jameri's journeys

my birthday!!

2006-04-06T18:35:00.000-05:00

yesterday was my b-day. my co-workers treated me to lunch at the chinese/thai place by our job. on my plate? chicken with green curry and coconut sauce, love it!! later, j took me and o, my mom and my cousin b out for dinner to celebrate. we went to our favoite restaurant, cheddars! my choice? shrimp stuffed with crabmeat... mmmm! with a frozen peach bellini--my new drink fave... here's me, j and o before we left for dinner:

isn't my man fine!!!!

and here's me and mama at the restaurant. oooh! it's a little eerie how much i look like her!!

(and yes, her world class margarita was good as it looked!)

my 1st this season

2006-03-10T19:17:00.000-06:00

i just love bluebonnets!

spotted these yesterday on my way home from work. went back tonite and took the pictures. even though it was dark, they came out very nicely!

back in business... i hope

2006-03-10T11:11:00.000-06:00

if you haven't noticed, i've been out of the blogging loop for a while. i feel too busy with life to sit down and write about it. no, that's not totally true. i don't blog mostly because i don't think i have anything interesting to talk about. and even though one of my girlfriends has told me i am, i also don't think of myself as a writer. **love you girl! but i'm not feelin' it! :~( ** but after speaking with another blogger friend last sunday while our kids were ice skating together, i've been re-inspired. she gave me some really good tips on how to get back into journaling on-line without feeling intimidated. she said she thinks of herself as a reporter with a weekly assignment to post in her blog. she also carries her digital camera with her everyday and takes pictures of things to write about. she admitted that her "assignments" aren't super creative, mostly mundane. but that's okay. real life isn't always full of drama... or is it? anyway, here are her hints:

something quick, a picture with a caption.
a short paragraph about her kid.
a random thought.

and no major editting allowed. any post she makes fulfills her assignment.

hmm, pretend i'm a journalist. well this is an online journal, right? okay, i'll try this out and see if my new strategy keeps me posting. and more importantly, gets me excited again. (although i blew the editting part already and the length thing, too! i can't help it! it's the OCD kicking in and taking over!!! )

but, honestly, i think it might work. stay tuned!!

stillgrooven tagged me so here goes:

2005-12-27T13:55:00.000-06:00

3 screen names I have: jameri mom2orion vcoop 3 physical things I like about myself: my hair my skin color my height (or lack of it!) 3 physical things I don't like about myself: my hair my scar my flat feet 3 parts of my heritage: african caribbean indian white 3 of my everyday essentials: my God my husband my son 3 of my favorite musicians: stevie wonder sade alicia keys 3 things I want in a relationship: love honesty monogamy 3 lies: i didn't do it! oh, i must've forgot... i'm too much of a prude to try that!!! 3 of my hobbies right now: digital photography (christmas gift!) shopping yoga 3 things I want to do really badly now (with a special someone): kiss snuggle and something i won't say 'cuz i too much of a prude to admit i do! 3 careers I've considered doing: teaching nursing criminal investigation 3 places I would like to go on vacation to: jamaica grenada nu yawk citi!! 3 kid's names I like: orion ishmael imani (bonus 3: isaiah, valerie, magdaline) 3 ways that I'm a stereotypical dude/lady: i cry too easily i don't think about money enough i want everybody to like me 3 people I would like to see take this quiz: i've got no one to tag :~(

2005-12-17T12:13:00.000-06:00

i bought my FIRST BRAND NEW CAR!!!! whoo-hoo!!! go jameri!! go jameri!! get your drive on!! YES!! that's MY Elantra!! SWEEEEEET!!

2005-12-17T12:03:00.000-06:00

this feels really good right about now! i was beginning to wonder about my s-k-i-l-l-s!!

You Have Your PhD in Men

You understand men almost better than anyone. You accept that guys are very different, and you read signals well. Work what you know about men, and your relationships will be blissful.

How Well Do You Understand Men?

no worries! i'm still here...

2005-11-16T12:14:00.000-06:00

okay, it's been like FOREVER!! but, i'm still here... just haven't been bloggin' lately... don't know why, exactly. maybe married life has me caught up in other activities, ifyouknowwutimean (wink-wink!!) i have, however, found 2 new websites that are on my faves list: http://www.urbandictionary.com/ and http://www.coffeebreakarcade.com take a visit and see what's held my attention (other than my husband, hee-hee!) for the past couple of weeks! (and i'll try not to neglect this blog, like i have for so long. too long, really...)

i know i'm a little late in talking about this subject, but i had to make a point...

