this sh*t is FROM the birds

a short rant

people tend to dismiss things by saying, "this is for the birds". but what about when it comes FROM the birds? these blasted birds seem to be only able relieve themselves on MY car. i am forced to park under a tree when i am home so i guess they have nests up in there and after they eat and they feed their young, they fly off to do other things and take a dump before they get a few wing flaps out of the nest. 

though i try to be environmentally friendly (the tree is certainly old and i'll respect my elders), i'm almost for cutting that thing down. 1. it would be expensive and 2. it doesnt even belong to us; technically it belongs to the city. another suggestion would be to simply park somewhere else. good idea, however i cannot stand when people park in front of my house instead of their own or whatever house they are actually going to so i would not be a hypocrite and park in front of theirs (when there is space available in front of my own). i would simply park a few feet back but my neighbors are incompetent drivers. one of them knocked my brother's side mirror off trying to park. my former neighbor who lived across the street backed into my dad's car while trying to exit his driveway. i guess i just have to suck it up and keep washing my car...

so...

...no one is going to say anything about this? well i will. so i went to see The Dark Knight and a preview for robert downey jr's next movie comes on. in this movie he is playing a black man. i'm sure it's a running joke through the film because he is playing a man who is playing another man. but i'm not laughing. the movie is supposed to be a comedy and not taken seriously. but i can't help but be bothered that there is a possibility that someone thinks doing black face is funny...i disapprove. but maybe that's just me. 

i'm not holding a double standard either; White Chicks was obnoxious and unfunny. i dont understand why so many people liked that crap. did it hurt anyone's feelings? probably not. will this movie? again, probably not. i just don't like where this is going. 

young black kids may view this and find it funny and i can't help but think they are laughing at their own history. am i overreacting?

welcome to my box of chocolates

most people have blogs generally about one topic. not i. i never wrote a real description of this blog because there really isn't a way to describe it. other bloggers tend to be able to sum it up a little better than me. for me, it's just a blog about nothing. i took a seinfeldian approach to the creation and maintenance of this blog. like PJD says, you never know what you will get. but not in a bad way like "i just bit into this and eww, coconut".

i'm just glad to be a part of so many peoples' everyday lives. just know that just like you look for a post from me on the regular, i'm checking for your's, too!

on sale

VO5 shampoos/conditioners are on sale at CVS for 75 cents!i know the cheap shampoos and conditioners are not everybody's thing but at least mix the conditioner with your favorite oil (like olive or grapeseed) for some extra moisturization and care...

WIF: Music

• 'spotlight'- jennifer hudson
• 'i put on'- young jeezy and kanye
• 'whenever you're around'- jill scott
• 'mrs. officer'- lil' wayne
• 'let the beat build'- lil' wayne
• 'green eyes'- erykah badu
• 'orange moon'- erykah badu
• 'help yourself'-amy winehouse

are you fat?

don't get on a scale and get a number to answer this question. apparently, it depends on how well-liked you are. an anonymous high school student i work with said while speaking to me"that fat bitch..." this and "her fat ass" that and i guess i made a face because she followed up with, "but you are not fat". it's funny to me that calling someone fat has become more of a derogatory term than a subjective description. i am not in denial, i am aware of my girth. i also tend to be self-conscious about it which is probably why i inadvertently made a face. me and my face-making is another post for another day (wow, that get's me in so much trouble. it's bad enough i have a smart mouth that i can't control). so, anyway, do your actions determine how people see you physically? can the girl not see that i am overweight because she is blinded by the fact that she likes me as a counselor? will that change if i were to get on her "bad side"? or will i perpetually be a normal-sized individual and will she pick another "flaw" to disparage?

i won!

i never win anything but Product Junkie Diva deemed me worthy of an award.

here are the instructions for this award's recipient:

1) When received, you may post the premio to your blog.

2) Link to the blogger you received it from.

3) Give it to 7 blogs

4) Link to those 7 blogs

5) Leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.

now for the tough part, i have seven blogs left to give it to. PCJ, Brown Girl Gumbo, and PBW have already been awarded.

i have already done my reader appreciation posts for the following bloggers and i have no problem passing this award along to them. Don, of minus the bars, gets a nod from me. i dare not snub T of Tea and Such. also i have to give props to Ananda and her blog/site. the last person i will reference is my spelman sister at mischo beauty. her blog is a must see! thanks, PJD!

would you?

i know we go to great lengths for beauty but im not too sure about this one. it is popular overseas to let fish eat away at your dead skin on you feet and to follow this experience with a standard pedi. this service has recently become available in the DC area. would you let little fish nibble their way to smooth soles? read more about it.

