i've said it time and time again

I must have a bull’s-eye on my arse, because I get screwed by the city every chance they get. Recently, it was regarding that ticket I received for no city sticker on my car days after my car was broken and the sticker was stolen (what an asshole of a cop - giving me a ticket even though I had a notice on the windshield stating my sticker was jacked). I had to fight tooth and nail to get it rectified...It took me a whole six months to get that fine lifted (matter fact, it was just lifted about 3 weeks ago).

Now, I received a moving violation (which was my fault). Like any good Samaritan with their license held ransom by the city- I duly paid the City of Chicago the $75 fine to get it back. On Friday, when my license was mailed back to me, I was ecstatic. Visions of being able to go to night clubs, bars, and even buying a six pack at the local store without having the embarrassment of pulling out my ticket to gain admittance paraded through my mind. That was until I opened the envelope to see a gentleman by the name of Sashuki smiling back at me. They sent me the wrong license!!! To make matters worse, when I called the city's clerk to complain, I waited an astounding 45 minutes only to be received by an incredibly RUDE clerk telling me, in essence, that I was a liar trying to scam the city and that my ticket wasn't paid, doubling my fine. After incessantly arguing with her, she finally realized I was right. Supposedly they had credited the wrong complaint number. Now, I have to take valuable minutes out of my lunch break to go downtown to fix the situation. Hopefully, my license is still on file and it will be somewhat quick to resolve once I get down there...but still, what a ROYAL pain in the behind. Am I right ?

my mini ipod random 10..Pulaski day edition

1. Madeleine Peyroux "Don't Wait too Long"
2. De La Soul "Shopping Bags (she got from you)"
3. Kanye West "Spaceship"
4. Pharcyde "Passin' Me By"
5. Queen Latifah "Close your Eyes"
6. Monsoon "Generation Unloved"
7. Wyclef ft. Prodigy of Mobb Deep "Rebel Music"
8. Dilated Peoples "This Way"
9. Sia "Where I belong"
10.Roots Manuva "Witness (1 Hope)"

vent time 101

I should be getting ready for bed - preparing myself for another long week of hell at work...but I have got a lot on my mind. Ever since Thursday morning, when I saw a dead woman (who I originally thought a man) dead on the corner of my block, my mind has become full of thoughts which seem never-ending. Even though I am no stranger to death, seeing it strewn about my block first thing in the morning - a life taken so violently for no apparent reason, has played havoc on my soul. I can't sleep well, gray & depressing poems have been pouring out of me faster than I can write them, I have been smoking like a chimney, and my budget is in the triple negative digits for the second month in a row...

On top of it all -I feel old. I found my set of first gray hairs recently...which my mother proudly yanked 3/4 of. Now they appear alfalfa like on the top of my head -long enough to urk me, disappearing before I can yank them out.

I will never forget today

Dedicated to the cat who got his hat turned back on the corner of my block this morning

Redemption song
March 3, 2005

Splattered blood
Falling to the sound of the sun rise
Flying above - a bird sings his song
As blood stains concrete corners
Spilling into rose bushes
Whose flower petals are no longer white
Their buds of life smell of death

The chalk line of his body
Leaves the living with many questions
Many which have no answers
leaving just the abyss his life has become
I know him not
This young cat
But he is my neighbor
His skin once brown like mine -proof he’s family
I can’t help but mourn for humanity
as I walk past the yellow tape
tears flow freely for his soul
and for the faces of them before him
I say a prayer as I pick a blood stained rose
And place it in my hair

May he find the redemption on the other side
which escaped him in life.

cereal in a whole new light

get your spoons ready...one, two, three...go!!!

Every morning while getting ready for work, I turn on the news to get the weather, traffic, and any other blurb that stands out amongst the overabundance of mind numbing recounts of murders, accidents, and rapings in the Chi town area. This morning I heard a report about a new cafe in the works (near my work..whoo hoo) which sounded so refreshing and delicious that I had to share with it the world.

Concept: A cereal lovers delight!!! Picture this: a cereal cafe featuring over 30 cereals, dozens of toppings, home made breakfast bars, smoothies (with just a hint of cereal in them), scrumptious parfaits...all custom made with your imagination as the limit. You can mix and match your favorite cereals, add whatever creative toppings you can think of, and add as much milk as you want - all served in those nifty Chinese food containers. hmmmm...I wonder if chocolate milk is an option?

Being the cereal lover I am, you know I am awaiting that precious day when it opens just to be one of the first to try it out. Not that a trip down there would be an every day excursion for me or that it would become one of my favorite restaurants of all time, but I think the idea of a cereal cafe is refreshingly exciting and I just can't wait to mix my Captain Crunch and Frosted Flakes together, adding fresh strawberries and a touch of almonds!! Don't judge & don't hate! It may sound like a weird concoction to you; but to me, it's a dream come true. And that's what this concept cafe is all about right?

I don't know about you, but me & cereal go way back to watching The Smurfs and Tom & Jerry on Saturday mornings when I was a shorty. So, Yum Yum!!! It's time for me to bust out my spoon and get ready for Cereality! And I'm not just talking about eating there at breakfast time.

you gotta spoil yourself sometime

I'm not rich by any means, but there are a few things which I will spend an extra buck or so on...for example: Charmin Ultra Toilet paper and Breyers ice cream.


oh yeah, thats the stuff

I mean really, I think everybody should be able to opt for the fancy tissue no matter how poor they are. It's so worth it. Those bears in the commercials really know what they are talking about; Charmin lasts so much longer than any other brand (at least to me). Being that I am so lazy and avoid changing the toilet roll til the very last second, that extra time really makes the difference with me. Plus, it's so much softer than Angel Soft - which by the deceiving name drew me in a time or two but NO MORE. I mean you would think by the name that Angel Soft would be so much softer than Charmin, but Angel Soft is like sandpaper in comparison. What can I say? I am forever a Charmin Ultra roll gal.

And Breyers...oh what can I say about Breyers except it is the best ice cream in the whole world. However, due to budgetary constraints, I only allow myself to indulge on certain occasions (i.e. PMS time and landing those buy one get one free sales at the local Jewels or Domincks store). Every ice cream Breyers make is all natural. I'm talking milk, cream, sugar, fruits, etc. YUM YUM!!! I even found a NEW FLAVOR, linking my favorite ice cream (natural vanilla) with my other favorite treat (chocolate covered almonds)...ohhh sheer delight. Better than an orgasm I tell you. But shhh... don't tell my boyfriend. ;)

It truly is the little things in life that really make you the happiest and feel rich beyond compare, isn't it ?

some days I sit and wish I was a kid again...

This morning while walking mi perrito lindo, I walked past the elemantary school down my block and saw two straight lines of exhuberantly excited children (about 6th grade I believe) getting on a school bus. Eager and anxious to leave school on a field trip, their eyes aglow, happy to get away from Math & US History if just for the day. They were happily chattering and laughing in such a way that made me remember my fond field trip days. As I walked away I couldn't help but wonder where they were off to, remebering all my field trips: the zoo, the state capital, a Shakespeare play, or my favorites of all time: The Museum of Science and Industry and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Maybe I will throw some Ahmad on my ipod and reminisce of the "back in days" as I drift of to sleep.