For Colored Girls - A Few Thoughts

Last night I went to a screening of For Colored Girls at The Charles Theater in Baltimore. I
wasn't quite sure what to expect after hearing so many reviews that slammed it. I decided to go with an open mind and decide for myself. I am NOT a film critic by any stretch of the imagination. Thus, these thoughts on the film should be taken as just that - just some thoughts I had from the movie, not some kind of deep analysis. Roger Ebert - your not gonna get.

The screening was hosted by a two theater professors (I didn't get my pen out fast enough to catch their names) and one of the professors - almost in a spoken word cadence - introduced the original work...

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf is a choreopoem - "it is a not a poem set to music with accompanying dance steps, but rather an integration of speech, movement, gesture, and music...[the poems] discuss the pleasures & dangers of being a black female." The Professor went on to discuss the original authors' (Ntozake Shange) thoughts about the Rainbow. From an interview Shange explained

“The rainbow is a fabulous symbol for me [….] If you see one color, it’s not beautiful. If you see them all, it is. A colored girl, by my definition, is a girl of many colors. But she can only see her overall beauty if she can see all the colors of herself. To do that, she has to look deep inside her. And when she looks inside herself, she will find
love and beauty.”

Our host went on to say that no matter what you think about Tyler Perry and his body of work, no matter which camp you are in regarding, she asked that we simply look at the work - see if these women find Love, God, The Rainbow within themselves...and "loved her fiercely."

That's how I watched the movie and I didn't even think about it being a "Tyler Perry" production.

So...what did I think. In the context outlined above, he did a pretty good job. A bit heavy handed & over the top, a little too long to get to "the rainbow within" and I think he missed a few (or I did) but overall, I give it a B/B-.

Here are some of my other random thoughts throughout the movie:

• Anquish! Betrayal. Heartbreak. - at a level & intensity I have never known in my own life
• Is there ANYONE is this movie that has just ONE redeeming quality?
• Is there ONE man in this movie that isn't the embodiment of every horror in a woman's worst nightmare? ...there was.
• Janet Jackson's character had THE best monologue on being/saying sorry. EXACTLY!
• Loretta Devin's character had a great monologue as well when she finally had had ENUF.
• Phylicia Rashad - you still got skills girl.
• Whoopie's character...I don't think her character was supposed to come across as funny, but it did to me.
• Marcy Gray too scary crazy to a whole new level.
• All the male characters (except for one) - DAAAAAMMMM!

Overall, I believe Tyler Perry did a good job with this piece of work. Oscar worthy - well, if I use the same reasoning/criteria for that Sandra Bullock movie that won last year - then definitely. Ignore the critics, be your own - you'll take something away with you that makes it worth the admission fee.

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

The Queen Mother and I always take some time to plan our Thanksgiving Dinner Menu and this year is no different. I believe we have outdone ourselves with this years menu. Even Princess Erin is getting in on the planning with taking one of the dishes to create.

So here is the plan:

Thanksgiving 2010 @ True Blessings Estate

Appetizers - Wild Mushroom Toasts & Spinach Bruschetta with Pesto Shrimp

Cider Bourbon Glazed Roast Turkey w/Shallott Gravy

Crown Roast of Pork w/Fennel-Apple Stuffing & Cider Bourbon Sauce

Cranberry Sauce w/Pinot Noir

Three Cheese Macaroni & Cheese

Queen Mum Baked Beans

Green Beans w/Cranberries, Blue Cheese & Walnuts

Spiced Mashed Squash w/Marshmallo Meringue

Broccoli & Cauliflower w/ Horseradish Bread Crumbs

Jamaican Spiced Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Cheesecake w/Gingersnap-Pecan Crust

Sparkling Side Cars

Wine

We gonna throw down. The doors to the Estate are open if you don't have a place to hang your hat & pull up a seat. Bring a bottle of wine and wear stretchy pants (or bring some sweats for the inevitable triptophan coma). Give me a holla if ya wanna join us.

Do you plan a menu or go with the traditional staples? Do you have your menu planned yet?

Just Random Stuff In My Head

A "friend" calls you up crying about nobody loves them & they have nothing to do for their birthday. You invite them over for movies, dinner, drinks. They show up two hours late w/o so much as a phone call or a by your leave and then talks on their cell phone while at your place the entire time.

That "friend" would be getting the stiff arm from this point on. Girl, Bye.

I recently witnessed "the disorder" first hand. All I can say is damn shame and no wonder.

I really wish people would just tell the truth or say nothing at all. Please don't try to justify your excuse or rude behavior when you see me later and when that same damn excuse you gave me should have applied in this situation. Uh Huh.

The silence is deafening. I hear you loud and clear.

I find it rather amusing when the Pot calls the Kettle Black.

Another famous saying from Momz - What's good for the goose, is good for the gander...so, if you can't handle the heat, stop playing with my lighter. You'll get burned.

Why are my shows not on tonight?

How is it that a kid dressed like a princess, pirate, doctor or even shrek akin to devil worship?Sigh. And...if a plastic sword promotes violence, doesn't a naught nun or pirate wench on a 1st grader promote ho'ish behavior?

Just asking.

My sister gets on my dag on nerves...but she is still family. Jeeze.

Run, Girl, Run. I'm so proud of my BFF - 1st 5k this Saturday. Bummed I'm not going to be there...but we are planning that big 10K? 10miler? Half?

Weather predicted Snow for her first run...I'm not laughing AT you, I'm laughing WITH you. Seriously. Why wouldn't it snow for your 1st ever race?

There are some questions I'm just NOT going to answer. I just don't have discussions with crazy or answer stoopit, irrelevant questions.

Yeah, I said I wasn't going to do another Triathlon. Yeah, I lied.

Mom & I think we have our Thanksgiving menu pretty much planned. We decided that "The Sparkling Side Car" as our signature cocktail will HAVE to be sampled IN ADVANCE.

It's just necessary to ensure quality.

If you don't vote tomorrow - THE STFU & GTFOOHWTBS! I don't want to hear your drivel, your complaints, your rants or your regurgitation of sound bites. Sit you ignant azz down somewhere and accept what you get in silence.

We're voting over here at True Blessings. TRUST.

Date Night

As most of you know, The FireMarshall and I have been together for almost 27 years...since our Plebe year at West Point. Check out this amusing picture of us on our first "official" date at the Autumn Dance: Kinda looks like he is gearing up for a self-defense hold, huh? I remember standing in my room two floors above his getting ready to "call minutes" for dinner formation (ie. get hazed by Firstie Adam Stevenson) and in my door, pinging (walking very fast at 120 steps per min) with all military bearing comes the future FireMarshall. I was like WTF! Doesn't he know I will get my azz set on fire for having him in my room, especially if I'm late for minute calling?

He pings in and immediately asks if I would like to go to the Autumn Dance the next day. DA HELL?! You wait till the night before to ask me to the dance. "Sure!" ...and he was gone as fast as he arrived.

That was the beginning of forever.

I recently received a package from MyBlogSpark with a Stay in and go all out!® date night package from Wanchai Ferry & Macaroni Grill. The package included a box of the Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken Entree, a box of the Macaroni Grill Creamy Basil Parmasan Entree and a $30 Gift Card to purchase the meat and whatever else I would like to go with the dinner to make up a Date Night.

Date Night around here has pretty been non-existant. We have been busy in the throws of building a business, landing & securing contracts, me job hopping to keep things "stable" till our ship comes in and so on & so forth. Date Night is considered a night when we are actually sitting down together at the dinner table. Me, The FireMarshall, Cara & usually Erin and/or Charlee. So, when The FireMarshall saw me putting these two dishes together, he brought his work out into the kitchen, knocked a few things out, did the dishes and sat down to wait for the gurb.