WIF: Hair, Skin and Nails

Here is What I'm Feeling right now

Hair-

• garnier frutis sleek and shine shampoo, conditioner
• CVS brand 100% pure aloe vera gel
• pin-curls
• textures and tones hair color in "light golden brown"

Skin-

• cetaphil gentle skin cleanser
• queen helene exfoliating wash in "mint jelup"
• queen helene masque in "apricot"
• L'Oreal HiP shadow duo in "mischief" (908) and "flare" (404)
• St. Ives Collagen Elastin Body Moisturizer

Nails-

• sally hansen hard as nails xtreme wear in "ice coffee"
• true blue spa "seal the deal" base/top coat

HiP duo shadow in "flare"

L'Oreal's HIP eye shadows are currently on sale at CVS, buy one get one free. at 6.99 each, i decided this was a great deal. i picked up "mischief", a black and suble gold duo; and "flare", the product that i am reviewing today. the shadows are simple to apply and come with an applicator and a built-in mini mirror. you do not have to be a shadow expert to create a winning look. here is what i did. i hope you can see. also, excuse my unfinished look and undone hair...

my verdict: get 'em while they last!

these damn kids!

i feel like i am getting old. i try to be empathetic and remember my days as a youth when i am at my job but i find it difficult. i don't recall just blatantly ignoring authority figures nor needing to be repeatedly told things. it's frustrating when it seems as if these people wake up daily with a clean slate. it's like they have amnesia. i understand the confusion on the first couple of days but i have been working with these young folks for 2.5 weeks. you should know what class you go to next, what time curfew is, etc. also, just common sense tells you when you enter a library not to talk at the top of you lungs, pull out your cell and have a full-blown conversation, or listen to anything without headphones and the speakers turned all the way up. also, if you dont listen to your ipod, talk on the phone or have your phone ring LOUDLY, or put your head down at school, do NOT do it here.



this irks me because Upward Bound is a privilage, a gift bestowed to those who most likely would not recieve it otherwise. The skills learned and activities that take place are coveted by others and are often paid for with thousands of dollars. however, these kids reap the benefits free of charge. further, they get PAID. yea, high school kids get paid to show up for courses that dont count yet are an asset for any college prep-aged student. additionally, they attend field trips to museums, outdoor educational centers, professional sporting events, etc. workshops include influential and inspirational guest speakers.



this also bothers me because this particular program is housed in the most expensive university in the country which so happens to also be the prodominantly white. with over 2,000 faculty members, only 10 professors at George Washington University are of color. The student body is similarly comprised. students and staff see these african-american teens on the campus and before the kids open their mouths they decide that the youth do not belong. within seconds, these kids confirm their beliefs.



the students overall exhibit extremely ignorant and disrespectful behavior. clearly, these kids have potential and intelligence but they see this as a punishment rather than a reward because they cannot spend their summer like their underachieving peers.

for natural folks!

i just tried pure aloe vera gel. natural hair women have been raving about the stuff. it's usually used for sun-burned folks, but my melanin and lack of extreme sun exposure protects me from that. i was looking for the Fruit of the Earth brand that people tend to specify but could only get ahold of the CVS brand. my review is below.

product: 100% pure aloe vera gel

description: an alcohol-free alternative to hair products that leave hair hard and brittle. natural girls like it because they say it maintains their curl without sacrificing movability and softness.

verdict: i JUST put it on. i like that it is not sticky and it is light-weight. it's completely scentless which i consider a plus. i dont like the way products containing aloe vera smell. plus, i dont have to walk around smelling like whatever i put in my hair (as with most of my other favorite products). i'd rather have a deliberate scent. the softness of my hair was maintained and my curls look great. i LOVE it. i may be speaking too soon since its only been on for like 5 minutes...

his and hers

him:

45

ATL

divorced x 2

3 kids: 20, 18, 10

surprisingly, great guy 

her:

21

DC

single, never married

no kids

free spirit

she has a hard time getting past his stats. he does alot for her. mentally, physically, emotionally. he is an upstanding gentleman. just...what is really wrong? should she tell him what about him bothers her? what are your thoughts? *also, this shouldnt matter but, he doesn't like Wayne, Jay or MJB...

BELLA!!!!

if you know where i can get my hands on the italian vogue in the DC area, PLEASE let me know. 

goin'!

in DC "goin'" on someone is joning. this man GOES on puffy (or p.diddy or diddy...shit Sean Combs) and every artist he ever signed in his entire career. people you forgot about. look:

...and up is down

why is the district rewarding mediocrity? is it right that students who need to repeat courses get paid to attend summer school? i dont even know what the justification is for this but can you come up with an explanation? speak on it!

