Tracie Mae

I'm on Twitter, too.

2009-03-02T18:38:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I'm officially a twitterer.
Check me out.
Follow me.
Or whatever.

Is it just me...

2009-03-02T02:55:00.002-05:00

Is it just me or have your relationships with your republican friends been smudged a bit? I have a couple of die hard republican friends who I feel a little weird around now. I don't know if it's their pure disgust for Obama versus my fondness of him that caused a rift. Then there's the whole thing about him being black. Like me. I'm not saying his race was the reason they didn't vote for him (but you never know). But maybe it's just the fact that you've found your friends, people that you chill with, drink with, laugh, and cry with, are so incredibly different from you.

You may start second-guessing what you actually have in common with them. And you could realize that you're only friends with them because they're nice and occasionally funny, and so are you.

As of right now, I just try to steer clear of political talk (which was extra hard to do around the election) when I'm around my republi-friends. I guess having friends that believe different things makes me diverse. Diverse with awkward friendships. urg.

Back off the wagon.

2008-11-24T22:31:00.003-05:00

The Kool-Aid man is my dealer.
The Kool-Aid is my drug.

I had weened myself off of Kool-Aid several months ago because I was on the weight loss tip and needed to cut my sugar intake. But I couldn't dare throw those packets of powdered goodness away. Recently, I had absolutely nothing to drink and wasn't about to venture out into the Atlanta cold to purchase something. I thought about what I had at home. I had sugar and my kitchen faucet was working. And I had never forgotten about the Kool-Aid packets at the bottom of that drawer. The answer was right in front of me.

I hadn't forgotten my recipe. And the preparation all came back to me as if I'd never stopped making it. Hot water, so the sugar will dissolve. Tropical Punch and Lemonade blend. Fill a cup with ice to prepare for the both warm and cold first sip.

And oh, what a good first sip it was.
And a good second sip.
And all the following sips.
Until it was gone.
Not the cup, the pitcher.

And I made another. And another.
I haven't stopped making Kool-Aid since.

My name is Tracie. And I'm addicted to Kool-Aid.

I don't want to be famous.

2008-11-17T19:37:00.002-05:00

Youtube is weird.
People think they know me.
People want to know me.
People recognize me when I'm out.
All because I talk about my life on the internet.
Wait.
When it's written like that, it doesn't sound so smart.
It sounds like something my mother would warn me not to do.
"Don't do that Tray, you never know who's watching you." My mom would say.
And she may be right.
I mean, I'm normal.
But that doesn't mean that some weirdo-maniac-stalker type person isn't out there in youtube-land falling in love with me.
And all my different hair-do's.
I've already had one semi-nice-but-also-strange guy call me his "cyber wife," uhm, what's your name? Because I don't know you and I never got my wedding ring.
I've had people try to get my address to send me "gifts."
I've had people recommend places and times and dates for me to go out to eat, probably because they were sitting there with knife and binding rope in hand.
I've had people try to offer me jobs on TV, all they needed me to do is meet them for an "interview."
I mean, don't get me wrong, I understand that I'm out there in the world now.
People tune into me. People miss me when I'm gone (or at least they say they do).
I have 2051 people who subscribe to my videos (as of Nov. 17th). And there's probably 2040 people subscribed to me whom I've never met in person.
I like making my videos.
But I don't want to be famous.
I don't want to be famous enough for people to want to sleep outside my house until they die. I don't want to be famous enough that my life isn't just my own anymore.
Can youtube do that?
You bet your life it can.

What's the skinny on me?

2008-11-15T01:22:00.003-05:00

I wish I could look that happy on a scale.
I've been struggling with my weight since I can remember. I grew up on Jenny Craig food (because my mom was dieting, not me) and skim milk. And when my mom and I moved from Chicago to Mississippi, she started cooking a lot of things I just wouldn't eat. I can remember coming home from school one day and my mom was de-furring a DEER in our kitchen, that her husband had hit with his car (I think on purpose) on his way home. And if that doesn't make you want to live in Mississippi, try cooked squirrel and rabbit and ew, raccoon. Needless to say, when I got a car, any fast food place was where I was headed. So I fell into a fast food trap. I don't dislike any fast food. As much as I try. My least favorite place is Arby's, but if I went there I could find something I like easily.
In my family, there are the big women (me, one of my cousins, my mom, and my gramma) and the skinnies (everybody else). I guess I'm not as big as I used to be; I have dropped a pants size from this time last year. But I'm no where near where I want to be. Where I've resolved to be every New Year since I was 18. This weight thing has claimed so much of my life. I've tried everything, too. I guess the only thing I can to is keep trying.

Side note: Is it wrong that I have a pair of skinny jeans? heh.

History has been made. And I'm alive!!

2008-11-10T17:18:00.005-05:00

What can I say?
How about WOOHOO! Or YAYYYYY! Or OMG!
Barack Hussein Obama has been elected the 44th president of these United States. I must admit when I voted for him, I felt proud. I think I even smiled a little bit, okay, a lot. I would've voted democratically no matter who had won the primary, but yeah, it felt great voting for an African American president in my lifetime. Here it is 6 days after the votes came in and I think I'm still in shock.

Just seeing the jubilation of people all across the nation on TV. Calling my mom and hearing her tear-filled testimony of how she'd learned the news. It's just more than anyone could've expected, I think. I don't ever remember time (since I've been on earth) that our country was so excited about the president we chose to elect. I swear this is gonna be a holiday. You know, just like how Washington and Lincoln used to have their own holidays before some hater lumped it all into President's Day.

I was talking to some of my old classmates from PC the other day and they brought up a GREAT point. One of them mentioned that Barack was initially Michelle Obama's intern. Michelle has some political/leadership experience of her own. So maybe Michelle should pull a Hillary and run for president after Barack has hopefully completed his 8 years. That would be AWESOME! Because then I could vote for both a black man AND a black woman for president in my lifetime. Boy, my grandkids are gonna get an ear-full. Heh.

My neck! My neck and my back!

2008-10-31T18:28:00.009-04:00

It all happened so fast. Perhaps as all car accidents do.
Some pedestrian (or stupidestrian, as I like to call him) decided that it was a good idea to take a leisurely stroll across Howell Mill during rush hour. Not at a light, mind you, but at a randomly placed crosswalk in the middle of the street. (I blame the city of Atlanta for painting that there.) The van in front of me didn't see him crossing the street until it was almost too late, so he slammed on his brakes. Which, in turn, made me have to slam on my brakes. But thankfully, I stopped before I hit the van. Unfortunately, the guy behind me wasn't so lucky.

I finally had my first car accident.

And let me just say that Saturns ROCK! The other guy's car was all messed up. I mean broken headlight, scratched up everywhere, and what looked like a broken hood. My car, a lovely little Saturn VUE, had no dents, no scratches, no nothing really. I saw a little scrape and that was it. And I was fine, too. I instantly had a headache but I think it was from the stress of being in an accident. I told the guy I was okay and that we didn't have to exchange information, considering that his car was the messed up one. At first, he seemed as though he was trying to act like it was my fault. Saying stuff like, "Don't worry about it..." and "Thanks for pulling over." I'm thinking to myself, YOU HIT ME, BUMHOLE! Get over yourself! Geez. But anyway, I'm fine. My back is fine. My neck is fine. And some nachos that I had just purchased from Willy's were also fine. (I did the "Mom reach over and save the passenger" move.) YES!

I'm BAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-30T12:31:00.000-04:00

Just an FYI.
Get at me dog!

Blog Postponed!

2008-04-03T00:14:00.004-04:00

Until further notice.

You can, however, catch me Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on Youtube vlogging (that's video blogging for those not up on the new lingo).

Check out MY CHANNEL for the Friday Rap Up because I will not be posting those here anymore either.

Soon, I'll be back. Hopefully blogging about my job search.

Thanks for reading guys. Go watch my videos.

love,
traciemae

Friday Rap Up - Insomnia

2008-03-28T06:11:00.000-04:00

Friday Rap Up - I paid my car off.

2008-03-21T15:03:00.001-04:00

Friday Rap Up - I ain't do nuthin this week.

2008-03-14T12:58:00.000-04:00

Friday Rap Up - TWA

2008-03-07T17:57:00.002-05:00

I did it! My Big Chop.

2008-03-02T00:38:00.000-05:00

Friday Rap Up - Oversleep

2008-02-29T00:26:00.001-05:00

I overslept and missed a make-up class on Wednesday.
That pretty much sums up my week.

My life update pt. 3

2008-02-28T19:51:00.002-05:00

She called to tell me a huge tree fell on our house during a recent storm. It was actually good that she was at home because she was supposed to be out here in Atlanta for my biopsy, but I told her not to come. (Psychic again? No. My friend who's gone through it before said it wasn't "mama I need you" type of pain.)

The tree plowed through our house. So for a second, my house was a tree house. There were branches in my room and bathroom which is on the total opposite of the house where the tree fell. When I first got the news and after the MooMoo said she (and my doggies) were okay, I didn't worry. I just thought, geez, when it rains it pours in my life. But then later that week when temperatures dropped below freezing in Mississippi, I started to worry. My mom was freezing at night. My dogs were freezing too. There's nothing like looking up at the stars from your bedroom.

Eventually the tree was removed and a tarp was placed over the roof. Insurance is helping my mom pay for the roof rebuild, but now I don't know if I'll be able to pay for the rest of my school.

...it's never ending.

My life update pt. 2

2008-02-27T13:14:00.005-05:00

I changed schools. I left Portfolio Center and now I attend The Creative Circus. It was a really hard decision. It was one I wish I didn't have to make. But I just felt like I would get more for my money over at the Circus so I left. Some students and faculty back at PC were cool about it, some were not. I wish it didn't have to be that way. I wish people didn't take it however they took it that resulted in a change in their attitude. But oh well, crap happens.

