Let the Sunshine In!!!

So, I’ve realized that my moods (almost) directly correlate with the weather. Since the weather here has been improving, I’ve been feeling better and better!! Today was absolutely gorgeous – about 70 degrees outside. Not too hot and not too cold…went to the park and just relaxed for a couple hours.

By the way, this place is perfect! I would stay here in a heartbeat if there was a little more diversity. (sigh). Still thinking about buying a condo or something here though – they’re going up everywhere. Plus, the DNC is coming here next year! Should be interesting.

What is that thing called? SAD – seasonal affective disorder??? I think that’s it…anyway, good weather and being outdoors definitely rejuvenates me…just thought you’d want to know :O)

Oh, and I saw 300! Great movie - plenty of action and rock hard eye-candy. Little strange - weird looking creatures and all, but wonderful flick...

Bill, Al and G'Dubya

Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and George W. Bush went to a fitness spa for some fun.

After a stimulating, healthy lunch, all three decided to visit the men's room and they found a strange-looking gent sitting at the entrance.

He said, "Welcome to the gentlemen's room. Be sure to check out our newest feature, a mirror that, if you look into it and say something truthful, you will be rewarded with your wish. But, be warned: if you say something FALSE, you will be sucked into the mirror to live in a void of nothingness for all eternity!"

The three men quickly entered and upon finding the mirror, Bill Clinton stepped up and said, "I think I'm the most intelligent of us three," and he suddenly found the keys to a brand new Bentley in his hands.

Al Gore stepped up and said, "I think I'm the most aware of the environmental problems of us three," and in an instant, he was surrounded a pile of money to fund his next Presidential Campaign.

Excited over the possibility of finally having a wish come true, George W. Bush looked into the mirror and said: “I think...," and was promptly sucked into the mirror.

Women Marry Up, Men Marry Down

Apparently, this is a well-known fact that I just learned about. It makes sense actually. Complete sense. Here’s how it came about – so I was discussing with some of my friends (male and female) about why certain well-educated men seem to end up with less educated women. In truth, we were talking about people we know and what this phenomenon is about.

I remember being slightly younger, and having women a couple of years older than me look at me in disgust as the taker of “their men”. I, and women like me, was dating the guys there age who were leaving them out in the cold. I thought it was funny – obviously I was offering these men something they were not getting from their peers. But now I find myself understanding those same women’s concerns!

Ironically, I generally can’t take men my age or even a couple years older seriously. However, I am seeing it for myself more and more. Highly intelligent and successful men dating women whose ambition and “station” (I know – totally snobbish) in life, is decidedly below their own. But now I get it.

Women marry up and men marry down. I’m still trying to figure out all the reasons that this statement is true. Of course, it’s not absolute, but there tend to be few exceptions. The usual occurrence is that a woman marries a man a couple of years older than herself. Is it because we mature faster? Is it because we find it easier to respect a man older than ourselves? Do men do it, simply because the younger woman is more pliable and willing to please them? Is because they don’t want to feel threatened by their wife’s intelligence? Or is there some other factor that I’m overlooking?

Please – help me out here – I need some feedback.

Party All the Time

Title's a little homage to Eddie Murphy...lol... By the way, I hope that you've seen Dreamgirls by now!! If you haven't then stop reading my post and go see the movie!

Okay, anyway - went to a party tonight - hosted by the organization called ICOF. It has a website, etc...but I don't remember what it is...basically, it's non-profit geared towards helping women and children in developing countries. Very young organization who raises money by charging donations. Yup, you heard me right - they charge a donation to enter the party.

(yawn) I'm tired. So, just thought it was interesting that no matter what party I go to - it's always the same. House/apartment parties, etc... people lined up on the wall or seating on the couches until some brave soul starts dancing and slowly others join. Then, the shyness steps in and back on the couch/wall - over and over again.I say this, because I know. I am that person who will not dance unless a whole bunch of other people are dancing too.

My sister, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She'll dance by herself. She'll take me in the middle of the dance floor and try to dance with me while people gather around. She’ll twirl around me. Press us up on me and dance her behind off. Which is exactly what she did. The brat. Then of course, guys thought it was open season on me - I was finally off the couch and didn't ask just assumed....etc....

Look, I like dancing. I do. I'm just totally self-conscious - and if I don't know you and you are trying to jook me - uh....do you really think I'm gonna get more comfortable and loosen up? No. And no again.

Addictions are BAD!

Ummm....so my latest obsession has been this TLS (Top Law Schools) website - here's my blog if you're interested...I still haven't been posting a lot, but it's short and sweet - you have to scroll all the way down and then make you're way up...

