Ready or Not - Here He Comes!

And by “he,” I mean Hurricane Gustav.  Technically, I believe little Gus is still a tropical storm, but for all I’ve been hearing about him, I’m going to go ahead and bestow the title hurricane on him. 

Gustav is expected to hit the U.S. on Monday or Tuesday.  Of course, the meterologists cannot tell us exactly when or where he’ll hit, but it looks like he may be coming this way.

Here we go again.

To prepare for Gustav’s arrival, tonight I am going to do the following:

• High tail it to WalM.art and stock up on non-perishables.  Crackers, peanut butter, dried fruit, cereal, extra water and juice boxes are among the things I’ll be buying.  We’ve got a pretty good supply of canned vegetables and since we don’t ever eat canned veggies unless the power is out, I won’t be adding to our stash.  I’ll also buy another flashlight, extra batteries, and a new coloring book for Lovegirl just in case we have to rough it without lights for a few days. 
• Top my gas tank off.  I filled up on Tuesday, and still have more than 3/4 of a tank, but Katrina taught me a lesson.  I’m refueling every other day until Gustav passes us by.  I noticed that gas prices have already jumped from $3.35 to $3.40 in the last day.
• Get cash.  I try to keep a little money stashed around the house in case ATMs aren’t working.  I’m going to add to my stash. 
• Wash clothes.  And this one may just be me.  But there is nothing worse than a hamper full of funky clothes, no air conditioning/ceiling fan to circulate the air, and a humidity level of 99.99 percent.  Trust me on this one!

I generally try to stay pretty prepared for an emergency, but there’s always something that needs to be done, something that needs to be bought. 

Are you ready if something heads your way?  If not, what are you waiting for?  Get down on it. 

For more tips on emergency preparedness, check out the following sites:

www.ready.gov, www.fema.gov, www.redcross.org

Stay safe, be blessed.  Pray that Gustav does not come this way or that if he does he really is just a storm that drops a little rain and goes along his merry way!

My Hair

I rarely ever have a picture taken of myself - I always seem to be taking the pictures.  Anyhoo, wanted to give y’all an idea of how my hair is coming along.  This pic was taken at a birthday party I went to a few weeks ago.  My hair has been locked for . . . 18 months.  Still loving every minute of being chemical-free!

I’ll Always Love My MaMa

OMG!  MaMa lotion has turned out to be the truth for me.  I have always, always, for as long as I can remember been plagued with acne and hyperpigmentation (dark spots) from acne/acne scars.  I’ve been to dermatologists from one end of the country to the other and have tried the following - Retin-A, Tri-Luma, Differin, Zoderm, erythromycin, tetracycline - to name a few.

Monica H (a internet friend) suggested the Obagi system to me, and I investigated - the system definitely produces dramatic results. But.  And there’s always a but - I don’t have the $$$ required to start and maintain the Obagi system.

Did a little internet research (I love the internet!) and decided to try MaMa lotion.  Took a deep breath, shelled out about 40 clams and waited on the stuff to arrive.  I’d already made up in my mind that if it didn’t work, I was going to save up for Obagi and that these would be the last two efforts I made to find something that worked on my skin.

MaMa lotion is a combination of two acids - Mandelic and Malic.  I use it every other night after washing with plain old Cetaphil.  There’s a little stinging upon application - nothing unbearable.  I didn’t even really notice it was working until yesterday when a coworker was like “your skin looks really good.”  Hit the brakes.  I went in the office bathroom and lo and behold - my marks are fading, my complexion is noticeably smoother and I am head over heels for this stuff.

I will continue to use this product until the end of my days I like it so much.  I don’t know how long the bottle lasts, but it doesn’t seem like I’ve made much of a dent in the bottle, so I don’t think I’d have to order more than maybe 3 bottles a year.  It is readily available on the ‘net - Skincarerx, Dermstore, etc.

I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play one on TV, but I honestly believe this stuff is worth investigating if you are trying to even out/smooth out your complexion.  Awesome I tell ya!

