Consider this my notice..................

Work is still kicking my ass. I never thought I'd be one of those folks that would be in the routine of going to work only to come home and work some more. Yet, here I am. Ah well, it makes for a nice paycheck. I still manage to workout (sometimes), eat, bathe, and knock boots somewhere in the middle of this work sammie I've created. This is totally not how I envisioned this week would go. What was I smoking? Maybe I should hit the pipe to help put it all in perspective.

I'll be back after a much needed vacay but until then............

A Little Bit of this, a little bit of that……

•I have two water blisters on the bone on the back of my ankles and it is killing everything in me not to pop those sap suckas! The culprit? A pair of swooshes (aka Ni-Ke) training shoes I scooped up from Sports Academy on clearance this weekend.

•Trying to be Being cute will kill ya. If you ain't know, you better ask somebody...BA-BAAAAY!!

•Guess I’ll go back to my walking shoes and stick to using the new kicks for their intended purpose of training instead walking up and down the boulevard with the pooches.

•I’ll test them out on the new Bowflex we got this weekend. Mistah is so excited. Ya’ll should see him working on his fitness. It’s cute. Lol

•I told him he should take some music in the room to help him stay motivated because he’ll get bored just listening to the sounds of the machine and ceiling fan after awhile. ‘Nah, I’ll be alright’, he says. What did I hear playing yesterday afternoon though? Mmmmmmhmmmm, he ain’t stupid…..at least not all the time.

•My sisters and I received another ‘love’ email from our mother. Just in case you haven’t been reading that long, that’s code for ‘going off’. I won’t go into detail but just know that I was designated as the peacemaker and all is well.

•She fussed talked for two hours skraight. I think I got in 50 words MAX! I was so drained and hongray after that convo. *smh and laughing*

•Sometimes I really hate that she has access to a ‘puter. LOL

•My sisters and I are soooo different. The eldest is the worrier/nurturing type, the middle is the ABW (angry black woman) and me (the baby) well I just don’t give a damn half of the time. I’m the black sheep son!

•I still haven't done my state taxes. Correction, they are done, I just haven't mailed them in. I need to put them in the car to drop off in the morning so I don't forget.

•Anyone catch the ‘Army Wives’ premiere last night? It was pretty decent. I sure hope Joan doesn’t lose her eyesight. I doubt she will thought. Lifetime won't do that.

•I’m sooooo ready for the RHONY reunion show. Just skip all the other stuff and let’s get to it!

•I wonder when the reunion show for ’16 & Pregnant’ will be? Wasn’t the episode last week the last one of the season?

•I really need to start taking the digi-cam to the local Wal-marts ‘cause honey, I saw some mess in there yesterday that would have made ya weep!

•Babs had a post about cheating and what not on her blog the other day. One of the things she listed as cheating was having dinner with someone of the opposite sex and keeping it from your mate. This stood out to me because I go out to lunch with an ex of mine every so often. We dated for a few brief months before I went off to college when I was 17 but it’s nothing I would deem a real relationship. At that age, all I knew was that I stayed horny was getting away from home and would finally get a chance to live the carefree life that God intended me to have....oh and get an education. That’s not the point though but just stating that for clarification. Anyway, I’ve never thought anything of it (or saying something) because (1)I usually go out to eat with someone each Friday or just hang by myself and (2) I don't 'report back' on any of the outings. Anyway, when I do have lunch dates the conversation is usually the same thing, we dish about work and life in general…just catch up.

•Oh and just to clarify something else, this is NOT the dude I posted about the other day. LOL

•At any rate, Mistah knows he and I are friends, I don't think I am cheating (in thought or in action)so I just leave it at that. *Kanye shrug*

And now for a musical selection........

AR Gal PSA................

When speaking about the Lord (especially on social networking sites), please refrain from using Ebonics or speaking/typing unintelligibly. I beg of you. Seeing the word 'come' typed as 'cum' when trying to holy roll ain't cute. No really it ain't.

AR Gal PSA..............................

If you decide to try and pull off a (too little) shirt as a dress, do the world a favor and wear leggings instead of tights. It's really not a good look to see you continue pulling at the back of your shirt dress to prevent your booty from being visible. Better yet, next time just don't put it on or wear some pants with your shirt dress.

Thanks in advance.

Ummmm, excuse you!

This year Halloween fell on a weekend and I was cooped up in the house pretty much all day with the exception of taking the pooches walking early in the morning. Around 5 o'clock that evening, I got antsy and had the urge to jump ship. I slapped on a pair of jeans, a white tee, a jacket and my sneaks and I was out tha do' yo! After reading a few blogs about knitting, I was inspired and decided my destination was Hobby Lobby. My mission, if I chose to accept it.....learn how to knit.

