... seeing my nephew smile.
... watching weird television shows like Hoarders, Storage Wars, Billy the Exterminator, Hardcore Pawn, and My Strange Addiction.
... waking up to see dancing shadows of the blinds on the wall signifying a bright and sunny morning.
... how it smells outside before and after a heavy rain.
... the way my hair falls after I wrapped it just right.
... the lines in the carpet after vacuuming.
... laughing.
... hearing my parents laugh.
... seeing someone cry tears of joy (though I end up crying myself.)
... baking cookies in the wee hours of the morning and watching Netflix.
... shuffling through iTunes with the speakers on BLAST.
... carrying a book in my purse.
... opening my mailbox to find a new magazine.
... talking to Him out loud when I'm alone in my apartment.
... collapsing on the couch/bed after a long day at work.
... fruit, fruit snacks, and fruit popsicles.
... closing my eyes in the shower.
... finding the perfect pair of pearl earrings.
... the sound my phone makes when I get a new text message.
... writing this blog.
The little things.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
I'm pretty sure the whole 'eye for an eye' principle doesn't apply to disclosing personal matter.
If you feel the need to confide in someone or disclose something from your past and/or present, you are more than welcome to. But don't expect it to be reciprocated. Why are you bartering in friendship?
You may have someone that you've been friends with for years and still not know everything about that person. It doesn't make them less of a friend. For me, it was better to learn and share things as a friendship grew. I liken it to watching a never-ending movie and slowly seeing the story unfold. You gradually come to understand the main character better and the people and events that shaped them. There was no need to put the climax or life-changing moments at the very beginning. The same goes for relationships. I have been on dates where a man felt it necessary to share everything from crazy ex-girlfriends to their battle with irritable bowel syndrome. I was like:
I'm a private person, and I pick and choose what I want to share with people. The postings in this blog, for instance, are only a small percentage of my life story. While I don't believe people have to adopt my view on how they should handle business pertaining to their personal life, I would caution against who you open up to. There are leeches disguised as friends or acquaintances who pry at your personal life for entertainment/gossip purposes...and yes, I had to find that out the hard way.
If you feel the need to confide in someone or disclose something from your past and/or present, you are more than welcome to. But don't expect it to be reciprocated. Why are you bartering in friendship?
You may have someone that you've been friends with for years and still not know everything about that person. It doesn't make them less of a friend. For me, it was better to learn and share things as a friendship grew. I liken it to watching a never-ending movie and slowly seeing the story unfold. You gradually come to understand the main character better and the people and events that shaped them. There was no need to put the climax or life-changing moments at the very beginning. The same goes for relationships. I have been on dates where a man felt it necessary to share everything from crazy ex-girlfriends to their battle with irritable bowel syndrome. I was like:
I'm a private person, and I pick and choose what I want to share with people. The postings in this blog, for instance, are only a small percentage of my life story. While I don't believe people have to adopt my view on how they should handle business pertaining to their personal life, I would caution against who you open up to. There are leeches disguised as friends or acquaintances who pry at your personal life for entertainment/gossip purposes...and yes, I had to find that out the hard way.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Total Eclipse of the Heart
"Compassion is an emotion of which we ought never to be ashamed. Graceful, particularly in youth, is the tear of sympathy, and the heart that melts at the tale of woe. We should not permit ease and indulgence to contract our affections, and wrap us up in a selfish enjoyment; but we should accustom ourselves to think of the distresses of human, life, of the solitary cottage; the dying parent, and the weeping orphan. Nor ought we ever to sport with pain and distress in any of our amusements, or treat even the meanest insect with wanton cruelty."
- Hugh Blair
To a dear friend who was denied compassion in the early years, and lacks it in the latter. I don't understand how you view things, but I understand why. May you continue to grow...
- Carter
- Hugh Blair
To a dear friend who was denied compassion in the early years, and lacks it in the latter. I don't understand how you view things, but I understand why. May you continue to grow...
- Carter
Friday, July 22, 2011
American Gangster
"IDGAF!"
"I trust no one..."
"I'm heartless."
Gotta love these phrases. Most of the time, they are defense mechanisms and/or disguises for one's true thoughts and feelings. Typically, the "IDGAF" people ('I don't give a f***' to the lingo-challenged) say they don't care, but will spend hours upon hours going on a tirade about "how many f**** they give." The "I trust no one" type are similar to the IDGAF type, only they feel it necessary to reiterate how small their inner circle is, how "all they got in this cold, cold world" are themselves, or some other Tony Montana idiom. Oh, but the "I'm heartless type" are the worst. Through continuous bashing of the opposite sex, these types will glorify the single life and proudly don the title of 'player' or 'pimp', but in the same breath, complain about how they're sick of being lonely.
Myself? Yes, I can honestly say I DID fall into one of the aforementioned categories before realizing that I was lying to Christina. I tend to trust people because I try to see the good in everyone, I am oft too cautious to not hurt anyone's feelings for me to be labeled heartless, and sometimes I care too much to say IDGAF. I guess if I had to give it my type a name, it would be...human.
