Inside The Mind Of Jhavia Nicole

Tattoo Truth...Video by Marcus Crowder and Response Video by Jhavia Nicole

2011-09-29T15:26:00.001-10:00

You Know, It's Hard Out Here for an Artist

2011-09-29T11:05:00.014-10:00

In my video i discuss just two ways in which it is difficult to be an artist. Marcus responds by expanding on some things I mentioned.

Brilliance is both a blessing and a burden.

Response to "Kings Dream Today" video by Marcus Crowder

2011-09-28T15:18:00.004-10:00

I decided to do a blog post responding to this video by my BRILLIANT friend Marcus Crowder since YouTube limits how much I can say. Watch the video and develop your own opinion...this is mine.

"They [schools] produce deserts of isolated grains of sand...imagine a school system that took the time to cultivate your creative talents first..." This is the foundation for everything. School is the training ground whose sole purpose is to crank out millions of people who will contribute to society. It would make sense for school to nurture the things that people are naturally good at instead of forcing the same regime on every single person, but then schools would be actually benefiting the people instead of merely functioning as a societal machine and we can't have that, now can we? The few schools that do nurture creativity and encourage the development of trades are frowned upon, seen as sub par and consequently receive less funding and support from the government.

With churches getting all of the communities' money and war getting all the money on a societal/larger economic scale, everybody is bound to be broke (except for the people behind the churches and the wars, which is often the same damn people!) Our society invests in things that have no return...if those resources were invested into the people then that would trigger a much more positive cycle than the destructive one we've been in for centuries.

"People don't know how to fall together." This is classic crabs in a barrel syndrome. We don't do anything together because competition is at the core of our society. When someone falls, we use that as an opportunity to use them as a step stool to get to our destination instead of uplifting them and travelling together...although we all know it's more efficient/safe/smart to carpool.

"Your survival should not be contingent upon your debt." It shouldn't be, but it is. That's capitalism for ya. Gotta love this capitalistic society we live in. Our entire lives revolves around debt. The things that are seen as important acquisitions in our society are all things that require credit. College is accompanied by student loans. Buying a house is accompanied by a mortgage. That Lexus has a car note; that Prada purse is purchased with a MasterCard. Our credit score is an indicator of our worth, because, as far as capitalism is concerned, your worth is based on your buying power.

All of the above is a response to the first three and a half minutes (out of nearly twelve) of the video. Needless to say, it is worth watching.

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment on this post or on his video :-)

First improv belly dance

2011-08-01T08:55:00.000-11:00

http://shimmyshimmycocoagirl.blogspot.com/2011/08/video-from-open-stage-night-dune-lounge.html

7.24.11 belly dance performance at Nicola's Lebanese Restaurant

2011-07-25T06:36:00.000-11:00

Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Girl :)

I just realized something...

2011-07-05T04:57:00.000-11:00

I am almost at the 2 year mark with my locs...my babies are growing up *tear* In three months it will be 2 years since I started this incredible journey! My hair has come such a long way...

Here are some recent photos of me...I will post better ones soon.

What Lesbian Looks Like...

2011-06-20T13:15:00.000-11:00

I am currently working on a photo project that focuses on the diverse array of lesbian women in Atlanta. We are such a unique and beautiful group. The first woman I am featuring is Michelle...so be on the lookout for a post featuring her very soon. In the future you will see my captures of various lesbian identified women, and you will get to see what lesbian really looks like.

If you are interested in being featured shoot me an email... photosbyjnikki@gmail.com. Also check out my photography http://photosbyjnikki.weebly.com/

Why I don't blog as much as I used to...

2011-04-07T09:41:00.003-11:00

I think I am not as amazed by my hair as I used to be. It's not new anymore. I still love it, but I have gotten used to it. I guess you could say that the honeymoon phase is over and my hair and I have become comfortable with one another. What's crazy is, it seems like the less I notice my hair, the more other people pay attention to it. It has been a year and 5 months since I started my locs...they have progressed so much! I will have to post photos sometime soon. Other than that, school and belly dance have taken over my life. I have a few more weeks until graduation, so I have to really get focused and crank out these last assignments (one of which is a 15-17 page paper). I have been overtaken by senioritis, so this last month seems like it is taking forever, and I feel liek I have a mountain of work to do. In the midst of school stress and job hunting, belly dance has been keeping me sane. If you want to know more about my belly dance experiences, you should check out my other blog. I JUST started it so I only have one post, but I will be posting on there more regularly than here for the next few weeks. The blog is called Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Girl and I am quite excited about it! http://shimmyshimmycocoagirl.blogspot.com I guess that is all for now. I just finished a paper and turned it in...I have more work to do though. Check out my other blog :)

Long time, no blog...

2011-03-04T10:16:00.002-10:00

LIFE HAS TAKEN OVER! Gosh, I haven't blogged in forever. I am currently in my last semester of undergrad and that along with other stuff is keeping me quite busy. Here is a quick update... * I applied for Teach For America. I have my final interview on March 17th. Wish me luck! * I started taking belly dance classes on January 2. I have been taking then basically once a week (with the exception of a couple weeks when my classes overlapped; I took two classes a week). I am in love with belly dance. I swear, I'm both addicted and obsessed. * My hair has grown! I'm now at 1 year and 4 months. Other than that I don't have much going on. I have been submerged in school and belly dance as well as photography and poetry. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! I need a vacation desperately!

Closure, part 1

2010-11-18T13:29:00.000-10:00

When you leave your house, you make sure that your front door is closed and locked. The same goes for when you get out of your car. That same instinct should apply to all aspects of your life. When you leave any relationship, make sure that chapter of your life is truly closed.

Closure is essential. Right now I am at a place in my life where I realize that in order to truly progress, I must first learn from my experiences, then truly be able to move on from them. The first time I was confronted with this is when my aunt died. I had to first learn from her life and her relationship with me, then attain a sense of closure about her death. This process translates into other relationships, both familial and intimate.

I am struggling with one particular relationship. It ended back in 2008, but to this day I do not have a sense of closure. I was so emotionally involved with this person that the aftermath of our interaction lingers today. To put it simply, I was in love with her, and she disappointed me. I feel like I was very upfront about where I stood with her, but that has not been reciprocated. All I want to know is...what happened? Why did she make the choices that she made? Why did our "relationship" end the way it did?

When you are involved with someone and that involvement comes to an end, it is important for whoever is involved to know why it is ending so that everyone is on the same page. Even if you have a nasty breakup, both people should understand why the breakup is taking place. I feel like both people have an obligation to let each other know where they stand.

Closure is about honesty, not being selfish, and not being self absorbed. You never know what a person can learn about themselves through you. To the person who inspired this...I am not asking for closure as a means of getting close to you again. You truly showed me yourself- not with your words; it was what you didn't say that was most revealing. . Put yourself in my place. If I had disappeared the way you did, how would you feel?

We should all keep this in mind as we interact with friends, lovers, coworkers, peers, family...be honest about how you feel. If you decide that you no longer want someone to be part of your life, at least be mature enough to let them know why. However, once you have the knowledge, it is up to you to truly close that chapter.
Shoot first, ask questions later..

Almost 1 year...

2010-10-14T22:04:00.000-10:00

First picture: Day 1 (or 2)
Second picture: 6 month mark
Third picture: 11 months locked

1 year update coming soon! My "loc anniversary" is October 31st. This is just a sneak peek...my babies have progressed so much in a year. Anyway, I won't say too much now...gotta save the details for the one year update!
Shoot first, ask questions later..

Fewer than half of Americans oppose gay marriage, poll finds

2010-10-06T15:54:00.000-10:00

By the CNN Wire Staff

UPDATED: 09:14 PM EDT 10.06.10

(CNN) - Fewer than half of Americans oppose legalized same-sex marriage, according to a new poll on the issue released Wednesday, with significant shifts in public opinion on the issue just since last year.

More Americans continue to oppose gay marriage than support it, according to the poll, which was released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center. But for the first time since Pew starting asking about same sex marriage 15 years ago, fewer than half of those polled said they oppose legalizing the institution.

The poll revealed other firsts. For the first time since Pew began asking about the issue, more white mainline Protestants and white Catholics favor gay marriage than oppose it.

"The shift in opinion on same-sex marriage has been broad-based, occurring across many demographic, political and religious groups," Pew's polling analysis said.

The analysis noted that political independents, who were opposed to gay marriage by a wide margin just last year, are now divided on the issue.

The poll -- which combines two surveys conducted from July to September of this year -- found that 42 percent of Americans favor same-sex marriage, while 48 percent oppose it.

In polls conducted in 2009, 37 percent favored gay marriage while 54 percent were opposed, Pew said.

"The public continues to be far more supportive of gays and lesbians serving openly in the military than of allowing legal same-sex marriages," the Pew's polling analysis notes.

Sixty percent of Americans favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, while 30 percent oppose it. Support for gays serving openly in the military has remained fairly stable over the last five years, Pew said.

On gay marriage, the new poll found significant differences of opinions along age, racial and partisan lines.

Americans in the so-called Millennial Generation -- those born after the 1980s -- favor gay marriage by 53 percent to 39 percent, the poll found. Among those born between 1928 and 1945, just 29 percent favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, while 59 percent are opposed.

Among Democrats, 53 percent support legalized gay marriage, while just 24 percent of Republicans do.

And while whites are evenly divided over gay marriage, the poll found, blacks oppose legalizing the institution by a wide margin.
Shoot first, ask questions later..

As rescue drill nears, miners in Chile still have long way to go (from CNN.com)

2010-10-05T03:42:00.000-10:00

UPDATED: 06:16 AM EDT 10.05.10

Copiapo, Chile (CNN) - With 160 meters to go until the Plan B drill reaches 33 trapped miners, a breakthrough to the men may be imminent.

Then what?