As I arrived in the store, I browsed other sections until I made my way over to where the knitting stuff was. I was sooooo ready and excited as I looked at all the pretty types, colors, and textures of yarn. And all the pretty types, colors, sizes of needles. And all the different types of 'how to' books. Then I got bored. *sigh* Reality sunk in and I realized this wasn't for me for right now. I still want to do it BUT I know me. I need to take a class. I need hands on help because me trying to interpret what was in those books and stay motivated on my own=KNITTING FAIL. Womp womp. So that was that and I headed off to a store where I knew I could make a positive impact on the economic crisis....TAR.GET BEESHES!! I'm happy to report I only walked out with an exercise DVD of The Firm. Have ya'll tried it? They thighs have never been so tight. Well yes they have but....never mind.

Anyway, so I'm headed home right? Right. As I turn down my street, I notice there are still quite a few people out getting free candy trick or treating some of who happen to be right in front of our driveway. Before I come to a halt, I hit the garage opener to give the folks a heads up that I'm trying to get in the driveway. You would think the combination of that, me sitting in the car in the street not moving, and the garage door going up would trigger something in their heads to move but nerp. There they stood and there I sat trying to be patient and understanding. I inch up a bit and do you know those country bumpkins still don't budge. Bump this!!

Me: *rolling down my window and screaming with extreme at-ti-tude* Ummmmmm, excuse me can you all MOVE! I'm trying to get in my driveway.

So they move, I pull in and then this happens.

Some random chick with kids: Ummmmmmm, excuse you!

Me: *thinking I know this bitch did NOT just try and get jiggy with me* Come again?

SRC: I said excuse you.

Me: Bitch I don't know who the hell you think you talking to but it would behoove you to shut the fuck up.

SRC: Well you didn't have to be so rude when asking us to move.

Me: You didn't have to take all day moving your ass. You saw me waiting in my car, you saw the garage door open. Did you think I was doing it for my health? What else did you want? An invitation??? Step the hell off.

And she did but damn. If she and her folks would have just moved in the first place all of that could have been avoided. Did I really have to cuss her out? Probably not but I did and I would do it all over again in a NY minute. After all that mess, I probably needed to knit...hell.

I'm over it now but a hoe had ya girl heated!!!! Anyway, since she decided to bring the hood out me, I will leave you all with a bit of musical accompaniment from the Ghetto Boys.

Here's the thing...............

.................I've got lupus.

The facts:

• was just diagnosed two weeks ago
• it's incurable and genetic. My big sis reminded me that my paternal grandmother had it. I was only 11 when she passed away so I really don't remember much.
  
• my beautician found a spot on my scalp a few months back
• I tried OTC (over the counter) stuff but it didn't work
• Went to see a dermatologist
  
• He performed a biopsy. Translation, he cut the 'spot' out of my scalp so that it could be tested leaving me with a mini-crater in mah head!!
  
• It didn't really hurt but I felt him cutting. It's healing nicely. :)
• He thought it might be discoid lupus but based on the results of the biopsy and blood work it turned out to be systemic which is the really sucky kind.
• Here's a good explanation of all the types if you're interested.
  
• Went to see a rhuematologist (sp?)
  
• He did more blood work and had me do some weird 'exercises'.
• I have no symptoms other than this thing in mah head. Back up....I do have another alopecia type spot in my scalp but you can't see it.
• After visiting the Rhue and my PCP, it has been determined that (1) I am doing extremely well ...............so far and (2) it is not uncommon for one to have lupus and not have many of the common symptoms associated with it.
  
• No meds for me right now...only an emergency prescription for steroids should I experience a flare up.
• I challenged that method to both doc's but apparently the drugs most folks take while their lupus is active is not something you want to take while it's inactive (which mine is). According to them, the side effects could do more damage especially if nothing is happening...confusing right. Yeah for me too.
  
• Anyhow, my state could very well change at any minute.....here's hoping it stays this way
• Z has been AMAZING...I couldn't ask for a better support system during this time
• I still haven't told my mom. I was going to while she was here with the kids but I thought better of it. She was beat and I figured it would be better to wait when I go up to Memphis for the reunion so we can have some QUIET one on one time (hopefully).
• I haven't told my other sister either. I was thinking I could also just sit them all down together to have a big pow wow. As you can see I have not thought through the details all that well. :)
  

So that's the quick and clean version of my life for the past few months. I'm sure you all have noticed that I really don't get too deep and bogged down with 'heavy' (and personal) stuff on here. Posting this was actually a big step for me. I like to keep it light and upbeat and it will stay that way just maybe with an added update or two here and there about my status.

In better news, I bought these today from Target. They have them in black in the store and teal and gray online if you're interested.

Why They Crying?

Please excuse the poor grammar of the title but that's what always goes through my head when stuff like this happens. Better yet, excuse the use of poor grammar of any post at anytime during the past, present, or future.

Of course you all know about the job layoffs (I know, way to keep beating a dead horse right?). With that comes A LOT of emotions, I understand that. What I don't understand is what people who are being reassigned to different positions within the company are crying for. We had this little mini-welcome/send-off thing with a few people in our department for folks that were coming, going, or being reassigned. After it we wrapped up, a few of us (that were trying to avoid work) were standing around chatting. So we're talking (laughing as a matter of fact) then all of a sudden the AA on our team starts crying. I just looked. So someone asked her what was wrong and she said she was just sad about going to a different floor, she's gonna miss us...blah blah blah. I just kept looking. I just really couldn't muster up any emotion other than wanting to laugh (don't worry I didn't). Sue me. My thing is, hey you still have a job. It may not be what you want but at least you have the security of continuous income and benefits until you find something else (if you choose to find something else). The folks that got the boot can't say the same. She's not the only person that does it though. Another lady came over to my desk and told me about her reassignment and started to cry. I politely told her to get away from my desk until she composed herself because I wasn't about to watch her cry about not losing a job. Hey, I'm nothing if not honest.

