Goals of 2009: A Report Card

Still reeling from the holidays and slightly sluggish at work, it's time to check in on the progress I made on the goals I set about this time last year. Let's see how I did:

1. Forgive my father and deal with the issues I've developed with relationships in general because of my relationship with him so that I can stop hurting. F. Honestly, I haven't tried to work on this so I guess it's a failure.
2. Begin yoga/Pilates/stretching 2-3 times a week to alleviate back pain and increase flexibility, strength. D. Spotty success. I was better about doing it once or so a week while I was training, or if I had back pain, but nothing on a consistent basis. I need to do this to alleviate my back pain.
3. Do 15 -30 minutes of cardio at least once a week; work up to two (or three) times a week by July. B-. Spotty success. I did two 5 K road races this year, so while I was training, I was on top of my cardio. But afterwards, I dropped off significantly. And when the weather turned cold, I gave up entirely. I got on a kick a few times and hit the gym for a week or two straight, but then my interest wained again. I plan to restart running before the new year (consistency is the key to avoiding knee injuries from running) because I'd like to be able to run in the summer. And I'm going to look into taking a class at a gym to combat my boredom with routine workout equipment.
4. Sit up straight. C. Eh. Better at it, but my sister still threatened that I would have a slouch back when I got older if I didn't sit up straight while I was at her house over Christmas.
   
5. Set up a monthly budget cutting out unnecessary expenses and stick to it. A-. I didn't set up a budget, but I did cut out a lot of spending. I still eat lunch out too much, but I tried to keep it at a minimum.
   
6. Set up and begin a payment plan to pay off all credit cards and other debt by July 2010. A+. DONE! I've dipped into it a few times (like for my trip to Spain) but I immediately reimbursed the funds or set up a payment plan to do so.
   
7. Set up another savings account so that I can have three: emergency (3-6 months salary); a life happens fund (for unexpected expenses) and a vacation fund. A. DONE! Instead of it being a vacation fund, I turned my third savings account into my graduate school account and set up weekly deductions from my bank account. It has grown well, but as a result of the additional drain on my paycheck, my other two savings account are pretty much empty. Trying to rectify that.
8. Increase savings contributions to E-trade to finance trip to Spain in fall. Devote tax returns to building up savings reserves and contributing to vacation fund. A+. I did end up using the E-trade (and my checking) to finance Spain, but I've made arrangements to re-up that money. Should be done by the middle of January. Unsure what to do with my tax returns for this year -- grad school or general savings? But definitely it's going in the bank.
9. Do something every month to pamper myself. Get a mani/pedi. Get my hair done. Get a massage. Take a long bath. Buy myself something nice. B-. Failing more at this. I've done some things and it was much easier in the summer to do these types of things. But some of the things I did were: mani/pedis, hair appointments (it's pretty healthy now!), the trip to Spain, visits to my sister in NYC, bubble baths.
   
10. Try out a new healthy recipe at least once a month. Build up my repetoire to include more than fried foods and fatty sauces. C-. Alas, a failure. I started off strong, but fell off at some point. I think I'm up to 9 now and there are only a few more days left in the year. I think my other problem was that I tried some recipies, but they weren't necessarily healthy. Seeking to rectify that in 2010.
    
11. Eat out at a new restaurant at least once a month. Use this time to try different cuisines and experiment. D+. Marginal success. I've tried some new things, mostly at the begining of the year, but in the second half, I reverted back to my old standbys (P.F. Chang's anyone?). I'd like to change this in 2010 as well.
    
