Of body ink and birthdays

Here's sumn you may not know: I'm headed to Texas! Yay! Its my LP (known to you as the infamous La)'s birthday, and I'm going to hang out with her. Atlanta is really trying to send me on my way wth all this ran though. They want me to leave! Bye then!

So we're hoping to get tattoos while I'm there. Mine is highly conceptual, and involves heiroglyphics and Arabic and shit. But I can't seem to find anyone who speaks Arabic to translate for me (I need to hear them say the words so I can translate the sounds into heiro, so the internet aint really helping). Bah! Damn it! I work with mad Ethiopians and Somalians but no Egyptians! Fuck!

Anyway, Kesi and I are sitting in the car the other night and some new guy from his job walks up to him showing off his tattoo. "yeah my boy does ink. You see its good work so if you need some, holler!" it was straight script. Just a cursive tattoo of his sons name on his arm. Then he started talking about some jail tat method involving crayons and a safety pin. It was at this point that I really started thinking about where the average black person probably gets their tattooing skills, and twittering about it, lol.

"Can't go to a tattoo parlor in the hood because I don't think many of them went through artist apprenticeship. May be biased, but I don't want a prison tattoo."

I know from watching Miami ink that you're supposed to work under someone in order to become a tattooist. I think most of these dudes, especially the one in my hood that EVERYONE goes to, could draw well, learned in jail, then got out and bought a tat gun. *sidenote, the guy across from me on the bus has no less than 4 tattoos on his arms and hands, one that says "god's/ child" with 6 stars, an ugly bulldog looking "cry later" mask, and sumn I can't discern from here* and that's fine, if that's what you like. But me? My brother is a brilliant artist. He turned a photo of himself into a lil fish cartoon. He still has to tag my skates. But I'm not about to let him scribble on my body! So pardon me as I head to lil 5 points and get my artwork done.
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So I've never been to Texas. I'm excited! I remember La telling me there are cows next to the bus station. Its gonna be really interesting. I also decided to cook for her birthday. We have to go to the grocery store, which she particularly hates, lol. But damnit, we're going! I'm gonna be away from Kesi for 6 days. He's gonna be crumbled in a corner when I get back. Po baby. I'll be sure to bring him back a teeshirt. Lmao.

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The weekend

Let's start from the beginning.

Friday: we left town @about 2ish, after my cousin was late picking us up, then we had to get her brother downtown, then he took a half hour in his house, blah blah blah. It was a straight shot on I20 to cayce, south Carolina, which I describe as a suburb with no city attached. There weren't big farm yards but there weren't any big buildings either. Just neighborhoods and a strip of fast food and big box stores off the highway. Or maybe medium box, lol. No walmarts.

We stayed at my cousin's aunt's house. No relation to me. It was cool though, they were nice. Her oldest child didn't live there but was at the house because we were. Cool, but her 3 sons were too. And they were bad. Not their fault, clearly their mom was not a discliplinarian. They looked dirty too. And they were loud. man, I was not feeling them. Anyway, I followed my usual routine of staying up til 3, which wasn't easy because there was shit to do. Nowhere to walk or drive. We drove an hour to go eat. I watched goodwill hunting while I waited for Kesi to get off work.

Saturday. I was up and it was still dark. That's hard to do when you're so far East, but a lil easier when the 3 loudest kids that ever existed are 20 ft away. I had to cover my ear with my hand in order to muffle them and their mother/ aunt/ uncle yelling at them. My brother "woke" me up at 730 so I could get ready because we still had a 50 mile trip to Cross to meet up with our family. Somehow I still was sitting around from 830-10 waiting to leave. And hungry. Of course by the time we got there breakfast was over.

It was in Cross where I reunited with cousins I hadn't seen in YEARS, and met my dad's "fiance." I put it in quotes because this is the man that once called my mom his wife while conducting a car buy, and has been calling Kesi his son in law for years. Its somewhat clear he throws words around. Anyway I met her, smiled, and kept it moving.

*Can I digress for a moment? Yeah?

I don't like her. Luckily I think I'm old enough where that's neither here nor there for his sake. But I don't like her. She's plain as shit. I'm one for the bare faced look but she couldn't even rock a facial expression. Honestly if there was a pic of the 3 of us (ha!) one might think I was the girlfriend and she was the daughter. She had on beige gladiators. To a funeral! And they were dirty! And she wasn't wearing any beige! She's in her 20s. Why does she look so raggedy? That wouldn't have been a problem had she also not been shy as shit. Every time I saw them, they were off in the cut somewhere. 5 feet behind the crowd. And I know it wasnt him. We don't have a shy family. He was there cuz that's where she was. Never once tried to get to know me or my brother. And I wasn't about to go get played by her silent ass. Why was she even there? I get the support thing, but my dad spent more time after her than the other way around. She didn't even know my grandfather! I mean my mom loved my grandfather. This woman didn't even meet him. And she was the cryingest somebody...