Date Night.

It was absolutely deliscious! Add a salad and a bottle of wine and WHA LA! A fabulous dinner in about 30 min. It was a lovely evening.

If you would like to give these dishes a try at your own home, click here to get at $1.50 off two packages of Wanchai Ferry and/or Macaroni Grill Dinner Kits. You can also enter to win your very own Date Night Prize Pack - that includes one Wanchai Ferry dry dinner kit, one Macaroni Grill dry dinner kit, and a $25 Visa gift card that you can use to create a magical date night at home.

Here is all you have to do:

• Leave a comment HERE telling us about your first date night OR share a tip on how to have a fun date at home or out on the town. (ONE ENTRY)
• Get another entry by FOLLOWING the blog
• Get another entry by FOLLOWING me on Twitter - yep I still have to approve.
• Get another entry by RETWEETING THIS POST on twitter. Include @thetraveldiva so I know you did it. (ONE ENTRY FOR EVERY TWEET)
  

It's that easy to have a wonderful dinner kit to share.

...And NOW You're Mad?

YOU WANT TO GET MAD?
adapted from a letter by Christian Struzan

We had eight years of Bush and Cheney, but now they get mad!

They didn’t get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.

They didn’t get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy and push us to invade Iraq.

They didn’t get mad when a covert CIA operative got ousted.

They didn’t get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.

They didn’t get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.

They didn’t get mad when we spent over 800 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.

They didn’t get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.

They didn't get mad when President G.W. Bush borrowed more money from foreign sources than the previous 42 presidents COMBINED.

They didn’t get mad when you found out we were torturing people.

They didn't get mad when BUSH embraced trade and outsourcing policies that shipped 6 MILLION American jobs out of the country.

They didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.

They didn’t get mad when we didn’t catch Bin Laden.

They didn’t get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.

They didn’t get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans - drown.

They didn't get mad when BUSH rang up 10 TRILLION dollars in combined budget and current account deficits.

They didn’t get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.

They didn’t get mad when, using reconciliation; a trillion dollars of our tax dollars were redirected to insurance companies for Medicare Advantage which cost over 20 percent more for basically the same services that Medicare provides.

They didn't get mad when over 200,000 AMERICAN CITIZENS lost their lives because they had no health insurance.

They didn't get mad when the lack of oversight and regulations from the Bush Administration caused US citizens to lose 12 trillion dollars in investments, retirement, and home values.

They finally got mad when a BLACK MAN was elected President of the United States and had the audacity to decide that people in America deserved the right to go see a doctor if they are sick. Illegal wars, corruption, torture, job losses by the millions, theft of taxes to make the rich even richer, and the worst economic disaster since 1929 never stirred their ire.

NOW they get mad?!!!

Mad enough to start an ultra-conservative, twisted and apparently insane party of Republicans called the Tea Party, whose agenda is so far to the right that it threatens the liberties of minorities everywhere, and the hard fought gains over the past century? Mad enough to allow the same party that caused this mess to get back into power and start it all over again? Mad enough to allow fear to triumph over reason, just to gain enough power to advance their own agenda at the expense of the people you were elected to represent? Mad enough to trample all over the Constitution, twisting it to suit their own purposes/meaning?

Not on my watch, not with my vote they won't. Please Vote! on Tuesday. Stop the Madness.

Signed - A "Fake" American (going by the tea party definition of what a REAL American is) that is still trying to figure out who to take America back from and/or where it went.

Our Country We Strengthen - The Strength of the Nation

The AUSA (Association of the United States Army) Conference & Expo was this past week at the Washington Convention Center. The Theme: The Strength of the Nation - U.S. Army. I was there with The FireMarshall & staff as The Steptoe Group, LLC did a demonstration with Bo.ei.ng. If you have never been to AUSA, you have not seen an exposition yet. It boggles the mind. The equipment, the companies, the demo's - unbelievable. If you do business with the Government and/or Military - then you NEED to attend AND your company NEEDS to become a Sustaining Member of the AUSA. The deals are done & contacts are made by attending the AUSA events. That's where the decision makers, deal breakers & contract awarders are at. If you're not - well, good luck with that. I'm just sayin'.

The convention also afforded The FireMarshall & I the opportunity to get together with several of our classmates that were in town for the Conference or just lived in the area. It was so great to see everyone. Thank you, DebH & TedF or coordinating the event and getting us all in the same room--I know that with all of our busy schedules and families that it is like herding cats.

Here is a short video I put together from the pictures I took at the our Mini-Reunion.

Our Country We Strengthen - Class of 1987

The Army Ten Miler

Check these ladies out! This is Team The Usual Suspects! We came together from near & far to run this race together as a team. What a wonderful experience. From the team energy, laughter & shenanigans - ummm...we are glad that Sweet Neet managed to read the team emails in time to actually get her race packet...and that one husband didn't actually end up driving to the Richmond Marathon due to wrong directions left - FUNNY!!! - to the 30K runners plus all the spectators ---- It made a great day for a race.

The weather was phenomenal too! I think my body finally decided to say, "Seriously?! 10 more miles. Did you not just do a Triathlon, a 5 miler and now you want me to do WHAT?! Naw player, Imma slow this heffa down with a hamstring strain." With sheer determination and feeling like I was running like Quasimoto - dragging one leg behind me, I finished the race is 2:06. Nothing earth shattering, but within a reasonable amount of my goal which was 2 miles.

My body actually hurts worse today than after the Triathlon. I think my body fired a warning shot over the bow. REST or ELSE. I'm taking the week off and then I'm going to start up with the Insanity Workout & the 100 Pushup/100 Situp routine...till about Jan/Feb.

*looks around room to see if my body is evesdropping* Then I'll start training again for some races & 2-3 Tri's. SHHHHH!!! Don't tell the FireMarshall.

Thank you to Team Usual Suspects for a great race - NEXT YEAR?! Also, many thanks to Becca, GBaby & Pier that came out to cheer us on at the finish line. It makes SUCH a difference to have a personal cheering section. NO DOUBT. Thank You!

Dinner with Friends

This was definitly a action packed, fun filled weekend. It started with a Dinner Party in honor of one our favorite bloggers - ForNot over at Forward Notion. We had such a wonderful time...especially if 6 bottles of wine and a huge bottle of vodka (for the Halloweeni Martini's) was any indication or the fact that we didn't wrap it up until about 2am. Just fun times.

The FireMarshall even got into the action and hooked up Pandora and we used the kitchen floor and our makeshift dance floor - ROCK, SKATE!

Here is a video slide show of the fun times. Enjoy!

Say Cheesecake!

Last night I hosted a soiree in honor of one of our favorite bloggers, ForNot over at Forward Notion and I made a....

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap-Pecan Crust & Maple Sour Cream Topping

It was DELISIOUS!!!! I got a bunch of requests for the recipie, so here goes:

For The Crust -

Process; Stir in:

24 small gingersnap cookies (to make 1 cup crumbs)

4 grapham crackers (to make 1/2 cup crumbs)

1/2 cups pecan halves, toasted

3 T.unsalted butter, melted

2 T. sugar

Pinch of salt

For The Filling -

Beat; Add:

3 pkg. cream cheese, room temperature (8oz each)

1 cup sugar

1 can pumpkin puree (15oz)

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla extract

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/4 t. ground nutmeg

1/4 t. ground cloves

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

For The Topping -

Whisk Together

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

Preheat oven to 325; coat a 9" springform pan with nonstick spray.

