Category — Raves

Around the time of Michael Jackson’s death last year, I was a member of a fan forum. They were discussing his music and a member said she didn’t understand the meaning of “keep up with the french toast/ don’t stop till you get enough.”

I haven’t stopped laughing since, and every time I hear that song, I hear french toast. Dammit.

So much to say. Not enough space, no words are special enough, no sentiment could accurately describe my heart today. I think I have been listening/dancing to Michael Jackson my entire life. I was in love with him throughout most of my preteen years. I even once got in trouble because my mom sent me to the BX  (Base Exchange, like a convenience store on the Air Force Base) to buy some stockings to wear to church. I came home with about 5 magazines with Michael Jackson on the cover. She. was. furious. “You can’t wear Michael Jackson on your legs!”

I remember that his death hit me but not particularly hard until I saw Janet. Until I saw her struggle to compose herself. Until I saw her quiet, reserved voice and saw her lip tremble. At that moment, I remembered the first few hours and days after Joe died. The fog rolls in and sits there for weeks. The news is unbelievable. You think you’re dreaming and seriously cannot wait to wake up. But it’s real. The baby of the family, the most favorite one, the one everyone doted on and paid attention to… was gone. I remember being full of regret and thoughts of  what if I had called him more and what if I had done this or that? It was all for naught. What happened was what happened and what hurts is that you just know, for sure, from the bottom of your heart, that you’ll never see them again. I sat that night and watched Janet try to convey her feelings to the world and… the words would never be enough.

During May, while doing Walk It Out, there was a song that I would skip to when I wanted a good beat and needed a boost of energy. “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” pushed me around another corner. Up another hill. Made me take the long way. Directed me another lap around the building. It became a bit of a mantra, to me. I didn’t want to stop until I had enough.

From time to time, on my drive home, I’ll hear some Michael. As sad as I am that he’s gone, hearing his music on the radio brings a smile to my face. Yes, I am girl in the Camry with Shake Ya Body Down to the Ground or  Beat It blasting from my speakers and car dancing. What’s it to ya?!

I cannot believe it’s been a year. Rest in Peace, Michael. Thank you for sharing your art, your passion, your dreams. Thank you for your legacy. Thank you for being the soundtrack to my life, and influencing so many of the artists that I love. And, finally, thank you for the memories.

It has happened. I have met HotPants Dave and it was faaaabulouuuusss… He is SO sweet and personable and down to earth. He spent a couple of minutes telling us about himself. Dave went to art school and studied illustration. Wanted to work for Disney more than anything, so when he got a job as a visual merchandiser, he thought it would be great but it was really just moving things around and not creating. He worked his way through a few departments at Disney, learning to sculpt and paint and draw outside of his usual genre. He was living in Orlando, working where he could work, until his roomate saw an ad for HGTV’s Design Star and he applied. At the time, it was not announced that it would be a reality show. Designers applied, viewers voted online, easy and subdued.

THEN he found out that Design Star was a reality show, and he had to move to New York for 5 weeks! He went through the process, did his best, thought it’d be a quick and dirty thing, and ended up winning. That, as they say, was all she wrote and we now have his hit TV show Colorsplash which has just filmed it’s 3rd season and was renewed for a 4th!

Dave answered tons of questions on color as the spokesman for Mythic paints. People were encouraged to bring photos and have questions. I love that he took each question seriously and asked a lot of followup questions — what mood are you going for, how much light does the room get, do you want to be brave with color? And he was also honest in that you don’t always need a ColorSplash– if you spend a ton of money on expensive materials, you probably want a classy, muted look, not something bold and bright. I watch HGTV a LOT (for a young person) so I loved hearing his advice and seeing the photos that people brought. Great turn out, the room was full.

Below are some photos and video! You can’t really hear him but who cares? ARMS!!!

Um. I’m sorry, people. I HAVE to tell you about this and I HAVE to be kind of ridiculous about it.

Five years ago I saw the most incredible movie ever, which is saying a lot because I am not huge on movies. I don’t own DVD’s and I don’t really watch movies unless they come on cable. I have a short span of attention and the commercial breaks (plus the amusing profanity voice-overs- What the french, toast?? LOL! ) break movies up into digestible parts for me. And so, I was saying, five years ago, I saw Crash, starring…..a whole buncha awesome people, and one of them became a new favorite of mine- Chris “Ludacris”  Bridges. SIGH.