Train Up A Child

Smoochy called me yesterday to tell me that his friend’s mother had a stroke.  I think he was shocked at my reaction.  I didn’t really have one.  Yes, I’m sorry that the lady had a stroke.  Yes, I’m glad it was a “minor” stroke (I find that term amusing - how minor can it be when your brain/heart whack out?).  But I wasn’t surprised, and couldn’t pretend to be.

His friend’s mother is obese.  She’s not yet 60 and was using a motor scooter to get around when I last saw her - a few weeks ago at a birthday party.  My grandmother is 87 years old and in way better physical and mental shape than this lady.

I really try not to judge people or their life choices, but this obesity epidemic is beyond ridiculous.  I’m not talking about needing to get rid of 20 or 30 pounds - I could stand to lose a few myself.  But needing to lose what equates to a whole ‘nother person? 

My husband is obese.  He doesn’t think he is, but he is.  He played football in college, and what was offensive lineman muscular heft has turned into a health hazard.  Because of him, I am especially dedicated to taking care of myself and trying to stay as healthy as I possibly can.  The reality is that if he continues to do nothing about his weight, he will very likely have serious health problems as we grow older, and he may not live to see old age.  I’d like to be around - for Lovegirl, and for myself - as long as possible and in relatively good health.  I refuse to talk to Smoochy about his need to lose weight anymore.  It is exhausting, frustrating, and he’s basically not listening.  He’s made his choice, and like it or not, I have to live with it.

My parents were very diligent about monitoring what we ate - no refined sugar, very few processed foods, lots of vegetables, no meat.  Their motto was “eat to live, don’t live to eat.”  I’m not as strict with Lovegirl - we eat poultry and I allow for more snack food than did my parents - but I do try to make sure that she’s eating a healthy balanced diet that will set her up for good eating habits throughout her life. 

My parents exercise - my mom goes to bootcamp on a regular basis, my dad hikes, sometimes 20 miles a day.  They still watch what they eat.  They stay active, and they have defined middle age/retirement for me.  I’m always, always shocked when I meet my friend’s parents and they seem so old compared to my youthful parents.  My parents are an inspiration to me as it relates to physical fitness, and I hope to serve as the same type of positive inspiration for Lovegirl. 

Too many people are becoming incapacitated or dying way too early from preventable causes.  Oh, and Mississippi has once again made #1 as the fattest state in America. 

Today, pick one thing - just one - that you can do on a regular basis to make your life a little bit healthier.  Today, I’m going to spin class.

Back 2 School

A few months ago I applied to a master’s program at Ole Miss.  I need to re-take the GRE, but they’re granting me conditional admission so that I can start this Fall.  Which they just told me today. Yippee.  Or not. 

School starts Monday.  I am so not ready.

I need to:

• Clean my house.  I can’t go back to school with a cluttered house/desk/mind.  I will work like a Hebrew slave this week to get at least two of the aforementioned things uncluttered. 
• Buy books.  So not in the budget.  Guess we’ll eat PB&J until October.
• Fix computer/buy a new computer.  Again, so not in the budget.  Make that PB&J until November . . .
• Find someone to watch my child.  Umm yeah, I need childcare twice a week for the next 4 months and then once a week for another year and a half.  What was I saying about a budget?????  We’ll be eating PB&J until Lovegirl’s freshman year!!

I am rapidly approaching freak-out mode!  I’d better call Smoochy and see if he’s got any words of wisdom or suggestions.

Feel The Love

“Mama, I really like it when you’re sick.  I get to watch lots of Backyardigans and eat sandwiches for dinner!”

Who You Wit?

 That picture to the left?  Cullen Jones.  First African American to ever win a gold in an Olympic swimming event (4×100m relay).  Did you see it?  One of the best relays I’ve seen in a long time - awesome!