Process gingersnaps for the crust in a food processor until fine (remove any big chunks); transfer to a bowl. Process crackers until fine and add to cookie crumbs. Pulse nuts until chopped and add to crumb mixture. Stir in butter, 2 T. sugar, and salt until sandy, then press into bottom and 1" up sides of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove and cool slightly.

Beat cream chese and 1 cup sugar for the filling in a bowl with a hand mixer until fluffy. Add pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, spices, and lemon juice; beat until incorporated, craping down the sides of the bowl periodically.

Pour filling over crust and bake 50-55 minutes, or until sides are set but center is still slightly jiggly. Remove cheesecake from oven (leave oven on).

Whisk sour cream and syrup for the topping together in a small bowl. Carefully spread topping over cheesecake, return it to the oven, and bake 15 minutes more, or until set. Turn oven off, crack the door, and leave cheesecake inside for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cool to room temperature, then cover loosely with plastic and chill overnight. To serve, remove sides from the pan, then slice with a sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry before each cut.

Enjoy! We sure did.

No Way Out? No Options?

I don't think I've ever believed that I had no options; no way out of a situation. I've never been in a place in my life where I would let other people abuse me, diminish my worth, de-value me and/or use me like their personal byatch because I felt that I had no way out - no other options - no where else to go.

That is the situation the girl who is the not only the Nanny but also the Personal Assistant Byotch to the Executive Director at the little start up I am was working at feels she is in. It is just a sad state of affairs...

...and after hearing her story and working with this girl for over 4 months, I am so pissed off about the situation I could spit nails. I have spent every evening after the convention we were working at last week listening, coaching & trying to give some moral support to this young lady who fought back tears trying to figure out how she was going to make it (both mentally & financially) if things keep going as they are. I was so fired up that it became a mini-mission to help her back onto a track where she isn't being used like a "Hebrew slave" of old - making bricks with only the straw she cleaved from the fields during off hours. HUMPH!

I told (via Twitter) the story about the alleged "actress/model" the company hired to work as a "floor girl" for the booth. Her job was to pass out brochures and get doctors to come to the booth. Well, she got to Chicago and when she found out that she would have a roommate and that the room was not ready upon her arrival - she up and quit. Re-booked her flight for the next morning and rolled out stating "I'm an actress & model and I don't room with other people." Whatever. Girl Bye. I got this 2 bathroom suite all to myself.

Not so fast. The HR person had this itty bitty room (you couldn't have the bathroom door open at same time as closet or main door) and asked if her roommate could move to my suite. Being the nice lady that I am not, I said sure. So, that is how I ended up rooming with the Executive Directors Personal Assistant Byotch (PAB).

PAB moves in and during our honeymoon (get to know ya) period, I find out that this chick is 22 years old with a son and a triflin' baby daddy. Now PAB has GOT to be THE HARDEST WORKING, most detailed oriented, meticulous, dedicated 22 year old I have ever met. Whenever I have tasked her to do something in the office, she always delivers above & beyond the call of duty. Without question - Without hesitation.

So, when she lamented about he $30/day per diem, asked if we were getting that money AT the show, sobbed that she had used all her cash paying for cabs running back & forth to the hotel/Hom.eD.epot/Tarje' for booth items and finally blurted out that she only makes $800 every two weeks to act as the Directors Nanny & PAB, I lost it.

She went on to tell me stories of how:

• she has been asked to stay late (w/o overtime) to work - sometimes till 10pm or later
• pick up the director's kids (making PAB late to get her own son to the tune of $10 every 30min late w/o reimbursement)
• yelled at for leaving the desk to go to bathroom (nobody else is qualified to pick up the MF'n phone)
• pay to feed the Directors kids w/o reimbursement
• called at all hours of the night to do random stuff w/o compensation (I say don't answer the friggin phone)
• if the Directors CC is declined or she doesn't have cash to give PAB, asks her to use PAB's own money and she'll get it back to her - taking days & sometimes weeks to do so.
• ...and so on & so on & so on

I asked PAB why she didn't "just say no"; why didn't she tell the boss that "this is unacceptable" or "I can not accommodate your requests without immediate compensation" and what not. That was when PAB told me the "thing" that kept her "afraid" to do or say anything. She proceeds to tell me the story about the time she was living with her baby's daddy (BD), but he decided it would be more fun to live with his boy than PAB & his son. BD and his boy thought it would be best if they got PAB to pay B.G.&E and cable set up and then they would put PAB out...on the street. SERIOUSLY? Who puts their kid & kid momma out on the street? WHO DO DAT? N. E. Way...PAB overheard the plot, confronted them and friend decided PAB need a good ole slappin' around while BD just watched. GTFOOHWTBS! PAB fought back while BD watched and must have got some good licks in cause friend presses assault charges. Now PAB has a PBJ (probation before judgement) on her record. And she still got put out.

She's afraid she can't get a job anywhere due to the PBJ on her record (she got an offer somewhere, but it got rescinded after background check - she didn't disclose) and took a job as the nanny for the Executive Director on a family recommendation which morphed into more and now she is getting pimped out at the office.

This girl is the nanny & PAB for $1600/month. DAMN. The average rate in Maryland for just a Live-out nanny is $500-700/week ($2000-2800/month). Just the nanny part. She takes care of those kids & works in office. Hmmmm. I know the kids are in school during the day now, but she need to get paid at least the going rate for both jobs...at least. I'm just saying.

I tried to tell her that she still has options. She is still afraid. She wants to take care of her son without borrowing money from her parents or relying on an inconsistent and unreliable baby daddy...yet the fears are paralyzing her.

I immediately text'd a friend to see if she was still hiring. I called a few other friends to find out if they needed an assistant. I told PAB to send me her resume and I would update it for her and help her shop it around. If you are looking for a nanny or personal assistant, I personally vouch for this young lady. I'm a pretty good read of people and she is what we wish all of our young people would be...Duty, Commitment, Dedication, Perseverance, Drive. If nobody scoops her up, then I'm hoping The Steptoe Group can (will) in a few months. I'd like to see her catch a break.

There ARE options. There IS a way out. I'm encouraging her to keep her head up. This too shall pass. SIGH.

I LOVE MY HAIR

I saw this on FB yesterday and thought it was so KEEEEE-UUUUUU---T.

I love my hair!

I don't talk about my hair (or hair period) much.

It's Hair. It just isn't that much of a big deal to me. I started learning how to do my own hair when I was bout 10 or so. My mother was sick of trying to figure out what to do with it besides two pic-tails or two ponytails on each side, I was sick of that too and she wasn't about to send me to the hairdressers at 10. Nerp. I've taught myself how to wet set, twist, blow out, flat iron, curl, put in relaxers, give a trim...blah blah blah...all on my own. Doing my hair now on a daily basis ain't nuttin' but a thing to me.

I like my hair how I like it. It is about as natural as it is gonna get - no relaxer, a little color professionally done every now and then, flat ironed or curled with a curling iron. From wash to final do - 1 to 1-1/2 hours. That's it. I use the products that my colorist recommends and that's that.

I love my hair...and I'm teaching Princess Cara to love her hair - though she is going through a spell where she wants "long hair" as she calls it. What that means is she wants to wear her hair "out" like the little white girls in the class and be able to fling it around. That makes my life a living hell because I'm the one that has to do it every dang on day. So, (and you hair nazi's are not gonna like this - WHATEVER!) I put a texturizer in her hair and we deep condition each week & wrap our hair every night. This week, I even was a HORRIBLE hair Mommy since I wanted to give her hair a rest (no heat, not pulling, etc) so I cornrowed her hair up into a bun on the top and (OMG!) I attached a couple of ringlets (it's her hair - I have a receipt) to the top. THE HORROR. She loves it. And it takes either me or The FireMarshall 5 min to "do" her hair.