2005-10-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

cindy sheehan is a brave woman. i believe in what she represents: a broken-hearted, patriotic american, disappointed and let down by her country's president who was elected to promote and protect the best interests of the american people, but has only promoted and protected the best interests of the american oil companies, who continue to get rich from the pockets of the people at the mercy of the gas pump. isn't it crazy how we barely have a livable wage system, yet we still manage to pay for the war in iraq, our cars and suvs that get lousy gas mileage, and the astronomically priced gas for those guzzlers, but it's the mega rich who get the tax breaks? i just took a look at cindy's website. it speaks alot for a military mom to take a stand for the life of her son. please visit her site and offer her your support. http://meetwithcindy.org/ from there you can link to http://www.meetwiththemothers.org/ and look up your state to find out if your congressmen and representatives were brave enough to meet with cindy and the mothers. (major props to Sen. Hillary Clinton [D, NY] and Rep. Charles Rangel [D, NY-15] ) you should also contact you representatives and tell them how you feel about our sons-daughters-husbands-wives-moms-dads dying for this ignoble cause. okay, i'll get off my soapbox... for now. but I warn you. i feel another political post brewing... beware!

can i archive the rest of my life?

2005-10-20T14:56:00.000-05:00

okay, right off the bat, i cannot claim credit for this idea, but it is fab-boo-lus! well, ya know how after each month, the blogger fairy neatly catalogues your blog entries for you? and puts them in the archives labeled by month and year? well, i think that's perfect for everything else in my life! i mean, what if my house was like my blog? my office every month would be cleared out of past paid bills... my checkbook would be balanced and i'd have all my correspondence completed and filed away... answered letters, surveys, pictures put in albums... but why stop there? how 'bout the pantry and refrigerator? short-dated food would be cycled to the front or readied to be sent to the local food bank. and my closet? all my clothes be stored away according to season, and those i haven't worn in a while would be packed up for goodwill... hmm, don't stop there! my kid? my husband?!?! all their drama would be filed away according to subject and emotional intensity! ahh sheer bliss for the OCD afflicted!! this is wonderful! but where did I get this idea? i remember reading it somewhere, but WHERE?!?! oh well, i guess i will claim credit!!! i'll call it jameri's archival system for life! hmm… i like it! i like it alot!

post a profile pic? just ask blogger!

2005-10-10T10:55:00.000-05:00

grooven buttafly: v told me you needed some help with posting your profile picture. well, here's what i found out for ya. (quoted from blogger help, click the above link for the full instructions) "If you don't have a photo hosted somewhere already, you can first post a picture to your blog. Once you've done that, switch the post editor into Edit HTML mode if it isn't there already. (If you posted the picture from your cell phone or through Hello , you'll need to first log in to Blogger so you can edit the post that was just created.) Now copy the photo's URL (by choosing the Copy command from the Edit menu or the right-click menu.) Finally, paste this URL into the "Photo URL" field in your Profile. Then click Save at the bottom of the page, and republish your blog. If you don't want to keep the picture as a post on your blog, you can delete it. The image must be 50k or smaller in size." i used hello to get a url for my picture. i didn't realize i could use my blog to get a url. seems easier that way, and you don't have to open yet another online account (hello! like i needed ANOTHER account!)

grooven buttafly~~ i'm a sucker for blogthang!

2005-10-07T18:45:00.000-05:00

Your Seduction Style: Au Natural

You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it.

That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power! The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism.

You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world.

Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in.

You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you? You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways.

Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you. As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you.

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

... and I really can't help myself!

2005-10-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

You Are 88% Addicted to Blogthings

You're always discovering new Blogthings, even before they're announced. That's what we like to call a "quick draw." Forget taking Blogthings, you should be working for Blogthings! You're a Blogthings expert.

How Addicted To Blogthings Are You?

i really can't stop!

2005-10-03T11:25:00.000-05:00

You May Be a Bit Obsessive Compulsive ...

Meticulous and detailed oriented, you have some irrational obsessions. Maybe it's your super neat closet or washing your hands a gazillion times. You probably know it's weird, but you just can't stop thinking about it. In fact, the more you think about your quirks, the more you have to do them.

http://www.blogthings.com/personalitydisorderquiz/ >What Personality Disorder Are You?

You Know You're From New York City When...

