"Rocky" - Movie in Bryant Park

Last night, I organized a last “hurrah” if you will, for my Parsons classmates and I to watch the last outdoor movie of the season at Bryant Park. They put up a huge screen and everyone brings blankets and treats. It was a beautiful night and it was great catching up with the gang. The movie was Rocky which, wasn’t my favorite, but we had fun making fun of it and talking about the clothes of the late 70’s. Here are some pictures of our multicultural gang!

The Statue of Liberty

When my friend Keysia came to visit, we took the Staten Island Ferry which goes right by the Statue of Liberty. Here are a few pictures from that excursion. It was a nice hot, summer day. It's still amazing to me, that it's really not THAT big once you see it up close!

And More Pictures

Here is the last batch of pictures from the weekend. When I first got to DC I surprised everyone by showing up at the doctor's office and caused a big scene of course, but Devon and Nate were so happy to see me. I loved it!

And I was even happier to see them!

Kijuana has a great tennis court right by her house.

We played one night and it was so much fun!

Playing a little "ring around the rosy" after church with Devon and Madison.

At my favorite brunch spot - Logan Tavern - before leaving DC. Yum!

This is where I go to church in NY. They are building a new building that is going to be just a few blocks from my apartment, but right now we make the trek to 15th Street.

Mom and Corban in Central Park.

Eating some much needed pizza from Angelo's after a long day of walking around the city.

After the party it's the afta party and...

After the party at the gym, people came back to the house to continue the celebrations. Here are some pictures from that.

It was so great to have Ilean, Danette, Sofia and Gabriela there.

Rachel was the official pied piper of the event. At one point she had like 5 babies on her lap!!

Cameron and Nate and Devon

The circus act

Just loungin'

What is Nate looking at?

Devon's Third Birthday

On Saturday the 12th was little Devon's birthday party. Kijuana and Ted threw such a great party and Devon had a wonderful day. She was surrounded by those who love her the very most. Here's a picture of our gang.


She was so happy to see all her friends and family at her Dora/Gymnastics Party
Of course Devon wanted a "Dora the Explorer" themed party with all the trimmings!

Some of the kids playing in the "pit" at the gym.
This is Kijuana and I showing them how it's done!

Yeohlee Sample Sale

Last week I got a postcard in the mail announcing that Yeohlee was having a sample sale. [If you recall, I met her back in April at the Mentoring walk put on by the Oxygen network (See May 23rd post). ] Anyway, today during lunch I went to the sale and, although I couldn't afford anything, it was still nice to go and see her offices and what kind of clothing she has created. I went with Regine and Rani from Parsons and as we were browsing her designs, out she comes! She totally remembered me and Regine from the walk. She seemed suprised and grateful that we stopped by and told us that she was impressed that we took the time. It was really nice to get some face time (albeit brief) with her. One thing that Yeohlee said during the mentoring activity is that it in the fashion business, you have to be talented, but you also have to be lucky. She claims that she got lucky. In a way I believe it, but on the other hand she truly is extremely talented. But, I am just so glad I decided to stop by!

Scary Face

One thing I love about my family is that we aren't afraid of looking or acting silly. While shopping for groceries for Devon's party, I dug up my favorite saying of "when it's team work it doesn't seem work" because we had divided up the list and were done shopping so quickly. Apparently this old man heard us and chimed in, "but there is a me in team"...not sure if he realized we were joking or not.

Anyway, while standing in line, we decided to all do our best version of "the scary face" so here it is for your viewing pleasure.

We can be normal sometimes too!

So tired...

What a weekend! On Thursday night I went to DC to hang with my fam and celebrate Devon's third birthday! My mom, Corban and I came back to NY on Sunday and having been playing in NY the past day and a half. I reluctantly have to go back to work tomorrow...we had a long day and will post some pictures soon.
Some highlights -

• Seeing Devon have so much fun at the gym. She was soooo super cute running and jumping around with all the kids.
• Hanging with Nate and Devon. I really do have the cutest niece and nephew in the world
• Having the whole family together. It rarely happens, so it's nice when it does.
• Seeing people that I haven't seen in awhile. I got to reconnect with people that I don't get to see enough.

I will post pictures by the end of the week. We got some good ones!! My Mom and Corban leave early on Wednesday morning, so tomorrow while I am at work, they will navigate the city on their own!

