Summer of Saying Yes And... (or 6 Hotels in 7 Weeks)

Summer has sped on by me. It's already the middle of August. And in retrospect, I have managed to squeeze in quite a lot of hang-outage with quite a few of my favorite people.

WEST VIRGINIA
My first trip was to West Virginny with my mom and my aunt. THAT was an adventure in itself because my aunt don't get out much...and she can be a little uuuuh, grumpy and not very adventurous. She stepped out of her box a few times, but was also the reason I didn't get to visit the limoncello distillery (I know, that totally sounds awesome, right!?!?) However, while in West Virginia, we shopped and ate great food and just enjoyed not having any real place to be or any real time to get there. You know food is always a HUGE part of my travels and this time was not exception. We visited the Bavarian Inn, had GREAT German food (mmmmmm, SCHNITZEL!) and a great view of the mountains.

While talking to a gorgeous couple at the Bavarian Inn, we found out there was a crafts festival just up the road the next day. We had a ball & we also enjoyed crab cakes from The Anvil and they were pretty tasty! I fell in love with Forks of Cheat Wines, especially their Van Buren & Blueberry wine... in fact I think I will have a glass right now... brb... *zips of to the wine fridge, pours a generous glass of Van Buren, zips back & commences typing* Now, where was I? Oh yes, WV wines & such. Well yeah, it's good and... *sips* ok, let's move on SHALL WE!?!? We ate breakfast each morning at the hotel because the Hampton Inn-Martinsburg had free waffles... can't beat that with a bat. And on Saturday evening I had a yummy cantalope margarita at the Texas Steakhouse.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

On the way home we swung by the outlets to do some shopping for my nephew who is cooler than a polar bear's toenail, I tell you! All told, there were a few arguments but mostly good times!

What I learned: You can't travel with everyone and that's ok. But you also cannot and should not compromise the integrity of a great time because of one person or else you may miss out on something awesome like live music & limoncello!

HOME

Then I performed with the best church on the East Coast... The Community of Hope AME's Voices of Hope at the Safeway BBQ Battle. Most folks may not understand why this is a big deal, however... it's MAJOR because we are a church that is only 7 years old, but we were invited to sing GOSPEL on the same stage as legends of DC's own musical genre- GoGo! Y'alldonthearmedoe! I love my COH!! Beleeeeee dat!

NORTH EAST, MARYLAND

Next up, was the youth retreat at Sandy Cove. This was an amazing move of God because I learned so much while there. I had some internal conflict that I literally had to get down on my knees & pray about with tears streaming down my face. But once I did, I stood back & watched God work. There was a young lady whose mother initially did not want her to go on the retreat because she was acting up at home. A fellow youth leader and I encouraged her to let her go & all but promised it was for the best. Well, when I tell you that the young lady that came home was not the same young lady AT ALL... believe me! Due to the sensitive nature of the things that wenton at the retreat, I cannot go into much detail about this. But I had a room of 3 girls whom I ADORED and really enjoyed talking with them about college and life after HS! There was some conflict that some of our kids were being forced into, that they all successfully avoided. I was just so proud.

My chicas!

What I learned: Get out of God's way, some things aren't about you. And also, never underestimate the power of a good example. HALLELU!

HOME

That next weekend marked the last weekend for a member of our youth ministry. He was off to Cali for a one year program. We had a lovely brunch for him at Bar Code and ended it with a full on papparazzi style photo shoot outside the lounge.

Love you & miss you, Jeff!

I left there to go hang on the porch with my boo that moved to FL and only visits the area once every 2 years or something!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

What can I say? New York is ALWAYS an adventure & this time was no exception! I traveled with the one & only MimiCuteLips & her cousin Ty. There was a party at the Doughnut Plant in Chelsea... Don't believe me, peep the receipt:

Michael said I'm fun! :-P

While having breakfast at our second fave breakfast spot just down the street (yes we had doughnuts AND breakfast... you mad??) we got a call that our room was ready. We checked into our room at the Four Points by Sheraton and didn't really think much of the room because we had stayed there previously. That was until we opened the window & saw.... 

The Empire State Building and the Chrysler building just to the right of it! SUHWEET!

We traipsed through the city all weekend long stopping at The Counter in Times Square... where we did some ungodly things to our burgers. 

We got us some Big Gay Ice Cream in the West Village... no pictures of that because, well... we DOGGED IT! Might I suggest the APPLE Gobbler though... 

pic from http://biggayicecream.com/

And I saw Nev & Max from Catfish... I mean how cool is that? 

Damn, they fine! S'cuse my language!

Sunday night we stumble upon a SWEET deal to see Wendy Williams in the musical Chicago! 

You see that squiggle there? it's Wendy's autograph!  How did I get it you ask? She signed it when we went to the Wendy WIlliams Show the very next day! I luh me some WENDY!

AND she shook my hand, hunty!

After that we got some bueeeeeeenooooo Italian grub at Il Bastardo. 

We got to see some of NY's Finest spring into action!

And DO THAT they did!

 And met up with my cousins for some firemen ogling and a group pic!

wecute!