Since I worked in radio, I knew Ludacris by his music. I didn’t even realize that he was in the movie until I saw him on the screen. You’d never know he was new to acting. I kinda sorta fell in like and have been a Luda Fangirl ever since. I’ve tried to follow his career from a respectable distance, but I do own most if not all of his albums and follow him on Twitter. I’ve eaten at his restaurant Straits Atlanta (if you haven’t gone, GO. Everything I put in my mouth from the pre dinner drank to the champagne sorbet for dessert was to. die. for.) and I follow the work he does with the Ludacris Foundation. Many people don’t know that Luda gives back to his community, hand over fist, all year long. From giving kids haircuts, school supplies and new shoes every year to a Christmas in July celebration he has coming up, Luda loves the kids!

This week is the Atlanta Film Festival, and last night Ludacris hosted a showing of the film Crash and hosted a Q&A after. It. was. spectacular. I own probably 5 DVDs. Crash is one of them (Pride and Prejudice parts 1&2 are the others, and I have an *NSYNC DVD, shut up). LOVE this movie. I’ve seen it about six times now and every time I watch it, I notice something different. The cast is fantastic, the message is great and still so relevant and it also made me LOVE Matt Dillon and Ryan Phillipe… how great were they?? And how did I not notice that the woman that played Dori’s mother was Counselor Troi on Star Trek? GAH.

After the film was the Q&A. First? Dude is fine. FINE FINE FINE! I love that he took his braids out a few years ago. LOVE that he was wearing a suit (I love a man in a suit). I love the sound of his voice. Holy… ugh.

So, a few mins after he started talking, some people moved and sat right in front of me  >_< <— grump face so I couldn’t get more pics. He was handsome and personable and warm, not at all PC, and very gracious. He’s so incredibly humble as well and passionate about the things he does.  (And his new album Battle of the Sexes is available in stores and on iTunes (pluggityplug ) – my fave track is Sexting. SO. MUCH. FUN.)

He talked about what making this movie meant to him– it was really his first foray into a major picture with major stars, and a project that so many people wanted to be a part of. All of the actors took union scale just to be in the film. He told some funny stories about a confrontation with Kevin Bacon and how Samuel L Jackson didn’t know who he was until he presented Luda with an award at the SAG Awards for Crash. Hilarious story!

When he was asked how he felt about his lines in the film, about his character saying, ‘hip hop is just a bunch of mumbling idiots’, he said he strives to be different, to make sure everyone can understand every word that comes out of his mouth, because hip hop is a movement and it’s part of our history. He was also asked if his daughter, Karma, said she wanted to go into music, what would he tell her? He said he would make sure she knew what she was gettng into, whatever she said she wanted to do. When she found out the real picture, the real story, and how much hard work goes into what he does, if she wants to stay in the game, she’s welcome to it. She won’t get his support, though, until she’s run through the crash course and really dug in to find out what it’s all about, whether it’s Clown College or being a Singer or joining the Circus. It should make her happy. Period.

I was SO excited to go, and really nervous that only five people would show and that Luda would bail. Not at all… he was on time and alert and willing to stay and answer questions.  The theater was full and he showed up and I’m SO HAPPY I went! There was an afterparty at his restaurant, but I was sure it would be groupie city, and I didn’t feel like paying for parking, and it was after 10, and there is nothing at Straits but trouble for my diet plan at this stage. Not like I would have been able to sit near him anyway, so it wasn’t worth it to me to go there.

Oh! pictures! They are crappy cameraphone pics, but if I see some good ones online I’ll post them, too.

Random Q- why are movie theaters always so COLD?!  I was wearing a jacket and was SHIVERING. It was ridiculously cold!

Wow. I’m saddened to hear the news that Dixie Carter, most famous for her role as the feisty, spicy, preachy Julia Sugarbaker, has died at the age of 70.

I was a faithful Designing Women fan, never missed it in original runs and watched it in syndication with my mom for years. I was obsessed with the southern gentility of these women and at the time I was naive enough to think that all Atlantans were like the ladies that sat around this tastefully classy mansion-cum-design firm.  I think, even back then, I knew I wanted to live in Atlanta. There was something delightfully antebellum about them all, and since I’ve recently discovered I am a fan of historical fiction, I guess DW sort of fits the bill. It was so very Gone With the Wind.

I identified most with Suzanne, the former beauty queen who lost so much of her identity when she gained weight. Charlene was always adorably trustful and wide eyed with a soft voice and lovely accent. I always thought of her as the South’s answer to Golden Girl’s Rose Nyland. I loved Mary Jo, struggling single mother trying to raise two kids the right way (one of my favorite epis is when Mary Jo was trying to decide if she should get breast enhancements. Hilarious!). The world was introduced to Meschach Taylor (I’m sure I butchered his name!) as Anthony, a delivery driver with a heart of gold and a checkered past, and who was just as much a part of the family as everyone else was. And as much as I really cannot stand Julia Duffy (she is the same person in every. single. show. UGH), I must admit she did a stand-up job playing the character we despise and hate to love, Allison Sugarbaker (who would come after Delta Burke left the show).

