Tuesday... The Back to Work Edition

What's up Oldboys and Oldgirls?

It's me... your friendly neighborhood Oldgirl checking in.

I meant to do a post yesterday, but uh... that didn't happen. Oh well.

I hope everyone enjoyed their labor day weekend. I know I did, honey! It was a blast!

I have a TON of pictures to sort through and load, so I will have those up soon.

But for now, I will do a rambles post. Just off the top of my mind.

- I woke up this morning without a problem... what I mean by that, there was not the usual ANGST associated with going to work after a holiday weekend. No spontaneous bursting into tears. Cowgirl Cre, my cubicle mate, is off today, so there will be much solitude today, as I tend to keep to myself if she ain't here. So I am sitting here, with my headphones on listening to Luther. That ain't good... He might have me zzzzzz in a few minutes.

-I almost took today off. I have NOTHING to do. We are incredibly slow right now, which makes me wonder. I had somebody's paperwork to check on my desk, and I have to help a coworker with some paperwork, but after that? Zzzzzzz.... lol...

-I walked outside this morning to take out trash and roll the trash up to the street and I was SHOCKED to notice that it was COLD outside. The current temperature in the ATL is 61 degrees. The low for today is 57 degrees, and the high is expected to be 68 degrees.

This type of thing messes my head up... It was just azz hot outside. What's up with the sudden temperature change. I know Tropical Storm Lee didn't cause it, did it?

-Speaking of my namesake, Tropical Storm Lee... it caused much flooding. I haven't been watching much news but I also notice that it spawned a few tornadoes in GA. Nothing happened downtown. Usually I find myself trying to get around fallen branches in the street. But my neighborhood was okay.

I just hate when this type of thing happens. One day you have everything, the next, the floods and weather rips it up. Ugh. My prayers are with those who had trouble out of the storm.

-I MUST make up a budget for the month. I have been spending too much money lately. Too much, man! *lee passes out on hard concrete*

I might be alright. All my bills seem to be paid. I just need to put stuff down on paper, man!

-Two-thirds of the year has passed. Before you know it, we'll be hollering "MERRY CHRISTMAS"! *lee throws silver tree tinsel up in the air*

Let me be the FIRST to wish you a Merry Christmas... 4 months early. Ha HA!

-Yo Serenity23! Why you ain't posting, man?! Get on it, doggonit! Ya frickin' chicken!

-I had the most interesting conversation last night with a friend that left me O_o. We were talking about personal idols. In context of religion, it is those things in your life that you place at the center of your life, before God. In a secular context, it is those habits, hobbies, etc., that take up a lot of your time, and they fill some emotional void, etc. And it can be those things you do that cause you to neglect the things you should be doing. And it can have the added problem of getting you in a mess of trouble... over and over again.

Then we can get real deep... People have those secret lives that they keep well hidden... If you read my recent manuscript, the novel Watch... you know what the heck I'm talking about.

O_O

When people's priorities are out of order, that's a good clue that their's an idol involved.

Like she knows someone whose idol is shoes. That's a common one, I think.

She asked me if I had any.

O_o

Yep I do. And I ain't afraid to admit it, man. Everybody has them.

Don't you look at me in that tone of voice. With your perfect self.

LOL

We discussed one of mine. I actually have a few, but we didn't get into all that.

Here's the deal: I am cognizant of them. And if you know me, I am highly intangible and nonmaterialistic. So shoes and shopping and stuff like that will never be an idol for me.

It's the intangibles that have me hemmed up from time to time. But I work on them. And it is like digging a ditch with a toothpick. One grain of soil at a time, but there is change going on. Progress is happening. Believe that.

Alas I am a work in progress. Always.

That is alllll I got to say about this. A mini food-for-thought for you...

Whelp, that is it for me. This has been a Tuesday freestyle, back-to-work production.

LoL. Have a good week. Stay tuned for Holiday pictures.

Wednesday Ramblings

I need to post something, don't I?

But I don't have anything to talk about.

Oh, oh wait...

Yes I do!

Yes I do!

I am OFF.

This is RARE.

It feels GOOD!

*Lee cheesing hard like Celie*

Yes, I am off from work until January 5th.

Man, I thought yesterday would NEVER end. I worked 9.5 hours.

My boss called me around 5 pm at my desk. I think she must've heard me wailing hard before I picked up the phone. (Nothing worse than a ringing phone. I am working as fast as I can).

She said "Merry Christmas".

I gave a lurch like response.

She left. I was there for another 2.5 hours.

I didn't finish all I needed to do. And there was a discussion of me asking straight up if my vacay would get revoked. But we have a lot of work in the lab. EVERYBODY is ghost.

The general feeling is "Who cares?"

And I turned my phone off. Most of yall know what I do for a living. Let's just say, hope there's no national emergency. I've been laying in bed in the past and I've seen some craziness on the World news, with me hollering "Awwwwww dayuuuuuum!"

... And being pulled into some frantic long nationwide conference call the next day.

But I hope all is well this Christmas season. I'll watch the news, and turn my phone on if some mess go down...

