Highly Annoyed

I’m typing this while I wait for my flight from Vienna to depart to D.C. I’m annoyed because the ground crew folks were trying to “check” my carryon suitcase. The plane is full they said, it’s too heavy and too big. Fuck you ground crew dude I bought this suitcase because it could go on board with me. Well I didn’t tell him that but I did tell him if I didn’t need the items inside I would have checked it and told him to go get other suitcases then come back to me.. He didn’t like that and I don’t give a fuck. Great, the flight is full that means you’ve made some money today, congratulations. When I boarded the plane so did a bunch of people with carryon’s the size of mine. Now how pissed would I have been if I’d listened to the rat bastard. If the airlines didn’t have a habit of loosing luggage I wouldn’t have to carry stuff on board with me aside for my purse and laptop but you can’t trust these fuckers to actually have your suitcase at the destination especially when you’re switching airplanes.

One of my assets or faults is that when I put my mind to something especially when I’ve paid for something I don’t like to hear no or you can’t. I paid $2,650 for this roundtrip ticket, sure it’s not my money but whatever the amount paid should mean something. 1) That I could take a carryon that was within the carryon weight limit 2) I can get a glass of wine on the plane without having to pay for it. Now that I’m on this rant I CANNOT believe how cheap airlines have become now. If you’re on a flight within the U.S. you have to pay for your meal if you’re in economy. Gas prices have gone up but so have ticket prices so I don’t understand how they’ve gone barebones, I might as well take greyhound (ok maybe not). In fact I think I’m going to write a letter on their website to complain about the cheapness. I love giving feedback. Can’t you tell I hate airports? I like getting to my destination but I hate airports and I hate airlines. Cheap bastards!

Oh and I start the process all over again tomorrow when I get on a flight to Vegas.

Belgrade Rocks!

I went to Belgrade last weekend to hang out with some friends and partied like a Rock Star! Still relatively cheap by U.S. standards, Belgrade is Eastern European’s official partayyy city. I’d been there, two years ago during the late fall and had a good time but this time I wasn’t ready for how vibrant and crazy it can be during the summer. I woke up on Saturday morning at 4:00 to catch a 6 AM flight got there at 7AM, ate breakfast and immediately began walking around with one of my co workers. Took a 15 minute nap, went for Sushi at a restaurant owned by the son of one of Serbia’s most notorious war criminals, then hung out at one of the gazillion out door café’s to watch a world cup game. Got together with the team from my company for dinner then off to experience some of the city’s night life.

First stop, this really cool outdoor café then off to one of the many nightclubs that are located on a barge along the Danube River. I’d heard about them but this was crazy, several barges were completely renovated into techno/house clubs complete with crazy light shows. I’m not overly fond of house or techno but I busted out my circa mid 1990 house moves from when I actually liked listening to that type of music. I’m dancing along with the crowd and suddenly look up and realize the sun came up and it’s freaking 5:30 AM and I’d been up for over 24 hours.

I get back to the apartment try to sleep, wake up around 11:30 and head out for lunch, more hanging out and sightseeing. I had to get to the airport by 8:30PM and wanted to maximize my time in Belgrade so I powered through with lots of cappuccino’s and red bulls. It’s Wednesday and I’m still tired from the weekend. I’ve looked at my calendar in an attempt to figure out when I’ll be able to sleep in and not worry about being somewhere and have scheduled 10 hours or more of uninterrupted sleep time for Saturday, July 8th.

Are They Talking About Me?

So I’m sitting here in our project office doing what I do and there’s chit chatter all around me but I don’t understand what anyone is saying. My vocabulary in Macedonian consists of maybe 10 words, Hello, Good Morning, Good Evening, Thanks, Please, Check Please, Waiter, Water, Left, Right, Straight, Holiday Inn, I am an American, I don’t speak Macedonian, I am fine, how are you, Good, Yes, No. Ok maybe more then 10 words but you get my drift. I don’t speak the language and I’m not expected to.

I’m used to being in spaces where the people around me are talking in a language I don’t understand. I’m used to feeling illiterate because the signs around me aren’t even in a Latin alphabet and maybe that’s why I can tune people out so well even when I’m home and everyone around me is speaking in a language I can understand.

