Wednesday, December 29, 2004

mini-hiatus

Ah yes, I haven't posted for an incredibly lofty, esoteric reason:

Ok, I'm just a lazy ass.

I'm on vacation, and frankly typing makes me tired. So, no Weekend updates, no memes - hell, I may not even do a 2004 recap, or best of before we ring in the new year. I'm just too trifling. Me is chillin', Hammy is chillin', what more can I say, top-billin'...that's what we get...

aight, enuff - my hands feel weak already.

Saturday, December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas



Yes Virginia - there is some Christmas cheer...the combination of nutmeg, thyme and freshly cut wrapping paper did it...lol. Merry Christmas y'all!!!

Thursday, December 23, 2004

pre-X-Mas Blues

The holidays are always a hard time for me. I started not to post this, but someone reminded me - I don't write for my audience, I write for me. And I need to get this out. Log off now if you don't want to share my sadness...

My son was involved in a car accident involving a drunk driver. He's fine, and the other passengers are fine as well. The other driver was caught after they also managed to hit a police cruiser and charges are pending.

As I drove home from the ER, adrenaline wearing off, silent tears slid down my face, and I allowed them, for several reasons. Mostly, the holidays are hard for me.

One year ago, my son came home from daycare with a broken arm, and I spent 16 hours in the ER waiting for them to set it - then came home, gathered myself, and headed back to the hospital for my fibroid surgery. Within a 48 hour period, my "boyfriend" managed to neglect to take me to my surgical appointment, I had to come up with someone else to take me, I had family & children services calling my hospital room, and my daughter had to hold down the house while I recovered. I managed to get out of bed last X-Mas just long enough to watch them open presents, then slipped back into my pain-killer induced sleep.

Seven years ago, my fiance (FL) came home & cracked several bones in my left hand, after he'd stayed out for 36 hours without calling. I spent that X-Mas eve in the ER for 8 hours, filling out the warrant paperwork so the cops would pick him up, while I worried how I was going to care for my sick child one-handed.

For many years I've struggled as a single parent to make sure that my kids had a memorable X-Mas, even when it meant financial finagling, struggle and sacrifices on my part. I'm a mom, that's my job, I chose it, and I'm fine with that. And I know someone is going to post a comment, telling me to be grateful that my kids are healthy, that I'm healthy, that we have a roof over our heads and the whole nine. I agree, and I do appreciate that, but it's no consolation for the way that I'm feeling.

This year is different, and I'm not sure why. I've dealt with adversity many, many times, but this year is different. It may be the fact that I have no family to speak of - my parents have been dead for several years, and my only brother is 25+ years older than I - we don't know each other. It could be that I've been busting my a$$, sacrificing my social life to pursue a degree which has yet to show a payoff. Maybe it's just that the holidays are hard. Maybe it's just that being a single mom is hard. Maybe it's that being the single parent of a disabled child, with a very small support system, is almost impossible.

Or, maybe it's that I'd like something genuinely good to happen to us. Something that I didn't have to sacrifice for, something that I didn't have to work my a$$ off to achieve, something that I didn't feel like I made happen. Something, extraordinary.

I'm not sure. The only thing I am sure of is this - I give so much of myself (maybe I've given too much) to my friends, to my coworkers, to my jobs, to my extended family, to my exes, even to FL, or at least I've tried to. Now, I want something just for me. Something simply good, nice - just for the sake of making me smile, and not asking anything in return. Something that would make Hammy say "very-very good, mommy".

That's what I want for X-Mas.

Monday, December 20, 2004

weekend trip to Snarkville...


Yes, I got my Scrooge on. And your point is...? No really - I was not fit for human consumption the entire weekend...the
Bakers Dozen c/o ej.

  1. Vegetate with Hammy, and watch Finding Nemo for the gazillionth time.

  2. Insomnia & the convo with Mr. Earning Potential. Synopsis: not only is chivalry dead, but it took romance out with it...

  3. I decide that my lovelife needs a colonic.

  4. Saturday:: Tried X-mas shopping with E. Came across 2 soccer moms fighting over a parking space, and...

  5. Meghan, the official Customer-No-Service Queen of 2005. After not greeting me, and then looking blankly as I tried to return the not-so-hot Pumas (I bought 3 pairs, jeez); she says "er, um yes?!" then proceeds to charge me for the shoes, again. I subsequently spent another 20 minutes in the store, as the manager fixed Ms. Meghan's f&*%-up.

  6. Goodwill toward men, falalalala - what a crock of bullshyt....And if one more Neon/Tercel/Echo/Focus cuts Bessie (my truck) off on the way home from the mall, I'mma put the driver in a choke hold...choke 'em out, until I put 'em to sleep.

  7. Get home, and I finally wash the press outta my hair. I'm nappy-headed once again-Yeah!!!

  8. Hammy & I retire early, to watch A.I. Ok, honestly - Hammy watches A.I., and since it is (IMHO) the longest and most depressing movie ever made, I watch the back of my eye lids.

  9. My thoughts until approximately Sunday 2pm:: I really should get up and do something, right? At about 4pm, I finally run out to look at a property that my realtor found us...

  10. ...and I run into my version of Xanadu, hence the picture above. Don't want to jinx it, so I don't want to talk about it much, but I think I found my home.

  11. Interesting convo with The Geek about why my lovelife sucks. He gave me a tortoise & hare analogy: The Rover and Old Faithful. Basically, since Rover is more experienced than Old Faithful, Rover initially appears smoother & more charming. So Rover gets more chicks & gets around. More chicks come across Rover (and his brethren since they are dating multiple women), so they think "all men are dogs". Meanwhile, Old Faithful is sitting by the door, less smooth, sorta chillin'- looking for that "One", and women are stepping over him, to get at Rover. The Geek claims he's Old Faithful. We'll see.