At Camp Hope, the makeshift tent city where hundreds of family members are living, widespread celebrations will likely break out as the miners' loved ones receive news they have waited for more than 60 days to hear.

But despite any euphoria, the rescue operation will be entering its most dangerous phase for the men.

Chilean Mining Minister Laurence Golborne made clear to reporters Saturday that the operation can only be called a success if all the men are rescued from the mine safely.

"We haven't rescued anyone here," Golborne said. "We have to be very conservative, nothing is finished."

Officials said they expect to have the men above ground between October 15 and October 30.

If the Plan B drill reaches the 624 meters (2,047 feet) to the trapped men, the miners will be closer than ever to freedom. But they will still have a long way to go before their actual rescue.

Officials said they are still considering whether to line the completed mine shaft with steel casing. The operation would call for reinforcing the 70-centimeter (28-inch) hole with 26 steel tubes, each 24 meters (79 feet) in height. The casing would also provide a buffer between the mine walls and rescue capsules.

State engineer Rene Aguilar said that the casing would require days more work for rescuers. On Plans A and B, platforms would have to be built over the drills. That would not be necessary for Plan C, an oil drilling platform. Then a 400-ton winch would be moved into place to begin casing the hole.

The casing of the hole would take a total of about eight days to put in place and implement, Andre Sougarret, chief of the rescue operation, told reporters Monday.

But officials said they are still not convinced whether the casing the entire hole will be necessary. Sougarret said rescuers may only need to put the casing in the upper 100 meters of the hole.

"The rock there is broken," Sougarret said. "It needs to be cased."

A camera will be sent down the hole after it's drilled to inspect the integrity of the full length of the shaft to help officials decide whether to case the entire path to the miners.

Even if more than one drill reaches the mine, officials said they only plan to use a single opening in the rescue. The second drill hole would serve as a backup if anything were to go wrong with the rescue, Sougarret said. The miners will then be plucked one at a time from their underground prison by way of a rescue capsule.

Dubbed "The Phoenix," the capsule will be equipped with an oxygen supply, communications equipment, retractable wheels to help it travel up the rescue shaft and an escape hatch in case anything goes wrong.

Rescue officials said the capsule will use wired communication with the surface, since wireless contact could fail in the mine's depths.

The capsule weighs in at 420 kilograms (924 pounds) and its interior height is 6 feet 4 inches (1.9 meters). The diameter of the capsule is a mere 54 centimeters (21 inches), a tight squeeze for some of the men. Two more capsules are expect to arrive at the mine site this week.

A trainer brought to the mine site to help the miners slim down and condition themselves for the rescue says they will all fit inside.

"Some of them have lost close to 20 pounds," said Dr. Jean Romagnoli.

When the rescue takes place it could take each miner more than an hour to get to the surface. Romagnoli said each miner will have to spend at least half an hour standing in the capsule. His training, he said, is now focused on strengthening the miners' legs and follows the workouts that combat pilots receive to compensate for the stresses of flying at high speeds.

"The blood tends to stay in your lower limbs for long periods of time," Romagnoli said, which could cause "fainting due to diminished brain irrigation."

But the doctor said he believes all the men are ready physically and psychologically.

After the hole is drilled, officials said as a test the capsule will be lowered part of the way down, while still empty. Then a navy commando and a highly experienced paramedic will be lowered to the mine's floor to begin the rescue operation.

On Monday, officials said they had not decided the order in which the men would be brought to the surface, but it will be based on their physical condition. The healthiest men, requiring the least time and help for their ascent, would go first, Sougarret said.

But he denied that a list had been finalized.

"The order will depend on their physical and mental state at the time of the rescue," he said.

Once on the surface, the miners will be taken to a field hospital, set up near the extraction hole and be given antibiotics, intravenous fluids and an eye check. Officials have said a live picture of the rescue will be provided to the hundreds of media organizations covering the rescue from the mine site.

Trucks carrying the field hospital arrived at the mine on Saturday.

After an initial examination and triage, they will be transferred to an observation area within the mine complex, where they will have their first reunion with "one or two family members," Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said last month.

Once all the miners are extracted, Manalich said they will be flown by helicopter to Copiapo Regional Hospital, a 15-minute flight. Three helicopter pads have been bulldozed in recent days, high in the hills overlooking the drill sites

Manalich said each of the miners will be kept at the hospital "without exception" for a minimum of two days for stabilization and observation.

The most immediate risk to the miners, Manalich said, would be the possibility of damage to their retinas, as they face bright sunlight after weeks underground.

Medics also will immunize the miners against common germs on the surface, which they have not been exposed to recently, he said.

Officials have also said the men could suffer from post-traumatic stress after their ordeal and record length of time spent underground finally ends
Shoot first, ask questions later..

Untouchable

2010-08-22T18:00:00.000-11:00

With those eyes
You've made me untouchable.
Focused on me
With clothes left intact
You undressed me
Peeled away layers of my being
No one else looks at me like That.
Your eyes tell me I'm beautiful
In my ugliest moments
The good in you
Sees the God in me.

With those lips
You've made me untouchable
Your lips say you love me
I believe them.
You confide in me confidently
You sing to me, perfectly off key
Your laughter...sweetness that turns lemons to lemonade
No other smile compares

With those hands
You've made me untouchable
Small, feminine
Always reaching out to me
Always seeking to connect with me
Using them to express nothing but love

With that heart
You've made me untouchable
The good in me
Sees the God in you
Eyes exuding genuineness touch me with sight
Lips speaking honesty touch me with words
Hands filled with trust touch me with appreciation
Hearts filled with love touch one another

You've made me untouchable
By anyone but you.

Thank you for touching me.

Shoot first, ask questions later..

Hair and other ish

2010-08-22T16:19:00.000-11:00

I've had the urge to write lately. Beware of the randomness to follow.

I decided to semi freeform. I don't give a fuck about retwisting my hair. They are dreadlocks. They will be just fine. I'll just keep them clean and separated. I just think that less manipulation is better. Lately, I've been setting my hair on rods and wearing it curly. I freaking LOVE it. It's easy as hell and its looks like I really put effort into my hair. So, I must say that I am really loving and appreciating my locs. And, I've been getting a lot of compliments on it so that's cool.

I fucking love photography. Poetry and photography are fighting for my attention.

Anyway, stay tuned because I am going to post a poem and/or short story.
Shoot first, ask questions later..

Jhavia Nicole Photography

2010-08-20T19:32:00.001-11:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Photography update

2010-08-20T17:47:00.005-11:00

This is what my camera and I have been up to... More images on my site http://photosbyjnikki.weebly.com/office-fashion.html

8/20/10 Loc update at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-08-20T17:40:00.001-11:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hair update

2010-08-12T18:20:00.000-11:00

I am currently in my 10th month of this loc journey. So far, I love it. I have my moments where I get frustrated or I feel like I'm having a bad hair day-or week- but for the most part it's cool.

What's NOT cool is the weather. It's hot in these Atlanta streets, and the heat+the oppressive humidity=unhappy locs. My hair is DRY. It seems like nothing I do keeps it moisturized. I don't know what to do!

On another note... I just (like 10 min ago) combined some of my locs. I chose to start out with what I consider to be small locs, but now I want them thicker.

Can't believe it's almost been a year since I started my babies!
Shoot first, ask questions later..

Check out my feature on this lovely lady!

2010-07-30T17:05:00.000-11:00

Visit my other blog to read the interview with the lovely Hafsa, my photographic muse who is a natural haired beauty :)
http://naturalhairedbeauties.blogspot.com/2010/07/natural-haired-beautyhafsa-kadree.html
Shoot first, ask questions later..

Body Language

2010-07-27T17:47:00.003-11:00

She is like Braille
I read her with my hands
She uses her body to speak to me
And I respond
Fluently.

8 month update 7/22/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-07-22T16:46:00.001-11:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I am biased.

2010-07-22T06:34:00.012-11:00

The lovely Z over at Leave In The Kinks posted this blog about hair issues in relationships: http://www.leaveinthekinks.com/2010/07/hair-issues-in-relationships.html Something in particular that she wrote really made me evaluate myself, my biases and the people I am attracted to. Z wrote:

A friend of mine asked me if I would date a woman with relaxed hair, and I said um no it was far less likely than me dating one with natural hair. I mean, hair is not the reason I would or wouldn't date someone (it's what's inside that counts and all that), but I'm yet to come across someone with relaxed hair who I find attractive. On a superficial level, when I see gorgeous women with relaxed hair, I pretty much go "Damn, she fine. Now if only she was natural."

When I read those words, I felt like Z was reading my mind. I find myself noticing women with natural hair, and overlooking those with relaxed hair or weave...unless, of course, I'm imagining what they would look like with locs or a huge afro. I wasn't always this way. I stopped perming my hair when I was in tenth grade (2003), but that didn't stop me from noticing or being interested in women with permed hair. The change came about when I REALLY went natural, which was summer 2009. Up until then, although I had stopped perming my hair, I wore braids 90% of the time. Occassionally, I would wear a sew in. The only time I wore my hair out was in between styles. It wasn't until last summer, when I stumbled across Sunshine's blog, that I decided to wear my hair out. I took my long twists out, and actually paid attention to MY hair. Once I did that, I started to subconsciously block out women with perms and notice women with natural hair even more than I had before. I persuaded several gorgeous women to go natural, because I didn't think that relaxed hair did them justice. Natural hair is the perfect accent to natural beauty. In the past I didn't think too deeply about perms and their implications. I stopped perming my hair because I always kept it braided, and I didn't see the point of perming it any more if I was just going to braid it anyway. After I went natural, I started to wonder why I (and others) ever got perms in the first place. What was the point? I realized that it was just something we did...it was apart of our regular routine. It was so ingrained into our consciousness that we automatically did it...no questions asked. I am biased. I'm not a natural Nazi or anything, but I prefer natural hair. When I read about people doing their BC or transitioning, I always marvel at how much better they look with their natural hair. Their hair isn't like anyone else's, and that makes them look unique and beautiful, and I find that immensely appealing. When I see a gorgeous woman with natural hair, I mentally say the same thing that Z says! In my relationships since I've been natural my partners have expressed that they love my hair. They like that it's not off limits...they can actually touch it! I have definitely attracted a different set of people since I've been natural, and honestly I feel that I have been taken more seriously. I'm not biased toward skin color, height, weight, religion...but when it comes to hair, I know what I like...and that's au naturale. So what do you think? Are you biased toward a certain hair type? What role has hair played in your relationships?

