Go West
Mood:  spacey
Topic: random

Our senior year, two of my friends and I went on a road trip through the South. We started in our small college town in Ohio, drove to Memphis and Nashville, through the rest of the Deep South (as quickly as possible), until we got to New Orleans.

When we were in Nashville, I remember the laid back vibe at the bar, after one of my friends had bought herself a cute neck-kerchief and a few stetson hats. I had bought myself a tooled leather belt with intricate designs. I think the name of the store we had visited was Cavendar's Boot City. We enjoyed our western wear with a few martinis and beers, listening to the croony tunes of an up and coming Nashville voice. Or those were her dreams.

Fall Line-up
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: random

Let's see:

CSI - Warrick Brown is shot
CSI: NY - Gary Sinise’s character gets abducted
CSI: Miami - Horatio Cane is shot
Criminal Minds - The team’s van gets blown up

What’s up with the main characters of a lot of CBS shows being kidnapped or killed? Writer’s block? Or am I the only one to notice the pattern?

Please don’t go down the path of ER on NBC. They would demolish the whole set and kill of cast members just for the ratings. I think there was an ambulance crash, a helicopter crash, and even a couple trips to Africa. I stopped watching long before that

Free Mandela
Mood:  spacey
Topic: random
One of my friends is globe trotting in the hopes of providing adequate health services throughout the world. It sounds cooler than it is, I think. There’s a lot of paperwork involved. The world travel can wear on your body, too, though you collect a lot of cool memories and cool friendships. She recently went to a place I wish I could follow - South Africa. Maybe I need to start stashing some coins away myself for an international trip.

Human-to-Dog Years
Mood:  mischievious
Topic: random

Here are some random thoughts and questions.

Why is it so hard to switch wearing your watch from one wrist to the other?

Why is my watch tan line so stubborn? I basically stopped wearing it after a few weeks this summer, to try even out the tan happening on my arms. Not much progress.

Who decided the ratio of human-to-dog years was one-to-seven? If Assata lives to be 14, does that really mean she lived nearly a hundred dog years?

Is it possible, at my age, to learn how to be left-handed? My joint pain is kind of motivating me.

At the drugstore the other day, I saw the local homeless lady. But this was the first time I had seen her so close up. She was actually much younger than I initially thought. She had her shopping cart with her, packed to the brim, even with a bottle of laundry detergent. I always see her near the shopping plazas and such, but I don't know where she sleeps. I wonder if living in a suburban-like area is preferable to an urban area. I wonder too what keeps her in this situation. Behind that young face, there is a story, only one I can imagine.

Movie Buff
Mood:  energetic
Topic: random

R and I stayed up late last night watching Saving Private Ryan. I saw it a long time ago, and bits here and there whenever R was rewatching it. What a powerful movie. Um, has G. W. Bush watched this movie? If he had, he would not have started this war and sent our boys and girls over there. What a douche bag.

R is a big movie buff, but it's amazing the gaps in his knowledge. For instance, he's never seen Star Wars, The Shining, or Jaws. On the other hand, he's seen the Re-Animator, Wild Style, and Foxy Brown, none of which I've seen. I've added Schindler's List to our blockbuster list for Rahim and requested Dog Day Afternoon from my local library for me.

While cleaning up and getting ready to move this afternoon, I watched The Lord of War, starring Nicholas Cage. Good movie.

Like a Car Loan
Mood:  sharp
Topic: random

You know how when you're at the car dealership and you pick out the car you want, that you've been dreaming about and researching online. The test drive is awesome - the ride is smooth, the engine is almost silent, and the leather is so soft against your thights. Then you go inside with the car salesman. And then the real ride begins.

You wait and wait, as the guy dissects your entire credit and job history. You answer about 40 questions and the salesman has had little meetings with the manager about 4 times at least. Who knows, maybe they're talking about where to go to dinner or what they watched on tv the night before. He finally comes back with you with the quote, the car loan information, and the monthly payments. With technology these days, you can get approved online very quickly. Sometimes the decision might happen too quickly, especially if you get rejected. But then again, there are loans out there for you too. Crazy interest rates, but you gotta roll with the shiny rims, right?

