Bon Voyage!

Praise God!!! I made it through another week of work. My Friday has finally arrived! (I work Friday-Monday 7pm-5am lucky me!) Anyway, I don't have any major week-end (week day) plans besides starting my dreaded Christmas shopping even though most of my friends and family will be the lucky (or unlucky depending how you look at it) recipients of knitted scarves made by me. ( I've had a little too much free time lately) I'm suppose to report for jury duty later this week but I think the summons got lost in the mail....yeah that's what happened.

Oh how could I forget... I'm going on a cruise and I'm so excited! My Mom, Grandma, Uncle, Uncle's Partner, and I are going on a 7 day cruise from Venice to Rome in September. We are going on this cruise line. We're suppose to arrive in Venice 2 days early to hang out then hang over 2 days in Rome at the end. I'm also going on a little jazz cruise with my Mom in January which should be fun. I feel kinda guilty about spending so much money on trips when I should be paying off credit cards and saving to buy a house but you only live once right? Well, bye for now have a great week!

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IGNORANCE

Okay.... So I think I've calmed down enough to talk about this. A couple of weeks ago a friend and I visited Adela's Yarn Store in Castro Valley. (5 Minutes from Oakland) Actually let me back it up a bit. After lounging around on a rainy day listening to Jill Scott in sweatsuits (cute one's of course :-) a friend (who happens to be white) and I decided to buy some yarn for new projects. We looked in the phone book and found a yarn shop 5 minutes away from her house. I walked into the shop before her and was immediately approached by a salesperson who looked at me from head to toe then sneered, "Can I help you with something?" I replied, "No thanks." and started looking around. She rolled her eyes and walk away but continued to watch me as I walked around. At that point I probably should have left but stupid me decided to stay. (The next closest yarn shop was 30 minutes away I didn't want to drive that far in the rain.) My friend came in shortly after I did and began shopping. Periodically we would compare items then go back to separate areas of the store. During one of the times we were apart I happen to be standing behind the salesperson who greeted me at the door. She was talking to another customer and didn't have the common sense to make sure no one was in earshot before she started talking shit. She tells the lady in front of her " Could you not stand in front of me I am trying to watch THOSE GIRLS!" ( I guess my friend was guilty by association) I was flabbergasted!! I was so angry I dropped what I was planning to buy, grabbed my friend, and headed for the door. Just before I walked out I realized I had to say something to her. I took a few deep breaths, buried my hands in my pocket so that I wouldn't punch her, and walked back in. When she noticed me coming back she actually looked scared. The same customer was still with her so I faced both of them and told her that I had no intention of stealing anything. Of all the things on earth I could steal why in the hell would I pick a yarn shop in Castro Valley as the place to do the deed?! Please!! WHO would steal yarn? I work for a Police Dept for goodness sake ( not that it makes any difference mind you) Anyway, she goes, " OH, (he-he) I wasn't talking about you two girls...I was talking about those other girls." Now, you know and I know that there were no other "Girls" in the shop. As a matter of fact there were no other people in the shop at all. At that point I ended the conversation because I realized that not only was she ignorant she was also a liar. I left the store in a foul mood and was grouchy for several hours afterwards. I ended up driving all the way to a crafts store in Pleasanton and never found what I was actually looking for.

I decided the next day to write a letter to the owner of the store explaining what happened just to see if I would get any response. Then I started thinking that perhaps she was the owner and it would be pointless for me to waste my time. The jury is still out on that but perhaps I will write the letter, then decided afterwards if I want to send it. What do ya think? I think it's very sad that even in one of the most culturally, ethnically, and financially, diverse areas in the nation ignorance like hers still exists. I almost wish I could sit down and talk to her and maybe help her to understand that she has no reason to be afraid of people who are different from her. Or, no reason to be that stupid but that would take all day.

Just so that this whole post isn't negative I do have some good news. After 5 hours of complaining, arguing, bitching, moaning, pleading, fighting, and 2 missed delivery dates with Levit's my new bedroom set finally arrived!!! It is massive and way to big for my room but I love it anyway. Now if I could just get it all to fit.......................

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Stupid Callers (part II)

FYI....For all of you that don't already know 911 is for LIFE or DEATH emergencies understand! No, a live rat swimming up your toilet is not considered an emergency. The shopping cart flipped over in the middle of intersection that your stupid ass could have moved would not count as an emergency either. Hopefully that clears things up.

ME: 911, What's your emergency?
Caller: I need the number to Blockbuster Video.
ME: Are you aware that you called 911?
Caller: Um, yeah!
ME: Are you aware that 911 is for life or death emergencies?
Caller: Yeah, but you guys are so much faster than 411!!! Plus, I just saved myself 75 cents!
~END CALL~

ME:911, What's your emergency?
Caller: Does time change today? You know that whole day light savings thing?
ME: Yes, but what is your emergency, why are you calling 911?
Caller: I need to know what time it is and I forgot the number for popcorn.
ME: It's time for you to get a watch idiot! (okay, I didn't actually say that part but I wanted too!)
~END CALL~

PEOPLE ARE SUCH IDIOTS!!!!!!

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Josh says Happy Thanksgiving too...but his silly Aunt could not figure out how to include this picture in the last post.
Posted by Hello

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Happy Thanksgiving from Mom, Me, and Grandma!!!
Posted by Hello

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Happy Turkey Day!

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Freedom!