Update

2010-07-21T08:28:00.000-11:00

I have so much to update you all on...

I haven't posted since February. Since then I have:

*Started a weight loss journey!

*Gotten older- I turned 22 on April 2nd

*Purchased a DSLR camera!

*Won an award (for "excellence in literature") at my school...it was a cash award for $1000, which is why I was able to buy Eva (my camera)

*Moved to my new place with my girlfriend

*Launched a photography site

*Completed two summer courses

*Very recently, the gf was in an accident and the car was totaled so we are sin coche (without car)

*I have gone back to my church
*My hair has grown!

I think that's all for now...I will be updating you all on my weight loss journey :)
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Check out the MAKEBA earrings!

2010-07-21T08:10:00.000-11:00

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Recent Me

2010-07-21T08:09:00.000-11:00

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IMG00500-20100717-1610.jpg

2010-07-21T08:08:00.001-11:00

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Recent Me

2010-07-21T08:08:00.000-11:00

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5 months later...

2010-07-21T07:46:00.000-11:00

I finally decided to return to my iHome. I haven't blogged in quite some time. Life has taken over. I miss my blog though so I am making an effort to get back into it. It has been almost 9 months since I started this loc journey and I am enjoying it. I can't say that I've loved every minute of it, but overall it has been rewarding. At this point in my journey I'm ok with my hair...for the most part. I don't like the COLOR. When I first colored my hair I honestly wasn't in love with it, but these days I really don't like it. It's dull and boring. (Surprisingly, it's quite photogenic because it looks good in pictures...but that's the only time it looks good in my opinion.)So, it's time for me to go back to basics...I'm going back to my natural color. (Well, as close as I can get to it.) Stay tuned...I am making an effort to post more often, especially since I actually have followers (you all are awesome by the way). Thanks for reading!!! *Scissor free, comb free.*

Excited about fasting?!?!?!?

2010-02-16T05:42:00.003-11:00

Yes, it's true. I'm excited about fasting for Lent. Maybe I won't be as excited 20 days from now lol, but right now I am pretty excited about it. 2010 has gotten off to a great start, and I am thankful to God for that. I am in need of spiritual renewal, and I just want to show my appreciation to Him/Her by abstaining from the things that I often take for granted. For me, fasting is about letting go of unimportant indulgences in exchamge for spiritual/emotional/mental abundance. I feel like that's something to be excited about :)

I will be abstaining from meat, dairy, swets, and alcohol. I thing that I am going to start by abstaining from meat and dairy, then each week eliminate something else. The week leading up to Easter (and my birthday!) I will abstain from everything except for water, fruit, vegetables, and beans/nuts. That means no meat, no sweets, no alcohol, no dairy. I am considering abstaining from sex as well. Most likely, I will decide to not have sex during those last two weeks leading up to Easter. This is going to be challenging, but I look forward to the rewards of it. I am sure my body will benefit from this. What is most important to me about fasting is that I am giving up my reliance on STUFF and shifting that reliance to God. THAT is exciting. I will keep you gys posted on my fast.

Brief hiatus...

2010-02-10T12:19:00.001-11:00

In the process of relocating...haven't had much time to blog. My free time is spent looking for furniture, or most recently, a moving truck. That in addition to doing homework on the computer and I can't stand to look at the screen anymore...I will return to the world of blogging soon. Until then, hope you miss me! :) I have a hair update that is long overdue...I haven't even done my 3 month update, and I'm getting closer and closer to 4 months...smh.

Comparison picture: my weight in Fall 07 versus now

2010-01-21T03:17:00.000-11:00

Here is a photo from Fall '07 with me wearing the orange. I was more toned at this time. This is what I want to get back to. In this picture I was about 197, possibly even 200 lbs. The way I carry my weight is interesting to me. I never think I look as big as the scale says. Anyway, this photo is my motivation. I thought I had gotten MUCH bigger, but after looking at both photos side by side I see that I'm not too bad. This picture is MOTIVATION! I also included the more recent picture so you can compare and contrast.
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kCurly's Challenge: Week One report

2010-01-19T06:25:00.003-11:00

I got into the challenge a little lat, but I started making changes as soon as I decided to participate. Here is what I have done so far I have walked briskly every day...I have no choice. I commute to school on public transportation. The main reason I wanted to commute as opposed to living on campus is to force myself to walk more. I carry around a water bottle with me at all times. The bottle is huge. It is 1.5 liters. I also drink at least 2 glasses of water in addition to this bottle. (It's not even 1 yet and I am about 1/3 done with the bottle.) I take a multivitamin every day I have been snacking on healthy things (I slipped up at a friend's birthday party, but hey=it was a party. I'm back on track.) If I want chocolate, it has to be dark chocolate (since that's actually good for you) I didn't cut out carbs completely, but the carbs I do have are whole grain and I try to balance that with protein and vegetables No soda. Limit juice- if I have juice it is sugar free, 100% juice. Limit alcohol. I'm not a big drinker anyway, bu ti doesn't hurt to have that as a rule. Eat several times a day, consistently Get as much sleep as possible. These are the things I have done so far. This week I plan to step up my exercise game. Also, the only meat I am eating for the next two weeks (at least) is seafood. Tonight when I get home I am going to exercise, then make fish and some kind of vegetable. No bread. I have had enough carbs for the day already. Stay tuned...I am trying to do really well on this challenge, and I want to do it in a HEALTHY way. Next photo update will be at the end of this week.

The Beginning: KCurly's challenge

2010-01-19T04:03:00.002-11:00

Measurable Factors- Height: 5′7 Weight: 210 Bust: 41 Waist: 33.5 Hips: 49 Thigh: 31 -Goals- THE PLAN: Walk briskly for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week Do vigorous exercise for at least 45 minutes no less than 3 times a week. Do strength training on alternate days and rest one day a week. Do something active on the weekends liek take a walk, take an exercise class or go hiking… Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day. Make my snacking work for me by snacking on fruit and/or vegetables instead of chips and cookies MY GOAL At the end of the challenge I would like to enroll in an intense 6 week bellydance course. WISH ME LUCK! http://runninginafatsuit.com/blog/2010/01/2010-jan-mar-challenge-lets-kick-it-off/#comments

locking and loving it!

2010-01-17T15:13:00.000-11:00

I am loving this locking process! I know I haven't posted in a while...I have been really busy. I wanted to take a minute to tell you ladies and gentlemen what is going on with my hair. Well, I am almost 3 months into the locking process and I must say that I love it! It is really fitting into my lifestyle. I will admit that there was one week when I was not so pleased with my baby lock. I felt like I looked awkward as hell! But now I am more carefree. I don't stress over it, and I really just let it do its thing. I will style my hair occasionally, but for the rest of the month I am not going to style it at all. I am going to focus on keeping it moisturized and let it be. I will keep you posted on my hair. Check out my youtube channel for my update videos.

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-03T12:48:00.000-11:00

I was supposed to post this yesterday but I forgot. I spent the beginning of this year in a beautiful cabin in the mountains of Helen, GA, which is a Bavarian themed town in North GA. It was fantastic! The cabin is a secluded 3 bedroom 2 bath with a loft. It also has a hot tub. We (me, my boo, and two other couples) have been relaxing and enjoying each other's company.*

I want to wish all my readers and followers a prosperous 2010!!! May your businesses expand, your wealth increase and your hair reach new lengths! I am excited about the opportunities that await me in this year. What are you looking forward to this year?
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Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T10:19:00.000-11:00

I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season! Spend quality time with loved ones and take time out for yourself as well. Give something back to the community...and never forget how blessed you are! Peace and love to all. End this year the right way and start the next one on a great note!
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Classy natural

2009-12-14T09:32:00.000-11:00

Even with my baby locs in the VERY awkward stage, I managed to look presentable! Lol. Don't be discouraged by frizzy hair...experiment with different styles and techniques until you figure out what's best for your hair and your lifestyle.
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Foxy!

2009-12-01T06:56:00.002-11:00

1 month loc update!

2009-11-30T07:28:00.000-11:00

Dreadlock Chronicles III

2009-11-23T08:11:00.000-11:00

I'm a style icon!

2009-11-19T11:20:00.000-11:00

So head on over to BGLH and check me out :) http://bglhonline.com/2009/11/style-icon-jhavia/

Style tutorial

2009-11-16T03:45:00.002-11:00

The style I like to wear is a combination twist out and bantu knot out. I actually experimented with the style before I started my locs and I loved how it came out so I tried it with my locs and it pretty much came out the same way. Here are the steps:

Start with freshly washed or damp hair.

Moisturize and apply any product that you use on your hair. I used coconut oil and glycerin.

Two strand twist hair all over. For locs, take two locs and twist them together.

Take 2 two strand twists and twist them together. Now you have a four strand twist.

Take that four strand twist and twist it until it coils on to itself, creating a bantu knot.

Repeat the process all over your head.

Now bantu knots are a style on their own, so I kept mine in for about 3 days.

Make sure your hair is completely dry before taking it loose. I recommend sitting under a dryer or letting it air dry.

Carefully undo each bantu knot and untwist each twist.

