Seasons Greetings

corrections: it'll be a Christmas Eve party, not New Years Eve, lol. And Ashura already passed, so I should've said "i hope you had a Happy Ashura".

Invisible Man

I've attempted to read this classic by Ralph Ellison (published 1952) several times over the years, and for some reason couldn't get through it. i'm currently reading it, and this time i've gotten further than i ever have. i think i might actually finish it this time.

better than the real thing

You can't make this stuff up

so a lot of people call MetroPCS ghetto (Ghettro PCS). i mean, most of the phones they offer are very cheap quality, and kind of slow sometimes, but as far as service, i've never had any dropped calls or weak signals. but here's where the problem comes in, recycled numbers. i get "wrong number" calls/texts alllll the the time. i understand maybe when i first get the phone with a new number, i may get contacted by people looking for the person who had that number right before me. but i've had this number for 4 months now and i still get random calls and most of them are ghetto:

ring ring...
Me: Hello
Other end: yea uh Shaniqua dere?

every time someone mistakenly calls, they're looking for someone different, and i'm like damn, how many ppl had this number?sometimes it'll ring and i pick up and it's a recording in Spanish. anyways, today i got text msgs from some guy looking for a girl named tanisha. at first i thought it was hilarious, because it was so poorly written, but as they kept flooding in i started to feel sympathetic towards this guy as he was trying to apologize to her. here's everything he wrote [not censored, except for his name]:

You dont give me chance to let me tell u how things was goin on wit my life but ima try say it in my text tanisha sorry that i played with your heart N im sorry for not calln you but went down to va a cuple weeks ago just wanted to get away from everyone to get my mind rite n away from my family they Wont me to do wit they want just wanted to c if they cant do wit out me i realy dont have no1 in my corner to talk to they think i know everything n i Can do everything i try but i cant its hard but i still try dont wantna let anyone down a man is soppose to do what he has to do 4 his family thats wht My grandmother told me but none of those let downs dont have anything on yours i was thinkn over n over out of all people how can i do that to You i kno things are not gona be rite back the same but i will as wait as long as it takes 4 the day it do wht im tryna say is that i cant lose your Heart to anyone while im still liven i will realy be goin thou Hard times just sum things i had to tell u that i couldnt hold in anymore i love you tanisha not tryna hold u up hope u enjoy your birthday ps love Alwayz r***** f****** sorry boo

this is like the sweetest ghetto love story i've ever heard. so me being as cooky as i am, i call the guy just to let him know that he's sending the messages to the wrong number. he's putting forth this deep apology that tanisha needs to hear! lol then 10 minutes later, homeboy calls back and is like "yo, so what should i do?" and i'm like "what do you mean?" and he's like "was that sweet what i said?" and i was like "yea i dont even know you and i was like 'awww'. she needs to hear this".
RF: "but she always tryna play me tho".
Me: "you have to try. you need to find her and tell her how you feel. everything you sent me, you have to tell her".
RF: "i dont know. i'm startin to feel like it wasnt meant".
Me: "if she plays you again, maybe it's time to move on, but you have to at least try".

what am i doing when i get home from work? i'm on the phone giving relationship advice to some random Philly bol. My life is so random and entertaining and i love every second of it.

N'Dambi @ World Cafe Live

i've been sleeping on this place and i really need to start going more often. i went there tonight to see N'Dambi. this girl knows how to put on a show!


it's late and i'm out of it. excuse the pointless rambling and redundancy. this is cut down. i actually rambled on for like 7 minutes. about what? i dunno
hit the box with the arrows for full screen! do it!

Off and Running

love this film
i want the score to this so bad.

coincidentally, i'm currently writing a poem called "running". it's not inspired by the film, but i plan to start running again soon, and i'm reflecting on the mental aspect.

guitar

yup, just posted a couple funny videos, bringin the positivity back. my semester is over in a week and winter break will be filled with food, fun, friends, family, aaaaand MUSIC! i'm learning how to play the guitar and i'm bursting at the seams!, i'm so excited. i've had a guitar for 4 years, and it's done nothing but collect dust. i love music, and i've always wanted to play an instrument. so here goes. i originally posted a clip of me strumming and singing but it was so awful i took it down. you'll just have to wait til i master this thing to hear a song.

fresh

this past year and a half was full of frustration and let downs, but that's all behind me now. i recently made the move to walk away from anything that was holding me back, and it felt so good! i have NO time for bullshit anymore. i still have a long way to go, but i'm happier now with myself, and my direction, than i've ever been.

that being said...i'm feeling goofy today

chillin

i'm laughing so hard cuz he's makin funny faces while i'm talking, then playin dead when i turn the camera on him

I'm leaving...