Im free!!!!! I finally worked up the nerve to do what I've wanted to do for years. After several hairstyles ranging from a very long weave to a very short pixie cut I have given up the creamy crack! No more burning scalp and eyes! No more hiding from fog, rain, wind, and anything else that could potentially ruin my hairstyle! No more chemicals that I think were (in part) causing my migranes! No more avoiding combs, brushes, and anything else that could scratch my scalp prior to salon visits in order to avoid chemical burns. No more spending ridiculous amounts of money on hair products that never lived up to their promises. NO MORE, NO MORE, NO MORE!!! On November 17 2004 at 2:30 pm my addiction officially ended.

I have taken the first step on what I hope will be a long journey of self discovery. (That sounds so much more dramatic than I usually am) Anyway, here's the long and short (he-he) of it. I spent 4 hours taking down my last set of human hair braids. (some of which I left in the garbage at work :-) I then had a stylist cut off the last few inches of relaxed hair. He also dyed what was left (perhaps 3 1/2 inches) Copper and twisted it into tiny coils ( or baby locks). I thought I would be stressed out when the big day arrived but oddly enough all I felt was relief. When he turned the chair around to show me the finished product I couldn't stop smiling. I'm not saying that it won't be (and has been) a big adjustment but it's not as bad as I expected. All of the comments I've heard thus far have been positive. (Even from people who don't like it) Anyway, I've decided that I like it and that's all that matters. The stylist warned me that starting locks is a long process with several stages. He says that I will go through what he called an "Ugly Stage" but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I think this will be a huge commitment but, so far so good.

This is what I've learned (realized) so far. My value, beauty, and self worth are not tied to what my hair or any other external part of me looks like. My value comes from who I am as a child of GOD, how I treat others, and what I think of myself. (and FYI I like myself quite a bit :-) I guess grandma was right after all.

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Naked Drummer

Have you ever noticed that everyone around you seems to be going through the same issues at the same time? I don't mean the actual details of each situation. They just all seem to be on the same page, you know. I was talking to an old friend about how unhappy I am with my life at times. I told him I was going through somewhat of a rebellious faze and that I wanted to shave off all my hair and go beat a drum naked in a park somewhere. Okay... I don't actually plan to go beat a drum naked in a park somewhere (eww bugs!) and you already know about the hair thing. The point is I'm so tired of doing what I'm suppose to do...you know the whole work, pay bills, be a responsible member of society thing. He said he felt exactly the same way. His life turned out nothing like he expected it to and he thinks this may be his last chance to get on track before old age kicks in. (Sadly, For him that means 30) I think they should tell you at the end of High School don't make any plans cause most of that shit won't happen and what you want will change at least 5000 times before you figure it out. (IF you figure it out...I haven't yet.) Anyway I seem to have lost the point I was trying to make. I guess this is just more pointless ranting that you had the misfortune to read.

.

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Aim High

I have got to get back to the Gym! I haven't been for the last 2 weeks (well honestly I haven't been for at least a month but I think that one 30 minute work out should count for something, don't you?). Since I decided not to run the marathon my workout routine has slowly deteriorated from 5-6 days a week to 1 day a month. In the beginning I told myself " It's okay, I need to let my body recuperate from all that running." Then I realized I was neglecting my TV habit. Then well...you get the point it just went downhill from there. Anyway it's time to get back on the horse so I think that will be my November goal. I will go to the gym at least 6 time a week. Yeah, that's what I'll do aim high. I figure if I shoot for 6 times a week I should make it at least 4 times (I hope). Hopefully that will be enough to help me loose the 10 pound I've regained since my birthday. Or perhaps it will prevent the 10 pounds I usually gain during the holiday season from showing up. Damn that's depressing!!! Well, this is so boring its giving me a headache so I'll go now.

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Defeat

So much time has passed since my last post I seem to have forgotten how. It took me almost 10 minutes to remember my password.....Anyway my blogging strike is officially over. The management and I have reached a compromise however I am not at liberty to discuss the specific terms. Basically.... My war with the worlds slowest computer is over. I have conceded defeat, kinda like Kerry .....even though I think he actually won. I have accepted the fact that I will have to deal with my old clunker until I have enough money to buy another one (which won't be any time soon). Management (the computer) has agreed not to crash for no apparent reason or turn itself on in the middle of the night. I have in turn promised to get DSL and stop downloading unnecessary files (in other words, anything). I was also required to buy it an acceptable home ( a hutch) and take it off the kitchen floor. So far things are working out nicely but I'll keep you posted.......

On to other topics......There really isn't anyway I could update you on all that has happened since my last post. I have gotten over Rick James' untimely demise, I've accepted the fact that our country (or should I say the yokels) have voted in a Monkey for president, and I am no longer running the marathon (could not raise that much money). I have been blessed with the opportunity to sing several time even with my hellacious schedule at work. I had to turn down several upcoming dates for the same reason. Yup I still work at the PD ....Any job is better than no job I suppose. I've decided to cut off all my hair and grow it out again without a perm. I'm a little nervous about that but I guess its just hair. It will grow back...right!? I have taken up knitting again however I won't be blogging about that very often. I have a sneaking suspicion that blogging about knitting may be addictive and, I happen to think that most* blogging knitter are a wee bit strange. Plus, I think you are required to have a cat to join that club. Steve and I are......Well.... I guess the best way to put it is, Steve and I are Steve and I. We are in our usual on again off again cycle. However, we have been getting along quite well and even if we never work out we will always be friends. I went to see Rachelle Ferrell at Kimball's last week. I was suppose to go with my aunt however she faked on me so I went alone and Steve met me there later. All I can say was A-MA-ZING!!! She was wonderful as usual . Well, I think I have used the word "I" enough times for one day so I think I will end this now.

*Some knitting bloggers are wonderful normal people like Rachael who I think can fly. (She hasn't admitted it yet)

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