Ola, Gracias, and Happy Holidays!

It has been  awhile since my last blog. A lot has happened for instance my second vacation of the year to Cancun, Mexico. I just came back and let me tell you it was a trip to remember. Simply because it was a fun filled trip. I went with one of my best girlfriends (I have two) Diane. And from the first night it was party, party, fun, fun. On this trip there were no plans to visit historical sites like the Mayan Ruins etc...this was a trip of release. We went speed boating in Riviera Maya (we drove our own speed boat) and shopping, dining, and partying in Cancun. We spent very little time at our resort. We used the resort to sleep, eat breakfast, and get dressed and then we were off on our adventures. From the moment that we had arrived we felt right at home. We had no problem with catching the local bus and going where we needed to go. We caught a few taxis mainly when we were coming from the clubs where we met a lot of nice funny people mainly men who showered us with lots of attention (not all of it was for tips...lol). We had the VIP treatment. We danced and drank tequila laced drinks and let Baltimore, Md and the states become a distant memory. My point is as always when I talk about traveling is to make it what you want it to be. If you are going for pleasure then do just that make it pleasurable. Now that I am back and have rested up from my vacation I can now somewhat tackle the busy holiday season. Well let me stop here because I have some research to do on my next vacation, I am thinking Costa Rica. So until the next time HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

drea D.

Get A Clue

     Yesterday was football Sunday. What a good day, my hometown team the Baltimore Ravens won!  I had impromptu guest over and that meant I had to get creative with the food and drink. Barbecued chicken legs, stuffed scallops on the half shell, along with a garden salad and corn on the cob did the trick. Topping  off the evening with Sweet Bitch wine put the icing on the cake. It was a good positive day had by all. With so much misfortune and hardship that so many of us are experiencing good times like this has become golden. That is why it amazes me that some of us still can't get a clue. Recently a friend informed me that some former co-workers were looking to get in touch with me. Now ordinarily that would not be a problem, if these were the type of people that was on a similar path as myself but that is not the case. These people that I worked with and socialized with were backstabbing jealous mean spirited individuals who did nothing but try to cause me pain. I worked with these miserable people for years. And I suspect that they have not changed because according to my friend all they want to do is more of the same. One of them has even gone so far as to drive past my apartment check out my car and see if my blinds are open or close with the  threat of knocking on my door uninvited, not because she actually cares about how I am doing but to cause mischief, believe me this is all that this person knows. What a waste of life.
     In getting to a new place in my life I found it necessary to clean house. Not just the place where I lay my head but of the people and things that were toxic to my well being. When I left my miserable job behind, the miserable people went with it. God has given me this life as a gift and I'll be damned if I waste it on meaningless bullshit. I feel blessed that I got a clue, I feel less stressed and I look at things a lot differently now I take the time to analyze and know that there is more than just one way to handle everything. Life is all in what you make it. The phrase when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! is so true. In a way I feel sorry for my former co-workers because they remain in such bondage but that is their life not mines. I got a CLUE.
So until the next time, keep reaching for the good life!
                                                                                                                       drea D

Enjoy Yourself!

This past week has been one to remember and one to count your blessings. First right here on the east coast we had the earthquake(see previous blog) and this weekend we had the hurricane Irene. She came in like gangbusters on Saturday and did not let up one little bit until she was ready to leave which was the next day. Talking about a woman scorned. Between these two occurrences there were some lives lost, homes and cars were damaged and people living without power including myself. But thank God mine was restored in seven hrs.
That is why I think that it is so important to live life doing what fulfills you and bring you joy. Very recently right before this weather stuff happened I had the opportunity to do something that I like to do during the summer and that is go to different festivals. Because we have had such a tremendously hot summer I could not get to as many as I usually would. But when these two came around I made a point to go and also the fact the weather was nice. The first on was The International World Festival here in Baltimore where for free I got to see concert featuring Third World, and singer Ledisi, both acts did there thing greatly. I also visited some of the many exhibits that were set up, I got to see  and hang out with some friends that I had not seen for awhile, and I had me good ole Maryland crab cake. I also ran into my hair stylist who was definitely enjoying herself.
I took a friend with me and we had our chairs and sat under the moonlight and just chilled out and got our groove on. The next week I went to the Fiore Wine,Arts. and Jazz Festival. It was in Pylesville,Maryland (talking about getting lost several times...damn). That day was also good weather day, my son Jerome and a friend of his went along. When we finally got there we paid our fee (this was not free) it was seventeen dollars at the door thirteen in advance. We received our take home wineglasses that you get so that you can sample as many wines as you like. Well of course we started sampling right away, the atmos

Shake Rattle Roll

I just experienced my very first earthquake. Here on the east coast we don't get those type of natural disasters. It was a 5.9 and it was felt from Virginia to New York and beyond. Fortunately no one was hurt, at least that we know of. It happened about two hours ago, and I was sitting on my bed sorting out laundry, when my closet doors started to shake. I thought OMG something is in my closet and trying to get out. I was literally frozen in fear. Just as I was about to call for my son everything started to shake. We were in the middle of an earthquake. I could not believe it, the phone calls started coming in everybody asking "did you feel that." All of the major television stations are on broadcasting and letting us know what is going on. I am still awestruck and I am trying to get in touch with a few friends, certain cell phone companies are down so I am doing a lot of emailing. But all I can say is WOW!!!

dreaD

What The Hell!