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/tls3431.html

Later!

Work, Work and More Work

Okay - gotta interrupt the law thingy to vent about employees!!! Where is the work ethic? If you're gonna quit your job can you give your boss a "head's up"? Some type of warning perhaps??? Is that too much to ask? Unless you're fired - there is no reason to just not show up, or not even tell anyone....

Hello???? Anyone home? First off, not only are you not going to get any sort of recommendation from your previous employer and your former co-workers (who are/were supposedly you're friend) are going to feel a certain amount of angst because of their increased workload...

Quite frankly it sucks. Do what you gotta do - but just give some warning. No wonder good people get burnt out - they're overworked and exhausted making up for all the immature losers out there...

(big sigh) In the long run, great for the company - we don't need people bringing down the morale - but short term - as Mr Knightley would say " Badly done (Emma). Badly done".

'Nother Race Post...

Alright. So, I said that I would talk about the AA thingy. But before I did – I decided to browse some of these forums and see what they had to say…

Well, they said a WHOLE lot. So, instead of reviving a dead horse – I will say this: You know what one of my biggest pet peeves is???? (Don’t even know if that’s grammatically correct)

People who assume that skin color equals cultural equivalency!!! It’s one of the most irritating things I hear. Especially, the whole “can’t YOU ALL just get along.

Let me start by saying – all Asians are NOT Chinese, all Latinos are NOT Mexican, all blacks are NOT African-American, and all whites are NOT wealthy and spoiled! LOL – though they are in the majority

This applies to all of us. We each have stupid stereotypes about each other based on tradition, personal experience, etc….Frankly, I don’t care. Just don’t assume. Period.

Everyone is different and comes from different backgrounds. You don’t know me. You may think you have insight because of some facts I share – but unless you are an intimate friend or family member please do not have the unmitigated gall to [ASS]UME anything.

And hey, guess what? Life is unfair. Affirmative Action is a bandaid trying to hold a larger infection at bay. And, it’s not based solely on race either. I’ve heard Adcomms say that the greatest beneficiary of it has been white women. Could be right or wrong. I don’t know.

You know what? I was totally obsessing about placement and prestige, etc…but when it comes down to it – wherever I end up will be where I’m supposed to be. Like I said before, I have few to none serious regrets. Each experience is a learning experience that helps me grow into a better person.

You know what I loved most about my graduate program? That out of a small class of 40 students, we had different cultures, languages and experiences. The great part? We TALKED about them in detail. Laughed. Joked. And realized that we are now ADULTS who don’t need to accept previous generations’ viewpoints. When it comes down to it, it’s all ignorance anyway.

I had one grandmother warn me about those “deceitful Indians” while the other’s Mom was straight from Delhi. Grew up hearing that I should never, ever, ever, ever date a Jamaican, Haitian, or any man from the continent of Africa. Why? Cultural differences and negative encounters. But, perspectives and past experiences aren’t always indicative of truth.

So, what am I trying to say ultimately? We all have biases and prejudices rooted in a variety of things – be aware of them and don’t let them shape your choices.

Whew. Okay – done preaching.

Oh - and for the record - I have now been accepted to American University in DC - forget Miami...lol..!

AA – Perspectives from a Slightly Uncomfortable URM

If you don’t know URM stands for Underrepresented Minority in the law admissions/school realm. Frankly, I had no idea – but being one have been bombarded with the term since I started this getting into law school process.

Here’s my dilemma – my LSAT (Law School Admission Test) score and undergrad GPA are not extremely high. I only scored in the xth percentile for the test, and my LSDAS GPA was a x.x. My only saving factor for my GPA was the fact that I graduated magna cum laude from my alma mater (is that how you spell it?) – BUT the LSDAS GPA also factors in my freshman year!!!

Well, for the record – freshman year was more than abysmal – I went from a 2.3 to 3.3 – which became a 2.7 average. Yeah – not at all pretty. Anywho, compared to the majority of applicants – mainstream white male – my scores are average. However, the majority of black applicants allegedly only score in the 20th percentile!

Actually, my score was in the top 5% of all scores for applicants in my ugrad – which clearly works in my favor.

Okay, numbers aside – Law schools typically admit URM student with lower scores to increase their diversity. It’s been a huge controversy – U of Michigan just lost the ability to do so on constitutional grounds, but private institutions still have the ability to make their own decisions. Since the majority of top schools are private affirmative action is still alive and well.

So, I’ve said all of that to say – I don’t know how I feel about the issue. On one hand, I recognize that all it does is get a student, who may not have “legacy” privileges or other connections into a school – the rest is up to them. On the other hand, should I really just get a hand up just because of my skin color?