  12. The Wire:: fave scene - Marlo winking at Avon in court like "I got this shawty..." Can u say - DAYUM!!!! And Cutty is my new fave hottie.

Saturday, December 18, 2004

the anti-dating rant

Now that I've had a few hours sleep, and a little time to mull over the convo with Mr. Earning Potential, I'm pissed. Like my sista-blogger Elle stated a few weeks ago, I've gotta agree - 2004 has been a banner year for a$$holes.

A coworker suggested that any man over 35, that's never been married probably has a good reason to not marry - the type of reason most women would run from. I'm beginning to agree. Let's look at a few choice examples, shall we?

  • The maintenance applicant:: After applying for the position left open by the maintenance dude, during the initial interview this 46 year-old explains his current dating position, and mentions his maintenance chick. Why is she the maintenance chick I ask? She's immature, and they're not on the same page career-wise or in pursuing life-goals. Oh yeah, and she's 23. She's 3 years older than the Chaos. Er, let me call you right back. For real. I swear.

  • The 50+ year olds:: does the geriatric set feel like they don't have shyt to lose? I'm 38. What the f&*% do I want with someone 15+ years older than me, who more likely than not is gonna have probs with his prostate, and impotence? Dayum, don't I have enough to look forward to, without that now???!!!

  • The teacher:: in my local grocery store, he follows me around for 20 minutes while I pick out my groceries, then hangs around my car until I come out. Stalking at 7am is not cool, but he's an older cat, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. We exchange numbers, and he keeps my Cross pen. Fine, I ain't tripping it. Then he calls me 3 times btwn 8 - 9:30am while I'm on a conference call, to tell me he has my pen. Ok, jeez - I'll get it from you next time I see you. So when I see him again, and ask him about it, he gives me this quizzical look, like I'm being cheap. Er, wasn't it you that called me to remind me? So, he goes to his car, and hands me a...Bic? When I call him on it, he says "look at you, being stingy..." WTF?! Yeah, I'm being stingy...wait...was that your phone # I accidentally threw out the window on I-85N at 90mph? Dayum...

  • The Nigerians:: oh this one is so un-PC, but who cares? So, you see my lovely smiling face, and are moved to contact me. You think I'm beautiful, funny, but most of all, intelligent, and want nothing more than the opportunity to converse briefly with me. So far, so good. The problem/pitch is you lost your Visa/have this flourishing business, and you need help. With just a lil of my hard earned $$$, you can return to the US/ensure that your US business interests are being properly handled. Riiigghhht. I'm intelligent remember? So yeah, I'm gonna go for this...

  • The Gen Y-ers:: The Chaos is 20 yrs old. Anyone within ±10 yrs of her age should know that I ain't taking note of anyone who could possibly look at both saga & the Chaos cross-eyed, like "I'd do either one of them". See the maintenance applicant above for more information.

  • the maintenance dude, who violated rule #3 on List 2. 'Nuff Said.

  • JC:: I refuse to talk about his a$$ again, on the grounds that it may incriminate me.

  • The friend I should never have gone there with. I hate when I'm right sometimes.

  • The rest:: the wildly anti-fashionable, marginally employed, gold-teethed, baby-mama-dramatic, artists-lovers-geeks-etc that end up being juggler's balls, substance-abusive, sex-addicted, horrible poets... WAIT. STOP.

  • I'm interrupting this rant/list for an important public service announcement. This message goes out to all those amateur poets, bathroom laureates, and aspiring bards in cyberspace. Brothers, if you are moved to write poetry to a stranger, please - I implore you - MAKE SURE YOU LET SOMEONE ELSE PROOF IT BEFORE YOU SEND IT. DON'T FALL BY THE WAYSIDE AS THIS ASPIRING WRITER DID. WARNING: HORRIBLE POETRY (unedited) FOLLOWS:
    Peanut..

    Size.

    Does it really Matter?

    Is Skippy better than Jiff., more Pea ?nuttier.

    Why are jars hard to open when you just want to get to the peanut butter.
    Then theirs crunchy.. thru the crunchiest, too many ! Nut?s {COUNT}
    how many brands are there! Now tell me your favored

    Peanut butter! Hay?

    Note: I have no earthly idea WTF this was about. However, I did sarcastically email this dude, and created an analogy between Peanut Butter, and African-American love being oppressed (ground like PB) by this capitalist culture and 'The Man'. The Peanut Butter dude claimed "I got what he was trying to say". I don't know what was scarier - the poem, or the dude. Ok, back to the rant.
  • Any guy throwing his d&*^ at me. For the record: ANY WOMAN WORTH HER SALT CAN GET SOME D&*^ WHENVER SHE F$#%ING FEELS LIKE IT. SHE CAN WALK OUT HER DOOR, AND SHOUT "I'M HORNY" AND D&*^ WILL MAGICALLY FALL OUTTA THE SKY AT HER FEET. THEREFORE, AND FURTHERMORE, THERE IS TRULY NO SUCH THING AS A WOMAN DESPERATE FOR SEX. SO NOT NA'AN AND NA'ARY A ONE OF YOU ARE DOING ANY WOMAN A FAVOR BY OFFERING TO F$#@ HER.