Ok, rant over*

The funeral was beautiful. 2 of my uncles and my grandma's cousin sang. Man, when the cousin sang... Beautiful. He sang a hymn which I don't know the name of. Had everyone crying. My granddaddy's niece did the eulogy/ sermon. It was so powerful and really cemented the reasons I was there. To be there for my family. She talked about how my granddad used to bring them down to eutawville (pronounced Utah-ville) for family vacays and they'd be piled into a station wagon, all 13 of them. Lmao, 13! And she talked about how he always had a patient smile for you. He was a very even toned man. But a jokester. There was a lot more but I couldn't possibly say everything.

After that we went to the family cemetary. I didn't even know we had one! My uncle released a dove in his honor and he was buried next to my grandma. My mom explained to us that since the area was so swampy the law said they had to be in a crypt and a casket. So he wasn't 6ft under. Maybe like 3. The funeral home guys, I didn't like them. They didn't seem very professional. They got dirt on my grandma's stone and didn't clean it off. And they didn't have any particular uniform. I thought wearing a tee to someone's burial, even if you're doing the burying, was kinda rude. Whatevs. I'm not even gonna talk about how they almost liked to hit somebody trying to leave. I imagine that its not too often that people die in that town, so they need to stop trippin.

Anyways, we went back to my aunt Tina's house, the same house I stayed in when I was 7 (I'll link that story later), and had a banging lunch. Caught up with family, took pictures and videos and roasted a few, namely my uncle Richard's kids. At one instance we found out that they hadn't actually put on their ties properly, but instead had took them from the display setting, and put them around their neck with a rubber band. What got us was that we DIDN'T KNOW until one of them pulled it down and it snapped back up! We laughed for a half hour. My cousin even walked over to the "drinking crowd" and showed them and you could hear them laughing across the lawn. I call them the drinking crowd, btw, because someone had made corn liquor and they were drunk.

My uncle Mike offered to pay for my wedding if he "gets this money." apparently he's suing someone. I hold him to it, too. Although, he does have a ton of kids who may feel entitled.

It was so nice to see my family, but part of me needed my phone back. We left at like 8PM and 20 minutes out of town I had service back. We headed back to cayce and I spent my time half asleep until my brother and I found the channel with Danny Phantom and Pinky and the Brain on it. Everyone ended up falling asleep in the living room and even though the kids were again loud, I woke up very refreshed. I won't mention how I had to step over them to go pee cuz they fell asleep in the hall. Insanity. There was 3 empty beds in that house and my brother and cousin slept on the floor.

Sunday morning we ended our trip with a game of Scene It. Guess who won it for her team? Why yes, it was me! It was a fun game and I may have to get it. We headed back to Atlanta around noon and I stayed up for a good piece of the trip. Found out there's a Laurel and Hardy museum in Albany, and that cows be lounging.

And that was my trip. I'm sure I left sumn out, but a lot happened, so...

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back in the A!

i have unceremoniously returned from Cross/ Eutawville/ Casey south carolina. my grandfather's funeral was quite an event. i'll be sure to tell you about it and the days surrounding, i just dont feel like doing it now. i just wanted to leave you with some pix...

remember that gigantic field i saw when i was 7? its still gigantic.

my dad, brother, and me. please understand that this pic is rought (or is it raught?) with thoughts and emotions, and that i hate that hes holding me by the stomach as if im pregnant, especially since i looked really thin that day. and my brother looks mighty retarded. and my dad has the country ash. but there will be more on all this tomorrow... or later today rather

update

i didnt realize i hadnt posted in a week almost. sorry...

im headed to south carolina tomorrow morning. woo? i get to see alot of my family, but of course it is my grandfather's funeral. and its in a town of 6000. theres more people in my hotel on a 100% occupancy day! ive been stealing wireless from my neighbors. i dont even know if i'll be connected to the world, lol.

i know that sounds random and irrelevant, but theyre the things that go through my head. sigh. i really didnt know my grandfather, what with moving to atlanta 14 years ago. its sad but its strange too. im really going to be there for my father. i know. i havent talked to him in literally years, but thats not important. i imagined how alone he'd feel if he saw that his children werent there. i'd hate to hurt him like that. regardless of his warantless abandonment of us.

anyways, this is my grandfather. breezy said i looked like him. "that nose!!" lol. i agree.

The bad news.

So yes, I was supposed to mention this yesterday, but its been kind of a rollercoaster. I'll just come right out with it.

My Granddaddy died.

His name was James and he was 82 (I think). He was married to Lula, the grandmother who taught my mom to crochet.

He fell and broke a few ribs, which led to pneumonia and kidney probs, and this morning he had a stroke. By the time I woke up, he was gone.

Its funny, lately I'd been talking about him. Breezy and I were talking about his 99yo grandfather, and a few weeks ago I was describing my Granddaddy's house to Kesi- how there's bedrooms enough for everyone, lol. Lately I'd been thinking of sitting in the car with him the last time I saw him, 3 years ago.

