I’ve been working loads since taking this job in Orlando. I haven’t had much time to write and I don’t feel like writing too much at the moment. The job could be a little bit more organized, but complaining never accomplishes much of anything so I’ll avoid doing that now. They fired Martha Mae – at least we are guessing they fired here as she left the office in a face full of tears and in the utmost hurry on Friday. We’re guessing she is going to become one of the costumed characters at the MGM studios now. Jojo’s Circus would be perfect for her. Tehe. She didn’t really seem to have it together and though I hate to see a person get fired I can’t tell you how much of a relief it was for everyone.

Was supposed to be in Louisiana this weekend, but that didn’t pan out. What sometimes seems like a good plan weekes before hand sometimes turns out not to be such a great plan when the time comes. Prior to saying I would go on the trip I didn’t have a job that consumed my entire day and sucked the living life out of me. I haven’t had some of the time I used to for writing and I really needed this weekend to get back to that. Actually I need every weekend for that. I won’t bother with this much more other than I feel bad for having to bail out on my friend at the last minute, but such is life.

Anywhoodle, here are some pictures that Slopfunkdust finally got to me!!! After years of begging for them and some others taken the other day.

DJ Blenda and myself. I’m looking pretty upset, though I’m all shits and giggles on the inside really. Jannus Landing, St. Pete., FL

I was taken hostage to take this picture with Mugabe. Bass player of Tribal Style and friend. Tastemakers @ New World Cafe. Ybor City, FL

Blenda, Mugabe and myself laughin.

Adrienne, Lisa’s bird and Danielle.

Turning my back from the mad photographer Slopfunkdust.

A lickle winin’ for the road.

David, Myself, Muna, and Kirstin – David’s girlfriend at his crib in Clearwater. Celebrating his bday.

David and his friend Noah outside.

Noah and David inside.

I think her name is Nikki and Kirstin wishing I would put the camera away.

Kristin, myself and Muna. Being silly.

Caught a little off guard here, but isn’t it funny how that little kid cheese real hard and show all your teeth smile doesn’t quite cut it when you are 23? Yeah – it’s pretty intense.

David and me looking like two negros from that episode of Leave it to Beaver that never aired.

Awww.. Look at Blenda looking innocent as can be. Tastemakers – Summer Jam at New World Cafe

Blenda looking okay and Adrienne looking not so okay.

Breakdown, don’t know that cat’s name, Divine, Blenda and Mugabe. Tastemakers – Summer Jam at New World.

Myself and Divino Justicio. I think that’s right?

Myself and Mugabe. I look weird again.

TK in the back drummin it up, Muthoni in the front keyin’ it up and the guitar player…I forget his name. Eeek!!!

Mugi on the bass.

Tribal Style! Gwaan Dem!

Tk sleeping on the job? Tehe, Actually this is just a bad picture.

Danielle w/ TS and Breakdown.

That’s all for the slideshow now. It’s time to tuck myself in.

Stay blessed folks!

A

I’m here on this secluded beach
No one else here, but me
Nothing in my thoughts
Everything in my prayers

Praying for a change
For the better in the least

Got me some books to do some reading
Cassettes to take it back
Hammond, Brown, Griffiths, Nancy, Marley and even Kitchner on some tracks
Got these things to entertain me
Though entertainment is what cast me away on this island of luxury
I’m a mental catastrophe

Praying for peace
Gonna arrive soon, I’m hoping you see

Chowing down on two day old Chinese food
Feels like two week old
Air-taxied from Taipei
But I fill my mouth
And eat it like it’s gold

Praying no MSG
I’m sick already, what does it matter to me

Yeah, I’m asking for a change
I know it’s gonna come
Because there’s no one else here
No one else here on this beach, but me
Nothing in my thoughts
Everything in my prayers

I’m here on this secluded beach.

A.Wilson

I really tried to write on Tuesday, but things came up like usual. I wanted to make it my special day to get down my thoughts, actions, and the blueprints for the better me. Eh.

I had to run some errands this morning. My mother knew my run to the bank was a lengthy one, but she didn’t bother asking what was wrong. She already knows. Funny thing too, the other woman slightly reprimanded me, while the teller at the bank left me with these final words:

Paradise is never perfect.

Go figure. In my current mood I may have even mistaken her some philosopher.

Oh and let me apologize as this entry is only going to get longer. I feel like tossing in the lyrics to the current sound track of my life, because they seem to know the way to say things better for me right now. But that’ll come shortly.

My currents projects include writing as usual. Even got some specialties brewing. And of course there is always the leisure writing, like xanga and IGOUGO. I even got a five star editor rating on my most recent stories on Trinidad at IGOUGO. J I took on a two month Production Assistant job at Disney. If you want to know all about it you can go to www.camplaureateinfo.com and see some details, though they may seem a little useless to you.

In brief, Laureate Education has spent a ton of money sending some of the most intelligent professors (big brains) and their families, from all over the world to Disney for Camp Laureate. Camp Laureate is an in studio production that will put panel discussions, interviews, lectures, and classroom scenarios onto the web for Walden University. We are expected to take 3,000 hours of footage in the next two months to be streamed on the web for higher learning.

My job will be to make sure the big brains are very happy and well taken care of during their stay, but my duties also include some very basic camera operating and acting as an A.D. So there is a lot of responsibility built into the position as well as a lot of fun that can take place over the summer. The hours are intense as so much footage has to be taken and I’ll more than likely be working 10-12 hour days with my three hour combined commute to Orlando everyday and back. That means I’m going into work and sleep mode and my weekends will have to be used for writing.

It’s a pretty cool job despite the commute, no one twisted my arm and said – “Hey, you have to do this!” And from the very first day I stepped into the studio and started chatting with so many like-minded individuals, I felt relieved. So if you have the chance and really want to know what’s happening with me, again the website will be your best way to check it out. I won’t be very chatty over the next two months.

Hmmm… Everything else is a little more personal and private than I really would like to talk about. I would like to roll the words around on my tongue a little longer, before letting them spew out like uncontrollable baby regurgitation. That was dumb. First thing that came to mind though – so I won’t edit it this time.

I guess I’m going to start on this lengthy process of song lyrics word for word.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been listening to a lot of Fiona Apple. I was trying to come up with a way to marry her. Not really, but she touched me (as always) and some of the things she said really hit the core, therefore I think Fiona gets the two tracks today that will go down in this entry.

A Mistake (Fiona Apple. Album: When The Pawn)

I’m gonna make a mistake-
I’m gonna do it on purpose
I’m gonna waste my time
Cuz, I’m full as a tick
And I’m scratching at the surface
And what I find is mine
And when the day is done, and I look back
And the fact is I had fun, fumbling around
All the advice I shunned, and I ran
Where they told me not to run, but I sure
Had fun, so
I’m gonna fuck it up again
I’m gonna do another detour
Unpave my path
And if you wanna make sense
Whatcha looking at me for
I’m no good at math
And when I find my way back
The fact is I just may stay, or I may not
I’ve acquired quite a taste
For a well-made mistake
I wanna mistake why can’t I make a mistake?
I’m always doing what I think I should
Almost always doing everybody good
Why-
Do I wanna do right, of course but
Do I really wanna feel forced to
Answer you, hell no
I’ve acquired a taste
For a well-made mistake, I wanna
Make a mistake, why can’t I make a mistake
I’m always doing what I think I should
Almost always doing everybody good
Why-

I Know (Fiona Apple. Album: When The Pawn)

So be it, I’m your crowbar
If that’s what I am so far
Until you get out of this mess
And I will pretend
That I don’t know of your sins
Until you are ready to confess
But all the time, all the time
I’ll know, I’ll know
And you can use my skin
To bury secrets in
And I will settle you down
And at my own suggestion,
I will ask no questions
While I do my thing in the background
But all the time, all the time
I’ll know, I’ll know
Baby- I can’t help you out, while she’s still around
So for the time being, I’m being patient
And amidst this bitterness
If you’ll just consider this-even if it don’t make sense
All the time-give it time
And when the crowd becomes your burden
And you’ve early closed your curtains,
I’ll wait by the backstage door
While you try to find the lines to speak your mind
And pry it open, hoping for an encore
And if it gets to late, for me to wait
For you to find you love me, and tell me so
It’s ok, don’t need to say it.

