Guest Blogger - RSVP so I can send an invitation

I haven't blogged since April, so a former blogger asked if she could post something that's been on her mind.

It goes a little something like this:

A friend of mine is getting married later this month. We were once fairly close; now, not so much. Distance and life have gotten in the way. She moved away and went back to school, I climbed the corporate ladder... you know, life just took us in different directions. My most recent move put us both in the same area just in time for her engagement and wedding. She called soon after the engagement to let me know and made sure I was invited (via evite) to the engagement party **WTH happened to proper invitations for formal events? An engagement party does count as a formal event, right? Is it just me?**

For the last few days, she's been blowing my phone up. I went through all the possible reasons for the multiple, back-to-back calls. Hmmm, did she have a bridesmaid drop out and she needs a replacement? Was she having a program folding party? Selling Mary Kay? Looking for a last-minute caterer? Hell, I don't know, let me just call her back...

She "invited" me to her wedding. Well not really. She actually asked me if I was free the day of her wedding. When I told her I had already made plans but would love to come she suggested I call her back once I confirmed I could make it and she would follow up by sending me an invitation. Huh? I figured I must have misunderstood so I text messaged her my mailing address and a note to congratulate her on the upcoming nuptials. I didn't misunderstand. She replied with a request for my availability so she can send me an invitation IF I can make it.

Is this the wave of the future? Only invite people once they've already confirmed they can come? I know the economy is bad but it's certainly not this bad, is it? I didn't think wedding invitations were that expensive, not even the really nice ones. So why is she treating this like a big budget item? Why is she requesting confirmation before she'll even formally invite me? Ugh, I can't even be bothered. Here's my deal, I'm not responding to your text invite. If you don't send me a paper invitation, you won't see my face at the wedding or my gift in your hot little hand. If I get a paper invite, I will try to make it and will provide a gift. Just let me know what you're gonna do.

~Crystal~

Hola Mi Amigos

?Que Tal?

I know I have no excuse for not posting but things have been a little hectic for me the last few weeks. Lots of ups and mostly downs at work and then there was that mid term that I had to power through a few weeks ago. I just returned from visiting my sister in Madrid, Spain and had a marvelous time. I am however broker then broke, if that’s possible. The US dollar has hit rock bottom and a 1 Euro = $1.63 exchange rate made things quite expensive since I had to pay for a hotel, myself and my “broke college student” little sister when out and about. I’d anticipated the exchange rate was going to hurt but didn’t realize how much so until I got there.

Madrid is such a great vibrant city and has such history and culture and not to mention the yummiest Sangria I’ve tasted in a long time. I did not however, fall in love with the food. It was good but not as great as I’d expected. I did however, have one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a long time, French baguette bread with slices of Iberian Ham. Oh joy, now the Spanish are crazy about their pork and the ham (not like we’re used to but more prosciutto style) just melted in my mouth. Yummy!

So while in Madrid I tried and tried not to lecture my little sister too much but man oh man I wonder at times what she and her friends are thinking. I’m trying to balance giving her much needed advice and letting her make her own mistakes and boy is it hard.

The Debil

Remember this post?

http://thisismehonest.blogspot.com/2007/08/myspace-is-debil.html

Well I should have re-read it first before I signed up for a face.book page. A few months ago I broke down and signed up because it would give me access to my sister’s page. I’m that nosey and cautious older sister who wanted to make sure my sister wasn’t posting pictures or comments she would regret later in life. I’d received emails from some friends asking me to join and always ignored them so I was a bit surprised to see that the “friends invite” was there when I finally joined. All of a sudden I realized that half of my team at work was signed up including my manager and my company has a network on this thing. So now I’m signing on at least once a day. Uhhh! I really didn’t need yet another reason to be glued to my laptop. Between, school, work, blogging and now face.book my fingers hurt.

So Sorry

Sorry Beloved, I know you were on vacation last week and I was supposed to post but there was a lot going on. Since my last post, I came back home and jumped right into work and life. Things have been crazy busy and may get busier.

School is school and it’s amazing how these professors actually want you to work for those grades. Lol! Sunday I went to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre for the first time at the Kennedy Center and oh my I’ve been missing out. They were absolutely magnificent and I can’t wait to see them again. They brought back memories from my HS modern dance classes and I really miss dancing. I may just go ahead and sign up for a class at Jo.y of M.otion when I have some time.

I always think of a bunch of posts on my drive to and from work but end up forgetting about them when I get to my destination. A few years ago I mentioned getting a tape recorder and dictating posts as I think of them but that probably won’t happen either.