"I trust no one..."
"I'm heartless."
Gotta love these phrases. Most of the time, they are defense mechanisms and/or disguises for one's true thoughts and feelings. Typically, the "IDGAF" people ('I don't give a f***' to the lingo-challenged) say they don't care, but will spend hours upon hours going on a tirade about "how many f**** they give." The "I trust no one" type are similar to the IDGAF type, only they feel it necessary to reiterate how small their inner circle is, how "all they got in this cold, cold world" are themselves, or some other Tony Montana idiom. Oh, but the "I'm heartless type" are the worst. Through continuous bashing of the opposite sex, these types will glorify the single life and proudly don the title of 'player' or 'pimp', but in the same breath, complain about how they're sick of being lonely.
Myself? Yes, I can honestly say I DID fall into one of the aforementioned categories before realizing that I was lying to Christina. I tend to trust people because I try to see the good in everyone, I am oft too cautious to not hurt anyone's feelings for me to be labeled heartless, and sometimes I care too much to say IDGAF. I guess if I had to give it my type a name, it would be...human.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Excuse Me, Was You Saying Something?
Nothing deep.
Nothing personal.
Just another observation-turned-rant.
Our generation has a wealth of information at our fingertips....literally. Whereas we can search websites like Google, Bing, and Wikipedia to find millions of answers to a question, generations before us had to make trips to the library. That, or they were too busy making history and seeking the answers to go in the library books.
So why are we so lazy?
It blows my mind that some people (I love the word 'some' because I try to avoid generalizing) want information handed to them on a platter. I reached this realization after two incidents. The first incident occurred last week when I informed my followers of a new blog posting. In response, I received a tweet from someone saying that I shouldn't write such tweets without giving the blog link. Where was the link? Well, you have to go to this website which will lead you to another page where you enter a secret password, clap your hands, stomp your feet, and...
...actually, it was posted under my profile picture.
The second incident took place when the "planking" trend swept Twitter. 50% of my timeline consisted of pictures of people of planking and the other 50% people asking "Uh, what's planking?"
Funny, because I searched 'planking' as soon as it appeared on my timeline and got 18 million+ results. And I won't even bother addressing the 'Who is Casey Anthony?' questions.
There is the Internet, television, books, magazines, newspapers etc. at our disposal so we shouldn't always have to turn to others for an answer.
Just look, for goodness sakes, LOOK!
Nothing personal.
Just another observation-turned-rant.
Our generation has a wealth of information at our fingertips....literally. Whereas we can search websites like Google, Bing, and Wikipedia to find millions of answers to a question, generations before us had to make trips to the library. That, or they were too busy making history and seeking the answers to go in the library books.
So why are we so lazy?
It blows my mind that some people (I love the word 'some' because I try to avoid generalizing) want information handed to them on a platter. I reached this realization after two incidents. The first incident occurred last week when I informed my followers of a new blog posting. In response, I received a tweet from someone saying that I shouldn't write such tweets without giving the blog link. Where was the link? Well, you have to go to this website which will lead you to another page where you enter a secret password, clap your hands, stomp your feet, and...
...actually, it was posted under my profile picture.
The second incident took place when the "planking" trend swept Twitter. 50% of my timeline consisted of pictures of people of planking and the other 50% people asking "Uh, what's planking?"
Funny, because I searched 'planking' as soon as it appeared on my timeline and got 18 million+ results. And I won't even bother addressing the 'Who is Casey Anthony?' questions.
There is the Internet, television, books, magazines, newspapers etc. at our disposal so we shouldn't always have to turn to others for an answer.
Just look, for goodness sakes, LOOK!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Lovely Day
HUGGGGHHHHH what time is it? i bet i overslept. how'd my pillow end up on the floor? great, my scarf came off AGAIN, what's the point of wrapping my hair? do i work today? what time? whatever, i'm waiting til the last minute to get dressed. call dad. oops, i forgot to thank Him for another day. thank you Lord for blessing me to see another day. please bless my family and friends and let all things go according to thy will. amen. okay, what business do i need to take care of? i already called that one company. i hope there are more job postings today. ugh, i don't even want to look in the mirror today. i need to research possible funding options to complete my last year in graduate school because if i'm not able to finish....alright, well i won't think about that. where's my phone? check missed calls (why'd they call me at that time?) check texts....check email....check facebook (wack)...check twitter (#wack). i wonder if i could switch days with her so I can go home to help take care of my sister. why does this keep happening to her? probably not, too last minute. well i'll just go home friday as soon as i leave work, and i should make it back to ann arbor in time for work monday. i should plan to do something this week. who should i call to hang- is that an ant? where are my glasses? nope, that's a piece of lint. i need motivation today. i should clean my house. and it's supposed to be hot. my hair appointment is when? it feels like it might be a good day. i still feel like something is missing but i don't know what it is. i'll blog about it!....but how do you blog about a phantom feeling or thing?
What goes through my mind in 30 seconds after opening my eyes in the morning.