No other character, at least in my mind, was more loved or revered or quoted than Dixie Carter’s Julia Sugarbaker. She was beautiful and sexy and yet matronly. She commanded and received respect, often issuing her famous minutes long diatribes (LORD how did she memorize them!?) without so much as a foul word. There are times when I am caught up in a conflict and Julia Sugarbaker comes to mind. It is, indeed, a highly desired skill to give a dress-down, exposing your true feelings of upset and disappointment without so much as a crass word. Most times, she never even raised her voice. I know with me, if I’m not yelling and screaming, I’m not just mad. It goes so much deeper than mad…I’m furious. It’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for!

There’s been this recurring “Have You Seen My Childhood” theme going around in my head for the last two years, as the world has lost entertainers that we grew up with (we as in, us people in our 30′s and 40′s, not you young whippersnappers) and those who are my age and younger.  I still can’t believe we said goodbye to the legendary Michael Jackson and the lovely Farrah Fawcett on the same day. Corey Haim, Brittany Murphy, and DJ AM should all still be here with us, but they’re gone.  Bea Arthur and Patrick Swayze hit especially hard.

Dying is a part of life, a part of the cycle. I get that. I don’t know these people… I get that too. I also get that film and television and movies make it a point to insinuate themselves into our lives, to become a part of us, to wind themselves into our very fabric. The characters, the notes, the lyrics become our friends, our confidantes. We feel like we know them. We feel close to them. They aren’t real, to us… so we never imagine that they’ll go away. So when they’re gone, we miss them more because never imagined life without them. In our minds, they’d always be there. To me, it speaks to the fallibility of humans. Death makes celebrities real people. They live. And they die.

I leave you with one of my absolute favorite Julia moments.  She was always such a supportive Mama Bear, coming to the aid of the less stable but just as spicy sister. In this clip, Julia talks about the real ‘Night the lights when out in Georgia‘. My favorite part is when Suzanne overhears Julia giving this beauty pageant contestant that had talked about her sister a … talking to. What a proud moment it must be to hear someone you love sing your praises!

Rest in Peace, Ms. Sugarbaker. Give ‘em hell, up in heaven.

Hello there blog people. How ya’ll doin’?

It’s been a slow one at Chez Curvy. To be honest, I kinda like it that way. Too much to do, too busy, not enough  time stresses me out. I’m more of a ‘let’s see what’s up’ kinda lifer. So, it’s been nice.

I’ve been reading all your blogs, though. And I do mean ALL YOUR BLOGS.  I probably haven’t commented, either because I’m really too lazy to go thrugh the motions or  just can’t think of anything helpful to say and ‘hi’ just doesn’t seem to cut it, or because I don’t have time to say what I really want to say but I always intend to go back later and then I forget because I need some gingko biloba.

I must follow hundreds of blogs in my reader. Nothing brings me greater joy than opening my RSS Reader and seeing so many new posts from everyone. I am sad when my reader is empty (subliminal message: If you haven’t updated in awhile, GET TO IT!) I’m not sure when I got so into reading blog (maybe when I started writing one two?) but I adore it. I love to read about people like me- readers, writers, lovers of life, friends, people who live in Atlanta, black/ mulitcultural. Not big on gossip and entertainment blogs, since I don’t pay attention to most of what’s out there. It’s gibberish, to me.

Do you read a blog that you think I should be reading? Someone who is both prolific and profound? Introspective and yet extroverted? Fun and creative? Dedicated, with lots of drive? Or just downright deliciously naughty? Yes, I am a mild freak. I know you’re surprised. Lower your eyebrows.

But I want MOAR! So, Rec me! Point me to some bloggers that you can’t live without. I may have already pillaged your blogroll but recommend away, for the other readers who want to pick up some new material.

What, me??? OOOH.  Some new blogs I am enjoying the heck out of:

Vibrations of a Vixen -NSFW, seriously, but she is delightful. Probably my complete and total opposite but I love. it.

My Vivid Green Eyes I’d tell you she’s the best bestie in the West but she’ll tell you herself, so… *shrug*

Scale Junkie- I took the plunge and rejoined the Healthy You Challenge that I was on in 2007-208. Made a HUGE difference in my life, and I found a lot of great weight loss blogs to follow as well. Check out my first progress report  under New Life Tuesday!

