Life is a Circus?

I received a text from an old male friend from Chi-town. It was a complete shock! We hadn’t spoken in over a year maybe two. I have always enjoyed talking with him and to receive his text put an enormous smile on my face. He is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to men.

Here is....
· Great communicator
· Very handy
· Knows how to cook
· Great sense of humor
· True gentleman
· Nice looking (not fine)
I am surprise he has not been taken off the market.

We had a very interesting conversation.
Chi-town: Good morning
Me: Good morning stranger, how r u doing? What’s new?
Chi-town: I know it’s been a while, new gig that’s about it how are u.
Me: What r u doing now? New gig for me…blah blah blah. How’s the fam?
Chi-town: account manager for blah blah. Family is cool and crazy and yours
Me: Fam is good…just pushing J in school blah blah blah. How long at the new gig? U finish ur book?
Chi-town: Yeah focus for boys is tuff, week 2 at the new gig, the book was dun a few years back, shopped it shelved it, since then I’ve experienced a hellva lot more. lol
Me: More what? Love?
Chi-town: More love more pain more debauchery, life is a circus you either the clown or the ringmaster.
Me: lol so true? Gosh that was a great analogy. I’m lol…I feel like the clown right now trying to become the ringmaster.
Chi-town: I just finished being the clown I think we all go through phases.
Me: Sorry to hear that. Relationships shouldn’t be so hard. How were u the clown? Usually u aren’t getting something u need/require from them.
Chi-town: exactly, nothing bogus like cheating
Me: I know, mine is communication blah blah
Chi-town: You preaching to the choir, this had a crazy blah blah and no relationship experience.
Me: lol…drama…sounds like me. I’m thinking too much drama
Chi-town: Right sometimes people make shit complex just because, anywho on a lighter note, what u build lately.

In your life do you feel like the "Clown" or the "Ringmaster"?

I feel like the clown in all areas of my life (job, relationship, & life). I feel like I'm getting the short in of the stick at work and my relationships. It feels like everything is eating at me.

I Can Do Hair

I have been two strand twisting, flat twisting, banding, and coiling my hair, since going natural seven months ago. I've become pretty good in styling my hair. Lately, I have been telling my family and friends to let me do their hair. Well, my cousin, D, was brave enough to allow me to two strand twisted her hair and it turned out really nice. Check out the pics.

She's really happy with it. So, happy that she sent me this text, "Next time you can do them smaller. Actually, different sizes for practice." I started laughing and responded, "I don't need practice. I have a full-time job." I know I have a smart mouth. :o) I must confess that I enjoyed doing her hair.

We washed her hair with my Karess Krafters Shampoo Bar, her Nexxus Conditioner and I used Jamaican Mango & Lime Locking Gel and Jamaican Mango & Lime Resistant Formula Locking Gel to twist. Her hair was so bouncy when I was finished. I really felt good about my work. Now, I just wish my hair was the same length has hers. I could really have some fun with my hair.

What is your favorite hairstyle?

Off Day

I was off yesterday and would have loved to have just gone back to Memphis or rode up to Chicago for the weekend. However, the funds are low. If I had a newer automobile J and I went have flown the coop. My car is a 1997 Toyota Camry. I don't have any intentions of purchasing a new car anytime soon unless the Lord blesses me with one. Eventually, a new one will be in my future.

J and I were up and out of the house before 11:30 am. I had to close an Uppercase Living party that was held last month. My hostess wanted to show her family and friends in another state the product before closing it. It turned off to be a good show. I sold $400 in product, which wasn't too bad.

Those of you who aren't familiar with Uppercase Living it's vinyl expression/words you can add to about any surface. I just love them. They add so much character to your home. Let me know if you are interested in learning more about the product. :o) Below is an express I have in my home.

Then it was time to eat, but I wasn't sure where we would dine. So, I went to my GPS Nuvi 750 for help. It listed all the restaurants in the area and we decided on Red Robin. Neither of us had been and didn't know what to expect.