(Someone will be knocking on my door hijacking me up to work if I don't, lol).

So, what will I do for my vacay?

Man, I have a TON of projects/goals/thangs-to-do I'd like to get to. I have made a list in my head, and I need to write it down.

Most notably.

1. Ten hours of writing. (I set the goal small, as I will easily overshoot that one). I should be able to finish the story I'm working on. It is 50 pages now, and it should easily hit 100 pages.

2. Work on 2 new vegetarian recipes. I want to make a whole wheat pizza, and I want to work on a sweet potato version of salmon croquettes. I made a chickpea version for thanksgiving, which was very very good.

Now I worked on a nonwheat pizza crust a few weeks ago. It did not go well AT ALL. So I will stick with the wheat. Perfect that one.

3. Go to at least 2 movies. I want to see Avatar and Princess and the Frog. I might check to see what's going on at the dollar movies, and kick through there.

4. Go Bowling. Me and my sista Kentucky plan to hit up some lanes! I haven't been bowling since 1995!

5. Get started on Crochet project. I am working on one now that is due in early January, but it's not going to be finished. I will keep fooling with it, and mail it off late. My bad.

I'm going deep down to the southside to purchase yarn for Ms. Blackliterature.com's baby blanket today. Hope I finish in time, Mama!

6. Do something in the garage. Notice I didn't say clean out the garage. It's a hot mess out there. I just want to straighten up, and gather some stuff for thrift store so I can write it off on my taxes. (Me and my motives, lol).

7. Work on Goals for 2010. My goals technologist Aretha posted hers. Serenity posted hers. So I guess I better make mine up. I probably won't post them. But I learned from Aretha, that I need to make them, write them down, and if I don't meet them, IT'S OKAY. Assess and tweek them, and keep working on them.

They will be bold and in full technicolor. That's all I will say about that.

8. Work on my 40 food-for-thought posts countdown to my 40th birthday. My birthday is on February 7th. I will be sunning down in the Dominican Republic that week. But this is a milestone. So I'm doing a serious self assessment blowout. I'll have you thinking so hard that your brain is will hurt, lol.

That will start on December 28th.

Plenty good cash and prizes will be given away to commenters. (Did you catch that "cash" part?)

LOL!!!

40 dollar gift card. I think I can handle that bit of cash.

BUT there's a prize more valuable than that one going out.

Going out to the two people with the most comments during that time.

Hmmm.

(No, I'm not a comment whore. Just want to show my appreciation for those who spend time reading my longwindedness).

I have a lot more I want to do during vacay.

And that includes plenty of rest and relaxation, and time spent with friends and fam...

I'll most definitely will be posting...

So stay tuned!

Talkative Tuesday

Wassup ya'll...

I don't feel like posting today, but I'm gonna make it through this NaBloPoMo thingy.

I can post everyday... Might not be talking about nothing important, but heck, we can work it out, right?

Sho you right.

LOL

A bit of randomness will alway do.

I'm laying in the bed, looking out the window. It's going to be a dreary day. I have REALLY enjoyed all the nice sunshine and nice temperature. And now here comes the doggone rain. Ugh. Enough already.

Man... I am TIRED of turning on the TV and seeing Sarah Palin's face. I don't trust that chick at all. I am NOT buying the book. I have a problem with her leaving her governorship to make money. And you think I'm going to vote for you in 2012. Girl stop!!!

Hey, to each it's own. Make your money, honey.

There's a story of a woman who sold her 5 year old into sex slavery up in North Carolina. I didn't hear the whole story, but what in the world? How does one get to the point where the mere thought of such a thing even remotely crosses their mind? I will always be baffled about such. And they think they have found the little girl's body. Geez... And the woman is pregnant with another child. Ugh. She needs to be locked up for life behind this.

Work has been okay this month. It really bothers me now that I really hate my job. I use to really like my job. I am thankful for it, as it is a great source of income, but management has run the place into the ground. It's like they are living out their Nino Brown New Jack City dreams. Our building is the Carter. I want to lean out the window and tell Troop and Levert, who are warming their hands over a hot fire blazing in a barrel, to kick the ballistics!

(You won't understand that unless you've heard the opening song for New Jack City).

I don't like feeling like that at all. Not one bit. I've always done things to keep my morale up, but right now I'm like the Terminator at the end of every Terminator movie:

My red light has slowly faded out. Sigh.

On to better thoughts...

My writing is going well. I may even start doing writing progress updates like I use to do so long ago on the blog. Because I am doing just that: making progress.

I completed the 8th and 9th chapters of my current NaNoWriMo project. I had the first seven chapters written, and I managed to edit those up quite a bit. I have 2 chapters written by longhand, so it's just a matter of writing those parts up. But in the past week, I've gotten past a couple of areas that had me stuck, so now I can flow a little better. I don't have a goal of writing the 50,000 word novel, but this current piece is more of a novella, hopefully at 20,000-25,000 words or so.

I've been getting emails about the Fancy That prologue that I mentioned in the last couple of weeks. I think I may post that up this week, just to see what ya'll think about that. I sent a copy to Diva in Demand and she was wowed by it. That made me feel good.