I just need to carve out some blogging time at least once or twice a week. We’ll see how that goes.

Why isn’t Spring here yet?

Why?

Did MTV France translate the title of “Run’s House” to “Ghetto Pasteur which means Ghetto Pastor. Uhhh I don’t like that AT ALL. They’re also doing a bad dubbing job. I don’t like this at all. I don’t really watch the show but from what I’ve heard there’s nothing ghetto about it. I think someone should write a letter to MTV and ask them to do a better job of translating the names of their shows. I wonder if the Rev knows they’re calling his show ghetto.

Why?

Do I feel that a friend of mine is unconsciously being negative about something I’m working on. While helping me figure some things out I think she’s being super negative. I’m sure she’s justifying her behavior by saying that she’s trying to help me not fail. Not sure if she realizes what she’s doing or why.

Why?

Am I so jetlagged? I went to bed at 11:30 PM woke up at 2:30 AM and couldn’t get back to sleep until 7 AM. Not even my trusty melatonin has helped me on this trip. Glad it’s Saturday.

Why?

Is February going to be a beast of a month there’s so much going on. I can’t wait!

Can I Rap to You For A Sec?

I’m going to step up onto my Soap Box for a minute.

Please, please, please I beg you do not adopt an animal cat or dog unless you are absolutely sure you’re 1) financially able to 2) will give the animal a home no matter WHAT until they die of old age or have to be put down because of a serious incurable illness.

No seriously, please don’t adopt or buy a pet unless you’re 100% sure you’re in for the long haul. The woman I worked with when I first started volunteering at the local DC shelter would point out all the animals that were returned or were “given” up by their owners because of what I would consider the most asinine reasons in the world. I’d get so pissed and wonder why people find these creatures so disposable almost like a pair of shoes that were worn or could no longer fit.

Today I received a forwarded email from a colleague whose friend was looking for a “good home” for her cat. Apparently after being a great pet and companion for years the woman had a baby, decided feeding and cleaning a litter box was too much trouble, all of a sudden discovered that her mother was allergic to cats and oh suddenly realized she preferred dogs. I want to bop that woman in the head. Sure I’ve never had a baby before but I have cats and know that feeding and cleaning a litter box takes 5 minutes a day if that. That email just pissed me off.

I think one of the reasons we have so many animals in the shelter because people are irresponsible. They don’t want to spay or neuter their pets but then don’t want to raise all the babies that suddenly appear. When I tell some men looking to adopt a dog that the dog will have to be neutered before being adopted they actually cringed and said it was like cutting their own balls. WTF!?!?! Are you freaking kidding me?

I know animals aren’t like children BUT please really make sure you're ready to go the long haul when you’re adopting a pet. Oh and if you’re buying a pet please make sure the seller is a reputable seller and isn’t part of a puppy mill.

Repost -- Ode to the Avocado

I walked into Whole Foods on Tuesday evening and the first thing I always do is head to the Avocados to see if they’re on sale. Imagine my surprise when I saw they were but for $2.99!!!!!!!!!!! What in the world! I then remembered this ode I wrote to the Avocado on my first blog back in 2005.

Ode to the Avocado

Editorial Note:

I am not a poet but last night I felt moved enough by my dinner of sliced Avocado with a sprinkles of balsamic vinegar and tomato and mozzarella salad.

Avocado, Avocado how I love thee.

You’re my favorite food item. Although many are confused about your status (fruit or veggie), I know you’re all luscious fruit. Your tough yet easily peeled exterior layer reveals a succulent and tasty core.

Sliced, diced, chopped you taste so good to me. Smashed with herbs and spices you make me want to scoop you up with a great tortilla chip.

Avocado, Avocado how I love thee.

Sliced with a few sprinkles of balsamic vinegar so yummy. Some say you don’t taste so good and don’t have much of a taste and that you don’t have any flavor but I disagree. I love thee.

Haas Avocados are on sale this week 99 cents at Fresh Fields/Whole Foods.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year’s Eve.

I had an amazing but exhausting time over the last week and a half and am happy to be back home and this weekend I’m recharging my batteries.

I know I’m blessed and am very very blessed to have the mother I have but once in a while I think I take for granted the unconditional love I get from her. This last week I realized more then ever that I am truly truly blessed and need to remind her at ALL times that she’s an awesome and amazing woman and I’m glad she’s my mom.

On the way in to work this morning I thought about the year 2007 and realized that I am one lucky lady and need to count my blessings that 2008 will be bigger and better. I started graduate school, I finished paying off all my credit card bills, I went to North Africa for the first time, rode a camel and hugged a monkey, I went to Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time and entered in to the year 2008 still credit card debt free!