Nicole is Better – I don’t even know what to say about Nicole, except that if you like Vixen, you’ll love Nicole. ’nuff said.

The Beautiful Struggler- Sometimes we need someone to tell the truth. And not be nice about it.

Awesomely Luvvie- Creator of the Red Pump Project. Her twitter and blog posts have me ROLLING. FREQUENTLY.

Critique This- a new blog for writers, about writing. I love writing blogs that talk about WRITING. Nothing against those who are at the point of being published, looking for an agent/editor/publishing house… I’m just not there. Back the truck up, and let’s talk about writing. LOVE this new blog.

WriteMeg- this girl is my book reading HERO. She must read three or four books at a time, and reviews every single one. I’m hoping that someday I’ll see her name on a book spine, but until then, I’ll be reading this blog and picking up book recommends.

I should rec myself. My writing blog is much slower than this one but I am trying to get back into the swing of things over there. I write about writing, working my current pieces, what my goals are,  trials and tribulations and also accomplishments. It’s mostly for me but for grins and giggles, if you want to take a gander, it’s at The Sweet Escape. Don’t laugh at my fanfiction, yo.

I think that’s it for today. We’ll save some for our next Rec session.

It’s your turn now…. GO!

I don’t normally (or I try not to) blog twice a day, but I didn’t want to wait to post this!

The Blogosphere has recognized my greatness and bestowed an award upon me. This award comes to me from Heart and Hairspray, one of my fellow LadyBloggers. Gaze upon it:

I’d like to thank Jesus, my momma, my manager, and the 238 people  searching for blackberries that keep finding my blog.  WTF, I have ONE post on my blackberry.

According to the rulez, I have to state 7 things that people might not know about me. And tag 7 people. Uh. Okay.

1. I never tag people. *eep* I know, I’m a rebel.

2. I am a military brat. I have lived in OK, TX, CA, SD, IN, WA and GA. Most of those places I lived before I turned 12. My father retired at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA. I left Spokane 15 years later and moved to Georgia by myself. Best thing I could have ever done.

3. I have been at my current job the longest I have ever been at a job… since 2004. Technically, it’s with a family of companies so while my job title has changed, I’ve worked with just about the same people for 6 years. Wow. I think I am an adult, or something.

4. I graduated with a degree in Interpersonal Communication Studies. That means I can ask, ‘would you like fries with that’ with a deep compassion, understanding, and deference to other cultural, gendered, or nationality or relational differences. I was supposed to be an English teacher. I got to college, looked at the main coursework for an Ed major, said “eff that, Comm Studies looks fun!” And it was. I loved loved loved Communication Studies. I wish I’d opted for a more specific track like Public Relations or Journalism. I could have, but with IP you got to take all of the classes with none of the Internships. I regret not doing an internship.

5. I minored in Teaching English as  Second or Foreign Language, spurred by my experience with  a Japanese roomate my freshman year and working with English Language programs at my University.  While I excelled in it, my ego was trampled upon when I applied to work abroad and didn’t get the job. All my co-workers did, though. I pretty much figured I sucked at it, and decided I didn’t want to teach. Because being an Executive Assistant is so where it’s at, ya’ll. :|

6. Watashi wa nihongo ga sukoshi dake hanashimasu. Translation:  I speak a little Japanese. I took a year of it in college. Got a 4.0. I’ve always loved languages- I took 3 years of Spanish in high school. Sometimes when I watch Telemundo, I can almost understand what’s going on. When I go to the Dominican salon to get my hair done, sometimes I eavesdrop. I’m nowhere near bi-lingual or multi-lingual but being curious about other languages has come in very handy. And I can also say, excuse me, which direction is the bathroom (Ano sumimasen ga. Oteari wa dochira desuka?), which, you know… is a phrase people should really learn in any language  Ah, I miss Japanese.

7. Man, that elusive number 7. It should be a good one… let me think, let me thiiiiinnnnkkkk. I have no idea. Uhm. I like underripe bananas? Especially if they’re really cold.  I don’t know, people! The pressure. I buckled.

So like I said, I normally don’t tag people, let alone 7 of them, but I think Tex and Green Eyes and Becky would actually do it. SO DO IT.  And link back! YAY.

*curtsy*

I love these music survey things. I have so much stuff on my iPod that I forgot I a) liked and b) actually added. Oy. Let’s see what we’ve got:

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Lollipop (Mika) …Uhm. Well. Lickable…???  I don’t know.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A BOY?
9 to 5  (Dolly Parton) .. Yeah after about 8 hours…. get out.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
The Bad Guys Always Die  (Eminem) ….I don’t know if I’m the bad guy or…..???  But at least Dre is on this track?

