impromptu art & soul

i had a chance to dine at the Top Chef Masters contestant Art Smith's capitol hill restaurant. the visit was unplanned as i stopped by a friend's office after a job interview and her boss, another friend, asked if i was going with her. i knew nothing of the event but that's how friends are, right? friends also respond saying "she can't afford it". im glad she knows what's in my account in this instance but seems not to be too concerned any other time but ok. whatever because i went. i'll keep my being offended to myself if it means to try a new upscale restaurant without laminated menus. plus, im not really mad i wasnt invited. ive been included on other things.

and my holding my tongue paid off because her mom paid for my meal. would not have mattered because i could, in fact, afford it but whatever. im glad because it was not all that. the waiter recommended the spicy shrimp for me, my friend got the same. her mom and coworker got fried chicken and mashed potatoes. coworker's daughter got a turkey burger and fries. other coworker got ribs and greens. nothing looked especially appetizing and my meal was just ok so im glad i didnt pay. 3.50 for a sprite with no refills? i was less than thrilled. i didnt take pics. sorry. we were late and i was around folks i was only meeting for the second time. everyone reported that they were disappointed in how everything was seasoned.

the menu was not extensive and nothing particularly stuck out. i did see some sizzling macaroni and cheese go by me and wished i would have ordered that. the atmosphere was nice as we dined alongside capitol hill staffers and the like. oh, i have to mention that the restaurant is inside the Liason hotel. the front desk is connected to the restaurant by a small lobby and i guess the restroom is shared. on the way to the restroom, we saw that the hotel was offering complimentary "welcome drinks". the shot glass-full of punch was nice, i guess.

there's nothing i want to go back for but im glad i tried it.

RE-POST from 3/9/09: is this your friend?

riding metro on friday night after watching watchmen i so non-descretely snapped a photo of this attrocity:

before we get to the main event, let's first discuss how though the high might have been 60, that does not warrant you rocking a top that called for 80. more importantly, how you just gonna grin with that sitting beside you? you cant see the full effect but shorty needed to have spanx on. if you need to wear a long-sleeved top, you probably dont need your kid sister's mini skirt on. you especially dont need it if you havent gone through not one jar of fat girl slim OR fat girl sleep.

here are some ways to tell if you should not wear a mini skirt:

1. you cellulite is not only pronounced but is red

2. you are riding public transportation (probably the reason your thighs are red in the first place. all bare-skinned on public transit)

3. you dont have friends who will tell you about yourself

not only is this girl wrong but i cant stress who un-right her friend is. be a friend and let your girl know it's a "no maam", code ten, man down situation. damn!

her not-so saving grace? that chanel bag. didnt save her all the way because if you have to funds to invest in that back, i need you to invest in more fabric to cover that ass. and if it's fake, i want your fake bag not to have more material than the skirt you have on. oh well, real or not, her bag was hot...

a guide for college students

T asked for my advice to college students. my sentiments are simple: your experience is what you make it. make mistakes, get in (a little) trouble, make friends, enjoy being dirt poor and having someone else foot the bill, do your part and get a part-time job, fall in love, fall out of love, join clubs, go to parties, take leadership positions, fight with your roommate, make up with your roommate, fail a course. ok, maybe not that last one. but honestly, i feel like i did all of that and more that i cant remember. i went SOMEWHERE on every spring break except when i got my wisdom teeth taken out. i had adventures (read i got lost a lot). i learned how to be on my own but still knowing i had a fallback with my family. everyone's college experience is unique but everyone would agree that no other time in their life was like it. best wishes!

branding yourself

"you are your own brand. you're representing YOU, not xyz company. so do what's in your best interest"- my big brother

i weigh my decisions carefully. i have since i got my very first job working at 6 Flags in 10th grade. i've always been career minded and present myself professionally. even when i was mistreated at an internship (actually two internships now), i drafted a respectful letter of resignation. i didn't owe the first place that much and at the second, i did it because my actions would have been a reflection on the university and not just myself.

in discussing my current survival plan with my brother, he said those words quoted above. first of all, i was stressing about things that don't matter. what else is new? anyway, im working these jobs to stay afloat until i officially begin my CAREER. when i work for a company giving me salary and benefits, then i can be concerned for their best interest. when im a shift worker or temping around the city, i must focus on MY best interest. what's convenient for me as i work toward the greater goal of the career I am interested in?

so if that means getting hired somewhere and then leaving when a better opportunity comes along, then so be it. i beleive wholeheartedly in loyalty but it has to be mutual. if i feel im expendible anyhow, then i will treat you accordingly. an opportunity is only good for me as long as i dont have something better going on.

i cannot stress enough that my feelings are completely different for something permanent, in my field. if i make a commitment to an organization, i will find every way possible to make it work.