     For the last I will not say how many years I have been in  a self imposed relationship exile. All I wanted was friends with benefits, no strings, everything light, nothing heavy. It was something necessary that I had to do. Well after doing me for an extended period of time I am ready to share my life long term. But it has not been as easy as all that, I seem to be a man repellent. True I have been out of the game for a long time...but damn!!! I feel like a neanderthal.
     The men look and they smile, and some even speak and I do the same in return but that is as far as it has gotten. One man took a look at me and ran. No I am not an ugly woman with three heads and an eye in the middle of my forehead, so I am saying ...what the hell!!! Anyway after giving it some very long thought I decided to join an on-line dating site, and to give my self a better chance with things I have decided to broaden my horizons, so it is an interracial site. I posted my profile and a nice picture, and the hits have been coming in, so much so that I have been picked as a favorite. I have corresponded with men of all different races and cultures, and some seem very amusing and refreshing but still I have not made a connection. And that is understandable these things take time and I realize that I may never find my Mr. Wonderful on this site or any other (I am not joining another).
     Last week while on the phone talking to one of my sister friends, and we were talking about one of our favorite topics (guess?)...men and how finding one of substance seems to be a fairytale, and that in my case my breast and my lips are still taking center stage. My twenty seven year old son over heard this and said "Ma you have to bring your sexy back."  "What???" I said "Yeah ma, I have noticed that you have become some what prudish, and very Gloria Steinum." He told that I need to chill and pull out the femme fatale and accept and appreciate the compliments and be glad that men still see a need to give them to me. He also said that the most attractive thing in the world is being with a woman who understands the dynamics of a man. Well out of the mouths of babes.
      Men are visual, this is something that I have known forever, but like a lot of women , refuse to accept it. You see as I have gotten older I figured that there is more to me than just my breast and my lips, and that a man of substance is going to be looking at my inner more than my outer (foolish me). The young man is right, a man of substance is just as visual as a man who is a piece of crap, their just different in character. Bottom line a man is a man.
     Since that conversation, I have done some tweaking and I have toned some things down a bit and become  more approachable and I must say I do see a difference.  Not only have I gotten long stares and smiles but I have been approached. I have not made the connection that I am looking for yet, but it is a start. Thanks Jerome! this is one conversation that I am glad you overheard. Till next time.

drea D

Canada EH!

     Well it has been all most a month since I have been back from my vacation. And I must say it served its purpose. I so much needed that getaway to clear my mind and to erase some of the bullshit that had cluttered it. The trip was filled with good people and positive atmosphere. As soon as we crossed over the line from the states into Canada the difference was immediate. The air was fresh and clean and in some ways it had a royal feeling to it.
     We were on a bus tour trip and our days would start as early as 7:30 A.M. and ended late in the evening. Each day was something different. On one day we went to Niagra Falls and did the Maid in the Mist boat ride. We donned our blue rain ponchos and got up close and personal with the falls and its mighty mist. What an experience! The next day we would go to visit the great Floral Clock with it's three hands. It was pretty and served as a good photo op.
     Another day was upscale shopping at Niagra On The Lake. A place filled with eclectic boutiques and nice places to eat, the whole place was very colonial. We ate at a haunted pub called Angels Pub it was straight out of the Civil War. Another day we went on an African Safari not only did the kids go ooh and ahh over the  
many species of animals, so did the adults.
     There was so much to do, some went to the casino, while others like myself and my friend Chris found some nitelife and went for a few drinks and karaoke. Now don't let me forget about the food. Each night we ate some place different, all were top notch restaurants. One night it was fish and chips, another prime rib, and another was a full slab of ribs and of course roast chicken that looked the size of a rooster. One night was a Japanese buffet, excellent food and beautiful atmosphere. At each restaurant, I must say the portions were huge. The size that would put the jolly green giant himself in food heaven.OMG! Needless to say that by the end of the trip digestive discomfort was a fact for many of us.
     But anyway, the trip was wonderful. And when I came back I was able to function. I made some important decisions, and took care of some important business matters without raising my blood pressure. My  b-day is coming up soon and I am thinking about taking a  girls getaway weekend to Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland. That sounds like it might be possible. I'll keep ya posted. Until next time happy travels.
                                                                                                                                     drea D










                                                                                                                                                    .
 