What goes through my mind in 30 seconds after opening my eyes in the morning.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Policy of Truth
There are days where I could wish I could relive my childhood and cherish the little things that I took advantage of. Time. Freedom. Innocence. Though I am blessed to have had such a wonderful childhood, I enjoy the advantages of being an adult as well as the things that go beyond the benefits: knowledge, femininity, maturity, and increased awareness of the world of around me.
I had a few friends over the other day, and one (shoutout to B1) mentioned how blind she was to the racial nuances of things from our childhood, a comment I eagerly agreed with. My family used to own a VHS tape titled "50 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons.' It was a collection featuring Looney Tunes characters like Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, and, the fan favorite, Bugs Bunny. Below was my favorite cartoon from the tape:
The dialect, the oversized lips, the buffoon-like mannerisms of the character, the crap shooting- those were all overlooked through the eyes of a child. Where we see racial stereotyping, I saw a boy being tricked by the clever Bugs Bunny. Plus, it was Looney Tunes! Looney Tunes would never intentionally incorporate racial stereotyping into their cartoons!
*crickets*
Unfortunately, maturity did not equate to being completely 'ignorance-free' and there were things that slipped through the cracks. In high school, my best friend at the time introduced me to T.O.K.'s "Chi-Chi Man" song. For someone who didn't care much for reggaeton, I loved and embraced the song. I even attempted to sing along in a faux-Jamaican accent...that was until my friend interpreted the lyrics:
"From dem a par inna chi chi man car. Blaze di fire mek we bun dem!!!!"
Loosely translated: Set all homosexual men on fire.
Oh.....okay.
My friend could not understand my astonishment nor my disgust. She explained how homosexuality was frowned upon (and that's putting it nicely) in Jamaica, and that it was normal, AND acceptable, for songs to contain lyrics encouraging people to murder gay individuals. Was I surprised? Yes. But at the time, I didn't know Jamaica held the title of being 'The Most Homophobic Place on Earth.' Keyword: EARTH.
As I continue to learn outside of classroom, I am forced to be even more conscious of my surroundings and history. At times, I wish I remained in the dark because it's difficult to grasp the former and present happenings in our society. It was crushing to read about the Baby Doe Law enactment given my nephew's disabilities or how, contrary to what is usually highlighted in the news, female circumcision is not only practiced in Africa, but in countries like Saudi Arabia, Australia, and even Great Britain.
The cartoon, the song, the news- all were harsh realities but needed experiences and information. I never want to be in the dark. As Benjamin Franklin once quoted "Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn."
Wait, can I quote Ben Franklin? He owned and sold slaves. But he was an abolitionist too...right? Ugh, this life...
I had a few friends over the other day, and one (shoutout to B1) mentioned how blind she was to the racial nuances of things from our childhood, a comment I eagerly agreed with. My family used to own a VHS tape titled "50 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons.' It was a collection featuring Looney Tunes characters like Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, and, the fan favorite, Bugs Bunny. Below was my favorite cartoon from the tape:
The dialect, the oversized lips, the buffoon-like mannerisms of the character, the crap shooting- those were all overlooked through the eyes of a child. Where we see racial stereotyping, I saw a boy being tricked by the clever Bugs Bunny. Plus, it was Looney Tunes! Looney Tunes would never intentionally incorporate racial stereotyping into their cartoons!
*crickets*
Unfortunately, maturity did not equate to being completely 'ignorance-free' and there were things that slipped through the cracks. In high school, my best friend at the time introduced me to T.O.K.'s "Chi-Chi Man" song. For someone who didn't care much for reggaeton, I loved and embraced the song. I even attempted to sing along in a faux-Jamaican accent...that was until my friend interpreted the lyrics:
"From dem a par inna chi chi man car. Blaze di fire mek we bun dem!!!!"
Loosely translated: Set all homosexual men on fire.
Oh.....okay.
My friend could not understand my astonishment nor my disgust. She explained how homosexuality was frowned upon (and that's putting it nicely) in Jamaica, and that it was normal, AND acceptable, for songs to contain lyrics encouraging people to murder gay individuals. Was I surprised? Yes. But at the time, I didn't know Jamaica held the title of being 'The Most Homophobic Place on Earth.' Keyword: EARTH.
As I continue to learn outside of classroom, I am forced to be even more conscious of my surroundings and history. At times, I wish I remained in the dark because it's difficult to grasp the former and present happenings in our society. It was crushing to read about the Baby Doe Law enactment given my nephew's disabilities or how, contrary to what is usually highlighted in the news, female circumcision is not only practiced in Africa, but in countries like Saudi Arabia, Australia, and even Great Britain.
The cartoon, the song, the news- all were harsh realities but needed experiences and information. I never want to be in the dark. As Benjamin Franklin once quoted "Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn."
Wait, can I quote Ben Franklin? He owned and sold slaves. But he was an abolitionist too...right? Ugh, this life...
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Lobster and Shrimp, and a Glass of Moscato...