12. Read. Whatever I want. Magazines. Books. Whatever. Just read. A-. SUCCESS! I got subscriptions to two magazines -- Women's Health and In Style, and I read a boatload of books, including: The Namesake, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Drown, The Time Traveler's Wife, Olive Kitteridge,
13. Go see "Raisin in the Sun" at Trinity Jan. 30 - March 30. Go see a show on Broadway with Setta B. A+. DONE and DONE. Setta B. and I went to go see Phantom of the Opera and it was fantastic. We plan to see another play in the next two months as well.
14. Keep clips up and network; send update mailings to potential employees two times a year (March and September, maybe?) C+. Marginal fail. I didn't do updated mailings, but I networked well at the NABJ conference in August. I plan on sending out updated packets this spring/summer before I begin graduate school so people can be on the lookout for me.
15. Write something that makes me proud, whether it wins any award or not. A. SUCCESS. I can't point to a particular story, but I think my court coverage has been pretty solid this year. I definitely see areas where I'd like to improve, but overall, I think I've done pretty well for myself as a reporter this year. I may not win an award (I didn't have any sexy stories) but I'm proud of my work.
16. Find an organization to volunteer with and do so, regularly. Can either be one organization with a long term commitment, or various organizations with one time commitments F-. EPIC FAIL. I tried volunteering with a sorority, but got the brush off. Then I lost motivation to find another place. I want to change that in 2010.
    
17. Go on dates with the BF that (sometimes) require more than just driving to Boston and cooking food. C-. Not sure how I document this. We've done some stuff -- Maxwell concert, comedy show -- that were cool. And we go to the movies a lot. But nothing necessarily off of the beaten path. I'll try to work on that more.
18. Take pictures to document life and stretch my creative muscles. B+. Marginal success, again. I took a photography class this fall at the Rhode Island School of Design which I loved. I was able to take portrait, landscape, indepth and self-portrait shots and I think I did pretty well. I also took a ton of pictures in Spain. I'm a little dismayed at my lack of a camera, but it's not a priority for me at this juncture. I have graduate school to pay for. I just need to start using my point and shoot more often.
19. Start doing crosswords to exercise my mind. B+. DONE. Not on a regular basis, but I bought a NY Times Crossword puzzle book and I do it periodically. The BF and I also do crosswords together on Yahoo every so often.
20. Be present at all times. Start each day as if it were on purpose, not an accident. A-. I feel like I've done a pretty decent job with this. I've tried to be more cheerful and appreciative of the things I'm doing, but I'll admit I still like to zone out once in a while. Again, something I plan to work on this year.
    

So, based on my crude math, I got a C+. Funny, I don't feel like I had a C+ year. Maybe the things that I thought were important to me at the beginning of the year, turned out to not be so important. Guess that goes to show you what the critics always knew: grades don't mean much.

It's July -- Time to Take Stock

The year is half gone so I figured now is a good time to check in on how I'm doing with my goals I set for myself at the beginning of the new year.

1. Forgive my father and deal with the issues I've developed with relationships in general because of my relationship with him so that I can stop hurting. . Seriously, I haven't thought about this much. I'm kinda starting to think that while I'm sure the relationship affected me, that he doesn't really have anything to do with how I act in relationships now. Those actions are things that I control. I may revisit this later, but right now, I'm not compelled to.
   
2. Begin yoga/Pilates/stretching 2-3 times a week to alleviate back pain and increase flexibility, strength. Man. I don't know why I stopped this. When I was doing this (during my training for the 5K) I had less back pain and my posture was on point. My back hurts as I type this. I need to get back on this.
   
3. Do 15 -30 minutes of cardio at least once a week; work up to two (or three) times a week by July. So, about that. As you know, I ran a 5K in May, so I did cardio regularly -- about 2-3 times a week. I'm also running another race on July 19, which I've been running about 2 times a week for on good weeks. I'm not up to my goal yet, but that's something to strive for.
   
4. Sit up straight. Doing better. I was doing great with it when I was regularly doing yoga, starting to slack more now. I need to get back on it.
   
5. Set up a monthly budget cutting out unnecessary expenses and stick to it. Eh. Not a strict budget, although I have been putting more money into my savings account and striving to pack my lunch, vs. buying it daily.
   
