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esskay
Digital storyteller, Photographic narrator, Hogwarts alum. In real life, I write things. I speak fluent sarcasm. I'm unintentionally funny. My favorite thing is food. Guac is life. I'm a fountain of the most random information. I'm pretty, only because it's weird to call oneself beautiful. I'm weird in all the good ways. I live in the greatest city on Earth. I was Sasha before Beyonce was schizophrenic. My life is stranger than fiction. But please, don't take my word for it. My pen is mightier than my sword. Instagram
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Monday, November 3, 2014 || 6:43 PM
Let me just start this by saying that New York Comic Con was AWESOME. I realize this is coming about a month late but given the fact that I was quite ill (no, not ebola) and then had a tooth ripped out of my mouth, I'm hoping you'll just forgive me and get over it. Comic Con was amazing. I say this having only gone for one day and wandered aimlessly around the floor. So imagine having four day passes and actually attending the panel discussions. I realize that only the truly nerdy at heart will understand my enthusiasm and that's okay. But being immersed in the cosplay and the art and video games and books and COMICS...it was like being in an entirely different world. I'll stop rambling now and get on with the pictures.
These were our day passes. We got 44 free digital comics when we registered online with them. There were actually a bunch really good ones.
Joel and I, with the Black Sails skeleton
 
Chun-Li
Luigi and Mario
I found Waldo!!
Sitting in Bumblebee
The exhibition floor
An actual Sim
   
Black Widow, Batman, Wonder Woman and Poison Ivy
Joel finally met his hero
Hangin' with Tara McPherson from The Cotton Candy Machine
  
Tails
...and Dr. Robotnic
So there you have it. The costumes were really amazing and detailed. I also saw Avatar Kiyoshi, Master Roshi and Goku, and a few other notable characters but I wasn't fast enough with my camera. It's all good though. I'm hoping I'll make it back next year and actually be able to get into everything. But I am happy I finally made it to Comic Con. Definitely an unforgettable experience.
Labels: anomaly, fun times, in real life, pop of culture, real life amazing, stranger than fiction Thursday, October 17, 2013 || 10:53 AM
I swear my God is so real. I've been feeling so incredibly uninspired lately. I don't write, I don't cook or bake, I barely ever take pictures, pretty much gave up on crafts, I've just felt stuck. As a result, I've been feeling this depression creeping up on me. The fact that I haven't been feeling well for the last few weeks has probably contributed to that but I honestly feel it's been coming on for some time. There's only one person who knows this because he's the only person who has reason to pay that close attention. And because I'm good at hiding things like this from even my closest friends, I can't really talk to them about it. They have their own shit to deal with, I don't need to add my shit to it too. Finally, last night, it really hit me. So I called the one person I could talk to about it and complained about what I called my "quarterlife crisis" and ranted about how uninspired I felt and how I just needed to get my sexy back. This is probably the nerdiest thing about me but I attribute my sexy to my life having purpose, not actually to the way I look. Because really, have you seen this face?? Anywhoo, after me ranting for quite some time (even my rant was lackluster) and him assuring me that I'm still sexy and I just needed to regroup and find some inspiration and even offering to be my muse (to which I had a hearty laugh), he said he would pray for me. I thanked him. And then we went to bed. When I woke this morning, again feeling like crap, I checked my email. And wouldn't you know it, I had two different (but both awesome) opportunities in my inbox. Because not only is my God real, He's a showoff. And somehow, I feel like He's just getting warmed up. I wanted to sit here and thank Him a million times. Because look how God can just show off in your life and UOENO!Labels: anomaly, in real life, personals, real life amazing Tuesday, June 11, 2013 || 12:07 PM
Don't count your true friends on a bright sunny day, when the sky is blue and smiles come easily. Wait for a storm, when the clouds are dark and the day grows cold and laughter is not heard in your heavy heart. Then, when a friend comes and stands beside you and lifts your spirits to the sky and laughter is in your heart, you know that they deserve the name "friend"I've learned that not everyone in your life is a friend. But I'm also slowly learning that I have a lot more friends than I think. And although I know they're not perfect, sometimes I think they're angels that God sent specifically for me. That may sound crazy to some people because as far as they know, angels only exist as holy fairies that float around right above us, sprinkling holy water and doing God's bidding. And if that's what you believe, then that's cool too but I truly believe that angels walk amongst us. This past Sabbath morning, I was on my way to church and everything that could go wrong that morning, definitely did go wrong. I was super late, no money for a cab so I had to take the bus and then as I was rushing to the bus stop, I saw the bus leaving. I was so frustrated but I promised myself I wouldn't go home. The devil obviously didn't want me in church but I would make it my business to be there. So as I waited