2005-10-03T10:32:00.000-05:00

You Know You're From New York City When... You say "the city" and expect everyone to know that this means Manhattan. You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park at 3:30 on the Friday before a long weekend, but can?t find Wisconsin on a map. Hookers and the homeless are invisible. The subway makes sense. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual. You've considered stabbing someone just for saying "The Big Apple". The most frequently used part of your car is the horn. You call an 8' x 10' plot of patchy grass a yard. You consider Westchester "upstate". You think Central Park is "nature." You see nothing odd about the speed of an auctioneer's speaking. You're paying $1,200 for a studio the size of a walk-in closet and you think it's a "steal." You've been to New Jersey twice and got hopelessly lost both times. You pay more each month to park your car than most people in the U.S. pay in rent. You haven't seen more than twelve stars in the night sky since you went away to camp as a kid. You go to dinner at 9 and head out to the clubs when most Americans are heading to bed. Your closet is filled with black clothes. You haven't heard the sound of true absolute silence since the 80s, and when you did, it terrified you. You pay $5 without blinking for a beer that cost the bar 28 cents. You take fashion seriously. Being truly alone makes you nervous. You have 27 different menus next to your telephone. Going to Brooklyn is considered a "road trip." America west of the Hudson is still theoretical to you. You've gotten jaywalking down to an art form. You take a taxi to get to your health club to exercise. Your idea of personal space is no one actually standing on your toes. $50 worth of groceries fit in one paper bag. You have a minimum of five "worst cab ride ever" stories. You don't notice sirens anymore. You live in a building with a larger population than most American towns. Your doorman is Russian, your grocer is Korean your deli man is Israeli, your building super is Italian, your laundry guy is Chinese, your favorite bartender is Irish, your favorite diner owner is Greek, the watchseller on your corner is Senegalese, your last cabbie was Pakistani, your newsstand guy is Indian and your favorite falafel guy is Egyptian. You're suspicious of strangers who are actually nice to you. You secretly envy cabbies for their driving skills. You think $7.00 to cross a bridge is a fair price. Your door has more than three locks. Your favorite movie has DeNiro in it. You consider eye contact an act of overt aggression. You run when you see a flashing "Do Not Walk" sign at the intersection. You're 35 years old and don't have a driver's license. You ride in a subway car with no air conditioning just because there are seats available. You're willing to take in strange people as roommates simply to help pay the rent. There is no North and South. It's uptown or downtown. When you're away from home, you miss "real" pizza and "real" bagels. You know the differences between all the different Ray's Pizzas. You're not in the least bit interested in going to Times Square on New Year's Eve. Your internal clock is permanently set to know when Alternate Side of the Street parking regulations are in effect. You know what a bodega is. You know how to fold the New York Times in half, vertically, so that you can read it on the subway or bus without knocking off other passenger's hats. Someone bumps into you, and you check for your wallet..... You cringe at hearing people pronounce Houston St. like the city in Texas Film crews on your block annoy you, not excite you. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from NYC. http://www.blogthings.com/wherefrom.html

blogthing addiction...

2005-10-03T09:51:00.000-05:00

okay, i think i really need help. i've been doing to many blogthings and i haven't been journaling like i wanted to when i started this blog. so, i'ma try and go cold turkey but if you haven't noticed, it may be hopeless... i just posted another blogthing! and it feels so goooood! help!!!

What Color Should Your Blog Be?

2005-10-03T09:44:00.000-05:00

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere. You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant. From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

What Part of Fall Are You?

2005-10-01T15:16:00.000-05:00

You Are Apple Cider

Smooth and comforting. But downright nasty when cold.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatpartoffallareyouquiz/ What Part of Fall Are You?

What's your Japanese Name?

2005-09-30T08:45:00.000-05:00

Your Japanese Name Is...

Kira Imaidegawa

What's your Japanese Name?

but you can call me Kira-san!

The Three Question Personality Test

2005-09-29T15:59:00.000-05:00

Your Personality Is

Guardian (SJ) You are sensible, down to earth, and goal oriented. Bottom line, you are good at playing by the rules. You tend to be dominant - and you are a natural leader. You are interested in rules and order. Morals are important to you. A hard worker, you give your all at whatever you do. You're very serious, and people often tell you to lighten up. In love, you tend to take things carefully and slowly. At work, you are suited to almost any career - but you excel in leadership positions. With others, you tend to be polite and formal. As far as looks go, you are traditionally attractive. You take good care of yourself. On weekends, you tend to like to do organized activities. In fact, you often organize them!