<rubbing my earlobes & chanting>WOO-M&*$@-F$#%ING-SA

Whew. I don't know if it's PMS, DMS or POMS (pre, during or post MS), but that felt dayum good. Now that I've gotten that out, maybe I can clear my dance card, and start out the New Year fresh. Sans brothers. Love y'all, but (save 2 notable exceptions, who are nowhere near my immediate vicinity) you're all getting on my nerves.

My lovelife needs a colonic.

insomnia & the anti-dating moan

I'm seriously thinking about giving up dating in the new year, and this is just one example of why...sorry, but i didn't want to edit anything this guy wrote - long post...

golfdude (2:22:18 AM): hi
saga_30311 (2:22:23 AM): hey
golfdude (2:22:41 AM): u up pretty late...
saga_30311 (2:22:54 AM): so r u
golfdude (2:23:00 AM): yeah...nite owl
saga_30311 (2:23:46 AM): insomnia?
golfdude (2:24:07 AM): a lil...mostly just bored...
saga_30311(2:25:21 AM): i hear u
golfdude (2:25:23 AM): no pic of you?
saga_30311<(2:25:30 AM): pic of me?
golfdude (2:25:31 AM): so are you in atlanta?
saga_30311 (2:25:34 AM): yes
golfdude (2:25:50 AM): we haven't chatted much so I need to get "reacquainted"
saga_30311 (2:26:04 AM): ah - ok
saga_30311 (2:27:23 AM): (link to my picture)
golfdude (2:27:26 AM): my name is elisha
saga_30311 (2:27:34 AM): XXXXX - nice to meet u
golfdude (2:27:41 AM): u2...what is that link?
saga_30311 (2:28:03 AM): think it's the link to my pic on BV
golfdude (2:28:26 AM): cute pic...how tall are you?
saga_30311(2:28:41 AM): 5'8"
golfdude (2:28:45 AM): :x
golfdude (2:28:48 AM): kids?
saga_30311 (2:29:07 AM): 2, but only one lives with me
saga_30311(2:29:11 AM): the other one is grown
golfdude (2:29:14 AM): k
saga_30311 (2:29:18 AM): u?
golfdude (2:29:18 AM): how old are you?
golfdude (2:29:20 AM): none
saga_30311 (2:29:28 AM): 38
golfdude (2:29:41 AM): guess you won't be having anymore kids huh
saga_30311 (2:30:14 AM): hm...the jury's out on that one
golfdude (2:30:21 AM): so what part of atlanta are you in? i'm on the conley/ellenwood area
saga_30311 (2:30:34 AM): since i'm still single, that's doubtful
saga_30311 (2:30:45 AM): i actually live in atlanta, near spelman
golfdude (2:30:55 AM): k
golfdude (2:31:09 AM): i'm like 12 miles from downtown...
saga_30311 (2:31:48 AM): conley/ellenwood is where/
saga_30311 (2:31:49 AM): ?
golfdude (2:31:55 AM): south atlanta
saga_30311 (2:32:01 AM): think i got lost & ended up there once
golfdude (2:32:05 AM): lol
saga_30311 (2:32:17 AM): it's like east of jonesboro?
golfdude (2:32:42 AM): yep
saga_30311 (2:32:45 AM): ok
saga_30311 (2:33:07 AM): so, how old r u?
golfdude (2:33:11 AM): 36
saga_30311 (2:33:36 AM): and u're trying to settle down & have kids (given the "right" person)?
saga_30311 (2:33:42 AM): how tall r u?
golfdude (2:34:03 AM): 6'
golfdude (2:34:16 AM): and yes that would be nice...but only ONE kid...lol
saga_30311 (2:34:21 AM): lol
saga_30311 (2:34:28 AM): u want a boy?
golfdude (2:34:44 AM): naw just healthy
saga_30311 (2:34:46 AM): ok
saga_30311 (2:34:59 AM): so, what do u do?
golfdude (2:34:59 AM): r u from atlanta?
golfdude (2:35:05 AM): IT like yourself...
saga_30311 (2:35:08 AM): no, from ________?
golfdude (2:35:40 AM): Helpdesk, DB & Web Administrator
saga_30311 (2:35:54 AM): lol - 'scuse the questionmark - I'm from ________
saga_30311 (2:35:55 AM): ok
OK, benign so far, right? Here's where the conversation takes some sordid turn:
saga_30311 (2:36:04 AM): where do u work?
golfdude (2:36:11 AM): buckhead
saga_30311 (2:36:32 AM): er, what company?
golfdude (2:36:44 AM): y
golfdude (2:37:00 AM): you won't know who it is if i told you and that really isnt' important
Ok, I gotta admit - this made me a lil salty. In my mind, I was really like CTFU dude, it's not that serious. But, I was willing to give the brother a lil more rope...
golfdude (2:39:18 AM): u there?
saga_30311 (2:39:26 AM): yes
golfdude (2:39:39 AM): cat got your tongue...
saga_30311 (2:39:44 AM): no
golfdude (2:40:59 AM): oh...u didn't say anything after my last answer...don't get offended, I just dont think that's "appropriate"...seems like sisters here worry and ask questions that don't have anything to do with gettign to know someone, mroe like trying to size up someone's financial earning potential...
...and right here he hung himself. So, by now I've not only lost the little interest I had, but I've been generalized...nice...
saga_30311 (2:41:53 AM): honestly, I was just making conversation, since i make good money myself - kinda like u asking where i'm from, which has little bearing since i live in atlanta now
golfdude (2:42:00 AM): no
golfdude (2:43:14 AM): askign where you are from is totally different than asking someone what company they work for...if you asked any man that he would say the same...but then again, everyone here is "caught up" on status
saga_30311 (2:43:51 AM): hm...hate being generalized....
saga_30311 (2:44:16 AM): and I would think, that since we're both in IT, that u could see I'm trying to establish common ground
saga_30311 (2:44:23 AM): obviously that's a prob
golfdude (2:44:31 AM): sry about that , but when so many sisters do the same thing it "ruins" it for those who may sincerely want to know something...
golfdude (2:44:36 AM): OK...that's true
saga_30311 (2:44:48 AM): don't worry about it though
golfdude (2:44:51 AM): but my company has NO bearing on a compatibility
Who said a f&*%ing thing about compatibility? Jeez - u chat with a dude, and he's assessing compatibility, based on an IM session? That's not at all like a sister determing earning capacity based on where a guy works, right? Anywayz
golfdude (2:45:01 AM): situation
golfdude (2:45:47 AM): talk about what YOU do...I didn't hear you say anything about what YOU do..just you work in IT :-?
saga_30311 (2:45:57 AM): u never asked
golfdude (2:46:26 AM): dont' have to...if I told you the YOU should have automatically reciprocated if you are trying to establish some sort of "compatibility"
...and now I'm found 'wanting'. I would've gone off, but it would've been a waste of energy...
saga_30311 (2:47:29 AM): for the record, i'm a java developer, but I've also done graphic design & web development work
golfdude (2:47:48 AM): well XXXXX (note he managed to spell it wrong), i'm about to head out...i'm about to fall asleep at the keyboard....lol
golfdude (2:47:54 AM): cool...
saga_30311 (2:47:54 AM): u seem a lil, er - sensitive about the whole work issue
golfdude (2:47:58 AM): no
golfdude (2:48:02 AM): i'm not like that at all
golfdude (2:48:10 AM): but i do have my limits...
saga_30311 (2:48:13 AM): like u've dated one too many gold digger
golfdude (2:48:50 AM): no, i dont' date gold diggers
golfdude (2:49:04 AM): i just dont get into that line of questioning
saga_30311 (2:49:17 AM): er, yeah....riiiiiggghht
Note:: my sarcasm here eludes him...
golfdude (2:49:27 AM): of the where you work, how much you make, what do you drive, do you own your own home
saga_30311 (2:50:00 AM): ok, isn't that presumptuous?
golfdude (2:50:02 AM): to me initially its none of someone's business
....kinda like how many kids u have, where u live, and where you're from, right?
golfdude (2:50:08 AM): no...
golfdude (2:50:33 AM): cause fi you get that initial answer, you'll ask the others...
saga_30311 (2:50:54 AM): again, that's a false assumption
golfdude (2:50:54 AM): maybe not YOU, but it happens...just see it like this...I just dont' like discussing that stuff
...kthxbi...
saga_30311 (2:50:59 AM): ok
saga_30311 (2:51:02 AM): g'nite