and waited and waited, I questioned God. "Why Lord? WHY couldn't you just hold the bus a few seconds longer? I've been standing at this stupid bus stop for almost half an hour and I'm already late! I could've been in church already!" blah diddy blah blah blah. And then I heard my mother's voice in my head "don't question God, He does everything for a reason" and then I rationalized that maybe He kept me off that bus for my own protection and then I got mad again because I knew that was stupid and I could've been in church already instead of standing in the sun, waiting for the bus. And then the bus came and I stopped talking to myself. On the relatively short walk from the bus to the church, I started feeling woozy and unsteady on my feet but I chalked it up the fact that I was wearing 5 inch heels and NYC has some screwed up streets. But then I got really unsteady and my vision started closing in on itself and I fell. A man who had been standing there with his friend ran over and helped me up, sat me down, got me some cold water and asked if there was anyone he could call or anywhere he could bring me. I told him no and that I was just going to church across the avenue so he walked with me, held my hand and was very patient when I got tired and had to stop. Finally, when we were across the street from the church, I couldn't walk anymore so he ran across the street to tell someone in the church. I decided to call my friend Anderson figuring that this wasn't my church so he would tell someone and they wouldn't know who he was talking about. Just as Anderson's phone went to voicemail, I looked up and saw his girlfriend Emma running out of the church. Long(er) story short: they got me hydrated, took me to the hospital, figured out the problem, solved it and I feel much better now. But I tell you this story because every time, every single time that I question God, He shuts me down and puts me in my place. If I had stayed home, I might've felt woozy and gone back to bed, thinking I was just very tired and not realizing that I was getting sick. But if I had caught the first bus that I missed, that nice man who, I'm starting to think is an angel, might not have been standing there at that time. Emma told me later that she was standing at the back of the church when he went and told her I wasn't feeling well and that she was the first person he spoke to. She didn't know why she was just standing there and she usually sits all the way in the front of the church but God put her there. God made it so that she was the first person he spoke to, one of the only people who know me and could help me. There is no one on the face of this Earth who can convince me that my God isn't real. I'm really thankful that He continues to show off in my life. The fact that I'm even alive is a blessing because I know that some of the things that I've been through, another person might not have made it. But mostly, I'm thankful for my angels. Keri is one of the most thoughtful people I know. Emma is one of the most selfless people I know. Anderson and Joel always make sure I know my worth. My Brooklyn Faith fam, my Laos fam and everyone who has been my rock, I love you all and I don't know what I'd do or where I'd be without you but I'm happy that God has made it so that I don't have to worry about it. Thank you for being my angels. Labels: friends and fam, in real life, personals, real life amazing, stranger than fiction Sunday, November 18, 2012 || 3:23 PM
Souke li, souke li...It's not easy for me to write about the things that mean the most to me or to explain why they mean so much but I'll try.... Ten years ago, in a high school cafeteria, I met my soul mate. Surrounded by raunchy ass teenagers and the smell of day old tuna, we talked about how we both liked to write and discussed other things we might've had in common. That day, I left school not realizing that I had just met someone who would be a staple in my life, a part of the foundation that is me and I love her for it more and more everyday. It's funny to think of how far we've come because when we were young'ns, I could've never pictured it.  Today is my best friend Casandra's birthday. It's weird to think about how much time has gone by. It's crazy that we've spent ten birthdays together. Some were celebrated in the club, others at Boulder Creek (or Outback Steakhouse, or Brokeback Mountain, I forget which), others were celebrated in Miami on a beach, in a pool, at the mall, might've been all of the above and still, others were spent on the floor of a park, but we won't talk about that one.  She's been in my life for all of my big important moments, been a part of my family longer than anyone else who isn't actually family. She knows me better than I know myself sometimes and she's always there when I need her. So to my beautiful best friend of ten years, I want to wish you a very happy birthday, health, wealth and the whole nine because Lord knows you deserve it. And here's to the next ten years that will (hopefully) be filled with YOLO birthdays and naked tuna melts and "just because" road trips and random dancing to kompa and trips to Miami and Cali and Vegas and wherever the hell else we feel like waking up one morning. And to the nights that will be too crazy to remember but too unforgettable not to, much like our friendship. I love you to pieces and I hope you have an amazing day and year and years to come. Labels: friends and fam, fun times, real life amazing Wednesday, November 7, 2012 || 3:12 AM
So let me tell y'all about the day EYE had....
