, I still feel that my views differ from white people. Based on mainly race.

My most recent example happened in school. A small group of students between classes started talking about the high schools they went to. And one of the guys (white) commented on a school, and said "It's a war zone over there." Well, the young man (black) that had gone to the school said, "About 10 years ago when we moved to that area, it was mostly white. Now, the area and the school are predominately black. I don't think it's a war zone, it's just mostly black now"

The funny thing is I had been a party to conversations about that city before, when I was at work, so the people were probably 10 to 20 years older that these students. But the conversation was pretty much the same. The white people/person making an extreme statement about the area being dangerous/a war zone etc. and the black person/people commenting/thinking no, it's just mostly black.

I think it's ironic that no matter what the age, the perception was the same based on race. Although maybe it is a geographical thing. This is the south.

I must admit though even from my "black woman" perspective I chose not to live in that area because I didn't think the schools were academically up to par. I decided to live where I do so my son could go to a school that was diverse, not just racially, but economically as well. However, at the college level, I would love it if he decided to go to an HBCU. Ahh, I guess that will be another post.

But back to black and white. I think about a few conversations that I had were it seems that some of the opinions were along racial lines, as opposed to gender or age. Am I unusual? or does anyone else think the same/differently?

I am still here! So, I will ramble

I have made it through a few tests. And on 1 test the teacher will throw out our lowest grade ok...yes, I have used it. :-)

My car is running fine, but one rainy morning one of my wind shield wipers went out. Yes, I said 1, the other one kept going, but of course the 1 that broke was...yes the driver side wiper. Not while I was on a street close to the house, but once I was on the highway, with trucks splashing water on my windshield. It is fixed now, apparently something was loose.

As a parent, I enjoy making my son happy. But did he really have to laugh so hard...and long the other day when he found some pictures of me from my high school days. Yes, it was the 80's, but those big glasses were in style...really. Hmm, 2026 should be interesting. I will pull out the photo album for his girl friend/wife/kids...somebody...and entertain them 20 years from now. LOL

I had so many things in my head earlier that I wanted to type...but I am tired.

Thursday Ramblings

School
I think I am on the computer more hours during the day, now than I was when I was working. But I am happier, less stressed (for the most part) . Or at least stressed but happier about this stress than I was at my job. Did I just say happier 2 sentences in a row? Ha! I guess some of my former co-workers would say I was rubbing it in...no, just stating a fact. In a much happier way. LOL

Teens
My son ran out of gas last night, on the highway. Guess who had to get the gas can and go find his Ass...yeah, me. I just don't understand...must I ask him daily "Did you go to the gas station?" I know, maybe if I didn't go save him...but it was the highway, with trucks whizzing by. Ahh, maybe I should make him pay for the upgrade on our Triple A membership...because he has already used his limit of 3. Great idea if I must say so myself...He will be paying for the upgrade.

I really have more to ramble about, but this was a study break, and I have a few problems to finish before the 11pm deadline.

Don't leave me...I will try to post more often, and more interesting stuff. :-)

WIIFM?

The new word for the day, at least for those of you that may not have had any sales training. What's In It For Me? I am not sure if that is the right title today, but basically I am annoyed by people that want something for nothing.

We all know that the person on the corner with the sign that says "Will work for food" intends just gather what ever money people are willing to give through their car windows. I think at least they are offering Something.

It seems that lately I have more people knocking on my door or even my friend's homes with buckets asking for money. And I get so annoyed, especially when people do it in the name of a church. No, I haven't slammed the door in any body's face, and yes, I have given a few dollars.
But it does make me mad sometimes that people will do this in the name of a church, and offer nothing, not even an invitation for me to join you on Sunday to get a message. What is that about?

