Birthday Plans

This time last year I was languishing in the hospital sharing cheesecake with the nurses and patients that didn't have diabetes. However this year, I'm flying down to LA again, with the Boyfriend in tow to introduce him to my oldest best friend. She's #5 on that list.

Anyway, since she has yet to give her stamp of approval/meet him and the Boyfriend has some business down there, we just decided to kill two birds with one stone and take our first official overnight trip together. It's going to be a short trip for him (3 days), and longer one for me, (you know I can't go visit LA for anything less than a full week!). It's our official first trip together. WOOHOO!

I've already done my laundry and emptied out my suitcases from my last trip, so tomorrow will be spent packing. Hopefully I will have it done in good order for my early birthday dinner party!

I'm turning 26 y'all. I'm officially in my late 20s. Now I can actually get the street cred for having some life experiences....lol. In fact, more than you think!

Here's a shoutout to my friend Mary for being the first person this year to show me some birthday lurve. I'm loving my present btw.

A Woman Should...

I got this from Ore and just had to share...

A Woman Should Have...

.... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to

.... something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour (-- I'm not in the least bit a "Rules" woman, but a date arranged within an hour????)

.... a youth she's content to leave behind (-- And a sparkling future to look forward to)

.....a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age

.....a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra

....one friend who always makes her laugh and one who lets her cry (-- It's even better when you find both qualities in one person)

.....a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family

.....eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored

.....a feeling of control over her destiny (-- Yes! Yes! Yes!)

....how to fall in love without losing herself

...how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship

....when to try harder and when to walk away

...that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents

.....that her childhood may not have been perfect, but its over (-- Amen to this! Here's to being a grown-up)

....what she would and wouldn't do for love or more

....how to live alone, even if she doesn't like it

....whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally (-- Alas, a part of life)

....where to go - be it to her best friend's kitchen table, or a charming inn in the woods when her soul needs soothing

.... what she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month and a year (-- Contrary to popular opinion, women are not superheroes. We have our limits, you know.)

Moments

Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away. ~ Alex "Hitch" Hitchens/George Carlin.

It's amazing how much I've come to savor now that I'm back out in the 'real world'--things that I had started to take for granted. Like a shower everyday. And clean hair, I mean I don't wash my hair every day but it just felt really icky in there (hence I can't stop raving about it). And waking up naturally and not to some vampire phlebotomist at 5am trying to draw blood from my feet. So anyway, as you can see, I'm doing great. I feel so much better, have alot of energy (all those blood transfusions) and can eat Rice again---I missed rice sooooo much!

On a lighter note, here are the top moments that took my breath away today...

1. The moment I tried on my perfect little black dress. I didn't even have to check out how it looked in the mirror, it just felt so perfect that I just knew. I've been looking for one for years and finally found it...in a little store, tucked away in the corner of the mall. And it was actually in my price range! That was the same shopping expedition that I picked up the perfect Meet His Mom dress as well as my first fantasy lingerie. All in all a really good experience.
   
2. When posed with the question if he could change anything at all about me, the only thing the Boyfriend said was that he wished he could make me 100% healthy. Awwww!
   
3. This evening while back-reading blogs, I found this post that actually brought tears to my eyes as well as took my breath away. I love that man! And who knew she had that much writing skillz?
   
4. When I heard Christina Aguilera's Save Me From Myself for the first time since I've been back at my computer. This is the absolute best love song ever! I have the whole CD and this is my favorite track, only one that got put on multiple playlists in my Ipod and I've listened to it about 87 times. In a row. Just tonight. It's the only song on my Windows Media right now and just keeps playing over and over again. I love it!

Hope you can savor and enjoy your moments in this lovely day.

I'm Back...

Hey peoples,

I didn't die. Even though several times I seriously wanted to and several times I thought I did. Anyway, I hadn't been seriously sick in about 6 months so for me, that was actually good.

So, I'm back and brimming with all kind of ideas. It's amazing what lying down for days at a time staring at the ceiling under a drug induced haze can accomplish. The question is---will any of it make sense now that I'm lucid?

Tune in to find out.

(((((Hugs)))))

I have 631 email messages to wade through and 230 blog posts to read. And I have to wash my hair. But I'll be back.

Vixen is MIA

Vixen is in the hospital
enjoying high dose painkillers
keep her in your thoughts

and NO this is not the blog vacation she dreamed of :)

vixen's sister (the responsible one)

How Happy?

You Are 72% Happy

You are a very happy person. Generally, you feel content and that all is right with the world. Occasionally, you have a down day - but you have the ability to pick yourself right back up.