Obviously, there are a lot more factors that go into it – but, what do you think?

Updates

Hey everyone, I’m gonna stop apologizing for not writing regularly – this whole law school process is extremely looong – and I’ve been obsessing about it….Plus, I just got dumped with a whole lot more responsibility lately….

But – good news – I got my first acceptance to University of Miami Law School!!!! YAY!! If all else fails – I’m definitely going to be in school in an absolutely great place :O)

Oh, click here to read my first ever article published on Baggage Reclaim - http://www.baggagereclaim.com/. I actually submitted it in October, but apparently it went to the Editor’s spam mailbox – lol! Anyway, it’s called “Sexy, Savvy, and Satisfied” – I know, I know….it just popped out k?

Alright – so something that is currently bugging me:

I have a friend who will remain nameless, who on a total whim decided to buy a ticket and stay in a hotel with a guy she met at the airport the previous week. When she told at first I was incredulous – then scared and upset.

Little backstory – Met him at the airport – seemed attractive and nice – met him for lunch – found out he was twice her age – laughed at it with us (her friends) and said it was too much for her. K, so I just assume the story is over. However, get a call this morning and hear that she’s in his hotel room and has been there since last night. But, she’s not attracted to the guy, and his bed is a so big it’s like they’re sleeping separately.

I’m not gonna throw stones, cuz God knows I’ve made some incredibly bad and yes, even stupid, decisions. Thing is – the first night went well – nothing happened. Great. Still, this dude obviously likes her, or he wouldn’t of asked her out in the first place….

And – she’s staying ONE more night!!! Granted she feels as though he’s trustworthy, but she doesn’t know him from Adam. I’m here freaking out, and she feels as though I’m exaggerating – so, I just paid to do a background check on him….

What do you think? Am I making too much of a big deal of this?

Snowmobiling

These long hiatuses from blogging have become something of a habit. My only excuse is that life in general has been so extremely busy that I barely have time to sleep, much less blog.

Basically, for those of you who don’t know I am in the process of applying for law school. For the past two months I was totally preoccupied with studying for the LSAT, and now that I’ve received my scores (disappointing at best) I am trying to finish all my apps before the first….which is only a couple of days away….

However, I’ve managed to have a GREAT Christmas!! It was the very first time I didn’t spend it with family, but my ex-roomie, who also happens to be my best friend’s cousin and her sister, came out. We went snowmobiling! It was cold, but a lot of fun. We went across the Continental Divide – and incidentally almost flipped over a couple times – but had a blast.

Give it try if you haven’t already. Goodness….I’m so tired I can hardly muster up anymore enthusiasm to write.

Anywho, have a fabulous New Year’s!!

When a Man Loves a Women

I took a crazy road trip this weekend. Left home at 6pm Friday night, got into Huntsville, Alabama around 1pm the next day. Took a shower ran some errands and rested for a couple hours. Proceeded to drive to Chattanooga, Tennessee, got back to Huntsville around 1230am Sunday morning. Slept. Woke up around 8am and left for Colorado again. Made it back at 5am Monday morning. My friend slept for a couple hours and headed to work, while I slept in.

Anyway, since we had such a ridiculously long trip, we had ample time to talk. And one of the things we discussed were men, their egos, and what it means for a woman. We both realized that we had valid trust issues because of the behavior of men in our lives.

Now I realize that it’s very simplistic to say that all men have fragile egos and only think with “one head” so to say. But, I think what is most important is that men tend to be extremely sensitive. More so than women. Yes, we may cry more and talk about our feelings. But, men find validation in women making them “feel like a man” or in constant affirmation. I know. I’m making a huge generalization, but think about it.

It’s easy to say that all men want is sex, etc. But the truth is, it’s not necessarily the sex per se that’s driving them. It’s the feeling that is associated with the sex. How many times have guys gotten into relationships with absolutely crazy women because of how that particular girl made them feel? Or why do men cheat on their wives? Because they no longer feel like “the man” at home. The list goes on. But it all boils down to one thing: Most men need to FEEL affirmed. Period.

So, here’s the problem. You know you love your man. Respect him, etc. However, you don’t always feel like you have to express it. Do it ladies. If you don’t I’m sure someone else will. And depending on the current tone of your relationship, it could be a reason for leaving you. I hate to sound so dire. But reality is that relationships take work and that men really are the “weaker sex”. Lol...at least emotionally. Give him what he needs or he just might find it somewhere else.

Thought anyone?

Too Many to Juggle

Alright, I know that if you’re one of my friends, girls in particular, you’ve heard me lament about the recyclable Adventist male. Well, I have to briefly mention it again.

