Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Locking: Week Four (Almost) & Heralding Bus Adventures

Today, I had my third hair appointment. It’s actually not quite four weeks, but her schedule is pretty booked up. I’ve been taking time off from work because I’m pretty much getting in where I fit in.

I left work at 10:45 to catch the 11:10 bus. The bus comes at 11:15, and was I bothered. I like to be on time to appointments. It shows respect for the person’s time.

The bus takes forever to make it down Third Avenue. By the time we reach fourth and Yesler, I’m beginning to seethe. At this point in time, a very angry man gets on the bus and yells at the driver for being so late. He continued talking very loudly about it while he was on the bus. When he got off, he yelled some more. Meanwhile, a slow bus ride is compounded by elderly, slow moving passengers and the lift being used three times. I was screaming my rage very loudly in my head. By the time I reached my appointment, I was only three minutes late. I then waited 30 minutes to be washed. Go figure.

It did get me thinking. Is it better to internally control emotions or is better to rage out loud? Not sure. The rage of the man of the bus was so alive.

After the appointment, I high tailed it to 12th and Jackson (from 20th and Yesler). I didn’t see the number 1 so I decided to walk to 5th and Jackson to catch the 99. Of course, the number 1 goes rolling by me when I’m halfway there. Then I see the 99 come around the corner. I missed both. I decided it would be quicker for me to walk than wait for the next bus. So 25 minutes later, I made it to work.

I had blocked an extra hour of “buffer” time. A coworker booked a meeting with me even though the time was clearly booked. I did not accept it. I barely made it in time for my three o’clock meeting, which ended up being rescheduled. Sigh!

All of this for my hair. Jeez. So, my hair has not “budded.” The original plan was six weeks get the “real” wash. Now, it will be eight weeks. After which time, I will go every month.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Restless Energy

The last couple of weeks have been terrible busy at work. Monthly reporting married to year-end reporting. Yeah it’s crazy.

Throughout these last several weeks, I can’t quite shake the feeling that I should be doing something. It’s not the same feeling I have when something is missing. It’s a little different. It’s like I want to be out. I want to about. I want to be in the streets.

What’s weird about this is that I normally want to be home.

It’s like I can see myself just going for a walk and letting my feet take me where they will go. There is something out there for me. The question is what!?

Friday, January 22, 2010

Acting on 2010 Goals

One of my unwritten/unspoken goals for 2010 is to write a book. I know that there is a book or two in me. It’s just a matter of getting it out. I’ve had a few prophesies over my life concerning my writing.

The first one involved God changing the “muse” in writing, which has happened slowly over time. The second involved me writing books and words to bless God’s people.

I have seen life, obstacles, fears, etc. paralyze people into not fulfilling the words spoken over their lives. My prayer is that God prods me along the way.

I was sleep this week, and I woke up in the middle of the night. I had all these great ideas for topics. I sleepily woke up and wrote them down as they came to me. Hopefully, I will be able to read my writing when the time comes.

I’m thinking that during Lent, I will commit to writing for two hours each day. I will find that two hours my giving up television or Facebook. LOL.

Pray for me, please!

Locking: Week Two

Today marks two weeks since I started the locking process.

Locking my hair is something I have been contemplating for years now. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to commit to it.

At the beginning of the year, I decided I was going to just do it. My main problem is that I analyze decisions for so long that I end up thinking myself out of decisions. So, I knew I had to act fast.

I called the shop, Good Hair, and I called to make a consultation appointment. This was January 7. I was told that the next consultation appointment opening was January 22, which just happens to be today. I was also told that someone has just canceled for tomorrow (January 8), which was an appointment for getting the hair locked.

I initially made the appointment for January 22. After speaking to my friend Candy, I decided to just jump in with my clothes on. I called and changed appointments.

The first thing I learned was that I would not be able to wash my hair for six weeks. I was like, what?! Black hair is naturally dry, so we have to add moisture to it. Washing our hair too much strips it of its natural oil. I basically wash my hair every three to four days. When I had my hair straight and was going to the salon, it was washed every two weeks. Still, six weeks was a long time.

I’m glad to say, I have made my first two weeks! I actually received a dry wash, which is basically a wash without water and with astringent. I have been using astringent on my scalp to keep it clean. I need the help of my friends for that because I can’t do the back of my hair.

So here are some updated photos.