We are happy & stress free, Daddy is learning how to do girl hair too (he is a monster with a flat iron - impressive) and Princess Cara is looking like the princess that she is. Happy Happy Joy Joy.

We love our hair.

Out of The Game

I was talking to one of my recently single girlfriends the other day and she regaled me with a "dating" story that happend to one of her co-workers. It was a doosey and left us with a lot more questions that we could answer. Why? Cause obviously we have been out of the dating game WAAAAAYYYYY too long and just don't get the new fangled dating rules of the 21st technological century.

So - maybe some of my single readers can chime in and help us out.

What had happend was...

MissA told MissB that she wanted to introduce her (MissB) to a guy she thinks would be great match. MissB says okay. MissB & MisterMan start communicating via phone & text. She sends a head shot of herself, he sends one back. He then says that he is going to send another picture and he hopes that MissB can handle it. (RED FLAG ON THE PLAY in my book, but I digress). MissB says okay.

Wait for it....Wait for it...He sends a picture of The Full Monty of
himself.

That ended all future converstation for MissB with MisterManNasty.

Here are our questions?

• What kind of a guy carries ON HIS PHONE a nekkid picture of himself?
• What kind of a guy thinks it is even REMOTELY okay to send ANY woman that mess?
• Where do you go from there in the dating game now that you've seen all the goods without so much as a real date?
• Do you date after sharing the Full Monty or do you just go straight to bumpin' uglies buddies?
• Is there a protocol/rules for dating when you get almost to the chex stage by sexting?
• Who should get the beatdown first? MissA for introducing you to such ignorance or MisterMan?
• Is this what is normal in the dating world these days?

My girl and I have been out of the dating game for over 20 years. All I can do is shake my damn head. I have no words. Help us out...What ya'll got to say about this?

Smoke Signals

The FireMarshall and I were up until about 1:00am Friday night talking & catching up with one of OUR Top Mafia (*side note - do you and your husband have any Top Mafia together/in common?) that is GOING THROUGH IT!!!!...like Through the Fire going through it. For all of the upheaval, drama, uncertainty, heartbreak and just uggggaaahhh! - he is still standing.

He sounded strong. He is going to survive...and what a testimonial he will have.

There was a lot of introspection and if hind sight were 20/20 yet he is moving past that woulda, coulda, shoulda and moving forward. It is a sight to behold.

Now, I don't know how the conversation steered toward what was going on in my head (yeah I do - The FireMarshall wanting to fix/solve/repair anything that he thinks might be amiss - and I appreciate the effort), but it did. Guys - I'm good. I'm not going to all of a sudden become some sullen, bitter woman and run off and do something irrational because I've harbored this feeling too long and it went all sinister. If that was the case, I've have gone Lizzy Borden a LOOOONNNG time ago. Seriously, I'm fine. Just because I express my thoughts out loud does not necessarily mean that I need y'all to immediately find a solution. Everything can't be fixed with a man-aid. Listening, empathy, head nodding, some positive affirmations - that part is good. The "Baby, let me tell you what you need to do" - Not so much.

I appreciate the concern, but I know my role. I play my position and for that I generally get to do whatever the hell I want, when I want. I'm good. Sometimes a Diva just wants more.

I'm a work in progress.

I really didn't know what else to say after all that solution finding-here's what you should do advice I was being given. I appreciated the thought from both of these men...I did...but I don't need fixing. A group hug, doh, that would be great. N. E. Way...I was left with my thoughts, yet felt a little bummed that I had nothing left to add to the conversation.

Until Saturday evening. I was straightening up my desk in my bedroom and I found a "Reflections & Meditations" sheet I had saved from a trip I took to Green Valley Resort & Spa in Nevada a few years back. (I am NOT a hoarder). It was entitled Smoke Signals:

A lone shipwreck survivor on an uninhabited island managed to build a rude hut in which he place all that he had saved. Every day he prayed to God for deliverance and anxiously scanned the horizon in hopes of seeing a passing ship.

One day while he was cooking breakfast in his little house, he saw on the horizon the outline of a ocean liner. Frantically he ran to the beach and jumped up and down excitedly, waving his arms and screaming at the top of his lungs. Alas, the ship just kept going and made no movement in his direction.

Dismayed and dejected, the man turned back to his hut and found that it had caught fire. Within the hour it burned to the ground; all that he had was gone. The man sat on the rock and cried -- surely this was the worst day of his life.

The next morning the ship arrived to rescue him. He was elated beyond word.
"How did you know I was here"? he asked the captain. "We saw your smoke signal." the captain answered. - Adapted from Walter A. Heiby

What is the lesson from this story? What is the message I want to leave with my friend?

Never judge an experience on face value alone. Sometimes what seems to be the worst thing that could happen turns out to be the best. A setback is really a setup (didn't we talk about that?) and behind every tragedy awaits a gift. If you are open to the gift, it will be revealed.

I'm open. I can see the horizon. How about you, my friend? From what I heard - I know you are.

I love you always....

Live Brilliantly

Back in March, I ended up needing a little help in the eyeball department and got me some progressives. The take some serious getting used to. I'm bad about wearing them all the time and I'm really bad at taking care of them. I toss these suckers (I have two pair) just about anywhere when I'm not wearing them...bottom of purse, gym bag, car cup holder...who knows.

Problem with that is when I do want to put them on - they are covered in fingerprints & smudges - I can't see any better with them on if I tried. I have a cleaning cloth, but that just seems to smear the prints all over for a lovely haze. Water work or hot breath but...whatever...forget it, toss em. My glasses are abused and harassed. I must do better.

Just in the nick of time I received a sample of Brilliant Lenses in the mail to give a try. LOVED IT!

It came with a cloth. I've been using it for the past week on everything - including the front of my iPhone and it cleans those glasses & screens Brilliantly. No joke.

My glasses, sunglasses, and even my laptop screen is fingerprint & smudge free. One thing I noticed over this week was that, while it did say it had a scratch resistant formula, I noticed that everything seemed more resistant to more accumulating more smudges. I could just wipe with the cloth.

Here are the specs:

• Cleans Glass & Plastic Lenses
• No Alcohol or Ammonia
• Added scratch resistance with SR-8
• Comes with a Micro Fiber Cleaning Pad
• Also works on Phones, Monitors, and MP3 players!
• Brilliant LensesTM with SR-8TM provides gentle superior cleaning while imparting an invisible durable barrier that resists scratches, soiling and water spots.
  

Brillant Lenses is a keeper. Will I take better care of my glasses? Ummm. Well, er. Imma try. I'm doing real good with my Maui Jims, iPhone & Laptop. I'm a work in progress.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com
This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Any Given Sundy - Good Times

Last night I hosted a MyGetTogether Chex Mix Party at the house. And we had a great time. Not because of the Chex Mix, but due to the wonderful company & conversation with a great group of women.

Now I don't know how in the hell I was supposed to feed 15 people with the 3 little bags of Chex Mix. Seriously?! They made a nice snack/finger food thing but didn't mount to sustenance...and these ladies came packin' an appetite.

That crab dip - yeah - tore down like starvin savages. (That's a keeper). I also made Skillet Burrito's and Southwest Chicken Soup. Gobbled up. There was just enough soup for me to take for lunch today. The Bloody Mary's - I sent one person on home with a sippy cup. *Hangs head in shame*

The conversation...I think we covered every topic under the son and almost came up with a way to achieve world peace. And even the game was good - what I saw of it.

