best week ever

I had been a ball of nerves for weeks.  And then  FINALLY, I got good news.  I sat at work on a Friday afternoon, wondering why I was still there at 3pm when it was waaayyyy too sunny outside to be couped up and behind a computer.  And especially now that I wasn't too fond of my current job, I looked for any reason to leave...headache, hangnail, bad breath, whatever! 

As I started packing up, I got a congratulatory email stating that I passed my exam!  It only took them 7 WEEKS to score a computer-administered exam.  But oh well..since I passed, I forgave them.  I happily marched over to my Dept. Head to gloat but, more importantly, be reimbursed for my efforts.  As I held the printed email up, I hoped that he could read what I was thinking.  Something along the lines of "Look at me now, look at me now...ohhhhhh...I'm getting paper...I'm fresher than a mug."  He seemed rather impressed, especially considering how one of his team leaders couldn't pass the exam to save his life.  I left him to marinate on that, bcuz Happy Hour was definitely necessary.

On my way to get a margarita about the size of my head, I get a call.  After 7 WEEKS of interviewing I was offered the job in DC!  I tried to play it cool as the guy was running down the salary and list of benefits.  PRAISE HIM!  When God shows up, He shows out!  I have been so unhappy with my job.  I just got to the point where I didn't want to design anymore.  When you have to sit in your car in the morning before you enter the building and at lunch to give yourself a pep talk, it is definitely time to move on.  Feeling unappreciated, wronged, replaceable, etc. is not a good look.  NOW, I will be getting paid more money to work from home (heading to DC occasionally) doing the function, which I loved the most on my current job, full-time.  I can also potentially move back to the N.O. anytime I want to.  It gets no sweeter.  They gave me the weekend to think about it, but my mind was made up during the conversation.  This job was better than any job that I could've possibly found in the N.O.

I already had plans to celebrate my birthday early with my girlfriends last weekend, but this was cause for an EXTRA toast.  We went to a tasting at a local winery.  We always start out so diginified, but by the end of the night, our shoes were off, dancing in the grass and on the stage with the band.  We followed it up with a champagne brunch on Sunday.  I couldn't think of a better way to bring in 34.

After a fabulous weekend celebration, I handed in my two weeks notice, first thing Monday morning.  I thought that after all I had been through the past few months that their reaction would've been "Ok, bye."  I never got the feeling that I was valued until the company attempted to counter my offer.  It's funny how I have been begging for more money that they could never find for almost 3 years.  The increase was comparable to the new job, but the stress was certainly not worth it.  The reaction that I have been getting from my peers and VPs alike is that I'll be missed but they understand how great an opportunity this new job is for me.  I will still see most during meetings for the professional organizations we belong to.  Others...well, bye!  

My dad, my stepmom, and my baby nephew came up on my bday.  I was spoiled!  J's dad came up on Thursday and my friends came down from northern VA to attend my baby's graduation from elementary school on Friday.  It has been a long time coming!  I am SO proud of my lil man!  We are both embarking on new beginnings and it couldn't be more exciting. 

Here it is...it's my last week at the current job and I have SOOOOO much stuff to do.  Let's see, I'll be checking FB, all my email accounts...oh, I think that it's my turn in Draw Something, gotta catch up on my forums...and maybe somewhere amidst all that busy-ness, I MAY do SOME work.

I encourage YOU to have the best week ever!

32

the cgw diaries - the island girl ramble, mon'

So I had an awesome time this weekend, but I'm in a "I am tired of my hair" mood. Short is not a problem, b/c I've had short hair several times before, but short and natural is a whole 'nother animal. It's not long enough for me to do anything besides wash 'n gos. And then, it just shrinks up so much that I give up. I'm just bored with it. However, I don't have the money to invest in all kinds of products that may make it do flips and somersaults. I went to a picnic in DC on Saturday and there were more natural heads there than not which is great, but I found myself coveting everyone else's curls/coils.