Maybe this is also why I don’t understand why people complain about going to the nail salon or whatever place operated by foreigners and feel that they’re being talked about. (Side Note: Which they probably are lol, especially those with crusty feet). One can argue that they’re in the US and need to speak English, yet no where else in the world am I or others expected to speak in the local language when we’re with other Americans or English speakers. Maybe other countries are more tolerant because their languages aren’t spoken by gazillions of people.

I’m not sure where I’m going with this, except to say we as Americans need to be more tolerant of other languages especially if the people talking aren’t addressing you.

Can't Imagine

On Thursday night my girl Vicki called me up and after listening to me bitch and moan for a minute or two about my blue tooth thingy not working, told me her mother passed away that afternoon. My heart just fell and I could feel the tears starting to flow. It was expected but you can you really prepare yourself? Her mom had breast cancer a few years ago and was in remission until about two months ago when they discovered that the cancer had returned and spread so quickly that there was little the doctors could do but send her home and make her as comfortable as possible.

The minute I got off the phone with my girl, I called my mom to tell her and also say “I love you Ma!”. I can’t imagine what it’s like to loose a parent. I know eventually that everyone passes but sometimes I selfishly think I’d prefer to go before my mom. What would I do without her, who would I have 100% and unconditionally in my corner if I didn’t have her. My mom is my rock and although she’s 250 miles away I know I can reach out and give her a call or get in my car and 4 hours later I’d be at her doorstep.

It’s been just my mom and I, the dynamic duo for so long, us against the world surviving together since my parent’s divorce over 24 years ago. Sure we have little squabbles, and that probably isn’t the right word but after 32 years I’m sure I’ve driven her crazy (my teenage years) as she’s driven me a bit crazy as mom’s do occasionally, but life without her? I can’t even imagine.

Skopje, Macedonia

I'm here for the next two weeks.



I have lots of blog topics floating around in my head but I'm jetlagged and crunching on a presentation due to our client on Wednesday. Until then, DobroVece

My Musical List

So many people in the blog world do a top 10 of their favorite, rappers, groups, songs and I figured it was time that I got on that bandwagon and present my own list. Although 99% of the people reading this won’t know who I’m talking about, this is my top list.

In my opinion the best French Hip Hop group out today is Saian Supa Crew. They had a concert at SOB’s in NYC last night and I missed it and am pissed! I didn’t think they would ever get to the U.S because really we’re not ready. Other then an occasional reggaeton song we don’t play any foreign language music on the airwaves on a regular basis. Saian Supa Crew is true hip hop, as I would define it as I compare them to some of the today’s hip hop artists here in the U.S and in France. None of that bling bling I drive whatever newest car is out there with rims for Saian it’s more social consciousness that drives some of their songs. They’ve got an American hip hop, funk, African, Caribbean vibe going and since I love all those things I’m loving Saian’s music. If you click on their name it will take you to their website and you’ll get a sample of the greatness.

Now on to the best of Zouk, the one and only Kassav’. They put Zouk music on the map (well the global map minus the U.S.) whenever you ask someone around the world who listens to Zouk which group started it all they’ll tell you Kassav’. I’ve been listening to them before I even consciously realized what music was and how much it would mean to me. Kassav’ is Zouk, so much so that they sell out the Zenith in Paris that makes Madison Square Garden look small whenever they perform. Once I reach big baller status, I’ll fly out there next time they have a concert. Lol!

Now the top Haitian bands I grew up listening to from the moment I could even understand what music was. When I reached an age where I could make choices I stopped listening to them as much and because of school discovered American music, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock etc, (Damm I loved the 80s), but I as I got older and reconnected with my roots I went back to listening to the greatest Haitian band of all time, Tabou Combo. Another great Haitian Kompa (type of music) star is Sweet Mickey, I saw him the one and only time I went to Carnival in Haiti and he was off the hook crazy. I’ve also seen him in concert here in D.C. and he rocked the house despite being an hour and a half late. Emeline Michel is my favorite female Haitian artist and I’ve been lucky enough to see her perform twice here in D.C. such a spectacular voice.

There are lots more but I’m done for now.

