Oh the places you will go!

The last 2 weeks have been ridic! I've decided to really work hard on my "Resolutions" this time around. And to get things started I decided to jump head first into traveling! It's what the 2nd or 3rd week of January and I've already been to Toronto, Hampton and New York. Not major-major adventures, but still notable movements none the less. I've also started my new job career related employment. I'm working for NAAM/ VH1's Save the Music Foundation. Yeah, son! Saving music programs in our schools. I'm hype for everything I can learn to hopefully start my own foundation in the near future. Also I get to do my new favorite thing...TRAVEL! What a great perk! I'm headed to Cali this weekend for a training conference so I can finally start learning what I'll be doing for the next 8 months.

Since I'm doing all this running around, I thought I'd leave you with a few joints from my current commuters playlist, I've dubbed the, "Chill Out and Ride" playlist. Hope you enjoy and hopefully will be able to take some of these tunes on your future travels. =D

("Halftime"- Amy Winehouse)

("Wandering Limbs"- Kimbra)

("Ritual Union"- Little Dragon)

("Dirty World"- MeShell Ndegeocello)

("Listen"- J*Davey)

("Turn the Lights Off/ PHD"- J*Davey)

("Sometimes"- Noisettes)

("Lady Brown"- Nujabes feat. Cise Starr)

("D.D"- The Weeknd)

("L.E.S"- Childish Gambino)

Sex and The City (with none of the first)

Man, I really love New York. I need one if those shirts right now. But anywho, I was all up in the concrete jungle this weekend. I was visiting my bffffff, Ryan, who just recently moved up there for grad school. We were supposed to be submerged in a weekend of free muscial amusement atthe Afro-punk festival in Brooklyn, but of course it was cancelled because of that ho, Irene.

So the weekend went a little something like this;

First day:

• Got off the megabus and was greeted by Ryan.
• Got incredibly confused at this 3 story K-mart. Bought snacks to eat and pillows to sleep on.
• Rode the subway to Ryan's place in Harlem. Got pissed that the subway doesn't have escalators like the DC metros.
• Went on a full scale search for a liqour store like a crack fiend. Found it and decided that a $13 handle of rum and some lime flavored SoCo was gonna have to do.
• Went back to the apartment and started drinking. Got on the subway and tipsy-ly sung any and every song that came to our head.
• Walked to Washington Square Park and was indulged by a top notch pianist, a white girl dancing rhythm-lessly to a performance by the rhythm section, a guy and his guitar, a jazz band with a fly Alto sax player a half naked black man in the middle of a fountain and a white couple making love in the water.
• We visited the NYU bookstore then walked around downtown. Ran into this miniature cupcake store, (spending all all the money on nastiness). Walked back to the megabus let-off to pick up our friend Marquis.
• Get back to the apartment. Resumed sippin. Drunk emailed my summer fling that I wanted to be laying on the beach with him ( I must stop doing that) he replied that I should have saved my bus money for New York and visited him instead. I laughed out loud and went to sleep.
• 

Next day:

• Went early morning walking around Harlem before everything closed down because of the storm.
• Stayed inside all day watching/singing songs from Disney movies.
• Played the question game with Quis and Ryan.
• Realized that I'm far from happy and tend to live my life for others. Discovered that relationships are for suckas and drinking Neurogasm can lead to mens inhibitions flying out the window.

On Sunday:

• the effects of cabin fever were settling in.
• I bought a box of blacks from the corner store. Smoked almost 2 and a half by myself on the fire escape.
• had an allergic reaction to something that made me break out in hives. (rolls eyes)
• went back to the corner store to buy a bag of ice. bought it then returned it because who needs ice with shots.
• Still feelin the blacks, I almost threw the bottle of liquor on Ryan because he didn't want to take shots.
• was unreasonably mad so I went on a 50min walk around the neighborhood looking for not only an open store at 11 pm, with ice, but also the ability to tell niggas that I'm pissed off and I don't trust them.
• went back into the house, almost cried in the bathroom.
• sucked it up, took 4 double shots of SoCo and next thing I know emotions went from 0 to 80 in 2.6 seconds.
• Negroes got ignant drunk!
• I hid the handle of rum from my friends, because drinking was turning from fun to reckless and babysitting was not apart of my weekend (or any other time) plans.
• Had a kumbaya powwow were I realized that I love my friends and hate them at the very same time.
• Smoked the rest of the black.
• Watched the lion king, cried during the stampede and started thinking about how I have more trust issuses than Drake.
• Got hella irratated, and went to sleep listening to The Weeknd.