I know great things will continue to happen in 2008 and I can’t wait to find out what. Life is good!

Bah humbug

Oh yeah Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy “insert whatever holiday you celebrate here”.

I’m spending Christmas in NYC with my mom and cousins and am having a great time reconnecting with them all since they live in Europe and Miami. It is however hard for five women to get ready in a reasonable time with only one bathroom. It takes us FOREVER, to get out of the house. Since I’m time crazed and getting five different personalities to follow a schedule is like herding cats I had a little mini melt down as we started our 9 hour shopping marathon.

I’m anal regarding time and I know it, so I took a deep breath and decided to let things go as they are. So what we don’t make it to all the stores and sightseeing spots on our list. We’re enjoying the holiday season and all the NYC Christmas sights.

On our way home via subway we were serenaded by a man playing a sax. He came in to the subway car spouting all kinds of nonsense and then started playing his sax; he refused to stop until someone gave him some money. There were some kids on the train who were trying to shut him up and it just got funnier and funnier. What did I do? Filmed it of course. Only in NY!



Happy Holidays!

The Bible

I’ve never read the bible, and no one in my immediate family (parents, step mom or siblings) has a bible. The bible is a book I’ve seen in Church pews when I attended mass with my grandmother as a child and when I attend weddings but it’s never a book I’ve actually picked up and read. My parents grew up in the Catholic Church and my mom shockingly enough has never read the bible either. She studied the history of the catholic religion and the catechism as required in her catholic school but never actually read the bible from cover to cover. My step mom’s dad was a Methodist minister and none of her siblings participate in any form of organized religion.

I took an introductory religion class in college but it focused on the history and brief teachings of the world’s largest religions but never drilled down into the details. I was talking to my step mom not too long ago and mentioned how the bible is referenced in literature, movies, songs, and now that religion is a hot button issue on the political circuit I’m feeling that my overall education is lacking. I’d love to understand what the references mean even if I don’t agree with them, so I got online and purchased the bible experience. I’ve taken to listening to books on CD to help the commute go by faster so why not the bible on CD.

No worries Hostess, I won’t try to set up my own cult and force you guys into it. Similar to how Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Salinger are required reading to give kids a well rounded education of the classics, the bible, the Koran and other religious texts should be included to give kids a point of reference when passages from those texts are mentioned in every day literature.

Blast from the past

This morning I tuned into my favorite Caribbean radio station online and they played one of my favorite zouk tunes from the late 80's.



It immediately conjured up memories of a summer in Haiti, visiting family, spending time with my grandmother, mom, uncle, cousins and our trips to the beach. Listening to zouk and compass songs and having an amazing summer.

I haven’t been to Haiti since 2001 for my grandmother’s funeral and for me that’s such a long time. I used to travel there almost every other summer as a child and when I graduated from college and lived at home I went once or twice a year. For the last few years there hasn’t been a reason to go, the country was in turmoil, my cousins have all pretty much moved to the U.S. or Canada and life there wasn’t as carefree as I’d remembered as a child.
Christmas 2008 will be spent in Haiti, rediscovering some of my favorite beaches, reconnecting with family, listening and hopefully writing down some memorable family tales. It’ll be the year my cousin introduces his wife and kids to one half of his heritage. It’ll be the year I meet my uncle’s new wife and my new cousin through marriage. Although Christmas 2007 hasn’t passed yet I’m looking forward to next year where I’ll be frolicking on the beach in a bathing suit listening to some awesome tunes as the waves crash onto shore.

Following Up

Last week I exchanged emails with an old colleague who recently moved to Europe with her husband and kids. I met her when I first moved to D.C. and we worked for the same company. I haven’t seen her in a while and when I told her that I hosted my very first thanksgiving dinner she said “You go girl; I'm so proud of you. I remember when all you did was make chicken on your ge.orge for.man grill”. I chuckled because that’s all I did. Chicken and rice, or chicken and salad, that was it. I’ve always cooked, even in college but it was always chicken breaded and sautéed in a little oil and rice or corn or insert some random vegetable.

I can’t remember when my interest in cooking meals for variety and flavor instead of just cooking for subsistence happened. I just know that for the last few years I’ve started buying cookbooks and dropping hints to my parents that a gift certificate from William Son.oma would make my birthday/Christmas extra special.

Gone are the days of grilled chicken on the GF grill, tonight I made Mediterranean style chicken breasts stuffed with feta and olive tapenade with a side spinach salad.

Here are some pictures from my Thanksgiving dinner table.