The Three Question Personality Test

(yes, this is true... especially the attractive part! hee-hee)

I'm a girlie-girl!

2005-09-29T14:43:00.000-05:00

You Are 30% Boyish and 70% Girlish

Even if you're not a girl, you're very feminine. You're in touch with your feelings, and your heart rules you. A bit of a emotional roller coaster, one moment you're up and the next you're down. But no matter what, you try to be as cute and perky as possible.

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

2005-09-29T14:30:00.000-05:00

You Are 78% Addicted to Blogthings

You lead the pack when it comes to posting Blogthings. And your friends (mostly) thank you for it. It's cute that you insist on being called your Japanese name. Just stop bragging about your IQ score!

'>http://www.blogthings.com/howaddictedtoblogthingsareyouquiz/" How Addicted To Blogthings Are You?

HEY!!! i'm still waiting for the thanks!

How Do You Live Your Life?

2005-09-27T09:53:00.000-05:00

How You Life Your Life

You are honest and direct. You tell it like it is.

You're laid back and chill, but sometimes you care too much about what others think.

Your friends tend to be a as quirky as you are - which is saying a lot!

You tend to always dream of things within reach - and you usually get them.

http://www.blogthings.com/howdoyouliveyourlifequiz/ How Do You Live Your Life?

chillin' in negril, drinks in hand!

2005-09-23T18:40:00.000-05:00

okay, i know you've been fiendin' for more pics from my jamaica trip, so... heeere you go! this was some fruity concoction called a strawberry pina colada. too sweet, but i drank it anyway! this is when we first got to the resort. had to hit the beach bar! here we are at the beach party (glasses almost empty!) again at the main bar, with a special drink our favorite bartender called "the element of surprise!" good stuff, mon, nuff respect!

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

2005-09-21T13:51:00.000-05:00

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when your partner is patient and never willing to give up on you. You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring. You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic. Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage something you've always wanted... though you haven't really thought about it. In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

The Birth Order Predictor

2005-09-21T13:45:00.000-05:00

You Are Likely a Second Born

At your darkest moments, you feel inadequate. At work and school. you do best when you're evaluating. When you love someone, you offer them constructive criticism. In friendship, you tend to give a lot of feedback - positive and negative. Your ideal careers are: accounting, banking, art, carpentry, decorating, teaching, and writing novels. You will leave your mark on the world with art and creative projects.

The Birth Order Predictor

What's Your Blogging Personality?

2005-09-21T13:38:00.000-05:00

Your Blogging Type Is Thoughtful and Considerate

You're a well liked, though underrated, blogger.
You have a heart of gold, and are likely to blog for a cause.
You're a peaceful blogger - no drama for you!
A good listener and friend, you tend to leave thoughtful comments for others.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

"i'm good enough, i'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."

2005-09-21T09:49:00.000-05:00

my husband and i talked last night, and what he said really gave me some insight of his perception of me. in his observation he says i lack self-confidence. that's the most profound thing he's said to me. (ok, to his credit, he's said plenty profound things before, i just haven't made note of them in this blog! :-P ) anyway, this is a subject that i've been struggling with for sometime now. it is one of the driving forces behind my blog. to establish some self-confidence and put down the put-downs and . i'm tired of it, and i so is j, and probably everyone else in my life... how do i fight it? fight the self-depricating thoughts and believe what others believe about me? what can i do to have a more positive self-image? i know! this reminds me of that skit from snl: stuart smalley's daily affirmations. "i'm good enough, i'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."

hey there! long time, no see...

2005-09-21T09:36:00.000-05:00

i just got an e-mail from a friend i haven't spoken with in a looooooong time. i met her when my son and her son were in the same daycare. (wow, i pick up alot of friends thru that kid, huh, ms. shabazz?! and good people, too... o's got great taste!) anywho, i had forgotten that she introduced me to weblogs last year (via livejournal). so this isn't my first time. but i've long since abandoned that on-line journal and picked up this one in hopes this stage of my life is more interesting... or at least interesting enough for me to keep writing, and you to keep reading. oh, i invited her to stop by here and spend some time in my head (again). i hope she enjoys reading this blog and learn what i've been up, and maybe we can finally catch-up...

How Do People See You?

2005-09-19T17:18:00.000-05:00

Slow and Steady

Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It'd really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment. They expect you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then usually decide against it.