Jumped outta bed late this morning and went to vote with my dad. For the record, this is probably really the only time of year that my dad and I actually have anything to talk about. This is the time of year that football season and basketball season overlap. Add that to the fact that there's something happening in politics every two years and my father and I are capable of having an actual conversation. So we went out to vote before I had to head to school and he had to head to work. All in all, that took about two hours but exercising my right to vote felt so empowering. Also, my dad is a clown.
"Put me on Facebook, the prime minister VOTED!" smh...
After that, got on a bus to school because after waiting in line so long to vote, I was late for a meeting with an editor. The first bus driver was a douche, the trains were all jacked up and the second bus never showed so I had to walk from the train station. Let me just say that Sandy definitely two-pieced Sheepshead Bay and that whole Manhattan Beach area. The entire place (besides my school, which is running on generators) is in darkness and there's sand and mud everywhere. It's crazy, still praying for them though.
Finally got to my meeting where I got an assignment that I didn't really want but took nonetheless because I did plan to have clips out the ass this semester and what the hell else am I doing with my life, right? After my meeting, I got lunch and spent the hour and a half before my class watching Daria on Hulu and daydreaming about someone who will remain nameless but (it has to be said) knows exactly how to grab me by the waist and kiss my collarbone just so. I feel like a kiss on the collarbone is quite possibly the sexiest thing ever. But I digress.
Went to class where I endured more glowing praise for my journalistic genius. Actually, it was pretty much just my prof talking about himself some more and wanting to publish another one of my articles. But we can pretend it's the first thing.
Made my way home in the freezing cold, made a mental note to wear two pairs of pants tomorrow and then settled down with JP to watch the election unfold on TV And after months of campaigning and those commercials we all love to hate, my president is BACK!
And also, this...
But you know...we like to have fun. I am just so proud of us. I'm proud that we made history again and I'm proud that I got to be a part of it. But most of all, I'm proud of them...
Because they haven't lost sight of what's important. And because they're looking out for us. In the words of POTUS, it's time to get to work. I'm looking forward to the next four years.