It is definitely no surprise that I. LOVE. FOOD. It was that way in the beginning, and it's still that way now. I can count on one hand the things I won't eat, and ironically they all start with B's: beets, black licorice, bugs. "Bugs?!?" you say? Well obviously you don't watch the Travel Channel or National Geographic. In any case, I'd definitely fail as a food critic because I'd give 90% of the dishes 'two-thumbs' up, even if they weren't that spectacular. Seeing that at the moment I am a) hungry and b) thinking about food, I've decided to do another "Top Ten" post and list my top 10 foods!:
10. Chicken- STOP! Before you even began to formulate a stereotypical joke in your mind, realize that chicken is favorite food for different countries across the globe. In places like South Africa and China, even chicken feet are popular ingredients in soups, sandwiches, and stir-fry. (*cough* very well then.) Anyway, chicken is pretty good, especially if you have the right person making it. Add that to the fact that there are tons of chicken recipes out there, it's a difficult meat to get tired of. Well, maybe....
9. Tacos- This Mexican favorite dish has always been a must in my "diet" ever since we took family trips to Mexican Village in Detroit. Soft or crispy shells, fresh lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and either meat or fish, tacos are a food that will always be my favorite Mexican dish. And yes, in times of desperation, I settle for imitation. Taco Bell will do the job, and I can put away five tacos without blinking twice.
8. Pasta- Spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, chicken linguine, lasagna- Bravo! Delizioso! I'm a big sauce person, so I tend to gravitate towards dishes heavy in sauce such as pasta bowls. Recently, I experimented with an Olive Garden recipe for my family and they loved it! If you like to cook, I recommend that you try it too. ;-)
7. Pizza- Sometimes extra cheap and other times too freakin' expensive, pizza is something that I tend to have a love/hate relationship with. There are times where I'm sick of it and the sight of a pizza box nauseates me, and other times where I'm willing to spend TOO much money on the pie. I fault myself because I am NOT the "pepperoni only" or "cheese only" kind of girl. I need everything on it, and the more toppings the better (and the more expensive.) Thus far, my favorite pizza of all-time is the deep-dish seafood pizza at Pizza Papalis which costs $24 for just a small pie. Loaded with chunks of crabs and shrimp, I guarantee you'll be pushing your plate away after 1.5 slices.
6. Hot Dogs- Hot dogs are the greatest and cheapest snack food ever created. Please save the lecture on what's really in them, because in all honesty I don't care. The god of hot dogs is of course the Chicago hot dog- a beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, with mustard, onions, relish, hot peppers, a pickle spear, tomatoes, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Mmm... A close runner-up would be the hot dogs served at the baseball park. They may costs a $150, but the warm, toasty bun makes it all worth it!
5. Vegetables/Fruits- My parents told me that I've liked fruits and veggies since I was a little girl, a thing that people told them was a blessing. As I got older, I grew to love them even more, sometimes making whole meals of just vegetables and no meat. Given my eating habits, it's a good thing that I try to incorporate the two groups into my diet, although it can be a hassle with my slight food allergy to fresh produce. It's just good to eat something without having to check nutritional information or worry (too much) about portion size.
4. Sushi- Remember when you first learned about sushi? Majority of people (myself included) swore they would never touch it since it was raw fish. Who wants to eat raw fish?! Somewhere along the way, you might have had a family member or friend patiently explain that not ALL sushi is raw, and encourage you to try the "beginner" roll- the California. My first time having sushi was trying the deep-fried version of the California roll with eel sauce, and I thought it was little rolls of ecstasy. From then on, I worked my way up, and the next thing you know, I was eating rolls with eel or raw fish! My biggest accomplishment with sushi however? Teaching my mom, sister, and nephew to become certified sushi lovers.
3. Korean- My favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor is this tiny restaurant on South University by the name of Kang's. Kang's specializes in authentic Korean cuisine and it is amazing. How I even stumbled across Korean food is quite embarrassing. Back in '05 during Bridge (#s/o), we had something called 'Beef Bulgogi' in the cafeteria. As unappetizing as it looked, it was pretty tasty! But I wanted to try the real thing. One day on a scavenge for food, I decided to give Kang's a try since I always passed it on my way to work. Again, AMAZING. Just the right seasoning and spice, and a portion size that leaves you too full to ask for more. My favorite plate would be the Beef Bulgogi (semi-sweet beef stir fry) or Chap Chae Bob which has delicious vermicelli noodles. And let's not forget about the sides of perfectly spiced kimchi, fresh soybeans, and miso soup. Thank goodness for the Korean spot that opened next door to me. Nowhere NEAR the same level as Kang's, but enough to satisfy my random cravings for the food.
2. Barbeque- Lemme tell you something about barbeque- it is one of THEE most brilliant cooking techniques ever invented. And smothering barbequed food in a sauce made with with spices, tomatoes, and/or molasses, makes me wanna....