We walked in a the place had so much energy from the bright red walls. There were pictures cascade of every possible thing you could imagine. I told J the pics would look nice in a basement movie room. When the menu was placed in front of us my eyes got big, because I wanted everything on it. My entree choices were the following:

• Whiskey River BBQ Burger,
• Burnin' Love Burger (J chose this one)

Bruschetta Chicken Burger

I went with the Bruschetta Chicken Burger with garlic chicken steak fries. YUMMY!

We will be dining at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers again!

After lunch, I dropped J off at Barnes & Noble. He loves bookstores and can stay there for hours. So, I knew that I could go to the Sprint Store and have my cell service and return and J still enjoying his time at the bookstore. I was right. When I returned he was still looking and reading books. I didn't rush him to finish. It gave me a chance to view the bargain books.

The bargain book section is an excellent way to try an author you wouldn't normally read at a "bargain" price. I love reading Walter Mosley, but only his Easy Rawlins series. Yesterday, I picked up Killing Johnny Fry to see if I'll still enjoy him as an author/writer without Easy. The book is very good and the price tag of $5.95 (hardback cover) made it even better. I also purchased Church Folk by Michele Andrea Bowen whom I have never read. The storyline is promising. I'll follow up later on my reading progress.
(J did purchase a new comic series by James Patterson.)

We stayed at the bookstore until it was time for us to head to J's Engineering Club meeting. He hadn't been there in some months due to school obligations. I sat in the foyer and read Killing Johnny Fry and talked on my cell. When we left I felt exhausted. I wished J could drive. I just wanted to get home and hit the bed.

When we got home I crawled in the bed with my Walter Mosley book. I didn't get far with my reading, because the telephone started ringing. Then, I needed to twist my hair and that's an hour process, but it gave me a chance to watch So You Think You Can Dance...oh how I wish I could express myself though dance. My eyes didn't close until well past 11:45pm, by the time, I finished my hair, surfed the web and whatever else I did.

Do you find your off days exhausting?

Down In The Dirty

Left Friday pm and return Sunday pm. Now, I'm back at work and I'm missing Memphis, but am I missing Memphis or missing the people I left there. I think I'm just tired of here. I need a change in scenery. My plan is to wait until Joshua completes high school, before I make my move to an unknown destination. I use to say, "I wouldn't mind staying here as long as I can travel." I don't feel the same now. I don't think this city is for me. I'm bore here. It's that simple.

I'm suppose to be discussing my weekend. :o) I had a GREAT weekend with my sister, K, and son, J. It was the first time K and I have traveled together. She got to see how her nephew, J, can be a pain in the neck. He wants things his way and can be very opinionated.

We pulled in Memphis after they had a severe storm Friday evening. On our way there we had received several calls warning us of the weather conditions there, which I knew they would have surpassed by the time we arrived. There were trees blocking lanes, street signal not operating and electric wires hanging from their poles. I was praying that our hotel would have electricity, which thank God it did.



After were got check in. I had to leave my sister and son at the hotel sleeping so I could spend some time with my "special" friend. It wasn't very special, because the city wasn't operating since most establishments were closed. lol He didn't have any electricity at his home. Therefore, we rode around talking and looking at the damage from the storm. GREAT FUN! NOT! lol

I got about three or four hours sleep and it was time to meet our blogger friend, Angela, for breakfast at Juniper's Brother. The restaurant has been feature on Rachel Ray's $40 A Day show on the Food Network. I was a somewhat suspect when we walked in to put our name on the waiting list. It's a casual, quant, and lad bit unappealing establishment. If Rachel Ray hadn't profiled I would have probably requested we go somewhere else. You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. :o)

My meal was good! I had pancakes, eggs, turkey sausage and Kate's Fancy Fries (which I first glance I thought I made a mistake in ordering). The Fancy Fries were potatoes with green onions, green peppers, salsa and tomatoes and were good. It was my sister's idea to order. I should have taken a picture of our spread. My mouth is watering now for those pancakes. I had their organic coffee. I should have purchases a bag of the True Blue coffee beans, because it was really good coffee or the coffee here at work it just nasty. If you are ever in Memphis, you should plan on dining at Juniper's Brothers.