To get rid of the spaces caused by the parts rub your hands through your hair. I put a nickel sized amount of moisturizer on my hands before I did this.

*The good thing about this style is that, for me at least, it lasts longer than a twist out or bantu knot out because it produces a tighter curl. I do this process during the weekend, wear the bantu knots for a few days, then wear it loose the rest of the week.

Hope you try this style!
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My morning thoughts

2009-11-09T02:44:00.000-11:00

I'm on the train right now, standing up. It isn't ridiculously crowded, but I really don't want to sit with a stranger. I'm not in a particularly great mood. This guy spoke to me this morning; i just knew he was about to segway into some pick up lines. When I responded to him I'm sure my voice reeked of my bad attitude. That makes me think of my math teacher. One day we were walking past one another and as she walked by she looked at me and said "Smile, why don't you?" or some shit like that. I wasn't against smiling, but as I go throughout my day I don't just walk around with a big ass smile on my face all day. In addition to that, am I not entitled to be in a bad mood sometimes? Damn. Everything is not peachy in my life, and I know it could be worse, but just because that's the case doesn't mean that I'm not at all worried or troubled. Another thing, I have said this many times before, but it continues to happen so it still gets on my nerves: I hate when people stare at me! It is rude as hell. I guess I'm just venting. I don't feel too great and Marta damn sure is not improving my mood or my health. Well maybe my health a little, since I walk more now (I don't have a choice). But that's not the point lol. The point is that I am not pleased with the day so far, and it just started. Maybe later I will feel better.

Multimedia message

2009-11-07T12:42:00.000-11:00

I took a few camera phone pics after my shoot cause I was really feelin my look... My alias is Dreadlocked Pinup, and I think that's what I look like, even though my baby locs are too small to see. Whatever the case, the shoot was ridiculously great! Here are my camera phone pics:

Artist Loanne Hizo Ostlie Creates Genuinely Diverse Barbie Mods

2009-11-04T08:16:00.001-11:00

Artist Loanne Hizo Ostlie Creates Genuinely Diverse Barbie Mods http://www.tabloach.com/gallery/custombarbie/gallery.html CHECK OUT THESE DIVERSE, CUSTOMIZED BARBIE DOLLS!

More photos by Tamara Madden

2009-11-03T10:23:00.010-11:00

I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM!!! OK, I will try to calm down. I LOVE THEM! Tamara has skills, do you hear me???! This shoot came just in time. I was feeling a certain kinda way about my body, but this is a reminder that even though I am not at my ideal weight, I am still beautiful and my weight should not stop me from modeling. Thanks Tamara! It was a pleasure working with such a talented artist! Check me out in the Garden...Pangeas Garden Project http://thepangaeasgardenproject.blogspot.com/2009/11/jhavia-exotic.html

The beginning...

2009-11-01T03:51:00.001-11:00

I got my locs started today! I love it already... It looks really good. I love that he used all natural stuff so my hair doesn't feel stiff. I am so excited... And Meghan is more excited than I am lol. Of course I will keep you guys updated on this journey. I have to do a video because the experience was great. I went to Bornu Locs in a secret location lol. You can check out his work at www.Bornu.com. He was really cool and he finished my hair in less than 2 hours.
I guess that's it for now. Stay tuned :)
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Cheap AND Healthy is not a fantasy...

2009-10-28T06:17:00.004-11:00

I always say that it costs more to have less things in your food. Organic stuff is more expensive than highly processed foods. That's pretty sad. Our society wants us to be healthy and thin and beautiful, but they want us to be all of that on a diet of Krispy Kreme and McDonalds (don't forget to wash it all down with an extra large Coke!).

I know we're in a recession, and I know organic stuff is pricey, but that's not an excuse to eat unhealthily (is that even a word??? You know what I mean dammit lol) All I'm trying to say is that you can eat healthy and not break the bank.

I have an example of how I did that today, or I should say how I am doing it, since I am eating as I type this. I already told you guys about my random chicken craving. Well, we bought a whole chicken, already cut, cooked, seasoned and baked for $6. That same evening, we also bought a bag of coleslaw. Now I am not a big mayo fan so I tend to shy away from coleslaw. But this was the bag in the salad section, and all it is is cabbage and carrots shredded up. We got that for 79 cents. I took some of the coleslaw and put it in a plastic container, popped it in the microwave for about 2 minutes to steam it. So I have baked chicken with a side of cabbage for under $7. What's even better is that the chicken lasted for 3 days. So really it is possible to spend about 7 bucks and eat for 3 days. I think that's pretty affordable.

Another thing...make sure to see what sales your local grocery store has going on. And don't be discouraged if you can't do all of your shopping at one store. Meghan and I go to 3 stores: our neighborhood, hole in the wall store (Piggly Wiggly) Kroger, and Wal Mart. We go to Pig Wig for produce, because we know when they first bring it in and it's always priced just right. We go to Kroger for pretty much everything else. We only go to Wal Mart for toiletries, and we might get food items if their price is lower than Kroger's.

Another thing that helps save money is portion control. When I make dinner, I usually eat while keeping in mind that I want to have food left over to take to work the next day.

I'll end on this not: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF H2O!!! I was starving earlier, but I wasn't in a place to eat so I just drank water. It really did help. I'm not saying it took my hunger away completely, but it took the edge off. Did you know that most people are chronically dehydrated, so they confuse thirst with hunger? I will devote anther post to water later.

Eat right, live right.

Eat More Chikn?

2009-10-27T06:13:00.001-11:00

OMG. I have been on this protein kick lately. I've been randomly craving chicken and fish. Maybe my body is ready to follow my mind and make some changes. I need to make some changes. I have allowed myself to slip back into old habits and pick up a dew pounds. I do NOT like it. I refuse to put my health on hold, so I am starting today. It's not just about health though. I don't want to keep reminiscing on the body I used to have. I want to have an even better version of that body. It's not going to be easy. I need to lose at least 15 pounds, probably more like 20. But I'm ready and willing to do it, because I want to see results. Anyway, back to chicken. Meghan and I went to Kroger last night at 11pm cause I was craving chicken. I really wanted pulled chicken from this BBQ joint, but it was too late for that. We bought some baked chicken. As soon as we got settled into the car I started tearing into that chicken. I felt like a straight carnivore. I better enjoy it now cause I can't have chicken or any other meat next month.

Photos by Tamara Natalie Madden

2009-10-27T06:00:00.005-11:00

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE. I can't wait to see more of these lovely photos. Natural hair is versatile as hell. For this shoot, I four strand twisted my hair then bantu knotted the twists. It resulted in tight coils that I LOVE. I like how it looks, so I have been wearing my hair like this since the shoot. I think I will lock my hair using this method, because the coils look a lot like starter locks. Anyway, I don't have a bunch of pictures yet, so I will post more as I get them. Stay tuned!

Recap of shoot with Tamara Madden

2009-10-25T13:52:00.000-11:00

The shoot was great! Tamara is multitalented: first and foremost, she is an artist and her paintings are amazing! She does photography as a means to inspire her art. She also does hair and makeup. All I had to do was show up and she took care of the rest! I will admit she is far from me and it was quite a drive, but my boo was very patient with me and drove out there with no complaints. I love my fee ants :)

Anyway, the shoot was funky. We shot outside and Tamara truly maximized nature's potential in the area we were in. It was a beautiful day and we took advantage of it.

Basically, today was pretty awesome. I can't wait to work with her again.
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Tired of this jelly

2009-10-21T11:16:00.001-11:00

Bootylicious just popped in my head.

:singing: I don't think you ready for this jelly...

I am tired of this jelly.

I am not pleased with my body. I miss my smaller waist and slimmer arms. I miss the definition I once had.

I had to admit that to myself. I have been going through this cycle of admitting that I want to lose weight, then reassuring myself that I'm ok.

The problem is that I'm not ok. I am overweight and I know it. I want to lose weight, but I'm not particularly motivated to stop being lazy. I put off exercising. I internally make excuses. I say I am going to do something, then I don't.

I said I was going to start getting up early in the morning and working out for 30 minutes, then walking for at least 30 minutes in the evening.

I need to get it together. I don't just want to lose weight... I want to be healthy.

Today I watched videos of people who lost a lot of weight, but in a healthy weight. Most of these people lost 50+ pounds! Now, I don't feel like I need to lose 50 pounds, but I'm pretty sure I could stand to lose 30. I don't know how much I weigh; honestly I don't want to know. I do know my measurements though, so I will track my progress that way.

I am ready. I am so ready. I am BEYOND ready. I'm tired of complaining about my weight. Time to do something about it. A lot of issues run in my family: high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack... I certainly don't need to add to my risk.

Let the lifestyle change begin. I hope you come along for the ride.
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Coffee- part 1

2009-10-09T06:53:00.001-11:00

This is old but I'm currently working on part two, so I decided to post part one.

You sit there, consumed in your thoughts. You always sit in that chair, the one closest to the window. It's like you want to be ready to escape at any moment. I always see you sitting there and I want to say something, but I never do. I’m scared that if I say something I’ll disrupt that perfect calm you’ve created and you'll fly out of that window.

Every day as I wait in line for my coffee I glance at you. I memorize the curve of your spine as you sit, hunched over whatever book you're reading, your hands pulling your hair back to keep your locs off of the precious pages.

I always keep a single black band around my wrist. Not for my hair, but for yours. I wonder why you never wear a headband; you just hold your hair back with your hands.

If I were you I wouldn't wear a headband either. I'd always want to feel that hair.

You are black. Your eyes and teeth are stars on a dark chocolate sky. I take a quick look at you, then let my eyes drop back down into my cup. I look deep into the dark liquid.

I’m trying to see if my coffee is the same color as you.