So many Bjork tracks to choose from, but this one always, always has been my favorite. It’s so sensual, playful, calming, and filled with the ups and downs of a relationship you just gotta break away from. So it has also been in constant rotation.

Possibly Maybe (Bjork. Albums: Post, Greatest Hits)

Your flirt finds me out
Teases the crack in me
Smittens me with hope

Possibly maybe probably love
As much as I definitely enjoy solitude
I wouldn’t mind perhaps
Spending little time with you
Sometimes
Sometimes

Possibly maybe probably love

Uncertainty excites me
Baby
Who knows what’s going to happen?
Lottery or car crash
Or you’ll join a cult

Possibly maybe probably love

Mon petit Vulcan
You’re eruptions and disasters
I keep calm
Admiring the lava
I keep calm

Possibly maybe probably love

Electric shocks?
I love them!
With you – a dozen a day
But after a while I wonder
Where’s that love you promised me?

Possibly maybe probably love

How can you offer me love like that?
My heart is burned
How can you offer me love me like that?
I’m exhausted
Leave me alone

Possibly maybe probably love

Since we broke up
I’m using lipstick again
I’ll suck my tongue
As a remembrance of you…

More later….

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Who is this girl?
Who is this girl?
Who is this girl?

No beats, no drums, no bass lines.

I don’t know how to put it best, but it’s been a rough and enlightening four day weekend for myself. It feels good to write a little and let go. I managed to lift another candle off my mother’s living room table. From my best guess I’d say it’s blueberry, but not the kind of overbearing scent to make you nauseous like the pie. This is the current set-up for this session.

My job decided to close up operations on Friday and give us all a four day weekend. I didn’t complain a bit though I would be losing a day on my pay check. I wanted to use the day to get some things done for myself and play catch up. Most of which didn’t get done because I was irresponsible, but I’ll get to the finer details later.

The previous night I had made a couple phone calls to see who would be interested in taking a field trip down to Miami with me. A close friend of mine was going to be down for the weekend out of Los Angeles and it only seemed appropriate to meet up if he was going to be on this very coast. After a couple of calls I managed to sell Chavonne on the idea of going down to party for one night and turning around to drive right back to Tampa. It’s crazy, I’m young, it’s a four hour drive and I’m all about road trips. Plus I was going to see my friend after all.

When the time arrived Chavonne and I rode off into the sunset (sounds cliche huh) and off to Miami. I was ready! Road trips are always good if you have a lot of catching up to do or even wish to reflect upon some of the events taking place in your life. Windows down and the wind hitting your face… Ahhh…I love it. So there Chavonne and I were chatting it up and keeping quiet when a good song came on from one of the CD’s I was playing. I sped most of the way and made it to Miami in a clean four hours, but couldn’t get a hold of my friend.

We had planned to meet at his hotel where we would then plan the rest of the evening. Or night, as at this point it was 10 PM. It took three to four more phone calls before he answered and came crawling down out of his room. While we were waiting though Chavonne and I were surprised to find the hotel lobby packed the way it was. We’d never seen so many black men. Correction – good looking black men in our lives and as the night went on the numbers increased.

My friend wrapped his arms around me in and like a scene from Frailty I could feel all of the previous night and day’s vacation debauchery squeeze my limbs too. His eyes wore a soft rouge color, but his smile was devious and illuminated the entire lobby. All he could seem to chime was the words, “Don’t be mad, don’t be mad.” Why should I be mad? He only had us waiting for five minutes and it was his vacation. I certainly did not wish to intrude. Besides, I’m no saint myself. But he was out of it… He hugged Chavonne and grabbed our hands and we strolled through the lobby. He also kissed the open space on my back, which really led me to believe he was f’d up! How I heart being sober sometimes.

It took sometime for the boys to prepare so his cousin took us to McDonald’s where in Miami everything is in espanol. Felt like Cuba or something. Really gotta brush up on the lingo to travel in the U.S. sometimes. Then back to the hotel we went to eat as eyes watched the somewhat out of place girls we had become. Alas the gang was ready and to the club we went.

Now before we departed my friend managed to stir up some other words of conversation. First question:

My Friend: How do you feel about it?

Adrienne: About what?

My Friend: Niggas.

Adrienne: Uh… Laughs.

But when we got back into the car we were back to the first couple lines we were greeted with, “Don’t be mad, Don’t be mad.” I wasn’t mad though he had poured a decent amount of Hennessy on my skirt and we hadn’t made it to the club. Luckily it didn’t stain, because I would have had to kick his sober ass later on. We made it to the club safely and waited in the lengthy line to get inside. It seemed bit overpriced, but with the holiday weekend places will find ways to exploit you and overcharging is one of them. One of the fellas we were with happens to be an assistant to Debbie Allen and told us a couple of funny stories. One of which I learned anew vocabulary word or slang as that may be more accurate. “The Kids.” So here on out I may refer to some folks as “The Kids.”

By the time we made it inside the club was already hot and packed with boys, boys, boys, boys. It could have been a paradise for a woman like myself, but none of them were interested. Oh well! Time to dance. We escorted ourselves to the dance floor where popping it like it’s hot turned many a head the other way and even garnered some laughter. Sorry…

The night basically went on this way for hours. Everyone had split up, but Chavonne and I stayed close. We didn’t need any Divas rushing up on us as we had encountered in the lobby earlier that night. We danced and worked up a sweat, but then we became a little tired. One of the guys we were with swooped us up in efforts to re-ignite our night and lured us closer to the stage where there were a bunch of men. Uh, naked men. Dancing and doing things I felt my eyes should not have been witness to. But like a three year old I was fixated and disturbed, but too disturbed to move. My amiga was feeling the same, but again we were glued. And I’m not sure if it’s accurate to say so, but I guess we were sinning or who was sinning? There was a lot of sinning going. I hate that word. It’s such a harsh three letter word. S-I-N. I’m not talking about men with men or women with women, but I’m talking about deceit and secrets. Can secrets be sins too?

After I thought about my friends question from earlier I didn’t know how I felt about it. There were indeed a lot of niggas in the building . And of course many would surprise you if they came up to you on the street and slapped a guys ass or something. No, they don’t look liberal. They were fine and you know they had some tender young thang at home. A nice girl friend to keep their secret lives under wraps and a level of normalcy. perhaps to appease mum or dad. Or a grandmother who refused to believe her baby boy would ever be interested in a man. Were some of “the kids” possibly the downlow brothers Oprah had put on blast or whoever that author was? Hmm.. I had to arise an eyebrow and wonder just who was out and who was in? Because I wouldn’t buy it if someone said 75% of that place was out. But then again what concerns or stress does this put on my life. None really,… It was just something to think about when the lights started flashing and one could get a real clear view of some of the madness taking place inside.

The rest will stay in Miami as it wasn’t fully my trip to tale the tale, but I’ve told as much as I can from there and will pick up on the ride back home. It was hard. Chavonne and I nabbed only an hour of sleep before we headed back to Tampa at 6 AM. I started losing it in Alligator Alley and asked Chavonne to drive the rest of the way from Naples. We made it back safely and then I crashed again.