How Do People See You?

2005-09-19T09:13:00.000-05:00

this one made me think... that's a good thing!

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 7 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

What mixed drink are you?

2005-09-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

I'm a Strawberry Daiquiri!

A fun, playful drinker who loves to party. May get totally wasted, but always a happy drunk!

What Mixed Drink Are You?

jameri's new favorite webplace!

2005-09-16T09:18:00.000-05:00

so, yeah, howdahellDIDthisthingknow?

Your Birthdate: April 5

With a birthday on the 5th of the month you are inclined to work well with people and enjoy them. You are talented and versatile, very good at presenting ideas. You may have a tendency to get itchy feet at times and need change and travel. You tend to be very progressive, imaginative and adaptable. Your mind is quick, clever and analytical. A restlessness in your nature may make you a bit impatient and easily bored with routine. You may have a tendency to shirk responsibility

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

pictures!

2005-09-15T20:49:00.000-05:00

here's me and my new husband (i just like saying that!) and here's me,doin' absolutely nothing! and this was my view: did i mention that this was the best vacation ever!!!

2005-09-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

the bride... the dress... and the groom, all at the airport ... and off to Jamaica, mon!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

2005-09-14T14:09:00.000-05:00

I's married now!! The ceremony went off with little interuption and it was beautiful! Although there was no music (the cd wouldn't play), there was plenty sea breeze and sunshine, which made for more sweat than tears and there were both! (more tears from J than me!) We had wedding cake and champagne, and took as many pictures with the digital camera as we could before we melted! I'll try to post some pictures, but forgive me if I go overboard! I can't get enough of them! I'm sure you'll get sick of seing my Jamaican sun-kissed smiling face!

2005-08-23T10:48:00.000-05:00

now - what was I doing... 10 years ago? living the single life in new york city! on my own for the first time. life was lovely!! it was 4 years post-college and i was ALL THAT!! sheeeee! you couldn't tell me NOTHIN'!!! i was runnin' the streets, as my mother would say, discovering the world outside of jamaica, queens! my friends were into the soho art-scene and the hip-hop music-scene and the black-urban-upwardly-mobile-scene, so i went from gallery openings to video shoots to industry parties to house parties to block parties! and i hung out with my share of celebrities, too (no, i will NOT name drop, thankyouverymuch!) suffice to say, i was high on life (and just on life... never touched the wacky stuff!) i still was a quite an L7 and actually more skeered of my policeofficermarinecorpsdrillsergeant father! (still am!) 6 years ago? well, i was coming to grips with the fact that i was 30 and unmarried, with an almost 2 yr old orion. i needed to reinvent myself after leaving his father, so did the most logical thing: i ran home to my mama!! we crash landed in her spare room in big ol' texas and didn't know what to expect! though, i did think we'd see more cowboys and horses and tumbleweed... hmm, go figure! 1 year ago? ahh! my love affair with the man of my dreams was just a year old! things were really picking up steam in our relationship. j was becoming more like a partner than a boyfriend, more like father for o as well. at the same time, i was going through one of the roughest periods of my career. my management team at work were scheming to have me fired (no, i wasn't paranoid! they really were!) and mama believes they made me the sacrificial lamb 'cause i'm an easy mark who doesn't fight back (at times my peoplepleasingeverybody'sgottaloveme! attitude doesn't let me stand up for myself.) they subsequently transfered me from the disease investigations field work that i loved (sniffle!) to this BORING! desk job sitting in front of a computer all dayum day!! but it's not that bad -- i get to interact with real people every once in a while answering the phone for the "shots-for-tots" hotline! and i have a newly discovered talent: i speak spanish! ¿usted necesita una cita para vacunas? last week? j picked up our wedding bands and moved all his stuff to my place, but we're waiting until we get back to unpack and settle HIM in. took my wedding dress to the cleaners. did some last minute shopping at the mall for jamaica. got into an ugly fight with j over pure nonsence! got over it quickly. oh! i picked up mama and her nyc grandkids from the airport. suffice to say, orion is on his best behavior so he can spend as much time with his cousins as possible! yesterday? last minute shopping for jamaica. needed more shorts and such. today? going with j to get our marriage license. i gotta make up my mind of what, if any, name change i'm gonna do. keep my name? take his name? hyphenate? and i also need to pick up my gown from the cleaners, and get film and a waterproof camera. of and gotta get a baby shower gift for jessica and a birthday gift for amira (friends from work) tomorrow? shia's taking me for a pedicure! a little pampering for the bride to be! okay, now my top 5 lists... 5 songs i'll always love: 1. kiss of life - sade 2. my girl - the temptations 3. a house is not a home - luther vandross 4. adore - prince 5. you are the sunshine of my life- stevie wonder bonuses: sucka mc's - run dmc, ordinary people - john legend, in da club - 50cent (yo shor-ty, it's yo birf-day, we gonna party like it's yo birf-day) 5 snacks i enjoy: 1. dulce de leche ice cream (if you tasted it, you'll know why.) 2. dried fruit and nuts, you know, trail mix stuff (aka bird food!) 3. chips and dip (for you texans, that means ruffles potato chips and sour cream & onion dip, not tortilla chilps & salsa!) 4. chocolate cake 5. smoked almonds 5 bands i know the lyrics of most of their songs: 1. run dmc ("kings from queens... from queens come kings!") 2. sade 3. stevie wonder 4. prince 5. and (must i admit it?) michael jackson 5 things i would do with $1,000,000: 1. pay for college and grad school for 2. build dream house by the 3. give 20% to my family 4. give 5% to 5. have more kids 5 locations to run away to: 1. jamaica (ooh! just 5 days to go!) 2. hawaii 3. vegas baby! 4. spain (for me) 5. brazil (for john) 5 things i wish i could wear: 1. a topless bikini 2. nose piercing 3. old school adidas with the fat laces 4. longer hair (hide the scissors from me, please!) 5. a wedding band (7 days to go!!!) 5 must see movies: 1. the color purple 2. coming to america 3. life 4. boomerang 5. forest gump bonuses: collateral, ray, the matrix, blade, finding forester, ace ventura-pet detective, liar-liar 5 toys: (haves) 1. my blog 2. my cell phone 3. my magic bullet blender (wishes) 4. a digital 5. faster home computer 5 biggest joys in my life at the moment: 1. my God 2. my man 3. my son 4. my family 5. myself i tag shia back ('cuz don't have nobody else to tag!)

