Archive for December, 2006

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Happy New Year

December 31, 2006

This has been a big year of growth and transition for me. One year ago yesterday, I made the big move to the DC area and things haven’t been the same since. I’ve made new friends, had some VERY interesting dating experiences, outgrown friendships and ex-boyfriends. I’ve made some incredible career strides, had another really jacked up car accident, got into my blogging groove, laughed, cried, screamed, yelled, and all of that. While this year has been good to me, I’m looking forward to a new year and the promise of better things, more fun, and more new experiences.

Whatever you do to celebrate tonight, be safe, have fun, and get durty if ya gotta!

Happy 2007 to my Blogfam!

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Did You Get the Job?

December 29, 2006

In my position at the plantation, I do a lot of job interviews. Most people come in there like they have some sense, but some don’t. I’ve pretty much seen the best and the worst, so I’ve decided to write an open letter to those who don’t seem like they know better.:

Dear Potential Employees,

I’m so glad you decided to interview with our company. Myself and the other managers were impressed with your resume, but we do have some concerns. Some of this may come off a bit harsh, but it’s really for your own good.

I know that snake-print halter dress was expensive and you want to get as much wear out of it as you can, but it’s best left for the club. Our company encourages individual expression, but you shouldn’t express everything all the time. It’s great that you shaved your chocha for today’s meeting with us, and I’m very happy that you feel fresh now. But I shouldn’t have been able to see for myself that you had your bikini waxer trim the bush into the shape of the Gucci symbol. Cross your legs next time, it’s much more ladylike. Let me break it down another way….FD muthafuckin S or Summer’s gotdamned Eve please! Use it, because you and your shorn pucci smell like South Street Seaport. I see now that you do have a PhD. I guess that stands for Pussy(smells like) hot Damn?! There’s no need for me to be able to discern this information durning an interview. I’m going to forward your resume to the gentlemen’s club as they are looking for new “cocktail waitresses” and that halter dress can be your uniform. Please excuse me while I regurgitate my breakfast. No, you didn’t get the job.

My brotha, we like chicken here. We order in quite often. We also enjoy gifts. However, gifts of fried chicken are not going to help you snag this position. I know you recognize that most of the staff and management in this department are black, and you know we like chicken, but wait until you’ve gotten the job to bring some in. We may have to revoke your ghetto pass and instead issue you a “Dayum that was gangsta” pass for that move. Also for future reference, if you’re going to bring in fried foods, make sure it’s in a container other than a brown paper bag. You had your bag sitting on your lap for so long that the grease from the chicken seeped through the bag onto your pants. Please address that situation. No, you didn’t get the job.

It’s an everyday hair struggle for a black woman, trust me I know. Some days, whether you have natural or relaxified hair, no matter what you do it just doesn’t look right. For this reason, many women have wigs to cover the mess up so they can look presentable in public. You should have worn one today, because I was embarrassed for you when you showed up wearing a headscarf with your hair still wrapped underneath. You were laughing with the receptionists, but sweetie, they were laughing at you. And so was I. That’s why I was five minutes late coming out to greet you after I was first introduced to you. Girl, I know that scalps get itchy sometimes too, but you didn’t need to take your scarf off, pull a bobby pin out of your wrap and proceed to dig in your scalp during the interview. I would have been fine not seeing that. You could have excused yourself to the bathroom. I’m forwarding your resume to the Wig Warrior Salon. They need your head as a model. No, you didn’t get the job.

We’re a pretty casual set during the summer months, so we like to lay back more than other times. We enjoy pulling out the grill and having fun. But man, not THAT kind of grill. I’m sure that platinum and diamond contraption in your mouth is removable, you should have taken it out. No excuses. Unless it’s orthodontic, take that mess out when you’re trying to get a job. I want to see how you speak and communicate, not how well you can imitate Paul Wall. You sound like you have a speech impediment with that shit in your mouth. Apparently you can’t spell, because your name as engraved in your grill is spelled differently than what’s on your resume. And I know you know it too, because you informed me that the spelling on your grill is the correct spelling of your gov’t name. Do you think you got the job?