A few of my friends told me I'm mean. Whatever, she needed to hear it hell. Z told me he agrees and that's why me love him long time. It's not that I'm heartless and I can certainly understand their disappointment (because I've had it happen to me before (layoffs and internal reassignments due to cutbacks), I just don't get the waterworks. Maybe RehDog can help me understand why they must cry.

I guessed I should have checked my page more often......

MySpace lays off hundreds

The social networking thing is cool and I totally get the point of it but honestly it bores me. I only check my myspace account about once/month. Yeah I know...what's the point in having it then? At this point I don't have any idea. lol I started my page around the end of 2007. If they would have paid me a $1 for every time I checked it back then, I'd be rich bitch (toots the horn).....well at least well off. lol The novelty of it all wore off on me fairly quickly. I remember one of my friends asking me (probably a year after I created my account) why hadn't I responded to their myspace message. My response: Don't you have my phone number? lol I'm such a smart ass.

Now I do have one for Ning only because my sister set up a page for us for our family reunion this summer. Ask me the last time I was on it? When ARGal you ask? When I set up the account. lol

I've gotten several requests via email for me to setup a facebook account/page/whatever. Now I've been told it's totally different from myspace...much better, yada yada yada. I have no doubt they are correct. Who knows, maybe I will be persuaded enough to start one eventually but for now......no dice. And don't even ask me about twitter.....ain't.gonna.happen. lol

Maybe I should go check my myspace page now to help save a job.

Horoscopes

Virgo: No more trips down Memory Lane; you need to focus on the present. Sure, some of your yesterdays truly rocked, but so does today. The fun you have with Aries or Taurus is once in a lifetime.

I don't read my horoscope often and when I do it occassionally rings true to things that are going on in my life. The one you see above hit me like a ton of bricks when I read over it at 6 o'clock Sunday morning.

*Sidenote: I fell asleep (on the loveseat) watching some whack ass rental Z and I picked Saturday night and woke up at five Sunday morning in the same spot. lol

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about the past for a few weeks...old experiences (good and bad), friends, boyfriends, things that could have happened, or maybe even stuff that should have happened that I didn't allow. Simply put, I've had a bad case of the "whatifItis" and it's done nothing other than to focus my thoughts on things that really aren't important anymore. Sure, it's always great to reminisce but now it's time for me to jump back on the saddle and focus on today and the wonderful life I do have.

Don't Play me Small!

Oprah Speaks at UCLA Rally

You will have to listen to the clip to get the post title.

No More BARRACUDA...

"Sarah Palin's views and values in no way represent us as American women. We ask that our song Barracuda no longer be used to promote her image. The song was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. The barracuda represented the business. While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there." - Letter from the band Heart to the Republican National Committee


*exhales*

Now I can go back to loving one of my all-time favorite songs in peace and harmony

*waves spirit fingers*


Check out this blog. It is freakin Hilarious!!

http://sarahpalin.typepad.com/my_weblog

OMG!

I decided to check my blog history to see how long I had been back in the blogging game. I figured it had been really close to a year since I started back. If you'll recall, I technically started blogging about 3 years ago but due to unforeseen circumstances (read laziness) I stopped. Well, I jumped back on the wagon last summer and was surprised to see that I've been going at it(somewhat consistently) for over a year now since 6/28/07. GO ME!

I honestly didn't think I would last this long and thought I would have a lot more depth to my writing but alas......I don't. lol I'm cool with that though. Blogging for me is really something to do in my spare time. I'm not out to change the world one keystroke at a time, my blog doesn't have a theme, and I've found that I thoroughly enjoy reading other blogs more than I like conveying thoughts in my own. Again...I'm cool with that. There's a lot of things that happen in the day of life of AR Gal that never make their way to the screen you see in front of your eyes and most likely never will. Partly because I don't want to share (sowwy, some things need not be on the internets (yes I spelled it like that)) and also because I just don't have the time or desire to type it out.

With that being said (because this post seems to be taking a rather depressing turn), I think I'm gonna stick around for awhile. I promised myself that I would try and stay with this for a good year before deciding if I wanted to hang up my "Gone Fishing for Good" sign. For the most part, I like my blog and I definitely have taken a strong liking to the folks that swing by and comment. For me, that's reason enough to keep on keepin on.

If you are in need of a good laugh.........

http://view.break.com/516661 - Watch more free videos

My black @ss just about fell out my seat watching this. Dude flipped the script and went from his professional Mr. Tibbs voice to Debo in about 5 seconds.

FYI...if you are at work you may wanna turn the speakers down or slap a pair of headphones on.