on that midnight bus to Boston! I haven't been home for Thanksgiving in 3 years, and i really had no intention of going this year either, but i'm going. there's a few different reasons i chose to opt out of this family holiday once i was old enough to decide for myself. One being distance. going to boston means catching the sub from my house to the bus station, taking a 6 hour commute, then catching the sub again from the Boston bus station to my mother's house. and then do the same thing a few days later all over again to return to philly. it's hell. before, i'd have to catch Chinatown and deal with switching companies, and layover time, and pushing through rowdy crowds in New York. hell. it's a bit better now though, with Megabus' direct route, but still. an overall 13 hour commute sucks. and since thanksgiving and christmas are so close together, i didnt see the need to make the trip twice in such a short amount of time, so i always picked christmas. the other reason was finances. over the past few years up until now, $50 was a lot to dish out, meaning doing both holidays equaled $100 that i just didnt have. with Megabus' low prices, it's more feasible now. next reason: weak family ties. sad but true. when it comes to extended family, i don't know them that well, and that made me not feel compelled to take a long journey in order to spend time with them. for the most part, my cousins are wayyy older than me, and on top of that, i wasn't raised around them. my memories of thanksgiving as a child is me being bored out of my mind. i have nothing against them, but they're not exactly the most exciting bunch of people. but when it comes to my immediate family, i love them to death, and i don't know what i'd do without them. they make me laugh and support me through everything. this year, my brother asked me to come, and i just couldn't say no. plus my other brother and his wife are having thanksgiving at their house, which is much better than having to go to my aunt's house. i think a trip to boston is good right now in the midst of being stressed over finals. seeing family will do something that NO ONE in philly can do right now: put a genuine smile on my face.
as opposed to my most recent trip to Boston, i can actually visually document this one thanks to a good friend of mine who gave me an old digicam he didn't need anymore. i have my big professional DSLR, but i hate lugging it around. i only like to use it for professional or artistic shoots. now i finally have a small compact one that i can use for fun. despite having to work tomorrow, i'll pretty much be spending the next couple days relaxing and getting ready for my trip. when i get back i'll post a video :) haven't done that in a while

sweets and stanzas

Lindt Lindor Truffles. My favorite chocolate. Perfect little pick-me-ups.
I was bored at work and started writing a bit. this is NOT NOT NOT about anyone in particular.

Untitled Draft

I want to give you my heart, but I have to protect it.
I shouldn't let fear dictate my life, but I can't help it.
I've been shattered so many times that now it's what's expected.

You have everything I could ask for
You get me down to my core
But I just don't have the strength to open the door

I'm scared...
to feel...
something real...
It's staring me in my face
I'm runnin' the opposite way
Gotta escape this place
It's a race
between my heart
and my mind
either way, it's emptiness I'll find

I can't be what you need
It's too much for me
We could never be

Laura Izibor

...speechless. this song is making me cry, and not about anybody, i just have an appreciation for art. a beautiful photograph, piece of literature, or song can put tears in my eyes.

And today's surprise guest is...

oh Wendy. this just might be worse than when she had Vanilla Ice on. now i actually think it's mean how she gets the audience so amped up for a surprise guest, and then someone that nobody cares about walks out. yet for some reason i continue to watch this disaster of a show. i need to get cable.

Kiss Me on My Neck

The Therapist

Another funny sketch from Funny or Die --> The Therapist

4 real?

Wendy Williams' surprise guest today was Vanilla Ice. wtf. That show may be on a decline. it was funny watching the crowd pretend to be excited.

back in the bean

i'm on the bus, about 20min away from South Station. i decided i needed a break from Philly and everything going on there for a few days. it's been a challenging couple weeks, and the upcoming week will be just as bad. but i'll deal with most of that when i get back. for now...i'm so glad there's finally a bus that takes me straight from Philly to Boston, and i don't have to deal with Chinatown and switching/layover in New York. this bus has a headphone jack so you can listen to the radio, power outlets, and free wifi, allowing me to get work done and also stay occupied for the 6hour trip. the driver welcomes you over a PA system, and a safety video is shown. i feel like im on a damn plane. it's CLEAN, the bathrooms actually have toilet paper and hand sanitizer. i hate the Chinatown buses and their dirty stations or lack thereof, and poor customer service. thank goodness i never have to deal with them again, and traveling to Boston is so much more pleasant now. did i mention it's about $30 cheaper on average? i once caught a bus back to Philly from Boston for $3. even though i'll mostly be in the house working on an assignment, it just feels good to be here. i like walking to Neville's to get a beef patty and fried dumpling and remembering simpler times. it's a nice change of scenery and it puts me in a refreshed state of mind. Philly can be cold and lonely most of the time, and i love being here in my mother's warm, loving house.

The Life of a Token

Click==> "Token"

testing 1, 2

He said, "I won't hurt you."

And I want to believe him.

He said, "You're perfect for me."

I'm ready to receive him.

in a dancing mood

lucky's dead

i know this is super old, but it still makes me laugh

Jellysmoke

i guess i'm just on a movie/television kick right now.

i really wanna see this. and i hate that you never hear about these movies, but you constantly see commercials for garbage like Transformers or The Ugly Truth

whoop that ash!

haha and it's real! www.whoopash.com

it's crazy how much Sheree Zampino looks like LisaRaye

hurr

These are the products i use to wash and straighten my hair. i thought i would try to experiment with some natural styles this time, but i stumbled upon some interesting straightening products, and i just had to get them since i like trying new things. so i'll stick to straight for now, and the natural styles will have to wait for another time.