Bishop Don Magic Juan wears suits, Jesse Jackson wears suits, lawyers wear suits, and Denzel Washington wears suits. Now you know as well as I do that the types of suits are different. Let’s get “Sesame Street” so we can figure this out. Sing with me now, “One of these suits is not like the other ones, one of these suits just doesn’t belong…” If you don’t get it, pimp suits are not the same as corporate suits. There is no need for a bright blue pimp suit, black cape, furry fedora hat, and a cane when coming for a job interview. The only thing that looks professional about you is the tailoring. Leave the silly swagger in the car. You look like a Supafly I’m Gonna Get You Sucka reject. The jheri curl under your fedora drips offensively. Fix that. No, you did not get the job.

Again, interviewees, I don’t like being so harsh. But I also don’t like watching people embarrass themselves in public. I really hope you know better than this, and were just having fun with this interview although I’m 99% sure that’s not the case. Perhaps this is why you’ve been out of work for so long. Allow me to clear up any misunderstanding, you did not get the job. Do not call me and ask me if I’ll reconsider either, because I’ve already advised you. I wish you the best of luck in your job searches.

Cordially,
Tasha

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Friday Flashback

December 29, 2006

This week it’s Kurtis Blow “If I Ruled the World”:

Happy Friday, Enjoy!

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Baby baby baby….

December 28, 2006

Ring ring. Ring ring.

“Hello?”

“Oh, my darling Tasha, how are you?!”

“Aunt Deb?”

“Yes honey, how was Christmas? What are you doing for New Years? How is the boyfriend?”

“Fine. Don’t know yet. Boyfriend? Nope. Auntie, it’s 3 in the morning, is something wrong?”

“Yes! I need to discuss something with you”

“OK, that’s fine. But it’s 3AM, you know that right?”

“Babygirl, this is real serious.”

*Braced myself for some terrible news*

“You’re not getting any younger, sweetie. When are you going to have a baby and start giving your mama some grandbabies? You don’t want your uterus to go to waste”

*DIALTONE* (Yeah I hung up on her, and what?!)

Record scratch, flag on the play, fifteen yard penalty! What. the. hell? My aunt woke me up this morning, demanding to know why I haven’t yet spat out some offspring. That was her dire emergency. I can barely remember my name at that time of the morning, let alone give a coherent answer to that question. In her own eyes, it’s disrespectful to my mother that I haven’t provided her with any grandchildren. Although my brother is 8 years older than me who has no children, and I have step siblings 10+ years older than me who don’t have kids, I’m responsible for doing all the childrearing I guess.

And hold the frigg on. She doesn’t want my uterus to go to waste? Oh my damn. It’s not like it’s a pineapple or a potato, there’s no “Use By..” date stamped on it! At least I don’t think so, anyway. I guess finishing grad school shouldn’t be quite so high on my priority list. Career? Who needs or wants one of those? Husband? Naw, they’re overrated. Bring on the chirrens. Goodness knows I need some, right? *Makes nasty sarcasm face*

I’m so fed up with people telling me when I should have kids, asking me why I’m not married with kids, asking why I don’t have kids, etc. For the love of everything, I’ve got quite a few years left in my 20s. No rush. It wouldn’t bug me so much if it were just my family who badgered me about this subject though. I suppose it’s their job. Aunts and uncles breach the level of appropriateness, but it’s all love. Family is crazy like that, I’ve come to accept it. But from perfect strangers? HELL NO!

More often than I want to think about, some mother who is busy wrangling her kids up says something to me along the lines of “Damn, you want one of these bastards? Go head, I’ll give ‘em up free”. I understand the humor, and once we get past the joke, usually they’ll go on with their day, but I’ve had more than a few women get all up in my face and tell me that I’m getting old and I need to go ahead and have kids NOW and get it over with. They tell me I’m being selfish because I want to wait a bit longer and try to get a few things done in my life. Now I understand shit happens, so you might end up with a youngin at your side at a different time or different circumstances than expected–that’s completely different from setting yourself up to be a statistic.