It's a piece that I haven't figured out what to do with yet. We will see.

I have a vegetarian post coming up, but I haven't figured out how to write it. It may be one of those lonnnng posts. Trying not to do that. (Okay, I know I say that, then right so long drawn out craziness. I'm trying to kill that noise...lol).

I'm still in the 6 month vetting of the whole process, and I have learned much about it, and about myself in the process. Just gotta figure out how to put that into words, you know

I'll work it out. Really though.

Well, I'm going to get up and go make my oatmeal. I eat that every single morning, and I feel kinda weird if I don't.

And I have to hook it up, cuz plain oatmal is like a boring job... just no damn good.

(My goodness, where did that simile come from?)

I'm hooking it up with pecans, almond milk and dried pears this morning. Might throw in a dollop of all natural apple sauce.

That's what I call a hook-up.

My prayer for myself this morning was the same as yesterday: that I have a good productive day. Yeah, I wailed about my disdain for the place, but at the same time, I want to do a good honest job. That's all I want. That prayer was answered yesterday. I hope the same for today.

I hope the same for you... that whatever you hope to accomplish today, you will acccomplish.

And accomplish with flair and purpose...

Tuesday Ramblings...

Oh, I have looked around, and seen that I haven't been blogging lately.

The HORROR...

Well, my laptop is acting up. I got a couple of viruses on it, and well, it is just SLOW. So, I am trying to work that out. I don't care to blog from work, but sometimes, you do what you have to do. (Plus the boss is OUT today).

Glory!!

So, I guess I will ramble off the top of my head.

Ramble, ramble, ramble.

And I will try to keep it short.

(Yeah right)

My weekend. I had a great weekend (well great for me). I didn't do anything Saturday except lounge around the house and read and crochet. It was a VERY quiet Saturday, something that I really needed.

Sunday, I did my weekly shopping at the Farmer's Market. I also had a Financial Freedom Fighters meeting. That was interesting, as someone is always meeting a goal or what-not. It does me good to hear this, and I even got a few ideas. My budget for April is already made, and I plan to pay off one BIG balance credit card by the end of April. So, uh, an Oldgirl is ECSTATIC about that.

So, it was a quiet weekend... just like I like 'em.

"The 72 hour rule". Sunday night, I had a really bad headache. I have NO idea what that was about. I went to bed (should've taken some tylenol, man!), and when I woke up Monday morning, I felt a good bit better, but not quite.

So I called into work, said I would be in around 12 or so. Since I run on CP time, my boss knows that means 1 o'clock.

But when I got in, I had to deal with all these emails from a skittish co-worker concerning some equipment that I am responsible for. It wasn't working or something (who knows).

Some people don't understand email etiquette.

Pissed me off. Wasn't a good idea for me to go talk to the person who sent it ("Knock it off with the #$$*$% emails!!!"). I decided that I would work on my personal work first then go take care of that.

So this person reported me to my boss. And my boss called me.

That really pissed me off.

(I need to do what I sometimes do: be hard to find and just not answer the phone. Better yet, I need to just take the WHOLE day off).

I had finished my personal stuff by then (I was going to spend an hour on it), then I went and fix the problem (Of course it was simple... took all of 3 minutes).

I have a rule that I follow these days to stave off my anger:

Wait 72 hours before I say anything to anybody who has upset me.

I thought that was dumb. But let's say that I wouldn't dare call it dumb.

I got that particular rule 6 years ago... when praying about some other stuff that was pissing me off.

That was a good answered prayer. One that I will always remember.

I have this wild tendency to go off and talk a lot of crap. I am hotheaded, I will admit that. This has been solved in the majority of cases (I would say, 95%), by just waiting around before I say anything.

This gives me a chance to:

a. cool off.
b. think about the situation.
c. Just leave things alone. Lo and behold, the thing takes care of itself. It is as if that that is just the right amount of time for problems to be solved on there own.

All of that makes the "72 hour rule" NOT dumb. Not in the least.

So, I haven't said anything to this coworker. I kept getting accosted about simple mess, though.

I did send some return emails, as I was still being harrassed.

"I am working on my worksheets. When I finish doing what I am doing, I will get to it. "

I had the urge to put that in ALL caps, in BRIGHT red, in size 32 font, with a whole bunch of exclamation marks.

But I didn't. For that I am proud.

An Oldgirl is growing up.

And squashing the anger.

So, I feel better today. Much better. I think I was a little dehydrated this weekend. I am use to drinking a gallon of water a day, and I have slipped on that lately, I suppose.

I was standing on the dock yesterday telling my favorite custodian this. Her solution was simple:

"Why don't you get a buzzer and place it around your neck and set it to go off when it is time to drink some water, LadyLee."

I stared at her hard. "Yeah right."

LOL. Ain't no way I would do that. I just need to drank some water!!

So that's enough of my mindless rambles...

Hope your week is going well!

Monday Afta-noon Ramblings...

Good Afta-noon!!

Howdy Do?

(That means... How thangs hanging today?)

I am fine.