i've never really used heat protection, other than oil, prior to the heating tools. part of my reasoning here is that i like to keep things simple. i don't want to bust out 10 different products just to do my hair. but i think it's time i started using heat protection to prevent breakage and damage. i decided to get "Olive Oil"'s Heat Protection Serum. something else that caught my eye was a line of products called "twisted sista" by urban therapy. i like that they have products for both natural and relaxed hair. i got the relaxing straightening creme. being anti-relaxer, i was a bit put off by the name, but it's not a relaxer, although it does help straighten the hair. i'm hoping this helps ease the blowdrying and flat-ironing process, and makes it so i don't have to tug and pull as much.
i believe pre-conditioning is essential, so you can use an actual wash-out conditioner before you even begin shampooing, or use oil like i do. my oil of choice is grape seed oil. there are a number of oils that work well: coconut oil is a personal favorite, jojoba oil, carrot oil, tea tree oil, just to name some. they all have their own properties that are good for hair. i like grape seed oil because it is rich in vitamins that strengthen hair and antioxidants that promote growth. to pre-condition, douse hair and cover with plastic cap for 30min-1 hour. if washing hair in the morning, you can even sleep with the cap and pre-condition overnight. where to get it: Whole Foods (the supermarket can sometimes be better than the hair store). after you've rinsed out your pre-conditioner it's on to shampoo...

i use Mizani Thermasmooth shampoo. here's what the bottle says: it's composed of a "C3 Smoothing Complex that infuses pure, nourishing coconut oil, intra cellular fortifying ceramide and surface shielding and polishing C3 smoothing agents. like i said before, coconut oil is a favorite, and i like anything with natural elements. this shampoo smells AMAZING and makes your hair feel so clean and smooth! since i use oil frequently, i wash twice thoroughly to remove all build-up. where to get it: you have to order thermasmooth online, it's impossible to find in stores.

now onto conditioner. if you haven't heard of Miss Jessie's, you need to look it up. they're all about the kinks and curls. the only reason i dont buy more of their products is because it is out of my price range. but i use the conditioner because it's just that good. after rinsing out shampoo, apply a generous amount of Miss Jessie's Creme de la Creme. cover hair with plastic cap and condition for any where from 45min-1hour. use overhead drier if you have one. where to get the conditioner: order online or see if your local salon carries it.

after rinsing out the conditioner, you're ready for styling. towel dry hair, then apply twisted sista relaxing straightening creme from root to tip, then blowdry. where to get it: rite-aid.
then apply "Olive Oil"'s Heat Protection Serum before heat styling with straightening tools.

Green Eggs Cafe

Went to the cutest little breakfast spot in South Philly. soooooo good, one of the best meals i've had in my life.

and another one

because we haven't had enough of these movies


and this time they're in Brazil! hold on to your seats!!

Idris Elba and Michael Ealy

to piggyback off of my post about the mainstream film industry, i wanna talk about two actors that are, unfortunately, starring in "Takers". Idris Elba and and Michael Ealy, both of whom i have a great deal of respect for, but they're starting to lose points by doing movies like this. i'll start with Elba...

i can't speak on the shows he did before "The Wire", because i havent seen any of them. but i can say that his performance in "The Wire" was great. now he seems to be going off the deep end, doing "Obsessed", "The Losers", and now, "Takers", of which the latter two are strikingly similar featuring a group of gun-wielding badasses with stuff exploding left and right. he has an overwhelming capacity to be captivating, but the opportunities to showcase that are non-existent

and now on to Ealy...

i didn't take him seriously back when he was in the "Barbershop" movies and "2 Fast 2 Furious". but then came "Their Eyes Were Watching God", and i was like, okay, this guy has potential. then he started taking on more serious roles, starring in "Miracle at St. Anna" and "Seven Pounds". he even earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in "Sleeper Cell". in almost everything you do, you have to start somewhere and work your way up, so i'm not gonna knock him for the earlier roles. but now it seems as though he's taking a step backwards by getting involved with "Takers".

again, good scripts are not being green-lighted in Hollywood, so now good actors are faced with having to settle for the nonsense that's being presented to them. i'll never be in that situation, so i can't judge too harshly. but maybe if more actors spoke out, and turned down these sorry excuses for films, the execs might take note. it saddens me to see such talented people selling themselves short. it's like watching a genius work at McDonald's

Rainy Day

A relaxing rainy day, staying in, listening to some Lena Horne and John Coltrane
what should i discuss? i could go on and on about how disastrous "Takers" and "Lottery Ticket" look, but i'm tired of ranting about stereotypes, and the general demise of the entertainment industry. mmm what the heck, i'll rant just a tiny bit...

so we have Chris Brown, T.I. and Bow Wow in box office spotlight. and i speak for a lot of people when i say, WHAT THE FUCK?! they're are amazing actors out there who actually study and respect the craft, and dedicate their lives to it. sadly, we'll never see these people on the big screen. it all comes down to money, and hollywood execs would rather pollute minds and make millions instead of putting together quality films. i'm just tired of the bullshit. they'll put rappers in a movie to fill seats, and unfortunately it works, so they'll just keep doing it. For the most part, I've thrown in the towel. and i'm not saying that good movies aren't being made, but those movies aren't getting any publicity or recognition.
every now and then, though, some artist will give me a little glimmer of hope. like anthony mackie. nia long commented on Beyonce and Obsessed, and how singers shouldn't be acting. she caught a lot of heat for it, but she was just speaking the truth. Beyonce cant act, but to fill seats, they give roles to superstars who know nothing about acting. recently, anthony mackie has spoken out about rapper-turned-actors. if you don't know who he is, he was in the Spike Lee joint "She Hate Me", and the Oscar-winning film "The Hurt Locker", and he went to Juilliard, so he knows what he's talking about.