How Happy Are You?

Idea Block

I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block. ~ Jeffery Deaver

I'm stuck on something to write. For all my blogs and literary endeavors. For weeks I've been churning out stuff at a regular rate, but now I'm totally stymied.

For example, for Baggage Reclaim, I haven't even turned out an article for this week at all. And the week is almost over.

For the Sexy Smart Elexa project, all I did was regurgigate some stuff that I already had written, and finished a draft that I had sitting there for a while.

For the Bad Girls Guide, I wrote this piece that wasn't even close to my normal capabilities and then hotlinked a really cool blogger. As for my works in progress, gosh, they haven't gone anywhere in months and are just stuck on my hard drive gathering dust.

As for here---you guys got a forward and a meme. As you can see, I'm stretching here---stretching hard. I'm seriously considering taking a blog break. Charming took one a few weeks ago and came back hotter than ever, brimming with stories and stuff. Maybe I just need a blog vacation. Or some questions to get me jumpstarted again.

Your thoughts?

Random Questions

Most of these you probably don't want to know about. Oh well--it's fun right?

***FOOD***
What is your salad dressing of choice?
It used to be Thousand Island, but I've grown up and morphed to Kraft Done Light Italian Dressing.

What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
I don't eat fast food. Quizno's?

What is your favorite sit down restaurant?
Olive Garden or P.F. Changs...

On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
20%. Unless they suck. Then it's 10 or less.

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Rice.

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
I don't like pizza that much. I feel it's cheese standing solid at room temperature waiting to clog up my arteries with plaque. But if I had to, it would be jalepenos, and a veggie mix of olives, green peppers, mushrooms and any other vegetable they had.

What do you like to put on your toast?
Depends on my mood. Mostly butter.

What is your favorite type of gum?
I don't like gum. Whatever's handy I guess.

**TECHNOLOGY**

Number of contacts in your cell phone? 164. Lots of doubles for people with cellphones/house numbers & work.

Number of contacts in your email address book?
Four hundred & thirty one.

What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A picture of Badagry beach in Nigeria taken off Flickr.com

What is your screensaver on your computer?
An Alias montage

How many televisions are in your house?
Two

What kitchen appliance do you use the least?
The toaster

What is the radio station you listen to the most?
I don't listen to radio. I have my Ipod for my favorite jams at all times.

**BIOLOGY**

What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?
Too many man---my face, my eyes, my butt, my legs, my fingers, my...oh, I was only supposed to pick one?

Are you right handed or left handed?
Right

Do you like your smile?
Yes. I have several but I think they are stunning. (Can you tell you are talking to a Libra yet?)

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Blood.

Would you like to have something removed from your body?
Sickle cell.

Do you prefer to read when you go to the bathroom?
Yes:)

Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?
Intuition. It's not one of the five but it's very keen.

When was the last time you had a cavity?
Never. I have those strong African teeth. Hehehe.

What is the heaviest item you lift regularly?
Right now, boxes, I'm packing.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
No...not knocked. I've been unconscious a bunch of times. It's those good painkillers man, they totally knock me out.

**A bunch of stuff-OLOGY**

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Hell no!

If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
Hmmm. I actually like my first name. But if I could, I would change it to something like Alexandria, Angelique, etc.

How do you express your artistic side?
Writing.

What color do you think you look best in?
All colors. I wear them, no matter what it is. My favorites are wine, red, white and pink.

How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison?
Are my sisters there as well? Prison is like high school. I think I could swing it, especially if Poetic Justice was there.

Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
Yes. On purpose. Many times.

If we werent bound by society's conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at?
Naaaah.

How often do you go to church?
About twice a month. I'm supposed to be turning over a new leaf. Baby steps.

Have you ever saved someones life?
Yes. Several times. I'm a nurse, remember?

Has someone ever saved yours?
Yes. Several times.

**DARE-OLOGY**

Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?
Yes, as long as I got the dough up front, it wasn't cold at all and I had shaved prior.

Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
Nope. Unless it was Angelina Jolie.

Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
Oh hell no!

Would you never blog again for $50,000?
Sure. I'd go back to writing my journal on paper.

Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
I might---only if I could be sure that noone I ever remotely knew was going to see it. So that would be a no?

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Yeah sure. I did it for $100 once.

Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
Sure thing. Do I get to pick the person?

Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000?
Yeah, I could rock a short cut. As for the waxing....sure if you doubled the moolah. I barely have any hair so it wouldn't be that bad. I get to keep my eye brows right?

Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?
Yes... television is a waste of time.