6. Set up and begin a payment plan to pay off all credit cards and other debt by July 2010. Done. I'll be (credit card) debt free by Spring 2010
   
7. Set up another savings account so that I can have three: emergency (3-6 months salary); a life happens fund (for unexpected expenses) and a vacation fund. Done. I opened an E-Trade account a few months ago to get better returns
   
8. Increase savings contributions to E-trade to finance trip to Spain in fall. Devote tax returns to building up savings reserves and contributing to vacation fund. I did increase my contributions to the E-trade account, but it won't be to finance my Spain trip. Instead, that's the account I'll be using to save up money for grad school in 2010 -- I told ya'll I got in, right?
   
9. Do something every month to pamper myself. Get a mani/pedi. Get my hair done. Get a massage. Take a long bath. Buy myself something nice. I'm slacking on this, but I have started making regular appointments with a hair dresser and got a mani/pedi a few weeks ago that was fantastic.
   
10. Try out a new healthy recipe at least once a month. Build up my repetoire to include more than fried foods and fatty sauces. I'm a little behind, but I've got 5 Healthy Recipes up so far. So I'm two behind. I'll make it up though!
    
11. Eat out at a new restaurant at least once a month. Use this time to try different cuisines and experiment. Not doing so great at this. I need to look around and find some places I want to go.
    
12. Read. Whatever I want. Magazines. Books. Whatever. Just read. Yes! I just finished the Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and I just ordered subscriptions to Women's Health and InStyle Magazine. I'm excited!
    
13. Go see "Raisin in the Sun" at Trinity Jan. 30 - March 30. Go see a show on Broadway with Setta B. I did go see Raisin in the Sun! It was pretty good. I'd never seen it before, so I was pleasantly surprised. I still need to find a show to go see with Setta on Broadway. Sis, if you're reading, let me know if you hear of a good show!
    
14. Keep clips up and network; send update mailings to potential employees two times a year (March and September, maybe?) I'll have to put some clips together for the NABJ convention in August. That will likely count as my mailing for the fall. I'll do another in the Spring, before I go to grad school.
    
15. Write something that makes me proud, whether it wins any award or not. I've been pretty proud of some of the trial coverage I've done so far, but I'd like to do a big project or something intensive that I'm also proud of as well.
    
16. Find an organization to volunteer with and do so, regularly. Can either be one organization with a long term commitment, or various organizations with one time commitments Still haven't found anything, but honestly, haven't looked very hard after getting discouraged earlier this year.
    
17. Go on dates with the BF that (sometimes) require more than just driving to Boston and cooking food. We've done movies, bowling, amusement parks, small gatherings and even an art show or two. Not a complete success because I could be doing more, but it's a start.
    
18. Take pictures to document life and stretch my creative muscles. Epic fail. I've been forgetting to document big things - like events -- in my life, let alone just the regular mundane things. I'll strive to do better with this.
    
19. Start doing crosswords to exercise my mind. Sporadically.
20. Be present at all times. Start each day as if it were on purpose, not an accident. Getting better at it, day by day.

The List

You're supposed to bold all of the things on the list you've done. I don't think I've done too badly. Definitely a few more I'd like to try. And a handful I'll do just about anything to avoid.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. (Trombones stand up!)
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (I was in a car that climbed Mt. Washington)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (senior year voice class at Hampton)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (my mom had a garden when I was growing up)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (I'm counting Shaker Village)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (Oh so fresh and oh so clean)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (I served as a model for a watercolor class last year)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (got the badges to prove it!)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (overdraft on debit cards count?)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I'll be honest. This post hurts. I haven't looked at my goals since I wrote them in January. As a result, some of them kinda fell by the wayside. Okay, a lot of them did. Here's how I did on the goals I'd set for myself -- with some excuses, disclaimers and other flim flam to get me off the hook.

• Begin healthy habits -- better eating, exercise and sleep -- I've been eating semi-healthfully, but not nearly as good as I could be. Sleep and exercise? Ha! I'm going to start my Pilates and Yoga again to help out with some back pain I've been experiencing, though
• Save 3 to 6 months worth of salary -- So, I had a good chunk of change saved up. But some emergencies and tough times made me have to tap the reserves. I'm slowly rebuilding my nest egg. BUT, I have recently started a high-interest savings account so, hopefully, this will go quickly.
  