Trying to Mack

My siblings spent the weekend with me before departing for a summer in Guatemala. Side Note: Lucky Bastards. On Saturday a friend of mine dropped by and hung out with us for a while. I warned my siblings, their cousin and our aunt that my girl was a bit crazy but she was lovable. She gets to my house and is her usual hilarious self. Before she got there I warned her NOT to flirt with my little brother. I know he’s 23, grown, although not a “grown ass man” and can take care of himself but he’s still my little brother.

As the night progresses my brother, sister, friend and I move from outside to the living room to play cranium. Everyone else left and we’re sipping on some wine and trying to figure out between the four of us how to play the game. Throughout the night my girl and my brother are flirting and after repeated “please people” I don’t want to hear this shyt they ignore me and we continue to play Cranium.

Honestly, I was disgusted and although I knew nothing would come of it because my brother is broker then broke, hasn’t finished college and my high maintenance 31 year old girl who only pays attention to dudes who make more then six figures wasn’t going to step to him but damm I don’t want to see my little brother trying to get his mack on with one of my friends. NOT ACCEPTABLE so I did what any big sister would do in that situation, I cock blocked. Yup I did, when it was time for my girl to leave we both ended up walking her to her car.

After we got back into the house, my brother fell into bed in the guest room and was like “she’s hot, I like her”, my reply “yeah she is, but not for you, now go to bed, I'm turning off the lights".

Lazy Sunday Afternoons

I treasure “me” time because I often go without it. There’s always something to do, places to be and obligations to fulfill. Once in a while I long for the weekends or even a day here or there where I can veg out and recharge my batteries. Today was that day. I had to drive my siblings to the airport at 7:00 AM this morning, returned by 7:30 and got back into bed where I dozed on and off until about 11:00. Playing in the background was the sound of various Food Network hosts, telling me how easy it was to make whatever it was that they’re whipping up on screen.

When I can, I spend my Sunday mornings/afternoons watching the Food network, my newest obsession. It’s amazing as I look back over the last few years and realize how much my cooking style has changed, evolved and how much interest I’ve taken into trying new recipes. I’ve always loved having small dinner parties and entertaining but I usually stuck to the usual, some sort of chicken and rice dish, salad, and/or fondue. Now that I’m an avid Real Simple and Food Network junky I’m always itching to try something new and interesting. I’ve gotten so into it that when my mom took me to a fancy restaurant last weekend, I just went on and on about how the chef “plated” the food and how the colors worked so well in the Seared Center-Cut Tuna loin with Ginger Piperade and Parsley Wasabi Sauce. The Wasabi sauce looked great among the other colors of the dish but didn’t have much taste. Clearly, I can be a guest chef on the next Top Chef contest. Lol!

Now, whenever I walk into a bookstore, my first stop is always the cookbook section. My evolving interest in cooking isn’t a new career interest but is definitely a hobby I intend to pursue with great interest.

I Won!

My first ebay item…and I’m extremely giddy. I’m not exactly sure if I actually need a new pair of cropped jeans but I have a new pair of cropped jeans from Banana. I’m also bidding on a dress but I have another day and a half to see if I’ll win that one. Let’s hope it’s it’s actually what I bid on when I get my shipment. Either way I’m pretty excited and feel like I’ve “done” something. Maybe that’s how ebay has become so successful. Tapping into the competitive and entrepreneurial nature of some folks.

A friend of mine buys and sells things on ebay on what I swear is a weekly basis. She’s always sending me links of things she thinks she needs and I could never understand the phenomenon. Now that I’ve actually won an item I think I might start looking in my closet for things I would normally have sent to the Salvation Army but can now sell on ebay!

Ching Ching!

So what are YOU?

I took a work sanctioned training course last week and learned that I’m an ESTJ based on the My.er’s Brig.gs personality test for organizations. I’m a logical, analytical, decisive, and tough minded individual. I enjoy working with others to organize details and operations, am task focused, and responsible. I can’t say I learned a great deal about myself in that class but I can say I finally have a set of letters I can associate with my behavior and it spells A.N.A.L. lol!

The older I get, the more I learn about myself and the more I reflect on the type of individual I’ve become and what I like about myself and what I need to work on. Although this course was focused on the “work” me I have to admit I found the whole concept of this personality test and it’s results fascinating. I’m not sure I agree 100% with my ESTJ classification because I scored a “slight and moderate” in each category but I do think the Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking and Judging characteristics aren’t too far off the mark.