Our circle is so incredibly small that you cannot date someone without previous baggage of someone else whom you more than likely know. Okay, a bit wordy, but basically we’re all connected in some way or another. One of your friends are friends with so and so, who are best friends with so and so…..blah, blah, blah… Especially if you were born and raised, went to our schools.

It’s annoying!!! Plus, these dudes are relatively stupid and forget that if they are all connected so are we….hellooo? You’re a so-called “professional” and forget that wherever you are in an Adventist circle someone there knows someone else who probably knows the girl you’re dating….!

You can’t try to date two girls at the same time. Duh! Oh, and don’t let me talk about the dude who dated one of my friends, then another, and then tried to “holla” at me! Lol…what a moron….

Quite frankly, you’re all idiots. I pray to God that I don’t end up with someone from this immature circle. I finally have realized that they typically don’t mature until, I don’t know, mid-thirties????? Beyond????

I refuse to be one of those girls who end up dating everyone in the same circle and then are left confused and discouraged when none of those guys want to commit.

And because I know there are a few of you (literally) who fit this category, I will say that if you’re reading this you are probably not one of the jerks I’m talking about. At least I hope not :O).

The Bachelor of Idiocy

Has anyone else been watching The Bachelor?

So I admit, it's totally unlike me to get into reality TV...but as circumstances has it my best friend is hooked - so I naturally watch and sometimes get sucked in. This was one of those times.

I only saw about 4 episodes, and not even the total finale, but let me tell you - I was heated! Jennifer over Sadie!!!????? I hate to repeat myself, but are you kidding me? Or better yet, for all those other Grey's fans - "Seriously?"

It was quite obvious that Sadie was the better choice. Not only was she prettier, sweeter, and much more elegant than Jennifer (blah), but their personalities seemed to mesh sooooo much more.

And did you see how she handled herself when he turned her down? You know he was kicking himself mentally for making a moronically stupid decision.

But then, a lightbulb went off. Two actually.

First, did you see his ghetto fabulous - "I'm from Brooklyn", big haired Mother? Sadie was clearly too good for that family...lol....

But the real breakthrough came when I remembered that he and Jennifer had sex....hmmmm.....and that he's a dude....

nuff said...

Seinfeld's Racist Jew

Okay, so clearly I’ve been more than out of the loop. The Kramer tirade????!!!! And he had the nerve to say he didn’t know where that came from? Are you kidding me?!! The vitriolic language that he used spewed from somewhere inside him. It wasn’t a simple “F*ck you n*gger”. Saying that 50 years ago the man would be lynched with a fork up his @**!!!!!!

Hellooooooo????!!!

And there are still some completely ignorant people who seem puzzled that racism still exists! Ignorance is absolutely ridiculous. Don’t get me started on Borat….

If you want to see the article and tape it’s here on this link:

http://www.tmz.com/2006/11/20/kramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape/

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Okay...so, I have A LOT to catch up on...but I'll start off with this... One of my friends from Atlanta came in for Thanksgiving...since then the we've been acting up!

Long story short, I was invited to a poetry/open mic session Saturday night and went with 3 other of my girls...we get there, mingle a bit, I read my poem (Unrequited Love!), then about half-way through my friends get antsy. One is playing tetris while someone's reading and the other is texting constantly...both of them have a touch of ADHD and absolutely NO broughtupcy...lol...(trini term for misbehaving)...

Anyway, I decided it was probably time to go...so we said our goodbyes to the hostess and moved out. Well, my girl from Atlanta had to use the bathroom, so we went in to wait for her. (sigh) And that's were it got ridiculous....

One of my other friends decided to start singing (in her best country-western voice) "I believe the children are our future".... So, who doesn't love Whitney Houston??? We all chimed in - loudly, and utterly obnoxiously. Just picture 4 girls (I can't say women!) in front of the bathroom mirror, dancing like hooligans and screaming our lungs out to the Greatest Love of All!

Oh, did I mention the entire song???? Well, as our last note died down, the bathroom door opened. And....the open mic/poetry host and mc told us that they could hear us, and I quote, "loud and clear", aaaaand that we were disrupting the poetry reading! LOL...!!!

We were sooooooo embarrassed that we literally ran out the bathroom, down the hall, to our car, laughing and giggling all the way. Mortified and appalled! Knowing that we could never show our faces there again....

Then we went out and had more fun...but I'll leave that for another post...