He had a fishing boat. And a big, old school van. It was green I think. Had a couch in it. And not the ghetto kind either, one that came with the van. I guess it was bench seating, but really plush.

We were never allowed in his room. I have no idea what it looks like.

I'm worried about my dad. He's in CT now (and I need to find a way to get up there). I considered not going, but I think he'd feel totally alone if his kids didn't show up. No matter what drama occurred its things like this that show family is what counts. Gosh that sounds cheesy, but its true.

I guess that's all.... We'll miss you Granddaddy.



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what about chex? and i really like french toast.

ya'll, i love the lord. i really do. he heard my cry. and hearkened every... sumn i dont know the words, ok? i know that in my heaven, there shalt be the most important meal of the day. some dont agree apparently. honestly, why did he bring mabel up there if she wasnt gonna hold the mic all the way up to her mouth? bless em...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYqM9-Fj0Pg

i for some reason cant imbed. but itll be worth it to click the link.

good news, bad news

i'll save the bad news for tomorrow. for now, please be aware that i am currently selling breast cancer awareness scarves to benefit our friend X Factor and her avon breast cancer walk. they come in a rainbow of colors, so cop yern, mk? theyre only $15. so help the sistas out! for more info go here and check the links too. and repost if you can! smoochies!!!!

Yall talk about that?

Yes. All the time. Almost every day.

For all intents and purposes, Kesi and I are.... Pre-engaged. I mean, we know that we want to get married and we know that if we could we would be now. I mean, 7 years is nothing to play with. Neither of us has a fear of commitment. We'd love to move out of our respective parents' homes and live together. Have kids. Have a nice, affordable, classy wedding in front of our friends and family. If there's one thing I lament this recession for, its my not being able to save money like I wanted.

The subject of our spiritual lives came up somehow the other night in one of the rare moments of Kesi and I riding around alone in the car. Did either of us get past genesis when attempting to read the whole bible? How he wasn't raised in church and I was. How I was baptized and he wasn't. Explaining what happens at a christening.

"I'd like to get baptized at our wedding."

"we both could do it."

"I think its a good idea."

Not only taking a vow to each other in front of God, but a vow to God in front of each other. Beautiful.

"you guys talk about that stuff?" my coworker Friday afternoon.

I wonder why its so hard to believe. Its not like we've been shitting around the past 7 years. If we hadn't earnestly mentioned it in all this time, then why am I here? Why is he? But then again the person who asked is dating someone 12 years older than her who probably treats her like a thing rather than a person. And she treats him like a bank, so.....

One of the rudest things I encounter is random people asking when I'm getting married. People who actually know Kesi or I see that we have a better relationship than some who have been married. I mean, I have friends who are divorced already, so let me do this, k? Anyway I think this is rude because you don't know my life. If marriage is even something I wanted. You just assumed. And by assuming, you add pressure. Its like, "when are you gonna get new shoes?" these shoes feel great, and just because I've worn them for a while now and you don't think they're in style doesn't mean I have to get a new pair. I also don't have to change the dynamics of my relationship because you think its "time."

People are also surprised we don't have kids. Boo to you. My uterus will be here for a while. Its like Puffy, only its not ruining anyone's careers.

One thing I was wrong about? Kesi's "stepmom." its official now. I always thought I'd have that last name before her. But that's ok, cuz the family actually likes me.

*havent started blogging from the new computer yet because I haven't had a day off since I got it. Wah.*

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Monday afternoon musings

So I have this friend. And I'm starting to see really douche baggy tendencies in him. Its really annoying, obviously. Apparently he feels that impressing a group of people with somethng totally average is better than being himself. So every time he does it- its usually some bragging about something I could care less about and if someone did thatd kinda show that they didn't care about him as a person- I make a joke about it to him which in turn makes me seem really douchey. I don't know if I'm making sense because I can't give examples. Anyway. He says these things that make him sound like its gonna end with "yeah, I'm awesome." or "you totally want me." and its messed up because he's actually pretty neat when he's not smelling his own farts.


In other news, my brother hates Iraq. Is it any wonder? Fortunately he can still facebook so we can still talk, but of course its always about how it sucks. He's on the largest afb over there, according to google. I told him that he'll be home soon and hopefully he'll never have to go back. So yall pray for him.

Does anyone wanna donate to the "Joy needs her best friend to live but also needs money to have fun and eat while they both live" fund? Basically I need vacation money, lol. Anyone?

Btw snow in my mind needs to be cleared off the street and is deep enough to reach into to make a snowball without pulling up dirt. Rashan may have gotten that, but today, there's no snow in my yard. My flowers are flooded though. I have buttercups on the lawn and they're dying now. Thanks snow. Also my cactus was leaning, but this was Saturday. It looked like someone fell on it. Ouch. But these poor kids had not a bit of snow in their yard. It was all in a milk crate. They were digging into the crate to make snowballs. It was like the snow version of poverty. So sad. I just wanted to take them to Tennessee or sumn and let them make snow angels.



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