Point is, no matter what you throw on the grill- ribs, burgers, chicken, sausage, corn, etc- it magically becomes 10 times better. I am now counting down the days to Labor Day- the last barbeque of the year. *moment of silence*
And my number one food is....*drum roll*
1. Seafood- Just thinking of baked fish with fresh squeezes of lemon, golden-fried jumbo shrimp, and crab legs and lobsters with hot drawn butter, is enough to send me into a tizzy. If I had a choice, I'd eat seafood everyday without getting seasick (1 point for the corny pun? No? Okay.) The main reason why I wont' ever tire of seafood is because it's a special treat. As much as I adore lobster, I'm not rushing to a restaurant to drop $30 on ONE lobster tail. Nevertheless, it has and will always be my number one food point. blank. period.
10. Chicken- STOP! Before you even began to formulate a stereotypical joke in your mind, realize that chicken is favorite food for different countries across the globe. In places like South Africa and China, even chicken feet are popular ingredients in soups, sandwiches, and stir-fry. (*cough* very well then.) Anyway, chicken is pretty good, especially if you have the right person making it. Add that to the fact that there are tons of chicken recipes out there, it's a difficult meat to get tired of. Well, maybe....
9. Tacos- This Mexican favorite dish has always been a must in my "diet" ever since we took family trips to Mexican Village in Detroit. Soft or crispy shells, fresh lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and either meat or fish, tacos are a food that will always be my favorite Mexican dish. And yes, in times of desperation, I settle for imitation. Taco Bell will do the job, and I can put away five tacos without blinking twice.
8. Pasta- Spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, chicken linguine, lasagna- Bravo! Delizioso! I'm a big sauce person, so I tend to gravitate towards dishes heavy in sauce such as pasta bowls. Recently, I experimented with an Olive Garden recipe for my family and they loved it! If you like to cook, I recommend that you try it too. ;-)
7. Pizza- Sometimes extra cheap and other times too freakin' expensive, pizza is something that I tend to have a love/hate relationship with. There are times where I'm sick of it and the sight of a pizza box nauseates me, and other times where I'm willing to spend TOO much money on the pie. I fault myself because I am NOT the "pepperoni only" or "cheese only" kind of girl. I need everything on it, and the more toppings the better (and the more expensive.) Thus far, my favorite pizza of all-time is the deep-dish seafood pizza at Pizza Papalis which costs $24 for just a small pie. Loaded with chunks of crabs and shrimp, I guarantee you'll be pushing your plate away after 1.5 slices.
6. Hot Dogs- Hot dogs are the greatest and cheapest snack food ever created. Please save the lecture on what's really in them, because in all honesty I don't care. The god of hot dogs is of course the Chicago hot dog- a beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, with mustard, onions, relish, hot peppers, a pickle spear, tomatoes, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Mmm... A close runner-up would be the hot dogs served at the baseball park. They may costs a $150, but the warm, toasty bun makes it all worth it!
5. Vegetables/Fruits- My parents told me that I've liked fruits and veggies since I was a little girl, a thing that people told them was a blessing. As I got older, I grew to love them even more, sometimes making whole meals of just vegetables and no meat. Given my eating habits, it's a good thing that I try to incorporate the two groups into my diet, although it can be a hassle with my slight food allergy to fresh produce. It's just good to eat something without having to check nutritional information or worry (too much) about portion size.
4. Sushi- Remember when you first learned about sushi? Majority of people (myself included) swore they would never touch it since it was raw fish. Who wants to eat raw fish?! Somewhere along the way, you might have had a family member or friend patiently explain that not ALL sushi is raw, and encourage you to try the "beginner" roll- the California. My first time having sushi was trying the deep-fried version of the California roll with eel sauce, and I thought it was little rolls of ecstasy. From then on, I worked my way up, and the next thing you know, I was eating rolls with eel or raw fish! My biggest accomplishment with sushi however? Teaching my mom, sister, and nephew to become certified sushi lovers.
3. Korean- My favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor is this tiny restaurant on South University by the name of Kang's. Kang's specializes in authentic Korean cuisine and it is amazing. How I even stumbled across Korean food is quite embarrassing. Back in '05 during Bridge (#s/o), we had something called 'Beef Bulgogi' in the cafeteria. As unappetizing as it looked, it was pretty tasty! But I wanted to try the real thing. One day on a scavenge for food, I decided to give Kang's a try since I always passed it on my way to work. Again, AMAZING. Just the right seasoning and spice, and a portion size that leaves you too full to ask for more. My favorite plate would be the Beef Bulgogi (semi-sweet beef stir fry) or Chap Chae Bob which has delicious vermicelli noodles. And let's not forget about the sides of perfectly spiced kimchi, fresh soybeans, and miso soup. Thank goodness for the Korean spot that opened next door to me. Nowhere NEAR the same level as Kang's, but enough to satisfy my random cravings for the food.
2. Barbeque- Lemme tell you something about barbeque- it is one of THEE most brilliant cooking techniques ever invented. And smothering barbequed food in a sauce made with with spices, tomatoes, and/or molasses, makes me wanna....