“I don’t go into the hospital and let the janitor perform surgery on me, you know what I mean?” Mackie told Details magazine.


and i'm sure he's gonna catch some heat too, because people are ignorant. see the Clutch article on him here.

ha, i didn't even read the article until after i wrote this post, and then i saw how many similarities there were between my thoughts and those in the article. but anyway, on rare occasions, there are multi-talented people, but that's just not the case with what's going on right now. People need to stay in their place. If you're a rapper, rap. and on the flipside, if you're an actor, act, stop trying to get a record deal.

wknd

This weekend went by wayyy too fast. Andrea was in town thursday night. our plan was to go to Bob & Barbara's for the drag show, but that didn't happen. we went to see a friend at Copa, and hung out there for awhile. when we got to Bob & Barbara's it was too crowded, so we just went home, and the night was kind of a bust. but that didnt stop us from trying to make the best of it. We secretly recorded our friend singing "So Beautiful" by Musiq.....and then he realized he was being recorded lol. you may need to turn your volume down before playing this

and that's my current jam

LeBron vs. Oscar Grant

http://newsone.com/nation/srobinson/opinion-how-much-is-one-black-man-worth-lebron-vs-oscar-grant/

The Modern Day Mammy

Some (informal) background: during, and immediately following slavery, there were several caricatures to categorize Black people. some were used to justify slavery and discrimination, and they were all, for the most part, derogatory. The Mammy is the housekeeper. she cooks, cleans, looks after the children, and does it all with a swish in her hip, and skip in her step, while singing and smiling. she is just so happy to be serving her master, and she loooves those kids. physically, the mammy is portrayed as heavyset, and completely desexualized. the message: a black woman's only business is being a servant. of course, this was perpetuated on television and on film. in the beginning, the only Blacks you saw in the media were servants. in commercials, Black women were used to advertise cleaning products and food, so that they were still seen as cleaners and cooks.
today in the media, we can see Black women as intelligent beings, sexual beings, comical, emotional, dynamic beings. but that doesn't change the fact that some of those old stereotypes still exist. they're just not as blatant.

1.) The Pine-Sol Lady

what's funny is that the article i got this image from is called "Is Aunt Jemima back?" Ahh the Pine-Sol lady. she couldn't fit the description any better. and that line: "That's the power of Pine-Sol, baby". To a mammy, everyone is "baby", as she is everyone's nurturer.

2.) The Popeye's Lady

while looking for this image, i also found articles accusing the Popeye's commercials of being racist.
This is from theurbandaily.com: "the Popeye’s Chicken ad campaign featuring a new-growth-scratching sassy black woman who introduces herself as Annie “the Chicken Queen” is but a biscuit and strawberry soda away from being a full-on minstrel show."
now i don't agree 100% with this quote, but i could do without watching yet another Black woman on t.v. perpetuating a stereotype, twisting her neck, with her hand on her hip, saying with sass: "mmm hmm" and "honey"

Booty Warrior

Movie Recommendations

If you're looking for a unique spin on the romantic comedy, Watching the Detectives is great.

It's not as cliche as you would think. Lucy Liu is surprisingly good. she's always been typecast as fiesty or bitchy, and those characters tend to fall flat. i didn't know she could be so real and funny. i laughed out loud a few times. and Cillian Murphy pulls off "the sweet vulnerable guy".




If you want something a little less sappy, and a little more gory, see Shaun of the Dead. Genre: Horedy (Horror/Comedy, i made that up)

i promise this will crack you up. a couple points got way too serious for a comedy, but overall i enjoyed it.

The End of The Bachelorette

i basically had to force myself to watch the finale. it was so excruciatingly boring and cheesy. but when i start something, i finish it lol. Alright, i'll start with "The Men Tell All". neither Justin nor Frank were there, who were the only ones that did anything scandalous. it came down to talking about psycho Kasey's tattoo, and Kirk, because he was the one there who made it the furthest. really, no one gives a shit about Kirk. i was kinda looking forward to the finale, "The Final Rose", only to see a confrontation with Frank. so it's on, and they say "at the last minute, Frank backed out", and you could see on Ali's face that she was upset, and really wanted to see him. i don't think Ali's completely over Frank. she let's Chris go, and chooses Roberto, and he proposes. how many times have we seen this? Ali's just googly-eyed because he's cute, and Roberto's just looking for a trophy wife. they're all gushy and giddy now. i give it 6 months.

the ILLZ - My Public Apology

this video is so beautifully shot. and i'm going through a tough time in my own relationship, so it made me tear up a little bit

The ILLZ - M.P.A.(My Public Apology) (Official Video) from Delgis Mustafa on Vimeo.