 

 

 

That picture to the left?  Bernie Mac.  Hands down, one of the funniest comics ever!  I was so excited when the “Kin.gs of Comedy” tour came to Jackson shortly after Smoochy and I were married and I had the opportunity to see Mr. Mac in person.  That man was hilarious and will be sorely missed.  My favorite Mac bit?  Has to be “milk and cookies!”  RIP Mr. Mac.

 

 

That picture to the left?  Isaac Hayes was a bad mother . . . shut yo mouth!  Hot Buttered Soul, Shaft, and Black Moses are among his better known records.  You remember records don’t ya?  The younger among us will almost certainly remember him as the voice of Chef of S.outh Park.  RIP Mr. Hayes.

 

 

So, on this Monday morning, that’s who I’m with.  Three black men.  One living, two who have passed on.  All history makers in their own right.

Today I Will . . .

Yep, it’s time for another “I Will” list.  I’ve got lots of stuff to do, and apparently very little drive right about now.  So, in the spirit of jump starting my lazy arse . . .

Today I Will

• Have my visa pictures taken.
• Deposit money into credit union account.
• File the stack of papers on my desk that I’ve been shuffling around for over two months.
• Put away all of the dishes.
• Fold at least one basket of clothes.
• Vacuum downstairs.

That’s all I can handle today.  My “Today I should “list contains the aforementioned items and the following:

• Call JSU and ask them why they haven’t forwarded my transcripts to UM
• Shred the mountain of junk mail that has accumulated in the study
• Clean out Lovegirl’s closet
• Clean off the top of the refrigerator; where did all of that stuff come from???
• Purge my kitchen cabinets; too many containers without lids.
• Mop the kitchen and bathroom floors.
• Purge the bathroom cabinets; too many 3/4 used bottles of shampoo, conditioner and whatnot
• Actually open my GRE study book and review the math concepts that I never really learned the first time around  . . .
• Register for the GRE.  Again.
• And more . . .

What should you do today?  What will you do today?  Make it a great one!!

She’s a 4!

This morning, Lovegirl was up before the crack of dawn.  Really, it was still dark outside.  She was ready to put on her “outfit” (that’s uniform, honey) and go to school. 

Sure, she was excited about going to school, but got even more excited when I told her that she was no longer a “3,” she’d be moving to the “4s.”  Her eyes got wide and she said “Mama, the 4s are sooo big!  Am I big now?”  Well, you’re bigger than you were yesterday and smaller than you’ll be tomorrow.  Yeah, that answer didn’t go over so well with her either.

Anyhoo, the hair is cornrowed and beaded (you have not seen such head tossing since Bo D.erek frolicked on the beach with her cornrows!), the uniform was ironed, and well, when I said “smile,” this is what I got:

Isn’t It Ironic?

It’s like rain on your wedding day.  Like a free ride when you’ve already paid.

You know the day of bliss I was so looking forward to?   The one that had me filled with glee?  So giddy that my size 12’s barely touched the ground last week?

I got sick. 

I never get sick.  Well, I may have an allergy attack at the first of spring, and an occasional winter cold, but really, I hardly ever get sick.

Saturday morning I felt so bad that all I could do was point Lovegirl downstairs to hang out with her father.  I woke up feverishly hot every four hours, downed another alka seltzer plus, and went back to sleep.  Sunday, I felt better, but not good.  Apparently taking such a copious amount of alka seltzer plus and not eating anything is not such a great idea.  So now, I’m hot, congested and a little sick to my stomach.  Lovegirl’s whining about not going anywhere “So we’re not going anywhere because you’re sick?  That’s not fair.”  Don’t talk fair to me little girl - I’d planned out eating breakfast by myself at a slow leisurely pace tomorrow morning!    The phone rang all day, and I pretty much ignored it.  Until Pserendipity called - I probably sounded like a raving lunatic - sorry honey -  blame it on the cold medicine!!

Anyhoo, Monday morning I dropped Lovegirl off with Ms. D and went home to liquor myself up with NyQuil at 4 hour intervals.    But I’m not bitter that my me-cation (thanks Yolanda, I love it!) was ruined by a summer cold.  Not at all.

Isn’t it ironic?