• Pay off credit card debt -- Alright, so it's not completely paid off, but I've made a SERIOUS dent in my credit card debt. I've been doing automatic contributions every month -- and more recently every other week -- to keep paying it down.
  
• Write a project story at work -- I did one, but it was rushed. So I'm not going to count it. Only quality work goes toward the marking off of the list!
• Win -- or write something that could -- a RI Press Award -- DONE! Okay, so technically, the work was done last year, but I got the awards this year. GET AT ME!
  
• Read my Bible and pray regularly
• Take a class at a university
• Keep my car clean
• Organize work and life better -- I think I did okay with this. I began using Outlook to organize my sources (I HIGHLY recommend it) and began using the calendar to help me keep dates in mind. I also still use my paper calendar, and I do a lot of things online to keep my personal finances and other dealings in order
• Call old friends more often and keep in touch
• Improve my Spanish
• Travel internationally -- plans are for it to happen this fall. Spain is on the agenda.
  
• Be more in control of my feelings and work on communicating effectively
• Do more cultural and unexpected things
• Build more friendships
• Buy more staples to round out my wardrobe -- and work on accent pieces -- I cleaned out my closet to give myself room to buy more good clothes. I've bought a few pieces, gotten a lot of great pairs of pants tailored, and scored an amazing pair of boots. But it's a recession; so I haven't had the opportunity to buy as much as I'd like. I did get some great cardigans from Old Navy and a fantastic corduroy blazer from H&M. I still need a good wool coat though...
  
• Read at least six good books this year -- Eh, I started a few. And I began reading a few anthologies. Toure. Best Crime Writing. I finished "When You are Engulfed In Flames" by David Sedaris.
  
• Read the news daily -- I'm getting better. Not every day, not every story, but I'm knowledgeable.
• Have fun writing and craft interesting stories -- I've been trying.
  
• Visit home more often
• Keep clips up and network; send update mailings four times a year -- I've sent out a few packets, and I networked it up in Chicago. I even got offered a job in Va., but it wasn't for me. Haven't been super diligent about sending mailings otherwise because I haven't written anything spectacular. Besides, ain't nobody hiring anyway.
  
• Do more multimedia work
• Apply and go on some workshops for work -- Indeed! I got to go to NABJ in Chicago for free through a scholarship, went to a workshop for new court reporters in Nevada, and I went to the Nieman Conference in March at Harvard. I think this one is a big, fat check.
• Keep house clean and presentable always -- Yeah. Right now, my house is a mess. I gotta clean it before the New Year though
• Cook more healthy, interesting, tasty food. -- Not always tasty, but I've been trying new foods from time to time. I'm still looking for someone to go for sushi with me (oh, sushi, how I miss thee!). I've also been cooking more healthful foods thanks to Patti LaBelle. Her Pork chop recipe is out of sight! I highly recommend it. Let me know and I'll e-mail you the recipe!
  

I got it honest

This one tagged me. (Oh, John McCain, you slay me)


Gotta say I guess I needed it, judging by the sparse posts as of late. Not exactly sure what the award means other than an excuse to post, but whatever.


I'll take it.


Here are the rules:

1.) When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back
2.) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in their content or design.
3.) Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing they were prized with ‘Honest Weblog’
4.) Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize (optional).
5.) And then we pass it on!

The way this thing seems to be working lately is that we're posting 10 honest things about yourself. So here goes.