Fell in love with the sample, so I had to find out what it was. It's called "Breathe" by Telepopmusik.

i wish the song stayed slow throughout, but maybe right now i'm just in the mood for slow, mellow music instead of uptempo stuff. sorry this video is so WEIRD.

Plain Jane is a Plain Shame

Someone came up with the brilliant idea for a show that completely distorts young girls' sense of worth. Instead of judging it by the previews, I'm watching the entire show, so that i can adequately analyze it. Here's the premise:

Let's take a girl with obvious self-esteem issues. Instead of teaching her that she is beautiful, inside and out, just the way she is, we're going to tell her that she needs a superficial makeover. We're going to put a lot of make-up on her, have her hair professionally done, and dress her up in expensive clothes. But that's not enough. She must have a man! She can't be single because a man is what validates a woman!

Needless to say, i'm disgusted. This poor girl is so uncomfortable. Oh wow, as i was typing that, she actually said, "i'm uncomfortable". Now they're teaching her burlesque and making her wear fishnet tights, and her boobs are popping out, goodness gracious. just the phrase, "Plain Jane" is insulting. I mean, that's what makes these young girls do so many unnecessary things, just to fit an impossible standard. they develop eating disorders, dress too old for their age, wear a ton of makeup, etc. i'm not against beauty and fashion, but i dont like the pressure put on girls to look a certain way to feel some kind of self-worth.

when she confesses her crush, it turns out that he had already had a crush on her. so he liked her before the glitz and glam.

There's nothing wrong with teaching confidence, but you should be confident in who you already are. i think this girl is so beautiful naturally, without all this flashy stuff. she's closed off and shy, but SO WHAT. that's just who she is. i used to have low self-esteem, and i didn't gain my confidence from what i look like on the outside. i explored who i was, and discovered hobbies and passions, and through all of that i accepted myself.
everyone has their counterpart. she's shy and quirky, at some point, some shy and quirky guy will probably come along that loves her as is (not saying that she needs that). Putting on a mask, so that you're more accepted by society?, that's not really embracing oneself. Changing yourself, to get some guy's attention? that's not exactly self-empowering either. Why not highlight her talents and/or other good qualities. Emphasize those and tell her that she DOESN'T have to look like the girls in the magazines.

The Bachelorette in Tahiti

Well, Frank is in love with his ex-girlfriend. i guess you can say girlfriend, since they're back together and he's saying that this is the girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with. ugh, and she seems like a child. i understand having lingering feelings for an ex, but come on. you shouldn't jump in to something new until you are completely over your previous relationship. it's not fair to the new person, because they are investing in you, and meanwhile you're thinking about your ex. Next!...

Her date with Roberto was typical. they spend the day rolling around on the beach, kissing and giggling. that night, they sip wine and have some empty conversation about life. to me, i just see them as two completely different people. but they happen to have a strong physical attraction, and he has a nice smile, and that's what's kept him around so long. again, as far as a life-long relationship, i don't see it.

Her date with Chris was pretty much the same: making out and frolicking in the water. then they talk some, and go to a fantasy suite, where who knows what happens. i like Chris, but i don't see it working with him either. and i'm sure he's doing fine. a cute sensitive guy with a broken heart? he's most likely getting a lot of action now back home on the Cape.

After this, Frank comes to Tahiti to break the news to Ali. He claims his feelings for Nicole were holding him back from giving Ali his heart. I'm glad he's at least doing it now, instead of stringing her along even longer, waiting until after she picked him. honestly, i'm a little on the fence. i have to respect him following his heart, but not only was it wrong for him to lead her on this long, it was wrong for him to go on the show in the first place.

now it just feels like these last 2 guys are here by default. if Frank didn't play her, he would've been in the top two for sure. Overall, it was probably a good ratings boost, but now no one's gonna watch the next 2 episodes. i read somewhere that Frank is not gonna be on "The Men Tell All" next Monday. too bad. that would've made it exciting because i'm sure there would've been a confrontation. it looks like the main focus will be psycho Kasey's tatoo, Justin Rego, and the Weatherman. but you never know, they might pull out some surprises. either way, i'll be watching. so come back next Monday night for blog on that episode!

