Im The Biggest Boss That You've Seen Thus Far.

 

On Friday night Me, E, KBeau and LA saw Rick Ross in concert. Holy Shit. Dopest concert I've seen in a minute. Not only did he literally play EVERY. FREAKIN. BANGER. HE'S. EVER. MADE. But he also had SO many effin guests show up on stage.

Literally.... Wale and Ace Hood came out and did that "No Hands" song (which, hello... I could work a pole to.) And then a few minutes later, BAM: John Legend for "Magnificent". The BAM: Busta Rhymes, then Akon.... like. it was bananas. 

Rick Ross from my Blackberry.... yessir.

I am getting so excited for the summer concerts because last summer def. delivered. I'll keep posting as concert tickets are bought.

Also, I miss you, blog world. true life.... so I'm gonna do better because I should be posting. I mean.... I really should...

I Can't Live Without: Exam Edition.

New little segment, while I'm still a lazy, partially committed blogger. I figured I need to do SOMETHING because right now I'm sort of pathetic. I give myself a pass because right now I am going through the hardest exam period of my entire life. It's just not reasonable to sleep as little as I do, and work as much as I do right now. I know a lot of you identify with me right now.... so, before I tell you what  I can't live without, I'd like to raise a toast to anybody who's out there grindin right now-- legally and illegally.

Moving Forward:

I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT: Google Docs.
Christ. what a little gem. Today 4 of us, E, Kbeau, .... hum..... she needs a blog-name. R^3 (that works.),and myself all decided to approach our Advance Clinical Practice class with nothing short of common-sense, savvy....pure genius, really. 

A little background: All 4 of us are in the same class, and for the final exam we were given 13 questions, all various styles of obscure mini-papers (meaning they need their individual citations, research, the works). I'm sorry. But that's a motherfucker. Like.... way too much work.

We beasted it today. To those of you who aren't familiar.... in Google Docs you can collaborate on one single assignment as a team. There's even a cute little "chat" feature within. I loved Loved LOVED literally watching all of us type away, in real time. And, I was proud of us for not falling in to a k-hole of misery by trying to attack the exam by ourselves. Even though I still need to WRITE my exam, the fact that I have all of the research, source gathering, AND citations already compiled made me feel... well. giddy. So giddy I drank tonight. So giddy that I'm blogging at 1:42am, so giddy that I'm not remembering how hard it is to get to work in the morning when I go to sleep after 1am.

Still not sure about Google Docs??

Then this should be enough to convert you to a believer.


Stay tuned: there are so many things I cannot live without these days! 

Photos.

My friend K.beau is a pretty spectacular photographer and the other night after the KO Kid show in Brooklyn she had a little photo shoot with my family.

 Here are a few of my favorites:

Oh Heyyy....

I've been away for a LONG time. my bad....  School and my internship have really got me super busy. But, I think I'm back. More to come soon. I want to tell you all about my new internship, and about school.... plus, Wisconsin-Shannon just visited me last weekend, E's birthday is on Wednesday, and this coming weekend I am going on a road trip upstate. Super excited.

Atlantic City Getaway.

So my parents came up to New Jersey for a conference that my dad was attending, and E and I decided to go and stay a couple days. It was the perfect post-finals getaway/mothers day trip. We stayed at Harrah's in AC, which was surprisingly nice. They had a great seafood restaurant in the hotel which we ate at twice (see me and daddy in our bibs before eating crab legs).

The thing about me and gambling is that I freakin love it. Scratch-off, powerballs, and slots--- yes please. The slots got me excited in Vegas so I was determined to teach E and my mom how play the $.25 slots. I'm the most unlucky person that I know, so I didn't do any actual playing, and my dad is sort of the same (picture of him below, gambling for the first time--- he lost it all) However, E has a magic touch! and walked away with a sweet lil win. (we split it, duh). 

I imagine there will be at least one more trip to AC in my future... It wasn't quite Jersey Shore, but all of Jersey isn't that bad.

Food-to-Go.

Living in New York is awesome, but, being car-less and on foot all the time leads to some crap-hole situations---one of those is grocery shopping. So, I guess one of my favorite things on earth is this grocery delivery service, Fresh Direct. I ordered groceries on my lunch break last Friday and they were delivered on Saturday Morning. Its nice because they always have fresh produce, tons of organic stuff, vegan shit for my sister, and the junk that I love (pickles, pudding, pink lemonade!)
We went from a sad, empty fridge, full of over-ripe veggies and condiments to a packed fridge in a few minutes, and I love that. Now, if only I could have someone cook me some dank meals...

2010 SSW Gala.

Wiz Khalifa Concert, 3/26/10.