What's in it for me? Offer something, baked goods, to wash my car, a bible verse even. But don't just knock on my door, or come up to my car when I am at the light. Yes, call me Scrooge, but I even hate to see the little league team with their helments out taking money at the light. I feel like the parents or coaches are not teaching the children that one has to work for what they get. And the result of that is the so called minister that was at my door with a bucket asking for money. I don't know where his church is, or what time the services are, and he never offered to tell me.

The one that concerned me the most was just yesterday. When I was at my friend's house getting tutored for my dreaded math class. Her doorbell rang, and when she answered it there was a little girl at the door asking for money for a school trip. Not selling anything. The reason I was concerned is because when I got whatever the PTA was selling that particular year while my son was in school. They always cautioned us about door to door sales to people that you don't know. Because so many childrened get harmed by people these days. I didn't go to the door, so I assume someone was with her. But I think the parents should be beat.

This Beta Thing is annoying!

I have tried to log on a few times, and make comments on other blogs today, and this is the 1st time I was successful.

Now that it is so late, I don't have much to say.

Although, I am trying to add iron to my diet to help this old memory of mine. My math class has me confused already, and we are just reviewing some algebra. So call me Popeye, because I am eating spinach, although the brain isn't a muscle, so I don't know if that is a good analogy. LOL

Hmm, maybe after a good night's sleep...I will be a little more coherent.

Old habits are hard to break

I am getting back into the swing of being a student. And am doing pretty good, so far.

Well, there was that episode this morning on the highway. I was driving toward my old job...But once I exited the highway, and went in the right direction all was great, and I still made it to class on time.

Not sure if the bad memory set in this morning, forgot where I was going, or if the almost 15 years of going to the same place was the problem this morning.

Thanks to all for your words of encouragement about returning to school.

Now to all of you computer experts...I may need your help at some point, because I am majoring in a computer field. ;-)

Not so "Confused"

In July I made a short post about some decisions, that I was in the process of making. I didn't go into any of the details.

Well, I made the decision about 2 weeks ago. I decided to go back to school. Yeah, yeah, I know people do it every day. Actually, a few years ago, I took 1 or 2 classes at night, and did pretty good. I was a little stressed between work, school & family.

So what is so different Remnants, stop beating around the bush & tell us. LOL Well, I quit my job; and will be going to school full-time. No, I didn't win the lottery. There will be some big changes in my life. Many of which I am still making, but I will be starting classes Monday morning, and hopefully knocking out the rest of my undergrad degree asap.

I will probably be a renter again soon as opposed to a homeowner....but actually I had about 328 more payments on the home, so who owned it really? :-)

Miscellaneous Monday Observations

This weekend I caught part of the movie "Carmen Jones" on TV. Now I must rent it and watch it from beginning to end. It was in color, but I think I want to see the original black and white. I didn't realize that it was an adaptation ofthe Opera "Carmen." What was my thought about this you ask? Well, there was a scene where Carmen (Dorothy Dandridge) was running from Joe (Harry Belafonte) and she was doing it in heals & a skirt. Running quite well I might add, and I just thought about how un-formal I dress in comparison to how they dressed in the '50's. I love the look of the era, but I am glad I don't have to run in heals. :-)

Another unbelieveable moment in Atlanta Traffic. We have these signs that warn about traffic. Usually, it seems that I don't pass the sign before I run into the problem. But the other day, I actually saw a sign warning me about the problem early enough so that I could choose a different route. Woo hoo! An amazing acomplishment in my travels around the ATL.

On the other hand a truly annoying moment in the car. Don't you hate it when people drive the wrong way down an aisle in a parking lot. Especially when there is a sign that says do not enter. As I sit in my car unable to exit, because the idiot in the "supersized" SUV has turned into the aisle that I am trying to exit. As I drove slowly by the idiot and glanced at him, I read his sleeve and it said "Police"...I thought they had to pass reading tests for that job. :-)

Hmm, pretty empty head if I only had 3 thoughts for the entire day. LOL Well, it's all I care to type about for now. ;-)

Have a happy Monday!