On the air mattress in my room that could use a good inflating. Of course.
In case you may have lost track, the day is now Saturday in this long weekend tale and I just crashed. But a few hours later I was back up. I had to be. I committed myself to a photo shoot for a guy that was looking to update some of his stock photos for submission to places like Getty Images and Corbis. Some of his work can be seen here though his site does need to be updated. www.stevenandres.com

I was tired and ill prepared for this shoot. I ran out of the house like a coke ridden whore dashing from a client to get to the next. (That either sounded really bad or really dramatic.) I had grabbed a couple of clothing changes, shoes and accessories should they be needed. I left the clothing hanging in my car and the rest packed in a suitcase.

The shoot went over well I believe, so I’ll spare you the boring details. Like he took one picture of my hand, the next of my face, a close-up, etc etc… yawns. Uh, Boring. We finished up in about three hours and I headed home.

I was beat, beat, beat. But I was too tired to rush up the stairs so I smacked my gums on some salty sunflower seeds in the parking lot before heading up. Ten minutes must had passed before I made the decision to get up, but when I did I knew I didn’t want to come back. I have a bad habit of packing my hands full even though two trips probably would have been the better idea. I took everything out of my car and last I remember, made it into the house.

I threw the clothes onto the chair and told myself I would nap for a little before getting up to write. Well I was out at 9:30 and my nap took me all the way into 5 AM. When something suddenly struck me. My suitcase wasn’t in my room and it wasn’t in the apartment. I threw on a robe and ran outside, to find of course that it wasn’t waiting for me to come pick it up out there either. Someone else probably had done me that favor. I retraced all the steps over and over in my head trying to remember where I had left the bag. And the two options are: I left it sitting by my car or I left it sitting outside my front door as I fumbled with my keys to get in.

I had been so tired that I misplaced my bag. So tired that I could leave it all the way downstairs by my car and the materials inside. I’m not counting on getting them back, but every pair of heels I own, and some pretty sentimental pieces of jewelry have all been misplaced. And these are just material things. I know, so I fret not.

I’m upset because somewhere in the process I’ve been misplacing myself, my soul, my body, my mind, and my time.

Who is she?
Who is she?
Who is she?

Because I don’t like the girl she’s beginning to be.

It being so early in the morning kept me from knocking on doors and searching the complex for the suitcase, but I did so when the sun came up and about 10 AM when people should sorta be up. No one knows anything. As one would suspect. But there is always hope I guess. Just have to be more careful in the future.

The rest of the day was a real downer. I stayed inside upset with everyone for being stupid and everything else between. Some folks tried to console me, but I realized it was better to just keep to myself. I tried to focus on writing (which did manage to get done), but faced some minor distractions from the boy my heart beats wildly for. He invited me out of the evening and after a session of yes, no, yes, no no… I stayed inside for the evening watched a DVD with my mom, worked on my scrapbook and then feel asleep around 9 or 10.

That concluded Sunday.
Toady was more on the upside. I woke up and threw on the new Common I had purchased. I’m really digging that Go song and Faithful and heck the whole damn CD is beautiful. I banged out a couple of applications for some jobs and proceeded to do some writing in between. Next CD that found it’s way into the player was M.I.A.

A couple of words on M.I.A. – FUCKIN’ HOT.

Sorry – the girl is super dope. Much of the last years hype I heard about her before buying the CD is well worth the hype. But your ears to the speaker folks because you may get it twisted for Gwen Stefani, but the girl has got something to say.

Yes, but I wrote some pretty good bits today if anyone cares to read any more please look for my works at Gadling. After tackling most of the writing I then started on one of the travel stories I have been working on about Trinidad for sometime. I should have that up and into the I Go U Go system by Wednesday. (Tomorrow is my last day of work so I should have a little time before the next job.)

My room is super steamy hot and the candle probably isn’t making it better so I’m going to speed things up some. On Saturday I had along conversation with my good bud Angel and she had mentioned seeing the movie Crash which is what my mother and I checked out this evening. A great, great, great film! You were so right Angel!!! First it had a great cast and so many inter woven pieces to such a well-written screenplay. Second it felt good watching a film based in Los Angeles and recognizing almost everything including the Farsi spoken by the Persian characters, the curry restaurant across the street from Natalie’s neighborhood and the guy on the bus with the huge mustache – who I’ve had a conversation with sometime ago. He’s missing some fingers I know that much. But an excellent film. If you have the opportunity do, and I do mean check it out.
That pretty much brings us up-to-date.

Some other points that I’ll bring to light is coming out of this slump and semi depression I’ve been hit with. Knowing the problem lies in having no goals to too many goals which boils down to unrealistic goals. So I have to return to my one and only original goal. More in depth later.

Then I’m also reading the Purpose Driven Life right now? Somehow I almost feel like I’m too out of wack to read the book now, but who reads stuff like that when everything is in place? I mean I don’t want the fact that I am out of wack to influence some of my decisions about the book, but overall I am enjoying it. I feel like it has helped.

My okay. I need to get up and complete the last day of work and in a functional manner. So I’ll excuse myself tonight xanga and promise again to write more. there is more to write about. Believe me!!!

Sayonara and g’nite.

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It’s been a looong time. Over a month now since we’ve talked and I’d like to say due to good cause, but the truth is there isn’t. Just been avoiding the keys, avoiding me, trying to keep up beat, etc.

Man, so what’s real huh? Before I recap on a months worth of events let me touch first on the weekend. Most wonderful weekend it was as I had the opportunity to celebrate my new year aka my birthday in the Bahamas! Mucho Mahalos out to Dayo for shipping me out to sea and tagging along for the weekend. I can’t say thanks enough.

What felt like a week long of events crammed into three days and two nights can be seen in the multiple photos below. To sum it up:

*I ate A LOT of food. A LOT! (Stomach is paying for some of those eats.)
*Danced tons!
*Copped a tan on the beach.
*Hung out with shady taxi driver’s.
*Kicked it on the West End of the Grand Bahamas. Nice Nice Nice!!!

But I’ll let the photos do the honors and post the stories at I Go U Go. So if you want details check out that site! www.igougo.com Look up Jalpari.

Around the resort.

Things found on a cruise ship & At the lovely Sheraton at our Lucaya. Freeport, Grand Bahama’s.

I’m in the Bahamas!!!! Yeah boi!

Adrienne and Dayo.

Go Shawty! It’s ya birthday! We gon’ par-tay like it’s ur birthday!

The birthday girl on her way out to bailar, whine, heel and toe, break a toe, whatever’s gwaan!

Lamp at Pisces Restaurant. Burger from Billy Joe’s on the Beach.

Plate One: Grio – Diced pork with a HOT & SPICY coleshaw concocotion doused on top. Side of coleslaw and plantains.
Plate Two: Jerk Chicken and Slaw.

Plate One: A clean plate.
Plate Two: So-so pizza from Pisces.

Plate One: Johnny Cake.
Dish One: Stewed Fish. Grouper to be exact and not quite my cup of tea. I’ll pass on the Bahamian breakfast next time.

Fruit Plate from the Caribbean Cafe.

Salads on the crusie.

Dinner on the cruise.
Plate One: Dayo’s Mahi-Mahi and some veggies.
Plate Two: Adrienne’s roast duckling and some veggies.

Dessert and more Johnny Cake of course.


I like it! I like it a lot!

The beach at the Lucayan National Park. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful aside from the huge rain cloud hovering above that, poured down for a moment. The water here was not only clear, but it was incredibly clean!

Rickety path to the secluded beach.