I love Wiz Khalifa. He's a rapper in the same category as Kid Cudi, Wale, Curren$y, and some other hot, more under ground wonders.
The concert was amazing, and the Venue (Fillmore--17 Irving Plaza) was like a mix 'between Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill and an opera house.
If you don't know Wiz Kalifa, check him out, this is one of my favorite songs. 




Some other shows coming up there that I'm ticket shopping for:

Wale-- 3/31
Bone Thugs-- 4/6
Lupe Fiasco-- 4/10 & 4/11
Snoop-- 4/20
N.E.R.D-- 4/28

Image here

Rope-A-Dope

Rope-A-Dope-- refers to a boxing technique made famous by M. Ali. The idea is that he would get into a defensive stance and let's his opponent beat him up. The opponent would think he was winning because of all the landed hits. Meanwhile Ali is posted up, waiting for the other guy to get tired, then he comes off the ropes, K.O's the other guy and its a rap.

I like that idea and it's an applicable like approach as well. However, in this situation...I'm the fucking other guy...and I got Ali-ed.

My sister E met a boy in January. This was delightful to me because I figured once she was occupied and entertained the focus on my unconventional 'relationship' with the banker would no longer be in the spot light.

So she sends me a BBM in the class we have together: 'what are you doing Friday at 9'

Side bar: the correct way to answer this question is "why?" If you're like me and say "mmm...nada, what's up" you are already saying yes to whatever the plan is. See how I don't have any defenses up? See how my ass is just runnin around the ring all willy-nilly like I don't need to protect my face!

Ok, so she then asks me if I'll go bowling at the spot in Harlem. She explains that her new boo is bringing his buddy from college and he asked E to bring a friend too. She then explained that she really wanted me to get to know her lil boo better and it was gonna mean a lot to her if I went.

So, I say yes because I am dumb and because I love E. I make it very clear that I want the guy-friend to know that I am there as E's sister. Not as nobody's date. I don't go on dates like that. And, if I did? Trust. It wouldn't be a blind one to go bowling.

So the Friday night rolls around and we head to the spot. I'm not sure what to wear because E keeps insisting it's 'totally casual. Real chill'. So I put on a black v-neck tee. Skinny jeans, my fucking Nikes... And for good measure I put on a nicer cardigan and, like real make-up. E is wearing like, boots, and a nice coat and like, I'm thinking, whatever....this is HER date. I'm here to like.... Bowl.

Went we get there I see E's boo and he explains that his friend... Is in the bathroom. we'll call my date "Elliott"

When Elliott does appear I do the mental filing that every person on earth does when they meet someone of the opposite sex:
My thoughts went like this---
'Hum...tall, nice clothes. Not that hot. Sort of not fit. Probably very nice. I def. Could never date him.... I don't wanna even bang it out.... Category: after tonight I'll never see this kid again.'

Seems shallow, but act like that's now how it really happens.

I am immediately played when I meet him. He says something to effect of "it isn't often I get to take beautiful girls out... Of course its on me."

What.

This is a 'taking me out' why the fucckkkk is this a date?

This bowling alley was the kind of place that had a full bar in it. E and I go and buy the first round. So all 4 of us re having a beer, getting ready to bowl and Elliott and I start making small talk. As I we chat I realize a few things. 1- He has a great personality. 2- He isn't "ugly". He's more teddy bear cute. 3- I am on a date. Personality is my kryptonite. I am a sucker for a good vibe. I'm also a natural born flirt and, contrary to popular belief, I am really freakin nice.... so it pretty clear how this is going to go down.

To quicken this story I'll hit up the highlights:

- I start drinking like a fish because Elliott is stressing me out. For ever compliment he dished, cheap feel he copped, and follow-up date he arranged, I drank. So much that after the 2 hour bowling session I'd had 7-8 beers. The boys? they had 1. E? she had 3.

- So now I'm that drunk girl, talkin shit, getting belig. Cussing every time I roll a gutter ball, talking shit to Elliott and E's date, etc.

- Elliott make a bet that if I out score him, he picks our next date, and if he outscores me, I pick it. my response is "well. I guess I respect your hustle, Elliott." What.

- He keeps on getting hugs and has me sit on his knee like I'm some kind of child. I don't sit on nobody's knee and all that close talking is weird.

- He asks me if I have a boyfriend. I say "no....but I'm not single either." I pulled the Eyrkah Badu Next Life Time intro move "... you know, I'm in a situation...." He responds that he is up for the challenge. In life if he sees something he likes, He'll go after it. And he is more than ready to make my #1 disappear. What.