I like Creative Circus but I'm new. That's the part I don't like. Yeah, I was new at PC once, but I came in with a bunch of new people. So we had each other. Now, at Circus, I'm a transfer, which is extra awkward (in my opinion). People are nice but I feel as though everything I do is being judged, by the students. I think people are looking at my stuff, like - is this how they're doing stuff over at PC? And I feel stressed about giving PC a bad name. I don't know why, I just feel that way. It could be all made up in my mind, but I doubt it.

Hopefully, next quarter I won't be so new and so out of my mind with life worries that I can push forward with building the best book I can build. In the end, I'm not so worried about making friends, I just want a damn good job. And I have no problem saying that I got my education from both PC and Creative Circus. It is what it is.

But just when I thought I was getting used to Circus life, my mom called and gave me something new to worry about...

My life update pt. 1

2008-02-25T21:28:00.004-05:00

I know it's been awhile since I've written something. I just haven't really been myself. The fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, always smiling Tracie hasn't been around lately. I've been going through a lot.

The main thing: Remember back when I wrote about my visit to Planned Parenthood? How it was the greatest pap visit EVER? Yeah, so I should've known something would go wrong. My pap smear results came back abnormal and after more testing it was clear that I had to have a cervical biopsy. I learned that I would need the procedure back in January (around the time school was just starting back) and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It didn't help that my mom told me that my grandmother found out about her cancer through an abnormal pap. It also didn't help that cancer runs through our family like crazy. My mind went all over the place. I thought, what if I'm the first young person in my family who gets it, what if after all these years of being on birth control pills I'll have to have a hysterectomy before I even get the chance to have any kids, what if...

The biopsy sucked. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Well, maybe my worst enemy. I still don't know my results (which probably sucks more than the biopsy itself). I haven't been able to focus 100% on school. My work has suffered and probably at the worst possible time. A time when people are looking at my work and really judging me. I mean really, judging me - all across, up and down.

But that, folks, is a different story.

Friday Rap Up - 10 year class reunion

2008-02-22T01:28:00.003-05:00

My high school class used to be so tight.
We won EVERY class competition from our 10th grade year on.
We were the best, in everything.
10 years later....yeah, uhm, not so much.

Friday Rap Up - Mystery Man

2008-02-15T15:10:00.003-05:00

I got some Valentine's Day gifts y'all.
It was a surprise to me. I was expecting yet another non-eventful V-day. But alas, I got some presents! Yay!

I really have to update everyone on my life because some things have changed. I haven't been focused on writing really (or school for that matter) and that's so unlike me. But with good reason. I'll fill you in later, hopefully.

I should've thought of this...

2008-02-12T16:45:00.000-05:00

Col-Pop: The Future of Fast-Food Technology from Adam Kuban on Vimeo.

My favorite superbowl commercial...

2008-02-10T21:09:00.000-05:00

The Tide-to-go Talking Stain commercial was GREAT (in my opinion). It was clever, quick, and everyone who saw it, got it. Then it really became my favorite when I heard you could become the voice of the talking stain online. FABULOUS idea!! Y'all know I made like 8 million of these.

My first Democratic primary...

2008-02-08T01:05:00.000-05:00

I don't know how it's my first experience since I voted in 2000 and 2004 for the general elections (I must've somehow missed the primary part). But the election this time around is so exciting. Everybody is talking about it; it's right up there with Britney Spears (and that's a big step for politics). My voting experience went well. I went around 2:30pm and there was no line. I was in and out in under 5 minutes. I even cracked a small smile when I placed my vote. I felt proud because I was doing my part in what's bound to be a history making election.

Who did I vote for....

Have you heard?

2008-02-05T18:58:00.000-05:00

I've been getting an email a day about this Bag Borrow or Steal website. You can think of it as sort of a Netflix for handbags. I love a great purse, a great expensive (looking) purse. I only own one semi-expensive bag, a purple hobo Coach bag that the MooMoo gave me as a Christmas gift some years back. So this site did peak my interest. Just think about it: maybe you're going out with the girls and need the perfect accessory - borrow a Fendi bag for $15/week.

I thought my classmate Mer would LOVE this.

I've been doing a lot of real promotional type blogs lately, huh? The Unisom thing and now this. Believe me, I'm not getting paid. Just trying to let y'all know about the things I'm using (or dreaming about using).

Friday Rap Up - Who U Rootin For?

2008-02-01T18:23:00.000-05:00

Aaaaahhhh, the Superbowl. Big, strong, strappin' guys bending over, a lot. What more could a girl ask for? I love football. I think my fondness for the sport started in high school when we cheerleaders actually had to know a thing or two about it in order to call the right cheer.

Who doesn't enjoy the Superbowl? I mean, it's a party, it's snack food, it's funny commercials, and hopefully a good game. I just want to know, who are YOU rooting for?

Good morning, Sunshine.

2008-01-30T08:37:00.000-05:00

Lately I haven't been able to get to sleep. I've been trying to go to bed earlier because I have several morning classes where paying attention is critical. So, I finally decided to get some sleep aid, Unisom. I finished everything I was supposed to do last night earlier than I expected and thought it'd be the perfect night to try the pill. So I popped it around 9:50, saw the end of The Biggest Loser, saw the beginning of Law & Order SVU...and that's all folks! I probably fell asleep before 10:30. This morning I woke up at 7:30, 9 hours later, refreshed and alert. This is an amazing feat considering that I haven't seen the 7 o'clock hour in what seems like forever. I usually go to bed between 3am and 4am. So I'm excited to have the whole day ahead of me. I have made a plan for my day and hopefully I'll stick to it as best as I can. Just wanted to let y'all know that Unisom is on point.

Who Should I vote for?

2008-01-29T16:45:00.000-05:00

This survey didn't solve anything for me. Hillary and Barack are still hella close. Well, the primaries are a-coming and I've got to make a firm stand one way or another. Maybe I'll do a little research and re-take the quiz. Some of the questions that I just left in neutral, I could probably have taken more of a stand on. We'll see.

	Bill Richardson - 78 match You must be looking for a moderate liberal with impressive credentials. If you live in Iowa or New Hampshire, you could have voted for Bill Richardson. Otherwise, you're out of luck. After finishing 4th in both states, Richardson dropped out of the presidential race. Experienced in state, national, and international politics, Richardson has been a Congressman, an ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, and is now the governor of New Mexico. He is pro-choice, strongly favors rights for the LGBT population, advocates for affirmative action in government contracts, and even championed the idea that Congress should revoke the original authority it gave to go to war with Iraq. Richardson also supports the death penalty and gun ownership rights.
	Hillary Clinton - 74 match Hillary Clinton is a liberal democrat who is unpopular among conservatives for advocating universal health care, abortion rights, and civil unions. She is resented in the anti-war crowd for having authorized a military strike in Iraq and not apologizing since. People see her as power-hungry and willing to do anything to get to the top, even stay with her unfaithful husband. However, Clinton has 8 years of experience in the White House, 25 years in national politics and is currently serving her second term as a popular New York senator. She knows how to make and deliver policy which puts her ahead of the inexperienced presidential hopefuls.
	Barack Obama - 71 match You must be ambitious and idealistic, like Barack Obama. Obama is a liberal democrat who, unlike his rivals, opposed the Iraq war from the start. With only 3 years in the Senate, his inexperience worries some and sometimes reveals itself in the debates, but he also has the charisma and popular support that the others lack.

Take the test.

Friday Rap Up - Get Boo'd Up

2008-01-25T19:38:00.001-05:00

Another one of my resolutions for this year was to get boo'd up. Translation: Get me somebody to love on. Heh. I'm still working on this one.

A letter to Iraq.

2008-01-24T16:29:00.000-05:00

I met a guy online yesterday. He sent me a Yahoo instant message and we chatted for a while before he let me know that he is currently serving in Iraq. He was really nice (and cute) and we actually had some great conversation so I was pleasantly surprised. Then he asked me something that took me back a little bit; he asked if I would write him a letter.

OF COURSE!!! I probably haven't written a letter to someone since 10th grade, but I love (LOVE) writing letters. With everyone having email, IM, and all this newfandangle technology, the art of letter writing has almost become extinct.

The thing is, I don't know this guy. We did chat for about 2 hours, though, so I know a few things. I know he likes music and women with dimples. He went to Morehouse and before the Army he worked at CNN. Usually when you write a letter to someone, you know them. You share some interests, know the same people, have memories together, something. With this guy, I don't have the luxury of any of those things. I guess I'll just write from my heart.

I'm sure he'll be excited to receive something at mail call, in the same way that I'm excited to be writing a letter to a soldier in Iraq.

The Ex Factor.

2008-01-22T13:50:00.000-05:00

As you all know from previous posts, I have an ex-boyfriend. A major ex-boyfriend, considering the fact that we were together for 7 years. But I don't think I've ever mentioned my previous ex. He was my "thug love." The guy that got caught undressing me in my bedroom when I was 15, the guy that "borrowed" some of my checks and said he'd let me know when I should report them stolen. This was also the guy who gave me his entire semester's book of math homework to do two days before it needed to be handed in, and blamed ME when he didn't pass.

They say when it rains, it pours. And they were not lying. I received a random phone call from "thug love" one day last week. We talked it up, chatted about old times and WHAM!! He hit me with, "So when can I come visit you?" Huh? Really? Because I haven't seen you in 10 years. So I kind of tip-toed around the question and we concluded our conversation nicely.