Waiting for the rain to stop. Yes, I take a lot of self-portraits.

Uh…

The lioness! Roar!

The rickety and lemme add shady bridge to the secluded beach.

The swamp, mangroves, mosquito hang out, etc.

See above.

Hurry, hurry…

Damn Sqitoes!

Mix up mi yoga wit mi tai-chi!

Tehe!

Hey boys!

The water was freezing!!!

She’s a maniac, MANIAC!

Grrr!

Guys like girls with skills. Check the skills boys!

The wig piece had to go last night on the ship. I couldn’t stand myself. Nothing beats acting like a jerk-off on a ship! America’s Next Top Model – Short Bus Edition.

Before I took off to the Carib, there wasn’t a whole lot shakin’. I’ve been temping at this office that bores me to tears. Last day is around the corner. I’ve been keeping the promo work going here and there on the weekends. But really wanting to get into a mobile marketing tour. Just for a moment, to grab some dough and go. You know?

Steady writing for gadling and going to start submitting work in other travel related spots.

As always hanging out around T-town with good people, seeing good shows, kicking rocks, planning my next escape… The usual. Here’s a few clips from over the last month.

First off, much much love to my boy Brook and his girl Briana who landed a nice little piece in the Fader last month. Right next to the Miles Davis article in case you slept on it, but on the real look out for J. Click here for an hour long interview with the duo if you have a chance.

Myself and Gary Bell. Had the opportunity to catch up when my very first boyfriend, Curtis was in town. Gary’s bro david used to irk the shit out of me, but Gary was always cool people.

Gotta a chance to check out a nice reggae show like always. Tribal Style set it off and then Third World followed. Niceness!!!

Myself and TK. One of the best drummers (from Tribal Style) on the planet Earth. Good beats, good heart, etc.

Myself, DJ Blenda, forgot her name, Lisa, and forgot his name at the Tribal Style show in St. Pete, FL. More niceness!!! And more to come!

Gotta run now peoples. But i’ll be back sooner than later, this time. Word!

One Love One Gyal…

Adrienne, Greta, and Jal…

Bless up!

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In short the weather was very beautiful. In fact, if the weather was always so nice I would consider living up there.

I had a very good time spending time with my dad and brother. I’m surprised my bro made it all week without his girlfriend, but it lookslike he enjoyed himself very much. The kid is very smart so a city like DC can feed him some good brain food.

Looks like I’ll have to return later to revamp this entry. My head is in so many places right now. For one I have a couple songs in my head that I can’t seem to get out.

One being – Color Me Badd’s – “I Wanna Sex U Up”

and the other being

“There’s some hoe’s in this house, there’s some hoe’s in this house.”

Hmm…

Anywho, enjoy the pictures!

Museum stuff, City stuff, Flower stuff.

I got so tired of seeing the Washington Monument! It was everywhere, so it seemed.

Some snazzy tourist shots of my bro. One at the Reflecting Pool and the other in front of Ben Franklin at the Old Post Office.

All the hype about Cherry Blossoms is well worth it and we made it just in time before they departed their ways with the city. Peter got real creative and thought he would take this shot tucked inside the flowers. I tried being a copy cat, but the results weren’t as fruitful. Instead it looked like the tree was attaching me and my afro. (Not shown here.) I was plucking cherry blossoms out of my hair for days.

A shot from a beautiful day in Baltimore and another taken later on of my father’s mistress. He’s crazy about that bike.

Our first day touring the city.

Peter in front of the White House.

Yours truly in front of the White House.

“Can we please pour some more liquors…” – Nas. One thing I thought about DC was all the history makes it kind of sad. It only seemed right to throw up the peace sign at the Reflecting Pool. After a week of war memorials scattered all over the city and finally watching Hotel Rwanda something started roaring inside of me.

Chilling at Robert E. Lee’s crib.

Me, Dad, Peter. B-more.

Brenda, Dad, Peter. B-more.

My dad and his Honda VTX 1800 N. I hope I got that right.

My friend Natasha made it down to say hello. She was out from Jerz and we decided to hit up a club. Yeah, uh…that’s that for now.

Night number two. Out again this time in DC at a spot called Anzu. This is DJ Eskimo hugged up Natasha. Cool riddims, but no Substitute Lover or Anarexol. Boo-hoo.

DJ Eskimo, Natasha, Moi.

Natasha, Alpha (from Sierra Leone), and Moi.

And then Tara came down too. We only kicked it for two hours or so. Spent most of that time lost in the city, but then we finally ended up at the Pentagon City Mall where we grabbed some Malay food. Yum… This is the best of a series of photos we took. I don’t know what was going on with my bro’s photography.

Another blurry pict of Tara and myself.

Yeah, drank too much, lost my hearing aid, found my hearing aid and hada whole lot of fun. Met Gill at the other bar/club, Anzu. He scared Natasha with his dancing, but I got him to calm down some. Nice guy.

Two feet whom on the ground, fallen Cherry Blossoms meet.

I’m out! Til’ we meet again folks.

Feeling sanguine about not being able to take definitive steps this very second
is about as likely as finding coconut palms at the North Pole. Still, this
isn’t to say that time spent considering the definitive steps that one will take
just as soon as they are supported (e.g., later in the week) would be time
misspent…
Today’s star rating: ***
Star Guide:
* Poor ** Negotiable *** Good **** Really Good ***** Stellar

Sawubona! pronounced (sow-bona) zulu for hello.

I’m not sure if it was last week’s American Idol performances (they sang songs from the 90′s and Nikko ripped Tevin Campbell’s out the frame) that triggered this need to hear good old 90′s music, but I took it back to 98′ this morning with two CD’s I had to dig out. Mind you these are not all time classics, but my ears desired the sounds of Destiny Child’s debut CD as well as Xscape’s, Traces of My Lipstick a.k.a their exit out of the game of girl groups.

Moving forward it’s a fresh new Monday afternoon, the time has changed and that means longer days. I’ve gotten some good good rest after a long weekend of pain and lack of sleep. Which I carefully unfold those details to you now, but in order for me to do just that I have to start back at Wednesday night when my weekend began.

Wednesday Night – March 30, 2005

Ah! America’s Next Top Model. I have to watch this before I go out on any Wednesday and this particular episode made me so upset, sad and scared for Michelle who was suffering for some funky skin breakout. Those witches (excuse my French) on their can be so cruel and I say that because many of them didn’t put themselves in poor Michelle’s shoes. God! If that were me I would have died from the very sight of my face breaking out like that. I’m happy Noelle got the boot this time.

So after a little being fired up by reality TV drama it was just about time to hit the streets and sing. I had managed to con a couple folks into going to Pornaoke with me.

(Pornaoke (n), Karaoke with Porn being displayed on a projection as one sings. (v) Singing cheesy pop hits to a shit ton of wham-bam thank you mam and chitty chitty bang bang in the background at a local dive bar.)

Kristin, David’s girlfriend who moved out here from Los Angeles and long time girlfriend Becky head over after meeting up at my spot for this new adventure and form of karaoke. I love karaoke, but this was going to be an experience for even myself. I think I was secretly just wanting to watch porn (sssh), but this porn was boring and actually a little bland and amaturish.

When we get to Pegasus Lounge it is totally a dive spot, which I was informed of before going. The crowd was rough for a karaoke group and their song selection very dark kill your mother type. You know the kids with all the black, goth like looks, piercings everywhere, a little clock work orangy or just plain edgy. I was digging it. One duo even screamed out, “This is for Terry Schiavo’s feeding tube!” Or something to that extent.