Well, I finally got my 2nd tattoo tonight. I'm sure R thought the whole thing was like that wait at the car dealership, especially the part when we left and he didn't have anything to show for it. Also, I was in a lot of pain. I can't wait to show you some pics, but I kinda have to wait for the pain to subside and the redness to go away, until the tattoo is like a pair of shiny rims. Then, I'll reveal the tattoo goodness.

Ni Hao
Mood:  energetic
Topic: random
Opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. No words.

Politics aside, I love the Olympics and can't wait to see what happens. I remember my mom rooting for South Korea every time. My dad was able to get us some souvenirs during his last tour in Seoul, right before the Summer Olympics there. I'll be thinking of her the next few weeks too.

Letting Down My Hair
Mood:  party time!
Topic: random

Next week, I'll be going to the spa, to get the manicure, pedicure, and 1 hour massage Rahim purchased for me. I'm also going to get my hair done, I think. A whole make-over, relaxation day. Add a little lip gloss, Extreme Style by VO5, and some new work clothes I recently purchased, and I'll be hot to trot. I'll know if I have 'Victory Hair,' if my students say I look gangsta. That's the compliment du jour. Back to school, baby! Victory hair is also what happens after a nice "roll in the hay," with my favorite squeeze. You know it's love when a man thinks you're sexy after seeing you in the morning, your hair mussed, your face with pillowcase impressions.

 
Steps for achieving Victory Hair:
1. Meet your appointed guy/girl/partner.
2. Enjoy a nice meal, and perhaps a trip to the local thrift store/flea market.
3. Make sure the a/c is on, or a fan.
4. Light candles.
5. Make whoopee!
6. Either ten or 60 minutes later, look in the mirror. Straighten hair as necessary.
7. Don't forget to cuddle!

If you've got the hair for the job, you might want to check out V05's Ultimate Flirting Championship. Like maybe you have commercial, toss-your-hair-over-your-shoulder hair. Or maybe you want to show off your new Victory Hair from the first haircut you've gotten in 20 years, like an Oprah episode.

Okay, I'm rambling now. Tired. But not from styling my hair.

Toasted
Mood:  silly
Topic: random

When I was in college, my parents came to my graduation ceremony and also helped me move my stuff back to Georgia. The negative side of that was feeling rushed. THey packed me up so quickly, I forgot about my toaster oven. In the grand scheme of things, toaster ovens may not seem that important, but this was a birthday present from my brother. I remember all the yummy concoctions I had made using that toaster oven - parmasean toasted pita bread and strawberry strudels.

Our toaster recently broke. Maybe it's time for a new toaster oven. Then again, life without toast hasn't been that difficult to cope with.

Crafty Business
Mood:  amorous
Topic: random

We went to scope out my tattoo today. I thought the tattoo parlour (are they still called that these days?) had the design I wanted, but I"ll have to print the one I want out. I don't want an exact replica of the image found, so hopefully the tattoo "artist" will do his magic.

R and Baba went to the nearby health food coop, to keep cool and get a drink. Also, they had a rule about kids not being in the tattoo studio (that sounds better). No crying babies, basically, which is understandable for a place with guys holding vibrating needles.

In the health food store, there was a guy selling jewelry on trade show displays. He actually had customers, too. That area is usually swarming with people selling their art or little trinkets anyway. With the right set-up, which the Godfrey Group sells online, you come off way more professional and trustworthy. Their easy-to-use webiste offers a variety of displays for retail stores, conferences, and festivals. Even crafty folks might need a nice display for the various craft fests, to sell handmade jewelry, cute stuffies, or screenprinted onesies.

Hopefully, if R's mom will watch Baba, we'll be able to go back to the tattoo studio and get my tat done.