1. Sometimes I wish I had a perm again. I love my natural hair and my afro, but sometimes the styles are limiting. I miss the days of ponytails, sleek wraps and bouncy curls. I'm not considering getting a perm again, but I am strongly thinking about getting a press and curl, just to see how it feels.
2. I'm kinda awkward, and this whole, "reinventing myself/establishing my swagger" thing is kinda weird. So, I've been wearing different types of clothes, putting makeup on every so often, basically trying to keep up appearances. And it gets you attention. I'm not used to that. I'm used to kinda posting in the background and shining on special occasions. Yesterday, I wore my birthday boots, some skinny jeans, a sweater and a blazer to go meet the BF for a movie. I waited for him at the Harvard bookstore and I got approached by this guy who complemented said boots and asked for my number (after coming back three times). It was sweet. He was nice. I said no. And I was self conscious the rest of the night, catching glimpses of my butt in storefront windows. It wasn't like a slutbucket outfit, and I'm comfortable in the pieces separately, but it felt really awkward to put myself out there like that.
3. I don't think that Tyler Perry can ever make a movie that I will like. I just have this unequivocal dislike for him. It's probably unwarranted. I'm sure he's a nice guy. Probably flosses daily and helps old ladies across the street. But here are my problems with Tyler Perry: he makes bad movies and black people support him -- and tell me to support him -- because he's black. Now, full disclosure -- V and Marcus said "The Family that Preys" was pretty good actually. I will never find out of my own free will. If I have my choice, I will go to my grave without seeing another Tyler Perry movie. I saw "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" (on bootleg) and I was ruined forever. I can't deal with the bad acting, the sappy and predictable plots and Tyler Perry in that damn fat suit.
4. I have given exactly one body shot in my life. I was super drunk and volunteered to lay on the ground and have a guy take one out of my chest (I don't really recall how that worked because it seems like it would defy gravity. Details are sketchy. My apologies). The oddest part of the whole thing was looking up and seeing the circle of guys standing above me. Decided at that point, volunteering for anything like that again is probably not a good idea.
5. When I was a little kid, I bit my toenails. I used to sit on the back of the couch with my back against the wall, and bite them while I watched cartoons. I don't know why it started or how long I did it. I just kinda grew out of it at some point, definitely before I started school like talking about. My sister used to make fun of me all the time for doing it.
6. I felt like a loser because it took me a long time to get over my ex from college. It was a bad situation and I had to see him a bunch because we were in college -- ain't but so many people at Hampton. It wasn't until I took a drive to Florida and spent two weeks on a friend's couch that I felt like I was over him (this was about 2 months after we broke up). There, on her floor, I made a mix CD. First one I ever made for a guy. I blasted it all the rest of the way to St. Pete. I still have it and listen to it and kinda feel guilty for liking the CD so much. (And I wasn't super over my ex because I fell for the swindle when I visited for homecoming that year.)
7. I read into simple things a lot. A guy who liked me once gave me a mix CD (because he had a bunch of cool music and I asked him to put me on to some good stuff) and I spent the entire drive to Naples (Florida has LOTS of memories for me) on the phone with my girl analyzing the track list, which included this song "Erotic Dreams" and all these love songs. He was cute, but the songs didn't mean anything. It just caused me a bunch of anxiety needlessly. (In my favor, I'd gone to Ft. Lauderdale to have a date with him [and interview at his paper] and he gave me the CDs then, so I wasn't just making this stuff up out of thin air.)
8. I have a type. I never thought I did. I thought I was an equal opportunity dater. But I'm not. My type tends to be light to brown skinned, short to medium height (5'6" to 5'8"), high cheekbones and/or strong jaw, sweet smile (slight dimples or any quirky things are also a plus), slim yet strong build, and involved someway in the arts (writing, music, dance). It was a revelation. I accept it.
9. I don't keep in contact with many people from Flint mostly because I don't want to be reminded of where I came from. I love Flint and I'm proud to be there, but it's a rough place. And I always feel guilty for getting out and leaving my friends behind. It's hard, sometimes to hear how their lives are going, not be able to do anything about it, and think there, but for the grace of God, go I.
10. Whenever I'm flipping through channels, I kinda hope I'll stumble across The Proud Family Movie, just for this one scene. If I find it, I call my sister immediately so we can watch it together. Here it is:
    
    
    
    Man. That was hard.
    And it just so seems that everyone that I read has either already done this or has been tagged already, so I'll just leave it up to you. If you decide to do it, let me know and I'll come read it. Otherwise, peace out.
    

