Stressin’

How do you keep yourself healthy when you’re under a lot of stress? I’ve got a lot of projects going on right now at work and home and my body is starting to fail me. I’ve been at the gym no more than usual, but my body is extra extra sore like I ran a marathon. My sinuses still aren’t quite right, and I’ve got that general malaise feeling. I really can’t afford to fall apart right now, so I need to find a way to stay healthy (and sane).

What do you normally do to keep it together? Spa days are great, but I need something other than R.ed Bu.ll to keep me going during the day and something to keep me from getting sick all over again. Suggestions??

Red in the Face Friday

Thought I’d share one of my more embarassing moments-

Have you ever gone out just knowing you look nothing less than completely fabulous and fierce? I mean feeling your own sexiness sort of like that chick in the Plan.ters Peanuts commercial (I know yall have seen that mess). Have you ever found out later on that you were the farthest thing from all of that?

A while backI had the cutest skirt suit on for work; even took the time to get the makeup just so. I was having one of those Mary J “I like what I see when I’m looking at me when I’m walking past the mirror…” moments. Well management required us to wear pantyhose at work all the time…not a problem normally.

I was going about my day and stopped in the restroom. Somehow when I was done, the back of my skirt got caught up in my pantyhose. I didn’t notice, and the restrooms in the building are single-person so no one had the chance to warn me. I know you know where this is going. Yes I was that girl. I had a meeting and as Murphy’s Law would have it, there was not a human being in sight to help me out. I went to the meeting, and then left to go get lunch. While I was walking to the car, I saw someone in the corner of my eye running up to me.

Person: “Come here, I need to tell you something”

Me: “Can I help you?”

Person: “I can’t say out loud”

Me: “Anyway…okay, whatever”

Person: “Okay, well you need to know. Your right ass cheek is showing. Your skirt is caught in your pantyhose”

Me: “Ohmydamn. Thank you soooo much”

Beeline to the car which was only about 15 feet away by that point. Sat in the car for a good 5 minutes. Wanted to cry. Cried. Pulled skirt out of pantyhose. Went back to work, not a word was ever mentioned, even though I know the people in the meeting saw that ish.

Ouch.

Now moving on…Happy Friday yall. Have a great weekend.

La Bella Noire, RN

I’m just waiting for final confirmation, but I got in!! I’m going to be a nurse! Starting in january, I’ll be in one of the best nursing schools in the country. I’ve finally found a career path that I can put my heart in and still get paid pretty well (I’d still do it no matter what, though).

Most of my life, my mom (who’s an RN), told me not to get into that field because of all the politics. Every time I’ve thought about going into nursing, I’ve heard her voice in the back of my head so I steer clear. I got my degree in the admin/management side of the healthcare game because I’ve always felt at home in a medical setting, but it just wasn’t quite right. In my current position, I have the things that a lot of cubicle ghetto dwellers want–my own office, a “good” title, and some fairly important duties. But the longer I’m in it…the more I hate it. The being behind a desk and pushing papers and emails around isn’t making me happy. I get a twinge of jealousy when I see nurses and clinical staff walking around in their scrubs. I went back and forth about maybe going to cardiac tech school, dental hygeine school, or nursing. But at the end of every internal debate, nursing won out. Now that I’m a grown azz woman not afraid to choose the direction of my life and able to make educated decisions without my mother’s (or anyone else for that matter) opinion/experience being my sole influence, I’m going with my gut.

I’ve been asked if I think it’s stupid to get another bachelor’s, but I absolutely don’t. I see it as an investment in my future, and because I know better I won’t be owing Sa.llie M.ae my second child (she already has dibs on my first). I’ll probably go on to get my MSN, but we’ll let whatever organization I land a job with pay for that.

I’m so excited even though I know there’s going to be some challenging times ahead. I’ll be in school full time and (hopefully) working 3/4 time, so I’ll have to be dedicated. It seems like this year has really been one of serious change for me. I can say I kept my new year’s resolution of going for my personal and professional dreams. For one of the first times in my life, I’m proud of me. I let go and let Him, and my paths are being laid out for me. Fabulous.

As The Relaxer Jar Turns

I’m about to start on probably the most interesting personal journey ever. I’m giving up the creamy crack (relaxers) for good. I actually stopped perming my hair when I first moved to the urrrea, so it’s been about 2 and a half years since my last “bone straight” session. I’ve worn a lot of braids and hairpieces since then, but I’ve finally made up my mind.