We had a wonderful evening. I'm looking forward to spending more time with everyone.

*working on putting gourmet cheese platter together for ForNot's dinner party this month*

P.S. Didn't get your evite for the dinner party? Send me a message.

Truths for Mature Humans

A friend of mine sent this to me today and they made me laugh...only because there was truth in all of them.

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Bud Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever!

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realizethat their brain is also important? (Ladies.....Quit Laughing.)

The Look of Accomplishment

After a couple of weeks of back & forth with the race photography company, I finally received the download I had paid for.

Taken minutes after I crossed the finish line...this was my look of pride...of accomplishment. I still have the medal hanging from the top of the mirror on my dresser. I look at it every day. It reminds me of something I already knew - I can do ANYTHING I put my mind to. It is an affirmation that I don't have to say out loud. All I have to do is look up at it.

I swore I wouldn't do another race...and yet have the link to the Columbia Sprint Tri & the Columbia Triathlon in my inbox with a reminder of when registration opens. Go figure. I guess I got the bug. We'll see.

Whatever I decide....

I can do ANYTHING! I put my mind to. Hear me roar.

FINISHER!

YES! I finished the Navy 5 miler in just the time/goal I had set for myself coming off the Nation's Triathlon two Sunday's ago. After the Triathlon, I took the week off from all forms of training to give my body a rest. Last week, I did a couple of short runs just to get the feel of my legs back under me.

I felt slow. I WAS slow. My legs still felt like concrete slabs but I pushed through. I set a goal to do the 5 miler is an hour or less and I FISHISHED just as I planned.

Now, it is time to put in some work for the Army 10 miler (I am the Team Captain for the Usual Suspects - see our team shirt over to the right). I plan on doing a lot of interval training in an attempt to pick up a little speed and add 1-2 distance runs during the week. Under 2 hours for the Army 10 miler is the goal. That would be awesome.

Regardless, I will be a FINISHER!!!

Princess Cara Gets Her Yellow Belt

I thought I was over the whole "Soccer Mom" deal with Erin grown & Jordan off to college...but alas, with the addition of Princess Cara to the family, The FireMarshall and I are doing the drill all over again.

Here we go again with PTA's, Sports, Play Dates, All Things Disney & now Karate. Except this go around, 13 years after Jordan, The FireMarshall and I are those old parents that are like "Whatever makes you happy, baby." (within reason, that won't turn her into an axe murderer). If she falls or hurts herself, we don't get all in a huff or make a big deal out of it...we are like if there isn't arterial blood, then oops, you be a'ight. Princess Cara is spoiled; we spoil her rotten...but she is a good girl. Ya'll know we love it.

"Mommie, I want to get all the belts my brother has!" Prince Jordan is a Black Belt.

Absolutely Princess Cara. You can do it. We will be there cheering all the way.

Sucker Punched

I had a doctors appointment today. It was a follow-up, but I had to discuss another issue that has reared its ugly head AGAIN (fibroids). No biggie. Right up until the nurse who took my BP and weight, decided to tsk, tsk, tsk me about my obviously not controlled BP & my weight.

"Don't you work out and stuff? You got gym clothes on an all?"

BYATCH WHAT!!!! That red haze of rage & watery eyes of frustration clouded my eyes and for once I was stunned into silence. Why? Cause I was being tsk, tsk, tsk'ed by a nurse that was 2x larger that me. Da Hell YOU know about it? But okay.

Enter the doctor. Who promptly told me she only had 10 min to conduct this exam..."But let's TRY (you know what I think about trying) and see if we can address your other issue." She flipped open my chart, told me what we needed to do first to "rule out" other causes (Listen, honey, been there-did this, let's move along) and then told me "You know, for your height your weight makes you morbidly obese. If you would JUST loose some weight, you might not have so much difficulty with the fibroids." FUGGGGGG YOU!!!!

Two weeks after finishing my first triathlon - still feeling pretty damn good about myself - I get SUCKER PUNCHED in the gut that I am a walking ball of death about to stroke out and that if I simply lost some damn weight I'd be all hunky dory.

It just isn't that fuggin simple.

I have been struggling with my weight for over almost 30 years now. FIGHTING a battle that just seems futile. I was put on "TRIM" tables at West Point which stood for The Right Image of Me for years and threatened that I wouldn't graduate if I didn't make weight. What the fugg do you think that does to you psyche when you are constantly reminded that your image ain't the right one. I was told that I would get a poor "performance" rating from my commander if I didn't make not only the "tape test" but also the weight standard. Didn't matter that I was a Master Fitness Instructor and could whoop his azz up and down the track or was one of the ONLY officers or soldier in my unit that maxed out the PT test.

The stuggle, the battle continues...and today a bit of the wind got let out of my sails...and I wanted to lay down my armour; my sword and give up the fight.

...and then there was TDJ - who, while at work, took the time to walk me back from the ledge. There was MsPattey that gave me the biggest phone hug ever and real talk. The converstation of forever friends. They gave my wind back and I picked up sword.

...and then there was The FireMarshall, who, when I wailed "Why can't just one thing be easy! Why can't just one thing NOT be a struggle." enveloped me in his arms and said "We are easy, baby. We are easy."

He gave me the strength to continue the fight. I put on my armor and with my sword in hand am ready to get back in the fight.

I am a warrior. I refuse to get beat.

Zevia Natural Diet Soda

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Being the fitness & nutrition buff "willing to try new healthy stuff" ho that I am, I was excited when I was asked to give this relatively new Natural Diet Soda - Zevia - a try. I do drink my share of diet C.o.ke & Dr.P.epp.er on a regular - along with plenty of water too (so SHUT UP) - and was like what the hell.

Zevia promotes itself as the first all natural zero calorie soda with only "pure ingredients." It says that it contains none of the chemically processed artificial sugar substitutes, artificial flavors or artificial colors found in other diet sodas. ZEVIA is all-natural, has zero calories, zero net carbs, zero fat, and little or no sodium (depending on flavor). On the can it says "ZERO net carbs, calories, glycemic index."

I pulled out a can of one of my regular diet sodas and compared "nutrition facts" The number of ingredients were pretty much the same, EXCEPT for the 40mg of sodium in my beloved Diet C.o.k.e. Now that is not really a lot, but if you don't watch it - 2 soda, plus a bunch of other crappy processed food can put you way over the daily intake PDQ (pretty damn quick).

Hmmmm.

Before I got started with my taste test, I decided to look up the two primary sweetners/all natural ingredients in a Zevia Natural Diet Soda.

Stevia is a natural herb native to South and Central America. For centuries, native Americans of Paraguay and Brazil called it "sweet leaf" and used it to sweeten native foods. Stevia is used as a food additive in China, Japan, all of South America and in the United States. The extract from the stevia leaf has no calories, no effect on blood sugar levels, and is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar.

Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol found in fruits and vegetables, has no calories, and has no effect on blood sugar levels. Erythritol does not promote tooth decay.

Well, that hundreds of times sweeter than sugar thing was spot on. I popped the top on the Cola flavor and my gut reaction was DAAAAAMMMM that is REAAAALLLL sweet. I just wasn't used to a diet soda being sweet and my initial take was "yuck". But I decided to finish it with a sandwich I had made for lunch and it grew on me. Not bad...but I wasn't sure I would just go and buy it...but that damn sodium thing really was standing out to me. I needed to weight that in my mind.

I then decided after about a half hour that I would try another flavor and see what happens. I popped the top on the Ginger Ale flavor and SHAZAM! A hit. I loved it.