Bonus Post: no make-ups

Normally, I post once a weekday unless I'm in some sort of mood. Today's bonus post centers on the phrase "let me make it up to you". I'm like a college professor you don't wanna take; there are no make-ups.

If I ask you to do something for me, it's probably something I could do myself but it would make my life easier if someone else did it or it's something I simply cannot do on my own and get the desired results. But if I ask you for something, it's for when I ask you/when I need it by. I want what I want when I want it.

That might sound bratty, but if you fail, I will find other ways or go without. Don't come to me next day on some make-up shit. The need has expired and I don't want you half-assed attempt at reconsiliation. I'm not mad you didn't come through for me. I'm over that. I'm more annoyed at the after-the-fact shit. I don't want/need it no more and it probably impacts on what I had planned for myself moving forward as I've found that you are of no help. Just let the shit go. I have.

Nene eye would forever be talking "let me make it up". How bout you still owe me make ups for times 3, 4, and 5. I don't see people as having debts with me so stop trying to rack them up. Either you did or you didn't but you don't have a negative balance. Just come through next time, if there is a next time.

Shit is never "made-up" anyway. What takes the place of having something when you needed it? Nothing makes you have a sandwich packed for your lunch when you're rushing and don't have time but someone is making sandwiches anyway and you hadn't been paid yet so you had no $. And whatever, I didn't die. But don't chase me down on payday with a lunch prepared when I have plans to eat out after carrying my lunch all week and then act hurt when I say I don't want it.

That was the simplest example I could think of. And yes, I know I'm a spoiled brat and that was a petty example but whatever.

goals, plans, aspirations

PJD got on the request line for this month's series and asked that i speak on my goals in life. i'll take this time to share what im working toward career-wise and i'll explain why ive tried my best to avoid planning too far in advance.

you haven't seen too many posts on here about anything taking place more than about 6 months down the line. why? because although i tout myself as a thinker and planner, it's my belief that humans shouldn't count too much on there being a tomorrow. i remember a bible lesson about thinking ahead of yourself. what i took from it was not to be foolish and squander money but to also realize that God doesn't promise that you will see anything come into fruition. planning for the next 5 and 10 years is fine but don't be so arrogant as to really think that HAS to happen for you. of course, im a little shakey on my scripture (another topic for another day), so i cant direct you to the passage, nor can i clarify as much as i'd like.

the other reason i haven't been planning too far in advance is that i noticed that i'd been putting forth a lot of effort and energy to have something take place and others are like "yea, i did it the night before" and got equal or better results. im not one to wait til the last minute but im not doing anything 6 weeks in advance when there's a possibility that waiting can be advantageous. i'm trying to keep unnecessary stress at a minimum. i get stressed trying to make something happen far in advance. i choose to relax and deal with issues as they arise if it's something not that serious.

so what do i want to do with my life? i'm wrapping up my master's in clinical mental health. to do what? to become a therapist. what does it take to become a therapist? a master's degree, a national exam (to be taken in October), and 2 years of supervised work experience. where will i complete the 2 years? not sure. at a community mental health agency. this might be an outpatient or residential facility. what population do i wish to serve? children and adolescents. what will i specialize in? im undecided. my internship was in behavioral and emotional issues, as well as family issues. i will probably stay in with that focus. where will i work? for the 2 years, i will remain in DC, MD, VA metro area just because i can live at home if i need to and i know the area so that's one less concern for this stressful period. after then, im open. i think T has her bid in for the Chi so that's an option.

anything else you want to know about future career goals?

Subscriber Selection Series

i just love alliteration but that really should be "reader selection series" and it begins this month. each weekday for the month of September, i'll be posting what YOU'VE asked for. a few weeks ago, i asked for comments regarding what sorts of things you'd like me to cover. additionally, i'll be revisiting so old posts. i'll be re-posting things ive written over the course of the almost 3 years i've been blogging and maybe the following day, i'll have some corrections to the old posts if i've changed my mind on something. not likely, but possible. in October, it's back to posting whenever. i have no idea what's in store but i hope you'll stick around to find out with me!