Now who to tag with this?
1. Virginia, because she loves the meme thing.
2. Poetic, because I'll kick her ass if she doesn't do it.
3. Tutsy, because I would like to know her answers to some of these.
4. Andrea, because I should tag her back for last time.

Diamonds

I know diamonds are a girl's best friend but isn't this taking it a little too far? For $30 mil, you would think they could manage to make one that didn't look so---skanky. Can you take a dip in the ocean with it?

The most expensive piece of diamond apparel ever made is making its debut in the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Designer Susan Rosen worked with Steinmetz Diamonds to create the ultimate bikini, a special commission in collaboration with the swimsuit editors.

The bikini is made up of over 150 carats of D Flawless diamonds, some of the rarest in the world including ....
a 51ct D Flawless Pear Shape,
a 30ct D Flawless Emerald Cut,
a pair of 15ct D Flawless Rounds and
a pair of 8ct D Flawless Pear Shapes.

All of the diamonds are free of inclusions, or nature's birthmarks, making the sparkle and brilliance unsurpassable.
That. coupled with perfect D colored stones, which are set in platinum, makes the bikini truly extraordinary.

The diamond bikini is body jewelry that reflects the eternal love and beauty of women. Not a lot of materials for $30 million.

Go Swish!

I went to another game last Friday. It was an evening game and hella cold. Well, on Sportscenter (or was it ESPN?) they panned in to where my friend & I were sitting. See the Go SWISH sign? The bundled up person in green to the right---that's me.

And that's my 15 seconds on TV!

Moods

Personally, I find serenity in accepting that the flow of my thoughts and moods is a gnarly computation that's fundamentally the same as a cloud, a flame, or a fluttering leaf. ~Rudy Rucker

I've been on a see-saw of emotions lately. It can vary from moments of happiness interspersed with stubborness. And then, in the blink of an eye, due to some light external force, it changes again. Most of the time when I'm moody, I retreat to myself, sequestering in my room to write, read, think and just let the emotions rush over me.

However, for the most part the last couple of days, I haven't been unable to do that. Mostly due to the fact that we have company in town. And how can I be moody when the Boyfriend is still upset over his brother's death? I mean---how can any of the paltry emotions I'm going through even begin to compare to that?

*sigh*

Hopefully this too shall pass.

Exhiliration

Love's easy to learn. It's like taking a risk. You set your mind on it and refuse to be afraid, and in no time you feel terrifically exhilarated and all your inhibitions fly out the window. ~ Dick Francis

The library is open again! I went there today and they've finished their friggin' renovations. I can read again! Yipee:) I feel so exhilirated. If you don't hear from me in the next few days--you know exactly where I am and what I'm doing.

I'm not sure if everyone got to watch the video under Cheeseburger Woes (Monday's post). If you haven't seen it, please scroll down to view it, you will be utterly scandalized, I promise:) It's a true call put in to an emergency response center.

Right now I'm listening to Heather Headley's latest CD. For those of you with the R&B vibe, this is definitely one to put on your list. It's totally worth it, every single track is perfectly done and fits the vibe of the CD masterfully. I couldn't have crafted a better CD if I wrote it out myself.

That's it in my neck of the woods. Hope your week is going by well.

What Time of Day Are You?

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Cheeseburger Woes

JAG was nice enough to share this with me.

Please...somebody---slap the ish out of this woman for me. Oloriburuku~! Alakori! Oloshi!!
Translation: The best Yoruba words that sufficiently state how totally stupid and downright idiotic this woman is!



Happy Labor Day weekend. Hopefully your job isn't as bad as this.

Children

Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder. ~Eberhard Arnold

For those of you that know me personally, you realise that except for the most amazing 2 little cousins of mine, I can't stand being around children. Mostly because of the tendency of kids to be little spoiled termagents, especially in the US where sparing the rod is status quo. Due to my inability to stop cussing out stupid parents in Yoruba for not disciplining their kids when needed---I've adopted a hands off policy when it comes to little tykes. They are cool and everything---just don't have them around me.

However, due to one little four year old in particular, I think I might have to adapt my way of thinking. He's soooooo adorable! For some reason, he's more intelligent than the average 4 yr old, asks interesting questions and just gets it. Added to that, he still has the wide-eyed innocence of youth and the curiosity of a thirsty mind. I looooove spending time with him. I find it hard to restrain myself from smothering him with lots of love and kisses.

So anyway, I'm posting this because I'm about to spend the day with my fabulous Boyfriend and his fantastic son. And I'm very, very giddy about it. It's like double the pleasure.

Hope your weekends are going along nicely.