THEN...
As I was saying bye to "thug ex," "Major Ex" beeps in. I'm thinking to myself Is today Ex's Day? (Which should totally be a day, if it already isn't.) So I click over, and tell him how weird it was that he called because I'd just gotten off of the phone with the other ex. I told him "thuggie" kept coming at me with his whole "second chance skit" and I wasn't feeling it. "Major Ex" asked if he was also guilty of the "SCS" when he calls me. Easily I replied, "Yeah." I don't know if he thought I would be so direct about it, but who cares. Then, as if I'd reeled him in with some sort of possibility bait, he starts going on about how people that were together as long as we were shouldn't just lose all communication. He wanted to see me. He still had love for me. Blah, blah. And for a second, just one, I found myself agreeing with what he was saying. What could be the harm in meeting for lunch? I mean, we were together for 7 long years. And we hadn't seen each other since we broke up. Why not?

**record scratch**
He has a girlfriend. It's not we couldn't be friends regardless, it's just that his motto is "Men and women can't be just friends." And there it was. I knew he wouldn't be telling his girl about our meeting and I didn't want to be the ex who was having secret meetings with her man. EW. That is sooooo not me.

Maybe he doesn't think we broke up fairly; maybe he feels I gave up too easily; maybe he thinks we should have never broken up. But I don't. That's why I don't call you, that's why I don't want to meet up with you, and maybe "Major Ex," just maybe, you need to try to make the relationship you're in better than the relationship you had with me.

To all of my exes: You are my ex for a reason. Believe that. I've learned my lesson.

Friday Rap Up - 4 pounds

2008-01-18T00:35:00.000-05:00

I resolved to lose weight this year (again), but actually do it this time. In order to get 'er done, I've been doing Slim in 6. You have to do one of the videos 6 times per week. I've also been watching what I'm putting in my mouth. I wouldn't say I'm dieting necessarily, but I'm making much better choices. I started the program on Jan. 1st, and my workout coach (from the Beachbody message boards) advised me to only weigh in twice a month. I weighed in on the 15th, and in 14 days, I've already lost 4 pounds and 7 inches (2 whole inches in my waist alone). I know it's going to be a long, hard road. But this time, I think I've actually prepared myself for the trip.

This tagging stuff has got to stop.

2008-01-17T11:57:00.000-05:00

Two Names you go by:
1) TracieMae
2) GooGoo (only by the MooMoo)

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1) Slippers
2) A t-shirt from an old radio station where I worked

Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a Relationship:
1) the ability to communicate openly
2) No-nonsense silliness that any man dealing with me would have to also have a little bit of.

Two of your favorite things to do:
1) Watch TV
2) sing (oh yeah, I'm Beyonce in the shower! YA HEAR ME!!)

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1) A gazillion dollars
2) Someone to cuddle up with

Two pets you had/have:
1) Kitty, my first cat that I named appropriately
2) Armani, my dog, that is the sweetest little pup pup (even though he's huge)

Two people you think will fill this out:
1) No
2) Body (because I'm not tagging anyone)

Two things you did last night:
1) Chatted with a new friend
2) Washed my hair. It's a very long process.

Two things you ate today:
I haven't eaten yet, but I plan on eating...
1) Cheerios, my teacher talked about them in class the other day and I had to go out and get some (oh the power of advertising)
2) A loose meat burger. Remember on Roseanne...yeah, one of those.

Two people you last talked to:
1) My friend Jade. Today is her birthday.
2) My new classmate Ruby, which is ironically Jade's first name....hmmmm.

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1) Washing clothes...my bedroom looks like my closet threw up.
2) Working out. I've been doing fabs y'all.

Two longest car rides:
1) Jackson, MS to Charlotte, NC, in the rain all the way. It took me and my ex 12 hours and it should have only taken us 9. And he is not somebody you want to be in a car with for a long time, believe me! Not. Fun.
2) Chicago, IL to Jackson, MS. This is when my life changed. I'm still trying to figure out if the change was for the better.

Two favorite holidays:
1) Crimmuh
2) I also like St. Paddy's Day, AKA my gramma's birthday.

Two favorite beverages:
1) Sprite
2) Koolaid

Both of these drinks are no longer in my fridge...but oh how I love them.

Two people no longer alive who you'd like to talk to:
1) Gramma
2) Aaliyah

Friday Rap Up - I don't feel good.

2008-01-11T02:22:00.000-05:00

So, I'm sick. Not like a cold sick. Not like sniffles and cough sick. It's more like nausea and a major depletion of energy sick. I'm surprised I even got through this rap up. It was really hard.

The 48 hour challenge.

2008-01-09T20:39:00.001-05:00

One of my teachers challenged us to not use our cell phones for 48 hours. He talked about how times have changed and improvements in technology have basically enslaved most of us.

It just so happened that morning before I went to school I called the MooMoo who had called me 16 times during the night. She'd left 3 voice messages and 1 text urging me to call her immediately because it was important, very important. When I called her back, praying that no one in my family had passed away, she began scolding me for her loss of sleep. She claimed that I had her "sick" because I didn't answer the phone (in my sleep). I then found out that she had called my apartment complex to have them check for my car in the parking garage and to knock on my door. Luckily she only got the answering service because she called before the office had opened. Now mind you, I have a home phone that didn't ring ONCE.

Now there's a "call me everyday" mandate. How...fun.

The newly issued mandate, takes me out of the challenge but otherwise I think I could go 48 hours without using my cell phone. Internet, though, would be a different story. But aside from the occasional call from Kuh Reel Yuh, my friend Jade, and the MooMoo, no one calls me. It's really a sad situation. What's extra upsetting is that I am now used to it.

It was issued to me, so now I issue this challenge to you. Could you do it? Turn your phone off for 48 hours and not use it for anything? Or have you become addicted to technology?

This is crappy.

2008-01-07T23:15:00.000-05:00

I finally got my nerve up enough to watch the internet-renowned video 2 girls 1 cup. I don't know if everybody has seen it but I definitely do NOT recommend viewing the video. (But I did link it so that you all can suffer through what I had to witness.) I decided to record my reaction for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Friday Rap Up - Get Tested

2008-01-04T03:50:00.000-05:00

Okay y'all sorry about that.
I was entirely beat yesterday.

Anyway, everybody knows I went to Planned Parenthood a couple of weeks ago. Well, I got my HIV test results back: NEGATIVO! Thank you very much! I am not a statistic.
But I got to thinking if I could've been. I'm always safe, but there are times when you're with people you trust that you could be like, 'don't worry about it,' and your whole life could change in that one instant. I told you before that while I was in Planned Parenthood, I saw a young couple who were there to be tested together. I thought the young lady was very smart for doing that (okay, it could've been the dude's idea, but I doubt it). And I think the next man I'm with is going to have to show and prove. I'll go with him and get tested again if he wants me too, but I gotta see some paperwork.

I just realized...

2008-01-02T22:54:00.001-05:00

...that I hadn't given y'all any kind of hair update AND I never gave the link to my Fotki hair album like I said I would waaaaaaaaaay back in the day.

So, it's been 16 weeks since my last relaxer. That's 4 months for the calendar-challenged. The new growth is coming in full force and is basically taking over. I also have not used any type of heat on my hair in 12 weeks. I've just been twisting or rolling and air drying it. I don't even miss the heat. But this new growth is getting out of control. I no longer can just slap my hair in a ponytail, or wear it out without repercussions. The other day I tried the "Rudy Huxtable" big hair thing and I was looking a hot mess. The "Rudy" used to be my thing. Now, no more.

I think I now have about two inches of new growth, but the BIG CHOP is coming soon peoples. I can't divulge the exact release date, but when it comes out...cop that, cop that!

Here's what my new growth looks like today:

Here's the "Rudy Huxtable" look that I miss so much:

Check out MY FOTKI PAGE for more pics. Go there, comment, give me advice, HELP ME!! Thank ya kindleeee.

I'm addictive.

2008-01-02T01:34:00.000-05:00

The video that I posted just 4 short days ago has already had almost 5000 views according to YouTube! Wow! That's amazing to me. I also have 250 subscribers on YouTube who want to be notified whenever I post a new video. What a way to start the new year! Hopefully I'll only go up from here. YAY!

So the weirdest thing happened...

2008-01-02T00:33:00.000-05:00

Y'all know how I think I'm a little bit psychic right? It was one of those 101 things about me.

Well check this. Ever since I moved to this apartment (last May) I couldn't find one of my favorite workout DVD's (Turbo Jam). I even went on Ebay to try to get it in an auction but I lost every auction where I placed a bid. I knew I wanted to start doing this DVD when the new year started but I just couldn't find it anywhere.

While I was in Mississippi I had a dream...."that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice"....oh wait, child that wasn't my dream, that was MLK Jr. Heh. In MY dream I was flipping through a photo album and my Turbo Jam DVD fell out. When I woke up I remembered it (which is amazing all by itself, I usually never remember my dreams) and I thought about it all week.

As soon as I got back to Atlanta I went to the drawer where I keep my photo albums. I reached in and lifted up the pages of one of them and started to flip through and lo and behold my TURBO JAM was right there. I'd been looking for that DVD for 7 months and I finally found it after I dreamed exactly where it was. I was so spooked. Tears welled up in my eyes, I clutched my chest, and had to lean back on the door for balance. I couldn't believe what had just happened. But for me...it solidified that I'm not just making stuff up; somebody or something is telling me stuff. *insert scary music here*

My New Year's Resolutions

2008-01-01T23:50:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's 2008! I graduated high school 10 years ago! Geez!

I really have to get it together because time is flying by, life is short, and blah blah, all that stuff.

In 2008 I resolve to:

-Get boo'd up. It's a term I heard Kuh Reel Yuh say. Translation: Get myself a man.

-Lose weight. I think this has been on my resolution list since '99...shameful.

-Stay HIV negative

-Work harder and smarter at school

-Cut off all my relaxed hair and be fully natural

-Go to Vegas

-Win something (not necessarily while I'm in Vegas; it could be a scholarship or whatever)

The Holidays are over...