Getting My Sanity Back!

     "Girl, I have got to get my sanity back!"
These are the words that I would here before seeing the luggage sitting front and center in the living room. That could only mean one thing, my mother was about to embark on one her many Caribbean adventures.
       It was the early seventies when my mom and several of her girlfriends started going the Caribbean Islands. They would spend weeks getting ready, and countless hours on the phone mapping out their strategy. It was a fun and exciting time for them. I can remember watching my mother putting together different outfits, what outfit she would ware on the plane, what wig or hairpiece, what shoes and which pocketbook went with those shoes, this was serious stuff. There were little handwritten notes with days of the week on them signifying which outfit she would ware on a particular day. Now it just wasn't the clothes, it was also the hair. I would come home from school and see the red and white Mel Hayes wig boxes stacked up. There were bush wigs, bush balls, the chignon, and the ponytail. My mom left no stone unturned when she was about to go on her getting her sanity back vacation.
      Even though I found all of this amusing, I also felt childish jealousy and resentment. Sure, she made a point    to do the family vacations to Disney World, Myrtle and Virginia Beach, and what ever amusement park, but I still had the feeling of why can't I go. You know how it is, as children you didn't see how your parents would want to be away from you. I was crushed, because not only would I miss my mom, it also meant that I would have to spend seven to ten days with the grandparents (ugh). When I would go into my throwing a fit mode, my mom would either stand there and watch me, amused and wait for me to finish and then walk a way or she wouldn't pay me any attention at all, she would simply continue on with her packing.
      When the day  had arrived for her to leave, she would say good-by to me as I cried as if my heart was coming out of my chest, tears streaming down my face, snot running from my nose, and as she wiped my face with a tissue, she would kiss my face and promise to bring back lots of presents. But I didn't care about the gifts I just wanted to go. I would even ask one more time, "Mommy why can't I go?" She would say to me "Andrea when you become grown, then you can go on your own" and with that she would kiss me again and grab her luggage and walk out of the door without looking back.
        By the next day I would be over it, and my concerns were playing with my friends and trying to outwit my grandmother, granddad was fine but granny was a whole different entity within herself (whew). For me those seven to ten days passed by quickly and it was time for my mother to come home. When she arrived, always at night I of course was happy to see her. There were lots of hugs and kisses and of course presents. The next day I would ask my mom did she have fun? and she would day "yes I did, I had a wonderful time, and every working adult should take at least one vacation on their own every year." I would wonder why she would always say that, but I would just nod my head in response. Then came the weekend after the trip, and that meant a get together of all the women who had went on the trip. It was a full day that lasted well into the next morning. There was a lot of good food, lots of Caribbean music, and lots of laughter and a whole lot of
 dark rum. Some would come dressed in a Caribbean style. Each woman came with at least two full picture albums and they would pass each album around several or more times giggling and screaming as they remembered the vacation. And there was always a different man on each trip. One time my mother dated a well known  Oscar winning actor's cousin, she even took pictures in the actor's house.
      This went on for years, and over the years they became well known. It was a fact , that when Lu and her crew where on the island, a good time would be had by all. When I became an adult with a family of my own, I finally understood what the phrase getting my sanity back meant. As far back as I can remember I have loved to travel. I also did the family vacations and the romantic getaways with my husband on our anniversaries. But after my marriage ended, and in between some of life's bull shit, I had somewhat gotten away from traveling and concentrated on getting my life back to normal. When I finally got my feet on even ground emotionally, it was time to get my sanity back! My first trip was to Jamaica with some friends. We went to the adults only Hedonism 3 resort in Runaway Bay. Talking about getting your groove back (hey call me Stella) it was amazing. It is a place where grown ups can do grown up things when, with whom, and wherever they want to do it (get my meaning). If you want a place where you can relate, relax, and release then that's your place.
       Since getting back into traveling I have found that my stress level is down, and I am a lot happier. I love going to different places and meeting all types of people. I like the experience of different cultures, whether it   is the Caribbean Islands, Central America, or right here in the good ol US of A I think getting away from the every day cycle of life is essential to good health. Tomorrow I am leaving for Niagara Falls Canada (I think that I am one of two people who have never been there) and I can't wait, we have a full itinerary that promises to be full of adventure. From an African Lion Safari in Cambridge to the famous Maid of the Mist boat ride, we will also visit the Floral Clock and many other sites. A spectacular night life is also promised. So as I embark on my first vacation of the   year I hope that there is a vacation in your very near future, because after all every working adult deserves a vacation. Talk to ya when I get back
                                                                                                                           drea D