• 

Monday:

• Had a playdate in Central Park.
• Went to Grimaldi's Pizza and ate 2 very delish sausage/pepperoni/basil slices.
• Waited in the longest line ever for the most yummy ice cream from the Shake Shack.
• Got in a fake fight with Ryan.
• Cried because I wanted a taxi to take us to the Megabus pick-up.....but with no money we ended up walking 40 min with a 30 pound duffle bag. -____-
• Got to the bus and threw up on the wrong buses bathroom.
• Hugged Ryan, Got on the bus with Quis
• Put on my head phones, my sunglassess cried cause I missed NY already and fell asleep.
• 

Overall the weekend was amazing and one of the best I've ever had, despite how emotional and what-not. And because you know I hardly never go a post without a song or video...this one sums up the weekend quite well...

"Yes"- Coldplay

Where in the world is Carmen San Diego??

I've been off the map once again (surprise, surprise) But I promise it's for a good reason this time. I'm in South Carolina trying to make that money! Just consider this an extended business trip. I have two jobs lined up currently, and I'm looking for a third. I won't be officially starting untill this weekend so I've been taking these past few weeks to enjoy the wonderful weather and time with my family. I don't have cell service in this here low-country, and I hardly never feel like sitting on a computer for more than the necessary time it takes to check my facebook and e-mail. I've been having constant tea time with my favorite cousin Shemia. And I've been working hard on this Kanye West workout plan. It's been a true struggle with all of this delicious home cooked southern cuisine around ever corner. I swear if my family isn't eating one meal they are preparing for another one! I do love being down here. I really couldn't take DC/MD seriously any more. You know how they always say that if you are surrounded by someone so often you don't have any opportunity to miss or appreciate them? Yeah the DMV is that "someone" I need to get away from, so I can rememeber why I loved it so much, at one time. But until then I'll keep practicing my T.I slur, drinking 4-loko under the car port and learning all the line dances I can remember!

The Beginning of the End

It's the begining of Spring Break and i've already had my fair share of interesting events. Unfortunatley I will be sitting right here in the District for the duration of it. Oh well, I'm not too dissapointed. I need to work so... "I can get my money up!" (said in a wacka flocka voice) But I will take this time to explore the hidden corners of DC. I also want to spend this break doing all the tourist like things I refused to do when I first got here 3 years ago.

Anywhoooooo the love of my life, Sojourner, was killed. Yes I am speaking about my car. My first car. One of the only constant things in my life. I may not know where I stand with certain people but I knew that I could always jump in my car and atleast ride my frustrations away. I did that silly thing where I even named my cute little silver, Dodge Neon. Her name was Sojourner Truth, because I swear we went through EVERYTHING together. We could have travled to the north and back 50 times over because of her will power. I swear I would run her untill her last horsepower ranout. Unfortunately for me, I didn't even get to say goodbye. I chose to allow one of my friends to borrow her and in return she crashed it into another car. Supposedly the breaks gave out and the wheel refused to steer anyway but straight. Weridly enough I had NEVER had a problem with the breaks or steering wheel in my life and had just got a tune-up about a month ago....but I guess things happen *rolls eyes*. It's safe to say that I cried not only because my parents were about to kill me for allowing someone to drive my car without me in it, for even a second, but because I would never see Sojourner again... I must move on to another subject cause the womb is still quite deep.

Anyway it was Howard University's Charter Day 2010 on Friday and the Charter Day Gala Dinner was on Saturday. If there's one thing you can most defintiely count on when it comes to the dinner is that no one will remember what happened during the program but everyone will remember how many cups (or bottles in my case) of wine they drunk. Here's photo vomit for you...

She use to be the sweetest girl

And then I realized that mess was for the birds!! Sometimes in real life you’ll notice that the bad guy always seems to win. No matter what the situation, the person with the most astuteness, manipulation skills and the hardest heart has the tendency to be victorious. For those of us who seem to care more about others and doing the right thing we tend to fall and stay behind and constantly look stupid (for lack of better words). And I’m officially tired of being so complacent.
Major example would be my dealings with my Bisexual, ex-boyfriend Nick. He constantly tries to have my life in the palms of my hand and I’m tired of it. Quick story to bring you up to speed with what I’m constantly forced to deal with:

So earlier this summer was the first major ridiculous dealing I had with him…Soooooo in an attempt to pick up some paperwork from Nick (since we work together we have a lot of back and forth with papers and such), I was forced to go to this boy’s apartment in the eastern Market area. (Keep in mind he knew I was coming!) On arrival I was faced with a pretty unforgettable sight. First off, why you would leave your front door open in the middle of South East, DC is beyond my comprehension but that’s fine. So I took that as an open invitation and walked in. What did I see? A half naked (as in shirt on but NO bottoms, not even an effin thong!) chick sitting on the couch watching effin Yu-Gi-Oh! Because I was so startled all I could do was stand there and ask where Nick was, I guess he heard me because he rushed out some back room not attempting to apologize for the naked broad chilling in his living room. So then the girl, with no shame at all, decided that it was best to get up and walk towards me and ask if she could get me something like a drink. Because I’m still speechless at this time Nick was like, “yea get her a shot glass and some tequila.: and while the girl was accommodating my life he whispers, “so I know this looks awkward but what happened was, her grandfather died and she came over to talk and she was so sad that she took her pants off….”

So for some reason I feel it best to be cordial and I asked the girl what her name was.
Her response: “Jezebel”
My response: “Wasn’t she a prostitute in the bible.”
Her response: “No, that was Mary Magdalene. Jezebel was just a freak.”
My response: “…” (silence)

So then I asked her where she was from
Her response: “What do you mean?”
My response: (imagine my facial expression at this point) “I mean for instance I’m from MD, where do you currently reside?”
Her response: “Oh! I’m from all around the DC urrea (“area” for those not accustomed to the dialect of a DC local).”
My response: “Well that’s lovely”
Nick’s response: “So who’s up for early morning drinking games?”
My response: (in high pitched voice) “Nigga can I get that paperwork because it’s essential I hurry up and get to work”

So I get the papers and walk out the door. Not before telling the still naked “Jezzy “(lol) it was nice to “meet” her and giving Nick the “look of DOOM”.

So that ridiculous story should have of course ended our communication but then it got worst…
So this past weekend was the Maxwell concert in DC. At the end of August, Nick told me bought him and I tickets. So WHY OH WHY do the day before he calls me telling me the game plan for the following evening, and then calls the morning of asking me where we should meet up beforehand? Normal activity for folks about to got a concert, right? BUUUUUT then of course minutes before we are suppose to meet up I get a phone call from him telling me that he’s stuck in Baltimore with one of his friends, 45 min away. Super upset I go home and lay down and then an unfamiliar number calls me. I answer and it’s Nick’s friend that he’s supposedly stuck with. The friend tells me, “Look, I’m not trying to be in the middle of this but I’m letting you know that Nick is really in DC and is taking his BOYFRIEND to the Maxwell concert.”

Oh is he, really? Perfection. So instead of telling me from the beginning that you couldn’t take me you lead me on to the very hour before the show to have your friend tell me that you had no intentions of taking me once your BOYFRIEND found out that you bought tickets for us??? Sir, I would have understood the situation if you had told me like A MONTH AGO! Look you can’t play with a girl’s emotions when it comes to Maxwell!

So when do I let the ridiculous games settle with someone else? Yea about now. I’m tired of playing the used tissue in my ex’s idea of a joke. And if you like to play games then hell, I wanna play too and I’ll do the honors of deal myself in a hand. I’m done getting fooled. It’s a muthafuccinwrap!

If hip hop is dead than it must be Jesus!

I guess I'm happy to say that the reason I haven't updated this thing is because I most definitely have been super busy. And not in the "I'm superbusy cause I'm over worked because the black people (NAACP) make me work 14 hours a day" kind of way. But besides work taking up the majority of the hours in my week, I've finally jumped on this Summer '09 grind. I've been holding this summer up on the highest of pedestles and recently everything seems to be sailing smoothly on the "self happiness" hype. Now that I've re-evaluated some of my friend choices, and how high I rank them in my life, everything else seems to be falling into place.

Soooooo yesturday was the Rock the Bells Concert near Baltimore. I was lucky enough to grab a few tickets through the job. So my best friend and I rode up (hours late), having no idea what to expect, and it was exactly how I pictured it but not exactly how I wished it would be. Due to the "cheapness" of the NAACP, we had lawn tickets meaning that the closest thing to the performers we got was a few giant screens.

And of course in the first 10 min of me finding a lovely place to watch, a random "dance to the words", white lady offered me a hit on her HUGE blunt. This of course forcing Jared and I to find better seats...fast.The amount of drunk/high people made my sobriety very hilarious. I'll just say people watching gave us a few good laughs. But all in all it was a pretty nice time. Common reminded me why I have dreams of procreation with him. Big Boi's performance (being the only person on the tour from the dirrrrty south) was whatever...and The Roooooooooots...It would probably have been better if I was actually near the stage. I still love them, and this only tells me that I HAVE to attend The Roots picnic next year to get their true vibe.