The Bachelorette

I know it's stupid, and i hate on pop-culture trash, and i'm not a girly girl, blah blah blah, but whatever. i live a very serious and stressful life, so watching The Bachelorette is my one guilty pleasure that i indulge in. i wish i had been blogging about this from the beginning of the season :/ anyways, i think Ali has made the right choices up until now for the most part. Of the guys we got to know, everyone who was sent home, deserved to be sent home. i cant really speak on the guys who were sent home on the first night, since we didn't see much of them. but now that the season is coming to an end, im thinking maybe she should have reconsidered some of the guys sent home that first night.
of the 3 guys still there, Frank is my choice, but we already know he's not gonna win. from the previews we now pretty much know that Frank is going to leave :( in the beginning i thought Frank was way too over the top and eager. i still think he's just a tad extra, but i think him and Ali make a cute and compatible couple. They both have a serious, goal-oriented side, and a goofy side, and they both seem to be ready for commitment. and she got along so great with his family. it's too bad it wont work out for them. but then again, Frank lives at home with his parents, so how would that even work? i guess he would've moved in with Ali in San Fran.
Now on to Roberto, who i call Rico Suave. he's that guy from a romance novel, with dashing good looks and an amazing body. he has a good job, and he plays baseball so he's athletic and outdoorsy which is great for Ali. he's perfect on paper. but for some reason, though, there just seems to be something missing with Roberto. i'm not feeling the deep connection that i feel when her and Frank are together. the other thing that bothered me was Roberto's dad asking Ali to make sacrifices so that Roberto can advance in his career. then she'll just become an accessory to his life, rather than living her own and complementing his, while achieving her goals as well. the reason Ali left Jake when she was on the Bachelor, was because her career was on the line. i understand relationships involve compromise, but i don't think she should have to give up too much to be with him. and i don't think she'll be willing to, so they'll probably end up butting heads when it comes to what direction their life together will take. but hey, if she thinks she and Roberto have what it takes to make it, then more power to her. those will be some cute kids.
Lastly, Chris. Chris was under the radar for the most part up until the last couple of episodes. he's cute and i think Ali really likes him, but he seems a little bland. when he tries to be lively, it seems forced and awkward. i understand his mother passed away, so it's hard for him to open up, but i think he needs to find someone who's just as mellow as he is. what worries me about that situation is Ali getting bored with life on the Cape. it's beautiful there, but her career can only go so far there. plus he lives with his father, and i dont think he's ready to leave his father alone. if Ali moved out there with him, i think they would spend way too much time with his father. i feel like Chris just wants someone to comfort him, and Ali just happens to be there in front of him. I dont know how invested he is in Ali, specifically. he sees what his brothers have with their wives, and he just WANTS it, it doesnt matter who it's with.
im not really that excited about next weeks episode. it's evident that Frank leaves, in overly dramatic "reality" show fashion. his ex-girlfriend Nicole that he meets up with seems weird, and really young and simple-minded. it's hard to believe he would be with someone like that. i mean she doesn't even compare to Ali. it's been said that he was just doing the show for exposure, which is awful, but im not surprised.
i'm excited about the week after when they do "The Bachelorette: The Guys Tell All" special. I think it's live. if it is, there will probably be clues of whether or not she even picks someone in the end. rumor has it, she doesnt pick anyone. well she seems happy when the TMZ cameras find her. we'll just have to wait and see. check back for my next posting on tuesday night, or wednesday morning!

Introducing: Sponjetta

Sponjetta - "Studio"

My Brother's Wedding

On Saturday, my brother got married, and it was such a beautiful and intimate ceremony. I didn't think I would, but i did get a little choked up when the bride came down the aisle. Both my brother and his wife are inspirations to me, and i hope that one day, i can have what they have.


Me


Me with the lovely bride


Dancing with my Daddy
Ok, enough pictures of me

The happy groom arrives


Hall


Some relatives


Brother/Best Man and Father


The new bride and groom!


The Best Man making a toast


First Dance


The Bride and her Dad

Why I Love/Hate Summer

current obsession: plantain chips

with memorial day weekend just passed, it's now "officially" summer, and time for me to profess my love/hate for this season.

Dear Summer,
I love you because...
- you remind of childhood and teenage summers, when i could run around without a care in the world
- i don't have to trek through snow
- i can wear pretty summer dresses
- you're so sexy. summer flings are hot, and you add spice to relationships.

I hate you because...
- you make my hair frizz up, and it's sooo hard to manage
- you make me sweat, a lot! it's gross
- you force me to wear less clothes, when sometimes i just wanna throw on a hoody and sweatpants
- kids are out of school. and they're EVERYWHERE
- people feel the need to blast there music more

that's just philly

walking down the street...

C: What's that smell?
Me: That's Philly.

C: No, it smells like something died-
Me: Yea, that's just Philly.

Health Post

I should be doing homework right now, but since i know that's not gonna happen, i might as well blog.

I was a health nut my senior year of high school. i was very careful about what i consumed, and i exercised everyday. as a result i was in really good shape. somewhere between now and then, it's been a downward spiral. i'm talking pizza, french fries, entire batches of cookies, chocolate, and many other things of equally bad nutritional value. and now i'm ready to turn it around and be healthy again. i'm still struggling to get myself exercising. food-wise i've been doing pretty good, but i still have a lot to do. so far i've completely cut out any and all junk food. that means absolutely no chips, cookies, soda, candy, etc. and i've been strictly counting calories.

what i still need to do: refrain from noshing on bread at work, get fiber pills and vitamin D and E pills.

this isn't just about food and losing weight, it's about overall health, including taking care of hair, skin, and immune system. I'm no expert but here are some tips if you're trying to lead a healthier lifestyle:

food:

-peppers boost your metabolism. cayenne pepper is a popular choice, but any kind is good. sprinkle a little bit on your food for a kick

-green tea boosts your metabolism. have a cup a day (or more if you want), preferably after a meal. i add a little milk and splenda

-use a 0 calorie sweetener instead of sugar. i recommend splenda. personally. i think equal and sweet-and-low taste like shit.

-switch from white rice to brown rice, from white bread to whole grain wheat bread (or at least regular wheat bread), and from from regular pasta to whole grain pasta

-look for healthier alternatives in general. low fat spread instead of butter.