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Tender Love  (Force MD’s) …If only you knew how funny this was. And how I have no idea who Force MD’s are. A musical troupe of physicians? *shrug*

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
How Can I Fall (Breathe) …Kind of appropriate. I do all my own falling. it’s a skill. I find a new way to fall everyday.  And WOW this song is old!

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Cherish  (Kool& The Gang)  …I might be a little egotistical but of my real friends, I’d say this is true. Okay, acquaintances, too.

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Captain  (Dave Matthews Band) … I guess so. I’m the strong one. Big Mike is the ‘avoider’.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
True Colors  (Cyndi Lauper) …I love this song. It kind of makes me cry. And it’s actually pretty true. A lot of times I wonder if people are like… really real with me. Is that you, or the you that you want me to see, or know? I’m real. Are you?

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
All I Need  (Jack Wagner) … I just wrote it down.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
River of Dreams (Billy Joel)  …Hm. Not quite GreenEyes but uhm… I could make it work…

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Next Time I Fall (Peter Cetera/ Amy Grant) … Yeah, I’m always talking about the next time I fall in love. Like, all day it’s all I talk about. *rolleyes* But yeah. I’ll know better what to do. Keep my effing mouth shut.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
What Love Is  (Mary J Blige) … I don’t like this meme all of a sudden

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Coming Up (Paul McCartney) …I don’t like anyone but it’d be nice to have someone on deck!

WHAT WILL/DID YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Bootylicious (Destiny’s Child)  …Uhm. I seriously don’t think anyone can handle this jelly. But OMG how fun would this be for my bridesmaids…. in their frilly ugly fuschia knee length taffeta and glittery open toed sandals…. yeah. Picture it, ya’ll. My Big Fat Bootylicious Wedding. I don’t think you can handle this…

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Every Little Step (BOBBAY!  Bobby Brown) …I was just talking about Mr Brown yesterday. It’d be appropriate.  I’d like to be wearing the little red bike shorts he’s wearing in this video.

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
I Wanna Have Some Fun  (Samantha Foxx) … We’re probably not talking about the same kind of fun. *blank stare* Maybe.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
The Boy from Ipanema (Diana Krall) …Actually if the boy was holding a snake, or he was pushing me out of a plane, I’d be scared.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Nite And Day (Al B Sure) …Yes. I have a prominent unibrow. And…. I feel better having admitted it to the world.

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Nothin’ But A Good Time (Poison) … And no more Brett Michael’s Reality Shows

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Take a Chance on Me (ABBA) …I just think this song rocks. And so do my friends.  *dances*

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Bust a Move (Young MC) …HA! I love it. I met Young MC once, back in the day when I was a radio girl. Nice, nice, nice guy. Very intelligent.

Ah, that was fun. *Rewinds to Bootylicious again*

I love that Stevie Nicks is playing guitar on this song. Love love love her! And love the MJ tribute!

Anyone who’s known me for longer than five minutes will tell you that I’m a big fan of two bands: Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews Band. I’ve been a fan of Bon Jovi since I was about……God, I don’t know, TWELVE?!? New Jersey and Slippery When Wet were the anthem of my Jr High and High School years. Just the beginning strains of ‘Never Say Goodbye’ is enough to make me GO BUY a Bic Lighter so I could flip my bic and sway and sing/cry along. Gah. I love them! And Bon Jovi has just gotten so much better with age, evolving and changing with the times. LOVE their new rocky, gravelly, southern sound…grrrooowwwllll…. NUM.

DMB, on the other hand, was an acquired taste. I didn’t like them, at first. At all. Too mellow, too sleepy, I can’t understand a word that one cute guy up front says, he mumbles too much and that guy is playing an electric fiddle. COME ON. So they were a big fat NO, until I got a job working with a guy that… now when I say LOVES, that’s probably a major understatement… but he LOVES DMB. Owns everything they’ve ever thought of recording, goes to every show he can attend, and has for years. A real true-blue honest to goodness fan. One year, our company sent him, me, and one other guy (one of his besties, coincidentally) to a conference in Orlando. MOST fun I’ve ever had at a work conference. The days sucked, cause it’s just traveling from one booth to another, looking at boring things I have no intention of buying or even research when I get back to the office, but the nights? Awesome.