After that we packed up on the crowded Megabus where I eavesdropped on some nerd's phone conversation  about his awesome weekend of beer & folk music *eyeroll* & texted it to Mimi.... because I'm immature! :-P

What I learned: It's okay to just be free. No plans, no schedule, no hurry. When you go with the flow, good things flow back to you... cool things happen... And also, always BE fun... people notice that type of thing! lol

WASHINGTON, DC

I live here, so why is this included? Because I stayed in a hotel in my hometown and had a ball. Hotel Rouge was the PERFECT place for us! (Cuz see rouge is french for red & my sorority colors are crimson & cream.... get it??) 

You may or may not know (or care) that I am a member of an AMAZING organization DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, IIIIINCORPORATED!  We were founded in 1913 & this year marked our 100 year Anniversary! There were Deltas all over DC & I was one of them! I was working my 9-5 and participating in the meetings & services.... I was in the 500+ voice choir that ministered throughout the weekend AND I hosted some of my chapter sorors. I can't tell you everything that went down but here are the pictures I can share:

I witnessed high-powered women HUMBLED by the honor of being a Delta! That, to me was incredible!

I also went to Bar Code AGAIN! and introduced some of my sorors to the yummy goodness that is Lauriol Plaza!

What I Learned: Delta Sigma Theta chose me for a reason and I am recommitted to doin it big for Delta! Also, I love my linesisters so much and we have all learned to accept, respect and appreciate so much more about one another over the 14 years in the sisterhood (omg I am OLD). 

JAMAICA

It's paradise, without a doubt! I fell in love all over again... the resort, the staff, the food.... I need to go there every year! I have stayed at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall once before and could not believe it was a real place! It looks just like the pictures and lives up to my idea of luxury and hospitality. We had butlers! BUTLERS! Every day we had pineapples delivered to our room & every night, we had champagne & pineapples delivered to our room.... we would get up, eat breakfast, laze about in the pool, eat lunch, laze around on our deck, eat lunch again, laze around in the pool, take showers, go to dinner... go for a late night dip in the private pools... and have a lazy good time. I actually went IN the ocean... I NEVER do that... sand gets all over errythang ifyouknowwhatImean...I have no pictures other than these few because I was too busy livin it up to pose!

What I Learned: Vacation isn't always about going, seeing, doing... or having the perfect beach body (I'm currently shaped like a  beach BALL). It's about relaxing, completely and totally... no judgement, now worries! They have a saying there: There are no problems, only situations!

RICHMOND, VA

Does that say RICHMOND, who goes to RICHMOND? yes, yes it does!I went to Richmond to meet up with one of the coolest, most understanding friends a girl could have! It was just for the day, I was gone about 25 hours total. But in that 25 hours, we had great conversation, great food and great laughs. We remembered what it was we loved about one another and made a vow to try to see one another more often. I also think we learned something new about one another.And we learned that we are both pretty greedy! Look at this food!

Breakfast Melt & Pork & Waffles from Station 2!

What I Learned: No matter how long you have known a person, you can always learn something new about them. And also a good friend will take your suggestions into consideration lol

Enjoy your life.... say yes MORE! Not to people asking you to do something FOR them... but to EXPERIENCES! I had my LIFE changed this summer in some ways that weren't even discussed here... I learned back in my days of improv to say: "YES, AND..." instead of "No, but..." Too many people want to decline opportunities & suggest things that make them feel more comfortable or just do nothing at all as life happens all around them. I am applying "YES, AND..." to my life. Accepting the opportunities life has to offer, that's the YES... adding more to it that's the AND...

I leave you with this:

It has nothing to do with this blog, but my nephew is just too stinkin CUTE to not get some shine!

Random Song of the Day: Sly & the Family Stone -(You Caught Me) Smilin

I have NO idea what he's saying... but this is the smoothest, happiest 3 minutes of Sly Stone you will ever hear. The horns make my heart swell... Don't be afraid to get caught smilin' today!

In Loving Memory

Recently, one of my customers passed away. I work in a customer service capacity for the government so I have regular customers that come to me about printing work. There are customers that are know-it-alls, there are customers that know NOTHING (even thought they have been working in their positions for years), and there are the customers that you don't mind going the extra mile for... She was one of those customers.

When we first herd she was sick, it was just a surgery. She came into the office weeks later not really looking herself. But her personality was still there. Like a sweet country aunt. Sometimes her paperwork was confused, she accepted that. Sometimes someone in her office was making a poor decision, she admitted that. always pleasant & always had a smile in her voice. Eventually she had started working from home more and more. but was still able to manage the workload with help from her co-workers. But eventually it took it's toll and now she has gone on to glory. And people all over the building are sad & sullen because of this loss.

It makes me want to know how people will react to my death. This is not a morbid or depressing thing. This is a what will my life say about me once I am no longer here to live it? Will people all over the building be sad? Will co-workers walk around somberly at my absence? Will people speak positive things about me & smile?

Or will they just say "mm"? Or cut their eyes at each other like "oh well, one less jackass in the bldg"? I can only hope that people remember me fondly and fondly as I remember her. And smile through the tears as they think about my smile.