Wondering what a T-Dot wants for her birthday?

UPDATED!!!


Wonder no more.

It's getting to be about that time. So, here, in no particular order, is the requisite list of potential birthday gifts for you, my adoring friends, fans and otherwise...

Just a reminder to get those gifts, cards and other symbols of love in the mail early to ensure timely arrival.

And as always, I'm open to new things. It's my mid-20s birthday. So I'm looking for anything to make it special.

1. Visits from friends
2. Replacement copies of CDs I've lost over the years, or wouldn't mind having for the first time: Fugees "the score," Lauryn hill "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," Miles Davis "Kind of Blue," Estelle "Estelle," Prince "Purple Rain," (or really any good Prince compilation or CD); N.E.R.D. "Seeing Sounds," Beyonce "B-Day," Santogold "Santogold," Raphael Saadiq's new album and anything else you think I might enjoy.
3. Gift cards to any of the following stores: Banana Republic (preferably the three in one gift card that can be used at BR, Gap or Old Navy), Sephora, Nordstrom's, Aldo, J.Crew, Express, and anywhere else you think I might enjoy
4. Perfume -- Still looking for a signature scent, but I enjoy the original scent by Kenzo and I'm up to try new things. I like clean, light, fresh scents. Nothing too overpowering
5. Spa Day -- last year, I went here and got a Swedish massage. Heaven. I'll take any spa services from any reputable day spa in the Providence or greater Boston area.
6. Flowers -- I like having things delivered to my job. It makes me feel loved. Plus, it ensures that I'll actually get it because I'm never home to accept deliveries at my apartment.
7. My hair done -- a style at the salon I go to runs about $60. Feel free to treat me.
8. Clothes -- trying to up my chic, stylish swagger. So the above gift cards are appreciated, as would be any fashion finds you may stumble upon. If you're interested, let me know and I'll send you my size (errybody don't need to know that info).
9. Tickets to the theater -- I love good plays but I haven't been in ages.
   Again, theaters and shows in the Providence and greater Boston area are a go.
10. A bottle of that wine that Aaron and I had at P.F. Chang's in Chicago (I don't remember what it was called, but it was a Cali wine.)
11. Talk Soap lip gloss in Soledad; Chanel glossimer (Veronica likes it, so why not?); or really, a gift certificate to Sephora -- I need to step up my makeup game to highlight my sexy.
12. A nice outing or dinner so I can wear this festive orange silk dress I bought from Banana Republic, but never got to wear, for NABJ.
13. I'm loving these right now.
14. And I do live in New England. So I'm considering a pair of these or these

I can't think of anything else, but I'm sure that'll change. I'll add to the list as I see fit.

What? You think I'm too nice?

I asked for it. V wants to know what things Really, Honestly, and Completely Tick You Off.

Ummm. Hm. That's a toughy. I don't get mad that often. But I guess, if I had to make a list -- and I do -- I'd say:

People who won't let me (or any other person with only a few items to buy)

go in front of them at the grocery store

People telling me what (they think) I am incapable of

People questioning my logic when it makes sense, but it just different than theirs

Self-righteous, overly militant people who tell me I'm a sellout because I'm not buying the "white man is the devil" blahdiblah they're pushing.

Female Genital Mutilation. Random, I know.

Being taking advantage of

Watching someone else being taken advantage of

Teachers who don't press children for greatness and the dead looks in the eyes of a child that has lost hope (I just spoke to a group of elementary kids, sue me.)

People parking in MY assigned space at my apartment complex. There are visitor spots and a whole other parking lot for non-residents to use. I pay rent here. I GET to park near the door.

You don't.

The bad rap HBCU's and HBCU grads get

Being questioned by an organization I'm in when I choose to do something outside of my normal routine. I can take a vacation/have a day off/sleep in/do-whatever-I-want-because-I'm-grown you know.

Rude drivers who refuse to let me over to get off at the exit even though I have my blinker on and they can't go anywhere until I get out of the lane. Bastards.

Oh, and bad grammar on Web sites or in e-mails.