Exception? Unfortunately no...unmarried dudes over 30 with this kinda paranoia aren't all that rare. I was just too damn tired to check him (but not too tired to blog about it...lol). Methinks it's time for some time off...

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Pay it Forward

Before I even begin, let me state for the record that This jem is not mine. I subscribe to this newsletter, Atlanta Lowdown, which will eventually also be found here and one of their writers, Kinetic wrote this, and it touched my heart. Haven't seen the movie, but the idea is moving, IMHO. If you're also feeling it - let Kinetic know. Here are Kinetic's thoughts (with his permission) about Paying it Forward this holiday season:

Pay it Forward

Back in 2000, a relatively obscure movie, featuring Haley Joel Osment (that creepy kid in “The Sixth Sense”), Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt in a bad wig came out. It was called “Pay It Forward.” I, along with most of America saw fit to wait to see this gem when I was trapped on a plane to some erstwhile destination. The thing is, the movie was really good – from the acting, to the concept developed in the plot. The principle idea of the movie being that people do something completely and utterly selfless for a complete stranger, with the only requirement of the beneficiary, being that they pass on some goodwill and/or good fortune to another complete stranger. The great part was that the nature of the act made it contagious. I think about this because of the holiday season.

Enough has been written about Christmas, (C)Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even Festivus (for all you Seinfeld fans) about materialism and missing the true spirit of the season, so I won’t bore you, LD Fam with that kind of talk. This weekend, I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Bertice Berry speak about not only forgiving those that may have wronged you, but also going one step further and even blessing them in deed. Now, the dark side of Kinetic does make it quite hard to turn any cheek for the good of my soul or man, but somehow (maybe the season), the words resonated a little more this time. Taking it beyond that, I thought why not use the season to “pay it forward”, what ever “it” was. This includes the person that held the door for you, Jesus being born to give his life for you, or the bartender recognizing you without having to have your head on fire.

During this time of year, it’s easy to display generosity, primarily because you are doing it for the people you know, the liquor that got dropped in the egg nog (heads up to the Hennessey/Martel Fam reading this) and the fact that you have some pretty good idea that reciprocity is just a tree away. You even can work hard to find that perfect gift for a loved one, based on some obscure comment they’ve made or thing you know about them. My challenge to you is to figure out how to do something selfless on a much bigger scale than dropping dimes to the Salvation Army people, wherever they are allowed to stand this year. This is beyond the Hosea Help the Homeless, even though time spent there is worth your weight in platinum. Here is the level by which you can do this: think of doing something for yourself. Whatever that is, whether buying some really nice thing, spending private time – whatever – then, try to actually do something on that level for a complete stranger.