Point is, no matter what you throw on the grill- ribs, burgers, chicken, sausage, corn, etc- it magically becomes 10 times better. I am now counting down the days to Labor Day- the last barbeque of the year. *moment of silence*
And my number one food is....*drum roll*
1. Seafood- Just thinking of baked fish with fresh squeezes of lemon, golden-fried jumbo shrimp, and crab legs and lobsters with hot drawn butter, is enough to send me into a tizzy. If I had a choice, I'd eat seafood everyday without getting seasick (1 point for the corny pun? No? Okay.) The main reason why I wont' ever tire of seafood is because it's a special treat. As much as I adore lobster, I'm not rushing to a restaurant to drop $30 on ONE lobster tail. Nevertheless, it has and will always be my number one food point. blank. period.
Changes
Took a trip to V-A this weekend and had a wonderful time with my bestie! It was great experiencing the city as an adult and exploring the DC nightlife. I can't wait to go back!
On the ride home from VA, we (my sandz and a soror) decided to stop at a Prime Outlet mall. They wanted to shop and I just wanted to observe as I am on strict shopping probation. Unfortunately, no more than 3 minutes out of the car, I spotted a sign that read 'Book Warehouse'(probation ended.) When I walked in, I found a store covered in signs reading "50% ALL FINAL SALES!!!!" After picking up a Supremes autobiography marked down to $3.99, I swiftly walked over to the Seth Green-lookalike hunkered behind the counter.
Me: "Excuse me. This book says it's $4. Is this the price after the discount?"
Clerk: "No, it's actually 50% off that price."
Me: "Sheesh, you guys are tryna make me carry a load of books back to Michigan!"
In response, he simply shrugged and said "Well my store is closing, so feel free to buy as much as you'd like. I need to get rid of it all anyway."
I spent nearly 30 minutes walking around the small shop, running my fingers along rows of best sellers, and standing on tip-toes to grab fiction novels on shelves out of reach. At one point, I just stopped and read the titles of the books on each shelf one by one. If I had fallen into a trance, it was quickly interrupted by a loud-mouth redhead who walked in with her boyfriend. I caught the end of her rant to her significant other who looked as if he wanted to slap a muzzle on his yapping girlfriend.
"....like hundreds of them are closing. You see 'for sale' signs, like, everywhere. And anyway, who cares. Just hurry up and grab something. I don't know why people publish books anymore anyway. Like, who has time to read?" Irritated and shocked with my fleeting thoughts about using a book as a bludgeoning weapon, I bought five books and rushed out the door. Reality hit during the long ride home. "She was right."
Bookstores around the country are closing at significantly high rates. After declaring bankruptcy, Borders has decided to close more than 30% of its stores nationwide. Barnes & Nobles, which once boasted stock worth $45 per share, fell to just $15 in 2010, and with the introduction of e-readers such as the Kindle, Amazon has noticed a dramatic increase in the sale of e-books. Brett Arends of The Wall Street Journal correctly labeled the happenings as "The Bookstore Massacre-" the closure of bookstores around the country and the slow extinction of the book.
I love technology, and a part of me longs to be a gadget geek. However, there's the other part that feels as if the world is moving too fast. I was the kid that read the newspaper every morning. I was the kid that preferred bookstores over toy stores. To picture them both extinct within the next decade seems like a distant nightmare. If this is how I feel, I can only imagine how my parents feel, or my grandparents would have felt. A line that resonates and perfectly illustrates my thoughts at this moment was quoted by the beloved Brooks Hatlen character in The Shawshank Redemption: "The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry."
You damn right Brooksy.
On the ride home from VA, we (my sandz and a soror) decided to stop at a Prime Outlet mall. They wanted to shop and I just wanted to observe as I am on strict shopping probation. Unfortunately, no more than 3 minutes out of the car, I spotted a sign that read 'Book Warehouse'(probation ended.) When I walked in, I found a store covered in signs reading "50% ALL FINAL SALES!!!!" After picking up a Supremes autobiography marked down to $3.99, I swiftly walked over to the Seth Green-lookalike hunkered behind the counter.
Me: "Excuse me. This book says it's $4. Is this the price after the discount?"
Clerk: "No, it's actually 50% off that price."
Me: "Sheesh, you guys are tryna make me carry a load of books back to Michigan!"
In response, he simply shrugged and said "Well my store is closing, so feel free to buy as much as you'd like. I need to get rid of it all anyway."
I spent nearly 30 minutes walking around the small shop, running my fingers along rows of best sellers, and standing on tip-toes to grab fiction novels on shelves out of reach. At one point, I just stopped and read the titles of the books on each shelf one by one. If I had fallen into a trance, it was quickly interrupted by a loud-mouth redhead who walked in with her boyfriend. I caught the end of her rant to her significant other who looked as if he wanted to slap a muzzle on his yapping girlfriend.
"....like hundreds of them are closing. You see 'for sale' signs, like, everywhere. And anyway, who cares. Just hurry up and grab something. I don't know why people publish books anymore anyway. Like, who has time to read?" Irritated and shocked with my fleeting thoughts about using a book as a bludgeoning weapon, I bought five books and rushed out the door. Reality hit during the long ride home. "She was right."
