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Is your turkey getting nervous?

Greetings beautiful sisterlocks family,

I personally would like to wish everyone safe travels during the holiday and a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. Before my return trip to the US from South Africa, I was asked by a local why do/should African Americans celebrate Thanksgiving? So, I gave them an answer from my heart. I don't only celebrate Thanksgiving because it was instilled in my way of life from a "traditional" aspect. I celebrate Thanksgiving to honor God, my family, fellowship and my life. I am thankful and have been blessed with so much that it sometimes is overwhelming. I know the legacy and the basis of what both "traditional & modern" Thanksgiving is for. So, before anyone goes to "the source of all knowlege" (i.e. google, wiki etc.)..., just remember, Thanksgiving can mean so much more than giving honor to our American Indians for surviving a rough and patch winter. I am learning so much from so many different people. It is causing me to have some sort of identity crisis or something..lol. I am not American Indian nor are my immediate family members decendants or directly related to any of the forefathers of the British colonies. I may have a little bit of both mixed up in generation through generation. However, I am BLACK. I am an American. I give honor and thanks to all that has been bestowed upon me.

I could write all day about this. But, I'll spare you since its a holiday :)

Much Love and Respect

-Aqueelah

My Consultant - Ms. Vickey Hill.....

Awesome lady.....with Awesome Sisterlocks :)

2 years 3 months....and counting

My social (hair) life has been somewhat boring. Nothing new here....other than some major growth. It seems as if it happened overnight. I won't complain though. Even though I didn't get very much support initially, I still feel as though going "au-natural" was one of the best decisions in regards to the care of my hair that I have ever made. Not to mention, I've taken some really drastic measures in the past....

@ the time....I felt as if I wouldn't have had patience to go through the "transition" stages.. So, I went into the bathroom and got the scissors. I left about 3mm, hopped in the car and headed to the barber shop.

Other than frizz....(which I like to call "my signature).....everthing else is on the up and up :) Enjoy the pics....

2 years, 3 months....and counting.....

Delayed Responses....

Oh me oh my. I have somehow managed to neglect my little crack in the world wide web. However, this hiatus has taught me oh so much and I thank God for my wonderful experiences.

Since my last post, with God's guidance, I've accomplished the following:

-Obtained Platinum Status with Delta Airlines (from flying back and forth to South Africa once every two weeks for the last 4 months). I've accumulated @ least 5 domestic award trips!!

-Got turned down for a position at a ground breaking company :(

-Recieved a RAISE @ my current job!!!

-Experienced a SA Union Strike!

-Went on a Game Drive

-Touched a lion cub

-Hand fed a Giraffe! (which is awesome because they are my all time fav)

-Ran my 1st 5K

-Got on Facebook!

-Reunited with a very special friend i'd lost contact with ;) (as a result of facebook..lol)

I can't think of anything else right now.

Oh yeah....

and my hair has grown a little bit! No drastic changes though.

-Quee

South Africa

Signing in.....

Progression

(approaching year 3 in August)

2009

2008

2007

Memorial Day Weekend

The Williams Family

My mommy and I.

Yep, my lil cuz locks are still on point :)...

My sister and I.

UPDATE!!!

Here are some updated pics of my hair. After a nice ol' wash, I curled with sponge rollers and ran my fingers throught them this morning b4 work. They're not all that tightly curled bcuz I tried to let them air dry last night before rolling them (for fear of them still being wet in the morning). Here is the end result;

I sorta like it better this way. The curls are kinda droopy. Some of them were not completely dry (you can't win them all). My favorite stage is the final 2-3 days where it's still "bent" but, not really curled. It adds character to the "freestyle" look.

N-E-Wayzzz ....Here are some more close ups.

Workin' in South Africa

I've been working locally for nearly 9 months now. I've gotten settled in and I have a little routine going. I'm ahhh,,,,what you could say,,,,,happy and content. However, a monkey wrench has been thrown into my contentment. In a few weeks, I will be going to Johannesburg, South Africa to work for the next year :(

Now, don't get me wrong.....things could be worse. I know. But, SOUTH AFRICA!!! WTF?!?! Talk about not having a social life at all...

Two weeks there and one week back, yep, this will be the schedule for the next year. Sheesh.

Ah well, I guess I'll make my "things that I must do in SA" list since I will be en route soon.

I don't even have anything else to say about that.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!

I made a decision to become more active and live a healthier lifestyle. Being a consultant puts a lot of pressure on your willpower and your body. The stress of traveling (domestically or internationally) and always eating out is the worst. Since I've been on a "local" contract, I've realized that there are some things that I feel I need to get a grasp on before they get out of control.

1) Getting off work and going home just to eat and watch t.v.
2) Eating before I go to sleep.
3) Having two jobs and not rewarding myself with a little bit of "me" time.
4) Pushing a size 16.