Labels: friends and fam, in real life, pop of culture, real life amazing Saturday, November 3, 2012 || 12:28 AM
Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need... Well hellooooo there! I feel like I haven't done this in a long time. Maybe that's just because so much has happened. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First and foremost, I'd just like to say to everyone who can see this who was affected by hurricane sandy that my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Those who lost power, property, loved ones, I can't imagine what that's like. The worst I experienced during the hurricane were flickering lights but when things like this happen, it really puts life into perspective. There are people who are complaining about losing power for a few hours when others don't know where their next meal is coming from or where they'll be sleeping tonight. But God is real, don't stop believing in Him. On the subject of perspective, I've been getting a lot of it lately. Even in the wake of tragedy, I've had an amazing past couple of weeks. I have way too much to be thankful for to sit around moping. So I took a trip down south 2 weeks ago and it was a nice break from the city and everything and everyone and I enjoyed just slowing down and being with my family. Plus, I got inspired again and I came back like I had a personal vendetta against life so I've been kicking ass at just about everything. Excuse me while I toot my own horn.... Last weekend, I finally saw my favorite poet (amongst others) live and it was just...words can't describe the experience so I won't even try. But it was a great night. And this week, in the midst of sandy and all her wrath, I got another story published. So I'm excited. Because it seems like there is no end to God's blessings. And because the story was awesome: On a busy street in Lefferts Gardens, amidst the hustle and bustle of Flatbush Avenue lies a culinary gem. A representation of all of the cultures that surround it, Mangoseed is a culmination of everything good in the Caribbean with an American twist. While dollar vans rumble by outside and neighbors call out to one another, reminiscent of many Caribbean islands, the inside of Mangoseed with its dark wood, mellow music and cool but cozy atmosphere is a haven for anyone looking for some affordable grub that reminds them of home. For the full article, click here. And for more of my published work, click here. So my food writing is getting better. Also, I did plan to have clips out the ass the semester so I'm proud of myself for following through, especially because there were so many times it seemed like I would get got by procrastination. But I digress. Another thing I'm thankful for are the unexpected surprises in my life because it's just proving to me how funny life really is. I guess it's true what they say, man makes plans and God laughs. But if He's enjoying laughter at my expense, I'm thankful all the same. Labels: anomaly, real life amazing Thursday, October 18, 2012 || 10:05 AM
Sometimes, I feel like trying to get the truth out of people is like pulling teeth. It's especially awkward when the tooth in question is loose and bloody and wobbly...just spit it out already! Or, if you'd prefer, I can smack it out of your mouth, like my late brother did to me. God, I really miss him. I realize this has the potential to get all angry and rant-y but I made promises so...no. Instead, I'll tell you guys that story because it's cute and fun and brings back goodish memories.One Saturday a long time ago, when the sun had set and the Sabbath had ended, I was wandering around church. My mom had to stick around for choir practice so my brothers and I were all off doing whatever it was we did after church back then. I was about 6 or 7 at the time, whatever the hell age baby teeth are in the process of falling out and I had one in the front of my mouth that was literally dangling by a thread. And though my brothers begged to let them pull it, I wouldn't let anyone near it because I was such a punk back then. So I walk into a room where my late brother was playing cards with his friends and I walk around the table and then over to his girlfriend at the time and tell her his entire hand (don't judge me. I was 7 years old, universal age where kids get simultaneously ugly and annoying). So she, decent person that she was and still is, says they have to start over. My brother however, got up and came over to me in that half angry, half laughing way he had, and slaps me so hard, my tooth flies out of my mouth. If I was laughing before he slapped me, I was cracking the hell up afterward. And everyone kept staring at me all weird and I couldn't understand why they weren't laughing until my brother said "uhh Sasha? I slapped the tooth out of your mouth." Then of course, the tears came even though I didn't feel a thing and everyone else started laughing. Moral of this story: whether it be tooth or truth, spit it out before someone slaps it out of your mouth. These memories and stories and all the stupid and not so stupid shit he taught me makes me miss him even more. As we approach the "holliest jolliest" time of year, more of these little things just keep popping into my head. But I read something really relevant this morning by my favorite poet, Alysia Harris. Real talk, all poems aside, I have spent the whole of my twenties so far trying to understand grief. This grief involves others. It involved their joy. It involved my faith. It involved my art and the way we go about making myths of our own lives. How does someone who we once knew so well become a legend to us? First they become a memory. But before memory, they were a mystery, something we didn't quite understand. And not because of anything intrinsic about them but because of the unraveling of our identities when around them. And so they became a lens through which we understood self. When we experience loss, we think we become less. I thought I became less but this was a dream. I became deep. The depth of my humanity was further hollowed out. At first you feel this depth with what is most easy: desire for the thing lost. But you don't yet understand. You must go deeper. You must explain the chemistry of your inconceivable life, how you believed your handfuls of coal were diamonds. And still, you must go deeper. Deeper through the planes of your soul, of all your motives and all your selves. THIS IS GRIEF. You do not see the sun, or if you do, you do not mention it for the place you are going has a second sun. It has taken me a little less than three years to arrive here. To understand the celestial geography of the internal. To understand the orbit of all my little stars. Only now, once I've drawn and redrawn the maps, done the calculations and am sure, can I begin the process of recreation. Only now can I move the heaven and earth inside me. As for me, I'm still getting there. For the full version of her theology of grieving, visit her Tumblr page. Labels: friends and fam, personals, real life amazing Sunday, October 14, 2012 || 1:02 AM
Guys...I got a story to tell....