The Things You Learn

Sometimes on the train I watch people. I am always curious as to where they are going and what they are doing. Anyway, this particular day, I watched this guy and he took out all of the bills in his wallet. He then borrowed a pen from the gentleman sitting next to him and wrote something on the back of each bill and then gave the pen back. I was getting off at the next stop, so I stood up and walked to the door and asked him what he wrote and why. I was expecting him to say, I write my number on the back hoping to score a date or I wrote my rap name trying to get a record deal, but instead he proceeds to tell me that his brother is in jail and that he writes his brother’s number on the back of all of his bills because someone told him that it would help him get out faster…Hey you never know until you ask!

The Day of the Roach

Just imagine you have been on a bus for 4+ hours to come and visit your friend. The bus didn’t stop and you didn’t bring any food with you – you are starving! Finally you get to New York and find your friend. You have been dragging your luggage all over the city and finally sit down to eat a nice slice of NY pizza and a cool crisp salad. All of your worries now in your past…until about ¾ of the way through the meal and your friend suddenly stands up and starts backing away quickly while making wild gestures at you. Your friend who is speechless finally manages to convey that there is something on her that won’t come off. Eventually the “thing” comes off, the patrons in the restaurant are screaming and you have to deal with the realization that you have been violated by some sort of scary critter. Yes, this actually happened. My friend, who begged to remain nameless, will probably never come to visit me again! She was just trying to enjoy her meal and this roach came crawling across her chest and then down and around to her back and finally through the restaurant until some nice teenager killed it for us! So sick and scary! The rest of the evening we couldn’t stop talking about it and how it got there and how she didn’t realize that it was on her, etc, etc.

Now if only that wasn’t bad enough - the very next morning we got up, ate breakfast and were getting ready to go out. I was calmly laying on the wonderful blow up mattress that my guests get to sleep on when they come to visit me and I see this “item” staring at me! I immediately jump up, let out a blood curdling scream and run to the kitchen leaving my friend to fend for herself. Luckily my roommate’s boyfriend was there and he killed the blasted thing. Just our luck - two in a span of 24 hours both in very near proximity! These are not your run of the mill cockroaches, mind you, these are the 3 inch long suckers that run really fast and seem to have a million legs! SOOOO GROOOSSSSS!

Needles to say, we had nightmares the rest of the weekend and anytime there was movement we both jumped. The worst part about this whole situation is what I learned about myself. I, apparently, am very selfish and would run away before helping a friend! Who does that? My friend kept saying – why did you leave me? (Since, I hadn’t seen any before she got her, I also accused her of bringing it with her – It was a moment of weakness, what can I say? Unfortunately she didn’t forget…) Thank goodness she is one of my dear friends and knows that I do love her. Secondly, I realized that I have a deathly fear of the little critters. On Saturday when I saw the one (in my room) I started tearing up while standing on one of the chairs in the kitchen until Brian got it. Apparently I get a little worked up about the situation. But, I guess this is New York. Our apartments get sprayed once a month and life must go on.

I forgot, why do I love New York so much?

Worst Blogger

So, I have been the worst blogger lately, but I do have quite a bit to blog about, so I have a lot to post. My friend Keysia came into town last weekend from DC and we had a great time together. I will post pictures once she sends them to me, but it was great. Today I am leaving to go to DC because my mom flew into Baltimore yesterday and will be staying at Kijuana’s house. We will also be celebrating Devon’s 3rd birthday on Saturday. Then on Sunday my mom, Corban and I will be heading to New York to see some sights here and they fly out of LGA on Wednesday. It will be nice to take a few days off of work and enjoy some time with my family. Plus, with Becky around, there will be plenty of pictures taken.

I'm melting...

It's soooo hot here. It's all I can think about. It consumes me. I get up in the morning, complain about the heat, walk outside and am sweating by the time I get to the subway. Walk down into the subway, proceed to sweat profusely while waiting for the train. Get on the crowded morning train and have to stand back to back to people who are just as sweaty as me. Get off the train, walk to work - still sweaty cause I can't cool down. Finally get up to the office and cool down a bit. Talk about the heat all day with my co-workers. Go to lunch. Get hot again. Come back start to cool down. Go outside again to head home, sweat profusely again. Try to go to the gym, come back still sweaty. Take a shower before bed to cool down and do it all again. When does the madness end? This heat and humidity are killin me. Did I mention that it is hot?