It was in Orlando in the spring, so it was warm. They rented a convertible and since I don’t drink much, I was nominated the Designated Driver. No big, I got to drive a convertible around Orlando and sit with these guys who put the FUN in funny. I was told I am the funnest non-drinker ever. At some point over the weekend, I was inducted into the DMB fandom. Love those guys. [Read more →]

…on my own blog. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it. It was there, and I was tempted, and it was interesting. I’m sorry baby. It won’t happen again!

One of my Real Life Friends (as opposed to my friends hat only live inside the computer) runs a blog called Journey to Blissville and goes by the name of Tex. Cause… she lives in Texas. Clever, huh. We do so love Tex and her penchant for foods I cannot pronounce, her happy-go-lucky-and-excited-about-every-damn-thing nature… even if she s annoyingly cheerful.  Tex created the phrases I repeat often, like “Damn Hondurans” (she’s Honduran, that’s not random), “living in Dick Cheney’s America” (it’s hard, according to Tex), and “Al Gore’s Internets” (which isn’t new but I didn’t start saying it till she did). Tex is one of the three bandits… KFlo and Tex and I run Houston ragged.  I hear you laughing, blog. We went to a strip club once. It sucked, but we went.

AN-T-WAY. This blog isn’t even about Tex. It’s about her blogroll. She’s such a vibrant person that any friend (or blog)  of  Tex is a friend (or blog) I want to meet (or read). I sauntered down her blogroll one day and came to a GREAT blog called He Loves Me Not, the story of Sarah and her journey from broken and broken hearted to a major personal success story.

I’d been reading bits and pieces, here and there as new posts came up in my Google Reader, but I became more and more confused because I didn’t know the history behind some of the current posts. So this weekend, I took it alllllllllllll the way back. To 2005.  And oh. [Read more →]

I think I’m officially an adult. I like a household item. I like a LOT of them actually. I am saddened to realize I am a grownup.

SoI saw a commercial for Purex 3 in 1 Laundry Sheets on TV and thought they were a good idea, so when I saw them at my recent grocery store trip, I thought I would try them out.

[Read more →]

Just like it’s not summer until I hear Summertime by Will Smith, It’s not Christmas until I hear some Nat King Cole, specifically The Christmas Song.  This song, the entire Christmas album, actually, reminds me so much of home. My dad has a vintage Reel to Reel system, and every Christmas he’d put on the Nat King Cole and we’d listen to the entire album while opening presents and having breakfast, talking and such. In later years we replaced it with the CD of Christmas songs from Nat King Cole and every year, like clockwork, it’s playing when I call.

Every year since 2004 I have opted to stay here in Georgia over Christmas. Travel across the country is too expensive (yes, I plan ahead. It’s just too expensive!), and winter is mighty cold in Spokane. And there isn’t much to do and I no longer remember how to drive in snow and ice. No matter how cold I think I it is here,  it’s always worse there, so I’m thankful.  But every Christmas I make sure to listen to some Nat King Cole and call my parents and wish them a  Merry Christmas. It just helps me to feel more like I’m at home.

And then I pig out. Kidding. No, I’m really not.   Here’s some Mr. Cole for your holiday. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Every year, around this time, gift giving is at the top of mind. Mine, yours, everyone.  I participate in a Secret Santa exchange every year, in which someone draws your name and gets you a gift, but they can’t ask you what you want because they’ll be found out. Hence the name SECRET SANTA, not ‘I drew your name, whatcha want‘ Santa. So in order to make it easier on our santas, we often do quizzes and surveys, in the hopes that our Santa is reading what we write and some grand idea will pop into her (cause really, it’s usually a ‘her’ that’s shopping) head and she’ll get us something fabulous.

In filling out these surveys and quizzes, it has forced me to try to name things I like. And not just things I like, because most things I like, I’ll buy for myself, but things I LOVE and would LOVE to get as a gift. I don’t know if I’m just not that self aware, but it’s sometimes hard for me to name things I like. I usually sift through Amazon, randomly clicking on things that make me go ‘oooooooooooooh’ until I have a reasonable list of things I would love to unwrap on Christmas morning. In thinking these thoughts, and surfing Amazon, I’ve come up with an idea to blog about my favorite things… mostly because I’m paying to keep this blog up and running and if I don’t blog, I am going to cancel the hosting.

SO. BLOGGING.

Thing Ten, and these are in no particular order, is Pilot Dr Grip Gel Ink pens.

I almost never use anything but gel ink, but when I’m living large, I’m using a Dr Grip. This pen is smooth, so smooth. The barrel is just the right size, the ink writes evenly without ‘scratching’… that is, you can’t ‘hear’ someone writing, like you can with a fine tip pen. The sound grates on my LAST nerve, not to mention the feeling. I am sensory sensitive person. The vibration of a fine tip on paper sends a shiver down my spine. Can’t do it.