And once you do it – and this is key – keep it to yourself. The level of satisfaction that you’ll get from an unsolicited, undocumented act of confidence is enough to fuel all the homes in the SWATs for the Christmas season. We’ll all know when this kind of generosity, particularly in our community, becomes commonplace.


ok, now all of y'all go out & pay something. I'm out - I need to go get my true Holiday spirit out of layaway myself ;-)

Monday, December 13, 2004

the weekend, chaotic

chaos - the legendary
no, not that kinda chaos - my daughter silly - what were u thinking?

From kb's
Bakers Dozen c/o ej.


  1. anti-studied:: in anticipation of my remaining final, I watched reruns of Law & Order, and reality shows. I even squeezed in an episode of Drawn Together, which is almost illegal to watch - it's so hilariously un-PC. No cracking of books, no reviewing of notes. If I got an F, I surely earned it...

  2. ...took the final - wasn't bad...but again...I barely care. I did figure out why I'm apathetic though. My grad school is forcing incoming students to take some basic business courses, to ensure that we're all on the same page. The problem for me is that I did my undergrad at the SAME SCHOOL - so this is just a boring review for me (did this in undergrad) - that's involving WAY too much work. I mean, we did a group project, 45 page business analysis - got an A+, but I mean dayum - this course isn't even a full credit course. Too much work, for too little return. We're business school students - that's gotta be the first rule of business, to look out for the ROI...

  3. the chaos begins:: she called me during the finals, with free tickets to see Topdog, Underdog starring Kes Khemnu & Joe Wilson Jr. It was a powerful perfomance, and the critics called it 'horrific' - but it refers more to the disturbing nature of the play, than the performance. It was tight.

  4. Resisted the urge to jump all ova Kes Khemnu as he was leaving the theater. I love big teddy bear guys, and he's a big teddy bear hottie - even in sweats. I think I'll make him my new favorite hottie...dayum...izzat a ring I see glinting on his left hand? dayum.

  5. Dinner at City Garden with the Chaos, Shani and me - I love the way progressive sistas think, and my child, as well as her friends, are progressive. Very interesting convo about homebuying in Atlanta, community building & gentrification. It takes a village y'all...

  6. the chaos continues with Ocean's Four?:: we then meet Diva at the theater to catch Ocean's Twelve. It was cool - but no, I ain't giving out any spoilers.

  7. I run into one of Hammy's teachers on the way out, and we have a disturbing convo about his after-school program. The thing is: the daycare/afterschool care thing is a hustle just like any other hustle around, and some folks (school admins perhaps?) use this to their advantage. I may have to find Hammy another program.

  8. ...finally pass out around 12ish...just to get up early, make breakfast &...

  9. meet Chaos for househunting:: see, my baby knows me better than the realtor, my colleagues, and my friends. I show her the houses I'm considering, and she gives me the exact type of feedback I normally give out. She kicks a$$. I run the Chaos to death, until she has a headache. By now, I've got it narrowed down to 3 subdivisions.

  10. the chaos ends with...:: us (the Chaos, Hammy & I) having dinner , courtesy of the Chaos. Wow - it's been a year since we did family time just us 3. It felt good. Dayum good.

  11. get home late and find a note from the Evil Apartment Manager, dated 12/10 that we're being fumigated 12/13, and that all kitchen & bathroom cabinets need to be emptied, barring a fine. Great. I spend the next hour emptying & cleaning - I can't WAIT to buy my house...ugh.

  12. the pre-Holiday Office Party#2 prep:: I haven't mentioned Party#1 yet, have I? Hm..another post. Meanwhile, I'm making enough of the deadly mac & cheese to feed 30 people. Taking Hammy with me to this one, this should be interesting...



I'se exhausted - and Holiday Office Party#2 is this evening at the boss's crib, followed by Holiday Office Party#3 tomorrow afternoon. Lucy, you got some catchin' up to do...

On another note - I LOVE Chaos. Love her. She's hyper-intelligent, compassionate, beautiful, engaging, analytical, charming, empathetic, strongly convicted, an excellent judge of character - she's just the shiznit. Hm, I wonder where she gets it from....

Saturday, December 11, 2004

saga, cubed?

saga cubed is a scary thang.

Thanks to, lesseee: Trinity -> KB -> EJ / ToddKelley / Honey
...so barring the threat of death, here goes:

Three names you go by:
  1. Ms. L_______ (y'all ain't getting the last name)

  2. L______ (yes, my initials are LL, but y'all ain't getting the first name either)

  3. mommy


Three screennames you have:

  1. saga*30311 (insert either _, - or nothing for *)


  2. debaucherie (she's very bad)


  3. l_l______ (told ya, y'all ain't getting that...)



Three things you like about yourself:

  1. my sincerity


  2. my intelligence


  3. my passion



Three things you hate/dislike about yourself:

  1. the body


  2. my sensitivity - sometimes too much


  3. my pack-rattiness: yes, this IS a word



Three parts of your heritage:

  1. african-american


  2. native-american


  3. WASP? the last name indicates English - you figure it out ;-)



Three things that scare you:

  1. ALL bugs - even ladybugs


  2. rodents


  3. mediocrity



Three of your everyday essentials:

  1. frou-frou tea/coffee


  2. this d^&% computer


  3. frou-frou body smell-goods



Three things you are wearing right now:

  1. nightgown


  2. diamond earrings


  3. a scunci - which means that the fashion police are looking for me...lol



Three of your favorite bands/artists (at the moment):

  1. Jill Scott


  2. Nas


  3. Bilal



Three of your favorite songs at present:

  1. "New York" - Ja Rule, Fat Loe, Jadakiss


  2. "Green Eyes" - Erykah Badu


  3. "Free" - Jill Scott



Three new things you want to try in the next 12 months:

  1. Home ownership


  2. Financial empowerment


  3. Self-Employment



Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given):

  1. Honesty


  2. Passion


  3. Admiration



Two truths and a lie:

  1. I have a pretty decent fashion sense


  2. I have a terrible sweet tooth.


  3. I finished this on Friday like I was 'posed to.



Three physical things about the opposite sex (or same) that appeal to you:

  1. Broad shoulders


  2. Eyes


  3. long legs



Three things you just can't do:

  1. bowl. ever. period.