The ONE Campaign

2005-08-17T09:02:00.000-05:00

The ONE Campaign www.one.org my best girlfriend from ny gave me and orion each this cool white wristband. i haven't seen anyone else with it! i feel so hip and exclusive! Wear the White Band! Wear the white band and show your support for the ONE Campaign and the fight against global AIDS and poverty. Worn by teachers, doctors, and homemakers. You've seen them in the pages of People and US Weekly on your favorite stars, get your band now! The white bands are part of a global effort to make poverty history.

mercury just needs to quit!!!

2005-08-16T16:32:00.000-05:00

although my drama has calmed down some, i still got mad drama, none the less! it's all about our wedding reception that my mom is giving for us the day after we return and trying to coordinate who's having chicken and who's having london broil and the wedding bands that don't fit and the marriage license we have to go get and the change in flight plans that delta made so now we leave a day earlier and have a over-night lay over in atlanta and don't forget about the fact that my groom has yet to buy his suit for the wedding still (we're only leaving in 11 days!) and i just know he may not find anything appropriate since all the fall styles are now in the stores and they're prolly gonna be too hot for the beach and he'll end up wearing some plain old khakis and a plain old white shirt and not the beautifully lucious summer suit that i envisioned for my handsome man-sniffle- (yes i've had my dress since jan. 17th!! helloooooo!!!! you think he'd be on the ball? oh but nooooo!! ) and not to mention that he moved in over the weekend and now we're fighting over the master bathroom! i never knew men could be so grody! (eww! those little hairs from shaving--yuck!!!) say, can a sista have her space back, please!?! oh yeah then there's my car a/c that fried the wiring on just about the hottest day of the summer and the replacement part i ordered and reordered when the first one didn't work and come to find out i needed a third one and after i got that one now my mechanic is saying i need a fourth one and thank goodness he responds to my flirting or else i'd be sh** out of luck!! and my mama the saint who's paid for all those parts and who'll probably pay for the labor as well (i think she feels guilty since she gave me the lemon anyway!) so i've been doing a lot of yoga (breathe in, breathe out!!) trying to get my chi right (pass me the sage, girlfriend!) i really can't wait to put all the drama behind me... you know drown my worries in several adult beverages, maybe a pinacolada or a humming bird or a bob marley... i know a sex on the beach after some sex on the beach! (oooh, baby please, baby-baby-baby PLEASE!!!!)

still breathin'

2005-07-28T15:47:00.000-05:00

i won't be depressed! i refuse to allow myself to get me down! that's the sarafen talkin'! but it must be helping me surpress my self-depricating/sinking-thinking... and i've noticed fewer woe-is-me-i-can't-do-anything-right-nothing-ever-goes-my-way moments, so something must be working! but really, i think i got someone elses' share of junk! 'cause this is just too much wrong for one person! and there better be a pot of gold at the end of the silver lining in the eye of the hurricane or how ever it goes! puh-LEEZE!! i'm so over being in the valley!