Anyway, these pens are my favorite because of three things:

1. Long ink life– I’ve had a Dr Grip last years without needing a refill.
2. Comfort Grip- makes those long meetings where I have to take notes that much more comfy. No burning fingers or indents in my ring finger from the pen.
3. Smooth, classy look- I hate a cheap pen. Hate. Those flimsy bic things drive me nuts. It also retracts, which I also love. It doesn’t have a cap, which means I won’t lose the cap and have to throw the pen away. Oh, yeah… I cannot own a pen that does not have a lid. A matching lid. No lid? No likey.

My favorite pen colors are blue and black. If I need it, red. I do not want pink,purple, orange, green, or any other weird color of ink. Or car, by the way. But ink. Black or blue. Red for correction. I don’t care how kids feel about red. I need a stark contrast and my feelings aren’t hurt and I’m not depressed about my own shortcomings by looking at red ink. *shrugs*

So, that was Thing 10! Stay tuned for Thing 9! Do you have a favorite writing utensil? Do you prefer pencil? Dixon Ticonderoga, or mechanical? Do you use a quill and a bottle of ink? Blood? Tell me about it!

used without permission from flickr.com

Oh, Blog. I am home.

I am home from Holiday Partay Number One. I……………..did not want to go.

I really debated with myself as to if I was actually going to go. Around 3:00 I laid down for a nap, so I could be awake and alert. At 6:00 I woke up and did. not. want. to. leave. the house! I sat here till about 7:00 and made myself get up and get dressed. I have a sheer, frilly Apple Bottoms blouse that I wore awhile back when some friends were here. Put it on and a tank under it, some dark jeans and heeled boots. Then I happened to be checking my hair in the mirror, and it turns out that blouse has a huge rip in it.

WOW. I was so close to not noticing it and embarrassing myself.

So I changed. And did my hair and my makeup and found my earrings and got in the car and got to the party. It’s an annual thing, all of boss’s friends, Our CIO, CFO, and the infamous VP of Sales as well as the CEO of one of our subsidiaries. Everyone’s in black… I’m in like.. maroon. Everyone’s wearing slacks and dresses. I’m in jeans.

I don’t really give a rip. Lol.

I had been there about an hour, schmoozing and nursing a diet coke (YAY they had soda, and this yummy funkychunky popcorn drizzled with chocolate and mixed with nuts stuff… OMG. CRACK.) and they start handing out assignments for the 12 Days of Christmas. What’s funny about this is most people have been there since 7. There’s food and drink and music. Executives + Open bar = drunk by 9. So the 12 Days of Christmas with drunk people is actually kind of funny. They hand out each verse to the song so whoever has, you know… however many maids a milking (I’m too lazy to ask Al Gore’s Internet) gets to sing that part. Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive Golden Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!

Then one of the partygoers and I got into a chat about last year’s party. She and a friend got a lil tipsy and decided to find out which floor Elton John lived on. So they pressed every button in the elevator until they found it. Walked around up there (there’s a vestibule before you get to the actual front door). He has a lot of art and it’s painted a weird grayish color. Those Brits. ;)

So it was fun. Not a rager, but I’m glad I ventured out, if only for a few hours. Now I am home and warm and in bed, munching on some Cheetos and having a Sunkist, waiting to watch my favorite show right now, Criminal Minds. Have you see this show? UGH! If you’re into CSI and the like, check it out. Faaaaaavorite and yes that is Thomas Gibson from Darma and Greg! He does a fabulous job as Hotch. I also enjoy Shemar Moore as Morgan and Matthew Gubler as Reid and Mandy Patinkin as Jason Gideon. I miss him. Joe Mantegna does nothing for me.

Okay, I’m done rambling. You’d think I had a drink or something.

Before I go, I’ve decided that in order to make myself blog, I am going to make a list of 10 of my favorite things and write about them. That oughta be FUN, huh? Yeah.

It’s a MUSIC Edition! ( I always answer in the comments)

iTunes Five

1. What song do you play the most?
2. What song do you play the least?
3. What’s the last song you added?
4. What’s your favorite playlist?
5. What kind of iPod (or MP3 player) do you have?

Remember this scene, from Office Space?

I’m feelin’ some kinda way like that, with regard to this little space I call my online home. I SO want to blog. I really want to be deep and introspective, and I want to say things that people repeat, and I want to affect lives and bring change or at least bring some laughs and let people know they aren’t alone and aren’t (totally) nuts.