Becky and Kristin had already expressed not wanting to sing anything for the night, but I love karaoke and to go you must want to sing something!!! Ugh! I applaud them in any case for coming out because some folks won’t. Dayo made a short appearance and left quickly. It wasn’t his type of crowd for sure, but a small kudos for his seven minute stay. I wouldn’t ask anyone to put their health on the fritz either seeing there was a crap ton of smokers and little ventilation.

I had intended to sing Prince’s, “I Would Die For You” after years of searching for the right song to not get my ass kicked by the crowd. I was almost up when I told the guy to scratch me off and that me and my girlfriends were jetting out of the place. He clapped loudly and said, “Chickening out!!! Alright then!” That made me feel like crap because I usually don’t back down from the mic, but it was just no fun and Becky was ready to go to The Green Iguana.

So we leave. I call Muna who was heading down from Gainsville to hang out and told her the change of plans which she is still fine with so she heads over to the Green Iguana too. To make this long drawn out Wednesday night story shorter the Green Iguana was very under par. I really would need to go there again. Bland drunk folks and no real good dance mixes to get down on. Though Kristin, Muna, Becky and Myself did a considerable amount of dancing I didn’t even break a sweat. Poo!

Becky was really hoping I would enjoy her co-workers from the home Depot, but why would I? One gal she knew was also a 5th grade teacher with fake Ta-Ta’s so big Dave Chapelle would have had a fit. This other chick was making out with someone else as we walked in so we really didn’t get a formal introductions, but how can I like someone who comes to the club bringing so bull shat at work drama to the bar to bring somebody’s night down. Two wack thumbs down for that broad. Everyone else from the Depot was slightly normal.

Tis’ was the end of Wednesday night, but not mentally. Inside I was really missing old homies and partners in crime from Cali. Quar and Prince Harlem danced on my brain and I wished they had been there to bring the roof down on karaoke. To not care and blend in. I miss them so much. Our momma’s never knew and M&M never did get those candied yam’s, but kept the dead knat in the vinegar for the collard greens. It’s no wonder they won Steve Harvey’s hoodie awards. I set my boo-hoo’s aside for old compadre’s and went to bed. I didn’t know this would be the first night of sleep desparatly needed.

Prince Harlem, Myself, Muna, Quar at my old pad in Studio City. Such great times.

Thursday Morning / Afternoon – March 31, 2005

I forced myself to get up in the morning to do some writing for Gadling. I really wanted to make it to the Lowry Park Zoo with Muna and her niece Mia short for Timia (sp?). She had been talking about a trip there for sometime and I really wanted to go. I hadn’t been to a zoo in ages and wanted to seize this opportunity. I managed to get two blogs done and decided to get dressed and go.

The weather was slightly overcast, but it was still hot and sticky enough to make the animal smells cling all over you. There is not a whole lot to say about the zoo here with the exception of it being tons of fun and a great day trip. Using all my expertise on zoo’s and the countless times I’ve been to them I would have to say Lowry Park is one of the best around. So here is the photo journal portion of that day.

Giant killer goldfish on display at the zoo! So not…

You talkin’ to me?

Muna and Mia have made great friends with the bat and now they hang, sleep and eat upside down. Most spectacular.

My favorites. The lazy animals.

Pucker up!

Goats gone wild!!!! Baaa!!!!

Mia’s second photo appearance in the – Sike! Though you had a friend shot.

Two zebras play and catch a little nookie for the camera

So the girafffes are my favorites.

Mia looking up to something.

But assures me she is not.

Before the camel ride. I didn’t ride, but Mia enjoyed her first time I think.

Muna laughs as Mia bangs on the camel’s hump like a drum.

The camel’s name was Hank. Everybody meet Hank!

Go, Hank, Go!

The Southern American Bald Eagle just chillin’.

Deer’s suck! Hahahaha!

The snobby Flamingo’s. I swear they put them at the bottom of the Earth. It was hard taking a good picture of the birds.

Two turtles.

In the small aquarium part of the zoo. Look all those amazing underwater creatures! Is this what scuba diving is like?

A manatee plays belly up for the camera.

Now, what a cute little hairy mammal!

Feeding time!

And it’s so tasty!!!

Does Mia know there are huge aquatic creatures behind her? Does she care?

Some body quick – put on the Jaws soundtrack. Adrienne looks possessed.

I like this shot Muna. Very arty!

Fishy, fishy, fish…

A spooky turtle.

The sting rays.

And souvenir’s of course.

A worn out Mia.

Mia’s, I could be as cute as a teddy bear or as bad as an O.G. Right now I’m feeling like an O.G. so you might want to get that camera out my face. Capeesh?

On my way home I caught up with Monica out in California. She was at work, but managed to shed some light on a person who needs some light shedding on. We basically diagnosed someone I know as a passive-aggresive. And this makes so much sense now! I never heard that term before (well yeah and no), but my gosh! I would normally come out and put folks on blast, but due to the number of photos I began posting in my journal I will keep that name private as a number of people view my page. I have no problem with keeping things censored and private until further communicated.

After getting off the phone I checked my email real quick to find my editor, Erik Olsen over at Gadling was going to be doing some travelling this weekend and Judith had asked if I could could write more to accomadate him while he was out. This basically meant that I would have to write triple what I normally write, but I was cool with that. I love lending a helping hand. (If you wish to see some of the blogs for this time frame look at March 31-April 3. Most if not all those blogs will be mine. I state this as speople have a hrad time finding my posts on the site sometimes.) I then post a couple more blogs before getting ready to go out with D.

Thursday Night – March 31, 2005

Skipping past more boring details about writing, I get ready for the show. We were going to go see Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and I thought my grandmother’s Mr. Blackwell designer dress would be perfect. It is the same dress I wore to see a ‘Raisin in the Sun’ off-Broadway in NY last summer, and it commanded the crowd. Got tons of compliments which is nice and is an overall winner. The same happened that night.

I had mentioned to D that eating dinner before hand would work out best for me since I had to get home and write more for gadling, didn’t want to be up and wanted to try to get some sleep so I would work my 10 hour shift the next day. Besides I had only eaten a bag of sour patch kids and drank like three glasses of apple juice earlier that day. It is safe to say I was a little bit hungry, but I could put it off and I had to.

We left early enough to get something to eat, but headed to the box office to pick up the ticket for D’s buddy (we’ll call him that for now) that would be seeing the show as well. We wanted to meet him there so we could had off the ticket and grab some food. But there is nothing to eat around the TBPAC within walking distance and the show would start in about 35 minutes. By this time Prince A had showed up, D’s buddy from Nigeria with a deep sorta thick accent. (I’m not sure if that is the right way to say the name or not, but it is something like that.) He was a nice guy.

The show finally started and my was it a damn fine show. I had honestly never heard much of Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s work, but the sound they injected into your eardrums was just amazing South African sound that sent chills and goose bumps racing up my body. I recommend checking out a show if you have the opportunity. Their harmonizing and soothing voices almost put me at a sleep-like ease and I had only had four hours the night before.

Somewhere during the show though I started thinking about all the stuff I needed to do when I got home in order to get ready for work and do work. Luckily it was toward the end and the beautiful show was over.

Now the game plan would be to get some food. It was a little late and many of the places D and I had considered earlier were closed for the night. I didn’t really want to think hard about what I wanted as I just wanted to eat and go home. After concert socializing was a big no-no for me. Prince A mentioned eating at Churches Chicken which was fine anything was fine. He is the DM of the southeastern Churches’ and so that was groovy. Let’s go!