5 weeks, 1 day til the wedding

2005-07-25T14:16:00.000-05:00

i wanted to log in my feelings re: the 2nd bombing in london, but what's happening in my little world distracts me from the world at large and my greater consciousness... what is it that has me distracted, you may ask... oh! just my upcoming wedding and all that junk that goes along with it! please oh please! when will the stress go away? please tell me it will go away. lie if you must! (breathe in...) some responses for the wedding reception are trickling in, and the ones who haven't responded are somewhat frustrating. for example, evite makes note of when someone views the invitation, but if you don't indicate your response (attending or not) it only registers you as viewed. and may of my guests haven't even viewed it, which makes me think i have the wrong address. and don't get me started on the snail-mail! i sent those out on july 18th and the only one i know has reached is to albuquerque. i mailed one to my house (addressed to Master Orion I. Cooper Adell of course!) and he hasn't received it yet!! wassupwitdat? local delivery should be next day! i inquired at the post office and the manager said there was nothing they can do to track first class mail. and then he gave me the number to consumer affairs. busy-busy-busy. i'm so frustrated. (breathe out...) and i gotta finish the favors... got the personalized ribbons (soooooo cute!) and made bows out of half of them for the shell magnets for the luncheon. gonna wrap the rest around the glass votives and stick tiny shells on them for the reception. and then finish the beach-in-a-jar off with a raffia net (mom that's your idea!) when, when, WHEN??!! this week, i hope. (breathe in & out, & breathe some more...) today, mom and i went to mrs. martinez for my dress fitting. she says "oh, this too small!" (no, duh!) "they no have bigger dress for you?" (i about died! no! they didn't have a bigger size, that's why i'm here to see you, old lady!) "okey, okey... this seam good, i let out one inch..." (a whole inch! there goes my self-esteem...) "i let out here... an here... an here... an..." (alright, that's it! no more eating for me! well, maybe one more piece of chocolate!) (oooh, girl! just breathe!) whoo! is it me & my car without a/c or is it hot as hell out here? dayum! never got this hot in queens! and it's day 3 of this headache. i need some caffine in a bad way!

has it really been 2 weeks?

2005-07-21T15:46:00.000-05:00

whew, didn't realize it's been so long... i feel like i've been in a whirlwind for the past few weeks.

completed and sent out both on-line and paper invitations
interviewed for a great job with the State
paid off the jamaica trip... IN FULL!!
ordered most of the supplies for the wedding favors
bought the rest at michaels
never got a call back from the State
had a few more fights with j and mom (and a new player: my arrogant brother!)
paid for the wedding ceremony (yes! it WAS separate from the trip)
ordered the cake
and now i'm broker than ever!

i know there's more, but i gotta git!

prayer 4 london: july 7, 2005

2005-07-07T15:39:00.000-05:00

as a fellow world citizen and native new yorker, my mourning is anewed and my yet unhealed wounds made fresh. my prayers are with london today, as they were with new york and washington d.c. on september 11th, 2001 and madrid, lest we forget march 11th, 2004. may those who survive be many and find safety & comfort, and those who are lost be few and find peace & rest. remember and honor our fallen; hold close and cherish our beloved. -jameri

long weekend

2005-07-05T08:29:00.000-05:00

it's monday... oops! it's tuesday, and i'm so, so, so tired! we had a full weekend with kids and grilling and a camp-out turned camp-in and lots of food and fireworks. i'm pooped! i also had a emotional drag-out with my mother that ended very badly. i really don't want to remember or rehash what was said. suffice to say, we may not have a wedding reception after all. but me and my man are back on track! if this is how my life is gonna be, i'd rather it be me with j than me w'out him. later.

the silent treatment

2005-07-01T18:27:00.000-05:00

okay, we had a fight. we argued about money and priorities and my mother and our wedding and my neediness to talk and his un-neediness to talk and what happened? the silent treatment. the shut down. again. he's like a turtle, at any sign of trouble, pop! into the shell. it's like he's an adolescent when he deals with stress in such a juvenile way. the silent treatment. with precision timing (and convenience, i must add): he's over his minutes. boom! he's out. and what do i do? i race him to see who can slam the phone down first! (see! i can regress to pre-teen too!) but that just leaves me empty. so what happens next? i wait 'til he calls or comes by and i cuddle up next to him and start purring and cooing and stroking his ego. i'm so over that! is this what i want for the rest of my life? yes/no/idon'tknow... when will i learn? can i put up with the silent treatment?

am i crazy?