There is no __________ ?

It was Saturday morning, and I was ready for breakfast. Not your normal breakfast, but a simple one anyway. I open the cabinet push aside the George Foreman grill, oops catch the blender, and yes there it is the toaster. I put it on the counter, plug it in, and grab the bread. Oh, boy this is going to be good. Open the fridge...looking in the door...the top shelf, ahh yes grape jelly. OK I am rolling now.

I open the pantry, it's not on the top shelf, no it isn't behind the crackers. Middle shelf, oh there, no not behind the Spaghetti sauce. Where is it. No, bottom shelf only canned vegetables. Maybe it fell on the floor behind the 20 rolls of paper towels. Nope, I never run out of it, it's one of those must have staples. OK think Remnants there is a teenager in the house. Maybe it's in the cabinet, nope only glasses & cups, ok the other one...no only plates & bowls. Maybe it's no, no, not there don't open the dishwasher...you'll get water on the floor.

ALL I WANTED WAS A PEANUTBUTTER & JELLY SANDWICH ON TOAST. Is that too much to ask? I ALWAYS have peanut butter....except when I want it. Dammit!

What ingrediant would have you dismantle your kitchen?

Patience, Patience It's Thursday

I got off of work late the other day, and was too hungry to cook even a 30 min meal. I didn't want fast food, so I went to a cafeteria style restaurant. Was it the hunger head ache, or the fact that I have been out of the kid game too long?

As I walked in the door down the aisle to the food line, there was a family a mother and her son & daughter standing near the wall reading the sign. Maybe I can get in line before them, no, I wasn't fast enough. Uh oh what does the sign say? Say it isn't so, oh yes it is. "Kids eat free limit 2 per adult." I am too hungry for this, and not in the mood for smiling at cute kids. Well that doesn't really matter, cute is not here today, because Bay-Bay is in line in front of me with her Bad "A" kids.

Why do these cafeteria's put the desserts first? There he goes running toward the cashier with his tray, and the dessert (nothing else--just the dessert). All right, that did get a chuckle from me. Now for the scowl on my face, why did she let the 5 year old get his own tray? Didn't she know that would happen? I did, and I am too hungry for games right now.

Damn, does everybody in line have 2 kids? Did you go through the neighborhood & just pick up some children. Give me some food and I won't be so cranky. Ok, I will calm down.

Lord knows I worked the 99 cent menu when my son was little. Oh, free refills on drinks? One small please? I think the 1st time I bought us 2 drinks, he thought someone else was going join us to eat.

Finally, I am at the end of the line, let me get my bag & plasticware so I can go straight to the cashier. I want it to go, no I am not going to sit here in the restaurant, while the Bay-Bay's children run & scream. Oh, no not me. I'll go home and eat, and make note to self. "Cook on Thursday."

Jesus Loves You!

The other day I stopped at a little corner store/gas station/check cashing place that I have gone to for years, even though now I don't live close enough to walk to it. You know the one, where the owner and the long time employee knows me by name. It was here before the new subdivisions & stores & auto repair shops, and I never buy gas there, because it is more expensive than the Quik-trip that I now live close to, but since I pass it to get to the highway I find reasons to stop.

I needed a cold bottle of water & some lottery tickets (uh-oh lottery tickets & Jesus in the same post?)

When I drove up I should have known it wasn't going to be the normal quick stop. I see a small rusty truck with tools, ladders & the other handyman junk that you typically see. A lady and her son at the entrance to the store, and an older white man standing close to the store reading a paper (hmm that's a little unusual). As I am backing in to my parking space a young man that looks to be in his 20's walks past me (he's black that's normal for this area). He walks toward the man reading the paper. I've finished parking the car.

As I open my car and turn to get out, I am eye level to their hands. OMG did I just see, yes there is a little package in the white guy's hand now. OK, Remnants, act like you didn't see that. Just walk past them and go in the store. Black guy watches me walk past.