  2. eat chitlins (pig feet, tripe, mountain oysters - yech)


  3. play cards without second-guessing my play



Three of your favorite hobbies:

  1. sewing


  2. singing


  3. writing



Three things you want to do really badly right now:

  1. visit NY (Houston, LA, Chi, TO...)


  2. make out -& not make whoopee


  3. share a meal & interesting convo with E, EJ, Prime, Mia, Diva, SG, the Chaos, Karsh, Intellifreak, Elle, TBNY, Heru and the Indian hottie. It could happen...



Three careers you're considering:

  1. java warrior princess


  2. stylist/personal shopper/fashionista (police)


  3. professional layabout/homemaker



Three places you want to go on vacation:

  1. Puerto Rico


  2. Paris


  3. Africa



Three kids names: for either a boy or girl

  1. Jordan


  2. Christian(not 'cause of the religion)


  3. Brandon



Three things you want to do before you die:

  1. get married


  2. travel to Asia


  3. play on a beach with my grand-baby (not anytime soon mind you...)



Three people who have to take this quiz now or die painfully:

  1. heru


  2. elle


  3. karsh



aight, go forth & meme...evil grin

Friday, December 10, 2004

making a list...

Yanno, normally I don't have a prob picking out unusual, unchosen yet ultimately completely desirable gifts for my loved ones, as well as giving them some choices for me as well. However, with the house hunt fully engulfing my brain, I'm having trouble. Hammy has more toys than I can adequately pick up on the reg, the Chaos is grown, outta the house, and piling her own chips - so she can't pick anything out - what's a chick to do?

So, this is my attempt to spark my (and subsequently Chaos') train of thought. Chaos - girl, you betta ask for something, or get nothing....

  1. I'd like to be delicious

  2. or say ah - at N'seya that is. The My Body 3 package (body polish, massage & seaweed wrap) would do me justice. Or even just the back treatment would work.

  3. or get some Stargazer lilies, mini-Calla lilies or an Orchid - just because

  4. a Cashmere sweater'd be nice: either cowlneck in melon,or drapeneck in ruby or the cashmere halter in winter white

  5. too pricey? how about the cashmere wrap in walnut?

  6. still too pricey? ok, the pashmina wrap then. i'm partial to the rasberry, but pick a color you want to see me in. And birthday suit color is NOT an option. dang, I'm giving y'all options - geez.

  7. the tiffany bracelet: I'd like the Etoile, but we can work something out ;-)

  8. Fran's Spiced Macadamia Clusters - nuff 'said

  9. pre-housewarming? a Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel or West Elm Gift Card. I AM gonna get that house soon...

  10. sidekick, p910 or treo anyone?

  11. diamonds cash is a girl's best friend. specially when you know folks try to sub zirconia...lol

  12. add some love to my DVD collection - via Amazon so I can stop running Ocean's 11 to death

  13. Seven Jeans for bootylicious girls? No, not those - these 7 jeans aren't for all mankind, but they are for me. Make mine dark denim please...

  14. ipod, or...?



this is a prelim - I'll prolly add more later edit according to your suggestions. your suggestions plz....? Oh, er - and if u need my sizes or the mail addy, just email me at saga at Yahoo(dot)com

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

one final down...

legal final was tonight - and it was thorough. My favorite class to date, and it kicked my a$$... am too wiped out to type...afjkapp afnakru9230qnf......

be back lata....

oh, and someone needs to send a sista some flowers...candy...liquor...smell-good...SUMTHING for knockin' that 9 page sucka out the box: saga at Yahoo (dot) com

Monday, December 06, 2004

the weekend update: 12-6

From KB's
Bakers Dozen c/o ej.

  1. played hooky on Friday:: Frankly, being a single mom of a disabled child has those moments of excruciating stress - accompanied by the similarly leveled headache. I worked on school-related projects instead...

  2. skipped class:: I'm also over the grad school lust. I know I've whined about this before, but this problem is spiraling at this point. I'm just feeling put upon, lusting after a social life, and not wanting to bust my a$$ so my employer can ignore my efforts (they refuse to pay for grad school, and my raises have been negligible). I need to inspire myself to begin burning that candle at both ends again...

  3. touched base with JL instead of class:: This was overdue, but I'd been too busy to handle it. JL is FL's brother, my backup sitter, and repeated savior. He's intervened many times to resolve the child-support/visitation issue with FL, and he has also stepped in back-in-da-day to keep FL from trying to fly my head. I love him, even if we don't always see eye-to-eye...I feel an interracial dating jawn (the flip side of my diversity program) coming on...

  4. removed the pigs live here sign off of the sty. Now to clean it properly. I need a maid...

  5. more househunting...

  6. studied...and studied some more...and did some additional studying...

  7. rethought my dating diversity program:: entertained the thought of interracial/intercultural/intergenerational dating. If the brothers can date interracially/interculturally - women 10, 15, hell 20+ years younger - why can't we? Ok, maybe 20+ years is a bit much, but you hear me...