On our way to Churches’ we start heading through a bad part of Tampa off of Nebraska. D and I are following Prince A, who is from ATL and doesn’t know the area too hot, but we pull up to a Churches’ and I feel relieved. Sure it’s in the hood at night and I’m looking like P.Y.T, but who cares – Just want to get home! When Dayo and I try to get into the store which there are still two customers on the inside we find the door is locked and a little knuckle headed guy named Shanmarcus running this “GO THRU THE DRIVE THRU OPERATION” was waving us back to the car. Prince A just about had a fit here and at that moment I knew I was rolling with the H.N.I.C. He starts shaking the door, banging on the glass, and pointing to the hours of operation that clearly state the store is supposed to stay open until 11 PM. Shanmarcus comes to open the door and acts oblivious to all of this. (Apparently he missed the memo and hadn’t met his DM before.)

Next Prince A tells the young lady working behind the counter to spit the gum out of her mouth and goes through a series of work related questions. One of which is what temperature is the chicken supposed to be fried at? Shanmarcus said he didn’t know and ain’t nobody tell him. (Here’s where I get confused – isn’t that the only thing you do all day? Work around chicken? How do you not know this?) Anyhow, Prince A requests a piece of chicken and digs his thumb inside to find it is surely not worthy of serving to restaurant patrons. Shanmarcus will probably be getting fired soon.

This wasn’t going to be the Churches I would be getting my food from so we had to go to another one. Now as much as I appreciated this post concert display of a DM in Notorious B.I.G. style action I really longed to forget about chicken, forget about food and go home. I had never been involved in such and felt like I had been dragged into some sort of African Mafia like drive by events late at night. I was saying nothing during this whole escapade and I’m sure they thought this was merely an act for the lady as she deserves the best damn chicken around! Don’t they understand the tensions between those who were dragged to the New World and those who were left behind!?!?!? I begged God not to see anyone I knew that night. (Not that tons of my friends hang out in these parts of town or from there, but still.)

We arrive at the next Churches with a couple girls working the front counter. They had a little funk and were trying to use there girlish charm to calm Prince A during his late night visit. They actually made me laugh during a time I was wishing for the already undercooked meal at the previous Churches. How sleep was calling! 20 minutes later we get a jillion pieces of chicken and like 6 corns on the cobs. I had simply requested a 2 pc combo, but when you got the hook-up you got the hook-up. I couldn’t complain, but I wanted to badly. I wanted to save the extras and go home. And it was time to at this point.
We parted ways from Prince A and D drove me back. He ate chicken as soon as we got into the house and I started moving like crazy. I had so much to get done and D helped where he could before leaving.

I finished writing what I could and was in bed by 1:30 AM. I set my alarm clock for 6 AM.

Friday – Sunday, April 1-3

It’s time to start wrapping all this up so I will combine the next three days into the painful, restless days they became. I had booked a promo job with the IRL, Indy Racing League to work the Honda Grand Prix. I was going to involved in the Fan Experience. Luckily they wanted me to help with merchandising in the trailer between the two grand stands which worked out well. I hadn’t much energy at this point to go parading around getting people to participate in simulations and such.

The gal, Lisette I was working with was great in providing future promotion information. I would be working with her for the next three days. And over the next few days here is a recap of what happened:

* I started my period. Most treacherous little demon was late late which is not normal for me.
* I sliced my left index finger trying to cut some early morning oranges for work.
* I wrote and wrote what I could for gadling.
* I endured the most painful headaches the first two days of the Grand Prix as I had forgotten my aspirin.
* I learned that the sound of formula race cars humming and buzzing around the track does sound a lot like music, which reminded me a lot of the guy I like. I see why we likes fast cars now.
* I thought a bit about my ex. (I saw him two nights in a row last week, but remembered I’m not up for the Da Vinci Code right now. LOL.) Kidding kidding.
* I encountered weirdos and such at the Grand Prix.

That was really about all. It was just a long weekend with little rest which made me quite grumpy. I feel a whole lot better now, but i have to start working on my priorities. Which also means cutting some of the fun and games out. Now folks, my priorties are different than the way a lot of other folks do things, so if something sounds a bit wacky – that’s why.

For this week:

* Post eBay things. I want them out of my room!
* If my money ever come sin this week – go see a doctor. I need to see a doc? No money no Med insurance. Boo-hoo.
* Pre-post for next week. I’ll be in D.C.
* Keep looking for more work – mainly mobile marketing.
* Apply at the temp agency.
* Finish boot……….
* Birthday calls. Tons of B-days in April all of a sudden.
* Mas spring cleaning.

I have written way too much. I’ve switched to R. Kelly and “Keep it on the Down Low.” What a great 90′s song. I remember how I played it on repeat, wishing my own Downlow Lover that existed only in the far depths of my imagination wouldn’t get caught by Mr. Bigs. Who at that time would have been my Dad. LOL. I swear the 90′s was about affairs. I need to get going now, but it might be a while before my next post.

Sobonana masinyane – see you soon – zulu.

So this last week I have been working on the MLB 2006 PS 2 promo at the different baseball fields. It has been fun and far too much work for the amount I’m getting paid. My job is to hit up the spring training games and distribute sunscreen, koozies, and MLB 2006 PS 2 demos. I have to go an hour before the game, stay until foot traffic dies down into the first inning and then come back during the 7th inning until foot traffic dies down leaving the place. Everyone loves the koozies, but outside of that, eh.

One of the guys working the Dunedin game gave me a comp ticket so I could watch the game. It was the first considering my company doesn’t pay for us to sit and watch the games, but on this particular day it was the Blue Jays vs Braves. I couldn’t watch it all, but at least I got to watch 4 or 5 innings.

I have two more days of this promo and then off to the next hopefully.

The Blue Jays vs Braves game.

My promo co-worker Jennifer and myself. The glare on my forehead is so enormous. It’s on the brink of ridiculous.

Last night my mom and I also decided to go bowling. I really shouldn’t have been trying to leave the house as I had only gotten five hours of sleep the night before. (I went to Bahasa with Becky and Chavonne.) I figured I am still young and these are the things young people are made of right? Party Monsters. Well mom and I headed out to Splitsville. It’s a popular upscale bowling alley with a lot of funk and a two hour wait, which is why we didn’t bowl last night.

When we decided to go to Bennigans I started noticing how my mother doesn’t know how to act in public. LOL – kidding. First she had to give a watchful eye to a guy dumping his girl in the restaurant and the sad look on her face. Then as we were leaving she saw a drunk woman being escorted out by the cops. And she was wasted. “Walking like a cowboy,” momma said.

I was trying to disregard this woman’s night of debauchery by taking a picture of the Channelside sign, when my momma says, “Take a picture of that drunk.” The remark just cracked me up. It was like we were in zoo. “Oh! Look! Take a picture of that giraffe!” And now I know where my lack of sense comes from when going out. Hehe.

This is the parking lot where my mother asked, “Where am I?” I am starting to think this is a test of patience right now, or if she is really confused about having just parked the car and heading towards the elevator.

This is Channelside at a small glimpse. Splitsville across the way is a trendy little bowling alley which was packed last night. We couldn’t wait two hours to bowl so we headed over to Bennigans.

Now, my mother is already having a tough time deciding what she wants to order and here I am snapping shots. This photo is her favorite, which is funny to me because I like all the other ones better. It’s interesting to see how we see things differently in the way we see ourselves.

Here’s my personal fav of the night. Now order please!

The reflection from the window.

Calamari.. Yummy.

A closer look at the little squid delicacies. Hmm.

Mom’s shrimp basket. Looks very skimpy.

I’m soo tired at this point. But I’m still going strong.

A cruise ship passing by.

After we left Channelside I headed home a little tipsy seeing that my mom insisted I drink. But I was also heading home to change. I called Becky and the gals hadn’t left for the club yet, so she said she would come pick me up.