Bookstores around the country are closing at significantly high rates. After declaring bankruptcy, Borders has decided to close more than 30% of its stores nationwide. Barnes & Nobles, which once boasted stock worth $45 per share, fell to just $15 in 2010, and with the introduction of e-readers such as the Kindle, Amazon has noticed a dramatic increase in the sale of e-books. Brett Arends of The Wall Street Journal correctly labeled the happenings as "The Bookstore Massacre-" the closure of bookstores around the country and the slow extinction of the book.
I love technology, and a part of me longs to be a gadget geek. However, there's the other part that feels as if the world is moving too fast. I was the kid that read the newspaper every morning. I was the kid that preferred bookstores over toy stores. To picture them both extinct within the next decade seems like a distant nightmare. If this is how I feel, I can only imagine how my parents feel, or my grandparents would have felt. A line that resonates and perfectly illustrates my thoughts at this moment was quoted by the beloved Brooks Hatlen character in The Shawshank Redemption: "The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry."
You damn right Brooksy.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Christian Dior Denim Flow
It's always funny to hear what people classify as "hoodrat-ish" or ghetto. I'll admit that iGiggle at statements that begin with "You know you a hoodrat/ghetto if..." Typically, these observations include some type of brand:
"You know you a hoodrat if you drink Faygo pop and eat Hot Cheetos."
"You know you ghetto if you carry a fake Gucci or Louis Vuitton bag bought from the beauty supply sto’."
I sat back and thought about the brands themselves and what (if any) are their sentiments on being considered correlated with the underprivileged black community. There are companies that specifically market to that demographic, but I would venture a guess and say that Frito-Lay did not sit in a boardroom brainstorming ways to appeal to the 'American hoodrat' or what cities they should host a 'Hot Cheetos Fest.' Going from there, I thought about the upscale luxury brands that have fallen victim to generalization. Those melded into the image of a 'ghetto-fabulous lifestyle.’ These brands- which include LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy), Gucci, BMW, Christian Dior, and Ralph Lauren- are all foreign in origin (with the exception of Ralph Lauren) and powerhouses of luxury, class, wealth, and elegance in the world of fashion. All decades old and some approaching their centennial, the possession of these brands are now what defines the 'American Dream.' The house with the 2.5 kids, dog, and perfect white picket fence went out with the 50s (No, but seriously. It did.) With songs like "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley," "#1 Stunna," and "Super High," it's no surprise that materialism is suffused into black hip-hop culture, some incorporating the brand names into their stage personas (Gucci Mane, the Louis Vuitton Don, Cartier Kitten, etc.) Take a look at this Yahoo! question:
Though people are quick to analyze the infatuation blacks have with luxury goods and whether or not we impact the integrity of a brand, other ethnic groups have been accused of the same “wrongdoing.” Polo Ralph Lauren, for instance, has come under fire for Mexican drug dealers sporting their signature polo shirts, a phenomenon which sparked a trend of wearing Polo knock-offs amongst the Mexican children and young adults. In China, artists such as Chen Wenjing depict Chinese obsession with brands and materials through artwork such as the 'God of Materialism,' a piece that shows a mass of starry-eyed piglets staring at the god adorned in jewels and other material things:
Being a lover of all things fashion and high-end, I questioned whether we were allowing the glorification of the brands in the media and the, uh, tackiness of others to tarnish the image of our beloved luxury brands. Were they being cheapened and denigrated to the level of something that was "hood" as opposed to something classic?
I decided to research the background of each company and found some interesting facts. Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessey continues to dominate as the top luxury good and is worth over $20 billion. With over 60 brands and 2,500 stores worldwide, the LVMH conglomerate was founded in 1987 after Moet Hennessy merged with Louis Vuitton. Included in the conglomerate are its subsidiaries such as Fendi, Christian Dior, Bvlgari, and Dom Perignon, as well as an assortment of fashion, wine, perfume, and cosmetic-based companies.
In the early 19th century, Louis Vuitton’s cemented itself in fashion history by introducing the Louis Vuitton flat trunk to the awe of vacationers and explorers alike. LV went on to develop an amazing history…though not so squeaky-clean. Evidence has surfaced linking the retailer to the Vichy regime of World War II, a regime responsible for the deportation of more than 75,000 Jews to German concentration camps. Much of the relationship between the regime and the Vuittons stemmed from business deals with the Germans as well as active support for a puppet government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain.
Ok, so it’s been years since WWII, and you might say, “Let the past be the past,” but there are recent incidences involving other companies. In late 2010, perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain (another subsidiary of LVMH) received much backlash from the French black community after saying the following statement in an interview on French television:
“For once, I worked like a nigger. I don’t know if niggers really worked that much.”
This year, the fashion house of Gucci faces a discrimination lawsuit with allegations of racial remarks made towards pop artist, Rihanna. Moreover, claims against BMV have surfaced regarding the issuance of NUDs or “non-urban dictates” which prevents advertisement in predominantly black communities. Other companies that have issued NUDs before? Lexus, Ethan Allen, and Starbucks.