2008-01-01T23:40:00.000-05:00

My holiday went okay. I wasn't extra surprised by anything that happened, it was mostly just a time to visit people and chill with moms and nem.
While I was in Mississippi I visited two babies: Baleigh and Bria
I've already introduced y'all to Baleigh, but Bria was just born Dec. 19th (I think).
And then on my way back to Atlanta, I stopped in Hueytown, AL to visit my long time best friend's baby Raven. The funny thing is when I was telling my mom about all the babies I had to visit we had this exchange:

Me: I have to go see 3 babies while I'm here.

Mom: Yeah, everybody's having babies huh?

Me: Yup, one day I'll have one.

Mom: I wish you'd hurry up.

Me: Uhm, I don't even have a boyfriend.

Mom: And?

Me: Well, a boyfriend is usually how a husband starts out.

Mom: You don't need a husband to have a baby.

Me: WHAT! Are you telling me it's now okay to have a baby out of wedlock?

Mom: You're old enough...

Me: After all those years of yelling, "You betta not bring no babies home," now it's okay?

Mom: Well, you were in highschool then. Now you're old. You're almost 30.

Me: Damn.

Me and the Baleigh Bop

Introducing Ms. Bria Riley

Bria and her daddy. (notice the little puppy on the couch too, I believe her name is Diva)

Introducing Ms. Raven Amber born Nov. 5th.

Friday Rap Up - What do you resolve?

2007-12-28T21:30:00.001-05:00

I'm still here in Mississippi visiting with the MooMoo and the doggies. It took me a little while longer to to my rap up today I guess because I'm in Mississippi mode, but it's here and it's still Friday.

I'm really excited about 2008 y'all. A lot of things are changing for me this year and I'm anxious to go ahead and get them started. I'm going to post my resolutions as an entire post a little closer to New Years Day, but this Rap Up is asking all of you what kind of resolutions you're making for the new year.

Hopefully this year we'll all be able to keep them.

Twas the day after Christmas...

2007-12-26T18:56:00.000-05:00

...and my back really hurt; it's supposed to be good that my mother's a nurse.

Actually, I woke up on Christmas day with a pain in my upper back. It felt like a muscle sprain or something of the sort. My mom gave me some pills last night and when I woke up this morning I was actually okay (sort of). My mom and I were off to try to grab some post-holiday deals and when I turned my head, put my hand on the headrest of the passenger seat, and started to back my car out of the driveway, the pain returned - FULL FORCE! It really caught me off guard, I even lost my breath for a minute. And I have a high threshold for pain, brought about from years of my mother telling me to count to ten when I hurt myself before she'd do anything about it, but I digress. My mom was convinced my pain was not a muscle sprain, but gas.

This is our conversation at Target:

Mom: What you need is some Tums or Mylanta.

Me: What? What kind of solution is that to a sprain?

Mom: That's not a sprain, you ate too much macaroni and cheese yesterday.

Me: Is this what you tell your patients? Like oh, you have a bone protruding from your leg, must be gas. I'll get the Tums, but in the meanwhile do some jumping jacks!

Mom: Remember when you were little how I used to make you run around the house to get things moving? It works.

Me: Can we not talk about this now, please.

Mom: Is it the upper back or lower back?

Me: Upper, like in between my shoulder blades.

Mom: Mmmm hmmmm, gas.

Me: How is that gas? You would've said it was gas no matter what I said.

Mom: (to cashier) Do you not have Tums up here?

Cashier: No ma'am, not up here.

Me: *spewing evil eye darts at mom*

Mom: (whispers to cashier) She doesn't want you to know that she has gas.

Me: (internally) WTF...I DO NOT HAVE EFFIN GAS!!

Cashier: *uneasy giggle*

Me: Wow.

Mom: We're gonna have to hurry up because I need to release my bladder.

Me: Double wow.

Let's just say, I can't wait to embarass my kids. Oh, it must be much fun if my mom is still doing it and I'm 27 years old. Geez!!

Murr Crimmuh y'all...

2007-12-25T03:16:00.000-05:00

Let me know what y'all got for Christmas. Okay, just one thing you got for Christmas, so I can be jealous and live vicariously through all of my blog fam.

I'll start: One thing I got for Christmas is - uhm...well...my mama said she'd braid my hair today. That's something.

Whatchoo get?

Tracie in Wondaland

2007-12-22T20:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, let the updating begin!

Last weekend Kuh Reel Yuh asked if I would like to join her at a cabin up near Lake Lanier for the weekend. (This is where we had the brush with the law) The Wondaland Arts Society, where she interns, had rented a place out there and it was gonna be a good time. I couldn't pass it up. I mean, really, what else am I doing with myself?

If you're not up on Wondaland (an indie record label), I highly suggest you get to know Janelle Monae. *ripped from Wikipedia* She was first featured on the Purple Ribbon All-Star's Compilation Got Purp? Volume 2 in 2005. Her song "Lettin' Go," from this album became a cult hit and a fan favorite. Her next major feature was on OutKast's movie soundtrack for Idlewild, where she is featured on the songs "Call The Law" and "In Your Dreams."

Anywhooo, she's great (get the album on iTunes for like 5 bucks), everybody was so great. I had so much fun. Let's see, to tell it all very quickly here's what went down:

-We arrived around 8pm Saturday.
-It was just me and the interns at first.
-We all got drunk and tried to sleep a little, but...
-Around 6am, EVERYBODY else came (after a P.Diddy party)
-Around 7 (AM!!!) we barbecued
-slept a bit more
-'round 11am ate breakfast
-tripped out
-sang
-danced
-freestyled
-talked about pretty much everything
-I was the score keeper in the hypest game of Taboo I've ever been a part of (let's just say there was a small marching band involved)
-Dinner
-Went home, crunked out.

Me & Janelle Monae

Kuh Reel Yuh chowin' down

Delvin, Alex, and Rico

Jon, tapped out.

A little thing called WondaPunch

BBQ Chicken in the morning

I like how Mitch looks all "cabin-esque" with his iPhone.

AND, I finally found somebody to braid my hair. Thanks Alex!

Friday Rap Up - DWB

2007-12-21T04:11:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe one Friday Rap Up is stacked on top of another one on my blog; that means I didn't blog all freakin week. Well, I plan to catch you all up on my life when I have time to take a breather. It hasn't been that involved, just busy that's all; I don't want to build you up to let you down.

Anyway, this week's video is about something that happened last weekend.
Enjoy!

Friday Rap Up - Why I Youtube

2007-12-14T05:34:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday y'all!

You all know that you're my blog family, right? But what you probably don't know is that I also have a YouTube family. I have about 80 people who subscribe to receive my video every Friday. Last Friday one of my subscribers named Andsanp sent me a message asking me to record a response to a video he'd done asking people why they YouTube. I guess it's almost like I was video tagged. Maybe. A little.

So anyway, here's my response.
Enjoy!

**OH! And I've added a little intro to my Friday Rap Ups. It's a little After Effects project I worked on this quarter. Hope you likes.**

Sorry guys...

2007-12-12T15:06:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while. My critique is tonight, then I'm finished. Just hang in there!

Shorts are now allowed...

2007-12-08T21:01:00.000-05:00

For a limited time only.
It was like scarf and hat cold last week, this week they are forecasting mid 70s! Just to remind you, it's December. Global warming eh?

Planned Parenthood

2007-12-08T16:49:00.000-05:00

**My male readers might want to run and hide from this post, but it's not that bad.**

Planned Parenthood. Just the name alone makes me think of an old dusty room packed with teenagers, pregnant teenagers. But when I stepped off of the elevators, that's not what I found at all. The place was nice and clean; there were females (and males) of all ages. I even saw a cute young couple who were there to get HIV tested together (smart girl, I thought). I only went there to get my annual exam and HIV test because one of my friends told me it was cheap for students. And it was. Yay!

Let me just tell you, I'm not a fan of being naked on a cot, feet in stirrups, with all my business out there for some strange person to inspect. In fact, I've been going to the same gynecologist in Mississippi since I was 17. He knows I laugh during the breast exam because I'm ticklish; he knows that my cervix is tilted (oh the horror stories I have with other doctors trying to get that damn cervix). But I have to say, my experience at Planned Parenthood was THE BEST exam I've ever had.

The wait was horrible, though. I waited an hour and 15 minutes in the waiting room and another 30 minutes one I got into the room. But when the nurse practitioner came in, we talked, mostly about the history of breast cancer in my family. During the breast exam, we talked (and I didn't laugh), while she tried to get the right angle to find my cervix (didn't take her long), we talked, during the pelvic exam, we talked. And I didn't mind. In fact, it was great, and before I knew it, it was over.

In the end, I only paid a little over 75 bucks for a flawless annual exam, 3 months BC, and an HIV test. Score! So, if you're a full time student, like myself, I highly recommend the downtown Atlanta Planned Parenthood for your next annual exam. Plan to be there for at least 3 or 4 hours though. teehee.

Friday Rap Up - Apple Z

2007-12-07T02:41:00.000-05:00

Requested by Chrissy.
What if we could Apple Z (undo) stuff in everyday life. Like, remember that time you peed in the bed? Well, what if when you woke up you could push Apple Z on your life and have that part undo itself. It'd be good.

Ready, go!

Tania's gonna kill me!

2007-12-05T06:13:00.001-05:00

But I think she may be living a double life.

Here's her alias "Mindy Mylrea," the 2004 Can Fit Pro International Fitness Presenter of the Year. I just saw her on an Orbitrek infomercial.

Oh Tania, I knew you were up to something.

Just a thought...

2007-12-05T02:09:00.000-05:00

Shouldn't white men stop wearing black trench coats? (At least in schools) It makes me nervous.
I'm just saying.

101 things about me.