Unfortunately, there is a little detail about the Erythritol that is not really mentioned.

As a whole, erythritol is generally free of side-effects in regular use, but if consumed in very extreme quantities (sometimes encouraged by its almost non-caloric nature), effectively consuming it faster than one's body can absorb it, a laxative effect may result. The laxative response does not begin until the body's natural absorption threshold is crossed...

I would NOT recommend downing two cans of Zevia in a sitting...but I do feel oh so lighter for the effort. Thanks.

So, where do I find this all natural diet soda? I is not at my local grocery store, but it is at my local health food store right up the street (R.oo.ts) and at our Organic Food Store (M.o.M.s) just down the road, giving me an excuse to do better and visit R.oo.ts more often. I'm going to give the other flavors a try...the Cola, while it did grow on me, was still a little too sweet.

Enjoy.

UPDATE!!! I forgot that I can GIVEAWAY! a six pack of Zevia to one of my readers. If you would like the opportunity to give Zevia a try, leave a comment and tell my why. It's that simple. You will get another entry if you follow my blog (google, networked blogs, or FeedBlitz) and if your RT this on twitter (include @TheTravelDiva in the tweet so I know).

Easy Peesy!

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Diet? - EXACTLY!!!!

Slayed in the Spirit AGAIN!!!! This is exactly how I feel on the subject - both sides.

Foamy The Squirrel is my hero.

HumpDay Randoms of a Traveling Diva

Getting back in the saddle of running again after the Triathlon is NO JOKE. I'm really not feeling it but I have the Navy 5miler on Sunday. I best get to trodding along. I have no doubt I can do it, I just won't be posting no lickity-spit time.

I designed the shirt for the Army 10 Miler for our team - The Usual Suspects. KEEEUUUTTTE.

I think I'm going to hop over the Michaels and get supplies to bedazzle hats for the team. Perhaps a craft activity for the MyGetTogether. Bring your hot glue gun and bedazzler if you have em.

I decided to read the sequel to "Waiting to Exhale" entitled "Getting to Happy". Well, I figured I actually read the 1st book instead of just going off the movie and then start the new one. Fine. I enjoyed Waiting to Exhale...it was much better than the movie (always is). However, when I picked up Getting to Happy, I got through the 1st couple of pages and threw the book down. Same damn sniveling bullshyat I hear and know a lot of women are doing in real life and I just wasn't down for reading about it.

What do I mean, you ask? I was so friggin annoyed with the age ole story of a woman that LIVES with a man for a year, KNOWS that he is scared to fly, thinks Den.n.y's is fine dinning and REFUSES to try anything else, only reads magazines, REFUSES to go on vacations or to movies or plays..blah, blah, blah...and then she is MAD ABOUT IT after 10 years of marriage, BLAMES HIM for her boring life, RESENTS HIM, doesn't COMMUNICATE with him about her needs and LONGS for a DIVORCE or has an AFFAIR.

BULLSHYT. You made that bed, now lay in it or woman up - BLAME YOUR DAMN SELF - and move on. I just hate that sniveling, blame everybody but yourself for your miserable lot in life crap.

HUMPH. But one of my Top Mafia - MsPattey - insisted that I keep reading so we can have a "bookclub" conversation about the book.

Anybody else reading it? Would you be interested in an online book club review/conversation about the shenanigans? Let me know.

N.E.WAY...

I've had the pretty much the same Top Mafia for 20+years. My ride&die, don't ask no questions, just bring a shovel & Lyme kinda gals. I have recently been blessed to be able to say that I have added a new best friend to the team. Do you know how hard that is? But we are just kindred spirits and I feel blessed to have found her. Tree. Apple. Seed.

...but I often have to say "Why ARE you that way?" She brings me joy.

I'm sorry, but I just can't help, consult with or turn over my Rolodex to everybody. Imma need you to stop. People ask too much.

I REALLY wish there was a dislike button on FB.

My new Scrubbing Bubbles Sonic Scrubber is the most FANTASTIC cleaning tool EVER!!!!!! Don't ever clean without it. There is no greater joy than getting well water mineral stains out of your ceramic anything. I'm in love!

I also love my new Sink Snake that I bought on a *gasp* infomercial. Drano wasn't working AT ALL. I slipped that sucker down the sink, twirled, and pulled out the HUGE hunk of *GAG* nastiness.

No more stopped up sink. I'm in love!...but it was really gross.

All I have to say is I am leaving the chapter in way better condition, with more money, more sponsors, more members than I found it in. I'm done!

BTW - not all married women who comment on a "relationship" post are jumping up & down, lording their "superior" married status over the single women. Seriously. In my case, I just state my opinion (just like a belly button - everybody has got one) and roll out. If the person reading the opinion reads some "extra" stuff into it - that's on THEM. Whatevz.

I think from now on I'll add...."and I've been married for 23 years, so there." to all of my comments. Just kidding - you know I can be snarky.

I do find amusing what some people call a "standard/non-negotiable" vs a "preference". SMH.

Do you, ladies! Do you...and good luck with that.

I hate when people say they "will try" to do something or be somewhere. Just say you won't or no, you can't. I am a graduate of the Yoda Jedi Master School of Thought...DO OR DO NOT, THERE IS NO TRY.

Learn to say NO. That try bull crap is some passive aggressive nonsense. IMHO. Yes or No. Do or Do Not. Simple.

The FireMarshall has some great things poppin off. We are ready.

I miss The Prince, Heir to the Empire. Letting go of my son is one of the hardest things I am (have ever) done.

Happy HumpDay. What random thoughts are you having today?

MyGetTogether - Any Excuse For A Party

Well, it really doesn't take much to get me to throw a little get together. MsSmart told me recently that I need to have a "Welcome Fall In" Cocktail Party. Juanita & my MIL consipired on FB to throw a party at my house and invite me. The Queen Mom is no better with her "what's on the agenda for this weekend" quips.

...and when the people over at General Mills asked if I would be interested in being a MyGetTogether host for their Chex Mix Snacks "Game Day" get-together where me, my friends and family can sample a trio of flavorful and fun Chex Mix Snacks during the big game (or whatever activity I dream up), I couldn't resist. We are going to mix and mingle with Chex Mix!...and some fall cocktails that I have already started dreaming up.

Ya'll know that I'm "The Mixologist".

A lot of you have already recieved an email invitation - go ahead and pull it out of your spam box or open it up and RSVP so I can have enough cocktails & snacks for the festivities.

If you didn't get an invite and would like to hang with the TravelDiva and Welcome the Fall Season in with a bang, then drop me a note with your email addy and I'll send you an invite.

I look forward to seeing you on Oct 3rd. *click glasses*

First Ever Super, Super Reunion

Written by CPT Marcus Brooks, USMA 2007
Youngest USMA Graduate in Attendance at the Inaugural Black Service Academy Graduates Super Reunion

During 26-28 August 2010 history was made as the “First Ever” gathering of African-American Graduates from all five US military service academies got together for a Super Reunion. The focus for the Reunion was to connect diverse skilled professionals with limitless opportunities for collaborated community service; network on one of Maryland’s finest golf courses, learn how to access the many services available through the Veterans Employment Office, rekindle old relationships and expand their social and professional network. (Photo: LTC (R) Minton Francis '44 and Captain Marcus Brooks '07)

The attendees learned how to best leverage their pool of resources from Herman Bulls '78, CEO, Public Institutions, Jones Lang LaSalle (USMA ’78); William “T” Thompson, CEO, USAF Academy Associates of Graduates (USAFA ’73); Rear Admiral Michelle J. Howard, the first African-American woman to command a ship in the US Navy (USNA ’82); Eugene Campbell, Vice President, Domestic Minority Business Development, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.