I changed into a short black mini that I had purchased in Costa Rica and my Sex Pistols Punk top. It wasn’t such a hot outfit, but I just wanted to dance. I wasn’t trying to glam for sure last night.

The spot we ended up going to was Headliners at International Plaza. The guy girl ratio was crazy. I would have thought it was right in the center of Boy Town in WeHo if I didn’t know any better, but it was still Tampa and the boys weren’t liberal at all. Jean (my ex), Felipe, Ian, and EJ were there acting a fool, but always fun to dance with. EJ and I were doing a good lil salsa diddy until I messed up on one of my spins. Gosh that sucks.

Anywho, it was fun times. I just hate going out two nights in a row to the same type of club. The music is the same and it just gets boring. Speaking of which…

This is sorta of subject, but earlier this week I hit a brick wall. A lot of you will laugh and say my mind changes as much as the wind blows, but I can tell you this: This is a brick wall that I’ve never hit to date.

As I was thinking of all the cool places and trips and things I want to do for my birthday coming in May, I suddenly became extremely tired of planning and stressing where the next exotic local would be. (Relaxing comes upon getting there right?) Well I decided instead of thinking outside the box all the time perhaps it’s time to create a comforting place inside the box! (Goes against Lauryn Hill’s theory for now, but hey… es mi vida)

I imagine honeycomb shaped walls with soothing earth tone colors, a waterfall trickles from the wall (one of the cardboard sides) and a small pillow sits full center for meditation. All inside the box.

Basically what I am saying is I need to sit my ass still for second. Take a moment to collect some of the things I need here. I need a small wardrobe adjustment, a laptop so I can travel and work, an iPod to do podcasts for Gadling and just to be technologically advanced these days.

All this being said for now just means there is small work in progress. It doesn’t mean I plan on residing in Tampa any longer than before or that I won’t be off and away somewhere. it just means it’s time to think myself into a coma again. Because everyone knows I hit brick walls all the time.

Peace and hope everyone is having an excellent weekend.

Happy Easter!

So que pasa right?

It has been 21 days since my last post – so get some Chai (spicy apple is my fav) and nestle in for a whole lotta rambling.

Before I delve too far into the happenings here are a couple of recent snaps.

My mum took this one after I had just finished watching America’s Next Top Model. I just wish they would give Brandy the boot. I was about to head out to Tastemaker’s a biweekly event put on by friend Divine Justice.

Here is one of me and Muna. My friend from the 8th grade who has truly seen the real Adrienne and understands my nomadic tendencies. Also one of few who came to see me while I was out in LA LA land.

Now it is safe for me to proceed.

After I finished the promo in Orlando for AutoShow in Motion I had a week to lag around the house. I actually didn’t intend for that to happen, but I cancelled on a promo for the NCAA / Cingular in Panama City because they sent me the details the night before. I was depressed – I was over it. Plus I needed to stack up on my blogs for Gadling.

Then I headed up to Alabama to stay with my best friend, her uh sorta fiance and their precious little daughter. I commuted a hour and a half everyday for the last week to Panama City for another promotion going on with Verizon Wireless.

Before I get into the promotion lets talk about the driving because I did a lot of it. Road therapy as I have come to define it. Everyday I told myself I would spend the first part of the drive listening and repeating after my Pimsleur Language Farsi CD. At the end of the day I would just listen and digest what I was hearing. This helped me greatly and I learned a lot in just a couple of hours, being alone without reception and just taking it in. I would share my new lingo discoveries, but I understand how boring Farsi can be for everyone else. So let’s not and say I did…

The open road is an amazing thing. When I drive down through the country and not a single car is on the road for 30 minutes at a time I just begin to feel lost, found, uncertain, too certain, scared, sad, and happy. A mixed handful of feelings surrounds me. (I’m hoping this normal and not bi-polar).

There were times I would be passing through town like Samson, AL or Sweet Gum Head, FL and I felt a little uneasy. It was nothing, but pure klan country and I felt my butt cheeks sucking up the seat as I cruised through. I found myself wanting to paint murals of spooks, cotton gatherers, and black stone faces against the barns and John Deere trucks. I wondered how much the land had cried and how many awful incidents from the past had taken place in this country long ago. How many men, women or children hid in a bush while they went searching to bring them back.

Something should be there to help ease the way for your Negro women like myself driving alone though I’m not sure that would have either. Really it was just a weird emotion that came over me and I don’t even know much about Samson, AL or Sweet Gum Head, FL… They could be the friendliest towns in all the southern US, but I didn’t want to stick around to find out.

Then another self discovery came about. A realization. I thought to myself why do I love this, why does the road beckon me or the air with flight? Well here I found that it gives me the feeling my life is going places though I could be going nowhere at all. It’s like I see the miles clicking, the gas going, the engine running, and yet my mind is still trying to figure out what to pack. I’m there, but I’m not. I’m seeing it all and missing it all. Or am I? Ultimately it gives me the impression I am doing something with my life. I’ll need some more time and some more stop signs, line ends merge left, dead ends, U-turns, tailgating and no diving from bridge signs to figure this all out. I figure I’ve got some time.

Now the promotion was pretty cool. I got to hang out, eat chips and salsa, drink smoothies, talk about cell phones, walk along the beach, get sunburned, meet cool drunk college kids, eye men in Speedos, watch girls wrestle in salsa, participate in relay races. It wasn’t bad at all. The only part I can complain about was the first two days.

They had this thing called the lotion squad and I had to do it for the first two days. SUCKED!!!! I had a to wear a tiny tank top which lead to my being sunburned (also didn’t put on sunscreen – bad I know) and read LOTION SQUAD. My job these two days was to hand out little packets of glitter body lotion which actually looked a lot like lubricant. SUPERB right? Uh, no.

Here’s a few of the lines I encountered:

“Only if you rub it on me.”

“Do you come with the lotion?”

“Hey everybody, she’s got lube!!!”

Etc… You get the picture. And beyond that I had to take pictures of folks with a new camera phone. I just thought that whole set up was shady. But then it got better.

Otherwise I really valued spending time with my best homegirl and Kamira. Latofia and I had the chance to go out one night to Oscar’s in Enterprise, AL. It was a chill little bar/lounge and my very very first crush ever was there. TRON JONES.

He still looks handsome as ever, but he still doesn’t know how my heart secretly throbbed for him when I was a 10 and suffering from the early stages of being a woman. He used to ride by on his ten speed everyday after school and I would melt.

Then Latofia goes and says – “Tron likes white girls anyway.”

That is the story of my life I guess.

Anyhow here are some more shots from the week.

Me and Kamira checking the scenes.

Thinking, what next?

Looks just like one of the stuffed animals.

Pyro maniac!!! No, that’s just the night light.

An hour or so at Helen’s. Way long time no see. Helen was the first person I met in Enterprise when I moved there and I don’t think I have seen her since 5th grade.

The Army had a tent set up. They made drunk Amy’s and Ashley’s do push up’s for free stuff. It was funny.

Awww – Yeah. Sponge B-zzzy in the house. They supplied juicy yellow smoothies for all.

Promo for the new film – The Island.

Another snap of folks in the balls rolling around. I really wish I could have done this.

The MTVU village. Here is where they gave out all the free Herbal Essence goods and also got silly college students to sign up for Citi Bank cards for a free tee-shirt. How sad.

The MTVU stage. Common, Talib kweli, and Akon performed two days prior.

The rump shakers. Drunk of course.

Gulf of Mexico.

The Verizon Wireless Hub where I worked for the week.

Nate – a co-worker shooting pool in the hub.

The phones.

Our fabulous Emcee.

The Bad News Bears batting cages.