Blog posts write themselves in my head, all day. Sometimes I say things out loud, in the car or at work and think ‘man, I should blog that’. I just never get around to  it. And then I get here and I can’t think of a damn thing to say. And then I look and see when was the last time I had anything to say, and it’s been so long that I simply confirm to myself that I have nothing to say, and close the page.

I can’t bring myself to get rid of this blog, though. I really feel like I need to put effort toward putting my feelings out there, saying my piece, speaking my mind.

So, maybe a list:

1. I like my job but I’m worried about it. Constantly. There are no signs that I’m losing my job, or anything. My boss seems to like me, a lot. I feel empowered and valued and valuable. I just…. I worry all the time about things like this.

2. The ‘Maintenance Required’ light is already on, in the car. What in the effing eff? It better not be expensive. I haven’t even NAMED the car. Just made my first car payment and my first increased insurance payment (the diff between insurance on the hooptie and the newbie), finally got my plate and tags n’ such on. She is officially MINE. I don’t want no trouble!

3.  Johnny Depp is the Sexiest Man Alive? Really? Sorry kids, I love Johnny but he always looks like he needs a shower, to me. Just my opinion, but he’s aight. I do have much different tastes than most of the people I know, though.

4.  Sammy Sosa and his excuse that he used a moisturizing cream and it lightened his skin can kick rocks. Like I said the other day on twitter:  I love me some Bon Jovi and Duran Duran and Nsync. I also love my color and my heritage and my culture. The TODAY show did a special on people who lighten their skin, on purpose.  I’m pretty sure I’m naive on this front (and many others)  but OHMYGOD, PEOPLE DO THIS ON PURPOSE? Because they don’t want to be “dark”?  I just… I can’t.

5. Mothers who sell their children into prostitution for drugs who are now HIV positive and pregnant… I can’t. I cannot listen to a word of what was done to precious Shaniya. I’m devastated whenever a child is missing and then found dead. My heart just cries at the thought. I want everyone who even thought of being involved to burn in hell. >insert Sam Jackson face from a Time to Kill.

6. I’m doing NaNoWriMo. This stands for National Novel Writing Month. I hit the minimum 50,000 word goal. I haven’t finished the story. When I finish it, I’ll let ya’ll know. I’d say it’s about 50 to 60 % done, and since I hit the word goal I’m already a WINNAH so I don’t feel a ton of pressure to finish the thing in November. Though I do really want to.  Oh, you want a synopsis? Well. *blush*.  Alright.

My story is called Same Time Next Week and it is loosely based on the film Same Time NextYear, about an adulterous couple who meet one weekend a year for 26 years. Except my story is about a couple who meet once a week, who are both running away from something and use each other to escape. They have every intention of keeping it casual– outside of the one day a week they get together, they don’t talk or text or spend time with each other. They let things build and then spend their time together— together. The more time they spend with each other, the closer they get and the more they want something more than casual, but there are secrets  that have to be told and pasts that have to be faced and bared in order for that to happen. Neither side is willing to trust completely and risk the other not accepting them for who they truly are. What could turn into a perfect match is threatened when one secret explodes into existence in the worst way possible. Will a shocking revelation tear them apart, or bring them together? Dun dun duuunnnnn. Yeah, I dunno. I’ll let ya’ll know when it’s done.

7. I haven’t lost any weight. I haven’t been back to any of the dance classes. I’m lazy and a slacker. I haven’t gained any weight, but I haven’t lost any either. I’m seriously considering getting some kind of help. I don’t know what kind, but it doesn’t involve surgery. And really, I’m just going to be blunt. I don’t want suggestions.

8. I MAY be addicted to Twitter. Here’s the thing: I don’t really care. So, there it is.

9. I don’t date. The reasons are varied and various and I just don’t have the energy to go into it right now, but that will be a future blog post. Maybe. Meh. I doubt anyone is concerned about why an overweight nerdy homebody doesn’t date… seems like that question answers itself, doesn’t it?

10. I’m following a couple of cool chicks on twitter, who blog, so I wanna pimp ‘em because I love them. They make me want to be a better blogger:

Mocha Momma

Tex in the City

The Bloggess

The Single Dame (for the grown and sexy, only! )

okay. My boss is like ‘do this, do that, wake up,’ and stuff, so I’m out. Have a super day, blog and COMMENT. I want to know what you think about what I think and we can talk and discuss. What do you want to hear about? Do you like me? Do you think I’m pretty?

You don’t have to answer the last two. I’m just playin’.

Unless you’re gonna do it……..