Invaluable dialog was exchanged with the Military Leadership Diversity Commission with invited panels; Commission Chairman General Lester Lyles (USAF Retired); Lt Gen John Hopper (USAF Retired): and, Brig Gen Rebecca Halstead '81 (US Army Retired). The culmination of the event was the celebration of History in honor of those who first blazed the trail – the “Most Senior Living African-American Graduates” from each of the five service academies and recognizing the “First African-American Female Graduates” from each academy. From West Point LTC(R) Minton Francis USMA Class 1944 and Pat Locke USMA Class 1980 were honored with gold medals and a thunderous standing ovation from the all those in attendance.

The West Point Admissions (represented by Major Michael Burns '00, Captain Marcus Brooks '07, Captain Maurice Hickman '06, and Captain Kirsten Rowe '06) held a 150 min breakout sessions specifically for the West Point graduates to dialog about the State of the Academy, a Minority Admissions update, Field Force opportunities and the expansion of Strategic Partnerships.

The energy was transferred to the Potomac as the graduates sailed along the Potomac during sunset while enjoying great food, a live band and a beautiful ambiance. It was an epic event, a beautiful event, treasuring the past and looking towards the future with a collective positive and opportunistic approach.

The TravelDiva is a Triathlete

For the few of you that actually follow along with me, you know that I was training to do my 1st Triathlon. That crazy girl, Becca, convinced me to do The Nation's Triathlon with her and being the challenge sucker that I am, I accepted the challenge.

It is done! I FINISHED! It wasn't pretty and my stats are nothing that will get me a sponsor or anything (HOWEVER-I would be glad to do this again and again if West Point would make me an honorary Triathlon Team member and let me wear that FABULOUS gear & use one of their bikes...HINT, HINT USMA!...I'd be glad to be the WooPoo old grad mascot for the team...Please & Thank You.) but I FINISHED MY FIRST TRIATHLON!

And I feel great. Nothing that 800mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours won't cure...at least for me.

My 1st Triathlon was an experience. I can say awesome experience now that it is all over with, but in the midst of it...all I could say was "This is some BOOLSHYT!" At least that was the look on my face as I got out of the water. The FireMarshall got me down to the race site by 5:30am and it was POURING DOWN RAIN. I stood in the transition area, setting up my gear, IN THE POURING RAIN. All I could do was laugh.

Swim. Bike. Run. Swim a mile, Bike 25 miles, Run 6 miles. That's what I did this past Sunday.

Swim...A whole lot harder that I ever thought possible. For me it was a tad harrowing. I was ready for people bumping into me and me them. What I was not ready for was just downright rude and aggressive swimmers that almost drowned me. If I was a weaker swimmer or prone to panicking, I probably would have had to be pulled out of the water. People would just push you out of the way...and when this guy pushed down on my back and swam over me (I was all like a scuba diver, swimming underwater - fuggin baztard) it was time for me to fight. I mentally designated my swim zone around me and if you got within one inch of me - you got an elbow or a push. If I felt you touch my feet or legs - you got kicked. Da hell wit all ya'll. I wanted to get the eff out the damn water on my own and if it required me to fight someone to do it - well, too bad.

I finished the swim in under an hour (barely) - and that was my goal. ACHEIVED.

I was crushed that I didn't hear anybody from my cheering section when I got out the water, but I had to keep it moving. I had to get into the transition area and get ready to for the Bike section of the race. Come to find out later, the FireMarshall was tee hee'ing and eating donuts with Becca & my support staff and by time they looked at their watches to see where I was at, I had already gotten out of the water and was on my bike at about mile 10. HUMPH.

I walked-shuffled to the transition area to prepare for the bike ride. I got to my bike, pulled my bike shoes & helmet from under the trashbags I stashed them under (to keep them dry), wiped my bike down with the hand towel I brought, pulled out my snack (hardboiled egg & a bananna) and then it hit me...I gotta pee. DAMN. DAMN. DAMN. DAMN. DAMN. I don't have time to go and find a porta-potty, stand in line & pull this damn tri-suit off & back on just to pee. What is a Diva to do? Well, I had 4 bottles of water in my pack...I stood there, ate my egg and, well...I took care of business right there in the rain. A Triathlete has got to do what she's got to do. I used two bottles of water to "rinse" off, jumped on my bike and began the 25 mile trek.

Bike...that was the longest 25 miles of my life on a bike that was NOT meant for racing. The only thing it was good for was navigating the potholes and other debri on the road. Those knobby mountain bike tires came in handy. There were a lot of triathletes that hit one of DC's famous road holes and were out of commission on the side of the road changing a tire. I was so sick and tired of hearing "ON YOUR LEFT" (meaning they were passing you). I KNOW DAG NABBIT!!! SO FUGGIN PASS ALREADY!!!. The only people I passed on that mountain bike were the people broke down. Sigh. It took me 2 DAMN HOURS to do that 25 miles. 2 DAMN HOURS.

I must have hit the wall around mile 20. We were going into that last 5 mile stretch into a park like area and I must have been delerious. I looked at the otherside of the road and it looked like everyone was going UPHILL on that last 2 1/2 miles back. I freaked out. There was no way I was going to be able to finish the bike going uphill. I just didn't have anything left. I burst into tears and started cussing. Just as I was about to just jump off and throw the bike down, we came to the turn around - low & behold - it was downhill. OH! I can do that.

My spirit was renewed when I hit the Lincoln Memorial and saw Princess Erin there cheering and taking pictures. As I rounded the last curb to the dismount, I suddenly heard my name being yelled by the "Support Team". They were so loud - THANK YOU JESUS. Without them standing there yelling, jumping up and down and egging me on I don't think I would have finished. They gave me the strength to go 6 more miles. I racked my bike, drank an XS Energy Shot, put on my running shoes and got started to finish.

Run...They say your legs feel like bricks after the bike portion. Ummm...mine felt like concrete blocks so I decided to do my best imitation of an Airborn Shuffle and kept it moving. Those 6 miles felt like 15. I got around to the last .2 miles of the race and suddenly The FireMarshall comes up behind me and says "Come on baby, let's take it in." I burst into tears and picked up the pace. Then came Erin and they ran with me till about I had 400 meters left so they could be at the other end of the Finish Line. If you could call that last 400 meters a sprint, that's what I did...VICTORY!

I AM A TRIATHLETE!

A Genius Saved My Life

You know that song Last Night A DJ Saved My Life? Well Today A Genius Saved My Life!

I had a MAJOR FAIL with my beloved iPhone4 yesterday - the dag on screen just went totally black - or at least that is what it appeared to be doing. I could hear it ring, I could hear the text messages coming in after the Triathlon, I could hear the pings from FB updates...what I couldn't do was see a damn thing. Thus I couldn't answer the phone, I couldn't do NADA.

I called Ap.p.le support and we reset, we restored, we did a factory reset to default settings...NOTHING. Well, I could faintly see the icons but that just wasn't going to do. So the support person on the phone told me to take it over to the store and they would swap it out for a new piece of hardware. Cool.

Well, not so cool. I showed up for my appointment with my A.p.p.le Genius right on time and he gave me the side eye -albeit in a very nice way - like tsk, tsk, tsk. Looks like there was some "damage" to my phone that IS NOT covered by the warranty. He must have seen the despair that came over my face. He must have seen my shoulders drop and my knees almost buckle...for I KNEW what that meant - I was gonna have to buy a full priced replacement. Lawd Jesus.

iCant.