2007-12-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

1. I'm a planner.
2. I stopped wanting to get married.
3. But then I started back.
4. I'm a hopeless romantic.
5. I've been writing plays since I can remember.
6. I have a tattoo of a 4 leaf clover on my shoulder.
7. I got it for my gramma who passed away; her birthday was on St. Patrick's Day.
8. My granddaddy was the one who called me Tracie Mae.
9. My real middle name is Diane.
10. Which is also my mom's first name.
11. I have lived in a battered woman's shelter.
12. Gymnastics and cheerleading used to be my life.
13. My mom is funny.
14. So is my dad.
15. I think I'm slightly psychic, or highly intuitive.
16. I have two degrees in broadcasting.
17. I found out being a TV reporter is too serious for me.
18. I love to laugh.
19. I am an only child.
20. One Christmas I had 36 presents under the tree BEFORE Santa came.
21. I was that girl.
22. I had a skee ball machine in my house.
23. I'm not a trier.
24. I stick with what I know is good.
25. I enjoy rollercoasters.
26. I worked as a mortgage loan specialist for about 2 years.
27. I cry when I get mad.
28. I wish I could stop that because I think others look at it as a weakness.
29. I sometimes have dreams about beating people up. Men mostly.
30. I've never been in a fight.
31. I love Beyonce.
32. I wish I could be one of her background singers.
33. I tried out for American Idol.
34. I tried out for VH1's Diva show.
35. I tried out for VH1's Pop Culture Trivia show.
36. I lived in Mississippi for 12 years.
37. Now, I notice when I'm the only black person in the room.
38. While growing up in Chicago, I never noticed that.
39. My first best friend was Holly Panazzo.
40. I tried to find her on myspace once.
41. Death is one of my biggest fears.
42. Not my own, but people around me.
43. If I didn't make jokes, I'd cry.
44. I'm a worry-wart.
45. And a perfectionist.
46. I get it from my MooMoo.
47. I don't remember when I started calling my mom MooMoo.
48. I was named after one of my mom's friends from nursing school, Cie.
49. And my dad, Tyrone.
50. I wrote a letter to myself when I was 15.
51. I'm supposed to open it on my 30th birthday.
52. I can hardly remember anything I wrote in it.
53. I love being in love.
54. I think I'm a great girlfriend.
55. My ex used to constantly remind me that I wasn't.
56. My ex and I were together for 7 years.
57. I'm totally over it.
58. I love when a guy can make me laugh.
59. I fell in love right after I became single.
60. I shouldn't have done that.
61. My mom says I've been trying to win something since I was a little girl.
62. That's why she understands why I get sad when I don't win.
63. I feel like winning something big is my destiny.
64. I can't be on a treadmill next to someone who stops every 2 minutes.
65. Or someone whose sweat is flicked on me with every step they take.
66. Or when the person next to me is reading; you can't read and walk, it's just impossible.
67. I can usually remember what a word starts with even if I can't remember the word.
68. My friends think I'm wrong most of the time.
69. I need to start keeping a tally of when I'm right.
70. I believe in traditional gender roles.
71. Most guys are surprised when I tell them that.
72. I've never been given flowers by a man.
73. I think that the first man to give me flowers will be my husband.
74. I want to delete #73 because it might give someone an unfair advantage.
75. In high school the people at Burger King knew my order before I gave it.
76. BK was the hangout after school or a football game.
77. That was back when the Whopper was still 99 cents.
78. I'm not feeling the "happy Mary J. Blige."
79. I liked her music better when she was "Going Down."
80. I'm an R&B chick to the bone. Oldies through today.
81. I believe that any TV show is good as long as you watch it from the first episode.
82. I'm 5'3.5" tall (please say the half).
83. I'm a sucker for romantic gestures.
84. I love all Cranium games.
85. I want to have a party at my house but I don't want anyone to spill Kool Aid on my carpet.
86. I'm more patient than I should be.
87. When I was little, I felt sorry for 18-wheelers that couldn't make turns.
88. Not for the driver, but the actual truck.
89. I did some things in my past for the sole purpose of making my diary interesting.
90. I want some one to find my diary one day and publish it.
91. My mom and I sing songs randomly from old commercials. Like "Blockbuster Video, WOW, what a difference," and "Mommy. What is it dear? I want a Salerno Butter Cookie..."
92. "...You can lookie, lookie, lookie, but you'll never find a cookie with a better butter batter than Salerno, Salerno Butter cookie." I felt strongly about finishing that song.
93. I used to stick my head out of the car window like a dog and laugh cuz I couldn't breathe.
94. I fell out of the car when I was 3. Seat belts weren't the law.
95. I had an appointment to take pictures that day, so my mom put makeup on my exposed white meat, drew a right eyebrow on me, and we kept our picture appointment.
96. I used to perform for my family (plays, songs, etc.)
97. Occasionally I get a hankering to paint something.
98. Once I thought I could do a total room renovation before my mom came back from work. I emptied my room, ripped up the carpet, and drew up plans. It took me about 2 weeks. My mom wasn't mad.
99. Once I get something in my head, I have to do it, or get it, or research how to do it.
100. I think I want to live in Chicago again, as a grown up.
101. I went to Double Dare on tour back in the day. It was great.

Friday Rap Up - I don't know how to freestyle.

2007-11-30T03:12:00.000-05:00

I know it's been like forever since I've blogged. It's that time again my peoples. Studio Week. For all of my new readers, studio week is a week at school that we're given to complete all of the assignments we've been working on all quarter. Then we present them to a critique panel and either get good reviews, torn apart, or a little of both. So around this time I end up blogging less, but I'll try to keep up this quarter.

This Friday Rap Up is totally random much like everything else I do.
I killz 'em with the freestyle! teehee.

Hey, it's me again.

2007-11-26T14:50:00.001-05:00

Done by the one and only photographer in my quarter, Jamie Hopper; awesome shot.

My new celebricrush.

2007-11-26T01:16:00.000-05:00

Reggie Bush.
Or as I like to call him "Reggie the so fine."

He used to be linked to Ciara. They do look cute together.

But now it's out that he's dating Kim Kardashian. The bootylicious Armenian beauty who had that sex tape with Ray J (Who, by the way, was one of my previous celebricrushes, until I saw the tape; let's just say there's a hook involved, teehee.). I can't even hate on Kim though, she's pulling fine men but she's beautiful, so it doesn't seem outta order to me. Mo' power to her.

Is that all it takes?

2007-11-24T18:42:00.001-05:00

Earlier today Lynn and I risked our lives by doing a photo shoot in an abandoned building with a homeless lady sleeping in there. (There was a water bottle filled with pee in there, too.) She told Lynn if she'd known we were coming she would've cleaned up a little bit; awwwww. Anyway, Lynn had a make-up artist come over and get my face ready for the shoot. So for the shoot I looked like this:

After we were finished with the shoot, I had to go grocery shopping. I wiped off most of the makeup; the only remaining fragments were my still stained lips and fake eyelashes. So I looked a little something like this:

When I'm telling you I found the secret, I found the freakin secret. So, apparently, eyelashes are the thing; I'm guessing. In Kroger (the same Kroger where I've been shopping since May) not only one, but two guys tried to talk to me. I felt like I was in highschool again! One guy was an employee who asked, "When will I see you again?" I replied, "You've seen me every other week, this is my Kroger, where I shop." "I've never seen you before, I would've remembered," he yelled back as I pushed the cart away trying to hide my disbelief in the power of the eyelashes.

The second guy stalked me for a while. I didn't notice him doing it though, HE TOLD ME. Teehee. He even said he was scared to talk to me, like who the hell am I? Beyonce? Yes. I. Am. *wink, with one humongous eyelash* He introduced himself and we talked for a quick second before he asked if he could take me out sometime. "Possibly," I said. Dude looked young. He told me he went to Grambling so I'm guessing he's at least 23 or 24, but I don't know. We exchanged numbers and that was that.

**SIDEBAR** See, that's the thing about meeting people in person, I really don't remember dude's name, don't know how old he is, and in a short while I probably won't remember what he looks like. Online, though, I can research a dude.

When I got home, I had to take pictures forever preserving the day when Tracie's eyelashes helped get her groove back.

Friday Rap Up - Happy Holidays

2007-11-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

Lynn's mama cooked for all of us who were staying in ATL for Thanksgiving. Thanks Lynn's mama! I ate goooooood, too. All diet restrictions went out the window. And I did gain 2 pounds. That's okay, I'm back on the grind. I just had to enjoy myself for the holidays.

Girlz Night.

2007-11-22T04:27:00.000-05:00

Hey, hey, hey!!! We finally went out and did something with our bad selves.

Aisha, Lynn, Kuh Reel Yuh and myself all went to Verve Lounge tonight. It's down Peachtree and is basically 3 floors of clubbing fun. You tired of reggae on the second floor? Go upstairs. Wanna hear live music? Go downstairs. It was fun. I thought I was cute:

I had on my contacts (which I NEVER wear) because I didn't want to be bothered with my glasses. Me and Kuh Reel Yuh took pictures, myspace-style:

It rained a little bit, but we make anythang look good:

Lynn drove..

...and took my place as the "drunk man magnet." Teehee.

We danced:

We didn't know that when we got back to Lynn's car her tire would be flat.

We called Triple A and had to wait another hour after we left the club in a parking lot. Which would've been okay if we weren't fighting off homeless guys and crackheads. One crackhead, might I add, was sent over by an oh-so gentlemanly guy who was on his cell phone sitting on the hood of his car the entire time we waited. He didn't want to help us, so he told the crackhead to see if we needed help. Thank you typical Atlanta guy, thanks.

Guy after guy walked past, no one offered to help us. But as soon as the AAA guy got there we heard, "Y'all need some assistance..." "Oh, I didn't know y'all had a flat tire..."