-When we leave bowling he is walking with me in the street. I am trying to BBM my friends/ text the banker a fast as possible. he then HOLDS MY HAND AND PUTS IT INSIDE OF HIS COAT POCKET FOR WARMTH. I want to puke all over him at this point. a) you're trying to keep me from texting. Yes is rude, but you don't need to be trying to regulate my behavior, guy. b) you're holding my hand inside your pocket and it's gross.

- We get to this bar and E realizes she left her tab open at the bowling alley. So she and her boo go back to get it. And I am just there, drunk.

- As I mentioned before, he has a good personality. So, I tell him I'm really hungry, since I drank my dinner at the bowling alley. We go to his car and head to the IHOP in Harlem.

- On the way he keeps referring to me as "his perfect Clair Huxtable." what. That is fucking weird. You don't know me.

- He keeps making references to me as his future wifey. "...lets say, you and I get married...." And he keeps pouring compliments on me. All I can think is "this wasn't supposed to be a date."

- He was weird about food. I order a fat Omelet and he gets pancakes. He doesn't use the butter and he askes for sugar-free syrup. Not a problem at all.... but he kept like talking about it. Things like "I've been back in the gym lately" or "if you and I have kids, we'll have to make sure they are active in sports because their daddy has big genes." whyyyy.

The end of the night:

We leave IHOP after a good conversation, and a part of me is sorry that I can't/won't date this kid. A small, small part.

He tells me that he'd like to take me out again on Feb. 19th. Somewhere downtown for jazz, and he let me know upfront that he was comfortable being #2 right now and that he was working for the #1 spot. That made my skin crawl. I felt like Carrie in the episode when she and Miranda are trying on ugly wedding dresses, and because Carrie doesn't really want to marry Aiden she has the aaa (acute anxiety attack) and has to rip the dress off. I NEVER confirmed these dates. I NEVER did anything to make him think I was in to him. I treated him like I treat all my platonic relationships. I swear.

We get to my house and I tell him good night. He insists on walking me to my door. I am dying. At the door he starts in on the speech about how great the night was, etc. I give him some awkward hug and try to slip in my door. He has my arm and pull me back. DIE.

He gives me a kiss on the cheek and I return it. I don't even know why. Then he goes for ANOTHER kiss on the cheek-fake-out and tried to fucking kiss me. Here's where shit gets real.

I PUT MY HAND OUT TO HALT HIM. (read: sp awkward and unpleasant for everyone.) and I am visible shaking my hand and I may or may not have been hand gesturing to him as well. Here is me: "No, no, no, no, no. No, Elliott. No. No." Really, Sesh? Like.... seriously?

He then proceeds to beg me. Yup. Shameless begging " Please.... Please, just one Kiss? Please."

Me: (more hand gestures) No Elliott. No..... but, I had a great night, drive home safe!" POOF: I disappear into my building feeling all icky and sick.

Then the texts, and calls begin. I find out that this "date" on the 19th is actually his birthday. Who asks a stranger who isn't that into you to be the birthday date? I spend most of the week ignoring the calls and responding to the text as seldom as possible. It gets worse when I find out from E that Elliot told E's boy that he felt like we had a major connection and really clicked. What. What. Whatttttt is this!?

"Elliott, No." Is the new punchline between me, my sister and my Mom. It's the 2010 version of "Scotty, Don't" that SM and RSJ coined in 2007.

Thing is, I don't know how to get out of the date on the 19th. Yea, thats on Friday. I don't want to be a bitch, but I am not going. I like, cannot go. I feel so bad that my drunk ass somehow made this boy feel like he'd met his future wife. Even worse.... if he didn't lay it on so thick and scare me so much we could have at least been friends. my best guy friend Karl is going to be in town on the 19th, so I'm hoping I can somehow use that as a valid get-out-of-date-free card.

In this scenario, I am the dope. All night I thought I was runnin things. And end the end I got knocked the fuck out.

Alicia Keys-- Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart.

I used to hate Alicia Keys. I don't even know why, just thought she was whack. Obviously I love "Empire State of Mind", and before that I could get down with "Like You'll Never See me Again"

Well A few weeks ago I was watching my parents DVR and they were showing E and I the American Music Awards. I heard Alicia Perform some song but didn't really take it in (mainly because the male dancer she had on stage was so distracting)

Later, back in New York I hear it on the radio. Y'all. I cannot stop listening to "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart." And not even in the I'm-gonna-cry-about-it-in-the-car way (although--- I suppose I have, hahaha) It's just a real good song. Some artists know exactly what the hell they are talking about when they write certain songs. This chick is on point with this song....