My Genius listened to my sob story and told me to wait a minute while he checks with his manager on what to do. I don't know if he really went to talk to his manager or not, but about 5 minutes later, he came back out, beckoned me over to the counter and said, "I'm going to take care of you...this time."

I almost burst into tears right there. I almost grabbed him to plant a big fat smooch on him that would have probably earned me a FireMarshall over the eyeglasses stare down. However, since those counters are about as tall as I am, I couldn't quite get at him.

As my Genius worked on my new piece of hardware and got me set up, I gushed. I couldn't thank him enough and asked if I could take him to lunch for his kindness. He said he couldn't do that, but offered to walk me to the front of the store. As we walked up front, he told me he wasn't trying to be rude with his no, but if he accepted then it might cause problems with his co-workers and that he really appreciated my offer.

I asked for his card and he gave me his vitals. They don't work on commission at the A/pp;le store but if you need something, need help with your M.a.C stuff then go see Johnny at the Columbia Mall location.

I wrote a thank you note to him so that he would know that I appreciated his patience, kindness & generosity. I hope he does some IT work on the side so I can throw some opportunities his way. I wish there were more people out there that practiced random acts of kindness. The world would be a better place. I plan on paying that forward.

Today a Genius Saved My Life...not with a song...but with a new phone.

Be blessed, Johnny, for you blessed me today. Thank You!

CO-OR-DINATED

It may hurt, it may suck wind, I just might smell like a yak by time it is all said and done... BUT I'M DAMN SURE GONNA LOOK GOOD while I'm doing it.

Nations Triathlon here I come.

Bikram Yoga - Achieving a State of NO DRAMA

I decided that I needed to get in some yoga before the Triathlon this Sunday. Get more limber, get centered, help with focus. After tonight's class, I have scrapped all the other mini-workouts that I had planned leading up to Sunday in favor of nothing but Bikram Yoga.

What did I learn tonight...
1. Whew, Lawd - my muscles are....don't rush it....wait for it....
TEEEEEEEEEEE-IIIIIIIIII-GGGGHT
2. I need a couple of days of learning to achieve a state of NO DRAMA.

NO DRAMA. What does that mean? Our instructor tonight said it several times. She meant stay still, stay focused on yourself, stop fidgeting. STAY CALM. When you are struggling with a pose & can't hold it - don't get frustrated & agitated - NO DRAMA.

Be Still, Focus, Breath.

When you start to get dizzy, overwhelmed or tired, BE STILL. BREATH. FOCUS.

NO DRAMA.

So what, you ask? Well, with 4000 athletes and a gazillion spectators all yelling, screaming, cheering, fidgeting, nervous chattering, moving...I need to know how to stay calm, stay focused & not fidget. I need to be able to lower my heart rate on command. I need to be able to calm down (especially in the water) when I get kicked, swallow some water or whatever else that might happen.

NO DRAMA ON RACE DAY.

My Bikram Yoga class tonight reminded me how to achieve that state of NO DRAMA. I'm going to get 3 more classes in before the race.

Centered. Focused. A Triathlete.

Cheering Section Info - The Nations Triathlon

Friends & Family,

On Sunday, September 12th, I will participating in my 1st Triathlon with my friend Rebecca (her 2nd triathlon). It would be an honor and make the race go that much smoother if we had a large cheering section for all of the parts of the race.

If you can make it out next Sunday to cheer us on, the course map and some recommendations or parking or taking the metro is included above. If you would like me to forward the image and stuff to you for better viewing, drop me a line via email or comment (you will have to include your email) and I will get it to you.

My Bib # and Swim Start Time is as follows:
Bib #: 3475
Swim Start Time: 08:08:00 AM

If you arrive by metro or car by 7:00am you should have enough time to get to the swim start area by the time I enter the water at 8:08am.

Here are some other tips:
1. If you can take the metro, the closest to the start is at GW Hospital (walk down 23rd, across Constitution, around the Lincoln Memorial to the Start) OR the Arlington Cemetery Station (walk across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and hook a right to Ohio St to the Start).
2. Bring a portable chair
3. Bring a small cooler for snacks/drinks although there are plenty of places to get something along the way.
4. Bring camera/video…help us get some pictures for posterity

To learn more about the race…go to http://www.nationstri.com/

Becca (her swim start time is 8:48) and I hope to see you there. Thank you for all of your support! Your prayers & cheers are greatly appreciated.

Highlights from Super Reunion

LT Tyrone Broxton, USMS, highlights the Inaugural Black Service Academy Graduates Super Reunion held August 26-28th, 2010 at the Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center with interviews of graduates from all the service academies & scenes from various events.

Just the beginning of awesome things to come.

Nails Done, Hair Done, Everything Did...

Oh, You Fancy, Huh?

Yep, I'm Fancy

Final Harvest

I finally got up out of the bed after dragging my behind in the house around 3 am after CreoleInDC's fantastic dance birthday party, and decided to do some weeding around Princess Cara's Garden. As I was doing the weeding, I also decided to harvest anything left to be harvested and be done with it.

I was lifting up and removing all these huge zucchini leaves and lawd all mighty - there was the zucchini pictured above that was half the size of Princess Cara.

Miracle Grow sure does work Miracles.

The Queen Mum arrived and has taken possession of the King Sized Zucchini and will be making a casserole & a bunch of chocolate zucchini bread. We shall feast off of the fat of the land.

I would have to say that our container garden experiment was a huge success and I have decided to build a box garden next year (a big one). Maybe we just might be able to enter one of our mutant produce into the County Fair.

All of those years of hanging with my girl at HomeAtLastFarm finally paid off.

Bull Shark, The Potomac & A Triathlon

I'm sitting on my chase, minding my own business, having a cocktail & watching TV when I get a text from Becca - my Triathlon buddy - with the following message:

"I'm trying REALLY hard to forget about the report of a fisherman catching an 8 feet bull shark in the Potomac today."

8-ft Shark Caught in Potomac River

Why would she care? Why would she text me with this chilling bit of information? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SWIM IN THE FUGGIN POTOMAC NEXT SUNDAY FOR THE DAG ON TRIATHLON...THAT'S WHY!

So, what to do? What to think?

I tend to think on the bright side and responded to not worry too much about it...that any other bull sharks in the Potomac should be full feasting on all the fast swimmers & the gazillion people that are in a swim time way before us. That should clear the way for Becca and I to swim through...ya think?

Then I go over to The National Geographic Page and hear that these are "the most dangerous sharks in the world.".... DA HELL!!! I need to run over to the Nation's Tri page and see what they are doing about his. Is one of God fiercest & oldest eating machines gonna be bold enough to swim up to the Lincoln Memorial for a feast. Possibly...but that sucker gonna get a whole lot of younger, faster swimmers before Becca and I even get near the water. I see one lunch box happening and I'll walk the fugg home. TRUST.

So, what am I gonna do. Nuttin. I'm in it to win it. *need to check the race rules on carrying a switchblade* I have a hellacious weekend of training and then rest (Bikram Yoga Mon-Wed; Sleep & Carbs Thurs-Sat) till Race Day (Sept 12th).

You might want to come out with your camera & video....just in case somebody becomes a Happy Meal.

Sorry...that was in poor taste. WHATEVER.

Prince Jordan's 19th Birthday

Happy 19th Birthday to Prince Jordan, LAX Goalie Extrodianaire, future law enforcement officer, heir to the Empire! We love you bunches and hope you are having a wonderful birthday at college. Don't party TOO hard with the lax bro's.