word love: Sidewalk

the footsteps outside,

they sound like heels.

six floors below,

pounding out the sound

of a woman determined.

determined to do

what, i don't know

but she sounds like

she's walking away from something.

before tonight i'd

never realized that the sound

of a woman's shoes on

a cobblestone sidewalk

could tell me

so much.

by: Matt Logelin (poet & blogger)

Who's smokin the strong stuff today? Spirit

Spirit Airlines must be high and completely out of it.

They will now be charging customers for carry on luggage. Yea, carry on. The CEO claims it is to give the customer more choices. Now we, the consumer (I should change that because I will never know what it is to fly Spirit now) can do what's best for us *spits up water* Yea, because before we weren't sure what to do with our carry on luggage. Now that we have to pay for it, we'll definitely have more choice. Follow his logic? No? Me either.

Good thing is we still get to put stuff under the seat in front of us for free. For now. Oh! & to tickle your fancy you can bring an umbrella for freeeeeeeee! Baby luggage is still free (strollers, car seats, and diaper bags). Of course, only one of those things ever gets placed in the overhead compartment but whatever.

I can't wait to see what's next. Not.

Source: Check this.

Reactions? Check this.

-Thanks Ren for the heads up. You know what will get my goat.

Howard Drive Chronicles Part II

Remember my downstairs neighbor? Well she seems to be getting to a lot of people.

Easter Sunday my bro and I are walking in from the laundry mat when we see this guy standing on the steps that lead to our door (There are 2 doors there - one for us and crazy neighbor, and one for the apartment beside us upstairs or the one beside my crazy downstairs neighbor). We assume he's from one of the apartments beside us. He says hi so we smile and say hi in response. Then he says, "your downstairs neighbor is driving me crazy." So I say, "I'm not surprised." I'm thinking she yelled at him or threatened to call the cops or something. She seems to like to do that. Then he goes, "she's my son's mother." Oh. Uncomfortable pause and side glance at the bro. He then says, "she makes me so mad sometimes I just wanna kill her." OH! I say, "you shouldn't let her get to you...enjoy your day." I grab for keys to open my apartment door now (Can you imagine keys wouldn't come out of the darn front door?? I do not want to be a witness). He steps back into my line of vision and goes, "she ruined my Easter service high"...guess he just got in from church. So I say, "don't let her do that...just have a good day anyhow."

Later I'm sharing the story with Raf and he tells me the guy lives right beside the crazy neighbor and he just thought she was babysitting his son. I'm like, nope. She's the mother of his son. & he really doesn't seem to get along with her. Here's to hoping they stay on each other's right side. Cause I don't need any drama under our apartment.

Howard Drive Chronicles Part I

For now this only has 2 installations. Here's the first.

So there's an elderly lady (early 70s maybe) who lives in the apartment across the parking lot entrance from me (that wasn't helpful lol - she's on one side of the drive, and I'm on the other). The first night I moved in I was trying to park but was unable to drive in because her date was dropping her off and they were necking in the car. YUP! Kissing, caressing, and all! And for so long that I gave up waiting. I don't know why I didn't blow my horn...it was late, and I felt like these 70 year olds kinda deserved their time I guess haha. It was one of those odd moments when you're happy their still young at heart and dating but a tad grossed out because omigoodness, they're 70. So I parked out in front.

Since then I've probably seen them one other time. Saturday, my friends and I are getting lunch ready when I look out and the gentleman has come to pick up his date. When he stepped out to wait for her, he was rocking one of those shirts, flowy with the top buttons open, his gold chain, & a little chest hair action. My friends were in awe. They couldn't fathom that he actually came to pick up my neighbor for a date (& that they were pretty involved) because he was so elderly till they saw my neighbor come out in a cute tee (I promise you I have one just like it) and pants, greet her gentleman caller, and drive off with him. We were all giggling and saying we now have hope...to be 70, dressing up to go out on a date, and necking in our sweetheart's car. Sweet, yes but also a little gross.