Cribs: NYC apartment edition.

I was looking back over old blog posts, mainly the ones from when I was moving in and setting up at my apartment. I realized I never posted any pictures of my room. That was the last thing to come together for me because E and I both put the emphasis on the common areas first. I still have some finishing touches to do on my room, specifically in the decoration department. You have to excuse the mess. I am in general a super clean person, but sometimes that has to fall to the side. Cleaning is at the top of the list of "get your shit together Sunday" as soon as my Policy paper is finished. Anyways here we go:

This is what my room looks like if you're standing over by the door. Now, let the tour REALLY begin....


"...and here's where the magic happens..." You know how everyone says that on Cribs?? whatever. My bed fits perfectly in this one corner of the room. My bed frame itself is a platform bed with 4 drawers and a cabinet for extra space. I haven't figured out a nightstand yet. I'm thinking of a corner shelf thing that would just fit into the wall on the side of the bed that meets the wall. We'll see.


Since floor space is hard to come by and NYC apartments are awesome about the tall ceilings and doors, I made it a point to build up. Behind my room door is where all my shoes are (seasonal, of course. The others are stored in a bin in the cabinet under my bed) That amazing shoe rack came from Bed Bath and Beyond. Such a clutch buy.
I have 3 windows in my room. only 1 us used for actual light. The other 2 make for great storage for some of my boots.
See those silly snow boots there? I bought those when I was still living in NC. a complete impulse buy because, obviously I didn't need them there. Apparently they are going to save my life up here when the snow ans slush take over the roads and sidewalks. Pretty happy to have them now, not sure how to wear them though....

My desk area. I adore it. Something about desk space is important. I go to the library a lot, but it's also good to have a work area at home that's conducive to getting it done. I used a set of plastic drawers to make for extra drawer space and it fits nicely under the desk.

And I got this little light weight metal and glass book shelf to hold the overflow desk and bookshelf stuff.

The living room set I bought when I was living in Durham came with E and I, but the arm chair didn't fit in out living room properly, so it found a home in my room. Unfortunately it ends up looking like that, covered in my school bag, purse, clothes I decided against wearing, etc. But I'm working on making a habit of NOT dumping everything there!


The closet is at the back of the room (across from the bookshelf) My hanging cothes go in there, and the jeans are folded at the top, along with hand bags and my luggage. I fold a good portion of my clothes, so all tees, tanks, gym stuff, undergarments, sock, tights, are either in the drawers under my bed, or in the wooden cabinet (seen in 1st picture)


The top shelf in the cabinet holds my jewelery. it's funny I have so much stuff because I pretty much only wear the same few pieces. At some point I stopped wearing dangle earrings (when my hair was at its shortest) but I think they will make a comeback sometime soon.



So, thats the room! I love it, and I can't wait to finish decorating and getting all the pictures in frames/art from home on the wall.

E's birthday and the pictures to prove it.

My sister, E turned 27 on Tuesday. She's also in the SSW, and so we're both super busy. I decided to throw E a surprise birthday party last Saturday. What I decided to do was enlist my friend Morg, and E's friend Bekah to help me pull it off. Morgan helped me plan and came early to help me set up, and Bekah occupied E long enough to surprise her. Here are some pictures.

Here is the kitchen counter as I was setting up. A little bit of food, and the blender is pulled out because I decided to blend up some dank margies.
The amazing flowers my family sent E. I helped my Mom pick them out and the Florist, located in Harlem, hooked it up.
E came back from dinner in Little Italy around 11:0pm. This is when she first turned the lights on.
And Here is the Birthday girl when everyone jumped up and surprised her!

We had an amazing night, 12 or so girls came over, we hung out (until my crazy effing neighbor came up here, tryin to buck.... she was out of line) Then we went to this local spot called Moca Lounge. We got in there, promptly got a booth and some guy pourin up mad shots. The DJ must have known we were coming because he played club banger after club banger, like all the best of the southern rap. At one point they were playin Damn! by young bloodz.

Imagine this scene: 12 girls wildin out at this like sit down sort of lounge.... The song breaks and there is a part where the lyrics go "Don't start no Shit, won't be no Shit!!" and that repeats for a bunch of counts. So we're there, getting redic. and next thing you know, it's Knuck time. Like, somehow these female bouncers tried to flex on us, told us to stop missbehaving... next thing... we're in the street. And here is a tiny bit of the evidence, post removal. They don't even tell the full story, but all I can say is the next morning we were all sorry for partying, E had an amazing birthday, and we probably can't show our faces at the neighborhood spot for a little while....

It's 3am. Yup. I have a beer in the street. Nope, it's not legal here.