Anyway, we left before Busta Rhymes and Nas's performances, but next year when Rock the Bells comes back we'll mos def have VIP tickets!

After our early dismisal we drove to Columbia Mall to enjoy what was one of the FUNNIEST Movies I've ever seen. Bruno was great. Very offensive, yet so enjoyable. I laughed the entire movie. For a rated-R film the nudity was intense!!! But I won't give anything away...

...and talking about movies...in case you've been locked in a closet for the last year, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE comes out TOMORROW NIGHT, or wednesday morning, depending on if you have a pessimistic mind set. When I saw Twilight last Christmas I'm not ashamed to say, that I was one of the very few people who stood up and clapped after they showed the trailer. I'm pressed in the best type of way. But with the overwhelming excitment I have, I'm also slowly realizing that this is the 2nd to last film, and with the completion of the books, that means a step closer to the realization that my childhood is offically over. ugh....but more about growing pains in the next post...

God save the Queen

The only thing worse than going somewhere you hate is leaving somewhere you love.

My friend Nick and I had the opportunity to visit England for the weekend. Nickolas Gordon. The boy who financed this little weekend excursion to the UK. The dude who also happens to be my ex boyfriend and who seems to want nothing more than to gain an all-access pass of buddy-ship with me. Although buying my friendship is never necessary or safe, the international voyage is definitely earning brownie points for him (as if I would pass up a trip to my homeland).

After hyperventilating for the majority of the 10 hr and 35 min plane ride (which included 4 hours of playing the best card game ever, Phase Ten, with the lovely Chris Martin look alike who sat beside me) we landed in London to the most rain heavy day of my life. Of course I loved the wonderful surprise the humidity and wetness gave my hair, but that was quickly pushed to the back of my mind when I found my best friend waiting for Nick and me at the airport entrance. Daniel Dolan (the reason why I have a never fading scar on my left thigh after he decided to drop a hot iron on my leg at the age of 4) has been the only constant thing in my life. After a tearful departure in the 4th grade when my family decided it was best to move back to the states, we've never lost contact even with the 3,760 mile difference between us. Even after what can go up to a few months of no communication we have a very mutual understanding; no matter how long we go without speaking, we're still best friends.

After a rushed check-in/unpacking/changing process at the hotel, Dan took us sightseeing and exploring around England’s capitol. After eating the best seafood combo I’ve ever had in my life at this market called, The Rockfish Grill, we rode 3 hrs up North to Dan’s families’ homes. He took me back to the neighborhood I grew up in. It’s weird how much I remembered.

Any who, we spent the early part of the evening walking around the countryside (lol). I also had the privilege of driving. This was a huge feat when you have to consider the side of the rode you’re driving on, the steering wheel and gear shift on the opposite side of the vehicle, and remembering that intersections are replaced with turnabouts (which I’ve yet to master in America!). But once we settled into our hotel, after another 3 hr drive, it all went downhill after the first two shots were drunk. Legal drinking is a feeling I could get use to. Although I’m not fond of drinking in the slightest, not having to worry about appropriate age kept me pretty intoxicated for the majority of the trip. Not helped by the free bartending (“wenching” as it was called) class that we took the following morning. Let’s just say I now have two signature drinks that I will be trying out on my constantly inebriated bestie here in the states.

And then that evening Nick, Dan and I (with the addition of two of Dan’s mates, Cole and Travis. Very adorable!) headed to Nottingham for one of the best performances I’ve ever experienced. Rock City is the hottest club ever. Enjoying the performances of Mr. Hudson and the Library (who I adore) followed by a full out concert from De La Soul, was enough to keep my nightlife juices flowing. But then the boys and I were off to this quaint little club called Red Room, where I was introduced to the British version of “getting hype”. Underground basement/house music from artist such as The So Solid Crew, kept random guys hands cupping my hips the entire night (not that I was doing too much complaining, due to the fact that I’m so enticed by those gorgeous accents). Special Performances from “the crew” and Ms. Dynamite, and about 8 drinks later had me feeling England in the best way possible.

It’s so unfortunate the time there was so short. Thoughts of transferring are still on my mind (Oxford’s campus is AMAZING!) It was such a great weekend. It’ll be hard to top this one (although I will definitely attempt to this summer).

OHHHHH I did forget to mention the awkwardness of the trip. But I’ll save that for the next post. Way to tired for that now =D

Au’voir!