Scared Sh*tless

I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to blog about this but after reading the Hostess’ blog today and also hearing the news of Sean Taylor’s passing after being shot by an intruder I figured why not share. Some of you guys know I live in a transitioning neighborhood. In DC that means the haves and the have not live side by side in the same neighborhood. There’s a half way house for women 2 blocks away, ray ray and ‘em down the street, grand parents, single women, men and young upwardly mobile couples all in the mix. I’m a city girl born and raised in Brooklyn so I am always careful about my surroundings and make sure I’m secure in my car and in my home as best as I can be and make sure I have gotten to know my neighbors on all sides of me. Not just because I live in a major city with a crime issue but because safety should be everyone’s number 1 concern even in middle America and even in the ‘burbs. Hell there are gangs fighting in Gaithersburg, MD and people go missing and are attacked everywhere in this country from the hood to classy and rich neighborhoods.

As I sat on my couch watching an episode of the 1st 48, for which I blame the Hostess for introducing me to, and talking to a friend at about 11:20 PM someone rang my door bell. No one I mean no one just rings my door bell that late at nigh so I knew it wasn’t someone I knew but then when the hard knock on the door followed I thought maybe it was a neighbor, as I walked toward the door I called out and asked who it was. The person responded and said their name, which I didn’t know and said they had ID. Since that meant nothing to me I responded that they should go away and I didn’t care. The person then proceeded to put their hand through the mail slot to show me their ID and I could tell that they were trying to look through the slot. I went red and was pissed and scared all at once. I started yelling and said I was calling the cops which I immediately did. My friend on my cell phone and 911 on my landline. I’m grateful the dispatcher waited on the phone with me until they showed up because I was shacking with anger and a bit scared hell I’d been watching the 1st 48 which is about solving murders.

The person who I believe was a female was long gone by the time the police showed up and unfortunately I didn’t actually look outside because I was busy dialing 911 and didn’t want to get near the door or window in case. I made my statement and will be following up with my neighborhood list serve, the police list serve for my area and at the next community meeting. The person probably just wanted money but showing up on my doorstep at 11:20 PM and sticking your hand into my mail slot puts me in attack mode and the only way I know how is to make sure my house is secure and my alarm is on at all times and by making a big stink about this and alerting the powers that be (neighborhood commissioners and police) that more patrols are needed

Thanksgiving is here!

I'm hosting my very first Thanksgiving and right now the house smells fabulous.

I made some pumpkin muffins for tomorrow's breakfast, boiled the water with the brining seasoning for my turkey and am getting ready to bake Monica's southern comfort cake. Later this afternoon before the 'rents get here I'll make the cranberry sauce.

I decided to take Tuesday and Wednesday off just to relax and get some stuff done around the house and thought it would be great to have my dad and step mom come up instead of me going down to NC, I figured we'd eat at my aunts house or my step mom's cousin's place. Little did I know they thought I was inviting them up to eat at my house. lol! After the slight panic I came up with a game plan and so far so good. The rest of the menu:

Green beans and almond slices
Garlic and Chive Mashed Potatoes
Macaroni and Cheese
Stuffing

I can't wait until tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Some of My Favorite Things

I've been meaning to blog about something for a while now but I've been busy with life, work, school, and just general chillin'.

Over the last few weeks I've been on a quest to fill up my wine fridge with delicious wine and also make sure I have enough so I don't show up empty handed when I'm invited to gatherings or dinner parties. To do that, I've had to drink lots and lots of it. It's a tough job but I'm up for the challenge. I made my choices first based on my instant attraction to the label, followed by the description of the wine and what the vendor thought it would pair well with in regards to food. Cool, funky labels seem to draw me in as I'm browsing through wine aisles.

So here goes, some of my favorite things (wines):

The first one is called a cupcake chardonnay, the name alone resonated with me but the buttery and creamy flavors of the wine has me buying a bottle every time I pass a world market.

Now this Sauvignon Blanc I picked up at Costco and although pricier then a table wine it's absolutely delicious. Crisp and light, this New Zealand white is really refreshing.

If you don't like sweet wines but wanted to try a Riesling this dry one is delicious. I actually like sweet wines but tried it because the label in the store said it worked well with spicy Asian food and I was preparing a spicy Asian style fish stew that night. It's really good although the Hostess thought it was just ok.

This label caught my eye and when I realized it was a Riesling I had to pick it up. I found it at wholefood for only $8 and it's a great wine.

This isn't a wine but I thought I'd add it to my favorite things because it's a beer that needs a corkscrew to open. A delicious Raspberry flavored Belgian Beer, which btw, is now all the rage in my hood. They add Raspberry flavor after the initial fermentation or something like that. The end result is a delicious bev-raj that is way better then the flavored malt liquor stuff they make for women to drink.