Anyway, I barely sat down Friday night b/c my dance card was FULL! I managed to put a flower in my hair to spice things up a bit. And yeah, me and SIP were REALLY SPICY on the dance floor. He even pinned my flower on his coat jacket, which got this other chick to back away who kept trying to block me. Unfortunately, when I got tired and tried to work my way through the crowd, I was spun around by someone else. Needless to say, those shoes HAD to come off but I had my emergency flip flops in my purse! I said that to say that although I'm tired of my hair, I was still told that I was "sexy" a few times and barely got a moment to breathe. So, my confidence has yet to take a dive, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have a dream about spending an evening with a Fabu.laxer instead. Did I mention that this white chick grabbed my waist and complimented me on my ass? Um, yeah...I got a bit TOO MUCH attention.

Still growing (I guess),

Curly Girl Wonder aka LB

out

OK, so I have nothing to say...I was just tired of looking at my apple ass head on blog, so this short post should scroll it down a little. I'm getting ready to leave for DC in a couple of hours to celebrate with Navy...he's going to medical school. I am so proud of him. As far as my next opportunity, we'll see. The lady that I interviewed with in DC called me back and well...pretty much offered me a job, but it looks like the project will only last 3 months and we have yet to talk about money. At the same time, a guy that I had a phone interview with back home has pretty much offered me a job but would still like to meet with me in person to discuss details. I'll probably explain all of this next week. In the meantime...

I [hope to] see some fellas tonight that should father my baby, babayyyyyyy...

don't stop 'til u get enough...

So, um...**peeping behind both shoulders**...I was able to sneak on here and type a lil somethin-somethin. Somebody charged my dad's credit card twice, so he left to "fix" the situation. I imagine that'll take some time...figuring in about 30 minutes to an hour of his cussing someone out, him happily telling people that he has PTSD and warning that he has choked someone out before, and then factoring in some time after the police are called....yeah, I have a few hours...LOL. Afterall, he once said, "Just 'cuz I'm a black man cussin' and hollerin' in a doctor's office, they go and CALL the police!" As if that was a problem, pops??? I don't get the logic either, lol.

Well, ya'll...I have been having a BALL. This trip back home has been just what I needed. Good food, good friends, crazy fam...yes, this was the salve to my soul. My baby even acted as if he was happy to see me. Last week, he kept rushing me off of video messaging...perhaps b/c he had more important things to do like play video games and watch tv. But now, it's a different story. LAWD, if he tells me one more time about this Harry Po.tter mess, I'm gonna start cussin' and hollerin' too, lol. I'll be glad when this movie comes out! Sheesh!

Navy was in town, on Friday, so we pretended to be tourists at our old stomping grounds, Tu.lane. Mayne, they have made so many changes to the campus since Ka.trina. Now I know why some houses weren't rebuilt...all of the money went to TU! Afterwards, we hit up a party that Darius and his boys were throwing at an old firehouse. There was a MAD MJ tribute happening and I moonwalked my a$$ off! I'm just disappointed that I couldn't come up with all the Thri.ller moves but I hope that Mike knows that we were out here celebrating his life...doing it N'awlins style!

Darius kept staring at me as I continued to act the fool. I hung out with him Friday, Saturday, and Monday night. I'm gonna need ya'll to pray for me during this upcoming week, b/c the "lil lady" is anxious and one more "come hither" stare may cause me to "drop trou'". Times are hard! My girl seems to think that both Navy and Darius have a "thang" for me and were competing for my attention on Friday night, but I don't know...or maybe, I just don't want to know, lol. Navy hasn't had too much good to say since I cut my hair. His step-mom asked me what Navy thought after I showed him...ya'll just don't know how much I wanted to respond that I couldn't give a sh*t, but my polite response was, "Well, I know what Navy likes and I assume this isn't it. Oh well, but I LOVE it." And hell, other guys love it too. This one dude that I've been knowing rubbed my head on the dance floor and I got a lil tingly. Yes indeed, it's TOO hot out here, lol.

Did I mention that I've run into a lot of old high school partnahs and the "mens" are fine?! I just like looking...and sometimes touching. Since I'm still celebrating MJ's life, I'm gonna be randomly grabbing crotches until...I dunno...Thursday, lol.