People please, learn your boundaries! If you do not know me, do not make comments like that. You don’t know how someone could react. I’m sick to death of being told and chastised for not living up to people’s ideals of what life is supposed to look like. Maybe if they hadn’t fucked up their own lives they wouldn’t be telling me what to do with mine. Ok, that was harsh, but come on now. It’s ironic that it seems to be the people with the worst examples of BeBe’s Kids are the ones telling me that I need to create some progeny. Maybe they want me to share in their misery? After all, it does love company right?

*Sigh*

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Sam’s Club is Da Debil!!!

December 27, 2006

I don’t think I can go in Sam’s Club alone ever again. Make that Sam’s Club, Costco, BJ’s, or whatever Gigantic Wholesale Club that happens to be nearby. I was way early for work, so I stopped in Sam’s near my job. My intended purpose for going in there was to buy the industrial sized package of paper towels and napkins and leave. That was not my final purpose though. I left the store with a new 42″ TV, DVD Player, two bottles of Pinot Noir, and HUGE package of paper towels and napkins that I think is taller than me.

I had no business with any electronics, nevermind enough paper products to last me until the fourteenth coming of the Messiah. But they were soo cheap! Therein lies the problem. They know I’m in there to buy one thing, but they set up these fabulous great deals in the middle of the aisles like booby traps. The unsuspecting shopper stumbles upon said booby trap deal and thinks to his or herself, “Well, I was thinking about getting a new TV. And it’s SO CHEAP! I might as well toss it in, since I won’t find a good deal like this again”. But Ahaaaa, Ahaaaaa (*trying my best to sound like Eddie Murphy playing the old Jewish guy in Coming to America*)that’s the everyday price. They sucker us into thinking this shit’s on sale when it’s the every day cot damn price.

I know I did a whole post about being wise with your finances, but I can’t even front. I got caught up in the Sam’s tornado of cheaptitude and let it get the best of me. Rare lapse in judgement. But the stuff was sooo cheap! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Where else in the world can you go into a place that looks like it’s made for construction guys who fix light fixtures and show plumber’s crack all day and buy all kinds of fun stuff. Trampolines! (Don’t act like you haven’t seen the trampoline that’s tethered to the front of the building) Wine! Clothes! (can’t bring myself to participate in that sale. I’ll stick to the mall for my outfitting) Jewelry! (He bet’ not get me no diamond from Costco!) Industrial size groceries! Toys! Gas! (I need to jump on this, cuz the $2.39/gal at Exxon doesn’t look as good as the $2.17/gal at BJ’s) New kitchen cabinets! Jacuzzis! Ahh, they have everything you can shake a dollar at. If you can buy it, it’s there. That’s too tempting.

These places are like little megalopolis metropolises. They’re so big and have so much random stuff, they could turn into a self-sustaining village. Just add a Fisher-Price hospital and a Little Tykes Firestation and you’re all set. Oh wait, they sell those there too…

But the stuff was soooo cheap!

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Another Legend Gone

December 26, 2006


James Brown, better known as the Godfather of Soul, passed away on Monday morning. It was very sad to wake up on Christmas morning to this news. Along with the popular music of the day, my musical diet growing up included lots of James Brown and other soul and funk acts of that era.

This man for some reason seemed invincible to death to me, I thought that he and many others including Barry White and Gerald Levert would live forever. I remember the first time I heard the refrain “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” I asked my mom if they actually allowed that on mainstream radio because I knew that was something revolutionary to be saying. In one of my very first tap competitions I danced to “I Got You” (most of us know the song as “I Feel Good”)–and won a trophy.

I’m sad to see another legend gone. The way our current music landscape looks, there are few poised to take the place of these voices, and that truly makes me worry about the future of our music. So much creativity has been taken to the grave, and I can only hope that the new generations can step up and leave a comparable lasting legacy of greatness.

Rest In Peace.