Mmmm Hmmmm, save it fellas. As much as I hate Mississippi and have vowed never to date someone from there again, I can say one good thing about it. In Mississippi, we wouldn't have had to call AAA, somebody would've helped us.

*shaking my head* Step yo game up Atlanta guys. Geez.

The bug that wouldn't die.

2007-11-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

It is widely known that roaches can survive pretty much anything. They can still be up and walking around with their head cut off; they always seem to push through the pain of being squashed by my shoe (thrown from afar); and they are said to be the only thing that is going to be able to survive a nuclear blast. Here's what happened when I encountered one of those nuclear blast surviving roaches.

I walked into my living room, noticing a large brown spot on my light beige carpet. I didn't have my glasses on so I had to get closer to make sure it wasn't a stain or some lint off of my black slippers. When I saw what it was I jumped, I screamed, I ran around in circles. This is only the second bug I've seen in my place since I moved here. I had to have a plan.

Now, when I moved into my lovely uptown apartment I sprayed Bengal around the entire perimeter of the place, in every crack and crevise I could find. Living in Mississippi (with the biggest bugs EVER) helped me find out that little handy trick. So when I came across this huge beast of a bug on my floor, he was already on his back (thanks Bengal), but still fighting for his life.

My first plan: Throw phone books on him and do a tap dance on top of the books.
Result: Plan was thrown out when I remembered that he was on my soft, plush carpet.

Plan 2: Sweep him into a dustpan and throw him out the back door.
Result: When I attempted to sweep him I ended up turning him over and he started walking away. Screaming and jumping didn't phase him either. I had to sweep him until he was back on his back.

Plan 3: Put a wet paper towel on him, THEN sweep him into the dustpan. Move the dustpan into the kitchen (hard surface floor) and proceed with the original phone book idea.
Result: Got him into the dustpan (score one for Tracie), and pushed the dustpan into the kitchen with the broom. I was scared to pour him out of the dustpan so I just left him there to hopefully suffocate.

1 hour later - He crawled out of the wet paper towel and was now chilling on top of it. Almost like he climbed Mt. Everest or something, just perched up there feeling proud.

Plan 4: Knock the dustpan over with the broom, then throw 5 phone books on it, tap dance on top, and he'll be dead.
Result: When I knocked him out of the dustpan, I ran. Later, I peered around the corner to see that he was no longer in the paper towel, but he was still on his back. I had to get another wet paper towel, cover him again (which required me getting hella close to it), and then continue with the phone book plan.

Conclusion: I danced, twisted, and jumped on those phone books like I was crazy. I went to the store to get some Hawaiian Bread Rolls for Thanksgiving (my contribution) and when I came back, my phone books were gone!

Teehee. Just kidding. That's my mom's favorite joke, the "Roach stole my phone book" joke.
When I got back from the store, there just so happened to be two maintenance men outside talking. I asked them to pick up the bug for me and they did. That was nice.

I mean, what is a single, bug-fearing, girl like myself to do?
Add something else to my "What I like in a man list:" a man who knows that I'm scared of big bugs and will kill them without any hesitation. King Kong killed dinosaurs for that white chick, why can't I get somebody to step on bugs, pick them up, and not chase me around with them?

Can I get an AMEN?

King Kong.

2007-11-19T00:46:00.000-05:00

If you know me, you know I'm not much of a movie-goer. I used to go a lot with "the ex" but mostly because he wanted to see something. I'm just a TV show watcher mainly. The last movie I saw was Oceans 13 (Lynn had to peel me away from a TV show to go). Most of the movies I see are when none of my shows are on and I'm just channel surfing (or when somebody makes me watch something with them).

So anywhooo, I just finished watching King Kong for the first time. Ever. I never even saw the original. And I remember wanting to see this new one when it came out, but like I said, I'm not really a movie-goer. I did, however, ride the King Kong ride at Universal Studios some years back. It came on HBO and I didn't see it from the beginning, so I don't really know the whole story. But...

Was it just me (being the single girl that I am) or was King Kong the strongest, most chivalrous, beast ever?!?!? I mean, okay, so he wasn't that cute, but homie could protect me anyday. And was this a love story? Did she love Kong? I never figured that out, but I know I did. I was (eyes filled with tears) yelling, "Leave him ALOOOONNNNEEEEE!" I know it could have never happened but I was hoping for the blond chick and Kong to go off and have some kiddie-kongs.

In the end, I was upset when Kong fell to his death. It was almost as if I was watching the last gentleman in the world perish. I mean, he saved her from like 4 T-Rex's and who knows how many other beasts that obviously preferred white meat. And c'mon people, he was learning sign language and everything. Kong would've done anything for blond chick, anything to protect her.

Add that to the list of what I like in a beast, er, man.

Foxy Tracie-patra

2007-11-18T12:22:00.000-05:00

Test shoot for one of Lynn's projects. I'm so bad, I kill folks with a flashlight.

Another Saturday of nothing.

2007-11-17T17:20:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so, remember that whole thing where I'm supposed to go out and do different things in Atlanta? Well, I'm finding it doesn't work so well when you don't have anyone to go with. I'm a fun gal, but I'm usually not one to venture to places unknown all by myself.

I wanted to go to this thing called PlayDate tonight. It's where you just play games (Twister, Scrabble, Taboo, Hungry Hungry Hippo, etc) all night with strangers. It sounded fun to me. Kuh Reel Yuh didn't want to go because she'd gone before and felt that there was "too much estrogen in the room." (I betcha tonight is gonna be like man-central up in there.) Lynn didn't wanna go because she'd just gotten in from out of town and wasn't in the going somewhere mood. PlayDate only happens once a month soooo, I guess that means I have a month to find somebody to go to the next one with me.

I guess tonight I'll just wash my hair, watch TV, and do some homework. Again.

Friday Rap Up - Gotta get my tag renewed

2007-11-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

In Georgia, every year on your birthday your tag on your car expires. We all know my birthday was last week, soooooo, I'm riding illegally. I'm no stranger to the illegal ride, though. I rode around with an expired North Carolina tag for 3 years before I went ahead and got a Georgia one. But I almost feel compelled to stay current since I'm riding around in the state that issued it.

If I didn't have to go and get that freakin' emissions test it would be a whole lot easier. Geez.

I feel smaller already.

2007-11-15T18:43:00.000-05:00

I usually don't tell people when I'm embarking on (yet another) weight loss journey for fear of being ridiculed when my pants get tight again. But kuh reel yuh has set forth a challenge and even though I'm not competitive at all, I've decided to go ahead and make a REAL effort to lose weight.

I've started the 6 Week Body Makeover. It's the diet they used to use on Extreme Makeover (er, not Home Edition) for the people to lose a lot of weight before they underwent all those cosmetic surgeries. I attempted this program a couple of years ago and I didn't last long, but I know it works. I just need to have a strong mind and make it through.

*Where you at Thic??*

This virtual model is as close as I get to posting a picture of me in a swimsuit.

Me now versus Me later.

Isn't it funny how much my "after" picture looks like Beyonce? :)

Feed me Seymour.

2007-11-14T14:19:00.001-05:00

Lately, I've been living off of egg whites, strawberries, and cheese cubes. I ran out of strawberries two days ago; ran out of eggs today. After looking in my fridge, one would think I'd be much skinnier than I am. Damn genetics.

one day at a time

2007-11-14T00:38:00.000-05:00

Most days I'm too consumed with schoolwork to think about being alone.
Most days I never even realize my loneliness.
Most days I don't cry.
Most days I don't acknowledge that no one calls my phone.
Most days I'm glad I'm just doing me.
Most days I know that someone will eventually find me.
Most days I don't focus on my empty house.
Most days I don't think about all my friends being married.
Most days I'm happy watching TV all by myself.
Most days I'm glad I'm single.

Today, is not one of those days.

I'm a bitch in the afternoon...

2007-11-13T14:49:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Ty and Chrissy for giving me something to post!

You Are 40% Bitchy

You're a pretty sweet person, and you're definitely not prone to bitchy outbursts.
Sometimes, though, you can't help thinking mean thoughts about people. But at least you don't act on them!

How Bitchy Are You?

This is why everyone understands me.

2007-11-13T14:44:00.000-05:00

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English

10% Dixie

10% Upper Midwestern

5% Midwestern

5% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

I need to get out more.

2007-11-13T14:38:00.000-05:00

Look before you leap.

2007-11-13T01:15:00.000-05:00

I've determined that since I've made the decision to no longer "look" for a man, I have absolutely nothing to blog about. I mean, what else do I do? School. New things with my hair. Uhhhh, that's about it. Without the occasional stupid guy encounter, my life is mad boring. Or at least it seems that way in the blog world. I should've thought about that before I decided to stop looking. Hmmmm. Oh well.

We went back for more.

2007-11-10T13:52:00.000-05:00

And we survived! Ty and I went back to Dance 411 today for the beginner juice class we took a couple weekends ago (Ty has been going every week). Remember the teacher I talked about (thought her name was Mia)? Well it turns out her name is Neo (Isn't her hair fabulous?), and she read my other post about her class. When we walked in and put our stuff down, she turned to us and said, "I liked your blog." We were like, "Whaaaaa?" I was semi-embarrassed (why? I don't know), but excited at the same time. She probably made the class a little more bearable for us elderly folks this time around (no knee slides), but we made it through without anyone reverting to the fetal position. We must join.

Friday Rap Up - Put yo summer clothes away

2007-11-09T02:43:00.000-05:00

Listen, girls, I know. I know it's hard for you to get used to covering up your bodies again. I mean, it's been months of sweltering heat and wearing as little as possible was actually necessary (hmph). But now you must bid farewell to your sweet exposed arms, legs, and toes and say hello to boots, sweaters, and coats. It's cover up time people, so do it. Or risk getting talked about.