So tomorrow, I will be having lunch with my former boss. We'll see where that goes. The woman that I interviewed with in DC called me and asked me to fill out some forms. Well, when I looked at the forms, it appears that she would like me to fill in my accomplishments for a new government contract that she's trying to acquire. Does that mean that she's offering me the job? I probably should've asked that, but this whole situation is weird to me. Right now, I'm hoping that I can score an interview with a certain company in Richm.ond. I LOVE being home...I must say that again. I LOVE being home, but I like everything that my small suburb outside of Rich.mond offers my son. And maybe I sound wacko, but his comfort and happiness is my #1 priority. Yes, I know that that will be anywhere that I am. We'll see. I know that God is still working it out and I'll be happy to report when its done. I don't know what I want, but He knows what I need. So all I can do is trust Him.

I am SO blessed. Albeit, they are playing with my unemployment, I still have savings and other accounts to stand on. I have family willing to help out in any way that they can and friends that, at times, I don't feel I deserve. Right now...at this very moment...life is good.

But um...still pray for me. If another "pretty" dude walks by me looking and smelling good, I cannot be held responsible for my actions, lol. God Bless New Orl.eans!

31

b*tch puhleeze

Scene: Post-graduation cookout at my lil "play sis'" house. Sitting at a table with J, enjoying some bbq and baked beans, when 4 dudes walk up with their plates. Two of them sit at the table.

Me: How ya'll doin'?

A: We're good. And you? **Spying J's As.tros uniform** Hey lil man, that's a cool shirt that you have on. Where'd you get that from?

**J looks confused and its almost as if he's wondering why this man is even talking to him**

Me: That's his little league uniform.

A: Oh ok. What's your name, man?"

**J still looks confused and almost annoyed that this man would address him yet again**

J: **giving more attention to his food** J

Me: Are ya'll fellow graduates?

A: Oh no! This is our friend's aunt's house. What's your name?

Me: I'm **insert gub'ment name here**.

A: Nice to meet you. I'm A.

Me: I can remember that. **Looking in the direction of the dude sitting next to him** And you are?

T: I'm T.

Me: Nice to meet you. **Glancing up towards the direction of the dude standing behind the table with his plate, posted up in the corner**

S: I'm S. And that dude right there is K, he's the graduate's cousin.

Me: Oh ok, I got it.

A: So what's your sign?

**Wondering if this dude was giving me a little rhythm...not really my type but favors Kan.ye, so if it came down to it...**

Me: Gemini.

A: Oh yeeah my boy is a gemini...ya'll are good people...characters even, but don't get on ya'lls bad side. Do you stay 'round here?

Me: Yeah, actually I was walking down the street and heard some music playing, so I decided that I'd just crash. I mean, there's a nicely mixed crowd here. I was sure that I'd go unnoticed.

A: Got jokes, hunh? How old are you?

J: 30.

Me: You got one more time to shout my age like that. I'm gonna knock you out.

A: **laughing** I wouldn't have ever guessed that.

**That dude, A, throws me a grin and I was just CERTAIN that he was feeling me**

K: Yeah, you look my age and I'm 24.

Me: Well...**motioning for him to keep coming hard with the compliments** I DO take care of myself **my inner self just burst into laughter**

A: Yeah, you look good for your age.

Me: Well dang, I'm 30, not 60. I am happy to be 30, but I don't believe that 30 is a "you look good for your age" year.

**T scoops some of A's baked beans off of his plate**

A: I'm 31. My grandmomma used to say that a lady never tells her age and technically, you never told us. I like that. I could already tell that you were a true lady.

**flirting, much?**

J: **bored** Mommy, can I go play with the balloons?

Me: Yeah, baby.

**J walks away**

A: I can tell that he's spoiled.

Me: I don't know about that.

**S, now finished with his plate, lunges towards A's hot dog**

Me: **amazed by the fact that these dudes eat after each other...especially, when I don't make it a habit to eat after J** Ya'll sure are close, hunh? Not too long ago, ya boy ate some of your beans and now this dude is all up in yo' plate too.

A: Oh, this hea **motioning towards T** is my boo boo. He can have anything that he wants.

Me: **DEAD** Say what now?

A: Girl, you didn't know I was gay??? You need to get up on your gaydar...stick with me.

Me: **Lookin' back up at S** Are you in that number too?

S: **Shakes his head** Yes. **the DJ starts mixing and we hear, "...it's time for the percu.lator..."** Oooooo, and THAT'S my jam.

Me: **laughing HARD** Lawd, I'm gon' get me another drank.