  8. hung out with Hammy:: my DS - we spent some quality time together, despite crappy weather and my finals.


  9. the blogger meet-up:: 5 of us beautiful people show up (and a coupla beautiful friends), although 10 of us confirmed. Happy (of course) to get to meet the folks that showed in person - Thank You for stopping by & hanging out... but a lil salty at those who confirmed and didn't show. I can't even hate on those that replied that they wouldn't make it, but c'mon - where are the rest of y'all at? And Awesomebods - I understand that something terribly important came up - but how you gonna come up with the idea, and not show repeatedly?

  10. more studying...

  11. ..vegetated briefly to get tuned up for The Wire.... wait..WHAT...WHAD'YA MEAN IT'LL RETURN NEXT WEEK, SO YOU CAN SHOW THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS???!!!! IS SAGA GONNA HAVE TO CHOKE A BICH?

  12. ..more studying, more vegetation....



you see a theme here?..study...vegetate...study...vegetate...subsequently saga is a dull & frustrated girl....hm...methinks I'll reduce the courseload next semester...

Sunday, December 05, 2004

how saga (went about) getting her groove back...

lame title - but semi-apt. warning: long post

ok, so since Mia did it, and Diva did it, I'm trying to be open to online dating, again. So I updated/added profiles to blackpeoplemeet.com, blacksinglesconnection.com, etc. I like BPM, because it lets you seach all over the world, and frankly I don't think I'm gonna find a sympatico in GA.

So, outta the blue I get these IM's from this dude. 27 years old, and Indian - from the country, not Native American.

Wait, let me digress for a moment. I LOVE black men. Love them. Love the way they smell, walk, talk, think, dress, vibe, see the world, taste - just LOVE them. Platonically, semi-platonically, brotherly, sensually, sexually, physically, mentally, emotionally - LOVE them. I've never "dated" outside the race (I had the feva once, but never even carried that through...), and didn't really have the inclination to. Until I heard from this dude on BPM.

What's amazing about the whole thing (IMHO anyway):: Dude has game. There is no PC translation for that - he's got his mojo/mack/whatever you want to call it down. cold. look:

saga30311:  that's cool
hipdudefromindia:  lol we are in the same field 
saga30311:  lol
hipdudefromindia:  many indian folks  cannot 
understand those who have ... grown out of the limitations and 
look at other culture women
saga30311:  yes, the ppl i work with....culture is very 
important to them
hipdudefromindia:  have u observed that?... 
hipdudefromindia: yeah..but well u know for me ... 
hipdudefromindia: i have grown over it ... its like I have made friends out of 
the closed culture ...  and i have been around white and 
black people more than indians
saga30311:  ok ... have u dated blk women b4?
hipdudefromindia:  I actually was in a relationship 
with a blk woman for 2 yrs
hipdudefromindia:  i prefer blk women really
saga30311:  really?
saga30311:  why?
hipdudefromindia:  I mean if i were to marry again, i 
would marry a blk woman ... coz they are lovely ... 
hipdudefromindia: they are more sensitive but 
stronger

Wait...he "gets" that? And acknowledges that it's a positive thing? Ok, now he's got my full & undivided...

hipdudefromindia:  they dont look down on other 
cultures... on the other hand, its the other 
cultures that has been bad to them
hipdudefromindia:  but u know..if i find my woman in 
the east coast. its definitely a plus
saga30311:  ok - u want to move out here?
hipdudefromindia:  sure...i would definitely
hipdudefromindia:  if we click very much yes
hipdudefromindia:  am i invited to the east coast?
saga30311:  maybe...like u said if we click....
hipdudefromindia:  lol i see a lot of caution in what u 
say          ..sure!
hipdudefromindia:  i just want u to relax..dont put too 
much thinking into the age thing or the culture thing
hipdudefromindia:  u know what..we all live for just a 
short time
hipdudefromindia:  and most of the problems we face
are only in our imagination ... just see me as a man ... nothing else

Now that's a gangsta-a$$ Marcus Graham - 'I-can't-breathe-without-you'-line if I've ever heard it. Seriously. But it worked on Halle, and it's (at least)got me thinking. Carry on, Indian dude...

hipdudefromindia:  do u love big ear rings..they look 
so good on u ...nice
saga30311:  and thank u
hipdudefromindia:  i like a woman who knows to 
dress well...not snobbish..but simple and 
good
hipdudefromindia:  hey and ur curly hair is charming...
hipdudefromindia: is it really curled or u curled it?
saga30311:  actually....in that pic it's curly and nappy....
hipdudefromindia:  lol ok          
saga30311:  r u familiar with nappy?
hipdudefromindia:  no not really...teach me baby
Me, thinking: baby? dayum
saga30311:  ok, u know how black women relax their
hair? I don't...my hair is in its natural texture...
saga30311: or sometimes press it straight
hipdudefromindia:  thats cool...but its hard to comb right
saga30311:  VERY hard...lol
hipdudefromindia:  i could be ur hairdresser          
saga30311:  lol - u'd be scared to do my hair....it's 
THICK
hipdudefromindia:  i would love to...can give u a nice head massage 
with shampoo...and then do ur hair
hipdudefromindia:  i love these challenges.. 

Ok, this nailed it. I have this weakness about my hair...love playing in it, and love when other folks play in it and he just played with my emotions on this one.

I could go on, but you get the feeling. Charming, flattering, sensitive...saying all the right things.

Ok, so a 27 year old indian dude though? I'm rethinking my own personal diversity program...lol.