"it ain't for everybody"

one should not propose to me without knowing:

1. you're getting an engagement ring, too. i am not walking around with a 'sold' sign or a training-ring while you are "[finger]-loose and fancy-free". so guess where we are going in the morning? Zales or Kay.

2. if i decide i'm going to have your child, the nursery will be a shade of yellow clearly picked out for you and the decor will have teddy bears. this is not up for discussion. i will go away for a weekend and you shall have that done. you may attempt it yourself, knowing i will have you do it over if it is not right, or you can break down and hire a professional. the choice is yours. 

3. i will not cook for you every night. some nights, it will be "your turn".

4. if you snore, you are getting your own room!

5. i do not care what team you are a fan of, there will be a room in the house dedicated entirely to the dallas cowboys. have you seen that Eastbay/NFL magazine page??? something similar to THAT! (this will probably only be a serious problem for you if you are an eagles or redskins fan, in which case, we wouldn't be getting married anyway).

this is just what i have thought about so far because i really haven't given it much thought. i still have little to no interest in nuptuals however, i am constantly made aware of the inevitability that "someone" is going to propose to me. as to why he would do that when he can almost be certain i will say 'no' is beyond me. but just in case one day i am in one of my passing moods and want to get married and he (or whomever i'm seeing at the time if it's not him) should so happen to ask, he should know...

reader appreciation V

the 5th, and i think final, installment of my reader appreciation series is reserved for ANANDA!!!!!!! Ananda has been a great resource for me. she responded to a post i made a LONG while ago when i was complaining about the difficulties of job-hunting. she reached out to her friends and colleagues, compiles resources for me, and offered sound advice. additionally, she revamped my resume which has led to much success so  far. prior to her input, i was not even recieving interview offers or any response at all. since that time i have completed several phone and face-to-face interviews leading to one temporary position offer for the summer. ANNOUNCEMENT: additionally, i recieved an offer for a full-time position for the 2008-2009 school year in GWU's Housing Department. thanks for everything, Ananda and friends! 

thoughts on love

i know you are there

lurking in the shadows

when you are ready,

revel in the light of day

promise not to retreat

when night falls

this egg is grade A

the PedEgg got PJD's seal of approval and thanks to my recent purchase, it gets mine. i had to run out and get one of these things lest i look like one of the people T is talking about in this post. PJD is right, all the shavings do NOT get trapped in the tool itself and that sucks. it does what i need it to do so i can't get too mad. thanks to this little 10 dollar addition to my arsenal, i can continue to be a budget beauty and skip that trip to the nail shop. well, i cant skip it completely because i need them to hook my brows up...

where to buy: pretty much everywhere! honestly, they have gotten extremely popular so you don't have to order off the tv. cvs, walgreens... i think i saw one in the grocery store. 

happy birthday to my big sis, Tiffany!!!!!

happy firework/cookout day!

reader appreciation IV

today, i will recognize T of Tea and Such!

this woman is HILARIOUS. i don't know why she had some hate mail about her blog (i really don't understand anyone receiving hate mail about a blog, but that's for another day). she talks about everyday life and says what the rest of us are thinking and what some are afraid to say (you know i'm not one of THOSE people). so here's to T with her encouraging and thoughtful comments and thought-provoking, laughter-inducing posts!

-quote-

"i dont have low self-esteem...i have low esteem for everyone else"- daria morgendorffer- daria

(sorry, my friends don't really say that many memorable, funny things. i'm the random, funny comment generator.)

-question-

who is my kid going to play with if everyone i know is having a baby now?

this makes me laugh every time!

"this is the stuff i think about while you're at work all day"

is it a crime?

i cannot help the way i feel. i wish i could but i can't. my heart is broken. not in a "oh, i'm so sad"-way, but more like a "get your brakes fixed"-way. he's ok enough but i'm just not where he is. maybe certain circumstances are preventing me but i strongly believe that if everything was "ideal" i still would not be on that level.

 i don't even see that as a problem in itself but given that another human being is involved, it does bother me a little. i feel as if i might be leading him on. then again, maybe im not because i continue to reiterate my feelings or lack there of and he claims he understands and accepts that. he cannot change how he feels either. sometimes i wish he could. 

a big issue is i dont even know why he feels as strongly as he does. i guess i'm way too logical of a person these days rather than emotional as i was in days (read years) past. 1.) we have not known each other long 2.) even after having met we really did not spend time together until much, much later 3.) there is the age issue (among other life conflicts/incongruences) 4.) THIS is exactly what i don't want, right now and 5.) i most definitely do not want THIS

it is true that you always want what you don't have and when you get it, you don't want it anymore.