I rarely ever have testimonies that I care to share with others because the things I go through are so freaking extreme that I wouldn't want to burden others with it. However, this is something that I feel pressed to share.
Last week was hell. Like, almost literally. I cried a lot, I was really sad and stressed and I just wanted to run away from my life. And then last Sabbath, I went to church and got to fellowship with friends and I felt better. I felt more like my usual bubbly and laughing self. And when this past week started, I felt like I would just get sad again but it never happened. In fact, I just kept getting happier. Things with school were looking up, great opportunities kept popping up, my personal life was smooth sailing, I wasn't beefing with my dad. It seemed like nothing could go wrong. And then, the Sabbath came. Let me just explain to you guys what a douchebag the devil is. I woke up on Sabbath morning, had my clothes prepared early and everything. The hook and eye on my skirt broke so I had to find something else to wear and iron it. The water in my shower took a good half an hour to get warm. If that weren't enough, the temperature in NYC was wildin' for respect so I needed a coat, yet somehow, every coat I own mysteriously went missing. At that point, I was a good hour late and had lost all patience. I was so close to just undressing and getting back into bed but I told myself that I had to go to church because one, the devil so clearly didn't want me to and two, I had to go and thank God for allowing me to have such a great week, for me feeling better and for His many blessings, both seen and unseen. But for those of you who don't know, the devil is a persistent sucker. As I was walking out the door, my stockings caught on something and ripped. Then my cabdriver stopped to put gas in the car after picking me up. Then decides to hold me up further so he can give me his number (smh). All of these little things that kept happening were just signs that God had an amazing blessing for me in church and the devil would do anything to stop me from getting there. And wouldn't you know it, I was right. Not only did I have a great day in church and not only did I get to fellowship with good friends. I got to have genuine fun, all while praising God. I wish it was something that I could explain but I can't. The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. And I feel like if more people understood that and what it meant, they would be so much happier in their lives. I know I am. Labels: in real life, real life amazing Sunday, September 30, 2012 || 4:24 PM
Have you ever met someone that makes you want to be the best possible version of yourself? And not because they're perfect or because you're trying to be someone you're not for them but because being around them makes you feel amazing and you want to do more and be better. Not for them but for you. It's a weird feeling, wanting to be better for yourself but having someone else be the inspiration behind it. But when I think about who that is in my life, I guess it's not so weird. Seeing someone who's ambitious and driven and knows what he wants out of life is like a torch on the metaphorical driftwood under my ass. Not only does it light a fire under me, it's a really bright fire. And it's not just with school or a job, this fire makes me want to be a better person. I feel like no matter what happens, I will be forever grateful for this fire and the person who put it there because he is truly amazing. I hope that throughout my life, I'm lucky enough to have the kind of people in my life that will help me keep that fire burning. Those are the people that walk into your life and never leave and I definitely hope he's one of them.Labels: friends and fam, real life amazing Tuesday, November 22, 2011 || 3:02 PM
"The cow that bawl 'mauh', not it that was thirsty" I was in the shower where, incidentally I get some of my best thinking in, and I started thinking about irony and how it must me God's way of displaying His sense of humor because at times, it can be truly hilarious. But I'm getting ahead of myself. My mom talks about the thirsty cow often, usually when she asks for a glass of juice and I bring it for her, and then my dad asks for a sip but ends up drinking the whole thing. You guys get the point. But I was thinking about how the thirsty cow applies to so many other things. Like sickness, for instance. I was talking to my friends about my own sickness the other day and about how the fact that it's so serious causes me to downplay it the vast majority of the time so as not to freak people out. However, people who have a history of anemia in their family and get sick every once in a blue like to blow their illness out of proportion and make people feel sorry for them. It's funny how that happens. But then I started thinking about a different kind of illness. Spiritual illness, in fact. During last week's devotion, a friend of mine made a very good point. Church is a spiritual hospital of sorts. The people who have been there the longest, the "most holy" ones who act like the church belongs to them, they are in fact, the terminally (spiritually) ill ones who need the most help. And then I thought about my own generation. We will admit our faults and ask for God's forgiveness all willy nilly, even though we are hardly deserving of it. However, I know that many of us are spiritually thirsty but the ones are "bawling 'mauh'" in the words of my oh so eloquent mother, are the ones who are unknowingly dying of spiritual dehydration so they act like nothing is wrong and make a big show of doing the Lord's work as though that's supposed to quench their thirst. They praise Him the loudest, are the most eloquent in prayer, always front and center in the church but know nothing of humility. This isn't true of everyone and maybe not even most people but I'm just trying to make a point. When you approach God, you're supposed to approach him humbly and with a sincere heart. Someone once said you can't praise your way into Heaven and it's the truest thing I've ever heard. I hate to get all preachy on you guys but my point would be kinda useless if I couldn't back it up. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Also... Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. So you see, God is looking at that cow that's so thirsty, he can't even moo and soon, that cow is gonna have so much water to drink, he won't know what to do with himself. (There's always a happy ending). I'm gonna stop preaching now because I suspect you guys are getting tired of me but I had to say it and now I have said it and now I'm outta here. Deux dwet! Labels: real life amazing Friday, November 4, 2011 || 1:26 AM
I'm beginning to think I don't see myself very clearly. Ironically enough, it's the inside I don't see clearly and not the outside. And it seems like everyone has a clear view of who I am but me. Which is strange because I thought that in order for others to truly know you, you have to first know yourself. But it seems I'm blessed to be surrounded by people who can teach me new things about myself everyday, things I never even imagined to be true about myself until I heard them said out loud.The first incident was someone I worked with briefly during the summer. At the end of our time together, he told me he would miss working with me because I was like a ray of sunshine every morning and when I walked into the room, my smile just lit everything up and made the work somehow easier. I never saw myself as someone who brightened people's day with my laughter and jokes but everyone else could only agree. It was nice to see myself the way my coworkers saw me. The second time this happened to me was a bit of a shock. I went on vacation for a weekend with some friends and during our time together, we had to try to get to know one another better. I never thought I would learn so much about myself in learning about another person. It was strange to hear them say I was funny and bold and selfless, especially the last. I never saw myself as selfless but in a way, I guess I am. The last occurrence was, I think, the most shocking of all. A very good friend of mine told me that I have a beautiful soul and I have yet to figure out why. I'm curious to know what this person saw in me that made him come to this conclusion especially because in my opinion, he has a more beautiful soul than most. It would take too much to explain all the ways the beauty of his soul surpasses that of my own but I know if I were to ever tell him that and make a solid argument, he still wouldn't believe me. Which leads me to the conclusion that everyone's eyes get a bit foggy when the time comes to look into the mirror but when looking at another, it's easy to see things that even they may not believe are there. Life is strange that way.... Labels: babble and rant, friends and fam, in real life, personals, real life amazing Sunday, September 18, 2011 || 11:12 PM
This past Saturday, as I was sitting in a complete stranger's house, eating their food and laughing with their friends, I started to think about how if someone asked me how my weekend was, I would say "on Saturday, I walked into a complete stranger's house, ate their food and laughed with their friends" and they would look at me as if I had lost my mind. Rightfully so, too, because what kind of person walks into a stranger's house, eats their food and laughs with their friends? I'll tell you what kind of person, a hungry person. But more specifically, a hungry Seventh Day Adventist. We're a very strange breed of people. Peculiar, I think the word is. However, if nothing else, we are always welcoming. Being a Seventh Day Adventist is like being in a never ending family, much like being Grenadian or of West Indian decent in general. I think we have that familial vibe because every Adventist knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who they know in the SDA community and every time you visit a new church, the people greet you like they were waiting for you to show up because they were dying to meet you and then you start talking to someone and realize that you both know brother so-and-so because he's the youth choir director over at such-and-such church who also does praise team with your homegirl/their cousin and then you ask, if we have this many people in common, how is it that we've never met before? And all of a sudden, you've found a friend. It's the power of the SDA network, especially strong through the youth. It also doesn't hurt that a lot of us in and around the city are of West Indian descent. I think that makes the network twice as strong. If you don't know what I mean, West Indians are liable to walk down Church Ave in Brooklyn and meet five people they're related to. I have blood relatives I've never even seen a day in my life but as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, I'll meet them when I go back to Grenada, in some weird place like the market or the post office. But I digress.