**pimp down, LMAO**

weekend wrap-up

The last 3 days have been...interesting. So, I slipped up with Newsguy and was ready to leave town. After he left, Tee came over and made me feel better b/c my mind had taken residence in Guilt City, population 1. We grabbed our big purses and filled them with crab rangoons, wine, and soda...then we hit up the show to enjoy our day off. Snuck all of that junk in, again, as if we were 12 y/o. I was probably THE last person to see The Fami.ly That Preys, but I enjoyed the film. Perhaps I overanalyze, but I noticed some gaps. Awww well, Tyl.er Per.ry is alright with me. As I'm sitting there, swiggin' on a travel-size bottle of wine and chewing on my Chi.nese food, I had the nerve to ask, "Who in da hell brought that damn cryin' baby up in here?!" Throwin' stones, throwin' stones. LOL.

I figured that I had one last time to look for a new dress for Navy's black and red bday party. However, I didn't see anything that I liked at the mall. Everything was either too uncute, too slutty, or too expensive. I thought to tuck a tag inside a dress that I liked and return that bamma on Sunday but that would've been too tacky. So once again, I had to recycle a dress and some shoes (that I forgot I owned). My only red contribution was the flower that I put in my hair.

Not being able to find anything new benefitted me b/c honestly, I didn't really budget for a new 'fit. Me and my girl, Kat, carpooled to DC. We stayed at the Gay.lord Hotel at the Nation.al Har.bor in MD. AND we were able to find a parking spot right in front of the hotel without having to pay. That was hot! Now, I can be a bit of a germ-aphobe. The only floors that I walk on barefoot are my own. And in hotels, I never lay on top of the covers or actually sit my bare a$$ in the tub. But THIS PLACE was hella nice...and free! I broke all of my personal rules...except for walking barefoot. Let's not get crazy.

I was determined to not get to' up over the weekend. After MY bday dinner, I wasn't about to make a repeat performance...that would be documented and later thrown up in my face at whim. I only had a few glasses of wine and took one shot with the group. Everything else, I turned down. But Kat learned her limits this weekend. I knew that she had taken it to another level when she started hanging on me as if me and my shoes could support the extra weight.

Navy's ex flew in from Cali. That was already a shocker that she would come THAT far. But she dropped jaws when the $640-something bill hit the table and she muttered the words that will make me love her for the rest of my life. She said,

"I got it."

Sheeit! Obviously, I have made the wrong choices in life. That buffet was $32 per person and peeps were throwing back alcohol! Even if I did have it, I wouldn't have gotten it. But hell, who am I to stand in her way of doing a good deed. I just did my best impression of T. Pai.n and said,

"Let me buy you a drank."

So, we're at Po.sh. I danced with Navy a lot but then his boy, Sip, started cutting in. I've met him several times before. I slept at his place the last time I hit up DC with Navy. By the end of the night, I guess that he decided that he was going to become glued to my hip. I had met this other guy, who went to LSU, and I started ribbin' him about the high school that he went to in New Or.leans (in the N.O., we rep our high schools first). I noticed that the more me and this guy laughed and talked, the tighter Sip's grip got around my waist. To the point where the guy dismissed himself from the convo. No biggie, 'cuz I'm sure that I'll holla at dude again.

Sip and I started getting closer in the limo. Fast-forward some hours and I wake up next to him in the spooning position. Nothing happened outside of some touching in the middle of the night, but I didn't mind being held. That was just one night of cuddling...there's nothing in the cards for me and Sip.

The final event was brunch on Sunday, but me and Kat (being the frugal cheap a$$es that we are) skipped out early. Sip wasn't too happy about my leaving but I doubted that Navy's ex would foot THIS bill...I mean, 2 orgasms in one weekend is a bit much. Kat's refusal to say "no", hit her on the way home. I had to pull over a few times to protect the cleanliness of my car. It was a good time, but I was ready to be back with my baby.

J spent the weekend with his daddy, HLS, who came up from Fla. HLS (Habitual Line Stepper) took him shopping for new clothes (particularly jeans/pants) b/c I called and told him that I was tired of looking at J's ankles. I think that they might have taken a professional picture together while I was gone. Despite how I feel about HLS, my heart smiles when J gets excited to see his dad. And from his rambling, I could tell that...

...we BOTH had killer weekends.