What?! Lady with son, "I said the door is locked, but the lights are on, so maybe the clerk is in the restroom. " "Oh, I say," that's unusual." Still pulling on locked door, peering into the store. I am sooo thirsty, nervous, ready for that Mega Millions ticket, and running late to appointmnent.

Whew! When I turn around young man is gone, and white guy is getting in the old rusty truck. I am glad I don't have to walk past them again. I get in my car and pull off, wait for traffic to pass store so I can get on the road. As I speed down the road in my 10 year old clunker, I pass white guy in rusty truck.

Did I mention the signs on the truck? Oh, printed on them were the words, "JESUS LOVES YOU"

Where are the red lights?

Have you ever been driving, and needed to look at the map, a phone number, finish your hair/make-up; and every light was green? Lights that I always catch on red happened to be green this morning. Why you ask; because I had my hair brush in my lap ready for me to finish my hair.
So tomorrow when I am running late I think I will leave my hair undone, and carry my rubber band and a brush. That way I will never sit at a red light again. :-)

Jazz in the Summer

The great thing about Atlanta & surrounding area in the summer, is the fact that there is always something going on in the summer time. A fest or festival of some sort. I went to the Dekalb Blues & Jazz Festival. Well, since I went Saturday, I went on the Jazz night of the Festival. It was at an amphitheater in Lithonia. Yes, it was hot, but as the night progressed it got cooler.

There were some local artists that were really good, a local group called Planet Jazz. The headliners were Al.ex Bu.g.non & Mi.chael F.ran.ks. They both gave great performances. Like I said I enjoyed the performances. But I was also entertained by the people around me. It seems that at concerts you can always have conversations with those around you during set changes and what not.

There was the group on the lawn that had tents with a buffet set up. But in the seats around me, there was a couple that was pretty entertaining, well he was. She seemed to be the calming force for him. There was a couple that was in town (from St. Louis) for Me.ga.fest, but since he had a cooler full of beer, they were cool, and didn't have that holier than thou religious attitude that some people have. There was the drunk woman that was pretty loud.

Couple #1 - where I got most of my non-musical entertainment. He needed ritalin or something, he was yelling at the performers, nothing bad more like terms of encouragement. I think I almost choked on my drink when he said, "Boy am I glad I don't drink alcohol." And someone in the crowd commented, "yeah, so are we." Basically, he was more entertaining than annoying. There was a point that I almost snapped on him though. He was there with another couple, and I know that the man was named Mike, because Mr. Entertainment was calling him. You know like a 5 year old trying to get his mother's attention. But Mike was in the middle of another conversation with his date & the couple from St. Louis.
"Mike. Mike. Mike. Mike. (I am about to snap, like a mother does when the 5year old keeps calling Mommy. Mommy. Mommy.) Fortunately, for him & my sanity. His girlfriend calmly said. "Baby, Mike is talking to someone else right now."

Couple #2 - the couple from St. Louis was very friendly, and just impressed with all the things to do in Atlanta. The things that I tend to forget, because I live here. They went to the King Center, and were impressed with the concert venue. Actually, since it was my first time there I was too. Also, the price was outrageous. $5.00 for lawn seats, and $10.00 on the concrete seats. They were amazed at how affordable it was.

So my goal is for the last few weeks of summer is to enjoy what Atlanta has to offer. The things that I tend to forget about as a resident of the city. I know my writing needs improvement, but hopefully, I can write about my adventures, and you will enjoy reading them.

I am soo confused!

Not sure if I am suffering through a midlife crisis, or if I am terminally confused about what/where I am in life.

That makes me crazy, because I am forty (summting) years old.

I have a few decisions that I am trying to make, and I will write about it in the near future. I am just not ready right now.

Did I Miss That Meeting?