My point is this...well...I'm pretty sure I had a point when I started and now I just can't seem to remember. However, It's pretty damn cool that I could walk into someone's house and they hand me a plate of food and treat me like family. I don't know any other community where that could ever go down and as much as we have our flaws and you hear about church drama and church politics, church family will always be the most important because it's the only one that keeps on growing.Labels: babble and rant, pop of culture, real life amazing Wednesday, April 14, 2010 || 1:35 PM
So I don't mean to get all religious on you guys but I just feel this strong urge to share my testimony, which, I should say, doesn't happen very often. Yesterday was a bad day. But it's strange how a bad day can turn into a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Stranger still is how one bad thing can happen and it makes you think of a lot of other bad things that have happened. So needless to say, I'm going through something which (obviously) I won't discuss here but yesterday, I was feeling so frustrated and angry and more hurt than anything else. As the day wore on, I kept thinking these feelings might go away but every time I thought about the situation, they just got worse. Finally, at the end of the day, I stopped thinking about it, only to start thinking about my brother, how much I missed him and the fact that things might be different if he were still here. I don't know why but my bad day made that loss so much fresher in my mind. It felt like I had lost him all over again. And so, I started to cry. And then I couldn't stop, no matter how much I tried. It was late and I knew that the only two people that I could talk to about it would be sleeping. In that moment, I felt so completely alone. And as I sat there in my dark room, crying uncontrollably, my phone started to ring in the palm of my hand. I looked over at it and didn't recognize the number but answered it nonetheless. And it was an old friend of mine from high school who I hadn't spoken to in years. He said I sounded sick and when I explained to him that I had been crying, he was there for me like he always used to be. He was my shoulder to cry on and it was like all those years had never even passed. We spoke for a while and he said that if I needed to talk, his phone would be on all night. He's all the way across the country, thousands of miles away, dealing with his own issues and yet he could find the time to be there for me when I needed someone the most. God works in such mysterious ways. He always has a plan and He's always on time. He has the solution ready before we even know there's a problem. Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning and that is why I can only trust Him. Labels: babble and rant, friends and fam, in real life, personals, real life amazing Tuesday, February 9, 2010 || 2:49 PM
So I'm on vacation (duh!) and despite the chronic boredom and unceasing snow, I'm actually enjoying myself. It didn't start out this way (obviously) so I figured instead of sitting around twiddling my thumbs, I'll blog about this extended vacation of awesomeness.So as you know (unless you've been hiding under a rock somewhere), my brother passed away last December. Talk about a sucky new year. So my best friend Cassy says to me "you need a vacation. You deserve a vacation. And if I can give you at least one week where you laugh every single day, I'll be satisfied." Now that, folks, is what I call a true friend. Which is why I love her so darn much. Cass's house in Florida was the destination. I was obviously excited to not only get away, but to escape to a warm place. And then I found out the boyfriends were coming too. So we all piled into Cass's caddy and headed south. That's right, we drove (technically, they drove, as I am the only loser who doesn't posses a license but whatever) and there was nothing but road ahead of us until 17 hours later when we pulled into her driveway. Cass's bf Ricky was so relieved, he started taking pics right in front of the house and of course, Chris was right there with him.    ...and then, of course, there's the whole process of settling in and trying not to look like we were in a car for 17 hours straight...  ...after we got settled in, we met Cass's sister Carlette in Miami. We hung out at her house for the afternoon while she was at work and we got to shoot the breeze with her fiance Jermaine. Jermaine is awesome. He's so funny, always going on and on about "those crackers" (stupid cops). So Carlette had given us the keys to her apartment and when we opened the door and walked in looking for Jermaine, he was no where to be found. We walked into the kitchen and the window was open and the blinds had fallen but we didn't think anything of it. We casually joked that he thought the cops were coming for him so he jumped out the window. After a while, we got hungry so the guys went to get us some food. While we were waiting, Jermaine came back (through the front door) and we told him about the joke and he laughed with us. We sat around talking for a while and when they guys came back with the food and knocked on the door, Jermaine put his hand on he windowsill and prepared to vault out the window again. Nobody could stop laughing.Later on, when Carlette got off work, we all went out to eat at Friday's. When we walked in, Cass turned to me and said "never would I be on a triple date with my sister". I had to admit, it sounded kinda weird, but we had a lot of fun, nonetheless.     Florida was so relaxing. It felt like an entirely different world. We woke up in the morning, ate breakfast, the guys went running, we listened to music and hung out in the yard, it was always nice outside and I just felt...better. I hadn't cried in days so that was something new. Also, I just felt lighter somehow like I had outrun all the sucky things in my life.A few days later, we decided to go to the beach. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun, especially holding hands as we ran into the cold water.       The next day, we headed back to Miami to pic up Cass's mom who had flown in from New York. Carlette's baby shower was the next night (did I mention she's pregnant? Whoops ::shrug::). So while Carlette, her best friend Krystal and mommy went to the market, me, Cass and the boyfriends went to Aventura Mall. It was HUGE. The mall had it's own valet parking for crying out loud and the piece de resistance: the hugest awesomest forever21 I've ever laid eyes on. It was beautiful. I would've taken pictures but I was mesmerized by it's beauty. So we split up and I still have no clue where the guys went because Cass and I only had one destination. We wandered around forever21 and tried on clothes we were too poor to buy but had fun anyway.After we left the mall, we headed back to Carlette's apartment and called Nessa (our third musketeer) and told her to meet us there where we enjoyed a few laughs and some burgers from Checkers.     The next night was the baby shower. That day was filled with drama that I don't care to revisit but revolving around a jeep (that fell on Ricky) needing a new tire. Whatever. After the drama ended, we actually had a lot of fun with all of Cass's family.       Finally, it was time to pack to drive back north. But not before a quick swag pose (gone horribly wrong) ::shrug:: On our way back up, I got a text message. My nephew had finally made his appearance into the world. About damn time too. They dropped me off in Maryland on their way back to New York. My sister and her family live down here so I figured I'd hang out with them for a week, making my vacation a total of 2 weeks before I go back to New York. Obviously, the snow had other plans. 1 week has quickly turned into 2 and IT'S STILL SNOWING! I wouldn't be surprised if it came up to my waist by now. There's not much to do here, especially when we can't leave the house because we're up to our eyeballs in snow. So I've been in the house, taking pictures of their animals and the only other thing there is to photograph: snow!      So, that's my extended vacation of awesomeness. From the beach one week to the snow the next. But hey, it's been fun so I can't complain. And even though she's not with me now, Cass did keep her promise to me, as always. I got to have one week where I laughed every day so I gotta remember to thank her for that. Sorry for the bucketload of pictures but yes, they were necessary. ::shrug::Labels: friends and fam, fun times, in real life, personals, real life amazing, vacation |