Each day before I walk out of the house I take one last look in my full length mirror and say:

"Today is the day." Today is the day when I'll say hello. Today is that day that I’ll offer you the rubber band around my wrist. Today is the day when I'll get close enough to you to see if you match my mocha cappuccino.

I walk into the coffee shop. There you are, right by the window, reclining in that same chair, eyes closed, locs spilling over your cheeks and down past your shoulders, headphones on, cassete player in hand, tapes spread all over your lap.

You are beautiful.

I look at my wrist, making sure the band is still there. It is. I walk up to the counter and order my usual. As I wait I twist the black band around my wrist. The cashier gives me my coffee and I turn to leave, head down, eyes drowning in my cup. I walk, trying to hurry and leave because I don't know what to say to you. I am mad at myself once again for not having the courage to speak. I’m almost at the door when

Everything is in slow motion. I hear tapes clatter onto the tile floor. I feel coffee spill on my coat. I see two pairs of brown hands, grabbing at tapes as they hit the floor. I hear voices, first emitting curses then frantically whispering apologies. I feel hands wiping my coat.

There is one more tape on the floor. I pick it up and place it in those brown hands. Then, I look up.

You look back at me. You open your mouth and words spill out like the coffee that stained my coat.

"I'mreallysorryforbumpingintoyou. I'm Siam by the way."

But I’m already out the door.

Part two comign soon.

Poetry: Carmex (oldie but goodie)

2009-10-09T06:29:00.002-11:00

I'm kinda jealous of your Carmex

You want to know why?

Cause it's always in your pocket

Ready to be reapplied

Your lips are addicted to it

Always wanting more

As soon as you run out

You rush to the store

Cause you can't live without your Carmex

See, that's what I mean

I want your lips to be

That addicted to me

If I was Carmex

Would I stay on your lips

Make you smile

Provoke you to kiss

If I was Carmex

Would it be me your lips craved

Essentially making

Your mouth my slave

If I was Carmexv Would I have your lips hypnotized

Cause every time I glide over them

They're instantly moisturized

Well then call me Carmex

If that's what i must be

To have your lips

Covered in me

My Hairstory

2009-10-08T14:01:00.001-11:00

Going natural wasn't a big deal to me. I honestly just didn't want to perm my hair anymore. I didn't see the point; whenever I permed my hair it would eventually break off. I figured it couldn't get any worse, so I just stopped perming it. I didn't really know what to do with it. I didn't know any thing about transitioning. So I kept it in afro twists or braids.

One day I stood in the mirror and chopped my permed hair off. I didn't do that great of a job, so I went to a salon and let a stylist cut the permed hair off that I didn't quite get to. When I stopped perming my hair, I was in 10th or 11th grade. When I went to the salon, I was a senior. So I have been perm free for over 4 years.

Now, having natural hair means more to me than simply not having a perm. It's about embracing my wonderful nappy hair. Most of the time that i've been natural I spent wearing twists and braids with weave for the most part. I hadn't worn my fro out for more than a week at a time. Recently, I have been wearing my hair out. I have good and bad days, but I love my hair, and it's hard for me to keep my hands out of it. It's soft, thick, and unique.

The next step in my hair journey is to GET LOCKED UP! I'm so excited about locking my hair. And of course I will be documenting my journey. I hope you decide to follow me!

Hair isn't the only thing I write about... I am primarily a poet. So check out my blog! You never know what you may find...
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I think they do it 3 or 4 times a week...

2009-10-08T06:39:00.001-11:00

I'm talking about cutting the grass. I think the grass here at Agnes Scott is cut like every other day. It's fucking ridiculous. Soooo I took a math test, no studying, no calculator and I'm still pretty confident that I did well on it. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I have a shit load of work to do. My boo is sick so that sucks. Ok so my dilemma is...I don't know whether to buy a high end point and shoot camera, or a low end dslr. I am looking at the Canon Rebel XS. It's kinda calling my name. If I get a point and shoot, it will probably be a Sony or a Nikon. I will elaborate on this later.

Update since my last blog post

2009-10-06T02:59:00.003-11:00

Went to the Black Cat Formal. Music sucked, but still had a good time with my boo. Everyone looked really nice. Junior Production was pretty awesome. I had two photo shoots this past weekend; both were quick and both went well. I got to spend a lot of time with Meghan this weekend, so that was nice. My phone has been acting really ridiculous lately; so I'm not too pleased with the CrackBerry right now. I'm excited about posting pictures of beautiful women with natural hair. Ok, that's it for now. I have a lot of work to do so I'm not feeling particularly chatty today.

Random thoughts about natural hair and other stuff

2009-09-30T01:30:00.001-11:00

* Isn't it annoying when random people come up to you and say "ooh, can I touch it?" as if my hair is a pet, or a figment of their imagination. Well guess what? No, you can't touch it! I don't know where your hands have been!

*if you dye your hair with chemicals, is it still natural? What does natural really mean?

* is it just me, or does it seem a bit trendy to be natural these days? Does someone's reason for going natural really matter?

* what does natural mean to you? I think that natural ness is a spectrum. Really, natural is in the eye of the beholder.

* has anyone ever called you dread? I get called that all the time when I wear twists.

* do you get approached by random dudes with dreads more frequently since you have natural hair? I know I do. Two random dudes JUST walked up to me, trying to talk to me even though I'm clearly on the phone and uninterested in what they're saying.

* do you notice natural hair more now that you're natural? I have always noticed natural hair, even when I had a perm. I love the diversity and uniqueness of it.
* it's annoys me when someone has on headphones and I can still hear their music loud and clear.

* I hate when people stare at me. After staring at me for more than 3 minutes, you might as well say hello. You've obviously committed my face to memory, the least you can do is greet me.

TO BE CONTINUED...
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S.I.S. Barbie's New Fashion Forward Black Dolls Hit Stores

2009-09-29T14:54:00.001-11:00

Finally there are dolls for us by us.Thanks to Stacey McBride-Irby, a 12-year veteran and African-American mother of two wanted her four-year-old baby girl to be able to play with dolls that were more in her likeness, So In Style dolls by Barbie was born. The collection reflects the spectrum of the Black community and are available at nationwide today."I am so proud and excited to finally share The So In Style dolls with girls of all ages", Stacey McBride-Irby told ESSENCE.com. "I want my new So In Style dolls to not only be an authentic representation of my community and culture, but to also encourage girls to be inspired and dream big."Unlike Black Barbies of yesterday that appeared to have more Anglo facial features and hair texture, S.I.S. vary in complexion, coiffs and physical attributes with fuller lips, distinct cheek bones and wider noses.The dolls which range in price from about $8 to $25 features fashion forward BFFs Grace, Kara and Trichelle who are all about having a good time, but not before sharing their wisdom with the next generation. In the spirit of mentorship, McBride-Irby created a "little sister" for each of the dolls with diverse interests including music, math and science. Each doll's hair can be styled with the help of new Aqua curl technology which allows them to go from straight to curly with a spritz of a water bottle and hairstyling tools."I believe that a happy inspired childhood creates happy, inspired, powerful women," said McBride-Irby. "I want my new So In Style dolls to not only be an authentic representation of my community and culture, but to also encourage girls to be inspired and dream big."*For more info visit BarbieCollector.com. --KNB
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An Ode To My First Love

2009-09-28T08:44:00.002-11:00

I can't stop thinking about her I

See her in my dreams and

Lately every night she's been

Waking me out of my sleep

Begging baby please

Just one kiss, just one touch

But I know it's a trap cause

One is never enough

But I fall into the trap anyway

The two of us imprisoned in sheets

Every time our souls meet

Potential turns into kinetic energy

And we battle each other

Cause we just have to compete

But I never win so

I've gotten used to defeat

And we argue like we can't stand each other

Two forces opposing

But she never stays mad for long cause

I am the one she's chosen

And sometimes I neglect her

Cause I don't want her to see

My jealousy...insecurity

Vulnerability

But somehow she sees it anyway

Even though I wear my defenses like clothes

She has X ray vision so

To her I'm aways exposed

And if I don't drop my guard

She'll tear that shit down

She said “Get used to being completely naked

Whenever I'm around”

She wants me to be a nudist so

Eventually I give in

We make love then make war then

Do it all over again

And her love is perfect

There's no reason for me to cheat

Cause no one does me like she does

Always leaving me with soaked sheets

Always leaving me satisfied

While simultaneously wanting more

And she willingly grants my wishes

Always having something new in store

Willing to try new positions

If that's what I ask her for

And regardless of my intentions

She never walks out that door

Sometimes I use her. And she knows it

But she still sticks around

Don't deserve her. So I serve her

And I worship her ground

And she damn sure ain't perfect

But she's just right for me

She's my first true love

And her name is Poetry.

This weekend's hairstyle

2009-09-27T07:59:00.001-11:00

I am really diggin my hair! It is a collaborative effort between me and my mom. What do you all think? I figure I may as well play around with it before I start locks.
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Yahoo! News Story - A world first: Vaccine helps prevent HIV infection - Yahoo! News

2009-09-24T06:19:00.001-11:00

Jhavia Nicole (jetheridge@agnesscott.edu) has sent you a news article.
(Email address has not been verified.)
------------------------------------------------------------
Personal message:

A world first: Vaccine helps prevent HIV infection - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090924/ap_on_re_as/med_aids_vaccine

============================================================
Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/

What we've been reduced to

2009-09-24T02:28:00.003-11:00

So this is what we've been reduced to.

