Winter Dreamin

This morning's dream was so incredible I can hardly believe I had it. I talk about snow alot but I can't remember the last time I had a dream about snow! This dream took place on the old block where we lived until I was five. I was literally enjoying the snow by sitting in it. The snow was so high it was well above my waist and and just below my chest. It was like I was buried in it but in a fun, admiring way. I also remember that it was daylight and nothing and nobody was on the block. It was quiet. As I looked to my left, I could see the trees coated with snow and I said to myself that I wish I had a camera to take a picture because it was so beautiful. I sat in the mound for a long time and also remember feeling relaxed. Isn't that a great dream?!? I think so.

My head is actually hurting me right now. The classic pain that runs down the left side of my neck tells me this is yet another migraine. I hate these things! So painful at times...even with prescription medication. And it's such a nice day outside. I hope this pain passes soon. It has been so muggy and sticky the last two nights. I actually slept with the fan on both nights and drank even more ice water otherwise I would have sweat to death in this oven of a space. In the wintertime, it's nice and toasty but in the summertime...forget about it. O.K. going to lay down for a bit and then finish up with my final paper so I can email it out in a few hours. I wonder if grades are in yet from the other two classes. Lemme check. More maybe later.

NYC Noise

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! If I could ban just one thing from the island it would be car alarms! Do I really need to say any more? So, briefly picking up with yesterday's entry...I finally made it to the cleaners to get all four dresses altered. The good news is that the alterations were to take them in because they are all too big in certain places! Sweet! While it is not much...it's something and i'll take that any day. I can't spend too much time right now catching up since I have to go in a couple of minutes. I did hear from Miriam yesterday. I can't wait to hear all about her journey in Costa Rica. I am sure it was amazing. I forgot to ask her about the birthday celebration she is planning in Mexico later in the year. She did say that she has a new mantra for me on how to attract a true mate. That should be cool. I'm a little worried about two of my other friends who are having relationship problems. I know everything will work out the way it's supposed to work out. I truly believe that I am learning so much by witnessing some of my friends relationship issues. I have learned from several to not let fear rule every decision. Fear of not being able to pay rent/mortgage on my own, fear of being alone, fear of not finding someone who will truly value my worth. I can honestly say I don't have those fears anymore. So I know I won't have them when I do meet the man who is supposed to be in my life. I better get moving...looks like rain is ready to come down. Oh!....it was so cool to hear the thunder outside this morning around 5am. Will revisit post when I get back.

2:03pm...I have to hit the shower but I had to make a quick note. It is absolutely gorgeous outside! While I am truly a winter baby and summer is synonymous with sweat for me...I have to say that one thing I do enjoy about this type of sunshine is seeing all the cute little ones in their strollers or toddling about. On the walk home, I couldn't help but smile at this baby who was being chauffeured by his mom. He had to have been all of about four or five months old, feet out, just chillin. LOL. Too adorable! I'm going to take my shower and go sit on the porch with my feet out while I edit my last paper. Who says I can't be a kid too?!? LOL. Maybe more later.

In the Land of Dresses

The other day I had to laugh at myself yet again. I must have been looking pretty darn "babealicious" since two guys hit on me. The latter guy really made it a point to get me to notice him...he literally walked and stopped in front of me and said hello. LOL. Today, was a repeat of yesterday. As I was walking towards the cleaners, this guy was trying to talk to me. I thought he was kind of rude though considering I was on the telephone at the time. O.K. it's late and i'm actually a bit tired....will catch up with the last two days worth of activity tomorrow morning.

More Wacko Jacko Dreams

All I remember this time is that there was a terrier dog that kept biting me every chance he got. Like literally latched on and would not let go type of biting. Very weird experience. I could literally feel nipping at my ankle and remember trying to pry this animal off of my leg. I wasn't in pain though. The feeling was more like a pinching feeling. Another portion of the dream involved me eating a slice of key lime pie. Not my favorite type of pastry so not remotely sure why it would turn up in a dream. I didn't particularly like it in the dream either. As I walked with the cake in my hand, I walked into what appeared to be a bathroom with multiple stalls. One of the doors opened and Dee Wallace walked out. I remember the feeling of having to really pee pretty badly. The last section of this multiple dream sequence involved Jennifer Hudson wearing a the dress Jessica Simpson wore to the MOMA event the other night. Hudson was flirting with some guy at a table one level down from where she was sitting. The guy was with a woman who appeared to be his girlfriend or something. Can my dreams get any weirder??? LOL.

Presentation#1 is tonight. Group project. Can't wait to be done with this one. All I really have left is to finish editing my thesis paper and submit the final version. I finished the PPT slides the other night. I think it's pretty damn good...subjectively speaking of course. Ha ha. I'm almost free! Yipee! Two more job submissions are in as well. I really hope to hear back from United Way...that position sounds right up my alley. Let's see what happens. O.k. better go. More later maybe.

Another Great Tuesday

Let's see...I woke up around 9:30 and made a really good breakfast, completed my presentation slides for thesis, sent my final recommendations for the Trinidad and Tobago paper, and simply relaxed. Fantastic day! Nice and quiet. My legs hurt too much from yesterday's workout to go today but I'll show up for more punishment tomorrow. Everything for the month has been paid so that's always good. I feel really relaxed right now...that's always a good thing. I think I will go through my closet one more time and see if I can part with a few more pieces to donate. I also have some books to donate too. Dinner next week actually shaped up to more people than I expected. I think total head count is up to 14. That's a lot of people. Should be fun since everyone is different. It really will be a mixed group. Old and new friends, younger and older. It will be good to see many of them before I leave. I feel like I'm forgetting something though...can't remember. Ha ha. Guess that's the signs of getting older although I don't feel old. Don't really have anything to talk about today other than the norm...terror plot busted, Queen's visit to the States, etc. O.K. better make dinner. Maybe more later.