The Day of my Birth...

2007-11-06T10:01:00.000-05:00

is today. November 6th. I am now a 27 year old woman. I guess I'm on the right track as far as my life goes. I'm getting this degree and hopefully by next year I'll know a little more definitely what it is I really want to do. I remember loving birthdays, not being able to wait until I turned 5, 10, and 13. I don't know what I was so excited about, maybe my party, maybe just being able to do more things because I was older. But now, birthdays remind me of all the things I haven't done. I haven't found my dream job, I don't have my dream car, or my dream man. But I'm accomplished in other ways, I'm smart, I think I'm funny (bump errybody else), and I'm hella determined to get this life thing right. So here's to me being 27! Yay! (I guess)

My Mississippi Weekend

2007-11-05T13:25:00.000-05:00

I finally got to see the many faces of Baleigh Reese -

I also went to a bridal party for my friend Jade's mom where we had to wear "ugly" bridesmaid dresses, oh lawd -

I shook hands with my favorite man -
And learned a new funny trick -

(my arm, teehee)

Friday Rap Up - I'ma stop looking...

2007-11-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

I've decided to just stop looking. You know how they say once you stop looking for something, whatever you were looking for will find you. So that, my friends, is what I'm going to do. I still would like to go different places around Atlanta though, get out of the house and do things, but I think I'm gonna start just focusing on me.

I've made a schedule for my everyday life that if I can follow, should get me to where I want to be educationally, physically, and domestically. I've scheduled myself to work out 4 times a week, time to go to the grocery store, and I've even scheduled a night to go out and do something fun. My birthday is quickly approaching and I don't want my life to be focused on having a man, I want to be focused on being the best me I can be. I'm numero uno to me, I need to start acting like it.

Soooo here's my rhyme.
Enjoy!

The Spongebob Dance

2007-11-01T04:06:00.000-04:00

Some dude in Atlanta is claiming this, but I think it's been out up north (like in Baltimore or somewhere) for a while now. But uhhhhhhmm, all my grown folks, ain't this just the "Tom and Jerry" from back in the day reincarnated?? Real talk.

Also, let me just add that I have indeed attempted this dance...I can definitely do it - I just have to be picked up off of the floor afterwards.

Wow...

2007-11-01T03:37:00.001-04:00

I joined Nappturality a couple of weeks ago and my "Naps Won't Quit" video has shot up to 1020 views according to YouTube making it my first video to reach over 1000 views. Naps are apparently interesting.

America shouldn't vote for stuff...

2007-10-31T13:33:00.000-04:00

They just voted Sabrina Bryan (one of the Cheetah Girls) off of Dancing with the Stars. She was the best dancer on the show. Are you telling me that America thinks that Marie Osmond is better than Sabrina!?!?!? Hellz Nawww. In my mind, the finale was going to be Sabrina vs. Mel B. (Scary Spice / Eddie Murphy's baby mama). But no, America ONCE AGAIN votes all crappy and this kind of stuff happens. The judges are at fault too though, they judged her harder than the other people (i.e. - Marie Osmond) because they knew how good she was. This girl made me want to learn how to ballroom dance, she effin rocks. And the fact that she wasn't uber-skinny was refreshing as well.

Sabrina and partner: WEEK ONE!!! The best Cha-Cha the judges had EVER seen on the show!!!!!

Something new....

2007-10-30T03:14:00.000-04:00

Maybe I should actually venture out into the world, the world of regular dating. You know, the world where you don't need an internet connection to meet someone, the world where you meet someone and hear their voice at the same time, the world where the first meeting is already out of the way. It sounds effin great right about now! I'm so tired of this whole routine, looking at profiles, updating my own, talking on the phone about meeting (but never actually doing it).

So I was thinking, maybe I should try to visit a new place every week. On my own or with friends, whatever. I'm not sure of where I'd go every week, or even if I'd have the time to do any of this. Right now it's just a thought, but I do need to get out more.

Any suggestions? (Atlanta area only please)

Try this.

2007-10-29T23:46:00.000-04:00

At the PC Halloween party one of my classmates, Kinzie, told me that it's impossible for you to make a tight fist when you first wake up. I've been trying to do it ever since. I think I even try when I'm turning over mid-sleep (thanks Kinzie, I really needed another weird thing to do while I'm sleeping). I've found it to be true when you first wake up the tight fist ain't happenin' (it takes a few tries to tighten up).

Is this why people sleep with weapons under their mattresses?

My meeting with Strongman...

2007-10-27T18:43:00.000-04:00

Didn't happen, AGAIN - for the third weekend in a row.
As far as I'm concerned 3 strikes and you're out.

We were supposed to meet today - he never told me what time he wanted to meet and when I asked him yesterday, he had no idea of what he wanted us to do, but he hinted around at doing something at the park (during the day).

So at 6:20 PM (!!!) I received a text from him. Here's the convo:

Strong - Hey Ma!

Me - Hey

Strong - Sorry I hit you so late. What are you doing?

Me - Just catching up on homework stuff.

Strong - Don't laugh. This weekend was not good.

Me - I'm not laughing.

Strong - I will make it up.

Me - No need.

Strong - Damn.

Me - The excitement has passed.

Strong - One more chance. Please!

Me - It's too late, I know what your thing is now.

Strong - What's my thing?

Me - You're the guy that doesn't keep his word.

Strong - I'm sorry.

Me - I know.

Friday Rap Up - Gotta Diet

2007-10-26T01:01:00.000-04:00

First off, let me say that I totally wasn't gonna do a Friday Rap Up today. Thic talked me into it; so everybody thank him. I was just gonna show bloopers (which I'll now save for another lazy day).

Okay, I've realized that even though I've cut back dramatically on my fast food intake, I haven't been eating great foods at home. Just because it's home cooked, doesn't mean it's good for you. I have at least 4 hotdogs everyday (two in my breakfast sandwich, and two in my dinner sandwich - teehee) and I know that can't be healthy. In addition, I put cheese on EVERYTHING. I gotta stop that. And mostly everyone knows that Koolaid is my drank! First quarter when everyone was sipping on tea and coffee trying to stay awake, I had a thermos full of Tropical Punch Koolaid.

Well, something has gotta give, other than the waistband on all my jeans.
I gotta diet y'all.

6 weeks post relaxer...

2007-10-25T03:20:00.000-04:00

And I've been rocking this semi twist-out, wet-n-wavy without the wet look. It's alright, I just don't know how to keep it up (twist it every night?). I've been reading those darn Nappturality forums until my eyes Apple Shift Q (log off, for my non-Mac users). I have purchased some Kroger Olive Oil (extra virgin) and some more good stuff for my hair. I almost bought the damn flavored olive oil. I would've been walking around school smelling like Basil and Herbs. Can we say learning experience?

Back in the day hair...

2007-10-25T03:09:00.000-04:00

I told y'all I would try to post an old picture of me so that you could see how my hair looked before I started relaxing it. Looks like there's a wave there, but sadly no curls. It may have changed a little in almost 20 years of chemically treating it - we'll see.

Strongman

2007-10-25T03:07:00.000-04:00

I don't know y'all. Something is up. Remember when I told y'all that he was really nice and sweet? Well, that hasn't changed one single bit. It's just that we've been talking on the phone for almost 3 weeks now and we haven't seen each other yet. In my many months of experience in online dating I've never run across this scenario. Usually guys can't wait to meet in person. Strongman, though, is taking his sweet time trying to see me. The first week I wanted to meet up with him at the Taste of Atlanta, he was busy. The next weeked was his college homecoming, busy. And now, coming up on weekend numero tres plans are very iffy. He's saying we're definitely going to see each other, but I'm not holding my breath.

I really don't want to give up on this one though. He's so sweet to me; if he was just okay on the sweetness scale he woulda been gone a long time ago. But if we don't meet this weekend he'll be where? To the left, to the left.

In addition: He could be married with like 5 kids or something...geez.

Rhea and Baleigh

2007-10-25T03:00:00.000-04:00

Introducing Baleigh Reese Adams, born October 21, 2007.

I don't know her weight and height and stuff, I was too busy asking how bad it hurt.

Yesterday...

2007-10-24T13:34:00.001-04:00

...was the day of random people calling me.
The ex called. Left a message saying something about my rap skills - whatever.

Then, "Mr. Long Name" called. I haven't talked to him since I wrote that blog (over a month ago), his message was extra pitiful, so I thought I'd put it here for everyone's enjoyment:

"Yeah wassup with you, this is Darnell. I've been hittin' you up, but I give up...cuz you never pick up. So, I'll never call you again, it was nice talking to you, you had good conversation at first, but I understand where this is going. So uhm, you have a good life, I wish you the best in school, I wish you the best with God, and I wish you the best in life. Alright Tracie, peace out."

ugh.

Help! I've danced and I can't get up!

2007-10-21T03:13:00.000-04:00

Remember those knee slides I told y'all about? Yeah, so uhm, they hurt. In addition to this little doozie, I also have tightness pretty much everywhere. Waking up should be so much fun.

Dance 411, or should I say 911?

2007-10-20T13:47:00.000-04:00

Today my classmate Ty and I went to Dance 411 for a beginner hip hop class called Juice. As you can see from the picture we were hella excited and ready to be all Hippy and Hoppy. On the way there we even sang a little diddy that went something like, "We going to hiiiiiip hop, it's gon be fuuuuunnnnn, and we gon liiiiiiiike it..."

Upon arriving we paid our first time class fee of $10 (not bad I must say) and waited for the Reggae class to end. And that's when I saw her - a girl walked in with the EXACT hair I want. It was natural, curly, wild, long, and uber-cute; turns out, she was our teacher. Before class started, Ty and I were kind of just standing around while all the younger, more agile dancers gyrated to the music. Some people were talking, some were stretching, some were biting their nails and smiling nervously (uhhh, that would be Ty and me). We warmed up and the teacher (I think her name was Mia) had us doing crazy push ups and ab work. My energy was already spent before we had learned a single step.