No talking

No smiling

No fucking

No reconciling

I remember when we used to talk all the time
Your words my sustenance
The way you manipulated vowels and consonants made no sense
Your tongue wrapped around each letter and I would follow suit
I wrapped around you
And we talked.
For hours on end
The time that existed between conversations was irrelevant
All that mattered was your words
My words
Our words
Our world...
Came crashing down
And this is what we've been reduced to

No talking

No smiling

No fucking

No reconciling

I remember when we used to smile all the time
As constant as the rising and setting of the sun
Grins spread across our faces like jam on toast
Making life sweet
Your smile, illuminating, has a domino effect
Causing my mouth to follow suit and smile
But now teeth remain imprisoned behind cold lips
This is what we've been reduced to

No talking

No smiling

No fucking

No reconciling

I remember when we used to fuck all the time
Couldn't keep our hands.lips.mouths.bodies off each other
I mean to the point where our skin touched so much that our
complexions mixed and we became the same color
But bodies in heat are no longer intertwined between sheets It's like
the fire that used to provide warmth just burns now
And this is what we've been reduced to

No talking

No smiling

No fucking

No reconciling

I remember when we used to talk and make up
Smile and make up
Fuck up and make up
But now apologies are few and far between
Neither of us want to admit we're wrong
And neither of us want to admit that something ain't right so...

This is what we've been reduced to.

Does length really matter?

2009-09-20T11:17:00.001-11:00

As much as I love natural hair blogs and sites, today I am annoyed. I
was reading this blog, and the blogger mentioned APL. Now this was
like the 10th time I have seen that acronym, but I didn't know its
meaning. Every time I see it I think: what the hell does THAT mean???
So I eventually found it through Google and it means ARM PIT LENGTH.
WTF? All these acronyms are annoying me. Bsl for bra strap length, twa
for teeny weeny afro, the list goes on. I mean I get it, but it kinda
bugs me that there is like an acronym for every hair length
imaginable.
What's the big deal about hair length? It's seems like length is more
important than health. It's not like I never wanted long hair, cause I
did. But once I realized the maintenance it would entail, I began
consistently cutting my hair to keep it at this medium length that I
often complain about. Now I'm not as concerned about the length of my
hair. I'm just glad that it's the healthiest that it's been in years,
and its so soft that I want to touch it all the time and not put weave
in it. And the best thing is: I don't have a dandruff problem anymore.
My head doesn't itch as much, my scalp feels clean. I started using
all natural stuff on my hair (coconut oil, glycerin, Shea butter, aloe
gel, essential and carrier oils, and WATER) and the dandruff POOF!
disappeared.
Anyway I just want the focus to be on the health of the hair, not the
length of it. Besides, healthy hair will grow.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Nfinite Dream
Dream forever.

You Are Not Your Hair

2009-09-20T11:14:00.001-11:00

Saw this on Naturally Leslie's blog and decided to post it on mine.

You Are Not Your
Hair,http://www.essence.com/fashion_beauty/hair/articles/hairstylist_edris_nicholls_on_the_natural_hair_revolution

--
Sent from my mobile device

Nfinite Dream
Dream forever.

Check out the Scotties

2009-09-12T06:08:00.000-11:00

Practicing their rowing technique for the Dragon Boat Race
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14th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

2009-09-12T06:06:00.000-11:00

More pictures! The first is a picture of Asian shaved ice cream and fruit. It was really good! The other one is a Laotian band.
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14th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

2009-09-12T03:54:00.000-11:00

Pictures from the Dragon Boat race that we are at right now... It is beautiful out here! Plus Scotties are competing so of course we're having a great time!
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I've decided...

2009-09-10T13:38:00.000-11:00

That I'm going to loc my hair. I think that would be good for me. In theory growing a super fro sounds wonderful, but I really don't feel like it's for me. I have become absorbed in hair blogs and that has made me more aware of my hair than i've ever been. Maybe too aware. Cause now my hair is a source of stress and it shouldn't be. My hair and I both need to chill. So I'm gonna lock it while I lock down on these books.
Every day I feel like I should loc my hair. The feeling keeps getting stronger. I'm excited about it. So the Fro Chronicles will become the Loc Chronicles.
But first I gotta get the money to get someone to start them. I can maintain them myself. I think I want henna too.

We shall see!

For now I will be wearing protective styles and the puff occasionally.
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Accessorize the puff!

2009-09-08T06:43:00.000-11:00

A couple ways I accessorized this past weekend.

I do love the puff, I'm tired of wearing my hair out though cause it's starting to feel like the elements are getting to it, so I will probably be putting in Afro or Marley twists really soon. My hair feels dry today and I don't know why, because I co washed and moisturized, then flat twisted it and tied it up with a satin scarf. That usually works well and makes my hair feel great. I'm starting to think that flat twists aren't as good an idea as they used to be. When I take down the flat twists my hair tends to feel dry. But if I do a bantu knot out my hair feels really nice. Two strand twist outs are cool, they just don't look as good as they used to. Maybe I need to do smaller twists. I don't know.
Just my hair woes.

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Detroit Free Press - Obama's lesson plan for schoolchildren

2009-09-05T05:12:00.000-11:00

This story has been sent from the mobile device of jetheridge@agnesscott.edu. For real-time mobile news, go to http://m.freep.com.

Obama's lesson plan for schoolchildren

Nothing online has brought out more discussion in the last 48 hours than President Barack Obama's plan to address schoolchildren Tuesday.

As Obama wages his divisive quest for health care reform, parents across the country balked at not having the opportunity to pre-approve the message.

The White House has said the speech is not a political one, but one that will stress studying hard and staying in school.

Locally, several school districts have said they will not show students the speech.

Here's a round-up of coverage from across the Web:

Polifact.com refutes comments by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on this being the first time the president has addressed the nation's schoolchildren.

"President George H.W. Bush gave an address to schools nationwide in 1991, from a junior high school in Washington, D.C. News reports from the time said the White House hoped that the address would be shown at schools nationwide, and Bush began his remarks by saying he was talking to 'millions" of students 'in classrooms all across the country.'"

* See Bush's complete remarks to schoolchildren.

The Washington Times said in a Thursday editorial the speech was an effort to expand the president's "cult into the classroom:"

"In a move suggestive of the Pyongyang public school system, the U.S. Department of Education recommended that before the speech students collectively brainstorm questions like, 'Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us?' Classrooms are to be festooned with 'notable quotes excerpted (and posted in large print on board) from President Obama's speeches about education,' presumably alongside benevolent-looking images of the dear leader."

In a Friday editorial, the New York Times called the controversy "overheated and bizarre:"

"What is most disturbing about all this is what it says about the parents - and the fact that they have such little regard for their children's intelligence and ability to think."

Over at Huffingtonpost.com, blogger Michael Shaw says conservatives are using the controversy as a scare tactic:

"Beyond all the 'state indoctrination' and even Hitler Youth analogies being propagated by Obama's school chat, I'm wondering how much there is (or is also) a racist meme at play. It's something along the lines of: You can't trust your children alone with this man ... knowing how black men are. Wink, wink."

Much of the controversy has stemmed from the Department of Education's lesson plans that are to go along with Obama's speech. A first draft of the lesson plans encouraged students to write letters to themselves on how they could "help the president," according to the Wall Street Journal.

You can see the revised lesson plans for Prekindergarten-6 and and grades 7-12 below. You can double click to view them larger, or hit the full screen toggle.

Lesson plan: Prekindergarten - 6th grade

Lesson plan: 7th grade - 12th grade

Freep.com will hold a live stream of Obama's speech at noon Tuesday if you wish to see it.

Contact MARK W. SMITH: msmith@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @markdubya.

Website address: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990905009

Honey Bee

2009-09-03T09:57:00.009-11:00

I thought you were a honey bee and I
Wanted to be wherever the honey be cause
Honey is sweet but its good for you too...
As were you.

Well, that's what I thought but
I believed and was deceived by the buzz...
You made me buzz.
Chemistry so kinetic that it resonated through me like vibrations
You buzzed and I came.
Addicted to your hypnotic sound
I clung to you.
Cause you were sweet like honey and just as sticky
I was stuck and
Couldn't let go without your residue being left on my fingers...
Honey Bee
Using me like a hive
Filling me with nectar and storing your secrets in me
Making me feel like home...
Your praise made me bloom like honeysuckle and I
Left pollen on everything I touched
Telling the world of your sweetness...
Honey bee
Treating me like a queen bee...
But that was then and now
You just sting

I can taste the memories of us.
I savor the ones that are sweet and
Spit out the sour ones and
That is what you get.
Words from me that are hard for you to swallow cause
They no longer taste good...
But they're real
And now you're bitter.
The honey that used to drip from your lips is gone
I realized that honey was really aspartame
Way too sweet to be real and you left behind an unpleasant aftertaste

Now when you speak you spout vinegar.
My mind puckers up at the sound of your voice
Everyone knows that honey is the way to keep fly girls like me but
You can't possibly be the bee you used to be so...
Honey bee gone.
You stung me and it hurt but

I didn't bleed

My hair last weekend

2009-09-02T13:30:00.002-11:00

I watched a You Tune video by BlackOnyx77 and she did a puff with a pompadour. This was my take on that style. It's not exactly the same of course, but she did give some good tips that I plan on utilizing more often, particularly the one about using hair pins to keep her headband from slipping.

My hair today

2009-09-02T12:50:00.000-11:00

Today I am rocking a puff. I like this style cause its simple and it doesn't necessarily have to always look the same. I am going to invest in some scarves to jazz up my puff.
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Oldies but goodies

2009-08-28T08:58:00.007-11:00

(Click to see full images) These are old pictures, but I thought I would post them anyway. This was taken in the beginning of 08. I have pretty much maintained the same length since 2006. Now I am ready to grow it out. My only issue is my edges. They are quite thin. They've always been a little thin, but micros took it to another level. So I am trying to grow my edges in thicker and overall grow my hair out. I am in the process of making lifestyle changes not for the sake of my hair, but for all of me, inside and out.