We really had a great time sitting at the restaurant just talking with our new friend, Angela. However, I did have a few people raise an eye when I said we were going to meet our blogger friend for breakfast. I thought it was weird of them. It wasn't like we were going to meet in a back alley. :o) We are in a public place having great conversation.

Here is a pic of us in front of Juniper's .



The main purpose of our trip was our cousin A's wedding, which to my surprise was nice. I hadn't seen him in years along with a lot of my family. So reconnecting with them was GREAT! I do have a few interesting details from the wedding, but I'll save them for another day. This posting is getting a little lengthy. :o)

I have to say that I really enjoyed meeting my blogger friend, Angela.

Have you connected with any of your blogger friends, if so how was the experience?

It's Wednesday!

Two of my uncles had a corner convenient family store off of Hwy 240 and Parkway (not positive of the location) when I was in elementary. I got a chance to work there a few summers with my cousin, Angela, and other family members.

I learned a lot about working at the store and believe it or not I still use a lot of those skills to this day. Here are some of the skills.

• Learned how to give back change from purchase. Today, the register tells cashiers the amount to return.
• Excellent Customer Service skills. We had to welcome customer and vendors and establish relationship with them.
• Organization Skills. By stocking shelves I learned that everything has its own place.
  

What I remember most about my summer’s at the store.

• Angela and I learned how to pop gum. lol We would chew the Super Bubble Gum in the red, blue and yellow wrapper all day to learn how to pop gum. (We didn't pay for the gum...oops)

• Customers asking for Colt four five not Colt forty five. :o) Now, we were too young to sell beer, but we sold it anyway.




• Listening to the 70’s/80’s R&B music from Earth, Wind and Fire, Maze & Frankie Beverly, The O’Jays and etc. while working. The music was the bomb. Whenever, I hear them it takes me back to a happy place. :o)

• I remember getting tired of working and wanting to go upstairs to my uncle’s rooms and just chill with the television or just listen to music. They didn’t pay us enough for all the hours we put in. Where was the Child Labor Union when I needed then? lol

What really made them the BEST summer was just being with my family.


What summer memories put a smile on your face?

Way Back Wednesday

My fellow blogger 2 Sistahs Knit Together has "Ten on Tuesday, " which I look forward to them every week. I'm going to try "Way Back Wednesdays" for a while.

When I was a little girl I spent most of my summer in Memphis with my grandmother. My grandfather was there, but Granny took care of us (us = me and my other cousin). Granny would allow the boys to go and do whatever, but my cousin Angela and me (the girls) we couldn't do anything without her permission. You know that was wrong.

My Granny past away a few years ago and I still miss her. I have this beautiful picture in my family room that I purchased in her memory, because it has all the character I saw in my Granny - brown skin, beautiful long gray hair, colorful personality, strength, peaceful and a lot of style.

Those summers were very special. Here are some of the reasons.

• Granny could cook and I do mean cook. She got a seven year old me to go home from the summer asking my mother for some okra. lol


• I remember the time when Granny had just pressed our hair, which was a lot of work. My cousin and I got in the shower and wet our hair. Granny came in the bathroom with a brush and tore us up. :o)


• Granny always gave and showed us love.


• The custard she made for the homemade ice cream was the best.


• She taught us how to pick fresh vegetable from the family farm, which wasn’t fun.


• Granny would sing while she was cleaning. It was interesting, because she couldn't hold a note.


• We would say, “Do that dance,” and Granny would do this special dance for us and we would fall out laughing. It was so cute. Granny didn't have rhythm.


• Granny never learned how to drive, but she was an excellent passenger driver. She could show you how to get anywhere in Memphis.


• Granny had beautiful long gray hair. I remember she would allow us to comb and brush it at night.


• I loved sitting on my Granny's lap. I fit perfect in her arms for a very long time. As an adult I would sit on her lap. :o) I wasn't overweight then.


• She was funny! She would talk about my uncles, her son’s very good. Now, we would call it jonning.

I really LOVED that woman. She was the rock of the family. I look forward to seeing her in heaven.

Who do you miss and what memory about them puts a smile on your face?