But don’t be quick to point the finger yet. In 2005, Gucci partnered with UNICEF and pledged over $9 million to a campaign that would support UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” initiative. The house of Christian Dior even took a stance against racism in the firing of top fashion designer, John Galliano, after an anti-Semitic rant caught on camera. Galliano made comments such as “I love Hitler” and “"Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be ... gassed and ... dead."
So what’s my conclusion? In all honesty- I don’t know. At this point, it’s difficult to say whether the people affect the integrity of the brand, or if the brand affects the integrity of the people. Or neither. I just need to dig deeper and research further into the history and marketing strategies of the luxury brands before I can make a fair assessment.
Fashion+ History+Research= Happy Christina.
"You know you a hoodrat if you drink Faygo pop and eat Hot Cheetos."
"You know you ghetto if you carry a fake Gucci or Louis Vuitton bag bought from the beauty supply sto’."
I sat back and thought about the brands themselves and what (if any) are their sentiments on being considered correlated with the underprivileged black community. There are companies that specifically market to that demographic, but I would venture a guess and say that Frito-Lay did not sit in a boardroom brainstorming ways to appeal to the 'American hoodrat' or what cities they should host a 'Hot Cheetos Fest.' Going from there, I thought about the upscale luxury brands that have fallen victim to generalization. Those melded into the image of a 'ghetto-fabulous lifestyle.’ These brands- which include LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy), Gucci, BMW, Christian Dior, and Ralph Lauren- are all foreign in origin (with the exception of Ralph Lauren) and powerhouses of luxury, class, wealth, and elegance in the world of fashion. All decades old and some approaching their centennial, the possession of these brands are now what defines the 'American Dream.' The house with the 2.5 kids, dog, and perfect white picket fence went out with the 50s (No, but seriously. It did.) With songs like "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley," "#1 Stunna," and "Super High," it's no surprise that materialism is suffused into black hip-hop culture, some incorporating the brand names into their stage personas (Gucci Mane, the Louis Vuitton Don, Cartier Kitten, etc.) Take a look at this Yahoo! question:
Though people are quick to analyze the infatuation blacks have with luxury goods and whether or not we impact the integrity of a brand, other ethnic groups have been accused of the same “wrongdoing.” Polo Ralph Lauren, for instance, has come under fire for Mexican drug dealers sporting their signature polo shirts, a phenomenon which sparked a trend of wearing Polo knock-offs amongst the Mexican children and young adults. In China, artists such as Chen Wenjing depict Chinese obsession with brands and materials through artwork such as the 'God of Materialism,' a piece that shows a mass of starry-eyed piglets staring at the god adorned in jewels and other material things:
Being a lover of all things fashion and high-end, I questioned whether we were allowing the glorification of the brands in the media and the, uh, tackiness of others to tarnish the image of our beloved luxury brands. Were they being cheapened and denigrated to the level of something that was "hood" as opposed to something classic?
I decided to research the background of each company and found some interesting facts. Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessey continues to dominate as the top luxury good and is worth over $20 billion. With over 60 brands and 2,500 stores worldwide, the LVMH conglomerate was founded in 1987 after Moet Hennessy merged with Louis Vuitton. Included in the conglomerate are its subsidiaries such as Fendi, Christian Dior, Bvlgari, and Dom Perignon, as well as an assortment of fashion, wine, perfume, and cosmetic-based companies.
In the early 19th century, Louis Vuitton’s cemented itself in fashion history by introducing the Louis Vuitton flat trunk to the awe of vacationers and explorers alike. LV went on to develop an amazing history…though not so squeaky-clean. Evidence has surfaced linking the retailer to the Vichy regime of World War II, a regime responsible for the deportation of more than 75,000 Jews to German concentration camps. Much of the relationship between the regime and the Vuittons stemmed from business deals with the Germans as well as active support for a puppet government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain.
Ok, so it’s been years since WWII, and you might say, “Let the past be the past,” but there are recent incidences involving other companies. In late 2010, perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain (another subsidiary of LVMH) received much backlash from the French black community after saying the following statement in an interview on French television:
“For once, I worked like a nigger. I don’t know if niggers really worked that much.”
This year, the fashion house of Gucci faces a discrimination lawsuit with allegations of racial remarks made towards pop artist, Rihanna. Moreover, claims against BMV have surfaced regarding the issuance of NUDs or “non-urban dictates” which prevents advertisement in predominantly black communities. Other companies that have issued NUDs before? Lexus, Ethan Allen, and Starbucks.
But don’t be quick to point the finger yet. In 2005, Gucci partnered with UNICEF and pledged over $9 million to a campaign that would support UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” initiative. The house of Christian Dior even took a stance against racism in the firing of top fashion designer, John Galliano, after an anti-Semitic rant caught on camera. Galliano made comments such as “I love Hitler” and “"Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be ... gassed and ... dead."
So what’s my conclusion? In all honesty- I don’t know. At this point, it’s difficult to say whether the people affect the integrity of the brand, or if the brand affects the integrity of the people. Or neither. I just need to dig deeper and research further into the history and marketing strategies of the luxury brands before I can make a fair assessment.
Fashion+ History+Research= Happy Christina.
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