Wednesday, October 28, 2009

30 Things Every Woman Should Have Before She Turns 30* | The Frisky

30 Things Every Woman Should Have Before She Turns 30* | The Frisky

I really love this list. I'm 4 years away from 30 but I have accomplished many of these things....which makes me feel nice.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Up and away again

So last night I attended my first league practice in over a month. I didn't die and I managed to keep up during scrimmaging. When I'm away from derby I somehow convince myself that....I don't know...it's not as amazing or something? And then when I'm back, it's like a breath of fresh air. Anyway it's nice to be back in the fold....there's been a few changes but nothing I can't handle.

I went on a date last week with a guy I met online (I know). And it went really well. Surprisingly so in fact. We've hung out twice more since then. It's really nice to actually date someone. He asked me out for dinner, we had a drink afterward, he told me he had a great time and that he thought I was pretty. He texted me the next day saying he had a great time and that we should hang out again soon. And we have. M has recently kinda sorta started dating someone also and she commented how weird it was that we were 25 and 26 and are just now really experiencing real dating. And how nice it is. We're both just taking things slow and trying not to over analyze (like we both like to do).

And on a another note......I'll have to tell M that I met someone. Not that I think he'll really have much to say about it. I just don't want to do it.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Unadorned blackness 4


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Miles and miles

So in effort to get my act back together (and cause I promised D I would) I went outdoor skating last night. Currently we're just having practices on Sunday but some girls meet on Tuesdays to do some outdoor skating to get some extra skating in.

Oh.My. God. We (well most of us) skated on the bike trail from Wilson Park all the way to Target and back. I don't know exactly how far it was but I know it was AT LEAST 6 miles. I kinda felt like I might die on the way back. But I did do it. And there were other people who didn't.....even though they've been (I assume) attending practice more regularly. Anyway so this gives me more confidence about attending practice since I haven't been in over a month. I super need to get it together.

It felt amazing skating last night. It's strange to me that it took me this long in life to find out that I really enjoy team sports and physical activity. It was also super nice to see my derby girls that I haven't seen in awhile.

On a side note: how are you going to try and be all nice and make conversation with me when the last time I saw you, you made a shitty comment that was uncalled for and unprovoked? I'll do what I have to do for derby and if it involves working with you than I will. But we have not ever been and at this point will never be friends. We are league members and occasional teammates.

Monday, October 19, 2009

derb

Damn. So I've been slacking a lot the past few weeks or rather......................

since Labor Day. I keep meaning to go to practice and then something happens. J actaully emailed me last week asking what was up. And I said I was going to be at practice on Sunday but didn't make it. I got closer than I have previously. Anyway, so I got a text from D saying I needed to get my act together because she's always fighting for me and other people are not feeling me. Team selection is coming up soon.
I just haven't been feeling excited about derby lately. I'm not entirely sure why. I know I need to get it together and if I don't, I could end up on the Betties. If that happens, I'll probably quit. And I don't know what I would do after that. There hasn't been much to my life other than derby in forever. And I love it. But I just don't know. Sometimes I feel like I've plateaued in my skating which really scares me because I feel like I'm just sinking lower and lower.
This is starting to feel like a lot of other things in my life where I have to put up or shut up and I usually shut up...because I can't motivate myself enough to make things happen. Hopefully that won't happen with derby.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Unadorned blackness 3

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Unadorned blackness 2

A different kind of natural

So.......I did it. Or rather, am in the process of doing it. Combing out my dreads. I'm 90% done and should hopefully finish the rest tonight after work. It's been a long process (I started Saturday before last) but I have managed to keep a decent amount of length though keeping in mind that my dreads pulled my hair straight essentially and so now it's kinked back up. My hair is uneven but it always is so that doesn't bother me too much. At some point I'm going to flat iron my hair to get a look at the real length and probably do a quick trim. I also need to dye it because most of the colors I've dyed my hair over the years are somewhat visible. I've decided to wait a few weeks though to give my hair a chance to rest and to condition it after all the trauma I've put it through.

I'm actaully really excited about doing something different with my hair. I know it'll be a lot more work that I'm used to, but right now I'm okay with that. I know more about natural hair than I used to and I've been reading up. It seems likely that my go to style will be two strand twists with the occasional braids or maybe a small 'fro. It is long enough to pull back but I don't want to do that every day. We'll see. Pictures coming soon!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Dinner

I have a hatred for almost all things salad. The taste of lettuce in my mouth makes me want to gag. Similar response for the taste of mayo.
I realized here recently though that I don't have to make things the traditional way. For instance a few weeks ago I made chicken sald but with greek yogurt instead of mayo or salad dressing. I also put in green apples, red peppers, and cucumber along with a splash of lemon juice and some garlic and black pepper.
Tonight for dinner I think I'm going to make my version of pasta salad. Slightly al dente whole wheat rotini, chopped up chicken that was baked in olive oil, garlic, and Italian seasoning, chopped fresh spinach, feta cheese, chopped black olives, all tossed with some olive oil, garlic, and more Italian seasoning (which I bought at the farmer's market). Served at room temperature, this is one of my favorite dishes.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Unadorned blackness 1

http://www.avclub.com/articles/chris-rock,33754/

The AVClub has an interview with Chris Rock about his new comic documentary Good Hair. At one point, the interviewer asks Chris Rock "Do you think it's the unadorned blackness that people have a problem with?" I think is an awesome question and I think the answer is yes. People (mostly white but not all) assume that black people are a certain way and so is their hair. And they get scared and confused when people don't fit nicely in their little box.

Anyway I've been going through some hair things lately so I really enjoyed this interview. I'll be posting some pictures soon. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

I over analyze things. I rehash things over and over again in my head and out loud. I know my friends love me when they listen to me dissect the same issue 10 times in 10 different ways in the space of about 10 minutes. It helps me work thourgh things to say them out loud (I may also be trying to convince myself of things).

I've been spending alot of time with M lately and while it's nice, I think it's ultimately destined for trouble. I really enjoy his company which is part of the reason we've been friends for so long but I think I have trouble distinguishing the line between the benefits and friends part of friends with benefits.
So while on the one hand I like our "relationship" how it is in that we're not in one and we're just friends with nookie on the side and if he indeed wanted something more it would totally freak me out, on the other hand of course it would be nice if he did magically have feelings for me. But see even if he did, which he doesn't, it would never work out. Mostly because I want marriage and babies, and the white picket fence and all of that and he wants none of it. It's hard though when he hugs on me and kisses me in front of people (apparently to hint that he was in the mood- I'm real slow on the up take, he should have just said something) to remember that "oh yeah, we're just friends". And I know I just need to talk to him and lay down some rules, but I also really enjoy the physical affection.
I have a tendency to fall for boys/guys/men who are unavailable to me in some way- physically, emotionally, married. Oh and I did I mention that M and I have been involved before and I broke it off cause I had feelings for him and he didn't for me? Yeah I know, not the brightest move on my part to get involved again.

Anyway I will once again be surrounded by babies in late spring, early summer of next year. It makes me sad and excited and jealous all at once. My brother is being deployed to Iraq again in December. I try not to think about that too much. I miss NY and M. I think I'm going to go up and visit her for New Year's instead of in November.

It's definitely fall in Fayetteville now. It's been chilly and rainy the last few days and the leaves are starting to turn. This weather makes me I bought some autumn flowers at the Farmer's Market Saturday after meeting S for a coffee. I hadn't seen her in awhile and it was nice to talk with her. Going camping in a few weeks with D and the dogs and some friends. Really looking forward to that.

The end of the year is swiftly approaching.