Out of Control

I just watched a clean house marathon and am thankful for the common sense god gave me to keep my house uncluttered. I know I’m being judgmental but the people on these shows need some serious psychological help. Serious help that only a mental professional can give them. They also need style help, mirrored walls? On purpose? Don’t get me wrong I collect stuff, clothes especially but twice a year I go through my closet and just get rid of stuff I haven’t worn in a year.

I have that “you just never know” feeling about some of my stuff but my house is about a 1,000 square feet and I just can’t afford to keep everything. If something is coming in, something has to come out otherwise it’ll have that stuffed look. Stuffed isn’t cute nor does it make any sense.

I just did a complete reorganization of my home office/guest room and threw out a bunch of papers and stuff I’d collected since 1999, when I moved to DC. If I hadn’t looked at it since I moved into my house in 2003 it was out the door. Clearly I didn’t need it. Some of the “stuff” I couldn’t part with because of the "you never know" element I placed into small storage tins that fit on my book shelf so they’re tucked away until I need it, if ever.

I have to fight the pack rat feeling because my parents struggle with it as well and that’s one habit of their’s that I do NOT want. So I will continue to fight the urge to keep stuff and make sure my house is clutter free.

The Staple

There’s nothing worse then trying to figure out what to cook for dinner when your fridge and pantry are pretty empty. I had two pieces of tilapia defrosting in the fridge but couldn’t figure out exactly what I wanted to do with them. I then remembered that there was a can of light coconut milk in the pantry and I’d purchased some green and red Thai curry paste a while ago. Some green curry, fresh chopped ginger, garlic, brown sugar, a splash of fish sauce and a bit of chicken stock. 20 minutes later a green fish curry over rice. Yummy!

I’ve decided to always have fresh ginger and coconut milk on hand just in case I need to make an Asian influenced dish.

ROFLMAO!

That’s what I did this past weekend when I watched season 3 of the office. I LOVE that show! It’s ridiculous, outrageous and un PC but so damm funny! I watched the original British version on DVD last year and started watching the American version earlier this year.

I actually made a habit of watching an episode every morning before I headed to a work site back in March and had to deal with “le menteur” from my previous post. That was really the only way I could deal with that muhhhfking liar.

So now I’ve caught up to the episodes I missed from this season and am clamoring for more! More office please!

Too Nice

Sometimes I’m too nice and wish I could tell people exactly how I really feel. So in typical blogger fashion I’m letting some of it out. The names and language has been changed to protect innocent and not so innocent.

Au Menteur : Mais sa va pas ou quoi. Tu pense que je vois pas ce que tu fait ? Ferme ta Guelle et va te faire. Si je pouvais je te dirais la vérité que tu est rien et un jour le monde va le savoir.

La fille : Tu sait pourquoi rien ne marche pas pour toi ? C’est parce que tu est méchante et dieu va pas te bénir avec du bonheur a cause de ta mechanste. Parfois tu me dégoute.

Le Ga : Pour quoi tu chante pas ? Femme la ce bonheur mwen, ce miracle mwen, vie mwen. Mwen tombe pu li.

La Copine: Reste ou tu est. Ca vaut pas la peine de venir parce que j’ai vraiment pas envie de te voir. Je suis fatigue et franchement je préfère m’asseoir sur le divan et rien faire pour tout le weekend.

La collègue : Tu a toujours des excuse. Arrêt ca n’aide pas ta cause. Je m’en fous si tu dois aller nourrir tes enfants. Il ya du travaille à faire et chaque fois qu’il ya quelque chose tu me donne une excuse. Frankly my dear I don’t give a damm.

My Pumpkin

Someone stole my pumpkin and they also stole my neighbor's pumpkin. I jumped on the Halloween/Fall bandwagon early despite the heat and purchased a nice pumpkin at Whole Paycheck for only $5. That's a great price in my opinion but someone stole my pumpkin so either I'm going to have to buy another one or just go without this year. I HATE RAY RAY and 'em, seriously hate them and hope they rot like my pumpkin would have, had it NOT been stolen from my front stoop.

I didn't exactly see the ray rays steal my pumpkin but I'm really wondering who else could it be. That's what Rays Rays do, they steal, loiter, sell and do drugs so I'm blaming the missing pumpkin on them. Maybe the kids who walk down the block on their way to school did it. Lil' Hoodlums throwing checker wrappers on the street and just generally being lil' ray rays. I hate 'em too.

Bitter? Yes I am. I hate when people steal my stuff.