Who Do You THINK You Are??

Are you pretty? Beautiful? Fabulous? Thick? Skinny? Chubby? Adorable?

How do YOU see you? How do YOU feel about YOU?

We all have our bad days.... your hair is a mess, your clothes are a lil wrinkled, you didn't get enough sleep last night. But those days should NOT last weeks or years or lifetimes. You gotta love you enough to SHOW that you are the baddest, meanest, fiercest thing on this PLANET EARTH regardless of what someone else might think.

No one WANTS to be lonrly... but in order to get beyond the loneliness you must first enjoy being alone. If YOU can't stand YOU how and why would you expect anyone else to? I said it before & I'll say it again:
Change your mind & change your life!

It's not that easy, but it IS that simple... Do you have an anthem? a theme song? some theme music? something that speaks to how YOU see you... something that makes you feel like the fabulousest thing on the road? I certainly do! My Anthem is Bad Mama Jama by Carl Carlton & my theme music is Westchester Lady by Bob James they both speak to my inner Maxine Rosewater (my 70s disco diva alterego).

Don't worry about what you DON'T have... there are folks who have less & yet are getting more out of life because they workin what they got! SO WORK THAT THANG! Your long sleeved shirts don't button no more??? toss on a tank top underneath & don't button the shirt... put on your gaudiest, chunkiest of necklaces and DARE someone to notice your backfat! Pants too small??? Zip em up as far as they will go, pin em together if you have to, throw on a cute long sweater &  an arm full of bracelets & SHAKE THE WORLD UP!

GET. YOUR. LIFE. If you find it hard... get out a pad of sticky notes... write some affirmations down and put them all over your mirror... your house.. your car... your office... They can be words, phrases, bible verses... anything to remind you to be beautiful inside and out... manifest it in all you do. how you walk. how you talk. how you eat. how you post on FB, Twitter, instagram. (not that thirsty mess either... that's a whole other ball of wax!)

Grab yourself by the collar... get in your own face... SHAKE YOURSELF... and say "GET YOUR ISH TOGETHER! YOU TOO FLY FOR THIS!"

Then put on some fly clothes, put a smile on ya face, style ya hair, fix ya face up a lil somethin, turn on your theme music... go forth and BE fly! THE FLYEST EVER! FLYER THAN A 747!

BOOM! BANG! POW!

Mid-FEBRUARY Already! I MUST be Dreaming!

The months have been FLYING by for me. I have performed in a step show, survived an anxiety-filled Christmas, had a birthday, and celebrated my beau's birthday all while singing in the choir, participating in an ACTIVE youth ministry & being a full-time grad student. Life has been going on & on & on & on...

This can be a good thing. But it becomes a bad thing when the highs seem stratospherically high & the lows are subterraneanly low! Self-care is imperative! I realize this & sometimes have no time for it at the length it "need be"...

I am in school to become  a licensed professional counselor. "What do that mean, Bri?" It means I need a good therapist! Behind every good therapist, is a good therapist! My life is changing and I really don't understand it all. What I DO understand is I need a better understanding of myself, my motives, my situations, my emotions, my wants & NEEDS. I think I know at least 1 thing I need: A BREAK!

But from what? friends? family? work? school? the ministry? my surroundings? my own thoughts? my reality?

I have an imagination that rivals some of the greatest in the entertainment industry, I promise. So, in my head, I have seen and done a lot of people, places, and things... Wait I didn't mean it like that, or did I? Just kidding... not really.

I have seen my future in a million ways and each way has been more awesome than the one before it. But imagination can be misleading because there are a lot of things that have to go on in the present to enable those dreams to come true in the future. Many times, we are not in control of these things and THIS makes me nervous. This nervousness turns to anxiety & if I am not careful, that anxiety may turn into PANIC! Then, the men in the white jackets need to be called... if I don't take that little white pill. I'm not rambling here. There really is a little white pill that you can take when you are anxious that turns your anxiety down SO LOW, you run out of G.A.S. (give a sh*t- pardon my francais!).

So back to the control issue... I cannot control other people. I may be able to persuade them, but I cannot control them. (And I hate manipulators so that is out of the question.) So I have to trust that those people will do right by me. But what is right? Especially since so much of my future is swirling around getting mixed and mashed up in my head. Even my dreams at night seem real, no matter how strange, I still wake up thinking they are plausible. I mean who wouldn't be ok with having a robot version of themselves filling in for them at work while you take a trip to the moon on a Virgin Galactic rocket with your sisterwives & brotherhusbands?? I mean REALLY! TO THE MOOOON, BABY!

picture from http://www.virgingalactic.com/assets/img/overview/spaceships/banner.jpg



So what am I talking about here? A clear head, a sober mind, a focused vision and a word from the Lord. Oh yeah and a VACATION... not to the MOON... but maybe to the Bahamas... or SOMETHING! and DEFINITELY not on a cruise, cuz apparently those don't end well these days! EEK!

Y'all enjoy what is left of your February and try to stay out of "TROUBLE" tomorrow... ifyaknowatImean!