 

It was one of those decisions that took a long time to make, going back and forth and getting a better sense of what I find aesthetically pleasing and really getting a better sense of who I am. I find beauty in a fresh roller wrap, neatly groomed locs, and a big ol’ Angela Davis fro’, so for me it’s not about the argument of is natural better than relaxed. I can’t bother getting caught up in that, because for me to say one is better than the other would make me a hypocrite.

 

I’ve spent a lot of time in the last few years really getting to know who I am, so I’ve figured that this change is probably the best for me. I’ve got a lot of cleansing and healing to do (including how I take care of myself, how I eat, how I think, etc) and that’s probably best done naturally. In January, I’ll be starting the process of locing my hair. I’d do it now, but out of pure vanity I don’t want to have baby locs in my wedding pictures. I’m having a good time right now with my kinky twists, but we’ll see what hairstyle the big day brings. Maybe I’ll wear my big long fluffiness Chaka Khan style, or then again maybe not.

 

My reasoning for going natural might not be ‘good enough’ for some, but I’m happy with the direction I’m going and even happier with the direction my hair is going. Looking forward to a fresh start.

Book and Space Rant

I’ve got a fac.eb.ook and mysp.ac.e account like most everyone in the known universe, and seriously I’m bout tired of them both. Well, really only the “book where errbody’s face is at”. “The Space”…I just kind of retired from that. I haven’t logged on in about 5 months, and the last time I did I got some kind of strange hate mail from some dude who was trying to be a Mr. Tasha contender. Your girl has no time for that. But while I’m talking about “The Space” and all…why are grown azz people still acting like that’s the hottest thing on Erf (yup, erf. Not earth, erf)?

 

Dude trying to get my # at the mall: “Hit me on my mys.pac.e page. I got like 500 friends up on there. I change my pics all the time so you never know what you’re gonna see. You gotta keep your shit up, you know?”

 

Me: “What?”

 

Dude: “This chick had holla’d at me on there and she did my survey….”

 

Me: *WTF face* “That’s great. Listen, I’m in a rush” *walks away*

 

Is that the new mack for the over-50- and goes to the Mason Hall on First Fridays dressed in head-to-toe red with fringes hanging from the sleeves and matching cowboy boots-crowd? Not impressed, but completely amused.

 

Anyway, it’s that damn ‘book’ that’s got me kinda irritated. Of course it’s great (and maybe not so great) to catch up with people from high school (and apparently Kindergarten—some chick I haven’t seen since 1988 found me a few weeks ago. Ol’ girl has TOO much time on her hands. And why does she still know my name?? C-R-E-E-P-Y!!) But seriously, it seems like every time I sign on, I’ve got another invitation to add some crazy azz application.

 

“So-and-so threw you a hot potato. *click here to add Hot Potato* *click here to share with your friends*”

 

Now I’ve got like 70 different stupid little applications, and every time someone hugs me or pokes me or slaps me upside the head, I get another little notification asking me to add whatever the application du jour is. And why do you feel it necessary to include me in your en masse sharing? For the love of Purple Rain, pleeease stop. I just want to log in, say hi to whomever and sign the fugg off. Ok, I need to stop sounding so curmudgeonly. I like sharing, really I do. Just not with everyone on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

And ex dude…if you ‘kiss’ me one more time or send me anymore ‘gifts’, I will blow up your laptop. I don’t like you like that anymore. Get that through your big azz head.

 

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, how do yall feel about “The Book” and “The Space”?

Didn’t Quit Yet

I’ve been extra neglectful of this here blog as of late, but I just haven’t been able to get myself to sign in and write something. Truthfully, the thought of just deleting the whole thing has crossed my mind more times than I care to say. I haven’t been reading others’ blogs much either, so sorry if I seem really behind on the goings on in the blogosphere. I could hide behind all of the extra work I’ve had as of late, the wedding planning, the great recent great weather, being sick, or my unfortunate injury…I recently jacked up my shoulder and have to get my rotator cuff fixed (BK, I’m coming in to see you soon even with my arm in a sling!). All of those would be viable excuses, and do really keep me busy, but really I just haven’t felt like it.

 

I keep stumbling upon things I want to write about though and sometimes I just have stuff on my mind, so that’s why I haven’t completely given up yet. I started to think that if I didn’t have anything profound to say, then I shouldn’t say anything at all, but I can’t go out like that. So I’m gonna try and do better. No promises, but I’ll try…so don’t take me off your blogrolls yet!