What a Beautiful Weekend

The weather this weekend was amazing. It's almost like the weather is trying to convince me that DC isn't as bad as i make it out to be. At any rate we got a lot accomplished this weekend. We cleaned the apt some more and even went to work on the car. I have about 3 more days in the office and then it's time for a much deserved vacation. Yes, I will be working a few days for All Star Week but that really doesn't count. Right now I'm trying to focus on washing clothes, cleaning up and getting ready to get outta here.

The plan is to continue blogging here and on the trip blog (www.bayandback.blogspot.com) hopefully we'll have lots of pics and interesting stories along the way.

On Saturday me, leena, kayla and bj all headed over to my parents' house for Googie's bday celebration. I can honestly say that Kayla stole the show. She played with everyone, laffed, smiled and had a great time. I love how outgoing she is. She's an amazing little girl and i'm so happy for leena and dennis. I can't wait to see what the next two babies will be like!

**random**
I didn't know Beyonce was in the "Happily Ever After" video.

Ok, bye.

FCUK!!!!

So in ONE WEEK I leave... like i bounce and I won't be back for a minute. Well that's not true... I leave on Friday, come back on Tuesday and leave again on Wednesday. Anticipation is turning to nervousness. What if something happens while i'm gone? I've got a sick dad and a pregnant best friend on this coast. I'm trying to stay positive but i'm definitely making sure I have enough money for an emergency flight home.

Speaking of my dad, he's so damned adorable. He calls my mom "kitty" and we don't know why... i mean we *know* why (*insert shudder here*) but it's a recent development. I went to visit last weekend and told him about my trip out west. He asked if there was anywhere i hadn't been yet and I told him there were plenty of places... he laffed and asked me if i'd ever be done with school. I told him i had two more years and he smiled. He's proud of me and that feels good. It's funny that no matter how old and "independent" i get, i still look to my parents for their approval of most of what I do. To a certain degree i shouldn't, but when their reaction is positive, i guess it isn't so bad.

Come back to Jamaica....

Remember those commercials?

Well that's what i'm doing, I am going back to Jamaica. I'm REALLY looking forward to this trip. The idea of just relaxing and being away from the stresses of my daily life is making it hard for me to be patient. Although the San Fran trip will also be a vacation, it's going to be different. I don't feel that that's going to be a relaxing trip, so i'm glad to have this "pre-vacation" to gear up for the other trip.

But yeah, Jamaica. I've only been once before and that time it was to Negril. It was beautiful beyond belief there. This time around it'll be Ocho Rios. I plan to take no less than two million pictures because the ones i took last time were AMAZING!

So this weekend is going to be a bit of a blur.

This afternoon I'm helping with an interview for Subsoniq. Monie Love and 9th Wonder will be stopping by to shoot the shit for awhile.

Then tonight I'll be here:



That's always guaranteed to be a good time.


Saturday I'm going to a happy hour in an attempt to be more social and well-liked.
Sunday is, of course Mother's Day. My sister's and i will be cooking brunch for the family and spending the day with mom.


Next weekend is my niece's graduation from college... time is FLYING by. I need to start making my mark on the world ASAP

My mommy yelled at me this morning

Whenever something really bad happens and i don't know how to deal with it, I call my mom and ask her to pray for me. Me and my best friend joke that she has a direct line to God because her prayers always seem to work.
I asked her to pray for me and she asked why... and i told her. And she laid me the fuck out. I don't think i've been yelled at like that in YEARS. The conversation ended with her expressing her utter annoyance with me and hanging up on me. To say i feel alienated right now is probably the biggest understatement ever.

What i learned today

Today I learned that it is VERY hard to do someone else's grocery shopping for them. I spent approximately 2.5 hours on what amounted to a scavenger hunt in my local grocery store. Since my dad can't be in the house alone, my sister and I take turns doing the grocery shopping for the family. Now I will give it to my mom, she gave me VERY detailed info about what she wanted. From sizes to name brands, she gave me all of the info i could possibly need. But 99% of the things she wanted are things that i had never purchased... three bean salad? fordhook lima beans? At any rate, I am happy to say I got every single item on the list.


I can't imagine how difficult it is to give up as much control of your life that my mom has. As much as i dislike grocery shopping, I can't imagine not being able to do it for myself. The love that my mother has for my father is the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed. I truly hope that I am able to learn to love that selflessly.

The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow

When I was little my parents took me to see Annie. I LOVED everything about Annie. I knew all the songs, the choreography... EVERYTHING. So that day was a special day for me. My mom bought me a new dress (red of course) and tights, and the SHINIEST white patent leather shoes you have EVER seen. I got my hair pressed and did my best to sit extra still so that she could get my hair *just* right. My parents even presented me with an Annie doll as we listened to the soundtrack 8-track on the way to the theatre. As I clicked clacked in my shoes all the way thru the theatre to take our seats, I remember being so overwhelmed with joy. The ONLY thing that would make it more perfect is if my mom would just let me have a peppermint (i was a kid, it didn't take much, ok?)

As the houselights dimmed for the first Act, i whispered loudly to my mom, 'CAN I PLEASE HAVE A PEPPERMINT?' She shushed me as the spotlight started to come up... So i whispered a little louder... my dad gave me that stern look. I don't know what crossed my mind but i just knew that if i didn't get that peppermint soon everything would be ruined... so... I yelled... loudly... I SAID I WANT A PEPPERMINT. I don't really think i got the whole phrase out before my dad had scooped me up and escorted me out of the theatre... Those tights did nothing to protect my little legs from the spanking i got. I spent the whole first half of the play out in the lobby sobbing and trying to compose myself.

We went back in during intermission. I was quiet. All the crying wore me out... and so i slept thru the second half. My parents woke me up as the cast was leaving the stage from taking their final bow. We left the theatre and headed home in silence. It wasn't until I lay down for bed that I realized that I had left my Annie doll behind.