The current temperature in the ATL is 40 degrees. And it's suppose to rain today. There is nothing worse than it rain AND being cold. UGH!!

I still haven't decided whether to buy a coat or not. By the time I decide, it will be HOT outside. LOL.

My weekend. It was all over the place. I've been running around, trying to get ready for this cruise. I absolutely HATE shopping. Hated-ed it. So, that was the gist of my Saturday. Heck, I didn't even buy anything, just did a lot of perusing. But I'll be shopping every night this week. I have a slew of Kmart, Wal-Mart, and Target gift cards, so I will be hitting those places up this week for little dinky stuff.

I also went to another one of Green-Eyed Bandit's son basketball game. They uh, got a little more rowdy this time. And her son's team lost. I suppose I may be a jinx. Hmmm....

Now on Sunday, I did make one purchase... a new camera.



Very simple and very cheap. And I even bought a 4 G film card for 12 bucks. That means I will be able to take 24,3971,389 pictures while on this cruise. LOL!!!
I watched the Super Bowl last night.

Go Steelers!!!

That was a GOOD game!

The church fast is over. We had the nerve to have fried chicken, ribs, honey barbeque chicken, fries, rolls...

My body is like... "Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!"

Ugh. Let me tell you... I have no taste for meat anymore. And I didn't even care to try something sweet. THE HORROR.

As Opinionated Diva says... "I ain't able!!!!!"

My body is giving me the *side-eye* and the *gas face*.

Alas, I am back to eating my niiiiiice fresh fruit and salad and soy milk. I will probably stay this way until my birthday... or beyond.

One of my goals over the next million years is to go vegetarian. And if I want some meat here and there, then I will eat it. My goal it to rarely eat meat. But I have completely lost the taste for it, and anything sickly sweet. So, uh, we will see where this goes.

My work week is only 3 days long. This makes me feel more smurfy than usual.

That also makes it a GOOD week automatically.

The rest of ya'll, especially ya'll that work the full 5 days...

(Ha! Ha! I laugheth at YOU!)

Ya'll make especially sure to have a good week... on purpose.

Good Morning...

Good.

Morning.

Ugh.

That kind of eeked out of me, didn't it?

No, I ain't all smurfy this morning. Not in the least.

I somehow slipped up and caught a cold. I don't know where it came from, but I went to a movie on Christmas afternoon. I think somebody breathed on me. I got the sniffles on Saturday, and then I was sitting in Church on Sunday morning and needed a few tissues from the ursher, lol.

This might be enough to give me agoraphobia, a fear of crowds.

I can almost see myself walking into a thearter spraying people with Lysol.

LOL!

And if that ain't bad enough, Aunt Flo came busting through the door. I have no idea where she came from, but she do need to be pimp slapped good fashioned.

This is no way to be chilling on staycation, Man!

*Lee throwing open window and hurling herself out*

I will probably get a call from my doctor today. Whenever I have a cold, she will call and say "We've been looking at your bloodwork. Watch out for a cold."

I don't know how she does that, but I see it as a very mean joke indeed.

So, I plan to chill out this week, so I won't get worse. No in and out, just rest until I feel better. I am a bit disappointed because I had an itinerary for my last week off, and now that is cut short.

I'll get over it.

I give myself ample room to whine. But I always follow it up with good thoughts. I have had colds before and I have gotten over them. I will get over this one. I am thankful to be off, that all is good despite me not feeling well, and I will get a few things done this week, even though it's around the house.

The sun is shining. My bills are paid. Life is good.

There. I feel better already.

Anyway, I hope to post everyday this week. And I hope to keep it short. (*blog family gasps so hard that they suck all the air off the planet*)

LOL!

I am going to drink a couple quarts of watered down orange juice and go back to bed.

Ya'll who are at work. Work a little for me, why don't cha? LOL

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and that you're ready for the New Year.

Holla!

Monday Afternoon Ramblings...

Again...

It is COLD outside.

And from the looks of the extended weather forecast on the local news, I suppose it will stay cold.

I actually went ahead on and turned on the furnace. Yep. As my best friend says, "Turn on the heat, just to knock the chill off the house, girl!" Yep, knocked it off a bit too much, because we were about smoked out up in there. I think I have it at a nice temperature now.

And, have you seen the price of gas?! Gas is so cheap right now that I got myself a FULL tank of premium. That's supreme, babes. My Mazda beater hasn't had a tank of premium since 2001! LOL!!

My boss is not at work today. GLORY!!! The Infamous Hen-Dog is in charge! And if you ask him a question, he gives that "I don't care, leave me alone LadyLee!!" look.

Thus, it will be a laid back day, and I might take off out of here early. I asked Hen-Dog if this was fine. He peered at me curiously, blinked hard, then waved bye-bye.

Yeah, I'll only work 5 hours today. I got ish to do!

My weekend. I woke up on Saturday morning just full of GLEE! I walked out of my bedroom singing a song, a happy, happy song...

"I don't have to work today! I don't work today! La-La-la-Laaaaaaaa!!!"