2005-07-01T16:14:00.000-05:00

or has my mother and fiancée conspired against me? j assumes that i tell my mother EVERYTHANG about us. he has no idea of what a mother/daughter relationship is. and what he assumes, he gets completely wrong. this time he set me up and i walked right in to the trap. so now i'm the one at fault... again. for our wedding in august we decided for the 2 of us to go to jamaica to get married. he was gonna pay off his share of the trip by today (well, wednesday, but he needed an extension) AND he's still short. (quick note: back in february, i put down the deposit and then some, so my share's all paid off.) and being that my mom is my landlord, i asked her if i could defer the rent 'til next pay period so we could finish payin' for the trip. of course she obliged, but not without plenty of words about triflin' men who allow their women to carry them until they (the women) are in debt. i did NOT need to hear all that from her. what's worse, when i told j what she said, he threw it back in my face that i let her in our business too much! of course i told her why i needed to hold off on the rent, duh! he was the one who suggested it! wow! it's so nice and convenient for me to be close to my mother when it suits him, but every other time, she's meddling in our business. and i talk to her too much. who else am i gonna talk to?!? (sigh) i just spent the last 20 minutes of my life tryin to explain the dynamics of the mother/daughter relationship. he says he's over on his cell phone minutes. oh my wasted breath. his lack of respect for my mother and our relationship is wearin' on my last nerve. i am so tired of defendin' the fact that i actually talk to the people in my life, while he goes about his like a lone ranger. yeah, what i lack in numbers of relationships he lacks in depth. how do we recover from this? i love him so. i want this to work. i'm willing to try anything. i've even redefined my outlook for our marriage. i used to say we needed to compromise, each of us giving way to the other from time to time. i now think it's all about striking a balance. when one is "heavy" the other becomes "light" for balance in the relationship. being the only one to strike the balance is gettin old real fast. i'm so afraid that this strategy is going to fail because i'm the only one putting it to practice... what are we gonna do?

2005-07-01T13:49:00.000-05:00

well, where shall i begin? at 36, i have come to grips with the idea that i will not have a best sista/girl/friend in my life. and that need to stop looking outside of self for what self hasn't already fulfilled. i've found that i can be a good friend, but not one who makes soulbonds like some women do. try as i might to forge friendships and force friendships, differences appear, people drift apart, relocate... things happen, circumstances change. call it maturity, growth, evolution, revolution, whatever. now is different than then. i'm no longer that attention-starved girl/woman bent on people pleasing, trying to make everyone like her, but blind to her own needs, ignorant to love of self. now is the time for me to love up on me. to surround myself with a positivity that feeds the soulbond with myself. every person, place, thing, circumstance, i must see and seize as an opportunity for nourishment. i must learn to be my sista/girl/friend. and if i never achieve that woman/soul-bonding with anyone other than myself, i'm ok with that.

2005-06-30T15:14:00.000-05:00

this is my catharsis, a sort and perge of thoughtfeelings. putting out there this new journey of mine. i walk as daughter, sister, niece, aunt, mother. i speak friend and girlfriend. fluent? no, not by a longshot. i'm learning fianceé, but that's a hard one. i don't think i have the accent right. next one will be wife. we'll see how i do with that one when the time comes, right? i heard it's a special blend of girlfriend and fianceé with a little mother tossed in for patience and endurance.

2005-06-30T13:15:00.000-05:00

welcome into my head! don't know how long your stay will be. it may be brief, may be lengthy. maybe pleasant surprising boring. let me know. wait. don't. ignorance is bliss, right?! as i put thoughts to words to fingers to keys... a little shaky, bear with me... oh no! apprehension floods in... "hey!" the narcissist forces herself to the surface again. "look at me!! it's my turn! it's my turn!" (okay, we'll indulge her... for now) -jameri