Oh - and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

NBA All-Star Weekend 2007

We're going to Vegas baby!!!!! Okay, so slightly uncharecteristic language and tone - but it's true!!! I was trying to think of what to do for my birthday (the big 25) and I realized that All-Star Weekend is the weekend before....not only is it a three-day weekend (President's Day I think), Valentine Day weekend, but also two of my guys bdays are that Thursday as well. Plus, it's close enough that my fam and friends from Cali can drive up. :OP

Absolutely perfect.

Well, except for the fact that everyone else and their momma can drive up too....I already had a mini-heart attack thinking about who is planning on going...so get this - one of boys was telling me how all of his friends were trying to come out. Thing is - he and "his boys" were all ex-something or the other of me and "my girls"....lol...needless to say it could make for an very interesting weekend.

Unfortunately for me, and luckily for him though, two of my girls aren't going to be able to make it....(sigh) ce'st la vie....right? Lol....I don't speak a word of French....but you get my gist...

We have our tickets, rental and hotel already booked! Everything, and I mean everything was basically booked solid. But we finally found something on the strip that wasn't The Tropicana! I am going to have a fabulous time (while trying not to bump into anyone I don't want to see)....I have three months to get it together....lol...

Warning: Ensuing Chaos

I put this together a couple months ago....clearly you can tell that I had a lot going on....it's just a rambled and totally random assortment of words that makes perfect sense to me....

Opaque, green, tallow, burnt, dichotomy, economical with the truth, fear, acrid, trust, faith, falling, tumbling, crumbled, torn, lost, pressing, aiming, failing, extinct, passion, thorns, palm trees, wind, pathetically clinging, releasing, racing, screaming, rage, dark, menacing, fusion, biting, furor, asinine, tumultuous, circling, vultures, carnage, wreckage, destruction, desolation, absence of life, new, unique, fresh, free, emerging, unfolding, soaring, high, plummeting, death, mindlessness, nothingness, peace

The Times They are A-Changin'...(hopefully...)

Well, if you haven't been watching TV, listening to your radio, or talking to other people - it's official: the Dems have taken control of Congress! Thanks largely in part to my party - the Independents (ha, and nobody thought we were important).

I was avidly watching the news, hoping in my heart that the American people were smarter, or at least exhausted by the current party (aka Bushies).

Plus, I was suffering from immense guilt - seeing as I didn't actually vote....I know.... :O( BUT, before you jump all over me for being totally unpatriotic and leaving the outcome to chance, I do have a perfectly good excuse....

Well, for those of you who don't know I recently moved back to Colorado from Florida some months ago. Thing is, I still have a Florida license...I was planning to change it, but thankfully I was reminded that I may have an outstanding speeding ticket in that state (running late for work). So, I was and still am a little scared about going into the DMV and having them snatch my driving license away with their grubby bureaucracy nonsense...and I wasn't trying to do that absentee ballot thingy.... Thus, I didn't vote.

If you find a bit of flawed reasoning in my argument - too bad. That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it...Anyway, it's about time we have a semblance of democracy again - checks and balances, etc...Hopefully, the Dems won't screw it up...

Four Things About Me

Okay, so I got this from my cuz ages ago, but never put it up...so here it is....just a few more interesting things about fabulous me!

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1) TA in high school
2) Waitress at a seafood restaurant
3) Supervisor at a County Health Department
4) Business owner / administrator (I get to sign checks :OP)

Four Movies I have watched over and over:
1) Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth is the only Darcy)
2) Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (original with Leslie Ann Warren and Brandy
version)
3) The Opposite Sex
4) Brown Sugar

Four places I have lived: (okay – six)
1) New York City (yay!)
2) Guatemala
3) Alabama
4) California
5) Colorado
6) Trinidad

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1) Grey’s Anatomy!!!
2) Grey’s Anatomy!!!
3) Grey’s Anatomy!!!
4) Grey’s Anatomy!!!

Four places I have been on vacation:
1) Most recently Antigua, W.I.
2) Spain
3) England
4) Kenya

Four of my favorite foods:
1) Almost anything Mexican
2) Almost anything Italian
3) Curry and roti Trini style!
4) Callaloo from Sugarcane

Four places I would rather be right now:
1) lol….ummm…London
2) Barcelona
3) Chicago
4) New York

Yearning

Lust. That insatiable passion that incinerates your mind and body. All-consuming desire that completely envelopes you and won’t let go. It’s uncontrollable. Hitting you at the most unexpected and often inappropriate times.

How do you deal with it? Release the incredible built up pressure? Especially if the object of your desire isn’t around. Sometimes I just want to grab some random person – but on further inspection that won’t do.

A random person can’t make me feel like ripping off his clothes. Touching. Caressing. Attacking. Feel greedy for that unquenchable thirst. It’s frustrating.

So here I am. Waiting.