*Cats scrambling out of LadyLee's path REAL fast*

No work this weekend. Boy, that felt good.

I was the Queen of Chores all morning long. I cleaned up the kitchen, cleaned up my bedroom, vacuumed, and washed clothes- with a smile on my face! I even did a little crocheting, trying to prep for LBeezy's blanket.

So, 'scuse me while I post some more samples for the LBeezy's perusal:

Crochet Concerns. This one is the one liked by most of the chemists here.



Dr. Hazel Eyes gave some long-winded complicated explanation involving depth and definition, which had me seeing *crickets*. She is correct, though. I think.

This one was liked, but negroes were whining about how it had too much white going on, and they didn't feel like washing it.

Hen-Dog was cool with it, as long as he had a woman that would keep it clean. HUMPH.

This one, the alternating one, was just... weird. It plays tricks on the eyes (which could be a good thing, really). Something went wrong with the strip ridges.


Again, this has been the topic of HIGH discussion at work this morning. We are having isshas with the big piece with the alternating rows. Ol' Mean Ass Cynthia made some funky complicated suggestions, which caused me to angrily yell "What the hell are you talking about, girl?!" She gave me a look of disgust, one of them Big Mama side-eye looks. I queited down. I didn't want to catch a beat down over some doggone yarn.

LOL.

Beezy, if you want that one, you're going to have to decide on a uniform ridge color. As you can see, it's all white ridges and one blue ridge line. I suggest all blue. But that's just me, Ma! Make up your mind, because on November 1, I need to get cracking on this.

Okay, I know that bores you, oh dear blog family... but it excites me to no end!

Moving right along.

I even went to the movies this weekend. I spent part of my morning, before doing chores, finishing up The Secret Life of Bees. Then I hit the theatre in the afternoon. Very good movie. And it stuck pretty close to the book. You can't beat that!

I did quite a bit of sticker shopping for my cards. I buy most of my stickers way out on the southside of town. So, that was a lot of fun, as I don't do that very often. I also bought a gang of yarn. I was a shopping fool, lol!

FFF Possee -ACTIVATE! I had a "Triple F" Possee meeting, i.e., a Financial Freedom Fighters meeting on Sunday. Man oh man, I LOVE getting together with these broads and discussing our finances. And you can say whatever you want to say, with no doggone judgements or anything. Yeah, I get chastised here and there (because I am about 10% trifling, lol), but it is always followed up with VERY good thought provoking suggestions that, if I do them, it changes my whole situation.

I am SO grateful for this group. Changing a few bad habits over the past couple years has really helped me financially. And I am low on the totem pole of the group, because every one else is making such grand strides. Heck, I get all excited over their achievements, feeling like they are my own!

And that's how it's suppose to be, right? Rejoicing in each other successes.

I am pretty sure that's one of the way to open up the door for my own successes.

Ladies, we need to get together once a week! (Yeah right. The online component of our group discussions will do just fine).

Me and the lovely neighborhood Crackheads. So, for my FFF meeting, I whipped up a nice batch, about 2 and a half dozen, of triple chocolate chip pecan cookies.

Why was one of the local crackheads banging on my door yelling "I know you up in there Lee! I smell them cookies! Gimmee some cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I have come to learn that cookies are good bargaining tools. Let's just say that I got ALL of my front porch trim painted for 10 bucks and 3 cookies. (I didn't even have to supply the paint. I suppose dude "found" it somewhere. Hmm.)

I know my sister is pissed, because when I make cookies, I leave her a few. I don't eat them myself, as me and sweets don't get along too well. So I may have to make her a batch.

I will post on this next week sometime, as this whole crackhead and local experience, and me getting chastised about MY porch and yard is just a bit, I don't know, puzzling, to say the least.

Bedtime. I have a bad case of insomnia these days, and it is an off and on problem. My doctor says it is due to my condition. She gave me some pills for it, but that ish knocks me out, and I don't like that feeling. So, I would say, for the last week or so, I haven't been falling asleep until about 1 in the morning. That's not good!

Needless to say, I fool around on my laptop around this time. And there wasol' ATLien Nikki, the Iniquitous One, floating around on IM. On Saturday night, I im'd her on her blackberry, and she was at a party. I know she was like "WTF?" in the midst of doing a hard cabbage patch dance move. LOL!!

But we had a LONG discussion the next night, Sunday night, at around 11 p.m. or so. I am trying to write a poem right now, and I need for it to make a little bit of sense (Man, ya'll know how my ish be like some poetry on crack). It is only for a blog post, but I need to make it sound halfway right, lol. So we discussed that, and the root from which it is growing from. She's like, a pit bull when it comes to critiquing my work, not afraid to make me cry and wail, so she gave me some real good suggestions.

I have a few pieces that have a slight erotic component to them. Anyone who knows me knows that I can't STAND erotica. We have all swung from the proverbial chandaliers. I don't want to read about it! Well, if it is spare, and in context and related to the story, then it's cool. Otherwise, it is just fluff. (Keith, I like some of the "Escapades" poetry. I'll make an exception for you, player.)