WARNING: after some research i discovered that FIBER ONE Honey Clusters, FIBER ONE bars, and Nutri Grain bars are NOT good for you. between the 3 of them, you'll find high fructose corn syrup, trans-fat, and ethanol. some foods advertise themselves as being healthy when they really aren't, so make sure you read the ingredients very carefully. for a snack, have a fruit or a fruit smoothie.


hair:

-use pure vitamin E oil on your hair everyday. it strengthens and protects your hair. don't go to the hair store and get that bottle that says "Vitamin E", and its really only like 20% Vitamin E. Go to the convenient store, and buy vitamin E softgels. bust a pill (as many as needed) and squeeze the oil into your hand. distribute evenly all over your hair. this might seem tedious, i'm sure you can find bottled pure vitamin E oil on eBay. the pills are like $10 a bottle, but you get 100. that lasts you 2-3 months.

-grapeseed oil. there are a number of natural oils, and they all work well. grapeseed is just my personal choice, and a good heat protectant. this is also a great way to replenish and restore your hair, and add shine. Whole Foods, $9. (big bottle, though)

-coconut oil works wonders. use it as a pre-conditioner before washing your hair. Whole Foods, $7. (big jar, though)

-whatever products you choose, stay away from fragrance. Look for plant, fruit, and seed extracts. the more natural the product, the better. in other words, go to the grocery store, not the hair shop.


skin:

-use a good body lotion

-get a really good cleanser and moisturizer for your face. it sounds simple, but most people don't do it. its important to scrub your face during or after you shower, and before bed, and follow up with moisturizer. don't use your body lotion on your face

-don't buy cheap makeup. invest in the quality stuff. it's worth it. and never sleep with makeup

-take 1 or 2 vitamin E pills daily. these are good for your skin as well.

get a good night's sleep every night.

Put Some Pants On

when it comes to apparel, I'm a slight tomboy, and very simple, yet unconventional if that makes any sense. i don't know or care about what's in season, out of season, general fashion do's and don'ts, etc. But every now and then, some huge trend comes along, and girls begin to look like a bunch of clones. i was in center city the other day, and everywhere you look, EVERY SINGLE girl is wearing tights or leggings. at first i dismissed it as a passing fad, but this has been going on way too long! i'm tired of seeing every crevice of people's lower halves. i just don't get it, especially when the person does not have the body for it, and everything's jiggling all over the place. Please do us all a favor, and put some pants on.

and i'm not alone on this. visit www.tightsarenotpant.com

Operation: Slim Down

I dont wanna be a twig, but something needs to be done, because my jeans ripped today, making them the...i dunno, millionth pair i have to throw away! that's an exaggeration of course, but i honestly think that was my last pair of jeans. ive been doing pretty well at eating right, but ive been putting off exercise due to laziness. my goal is to lose 10lbs. by my brother's wedding which is in 2 months. ive never liked gyms, but i have free access to the 12th street gym for the month of April, and im thinking about using it. i'll keep u updated on the progress.

Belated B-Day recap

On my birthday, C and I went out to dinner at Giorgio on Pine, and it was sooo good! It was the perfect little Italian BYOB. the atmosphere was very relaxed and intimate, since it was a thursday, and the place isn't super popular. afterwards, we went to my job for dessert and drinks. plus i was all glammed up which was so much fun!, cuz im a tomboy, and my bday is the one occasion where i make some type of effort to look nice. it was one of those fairy tale nights, that u wish wouldnt end. i wish i had pics :( o well, then saturday my mother came down!

My mother and i didnt have nearly enough time together :( but it was good to see her nonetheless. We walked around the gallery for a little bit, and then i had to go to work. i was able to leave early enough so that we could still go to dinner. we went to El Vez: best food ive had in a long time. cant wait til the next time i can afford to go back.



it was sad seeing her go the next morning, but thats what i get for moving 6 hours away. now i just have to look forward to the wedding in 2 and a half months when i can see everyone! i already have my dress picked out.

Alice Smith Show!!!

I'm just getting home from the Alice Smith show. I went with Andrea and it was AMAZING. So on Thursday i found out that the show was sold out, and I had pretty much given up on any hope to see her :( but Andrea still came anyways. Then we decided, why not just go and see if they'll let us in? and we got in!!! we had to sit all the way in the back, but The Tin Angel is so small that we still had a good view. my phone died, so i couldn't take any pics or video with that :/ then my camera is old and barely works, but i managed to get a short clip before that died too, lol. sorry it's shaky and blurry, i could only zoom in so much. i really need a video camera, or at least a digital camera with a sharper recorder. This song is called "Far Away".

i found a full-length version on YouTube. i like the live, acoustic sound better than this recording, but at least u get to hear the whole thing.

My SUPERDOPE! Birthday

Raven Lounge

DJ PHSH providing the fresh tunes!


me on the dance floor. a very rare occurrence

VLOG #1

This is my first vlog (video log). hopefully they'll get more interesting over time. sometimes it's just more fun to talk, rather than type. and this way, those of you that i dont see anymore can see me and hear me. sorry it's a little repetitive of the previous post.
to make it bigger, hit "Command" + "+" on a Mac, or "Ctrl" + "+" on PCs, or if you wanna get crazy just hit that little button with the arrows in the lower left-hand corner to make it full-screen.

