Mexican in Nashville

Now you see it:

Now you don't:

My friend and I went to the Nashville Farmers Market to go exploring and lunching. They had so many restaurants and vendors and I was QUITE pleased with the number of Black vendors and small businesses. 

It sometimes is difficult to find food for my vegetarian soul, but at the very end of the market was a Mexican restaurant and all of a sudden, I was feigning for some rice and beans--something fierce! I blinked when they were scooping my arroz (rice) y frijoles (beans) into my container, and I said to myself, "Is that cabbage?!?!! I LOVE cabbage!!" 

So I got some cabbage too.

I dusted off my Spanish when I ordered and didn't do too shabby. The food reminded me of my ventures in Mexico and I was whisked away into my fond Latin memories. 

I always get so frustrated when people who have never been to Mexico talk about how the "Mexican" restaurants in a American South city are "authentic." I just feel like if the Mexican food comes off a Sysco truck that's it's prolly not real Mexican.. It's so fascinating to me how they can be so territorial about which one they go to, since at least in my city now, there are quite possibly 10 Mexican dining experiences.

But this one tasted like my memories and nothing like those spots in my city. AND it was $6.50?!?!! AND they had cantaloupe water?!?!! 

Bliss :)

Peace.

BroBro's band event.

Growing up, my brother and I were trained as classical musicians--me being a pianist and my brother violinist. I would get so tired of going to his concerts and honestly got tired of going to my own, but the way my mom shaped us as her kids, we were always around each other and learned to value each other's company, accomplishments, and such.

Well fast forward 5 years and we live 2 hours apart. I don't get to hear my brother much at all anymore and I hate having opportunities to whine as I found my seat in another concert hall. Now I find myself whining cuz I'm NOT in a concert hall or venue.

My brother now plays electric guitar in a rock band and I got to see him play today. It was so cool to watch him do what he absolutely loves. I'm so proud of that guy. Here's a couple pics of us from tonight: 

Just kidding!! You can't see us cuz we're black.

Me and BroBro. Makes me happy:)

Peace.

Me and Boo Boris

First I have a weakness for men. And then Black men. And then Black men pictures. Then Black men posing in pictures with sensual faces.. 

But a whole 'nother category in my head is devoted to Boris. Boris as in Boris Kodjoe. 

Blessed be. God stuck his foot in that one!

For my birthday last year, my friend "birthday-bombed" my house and car. She decorated my car with that window paint stuff and THEN she posted 15 pics of my Boo Boris all over my porch. I took most of them down except for 3--one stayed on my door so at least I could come home to an exceptional specimen of God's creation.

Those three photos have stayed up through storms and strong winds (mostly) for almost 11 months. But sadly, this one finally relented and I found my Boo Boris crumpled up on the sidewalk on my way to the gym.

But you know you're fine when you can be laden with rain, crumpled up with only half your face showing and can STILL take my breath away. **sigh**

Now on the the rest of my day.

Peace.

The truth shall set you free--dissertation style.

It's 1246am and I just got back from Bible study. I enjoyed myself.  I wanted to finish up a little bit of work so I could sleep well and accidentally not go to the gym in the morning and enjoy the sunrays on my legs instead.  So I send of a strong draft of my Chapter 1 or my Introduction section--apparently the intro is one of the last sections you write..apparently academicians don't count. My drafts have gone Chapter 2 (literature review), 3 (methods), 4 (analysis), 1 (intro) and THEN 5 (findings, recommendations, conclusion)..

Right before bed, I read up on a GREAT article on formatting and order of a dissertation from University of Arkansas--Little Rock (for those who care) and they had this quote:

Chapter 5 is often the weakest one in the first draft of the completed dissertation. Students often are exhausted from the prior work and are rushing to finish Chapter 5 by a deadline.

All I could say was, "Man, if that AIN'T the truth!"

Gotta press through..

Almost there!

April 19ish.

I can do this!

Good night.

I don't like middles.

I don't like middles. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that at one time I considered myself an Oreo--you know, white in the middle, but Black on the outside.

I don't think that anymore. I'm black on the inside and Black on the outside. From top to bottom and I make me happy.

It only took 26 years.

I went into Kroger today and succumbed to the cookie aisle. I bought these:

And now all that's left is this:

Middles.

Somehow I convinced myself that I could eat twice as many sandwich cookies if I just scraped away the middles. 

But sitting here looking at the middles of these cookies makes me recollect on my identity crises over the past 26 years.  I've matured. I've grown. I still have growing and maturing to do. 

I'm almost there. 

Peace

Late Night Entertainment and "Drunk In Love"

This is a bit too inappropriate for my Facebook Page, but this was my entertainment after finishing my second draft of my Chapter 4--data analysis of my dissertation.  I'm NOT a fan or advocate for the "Drunk In Love" song by Beyonce because she has too huge of a fan base of young girls who don't need this kind of seductive and risque ideas in a role model/idol.  However, these old ladies made me smile :)

Pay for fortune cookies?!?!!

So I'm in this Chinese restaurant, and while flipping through the menu, I saw an outrageous sight! You have to PAY now for fortune cookies??!! What the heck! I should get a fortune for FREE just for gracing your restaurant with my presence and leaving some of my dead skin cells on this booth. 

How accurate

I'm at a dissertation writing brainstorming session for the afternoon and I passed by this sign that so accurately describes my life situation at this very moment. I chuckled.