Nikki knows how to do the erotica thing with the whole emotional component weaved in. I know she will help me along with that. I know if she say that it sound tight, then it is tight. Chick don't mince the words, lol. As long as it is spare, I don't really care. But I need it to make a couple of stories work out.

But, during our discussion, she told me something that I've been told a couple of other times over the past couple of weeks:

"Lee, you are much too hard on yourself."

That gave me pause. I know I am, but I can't help it.

Or...

Maybe I can.

I'll leave you with that. I must go off to the laboratroy and ponder such statements.

I had a good weekend, and I look forward to next weekend.

Have a good week. . . on purpose.

Monday Ramblings..

I was OFF today. Nothing to be happy about. I woke up sick as a dog this morning. STILL not sure what that was about. Maybe too much drinking and drugging all weekend! (Yeah right,lol). I haven't been drinking my water like I should, and I get easily dehydrated. I didn't take my medicine before I went to bed, so I guess that was it. (SHAME on ME).

I feel a little better now. Reluctantly, I will go to work tomorrow.

My weekend. My weekend was quiet for the most part. As usual I have A LOT of things planned for the weekend, but uh, it may or may not pan out.

But this weekend, I got together with my BFF LadyTee, who I haven't seen since late June. (We are weird like that. Talk everyday, but too busy to get together). We went to the movies to see Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys.

That was a GOOD movie. Both LadyTee and I enjoyed it. I am a big fan of Alfre Woodard, and I always go see whatever she's in.

There's one thing I like about Tyler Perry: He has the money and resources to make whatever movies and shows he wants to make. In other words, despite all the criticism of his OWN people and everybody else, he keeps pressing on. First, people were upset about him throwing on a dress and a wig. NOW he is being criticizedfor having white people in his movies. Hmmm. Can't do nothing right, can he?

I'm just glad he has the money and resources to do one thing: learn. He has the resources to learn his craft.

I wonder, what is it like to do what you really LOVE and not have to deal with the daily grind of a job, etc.

I'm glad Tyler Perry knows. And by the time he makes that 10th movie (I think this was movie number 6?), well, he will suprise us all...

I'm glad he makes movies that I can take my Grandma to. I may take her to see this one.

Enough of my rantings. The movie was good. Period.

Besides that, I hung out a little while with LadyTee, got a few things done around the house, and got some much needed rest.

A nice enough weekend indeed.

Pet peeves. I have a pet peeve, for which I am terribly ashamed: I can't STAND calling a credit card company or a bank and someone with a very heavy accent tries to help me. Now, I realize that there's a lot of outsourcing to India and other foreign countries, but I just don't care to give my personal information or get help from someone who I just cannot understand.

Oh, and we REALLY have a problem if a telemarketer with a heavy accent calls my house. That's an automatic hang-up. I can't understand what they are saying so there is no need for me to talk.

Ugh. I have no idea how to get rid of that. It is so wrong, I know. But I need someone who can talk to me a bit clearer than the customer service representatives that I get. I end up calling back until I can get some ample help. 'Tis wrong, but oh well.

Things that make me scratch my head. There is a strange case down in Orlando Florida, where a young 3 year old girl Cay.lee Anthony disappeared. Of course there has been a frantic search for her. But, the kicker is that the girl had been gone for a full month before anyone reported her missing. The mother won't talk. The grandparents are tripping. Last week, DNA tests showed that a decomposing body had been in the trunk of the mothers car.

Hmm. This chick was charged on suspicion, let out on bail, and locked back up again on some bad check charges. All in all, she's a bit tight-lipped about what she knows about her daughter.

Thank goodness I'm not in charge down there, because this chick would be thrown UNDER the jail. I've NEVER heard of a mother who isn't concerned about a missing child. Hmm.

And what's up with Sarah Palin's daughter? Is the father of her child a black man, or is that just a rumor? I'm assuming that it's a rumor. We'll know when the baby get's here, won't we? LOL!!

I'm still tripping that the supposed baby's father parents would let him be flown out to the convention and paraded around and shown off the way he was. No way my son would've been pawned out like that. All over somebody's political aspirations. Humph.

And 2 more companies fail today: Lehm.an Brothers and Me.rrill-Lyn.ch. Well, Merr.ill-Ly.nch was snapped up by Bank of Am.erica. One more, AI.G, is on the brink, and asking the feds for a bailout.

Goodness. It's hard for me to concentrate on managing the little budget I have when these big companies can't manage their own. Maybe they need a good finance group like my own, lol. It definitely reminds me to be thankful, and to work harder on managing my finances, that's for sure.

Happy things. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine (we'll call her "Trip"), was laid off from her job. Instead of whining and wailing, she took the opposite route: she prayed and she got a game plan together. She called several friends, got them to get agreement with her. We all prayed and kept it moving.

She had an interview, and got a job. Not just any old job, but one that is a bit closer to her house, and pays more money. She hadn't even got her severence check yet from the old job. So, she has a new job, plus a severance check now. Hmm...