I was home yesterday, and watched the Ty.ra B.an.ks Show. The topic? Tyra went undercover as a stripper. But before she did that they had some guys on the show that frequented the Strippah Clubs. LOL

One guy admitted that he was going too often. I think it was about 5 times a week, so he and his girlfriend had broken up because of it. Of course, Tyra asked him the standard questions. Why? (He said it was an ego boost. He weighed about 300 lbs, he had lost a lot of weight. Tyra didn’t congratulate him on losing all the weight.) The question of the day that had me wondering if I am missing one of the female hormones and the audience’s reaction to his answer.

QUESTION: “Did you ever fantasize about a stripper when you were with your girlfriend?’

ANSWER: “Yes, I did.”
Audience reaction was the collective breath. Not the customary fireworks “oooh”; but the Gasp, like everyone in the audience thought it was terrible.

Was there some meeting on rules for females that I missed? Is it a bad thing to fantasize about someone else during sex? Are there rules for ladies that I didn’t get? I mean the entire audience (all women that I could see) acted appalled. I was well--confused. Certainly, anything can be taken to an extreme. Yes, if you have to fantasize about someone else every time you are with your girlfriend/boyfriend etc. that could be a problem. But I think their reaction was just crazy.

They then cut to Tyra with a make up artist, the kind they use for movies, and gave her a different nose, eyes etc. It showed her getting interviewed & picture taken for the job. She was asking guys questions, while someone gave them a lap dance. She was being a good undercover report asking poignant questions. OOOKAAAY

Then back to the stage with the audience. Now some of the guys that had been at the club were on the stage, and their girlfriends/wives were there too. I think one of the women said she wondered what was wrong with her if he had to go. Then there was the couple that were girlfriend/boyfriend in a fairly new relationship, and she was a stripper. Guess what. She had a problem with her boyfriend going to the stripper club too. When asked why she had a problem, she said that he when he went he wasn’t making money like she was at the club, and she knew what went on at the clubs.

I really have to say I think that particular show made many of the women look a little stupid (the one’s in the relationships as girlfriends or wives.)

Of course she interviewed some of the strippers, as well. And at the last minute Ty.ra couldn’t go out on stage to strip. She left the club…For those of you (guys) worried that you may have missed something. LOL


I don’t think I would want to go with my man to the strip club. (One of the strippers on the show said that some of her regular customers were couples.) But I am not appalled at the idea of a bachelor party, or him just hanging with the guys at the strip club.

Am I unusual? Do most women have a problem with their husband/boyfriend going to strip clubs? I know that anything can be done in excess, but I think if you are secure with yourself & your relationship that it is ok. Am I being too naïve? Of course, I am not in a relationship right now. But even when I was in a relationship, I didn’t think anything was wrong with it.

Finally my post about last weekend!

I am sorry it took me so long to get back here. But the good news is that I had some personal paperwork to do, and I got 2/3 of it done.

I was in Houston last weekend for the Essence Festival. I must say there is no place like New Orleans for that event. I think one of my friends heard Steve Harvey talk bad about Houston too. He made comments while he was on stage. Or at least the statements I caught anyway were funny. That was problem #1 at the concerts. The sound was bad very bad. I guess by the 3rd night they finally got better with it.

I have to say that I didn’t have to hear anything that L.L. Cool J said…Just seeing him was enough for me. Licking his lips, his torn shirt, and the bottles of Da.sa.ni that he poured on himself. Ohh give me a minute, it suddenly got hot in here. LOL Earth, Wind & FIRE was great…at least what I could hear, I think part of it was the audience. But they gave a wonderful show. Or at least Verdine was all over the stage. He has more energy than the energizer bunny. I can’t say much about Yolanda Adams or Mary J Blige, because since the sound was so bad. I kind of tuned them out. The other problem in Houston was that the lounges weren’t as accessible as they are in the Super Dome. That sums up the Saturday concerts.