Waiting

I'm in the computer lab waiting for the rest of the group. I'm on time...where are they?

Diamond Dust and Pollocks

An intervention may be needed somewhere in the future. My addition is classic. I wake up thinking about it. I am conscience of the time when I need my fix. I feel better after having my fill of it. What's a junkie like me to do? What is the drug of choice you ask? News Features and Investigative Reports. My favorite mainstays include 20/20, 60 Minutes, and CBS Sunday Morning. I round out these three programs with the occasional Dateline, Nightline, and local news coverage on television and in print. What can I say except there are many interesting things happening in the world. I always wanted to (and still secretively desire to) roam the world meeting interesting people and revealing unique facts to others. I always admired Steve Hartmann's stories. He would travel from state to state (similar to Charles Kuralt) meeting people and telling their story since we all have a story. Steve's approach was pretty darn cool...he would merely select a name from the local phone book and in the process come across some very unique people.

In my news haze, there was a story on yesterday that totally intrigued me and it involved death...or at least what could happen to your remains when you are gone. The story was on the unique ways people are being interred. A factoid that came up was that by the time 2025 rolls around over half of those who die (not sure if the stat was citing U.S. or globally but i'd go with U.S statistic) will be cremated. I told my parents over ten years ago that when I die I want to be cremated and my ashes spread someplace beautiful and not in the U.S. Both of them are opposed to cremation so chances are when I die and if they are responsible for my remains, I will be in the ground somewhere...totally against my wishes. The story went on to cite the non-conventional ways people are being released. Some are being rocket launched into space (only a small percentage of their ashes). Others are being stored in a favorite golf club or fishing rod. My personal favorite and the one that I want...to be turned into a diamond! I love it and that's exactly what I want! Even better than having my ashes spread. They are called LifeGems. Ashes are literally turned into man-made diamonds. Amazing! You know I have to use that word at least once a day. It is amazing though. My mother laughed at that idea too. Think about it though...we really do live in a transient society where people are so on the move, many don't revisit gravesites anymore. Also, with development of land, there isn't enough room to bury everyone. Why not get creative...especially if that is what the deceased wanted? It will be interesting to see what actually happens to me when I die. I have a feeling i'll be shaking my head and laughing at the same time when I witness it.

The other story I thought was interesting was the report on the Jackson Pollock painting currently owned by a retired woman trucker who bought it for five bucks. The art world won't authenticate the painting but we all know it's a Pollock! I have a feeling if she were some aristocrate running in the land of money and so called power, the art community would recognize that she has indeed come into an original work painted by the troubled artist. I'm not a Pollock fan but given his history of dumping paintings he wasn't happy with on the roadside, I am inclined to believe this woman has the real deal. I hope in time she will be able to sell it for what it is truly worth and not let them steal it from her just because she isn't like the snooty people.

Oh! Before I forget...a black woman, Barbara Hillary, has beat me to the North Pole! I thought I would be the first! And the kicker...she's a 75 year old cancer survivor originally from New York! Love it. She is the first black woman to make the trek. Love it! I'll discuss more later.
I don't think i'll detox from news anytime soon. LOL. Well...i'm in the land of the living so better get a move on and get breakfast so that I can go workout later. I am so not looking forward to meeting with my group but at least we present Wednesday so I'll be happy to be done with them. Not the best group of people. Anywho...maybe more later.

Street Fight

I just finished watching this really great documentary about Newark Mayor, Cory Booker, called Street Fight. It was fascinating to watch what was going on at the grassroots level of his bid to replace Sharpe James. I must say that while watching this documentary I kept thinking about the mafia. Sharpe James is a gangster...a literal gangster. He fought so down and dirty that I think even dirt would be ashamed to welcome him into its fold! It really goes to show you just how corrupt someone can get if there's money in it for them. For what it's worth, I never liked Sharpe James and his rhetoric. After watching Curry's documentary, now I know why. James' practices of intimidation and just downright lying was sinful. What disturbed me even more is that he wielded so much power through fear that those who supported his campaign couldn't even see that he was leading them down the wrong path for so many years. I highly recommend this film. Ironically, Cory Booker will be speaking at the graduation reception. I am so looking forward to hearing him speak. I hope I get the opportunity to meet him as well. He was part of a lecture series earlier this semester but it was on a night when I had seminar. He is such an exceptional leader and I commend him on his personal and political philosophy. To hear him speak next week will be a real treat. I can't hardly believe it but this is the last week of classes for me. Praise the Lord!

Today was a really good Sunday, my cousin Sharon called yesterday to say she was in town and wanted to do go to brunch before headed back to London tonight. I love seeing Sharon...she so smart and cool. We went to brunch at Brooklyn Marriott. It's funny that I live in the borough yet never went there for anything. We had a great table by the window overlooking Adams Street. With the beautiful sunshine outside and the beautiful spirit of Sharon for conversation inside, it turned out to be a perfect day. She says I should visit Thailand while visiting Korea. I'm not sure if Sungrim would like to do this since it may require both of us getting visas for travel. Plus there is so much to see in South Korea. I put in my request already to visit the DMZ. Sounds scary, dangerous, and amazing at the same time. Only group tours are allowed to visit the zone so Sungrim will set us up to go. It's hard to believe that a country can be so fractured and that there is such a literal, visual divide between North and South Korea. I have been studying up on my basic Korean language skills as much as I can. Never hurts to know some key words and phrases.

O.K. Still have schoolwork to wrap up...thank goodness it's almost over. My next goal...to become fluent with my Spanish so that by this time next year I can visit Madrid or Barcelona. I feel like i'm missing something but I missed a couple of days and you know how hard it is to catch up. Oh well...it's good being busy. More tomorrow.