Spring Break '10

Spring Break and it feels great. Right now i'm at the laundromat though...which isn't so great. on the plus side, they got new dryers! no more walking around looking for the one dryer that actually works. not having laundry facilities might be the worst part about my apt. building. i hate having to load all my clothes into a luggage bag on wheels and treking (cant spell that word), all the way to the laundromat. but at least now i have a computer and internet access to pass the time. Thank you Kofi for the computer, and thank you CLEAR™ for your affordable internet service. after this, i'm going to see Brooklyn's Finest with C (the things i do for him). and then it's off to a CRAZY night at work, but at least now i have a coworker that i like, and she makes going to work so much more enjoyable.

March Madness!

So March is here. My favorite month of the year cuz it's my birthday month! this past week has been hell, but now i'm about 11 hours away from officially being on spring break and i cant wait. i'll be super busy throughout the week next week, but i'll be doing things that are actually fun for a change! Sunday after work, i'll be at Sundae. Monday: some much needed shopping, then i'll be at Back2Basics. Tuesday: hair, nails, all that girly stuff, and that night, it's off to SUPERDOPE! which will double as a pre-bday gathering. Wednesday: recovery/relaxation. thursday's my bday: dinner with C! friday im working :/ gotta earn back some of that money ill be blowing. and here's the grand finale: saturday, mommy's coming to Philly!!! we're gonna hang out all day, do the mommy-daughter thing, then go out to dinner. other exciting news this month: Alice Smith is coming to Philly on the 28th and yup, i'll be there with one of my favorite people. and two days later? as if this month couldn't get any better? Erykah Badu's album drops.

Erykah Badu - Window Seat

Here's a song from her upcoming album, New Amerykah Part 2: Return of the Ankh, out March 30th!!!

Window Seat

On the TV right now: Jerry Springer - My Girlfriend Is A Pimp. [sigh] it's either this trash, or Star Trek, or infomercials. I've had a long, stressful day. why not watch these people make fools of themselves and beat each other up, to feel better about my life.

I'm not sure why I'm up. I woke up around 8am, had class at 11am, worked on a project, went to work from 4pm-1030pm, then went to SUPERDOPE! until 1230am. i should be knocked OUT. and the chicken i just had from Crown, isn't sitting too well with my stomach. oh by the way, i'm eating chicken again. i know Crown isn't the best place to go for quality food, but nothing else is open at this time of night.

ill post the pics soon. im too tired right now

Launch Party

Last night was the first Friday night in a longggggg time that I didn't work. I requested off because The Liberator Magazine had a launch party for its Philly Style Issue. I did the fashion shots, including the cover photo, for this issue. I was ecstatic. This is the first time my work has been published in print outside of a school publication. And the first time my work has been blown up and displayed. Afterwards we went to MINT in Old City for a friend's friend's birthday party. It wasn't anything amazing, but it felt good to just be out and relaxing for once instead of working.

I hope the restaurant isn't too crazy tonight. A lot of people are coming out for Valentine's Day tonight even though it's actually tomorrow. I'll be working a double shift tomorrow, but I'm excited to see what C got me. I'm not big on the whole capitalist, over-hyped, made-up, holiday, but I do like it when he's romantic.




current obsession: Adele

Sade

I'm unfortunately watching 106th & Park. C has it on because Sade is performing and he is obsessed with her. The last time I watched this show, I must've been about 14. I'm surprised they even have Sade on the show. The songs that these kids listen to today are so sad. I know I'm only 23, and I sound like an old lady saying that. I guess I just developed an appreciation for real music at a young age.

Scranton WHAT?!!

Why I LOVE The Office

Baby I Got Your Money

For some reason, the guy who lives below me LOVES to blast his music really loud. i love music, and im all about crankin up the tunes and rockin out every now and then. But he takes it to the extreme. I mean, i can feel the vibrations through the floor. Today he decided to play "I Got Your Money" by ODB, and I couldn't help but laugh. So i googled it, cuz i couldn't think of the title, and came upon some covers of it on YouTube. This was too funny not to share:

Listen to the entire thing. it gets funnier as it goes along, especially the talking at the end.


Then i watched the original, and it's so ridiculous, i had to post it too:

some music

got a couple links from Joel today. i think you'll like 'em:

http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684643780030530

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHyka7Hfhs

back

it's been 3 months. let's see, let's see, what's happened. i started a new job, and so far, so good. basically, i've just been working a lot. and trying to cherish what little time i have left before classes start. i spent Christmas in Boston of course and wish that i could've stayed longer. but it's ok i was there for the past few days, and i'm on my way back to Philly right now :/

i had to work new years eve and new years day, which sucked, but that's the industry.

my new years resolutions: take better care of myself (less junk food, more exercising), be more focused on my career goals (manage my time, seek more opportunities for growth), love and support C in every way possible.

right now im reading Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones, my favorite author! C got it for me for Christmas and i'm excited because i've read his other 2 books and i've been dying to read this one for a longggg time. im almost done with it.