MUSIC || mighty.

I remember the first time I heard Mos Def. I feel like I may have heard the name before, but I'm not sure. But I do remember the day I heard Mos Def's music.

I was at a point where I could care less about rap. I wasn't a huge fan. I mean I danced to the popular songs and could hold a decent conversation about the rappers out at that time.

But this was something new.

He was talking about history. And music. And love. And race. And home. And rock and roll. You had to listen to the words, not just bob your head to the beat. It wasn't about catchy hooks. It was something that connected to my soul.

So in that crowded van, riding around DC, surrounded by classmates and thespians who had dreams like me, who chatted about auditions and life at Howard and stuff like that, I zoned out of the conversation to agree with Mos Def's statement that

"Elvis Presley ain't got no soul, Bo Diddly is rock and roll. You may dig on the Rolling Stones, but they ain't come up with that shit on they own."

There was music store in the train station. I thumbed through the M's in the Rap Section, laughing at the idea that I was actually in the Rap section, and picked up the only copy of Black on Both Sides. I was surrounded by words. Words that took me places. Words that made me think. Words that riled me up and words that lulled me to sleep. All spoken with love.

By the time I got home, I was in love.

Since then I've listened to as much of his work as I could get my hands on. I get excited for new album releases. I've fallen in love with his acting (which has nothing to do with the music part, but I just wanted to put it out there.)

But I'm here. I'm still listening.

UPDATE || updating.

My life has been extra-hectic lately.
I moved into my new place (Whee!) and started my new job. They both have taken a lot of me with unpacking and learning all of my job-ly duties and such.

On top of that, I got tonsillitis or something again. Fortunately, I got to visit a doctor and now I have antibiotics. Yay! Coupled with Tylenol, tea, and not doing much other than work, I've been keeping the feeling-miserable down to a minimum. Well the physical feeling-miserable.

Emotionally, life's been topsy-turvy, but I'm getting through it.

I look forward to writing here more often. I miss it. I just need to decide how I want to focus it.
Until then, live and love and laugh. Life is short.

IRL || points.

I think I'm not very good at getting my point across.

I talk to people, and if there's a disagreement, it always feels like we're talking about two different subjects, not disagreeing on one. The more I try to steer the conversation back to the point, the further it gets from it. On the other person's end.

Or maybe I was just wrong all along.

Guess it's something I need to work on.

IRL || random thoughts.

I'm working on a post about the amazing road trip I had with my mom and sisters. It will have photos. Meanwhile, I just want to share a few random thoughts:

one.
Kevin Michael is quickly becoming a favorite. His music moves me, feels good.

two.
Freedom and Fear can't exist together. We need to overcome fear in order to be free. I need to overcome fear to be free.

three.
I need to spend more time with my loved ones. I miss my friends, sorors, family members.

four.
Planning visits to museums. I really need to get to MOCA in Detroit and the Hands on Museum in Ann Arbor. The Hands On just seems fun and a reminder of childhood freedom. And the apple orchard in the fall. Accepting companions to accompany me. :)

five.
I have a strong desire to try my hand a a fresh peach cobbler. Mmmm.

six.
It's nice to be thought about.

seven.
Life has just gotten more interesting. In a good way. I feel extra young and kind of giddy ;)

eight.
I'm ready for the semester to begin. And to move into the new apartment! September will be good.

LIFE || NOLA!

Yesterday was my first full day in New Orleans. I woke up early to take a van-tour around the city. The tour took us past many points of interest: The French Quarter, the Garden District, Xavier, Tulane, and Loyola Universities, important homes and City Park. I'm learning that I love places full of history and culture. I mean many places have a history and culture, but New Orleans is an intersection of histories and a gumbo of cultures. Even time periods are all mixed up here. I'm in a hotel decorated as if it's from another century, visited a restaurant and bar that is straight out of the Roaring 20s and seen places that are times everywhere in between. I love the architecture, the colors, the sounds, and I even liked the heat. I love the cemeteries.

I've eaten delicious jambalaya and beignets (which I have to have again) and drank Mint Juleps. I'm even going to have afternoon tea in Le Salon. I'm excited!

We also went into the 9th Ward and other areas devastated by Katrina. Four years later and there is still so much destroyed, but there is also hope. And rebuilding. So many thoughts on that part of the tour I can't articulate yet. I took pictures and I hope they honor the experiences of those who were there and are still here.

This city is full of so much history, and we can still see it. I will be back and it's tempting to want to stay a while longer.

LOVE & LIFE || surrounded by love.

I spent the weekend surrounded by love.
I went to my family reunion for the second time. My father's father's people. Amazing people with strong genes and a stronger sense of family. From the time I showed up at our 70's-themed dance, I knew it was going to be a good time. There was laughing, there was dancing, jokes were told and hugs were given freely.

I was surrounded by love.

Everyone knew that we belonged to my daddy. Even people I never met. We looked, well I looked just like "Chauls!" Didn't I look just like "Chauls?" (Charles) What can I say, I favor my daddy, but then everyone favored everyone because they have some strong genes. I found out where my thick head of hair, that had lots of length when I was younger, came from. All the little girls and some grown women walked around with so much hair. Such pretty, thick hair. I saw little girls and saw my sisters and me in them. I looked at the women and realized that I had inherited some bosom. I also saw that I was not afforded their height. And my skin tone was passed on from my Texan family members on my mother's side. But, it was one of those times where I felt like I looked like members of my extended family, that I was a part of them.

I was surrounded by love.

I heard stories. So many stories about my family. Stories from everywhere and everyone. I ended up feeling closer to my father than before. I not only found out I looked like him, but that our personalities were very alike. My dad was quiet and mild and avoided confrontation when he could. But if provoked excessively and incessantly, the provoker better watch out. Things would get really serious. I laughed knowing that that personality is mine as well. I knew then, for sure, that I am my daddy's girl.

I was surrounded by love.

Now home, I am still basking in the love that was shown at that family reunion. I will cherish it forever and I'm excited about next year! I will never let years and years pass before I go to another one.

IRL || jumping and shouting and waving!

HI WORLD!
CAN YOU SEE/HEAR ME YET???!!!

Ever have those times when you feel invisible/forgotten/not heard?
It's not fun at all. But in the end, I guess you have to suck it up and move on with your life. You'll get your turn, someday.