It was all good for me to witness this. First, I am just honored that I was one of the people she called to talk to about her plans. It reminded me that in times of adversity, one's true character is revealed. It also reminded me in times of need for help, to sit down and pray about it. I can't forget Who my help comes from. I really can't, and I must remember to act accordingly.

I'm in the midst of setting up some short term goals for myself. All of it is written down, but in different places. Trip's experience has allowed me to understand the attitude I have to have. It really has.

So thanks "Trip". What you went through helped me, more than you will ever know.

Congratulations on that new job, girl. Good for you!

So that's all that's on my mind at the beginning of this week. It trips me out that it's already the middle of September. Before you know it, we'll be celebrating the winter Holidays. Oh joy!

Have a good week:)

Tuesday Ponderings-"You Suckas!!!"

What's up you SUCKAS!!!

Yeah, I called ya'll some suckas.

Why?

Because ya'll at work today, and I am NOT!!!

You suckas!!!!

In other words, I am still enjoying my vacation.

Yes, I am OFF! This is RARE! It feels GOOD!

I'll return to suckerhood next week! Right now, I'll let you all be some suckas. LOL!!

And anyone trying to reach me, leave my gub'ment email alone. Hit up my oldgirl email address. I check that regularly...

My holiday weekend. Well, the highlight of my holiday weekend was my making a pilgrimadge up to Charlotte NC for that Original Oldgirl's Serenity's Housewarming extravaganza...

You know you a bad sista when negroes are driving in and flying in from other states to attend your party. Goodness.

Well, I showed up with a car full of stuff: her blanket, a vacuum cleaner, a gang of wine, crawfish, shrimps and about 6 dozen cookies. I had a bunch of stuff I needed to give to the LBeezy and her baby boy, stuff that's been collecting on my dining room table for the past 3 months, lol.

Let's just say, there was a huge wrapping party at my house on Friday night, i.e., I laid up on the couch with a cold bottle of beer while I watched my sister Kentucky wrap EVERYTHING in bootleg dollar store Christmas paper. American Gangster played loudly on the DVD player.

"Kentucky, you know you like wrapping gifts. I HATE wrapping gifts. I know you love it!"
"No, I don't Lisa."
I frowned. "Oh you don't?"
"No."
"Oh well, that's too bad!" I point at the tall box with my bottle of beer. "Place a little tape on the back right there. The paper is sticking out."

LOL!!

Kentucky had her chance to say no to wrapping gifts. I'd been yelling all week at her about wrapping gifts because I don't like to. She'll stand up to me someday and yell "Hell no, Lisa!!"

I loaded up the car (not my car. My ish broke down last time I was up there. I drove Kentucky's luxurious ride, lol). I yelled at her for having NO air in her tires, so I had to find some air somewhere. GEEZ!!

My ride was nice. But Kentucky has so many controls in her ride. I was freezing cold the whole drive there. UGH!!

Then she had this CD of break-up songs in her car. That made me want to pull over and slit my throat.

And make a mental note to have a convo with her later. Hmm.

But there was one song on there that I love, that I haven't heard in a long time... And it is my Song of the month.

"Bitter" by Chante Moore

Youtube has disabled embedding for this song so go over there and have a look, if you like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmh8kb0plz8

'Tis a bitter song. It should've been titled "Nigga", but I suppose that is not a good thing. But that word is a formidable part of the chorus, most important part, really. She even mouths it in the video. Heck, I even found the unedited version, which happens to be over on my playlist. (Got a phone call about that yesterday: "Lee, where did you find that?" LOL).

I've been combing through old journals and similar material lately, looking for "myself" for lack of a better term to use, and I came across an account of an old argument I'd had with my ex-husband. I was SO enraged that morning and words left my mouth that I didn't even know had been trapped DEEP in my heart.

"I f*ckin' HATE you. I f*ckin' HATE your guts!!"

I think during that argument I used the "n" word a gazillion different ways, as a noun, prononun, conjuction, punctuation- every which way possible.

I remember the look of shock on his face. Shoot, I'd shocked my ownself! He didn't know what to do. I am terribly passive agressive by nature, which means I rarely fight or argue. RARELY. (People who know me, ya'll know how quiet I am). I just don't talk to you. I disappear, almost like I've fallen off the face of the earth. I'm still like that, but I am around people who force me to talk without punishing me for it later, so I am getting better (I suppose).

My man was buffed and carried a lot of guns and knives. He could've hurt me bad that day. I think he told me to go to hell after he got over the shock of what I'd said.

We spoke about it a couple of days later, ironically, after his Mama's funeral. We both apologized for our behavior. I remember standing in the yard, thinking of how pretty his brown eyes were in the afternoon sun...

...And how the relationship, and the marriage were indeed over.

Hard sigh. Big tear.

I think every sista has gone "there" before, where you are saying stuff that you didn't even know was in your heart, whether your goal was to hurt your man's feelings, or whether you REALLY hated dude. I am terribly violent, so I've thrown a punch or two in the process. We've all gone "there" in some way or another.

I like Chante's song, because she goes "there" in a very nice and loving manner. I don't remember a song being sung so lovingly about bitterness. Hmm.