Reminiscing on my good hair day

2009-08-26T13:31:00.000-11:00

Ah! The good ole days! (I know I know- it was just yesterday)
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Photo of bad hair day

2009-08-26T13:30:00.000-11:00

I'm obviously not pleased. But hey- gotta show the good AND the bad.
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Bad hair day

2009-08-26T01:37:00.001-11:00

I am not pleased with my hair today. And what makes it worse is that I have class today. I don't understand how my bantu knot out came out nice yesterday but looks like crap today.
I'm obviously frustrated. So I put on a hat. Or a net. Or a cap. I don't know what these thins are called but they cover the back of your hair and not the front. I guess its a cap. Anyway, I'm wearing one of those. It's decent looking but it's black and I'm wearing all brown today. I know black matches everything but... This is NOT the look I was going for.
On a brighter note, I'm pleased with my accessories. They're pretty fly. So anyway, I am probably going to put back in my Marley twists or Afro twists. I don't have time to worry about my hair in the morning.
I don't know. I'm gonna co wash my hair tonight and probably flat twist it. Or I may go out on a limb and bantu knot it again. We shall see. I wonder how I would look with comb twists. I kinda want to try some. I like how neat they generally look.
Well, I'm on my way to class. Hope I don't get swine flu in the process of trying to get an education.
I will post bad hair pictures later.
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Philly.com - Jenice Armstrong: Damaging hair battle

2009-08-25T10:20:00.001-11:00

Jenice Armstrong: Damaging hair battle
By Jenice Armstrong
Philadelphia Daily News
Daily News Columnist
Aug 11, 2009

ANY WOMAN with a head full of thick, naturally curly hair knows that a brush in the wrong hands can be a cruel device of torture. We discover this early in life, usually at the hands of a careless hairdresser whose job it is to smooth untamed, virgin curls into some semblance of what can pass as socially acceptable. It shouldn't be this way, though. Hair care should be a pleasant, bonding experience, even if you have the misfortune of being "tender-headed," as they used to call it back in the day.

But, too often, it can be painful and loaded with the kind of damaging negativity that has left many a woman reaching for chemical relaxers and flatirons no matter how badly they damage their hair. It's a case of the psychological scarring manifesting itself on the outside. I'm on this particular rant because over the weekend a friend showed me a disturbing YouTube video of a woman vigorously brushing an African-American child's thick, curly mane as the youngster screams in agony. The woman does it heartlessly, pulling and yanking as the child struggles to break free.

The video, called "nappy a- hair," is difficult to watch. The first time I saw it, I didn't make it all the way through because of all the yelling. The little girl's pain is palpable. She's flailing and struggling.

It's uncertain if the woman in the video is the child's mother, but it is clear she doesn't know how to cope either with the child's voluminous mane or with her own private demons. As the little girl squirms and tries to get away from all the yanking on her hair, the woman imprisons her between her knees. Another time, she leans over the child to trap her as the little girl lies on her back. When the child tries to protect her head, the woman shouts, "move your f------- hand!" You can even see hair lying on the floor. "I hate you!" the child yells.

Perhaps this level of abuse is something the woman experienced as a child and is now passing it onto the next generation. "Move ya hand. You've got a big gigantic, f------ knot - a nap - or whatever the hell you call it!" the woman says. Meanwhile, the videographer can be heard at one point laughing about "America's Funniest Home Videos" and taunting an adorably cute, curly headed boy that he's the next victim.

What happens on this video is disturbing on so many levels, particularly because of the negative message it sends the little girl about her hair: That there's something wrong with it. Somehow, it doesn't measure up. It's "less than." This is an age-old battle, most recently chronicled by Chris Rock 's "Good Hair" documentary, that you'd think the world would have moved past by now.

Also eyebrow-raising is how the video has sparked its own debate about whether or not what happened with the little girl qualifies as child abuse. The vast majority of the comments I scanned yesterday on YouTube or theroot.com, soundly condemned the woman, who, people pointed out, appeared to have covered up her own hair with a wig or extensions.

"Natural Chocolate" wrote, "This is why so many women go and relax their hair. This could have all been resolved if people knew how to take care of our natural hair. If the hair was wet, with a little conditioner, this could have been prevented. That girl is going to get a perm as soon as she can and will probably hate her natural hair for the rest of her life. Poor Child . . . " Other commenters blamed the child's behavior for the harsh treatment she got, saying things like, "That little girl is bad or should I say 'strong willed.' "

Kind of like her hair, I suppose? Something that has to be forced into submission.

Give me a break.

Send e-mail to heyjen@phillynews.com . My blog: http://go.philly.com/heyjen .

To get more news, go to www.philly.com or www.phillymobile.com on your mobile phone.

Bantu knot out

2009-08-25T08:45:00.000-11:00

Since twist outs haven't been agreeing with me lately I figured I would do this instead. This was one of my favorite styles growing up. I like how it came out.
I just wish it were a little fuller- shrinkage aint no joke! It's all good though. It's my hair, and I love it.
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Photos finally!

2009-08-25T06:38:00.000-11:00

I finally figured out how to do this from my phone. Which means I will be blogging even more! Anyway, here are pictures of my hair... I will post more for sure.

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I am trying to find a way...

2009-08-25T06:24:00.000-11:00

...to post pictures from my phone to my blog. Hopefully this works cause dammit I want to document my hair journey without having to be at a computer.

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First co-wash and ACV rinse

2009-08-24T15:16:00.000-11:00

Here are my thoughts: *i loved the co wash! I liked that my hair didn't go through this stripping and conditioning routine. My scalp and hair still feel clean, and I really enjoyed washing my hair with just conditioner. I will make this a part of my routine. *I'm not so sure how I feel about the ACV rinse. I don't necessarily notice a difference in my hair. I think I may have used too much vinegar. I used about 1/4 cup of vinegar in a little more than 3 cups of water. It seemed to me that the smell lingered after my hair dried. Its not noticeable unless you're all up in my head(is anyone besides my boo is that close they need to back up anyway!). I think that the smell may have stuck a bit cause I treated my hair with Glovers before I co washed.It's probably a combination of Glovers and vinegar. I'm so glad it isn't strong, cause that would be horrible! I won't give up on it yet though. I will try it again. I think it will be particularly good when I put my afro twists back in. *Speaking of afro twists, I read in Naturally Leslie's blog that she had them before. I thought I was the only one who called them afro twists! Lol silly me. I have been wearing them off and on for about 5 years- basically since I went natural. I love them. They are my signature style. *I have decided to try the Crown and Glory technique with my afro twists. I will probably retwist my hair this weekend. My plan was to wear my hair out, but I don't have time to style it every day and I would like to have it in a protective style. Maybe I will just wear it out during holiday breaks. *I tried to post pictures on my blog today but photobucket would not cooperate. So I will try again, probably tomorrow. *I have become a NHJ- natural hair junkie. Its an addiction now. I read about and look at pictures of natural hair all day. That's all for now.

My trusty twist outs can't be trusted anymore

2009-08-24T06:53:00.001-11:00

I haven't been happy with my twist outs lately. In the past, I would blow my hair out and then twist it, but since I have been attempting to take better care of my hair I haven't used heat on it. I hate blow drying my hair anyway. Anyway, I decided to do a bantu knot out instead. I will see how I like it when I take it down. I am trying hard to be patient with my hair. Almost every day I think about locking it, but I know that deep down I really want to accomplish this super fro mission. I do still see myself with locs down to my waist one day though. Meghan wants to take me to the barbershop to get a shape up. I'm not opposed to that; actually I kinds want to do that cause I feel like my hair doesn't make a statement and I would really like for it to have a nice shape. But I'm picky about my hair. I'm the only person who does my hair. Plus, I would have to blow out my hair to ensure that it gets cut into the shape I want, but I don't wanna put heat on my hair. We shall see what happens.

The Fro Chronicles-

2009-08-24T06:53:00.000-11:00

i dont know what to do

2009-08-21T03:46:00.000-11:00

My hair is in this weird in between length. I don't know exactly how long it is, but I don't have a TWA. My hair damn sure isn't long, so I don't know what to do. I trimmed it yesterday. It was long overdue. I hadn't had a trim since Feb. 08. Pitiful, I know. Right now my hair is in two strand twists. I don't like wearing my hair out like that cause I have a big head and I feel like I need big and/or full hair to be proportionate to my head. Also, my hair is thicker in the crown and softer and thinner in the back, so I try to keep that in mind when I choose styles. I am trying to keep from putting weave in my hair for a while. As long as I have been natural I never really took out the time to get to know my hair. I haven't worn it out for more than a week in 5 years. I usually keep it braided up, especially since I can do my own hair. I love that my hair is natural. It is WAY more interesting than straight permed hair. I have like 2 or 3 textures on one head. When I wash it, it shrinks so much that no one would know how much hair I have. It has personality. I am going to try to stay positive through this in between stage, I'm going to see what kind of progress my hair makes by Thanksgiving or Christmas break. If I am pleased, I will continue on my quest for the super fro. If I'm not pleased, I will loc it. We shall see what happens. As of now, the quest for the superfro is still on.

Gotta love that coconut oil!

2009-08-20T06:18:00.000-11:00

So I'm sitting here eating this lovely toast when I decide I should start writing about the many ways I use coconut oil. We bought the jar on Sunday. We put about one third of the oil in a container for us to use on our hair and body, and the rest is in the kitchen. Since we purchased the coconut oil, here is what I have done with it: *Put it in my hair, and used it as a moisturizer for my skin, either by itself or with Shea butter and/or Aloe *Used it as cooking oil (instead of butter or vegetable oil) *Used it as a massage oil to rub down my boo ;) *Spread it on toast *Put a tablespoon of it in my oatmeal or cereal Today I am making curry vegetables and brown rice, so I'm gonna use the coconut oil as my only oil source. I'm obviously excited about this stuff.