Next steps:
In two weeks, I go in and have maintenance. Some water but no scrubbing.
In two weeks after that, an actual wash with scrubbing. I can’t wait!

Oh, and I decided to not get a new car. I’m trying to separate wants from needs. I don’t drive all that much and my current car is in great shape!





Friday, January 8, 2010

The Search for God

My belief in God is strong. If I look back over my life, I can see His hand on me. There are too many things that could have been. There are too many things that I have been protected from.

I am always amazed at some people who don’t believe who are constantly trying to tell me that God doesn’t exist. I am at the point where I feel my belief in God is being attacked on a daily basis. There is this subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) attempt to plant disbelieve in my mind.

I learned to stop debating God’s existence early on in my Christian walk. It’s tiresome to talk in circles. The Bible talks about casting pearls among swine. The Gospel is too valuable to waste. At the end of the day, neither party was going to change their mind.

Where would I start in presenting the evidence that God has been real in my life? How do I explain the ways in which He has by faith shown Himself to be real to me?

At the end of the day, I am very sad for the people who have never a chance to meet Him.

All Things Will Become New

2010 is going to be a great year! It is time to open myself up to new things.

Eight days into 2010 I have a new hairdo. I’ve been thinking about locking my hair for years. The commitment to the locking process is what has stopped me. It will take one year for it to lock, five years for it to really lock. I am in this for the long run. A new year/decade, a new look.

I’m also thinking about getting a new car. I don’t need a new car. It’s something I want. So I have to balance it out. My car is a 2001 and has been paid off. Do I want to go back to a car payment? It’s in good shape but at the point where things slowly need to be replaced.

I am trying to make some changes in my behavior. I want to be less judgmental. I also want to give 100% of myself all the time. Sometimes I get lazy, but everyone I encounter deserves for me to be 100% there. This is at work with dealing with customers (external and internal), at church, and with my family and friends.

Above all, I have a new attitude. Like I said in the Ireland blog, something that was dormant sprang to life. I am excited about it. I am excited about the possibilities and the future. Good things are in store!

However, as Home Sweet Home goes, “Just when things when right, it doesn’t mean they were always wrong.” My life has been great thus far, but the best is yet come.


Thursday, December 31, 2009

Questions's From Yam's Blog Two

What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I got down and dirty planning a trip, complete with excel spreadsheets that would make a project manager proud

Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My goals for 2009 were:
Write more, blog more, proactively engage/develop important relationships, and leave the house on Saturdays

I left the house most Saturdays; though I decided sometimes I just want to veg. I did blog and write quite a bit.

Goals for 2010: Travel, write, work on health

Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin/sister LaQuita

Did anyone close to you die?
No

What countries did you visit?
Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
I wrote it but then I erased it LOL

What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?
August 15 – September 4

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally stopped feeling like I’m living paycheck to paycheck

What was your biggest failure?
Letting little things get me riled up

Did you suffer illness or injury?
No

What was the best thing you bought?
A plane ticket

Whose behavior merited celebration
????

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
It’s in the vault – again

Where did most of your money go?
The trip

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Visiting Ireland

What song/album will always remind you of 2009?
Nothing stands out

Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? About the same
thinner or fatter? Fatter
richer or poorer? Richer

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Really looking past what people said and more at what they were doing

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Brooding over dumb people and events

How will you be spending New Year's?
Watch Night service at church then home where I have sparkling cider chilling as we speak

Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Sophia?

Did you fall in love in 2009?
No

How many one night stands in this last year?
Not my style

What was your favourite TV programme?
Sex and the City (DVDs) and Seinfeld (syndicated/DVDs) – still; Also love the Office and Two and a Half Men

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, but two people hate me

What was the best book(s) you read?
I keep rereading the same books

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Same bands from last year

What did you want and get?
Travel

What did you want and not get?
Winning the mega millions

What were your favorite films of this year?
Still loving the oldies

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35, and I can’t remember

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the mega millions

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Cute and comfortable

What kept you sane?
My pastor (I was on the ledge a few times)

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Gerard Butler and Clive Owen

What political issue stirred you the most?
The health care debate

Who did you miss?
My friends who live out of the state/country

Who was the best new person you met?
Pamela Robinson

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Life is too short to get caught up with stupid people and small things

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Another summer day has come and gone in Paris and Rome and I want to go home