Try that with your man, ladies! You'd get laughed out the frickin' door if you do!

Me and ATLien Nikki were wondering what Kadeem Hardison did to ol' Chante. She got a couple of crazy songs out there. Funny how everyone thinks of her "ex" when she sings. I know that trips him out!

Okay, enough of my meanderings...

Let's end this on a smurfy note. Since Chante Moore is one of my favorite singers, here's a couple more of my favorite songs by her.

"Love's Taken Over"



"Love's Taken Over" Quiet Storm REMIX!



"Chante's Got a Man"



You all have a great day... AT WORK!!

LOL LOL!!!

Holla at cha!!

Friday Ramblings

Let the rambling begin!!

Pay Day! I am happy because it is PAYDAY!!


My smile is bright and my teeth gleam in the morning sun! It is PAYDAY!!

You know what that means. BALL 'TIL I FAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!

BLING-BLING, Baby!!!

Yeah right. I wish I WOULD have the nerve to go shop 'til I drop. I could see myself out shopping, having a GOOD time.

The "Gang leader" of my Triple F Possee (the financial freedom fighters, my finance group), Tiffy D would roll up on me, her light green eyes flashing bright red. They glow brightly.

And she'd slowly say... "Put that dayum stuff back, Trick!!!!!"

*Lee putting video games, CDs, sneakers and snow crabs back on the shelf... quickly*

No. No shopping for me. I will pay the mortgage, and a few bills. Then I will go do a little grocery shopping this weekend. That is IT.

*Tiffy D's eyes return to their nice green color*

Whew. Thank goodness. I don't want to deal with that girl's death stare! LOL!!

Dinter!! I had dinner with one of my faaaaaaaaaaaavorite LadyLee blog readers, Sherri, aka, Ms.Blackliterature.com, the true authority on the genre of black literature. She was in town on business, and wanted to get together. I was DOWN for that, man.

That chick has turned me on to some really good reading! Really though. And she has done me the HONOR of critiquing some of my manuscript and other writings. (She is HARD on an Oldgirl. Makes me think and makes me do better! I LOVE IT!) She's one of the best members of the Original Oldgirl Elite Critique Team.

(I'ma get some t-shirts made up for ya'll who are team members. I really am. And ya'll BETTER wear them.)

She called earlier in the day, and I was suppose to meet her at her hotel. But later, she said she'd come pick me up. The tail end of our convo...

"Alright, I'll see you in about 15 minutes, Lee."

"That'll work."

*LadyLee hangs up phone*

"Kentuuuuuuucccccccky!!!!" I holler REAL loud. "Come help me clean up real quick!!!"

We did an AMAZING amount of cleaning in 15 minutes. LOL!! I was just about to pull out the vacuum cleaner, but she was standing at my door and ringing that doorbell!

We had dinner at the Watershed. I've been there SO many times. I blogged about it the first time I went, with one of Miss Celie's homegirls, Nurse Cook (who I affectionately call "The Good Nurse"-yall KNOW I can't call peeps by their birth/gub'ment name). WOW. It's my favorite place to take someone when the come to town.

I had a green salad and some nice fried oysters, with the red bell pepper ketchup that I so dearly love. She had the fried catfish and mac-n-cheese.

I told her what The Good Nurse told me the first time I'd gone there. She told me and my brother Milk and Cookies...

"The macaroni and cheese is made by God."

I told Sherri this. We were having some nice convo and she took a bite of that... and ALL convo stopped.

I smiled. "I told you that that macaroni and cheese was made by God!"

She had that same look on her face that I had when I first tried it. Like she had seen the heavens open up and the angels sing.

Yes. That macaroni and cheese is THAT good.

She recently had a baby girl back in June, and I even got a chance to see and feed the baby.

All together now, Blog Fam...

"Awwwwwwwwwww."

Shoot. It almost makes me want to have one.

(Yeah right).

We had a GREAT time. I LOVE GOOD CONVERSATION! And we had a good one.

I'm glad that I got a chance to hang out with you Ms.Blackliterature.com! I had a GREAT time, and I hope we hook up again!

My Friday Video of the day: "Soul Sisters" by Finesse and Synquis.

(I know 2nd 68 remembers that one!)

My best friend LadyTee HATED them. "Aww Lee, those broads wanna be Salt-N-Peppa. That'll never happen. I can't stand them! Blah, blah, BLAAAAH!!"

We fought endlessly over them. She still talks crap whenever I mention them. LOL.

I must admit, I've always like Salt-N-Peppa better. (I'll never let LadyTee know that!)

This song is 20 years old, and contains 2 of my favorite rap verses:

"I know you're impressed by this Lady Godiva because your mouth is wide open and it's dripping saliva"

"You grab the mike and start screeching for no apparent reason. You should do what you do best, girl, and that's skeezin!"

Remember when calling a woman a "Skeezer" was the worst thing you could call her?

You know what we're regularly called in songs these days. Hmmmm.

Who would've thought those were the Good 'Ol Days???

Okay, I've finished with my rambling.

Do me a BIG ol' favor:

Have a nice weekend... on purpose.