The next night was Sunday, July 2, 2006; well Chris Brown was a no show, but I was late, so it didn’t bother me too much. Jaheim was ok, but since the sound was no good, and he just sang, he didn’t have a stage presence so I think I tuned out again. (No Verdine energy) ha-ha. Jaime Foxx was good, and at least he acknowledged & apologized for the bad sound. New Edition was great and Bobby Brown was too even with the information about his & Whitney’s sex life, he went over his time, so they turned his mike off in the middle of ”My Prerogative” oh the pain. However, I was so drained from having to strain to understand, I couldn’t stay for the “Pioneers of Hip-Hop” sorry, just couldn’t do it.

The last night many of the sound problems were gone. Sorry guys, I didn’t watch Toni Braxton, although I could see on the screens that she did a few changes of clothes & went to pretty skimpny.  I went to the Lounge acts and caught Musiq. He was great! I don’t think you mess up the sound too much in the Lounges. Charlie Wilson did well with out the Gap band. And you can not close out an Essence Festival without “Frankie Beverly & Maze” all the pain of the previous nights was washed away! They were great, and the only thing that I had to get used to was Frankie in red. I am so used to seeing him in all white. He is old enough to be my father, but he looks GOOD! Really, I don’t usually say that about men that are 55+ years old.

It is good to be back home. “Hasta luego!”

My first meme

Thanks to a very interesting blog that I read. I found a meme that I want to post Thank you Slump Facade


1) What is the first priority when purchasing a shoe, looks or comfort?
It depends on the occasion.
Looks if I am going out
Comfort if I will be doing a lot of walking

2) What is the most you would pay for a “dress stiletto”?
Hmm, I guess about $100

3) Which type of shoes do you own more of, “one-hour wears” or “all day wears”?
all day wears

4) What is more important when purchasing a shoe, designer or look?
Look

5) Shoe preference, “high heel”, “wedge heel”, “short heel” or “flats”?
Once again that depends on the occasion, but for dressing up; I have to say high heel

6) What is the most important piece of your wardrobe, “shoes”, “hat” or “handbag”?
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes, I really don’t do hats, and handbags I don’t buy very often

7) Do you associate “cost” of shoe with quality?
Yes, certainly with many designers you pay for the name, but you will pay more for quality materials.

8) Is your dress style defined by shoes or clothes? If shoes, how do your shoes enhance your “look”, “attitude”, or “personality”?
My style is defined by how well both clothes & shoes go together. I have bought a pair of shoes, and then found the clothes to match.

9) If you only had $50, which would you chose to purchase, dinner or a pedicure?
Definitely dinner, I must have the energy to walk/perform in the stiletto.

10) How frequent are your pedicures, per month?
Spring/summer at least 2x; more if I have a special event

11) How often do you get foot massages?
Not very often, I usually do the inexpensive pedicures, and I am not dating any one right now. 

12) Is having someone paint your toes sexy, why? Also, would you pay to have it done, if so, how much?
I have only had one boyfriend to do it for me, and yes it was very sexy, because he really enjoyed painting my toes. Yes, I pay for pedicures, but no I wouldn’t pay for it to be a sexual encounter.

13) How important is the beautification of your feet to your overall level of confidence?
For my level of confidence I never related it that way, but I don’t feel that my look is complete if my feet aren’t pretty. So if my toes aren’t done, I probably won’t take off my shoes.

14) Do you feel sexier when your feet are made up?
Definitely

15) Do you wear foot jewelry, ankle bracelets? If so, how often?
I do wear ankle bracelets, almost all the time during the summer.

16) If you could purchase a perfume for your feet, what would be the scent?
Not sure, I wear scented lotions, so vanilla I guess

Happy 4th of July

I thought I would have time to Post before I left town to say that I would be back with info about the Essence Fest in Houston. But of course in my last minutes, I was printing boarding passes fo the plane, & didn't have time for the blog.

I am very tired, so I will update probably tomorrow. I hope you did something fun on "Independence Day".