Friday, December 03, 2004

the Atlanta Black Bloggers Meet...

ok, so I MEANT to post this, I dunno - 2 WEEKS AGO???? sheesh, I swear grad school is eroding my brain matter...

So, we're having a meet-up of the Atlanta Black Bloggers...(anyone is welcome...this originated from awesomebod's similarly named mailing list....)

Here's the information (pic's linked, but it may/may not work)::


Black Bloggers Meet-up
From: saga_30311
Location: Javaology
466 Edgewood Avenue,Atlanta,GA View Map
When: Sunday, December 5, 3:00pm
Phone: 404.223.3202 Javaology's number

Love to blog? Love to chat? Love Java? Then what better way to do all the things you love, than to meet-up!

We're going to try to get all the Black Bloggers of Atlanta together again, same time, same location - different day. Sunday, December 5th (after the Tryptophan has worn off, but before the holiday rush begins) come, meet & greet your fellow blogfolks at Javaology, at the corner of Edgewood & Boulevard. Bring your brain, bring your blog, bring your blog-friends, but mostly bring your beautiful self ;-)

p.s. Please add any Bloggers not shown on the list - Thanks!
p.p.s. Pictures WILL BE TAKEN - so start the beautification process as necessary...lol.



If anyone wants to be added to the invite, needs more information, etc - hit me at saga_30311@yahoo.com

Pictures WILL BE TAKEN - so start the beautification process!

Thursday, December 02, 2004

horizontal sweat...

i hesitated to write this in the wake of World Aids Day Support World AIDS Day..but after considering this repeatedly, thought it was more than appropriate...

vertical sweat
two bodies, intertwined, wet with sweat, chocolatey skin against chocolatey skin, rubbing, grinding, stroking, glistening against candlelight, no delineation between where one ends, and the other begins...

a sista is horny, yes. but also hungry for something more.

about a week ago, i tried to muster up some lust for someone. dialed thru my mental rolodex - nothing. scrolled thru some "popular images", trying to create some tension in the nether regions...

morris chestnut? uhn-uhn
boris kudjoe? nope - nothing
taye diggs? michael vick? allen rossum? d'angelo? ghostface killah? no
chi mcbride (who bears a strong resemblance to JC)? not even a quiver...

resigned, i figured I'd hit an it's Pat/Chris moment in my life, and that with my busy schedule that was normal. Renouncing the idea of the maintenance dude, and considering celibacy (or at least rechargeable batteries & a new 404 Girls video) as a viable option.

on another note, them chicks fronting like they're new to the game is really annoying in light of how quickly they end up having every orifice available filled, ok? but i digress...

Celibacy Now!...well, until Mia and Diva both turned up with boyfriends? that they met online? They're both beautiful, but I've had enuff of internet dating to last a lifetime.

until i met heru. And rethought the process.

see, what I'm hungry/horny for is not sex. not in the strictest sense. i miss intimacy. i-n-t-i-m-a-c-y. see, most people can neither distinguish nor draw similarities between the two, so let me tell u what it means to me.

it means long, slow kisses that last three days. it means breakfast, lunch, dinner, then maybe breakfast again, in bed. it means sending me wildflowers (not roses) just because i like them. it means cooking u spinach saute, because i know u like it. it means...

i like the taste of ur sweat-drenched skin, because i like u.
and we don't run to the bathroom 1st thing in the morning, because we know what kinda dragon breath each other has in the morning. we've smelled that before, remember. my bedhead is cute on me, and ur wrinkled clothes look perfect on u. it means ur thinking gets me hott, and my compassion turns u on. it means butterflies in pit of stomach, and lumps in throat. just because.

there was a time, when i was deeply in love with someone, before JC, and the FL drama, that I was in love with Sadat, and he was in love with me, that I was addicted to the smell of his armpits. i mean, he was much taller than i, so chances are when we slept together, i'd end up nose to pit in the morning. they never smelled bad to me, and even after him playing basketball - i'd love that smell. that's what it means to me...

it means that we have safe, passionate, unbridled, freaky a$$ sex, because that intense, drawn out orgasmic moment, drawn long and stretched over time as long as possible, when ugly faces are made, and our control is totally lost, is more important than me getting mine, before you get yours. the sum is greater than the individual parts.

it means building...more than an encounter...more than an episode...more than the immediacy of our selfish needs...it means investing enough time and effort to get to know a person to create anticipatory tension that makes u want.....more....

and for any brother that's trying to get at me, reading this, thinking "that's one freaky a$$ chick"...i get a lot damn freakier with time. trust me. oh that is SO sincere, but again i digress..

i am hungry for that, that more...wanting to connect with someone on more than a superficial level, for more than a day, or a long, drawn out one-night stand. i want to be in like.

...i want chocolatey, horizontal sweat...

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

World Aids Day, 2004

Support World AIDS Day

I would've loved to write my own personal story about this subject, but frankly I don't have one. However, the people listed below all do. Their stories are brave, touching, full of fire, and very important. Take a second & read one (actually, read several). Then ask yourself, what are you going to do.

Maurice Cherry's World AIDS Day.
BGB's Link, And Think. And Rethink.
Bejata's Women, Girls, HIV, and AIDS.
Bejata's Free to Be Me With HIV.
Rachel's World AIDS Day.
Keith Boykin's My Fire Shall Bring Life.
Anitra's World AIDS Day.

*Please note. Link And Think's site has not updated this year. For more information about today, check out World AIDS Day dot Org and Light to Unite.

..and again, ej - thanks. I'm out...I need to do, sumthin'...