Investing

2009-08-19T07:01:00.000-11:00

I am investing in my hair. I am investing in my body. I am investing in my relationship. I am investing in my future. *Hair- I went natural about 5 years ago. Although I no longer perm or dye my hair, having natural hair includes more than that to me now that I'm older. So now, not only is my hair chemical free, I also use 100% natural products on it (coconut oil, Shea butter, Aloe Vera gel, glycerine, essential oils, etc.) *Body- I realize that although I have not permed my hair in years, my transition from relaxed to natural is far from complete. It includes my body. I am no longer relaxed and nonchalant about the things I put into my body. All of me deserves all natural nourishment. If I am what I eat, then what I eat should be clean, healthy, natural, organic, unprocessed and full of nutrients. I want my exterior to be a reflection of my interior. *Relationship- I love my woman in a way that I have never loved another. It is beyond my comprehension. It is overwhelming. It is deeply spiritual; it is passionate; it is intellectual, emotional. And physical. She is a sound investment. And just like with stocks, she comes with risks because no one knows what's to come but God. But I am willing to show her that I have faith in her as well as us. I will invest with her and in her financially, as well as in every other way possible. I will compromise with her for the greater good of our relationship, which in turn will make us better individuals. *Future- I am in college to get one step closer to my goal of becoming a teacher, among other things. I am definitely taking advantage of opportunities that may be beneficial to me professionally, socially, mentally, and/or spiritually. I am not doing these things on my own. All I can do is follow God's plan for me. And I am. I stopped being stubborn and accepted what God had been guiding me to do. I asked for guidance and that is exactly what I got. Be careful what you wish for- cause God will damn sure provide it ;) The combination of these things is the ultimate investment. I'm trusting myself. I am investing in my overall well being.

Things I don't understand part one

2009-08-17T02:52:00.000-11:00

Here are some things I don't understand: *body stockings *crotchless underwear *crotchless anything *grown women wearing hair bows *College Hill *Baldwin Hills *BET movies *BET in general *getting drunk on purpose *people who actually like being drunk *Pride being Halloween weekend *whole milk *white bread *Bourgeois people *Hurricane Chris wearing beads *songs that are popular today *music videos that are totally unrelated to the song *parents who are afraid of their children(I really don't understand that shit!)

Places I Love: Vitamin Shoppe

2009-08-17T02:15:00.000-11:00

Fuck GNC. That's right I said it. Cause the shop with two P's and an E is one of my new favorite places. We weren't even supposed to be going in there. Then we remembered seeing online that they had coconut oil, so we decided to stop by. Oh they had coconut oil alright. 100% Extra virgin unrefined coconut oil. We got a 29oz.jar for about $16. They also had other things we had been looking for: Hemp seeds(I'll blog about those later), essential oils, multivitamins, Burt's Bees products(and they're cheaper than they were in any other place I looked!), the list goes on. Meghan bought some aloe juice/gel, as well as multivitamins. We are transitioning. We are on a mission to eliminate processed things and replace them with more natural products. Its better for our health as well as the environment. I'm excited about being healthier inside and out.

Fro Chronicles 2 and other shit

2009-08-17T01:58:00.000-11:00

So I finally got the Glovers but I haven't used it yet. I also have Burt's Bees shampoo and conditioner, Dr. Miracle's deep conditioning treatment, and Shea butter. I don't know if I have ever been this excited about washing my hair! I am looking forward to wearing it out on a much more regular basis. I spent about $30 on hair care products. That's a lot for me considering the fact that I only bought 3 or 4 products. *You wanna know what really grinds my gears? It costs more money to have less stuff in my product. Say for instance if I order a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit. It costs extra to add stuff to it but if I say I don't want the sausage do you think they will lower the price? Hell no! In terms of my hair, I can get moisturizer with Shea butter for $2, but pure Shea butter is $7! * Anyway, I will keep you guys posted on my hair progress. Today, all I did was put Shea butter, coconut oil and glycerin on it. Which leads me to my next post...

it's the 'Fro Chronicles

2009-08-10T16:26:00.000-11:00

I want an obnoxiously large 'fro. Like block people's view at the movie theatre large. So I am on a mission to make my hair grow. My edges have been damaged since I had micros a couple years ago, and my mom recommended that I use Glover's mange to get my hair to grow. She warned me that it stinks. At this point I really don't care about that. I just want my hair to be healthy. So my plan is to buy some and use it on my hair and scalp at least once a week, then grease my scalp with Sulfur 8. I am hoping that this will help my hair to grow as well as combat my dry scalp and dandruff. As soon as I get the stuff, I'm gonna take me twists out and put the Glover's on my hair at least 1 hour before I wash it. I've read reviews on it and supposedly it works. My mom used it before and highly recommends it, so I am gonna take her word for it. Stay tuned. I may even dare to post pictures.

clean

2009-08-08T18:02:00.000-11:00

There is nothing like being enveloped in freshly laundered linen. I just climbed into bed. I'm tired, and its quite pleasing to be laying on clean sheets. I think clean things are underrated. I love clean clothes, clean towels and wash cloths, clean countertops... I particularly enjoy a clean bathroom and kitchen. Hell, I like a clean house. It makes the space seem less chaotic and more inviting. My mom is a bit of a neat freak, so she stayed on me and my sister's case about cleaning up. I didn't get the big deal then, but as an adult I appreciate a clean home a lot more. My mother's meticulousness in part comes from her military background. But for the most part, its genetic. My grandfather is a neat freak as well. He grew up in a pretty gross environment and that caused him to go in the completely opposite direction. I don't blame him. I'm not a neat freak, but I don't like to be in a dirty environment. When things are clean, it makes them more appealing. That goes for people as well. Someone well cleansed would appeal to me more than someone who appeared to be filthy, whether it be externally or internally. I think we all can stand to do a little physical, emotional, mental. And spiritual spring cleaning from time to time. I try to clean up in some way on a regular basis. I know I will never be completely clean, but I can strive to get as close as I can. After all, cleanliness is next to godliness, and I'm all for being next to God.

Sweet heat

2009-08-07T07:54:00.000-11:00

Sweat beads careen along my body like wet diamonds
It's getting hard to distinguish these clothes from my skin
I imagine myself melting
Staining 90 degree concrete with chocolate puddles of my being
The Georgia heat weighing me down like unconfessed sins and grudges held too long
I am still struggling to master the art of forgiveness and
Apparently this heat is much like me cause it is facing the same dilemma

But the heat does forgive.
It is forced to surrender to the cool that night brings just as I surrender to the serenity granted by God
And yet I still melt. Cause although the sun is gone I am still in the presence of heat.

Her.

Sweet heat like spicy barbecue or candied Mexican chiles
She simmers and Draws me in like flowers attract bees with the desire to pollinate

I told her:
I want something sweet that won't leave me wanting something else.

She said:
Have me.

I wonder if I sink my teeth into her would she burst in my mouth like ripe green grapes Overwhelming my taste buds with her sweetness
Or would she burst into flames
Causing me to spontaneously combust

She leaves trails on my skin
Luring me to touch a stove that I know is hot
Willing to get burned if that's what it takes to get close

Its getting hard to distinguish her skin from mine
Her sweat from mine
But her sweetness is unmistakable
I wish I could inject her into my veins like insulin but if I could I'd probably overheat
Cause her sweet and her heat are a package deal
This fire emanates off of her turning my chocolate self into hot cocoa
And we blend into some concoction not offered at Starbucks.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

impromptu poem for Meghan

2009-08-07T07:52:00.000-11:00

I want you so bad I crave you And no quick fix will do I want to feel you coursing through my veins Cause your presence is as essential as oxygen in my bloodstream... (To be continued some other time)

about Tuesday- going to the DMV and shit

2009-08-06T06:04:00.000-11:00

I am a crayon in a Crayola box filled with different shades of the same color I see this rainbow of brown and wonder where the pot of gold is. Then I think about colors blending, creating new and sometimes unexpected hues Mi amor I look forward to creating new hues with you I'm trying to decide if I like the process of blending more than the end result There I go again drifting off into dream land I realize there is more glaze on my fingers than on the pretzel I'm eating I should have chosen the Jamaican patty anyway I glance at this thing I ventured out so far for Proof of my existence Permission to do legally what I had been doing for years And that was my day. Traveling in hot humidity just to wait anxiously for a card with my picture on it. I realized that the last thing on my list was not accomplished. Damn.

i want to give a shout out to

2009-08-06T05:41:00.000-11:00

...my straight wife! Yep, she is an honorary lesbian. Moon aka PHG, thanks for reading and commenting on my blog! I am a little tired. Just exercised. Now I'm about to take a shower. *Sol Azul tequila is great. *Ballpark smoked turkey got dogs are tasty *Old Stock Ale-one of the best beers I ever had. I'm still hungry. I'm about to go take my vitamin then take a shower.

make some noise if you wanna be my replacement...

2009-08-04T07:49:00.000-11:00

...ID. That's why I was at the damn mall so long. I waited in line at the DMV for over an hour just to get a number and wait for them to call me. Ugh. I didn't know I had to take a new picture for a replacement ID. I look fucking horrible. Like no one loves me. Its a hot ass mess. I'm hungry. And thirsty. But at least I can go places now that I have my damn ID again. It feels good on this train. I should be writing poetry instead of this. I need to step my game up. I am about to attempt to write a poem.

After work T&C

2009-08-03T06:03:00.000-11:00

Intoxicated by your distinctive taste So bitter that sweet can't help but to chase Dark, rich, creamy and smooth Yet in your elegance you remain subdued Dance on my taste buds, you delicate sins Not sure where one flavor starts and another ends Aesthetic pleasures I dare to indulge You seduce me with secrets you divulge Deep brown ness so similar to mine Filling me with warmth while sending chills down my spine We simultaneously melt until we're both gone I can finally relax cause you've welcomed me home. Tequila & Chocolate