The dance was hella difficult; it involved scoops, knee sliding, kicks, pointing and all sorts of other dancy-goodness. Ty and I held in there (in the back of course) trying not to look too elderly and out of shape amongst all those youngins. She wouldn't allow the air conditioning to be turned on, she said, "Y'all supposed to be dancers, you're supposed to be sweating." I begged to differ. We sweat so much, my pores are exhausted. And as the class continued, Mia's clothes got fewer and fewer. When class first started she had on two shirts, a scarf, sweatpants, etc. That scarf got thrown probably 5 seconds into class. The first shirt maybe 10 minutes into class, and the second shirt left her shortly after. Now she had on a bikini top and sweatpants. I wish it were me. So not only did she have the hair I want, but the body as well. We learned the dance in sections and kept adding on until we'd learned the whole thing. Then she broke the class up into two groups, Ty and I were group 1. We went back and forth doing the entire routine alternating groups (somewhere in the middle of that Ty disappeared). I loved and hated it at the same time because I wanted to get everything down and some moves just weren't clicking with me. I finally spotted Ty, almost in the fetal position in the corner. He'd given up on life. He said he felt light-headed, and really I did too - but something made me keep going. He joined back in for the cool down though. The class totally kicked our butts. Most of the folks in class stuck around for "Advanced Juice" which followed, but Ty and I hauled ass out of there. And remember how happy and excited we were before class? Well here's us after class:All and all, I don't think the class was beginner level. But it was fun nonetheless. It was what we wanted: an hour of hip-hoppy goodness - we just didn't expect to be so close to death afterwards. Dance 411 has so many fun-sounding classes on their schedule (Salsa, Jazz, ATL Crank, Pole Dancing, etc) that I can't go to because I have school. But the weekend ones I can (and will) definitely try out. For bustin' my butt, they get an A++.

I will conquer this...

2007-10-19T13:49:00.000-04:00

This will boggle your mind and you will keep trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's programmed in your brain!

1. WITHOUT anyone watching you and while sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change directions.

I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

Friday Rap Up - Going Natural

2007-10-19T01:15:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I told you all that I am now starting my natural hair journey. I will be no longer relaxing my hair. I've received mixed reviews; some people say DON'T DO IT, while others are excited about the change. Me, I'm excited. I found an old picture of me at one of my birthday parties (pre-relaxer) and my hair was absolutely gorgeous. It had more of a wave pattern than a curl and it just flowed all the way down my back. The picture is pretty dark so I'll have to try to lighten it up in Photoshop or something and I'll post it on here for y'all to see.

Anyway, hopefully those of you who see me on a regular basis will excuse my upcoming trip to NappyLand and embrace the new hairstyles I will be trying. Laughing and pointing is not acceptable (applauding, however, is).

Get Nappy y'all!

Fruit Stand

2007-10-18T11:32:00.000-04:00

Strawberry vines
elegantly wind
through my watermelon tears
on paper

A little more than pear shaped
a little more than out of place
in a fertile land of fruit
to be picked

Pick me
because I'm sweet
plumped to perfection
if you don't mind my juicyness

I won't surprise you with brown spots
or bittersweet hard knots
But I don't wanna be cut
By your blade

Because I have been sliced
now by lonely nights
Lime-flavored liquor
my new friend

Peeled and exposed
can't feel anymore
bruised fruit gets passed by
again.

Natural or Bust!

2007-10-15T01:23:00.000-04:00

I've decided to do it. I'm going natural. I'm going to grow out this chemically straightened hair of mine and let my natural, god-given, curl pattern show through. A lot of people (Kuh Reel Yuh, Lynn, etc.) don't think I'm actually gonna go through with this. Let's talk about this, I did just meet a guy; he probably likes my hair as is. However, I told him that I'm thinking about cutting my hair off and starting over; he sounded concerned, but not so much that if we were to become something more it would pose a problem. Either way, I've decided that my last relaxer will be my last relaxer.

I'm a bit nervous about this transition though, just because I haven't seen my natural hair since 5th grade. I just remember my hair being long and thick and not wanting a comb anywhere near me. I don't really know why, when my 10 year high school reunion is coming up, when I just met a really nice guy, why I would even venture into this natural hair journey now? I'm doing it, and I don't know what I'll be looking like for the next couple of months, but I'll definitely keep you posted.

I wish I had my MooMoo's natural curls:

But ultimately, I want my hair to look like this: Which may be a feat considering that Tracee Ellis Ross is mixed. But you see my MooMoo's hair, I got some mixin' going on somewhere in the chain. I just hope it shows, teehee.

When I get further along, I will start a natural hair journal on Fotki, I'll be sure to post the link on here as well. For now, here's my 4 weeks past a relaxer picture:
Nappdom, here I come.

For my Lois

2007-10-14T23:36:00.000-04:00

Today as I was driving on Peachtree Street headed to FedEx/Kinkos I saw hundreds of women (and men) walking, wearing pink. I knew it had to be a breast cancer walk of some kind. Young women, old women, women with pink pom poms, hats, and balloons even, were all walking for a cure with so much pride.

And as I was waiting for the light to change, watching these women walk, I started to cry. I mean, not the little cute cry you do at weddings, no, this cry was like I was 5 years old and some mean man just stole my candy. See, my gramma lost her life to breast cancer, and I have two aunties currently fighting the battle. It's really rough in my family, yet I've done nothing. When I got back home, I googled to see which walk I encountered, it was the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk. I'm saying it now, almost out-loud, I'm walking the 3-day walk next year, if I have insurance (because you have to have insurance to register). I want to do this for every woman in my family (myself included), so that this disease doesn't take us away so prematurely.

Most of all, though...
I'm doing it for the woman who told me I could do anything, for the woman who flew around all around the country for every grandchild's graduation (kindergarten to college), for the woman who called me crying because she was too sick to come to my college graduation, for the woman whose strength I hope I've inherited, for the woman who was the backbone of our entire family, for the woman I will never get over; I'm doing it for you, gramma.

Friday Rap Up - Work Out

2007-10-12T00:50:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to get some sort of motivation to work out everyday (or just any day), so I came up with this little diddy to get me pumped. Maybe it'll get you pumped too! Get fit y'all.

Cast of Fools...and my new crush

2007-10-11T00:57:00.000-04:00

I recently realized that I haven't mentioned a lot of the man drama I've been going through while online dating in Atlanta on my blog. These guys are in fact characters in the story of my life (not major players, more like extras); let me introduce you:

"Ding Ding Guy" - We met for drinks at a nearby restaurant, had a blast. He seemed really cool and we talked so long we closed one restaurant down and decided to go to a bar for some extra talk time. I had a drink, he had a drink. When he drove me back to my car (parked at the other restaurant's parking lot), we talked more. I remember saying, "I'm so glad you're a regular guy." We parked and as I was telling some story I was looking out of the passenger side window, when I turned back to face him, his ding ding had emerged! (And had the nerve to be glistening in the moonlight!) I said, "What the hell are you doing?" He replied, "Aw c'mon girl, you know you want this." I ran.

"Rape Victim" - I only talked to this guy a couple of times on the phone, but he made me laugh (which I love) so I thought he had potential. On our second conversation, though, he told me he had something important to talk to me about, uh-oh. Well, apparently last year he was drunk at a party and a girl that wanted to be with him took advantage of his drunken state and "raped" him. And now there's a baby, which he doesn't believe is his, but is "too busy" to get a test done. AND after telling this whole story he had the audacity to say, "...but I'm drama free."

And I've already introduced you to "Mr. Long Name."

The losers are plentiful, but on the flip side there may soon be a good character added to my story. For now I'll call him "Strongman." Looking back, I haven't really met any "nice guys" online. They all seem damaged a bit - cocky, arrogant, gross, or angry because they "shouldn't be single." But this guy, "Strongman," approached me with respect from the very beginning. We've talked on the phone a couple of times already and I don't think there hasn't been a conversation between us where I haven't said, "Awwwww..." - because he's always saying sweet things. He's just super nice (plus he gets my silly side) and it feels good to finally feel excited about a man again. I guess I have a crush. Hopefully you'll hear more (good things) about my "Strongman." (insert girly giggle here)

I swear to God.

2007-10-10T00:06:00.001-04:00

Yesterday my friend Julie and I went to Inman Park to take pictures for one of my classes. She was my tour guide because I really don't know the area very well. After taking this picture under the Krog Street bridge, that man (in the picture) approached me. He was highly upset that I had just taken his picture. Our conversation went a little something like this:

Man: (quasi-Jamaican accent) You're not supposed to take pictures of people without their permission.

Me: Oh, sorry. I'm just trying to get the bridge...

Man: (interrupts) I swear to God, you're not supposed to take pictures of people close up because someone could recognize me and you did not ask my permission.

Me: Well, I'm only a student; this won't be in a magazine or anything.

Man: You're not supposed to take a picture so close, you're supposed to be far away so no one can tell who I am; I swear to God I heard that before.

Me: I took it from far away, you can't tell who you are.

Man: I swear to God! You're not supposed to do that; Muslims believe you can go to hell for that because the picture takes your soul.

Me: Okay, sorry for sending you to hell.

Man: Don't do it no more.

Then Julie and I had this exchange:

Me: Why do black folks have to act like that with other black folks? I can't stand that.

Julie: Well, not all black people are like that ya know.

Me: I swear to God.

I haven't blogged in forever...

2007-10-09T02:21:00.000-04:00

...and that's okay with me. I have a lot to talk about, so I don't know why I've been slacking. Hmph.

What's my motivation?