I surfed the web for gyms and activities that I would possible like to be involved in that would not conflict with my two jobs. I found Bikrams yoga and a local boxing club. I absolutely hate gyms so, that was low on the totem pole . Whenever I go to a gym, I never stay committed. I feel like everyone is watching what everyone else is doing and prancing around instead of focusing on fitness. The guys are checking out the women like a butcher a meat factory. Like a lion about to pounce on it's prey. I just feel like the gym is "so not me" (in my valley girl voice).

So, I joined a boxing club instead. And it has been the best thing since sliced bread. I've never been EXCITED to exercise. I've never looked forward to exercising EVERYDAY!!! I started out exercising 6 days a week and saw fantastic results. The results would have been even more rewarding if I could stop eating these:

I haven't been tracking my progress because I feel like I'll be obsessed with it. I dont' feel like i've lost very much weight. I actually feel bulkier/heavier due to the muscle i've gained. However, I can tell a big difference in the fit of my clothes around the waist and the chest area.

I never knew how strenuous boxing can really be. I have a new found respect for boxing. Not only does it provide the best cardio workout EVER!!!! It also makes you want to kick some ass!!! lol No no...seriously, it focuses on aerobic, anaerobic, power and muscular endurance. The first time I stepped foot in the ring, I thought I was going to literally die after only one (1) minute. I felt like I had ran my first marathon (and I've never ran a marathon...better yet 5 miles non-stop...so imagine that). I was a hot mess. And to top it off, my sparring partner wasn't even hitting me. So, imagine how exhausted I would have been if I was being hit at the same time. I probably would have collapsed after 30seconds.

Also, Jumping Rope........lawd jesus....

When we were kids, jumping rope was the sh--. Ummmm, have you ever tried jumping rope for 3 minutes straight? If you haven't.....trust and believe....that is something that will make you want to give up QUICK!!! Try it if you don't believe me. Tell me about it.....I'll wait.

It feels good to occasionally release tension through a good ole' punch. On top of training, I still find time to participate in the cardio boxing classes and the total body workout. However, I am really leaning toward learning more about the sport outside of just exercising. I will be re-conditioning to start amateur boxing classes due to a recent surgury. I had a lipoma removed from the upper left part of my arm recently (3/6) and can't get back to my full potential until about 8 weeks. I have about two more weeks to go. It still feels a little funny when I throw a jab. I guess I'm just going to chill and listen to the doctor. I mean, after all, he is a doctor.

Oh yeah, now I wear a size 10.

Stay tuned....

Without shoes.

Walking down this road alone....

I'm sometimes wonder where I'm going.

I walk along this road unsure of what lies beyond the sunset.

I have shoes but,

sometimes I like to walk barefoot

I know that it's bad for me.

But what isn't?

and who doesn't like to run around barefoot every so often.

I sometimes tread amongst stones that really hurt my feet.

Just like I do in life.....


This is not a poem. Just some of my thoughts. I write weird things down sometimes. I look back and read from time to time......I wonder what I was thinking at the time.

Do I look Happy In This Picture?

Okay, I usally don't celebrate Valentine's Day. Love is always in the air 365 days a year with me. What's one day with an a**hole that gives you flowers and candy then makes you cry? I'll take the simple things in life....someone hopeless romantic who shows me his love and affection E-Very-day (in my dreams)!

This may be TMI for this blog but, I really don't care because it's a funny story.

So, I'm as single as they come.

I can't complain about that because I feel like God has blessed me thus far and will soon enough bless me with the right man.

I met Mars (that's his play-play name for now). We only known each other since mid Dec. I enjoyed (notice the past tense) his company. blah blah blah

Fast forward to V-day weekend.

So, I didn't plan on faking "lovebirds" on February 14th. I just figured, he would come visit and we would just enjoy each others company (like we always did).

It was a total disaster from day 1.

Before he gets off the bus, he texted me to say:

Are we going to the movies when I get there?
Is the movie theater nice? (Who asks that?)


Going down the highway he says:

“This is the longest road EVER!! I’m starving, where are we going to eat?


On the way to BRIXX from the bus station he says:

“I thought that you said the bus station was downtown. Is this what you call downtown?”

Going down GLENWOOD to Brier Creek he says:

“This is the longest road EVER!! I’m starving, where are we going to eat?

When we arrive in Brier Creek he says:

Is this all that’s in Raleigh? What does Raleigh have to offer? No really, what is Raleigh known for?

Friday night when we get back to my place he walks in and asks me:

Is your fireplace real? (no doe doe head, it's just a figment of your imagination.)

Saturday Morning he wants cereal...so, he looks into the fridge and says:

You don’t even have milk!?!?!? (and I did, it was on the side of the door :\

Sunday we are going to grab lunch and he says:

You live so far away from everything! It takes too long to go anywhere!