Sahara movie promo.

Me and co-worker Elena.

Please folks, don’t let this sunburned fire marshall bill look-a-like baby sit your kids. Yes, I know this is an awful picture, but I’m all about the good, the bad, and the real ugly.

Now that I am back home in Tampa I am working on promos for Play Station 2 and Big Red with more to come. Tons of cleaning has to be done and I need to get back to writing for pay.

It was nice hanging out with you and I hope we talk again soon. I missed you Xanga.

I would also be holding back if I did not mention the soft tears that filled my eyes and laid to rest with me a few nights back before I finally had my rendezvous with the sandman. For a moment my mind desired the comfort of man to entertain me and my loneliness, boredom if you will. (And I am not speaking about sex.) But I collected myself to know better and to figure the problem would go in just a couple hours and that I would wish greatly for that same gentleman to remove his presence from my space. I’m selfish. I’ve never denied that and I truly hope one day to overcome it.

I’ve been testing the sounds of AOL’s classical station. Right now a pleasing romantic piano drifts from the speakers. The musician is Robert Schumann. The title of the track to complicated to get into at this hour.

Anyhow these things are all fine, but they are bland as well. My weekend was a lovely one. I started things out Friday night by checking out the Tribal Style and Bad Fish show at the State Theater in St. Pete. I caught the last two songs of TS performance and left early during the Bad Fish show. I had to get up early and I was swinging solo, so I wanted to get up outta St. Pete ASAP!

Another cool thing that night – I get a call from a Marcus Washington in North Carolina. I don’t know anyone in N.C., but I guess I do now. Herman located him just a couple days before I received his phone call and he is new long lost family. Another cousin to be exact, but I won’t get into the nitty gritty. The coolest part about his phone call is he tells he has a 13 year old daughter and her name is exactly like mine – Adrienne Wilson. A miny me – I already know. We must meet!

Alas, Saturday morning rolls on in and I’m back in the driver’s seat early. D got in from Asia so I picked him up and dropped him off at home. I quickly headed back to my house where I changed, grabbed my things, and mom and me hit the open road. There was an open interview for a spring break promotion going on in Panama City and I thought it would make a great day trip to go up. Mom went along for the ride and also to swing through Alabama where we would visit some close long time friends.

The interview with Kelly went pretty smooth – I should know more on that over the next week or so. After Panama City the drive into Enterprise, Alabama was a quickie.

Before we went to the Jones we swung by the old house at 603 Melbourne Drive. Whoever lives there now must have been having one hell of a party as there were 20 something cars in the drive way and street. We were tempted to pull that “we used to live here, can we take a look around (or just crash your party)” line so often used in the movies. I think they were all Officers, or most.

It was great seeing my best friend and her little girl Kamira. Kamira is not the ordinary two year old. She is very smart and gives you the ice grill before warming up to ya. Afterwards she’ll show you her Lord’s prayer doll and toss it across the room before she goes to grab another show-and-tell item. She is just the cutest! And the way my mother looked at her – I could tell she is ready for some grand kids of her own. Guess she’ll have to work something out with my brother.

Anyhow, here are a couple snaps from the affair.

The Princess Kamira after two hours of the ice grill we get a smile.

Starlette (my best friend’s younger sis), a confused Kamira, my glowing self, and Latofia, my bestest friend.

We left early in the morning again. It rained the entire six hours down and I drove so the rive wouldn’t become eight hours. Mum gets a little shaky driving the old girl in the rain. I also reached the 150,000 mile mark on the car – so that was pretty groovy! Somebody get the champagne!

I’ll be back in Panama City and Enterprise in the next two weeks. I already have one promotion booked for an NCAA event after the AutoShow in Motion in O-Town. I’ll just be waiting to find out if I’ll be working out of Panama City a bit longer.

Hmm… I guess that would be about it now. I do want to take a moment to remember someone very special to me and if you stick around it would be appreciated. On our drive up we passed by some stands that sparked some very touching memories for me. I’d like to share one now.

“Brother Bonsai”

There are questions when asked that make us shudder and send a cold feeling of having to remember a pain that once passed over again. For me, that question happens to be:

“Have you any siblings?” or “So are you the only child?” or maybe even “How many brothers and sisters do you have?”

Simply, I respond one brother, though the truth is a far stretch from this. I had another brother, but he is no longer with us and the timing for which he passed was all part of a very important year in my time line.

I was 10 years old then and quiet a few things happened that year.

* I became a woman. (Or now obtained the wonderful ability to make babies of my own.)
* The moron at the military ID office spilled all the beans not to mention let all the skeletons and bats out of the closet. Mother then had some splainin’ to do.
* My brother’s turtle Cory who I had grown quite affectionate for was murdered by a local dog, who tortured him before letting the flies have their way with him. (Hardcore when you are ten.)
* My uncle Gregory got to find his way to Heaven before us all.

It was also the year my father brought my adopted brother home. I remember the day like yesterday.

He shuffled us all into room. He was wearing a huge grin, bigger than one I had seen him sport so many other times, so whatever this was going to be about – it had to have been BIG!

He started by saying there would be a new addition in the family. No matter how foreign or different he would be, to welcome him into the family. To give him the same love that we’d given each other. My brother was almost in tears as his status as the ‘baby’ was being replaced.

I was excited! A new sibling! I couldn’t wait. I was sure my father had gone and plucked a little Cambodian boy for us to play with and corrupt all the same! He left the room only for a second before he returned with a tiny potted tree.

Bonsai. My new baby bro was a Bonsai tree. I thought my dad was kidding at first and that they threw the tree in for the little Japanese boy, Hiro somewhere outside in the hallway.

My father was serious as he was ecstatic. And so it rubbed off on us all. I got used to Bonsai being around even though he wasn’t much fun to play with. He was still my brother.

Bad things happen to good people as much as they do good, rollie pollies minding their own business under rocks, good sharks being bothered by surfers and even good Bonsai’s who aren’t taken care of properly.

My mother killed Bonsai. It wasn’t her fault, she didn’t know how to care for a potted minature tree and Bonsai wasn’t really supposed to be a house tree. A very dark cloud sat over the house that day.

It must have been the early binary coding God pasted into the divorce my parents would have many years later. It was all apart of that apples and oranges don’t mix or potatoes and tomatoes. Okay, that one isn’t real, but you get the picture.

It was driving up into the outskirts of Alabama that brought Brother Bonsai racing into mind. And I wouldn’t give up that memory for nothing.

A. Wilson

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Bunny Wailer croons as I type. First in was Blackheart Man, skip to Fig Tree and next Dream Land. It has been in constant rotation all week. I love reggae!

So, I’ve taken a short snooze on xanga, but I didn’t forget about my special little blog. I was a little busy the last couple weeks. Some unexpected projects dropped in and consumed a lot of my energy. Still blogging at gadling, at with this month short of a few days I had to kick up the number of posts a day for the rest of the month.

I worked the Florida State Fair for 10 of the 12 running days. I landed a promo model gig with Chevrolet / GM and had to sway people into taking our survey. Of course there were free goodies to give away and I gave them away. Outside of the easy stuff I took a crash course on Hybrids, the new Corvette, and a few other vehicles. I’ll let you take peak.

I met some really awesome, people, joined a club for women technically over 50, but they have a divison for younger gals. I’m happy the fair is over though.

So far is looks like I am not going to be doing any work outside of Ebay and Blogging this week. I think that is fine. The following week I will be in Orlando working on the AutoShow in Motion. www.autoshowinmotion.com. I’m looking forward to it!

I better get going now. Gotta a lot on my mind, but I don’t wanna slack on some other things that should be getting done.

Peace.

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