I love that they don't give a hoot and are enjoying themselves...who cares what us youngins think? When we're that age we'll be wishing we still had it lol. By the by, he was back yesterday :)

sweet sundays: Happy Easter :)

I love fresh flowers

If you celebrate, I wish you a wonderful weekend. Let's not focus on technicalities, we don't know when He died and was resurrected BUT we know he did and that's what really matters in terms of our salvation.

This weekend a group at my church sang this Kurt Carr song and it was a blessing. Hope you find time to click and enjoy.

Oh, yea. I embraced the yellow. This dress will def make another debut this spring/summer. Thanks Vicky for the prod lol.

girly fridays: hodge podge

I haven't been to the gym. Therefore, I feel fat. Next week is redemption week.

Then, I've tried 2 masks. Let me review:

1. Avocado & Honey - easy to make, but don't make too much. It goes bad. Easy to apply and smells great.

2. Oatmeal, milk, egg yolk, aloe vera, honey, lemon juice - does NOT stay on my face. I am not sure what consistency would work. I had to cover my face with a warm rag to have it stay. I may not cook the oatmeal in milk next time. I think if it were raw and in the honey it wouldn't fall off my face. I'm gonna nix the egg yolk and lemon juice from newer versions of this mask.

These are the 2 that will remain in rotation for awhile.

My choir sings tomorrow. We always wear full black when we do - it's just easier. However, it being the Easter season, we are wearing pastels. I do not like pastel colors. Actually, they are sometimes acceptable. On babies. Otherwise, yuck. So now I have my first yellow dress. Guess this is not so girly friday...girls are supposed to like these colors. I like my colors vibrant or moody, not milked out. & I think yellow is my least favorite color (real color, that is...pastels are in a different category and ones like mint and lavender def take the cake for worst colors - although I must say they are pretty awesome scents).

Speechless

Have you been watching/reading the news?

Health Reform Takes Angry, Violent Turn - barbaric...I guess democracy is only for a select segment of the population. Here's more.

What exactly are they so violently angry about?

->That insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children due to preexisting conditions?

->That we would dare spend $940 billion to cover 32 million uncovered Americans (largely the working poor and lower class, or is it that we think the uninsured are majority homeless and bums?) who we currently pay for ANYWAY via safety net or higher premiums at higher costs?

->Is it upsetting that promoting the proper use of the health care system (preventive care) will reduce high cost emergency room visits?

->Maybe it is the additional dental coverage? Missing work and school due to dental pain makes perfect sense in a developed nation.

->Oooo, I know. It is the tax hike to the insurance companies offering the super pricey Cadillac plans! Which, by the way has been revised. Or maybe the increased Medicare takes on families making more than $250,000. & don't you for a second think that I don't care because that won't affect me. I plan for it to affect me (sooner than later hopefully).

->Maybe they're upset that kids in school can now have access to medical insurance via their parents till 26...this group is generally the healthiest, lowest costing group to cover.

->Does anyone realize that this bill does not extend coverage to illegal aliens OR change any abortion payment laws/regulations currently in place? States can choose to ban abortion in the health insurance exchanges, and individuals purchasing insurance via the exchanges will have to make their own choice (oh, now I'm gonna get struck by lightening since God doesn't permit free will) regarding abortions & will have to fund it via personal finances.

Sources:

House passes health care bill

Obama signs health care 'fixes' bill

HR 3590 - the actual bill

I get that some people don't like the bill. Everyone has a right to their opinion and they should be able to say that they don't like it BUT what's with the violence? threats? I am pretty confident that anyone threatening lives and shooting buildings up over this are idiots to the nth degree. This is the same system that's been working since 1776. As is blatantly obvious, it doesn't always work well. But if the opinion is that it isn't working, I don't think we should resort to barbarism. There is no reason for us all to look wild and stupid.

I hate to sound like I think this bill is coming up daisies, because it isn't. It is going to cost money, and require adjustment. At the moment I'm a broke grad student whose co-pay is on a steady increase, and whose benefits are on the decrease BUT there is something known as gross and net benefit. I would rather a net benefit.

Anyway, let's have a wooooosah moment and think of better times.

Oh, happy April Fool's...how apropos