We’re walking around in one of the shopping centers and he says:

Why is the mall carpeted? That’s weird. Do you shop here? (I was baffled by this..)

Afterwards I figure, we could go to Frankies and play putt-putt, ride go carts and play video games. It sounds like fun right? You would think that nothing could mess that up right? Well think again?

Okay, so we’re playing this “Rambo” game….. We’re playing and shooting and kicking a**. I was having fun and he seemed excited. So, inbetwixt the levels, they tell the Rambo story. If you shoot your gun....then it automatically skips to the next level of play. Anyway, I was preparing myself to shoot at the end of the informative Rambo short story.........and lifted my machine gun up to my shoulder and he yells out “Don’t shoot dummy!”…”No not yet!” :/

Sunday night, I cooked dinner for him and he has this favorite dessert (golden graham smores)….so, I tried to make it in accordance with a recipe that I found online.

Well, it didn’t turn out right. I added the chocolate morsels or some sh*t at the wrong time (at this point in time---I was just ready to give up).lol Like, f*ck these d*mn smores. Well, then he says:

“No, you’re suppose to stir the cereal into the melted marshmallows and THEEEEEN add the chocolate chips. To the unknowingly naked eye, this looks like dog poo.”

After eating, he then volunteers to put the food up (which means wrap aluminum foil around the pans I guess)…..well, he comes back to sit down and says:

You need to invest in some more aluminum foil. That brand just doesn’t cut it!

So, the next day....before he left, I thought we might take a little walk around a lake near my apt (honestly, to kill time). While we were walking, this lady was jogging.. He looks at the lady.......then.....looks at me and says:

“I bet you look funny running :/ Can you run like her? You don’t look like you’re very athletic.”

To top it off, the entire weekend, he used my dove body wash! There was a half bottle of dial left to be used before I was to open that bottle. WTF!?!?

And you know those frozen cups! (that kinda makes your drink all slushy-like.....) Well, I only got 1! And it’s mine! Call me selfish but, I specifically asked him not to use that cup because that’s my favorite cup! How about when I left Monday, this joker is lying in the chair when I get back drinking out of my cup! When I specifically asked him not to.

Last but definitely not least......he goes into my drawer and opens up a brand new tube of toothpaste because he doesn't like the "taste" of the toothpaste that is already opened. And he didn't even ask :/

What a Jerk...

It took every part of my soul not to create a hostile environment. I am so proud of myself because I did what was right. What I really wanted to do was drop him off in the middle of nowhere. I didn't lose my cool and blatantly disrespect him. I talked to him after I had a few days to cool off, told him how I felt and that was that. Needless to say....neither one of us wants to talke to each other anymore

Was anyone elses Valentines day as funny and/or wretched as mine.lol

Happy Belated Valentines Day Everyone!

17 months and counting.......

Have you ever found a hidden treasure?

A buddy @ work introduced me to Geocaching. I luv it. Luh--uvvvv it! It is very relaxing. I lose track of all my "so-called problems" and turn into a hound dog. The hunt is on! I'm not the best at it but, I try. I haven't caught on to the riddles yet. I'm not very good at those (everybody has their weaknesses).

Get yourself a handheld GPS and log onto http://www.geocaching.com/. It's free and fun. Well, if you get that "exclusive" package...I think it's like $10 for 3 months or something. Even so, it's cheap and fun.

If you have children and want to have fun while spending quality time without spending quality cash....you've hit the jackpot.

If you don't have kids and just want to roam around aimlessly, like me.....you've found the activity.

Those suckers are everywhere. Whatever your location....just log it in and BAM!!!!! the site will show in detail all of the geocaches located around your area. You'd be suprised what's hidden and where.

P.S. I love to geocache at parks. Everyone there is looking at you like, what the heck are you doing? Did you lose an earring or something. Is that a metal detector? What is that? What are you doing? Are you alright?

You can spark some crazy conversations.

I wasn't very happy during my first NYE celebration......



but I started dancing................lol



and drinking............lolx2


End result: You can find the silver lining in any situation :)

HAPPY 2009

2009 Resolutions!!!!~~ A letter to myself

I only have one resolution for this year.....

and it is....(drum roll).........

Don't make one :)

Everyday is a new day....

Do the best that you can do with each day that you live.

Sincerely,

Me.

A Late Merry Christmas

Now that the holidays are over, it's back to work. I really enjoyed myself over the holidays. My mom decided to have Christmas dinner at home and invite our nearest dearest over. It was all that and a bag of chips. Food Galore!! Soul food to be exact! The kind of food that isn't made with measuring cups. Everything was seasoned with ham hocks!!!lol EVERYTHING!!!LOL

As you can see from the slide show above, everyone had a blast. I hope that you all enjoyed your christmas and family as well as I did.

Wishing you a VERRRRY Late Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...