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Merry Christmas

December 25, 2006

I’ve escaped the family festivities long enough to say I hope you all have a wonderful, safe, and blessed Christmas. Whether you do it big with your family or quiet at home, enjoy the spirit of this wonderful holiday!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,
Tasha

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On the Road Again

December 22, 2006

I’m headed up to see the fam in NY today. I’ll probably be posting about the mass dysfunction of the holidays from there. So no Friday Flashback today, just flashing brake lights and traffic. FUN! *Rolls Eyes*

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The Gift That Won’t Stop Giving

December 21, 2006

On my way out of the door this morning, I almost tripped over this thing that was sitting in the doorway:

Actually I kicked it first then I saw it. I thought it was a brick because it was so hard–I think I jacked up my toe on that thing. I looked down and saw all the gummi colors and the red cellophane wrap and simply said to myself, “Fruitcake. No. I. Can’t.” I picked it up, looked at the tag and saw ‘To: Tasha From: Mrs. Upstairs Neighbor’ There was a similar looking brick o’ fruitcakey goodness in front of everyone’s door. I don’t know if she baked all of them, or if she got them from the Christmas clearance sale at the food pawn shop. Either way, it’s a nice gesture, but I don’t know how to return the favor nor do I know how to get rid of this thing.

I hate fruitcake. No ifs ands or buts about it. My grandmother, God rest her soul, used to force me to eat two pieces every Christmas morning, so my hatred is real. Some people say they hate the stuff, yet have never tasted it…but me, nah son. That stuff is just not right.

I know I can’t regift this brick. I can’t throw it away because it’s so heavy that it will tip the dumpster over, and I’m sure my neighbor would feel bad if everyone just tossed their fruitcakes in the trash and she caught one of us. I wouldn’t dare give this thing to a food pantry, since I don’t consider it to be food. I’m thinking I may hold on to it and in the off chance that someone tries to attack me in my home, I’ll have a weapon. Or if I catch my non-existant boyfriend (oh, the story! I’ll have to share one day) cheating on me with some ghetto trash, I’ll have something handy to throw though his car window.

And what am I supposed to get her in return? She gifted fruitcake en masse, so should I get something equally as wrong, like The Clapper or a Chia Pet, or worse yet a humongous tin of carmel, butter, and kettle corn? The kind with the scene of the horse in snow on the side? Or should I go to Hickory Farms and get the cheese and meat log set with the inedible brown snausage that stays in the wrapper forever? Maybe I’ll be classy and get her a cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory or a small Bath and Body Works basket.

Dammit Fruitcake, why must you muck things up?! I had no intention of buying her a gift, but now because of you I have to go and brave the malls again.

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Almost Sketchball Edition Update And a Slice of Humble Pie

December 20, 2006

Well I finally saw the kid who gave me the raunchy Christmas card. I told him I wanted to speak to him and he got all red in the face again, so I figured that he knew what this conversation was going to be about. Not so much. I sat him down in one of the quiet spots in the seating area of the cafeteria and explained to him that what he wrote was extremely inappropriate, but he wasn’t trying to hear that at first. I could look in his eyes and see that comprehension wasn’t clicking as fast as it does other times.

“But that’s how I feel. I want to make you cookies on Valentines and do what I writed at you with you. I want you to be my girlfriend friend. Not friend, but girlfriend

I had to explain to him why you can’t just write or say something like that to someone you don’t know and if you really like someone you have to handle things with more tact. I think he thought I was telling him that I hated him or something because he started boo-hoo crying.

“You don’t like me ever at all do you?”

“I like you, you are a very nice person. But I can’t be your girlfriend. I can be your special friend, but we can’t do everything you wrote in your card. I’d be happy if you made me cookies though.”

“You promise? Can we go on a date? No one likes me because I’m slow because my brain got sick. People call me retard a lot. You shouldn’t do that, it’s not good. So we’re going on a date!?”

“How about this, instead of a date, you can come bowling one weekend with me and my friends after New Years. That should be fun.”

“That’s fun. Good. Thank you Natasha! Awesome! You’re great! I know you can’t be my girlfriend but I still like you.”

He left the table beaming and left me there basically in tears. I didn’t have it in my heart to further chastise him for writing such crazy X-rated material in a card, I think he got the point. I don’t know if he came up with it himself or if he copied it from somewhere, but it doesn’t really matter now.

I guess that’s the best Christmas present I can give or receive this year–a smile and some understanding.