Hello fabulous Splendora ladies!  I have a favor to ask.  I recently moved back to Cali ~ I'm living in Hayward for the next year...and I need to find a great tailor as I have a  few pairs of jeans that need hemming.

I have a place in Hayward that I've used but their work has been inconsistent.  If you know of a tailor in the Berkeley, Oakland, Piedmont, Hayward area....and don't mind sharing your find...please let me know! 

 Thanks and hope you all have fabulous weekends!

 xx 

I live overseas ~ well that is for 2 more weeks ~ so I often hear about music late late late...although come to think of it, that's my style when I'm in the states too (lol).  But here are 5 songs I'm really feelin right now!  Check em out if you haven't yet, or if you've already played them to death ~ breathe some new life into em'.

 Hometown Glory ~ Adele (her voice is so AMAZING to me)

 Dreamin with a Broken Heart - John Mayer

 I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You) - John Mayer ~ love love his music! 

 American Boy - Estelle feat. Kanye West

 Loose Ends - Sergio Mendes feat. Justin Timberlake, Pharoahe Monche and

Wi I Am

Today was my last day of class with a group of 20 something male exchange students from Saudi Arabia.  When I was first assigned the course I had no idea what to expect ~ never having met or spent any significant amount of time with anyone from Saudi Arabia. 

Following 911, all I'd heard in the American media was terrorist this and militant Muslims that.  Although, I know not to get caught up in the "hype" created by the media -- it's difficult not to let even an inkling of these perceptions and bias sink into our consciousness when we're being bombarded with messages of fear, hatred and intolerance.  I mean the Saudi's were responsible for 911 right?

 Two weeks into the course it was my b-day.  When I arrived to class I saw something on my desk covered in aluminum foil.  I had no idea what it was.  My students happily announced, "Happy Birthday Teacher" ~ they had baked me a heart shaped cookie -- and a group of men no less.  I was so touched and surprised, I don't even know how they found out it was my birthday.

Over the course of the semester they have bestowed countless acts of kindness upon me.  Drinks without my asking, texts to say hello or ask if I needed anything when I was sick.  I can honestly say they are the nicest and most considerate group of young men I have EVER met ~kindness seems to seap through their pores.

I know that as intelligent, thoughtful women you have not succumbed to many of the stereotypical images of the Muslim community.  I just feel that no matter how aware we are -- messages have a way of seaping into our consciousness...so I just wanted to share my personal experience with this awesome group of young men!

Sometimes I just love those days when I have nothing more to do than browse the Internet, watch a little tv , catch a good online sale and eat.  They're a rare treat so I always try and appreciate them when they come.

Hello fabulous Splendoritas ~ happy happy NEW year to everyone!

 Well, I'm actually posting to ask for a bit of assistance.  I'm heading home to Cali for a nice little vacay in a couple of weeks and I'll be spending a week in San Diego. I'm in need of some shopping and a fabulous spa visit.  I would appreciate any suggestions that you could pass my way ~ especially those that do couples massages or packages.

 Wishing everyone all the best in 2008 ~ xx

First, I'd like to say "thanks" to the Splendora community for posting the Columbia University noose incident on your what to lists.  Having been out of the US for almost  six years -- I'm left with this weird feeling of "huh?" ~ or "what?"  when I read about these types of racist acts.  It's all so antiquated and weird and meant to say and accomplish what? 

Is this person trying to say he wishes we could go back to the days when blacks were hung ~ as if that could ever happen.  I have to say that as much as I  have love for the US -- it's so refreshing and mentally, psychologically and emotionally liberating to be outside of a context where I've always had to think about race -- or why this racist act happened --or was this or that person discriminating against me.  

Rasicm wears you down.  And it's rooted in nothingness -- meaning it's meaningless.  Our capacity to live out our lives as humans and experience all the joys of life are simply " a human experience" -- not that our lives are not colored by the intricacies of our unique ethnic, religious and social backgrounds -- but why do people fear that?  Why does my existence in my natural state make someone want to hate me?  I don't and will never get it.  Ahhh enough! 

Lately, I've been feeling so lucky and blessed that it made me a little nervous.  Not that I'm that deep into astrology but today my horoscope said that when things are going well ~ I should just enjoy it and not look for things to come crashing down ~ sooooo ~ that's exactly what I'm going to do.

But just to be safe and appease the karmic gods -- I thought it might be a good idea to give thanks.

1.  My beautiful, smart and talented daughter who has an inner light that makes me smile and laugh every single day.

2.  Having a big brother whose always been there for me ~ who inspires me and always makes me laugh (really hard) and who helped me learn to really "see" the woman that I am.

3. Having California as my home state ~ it's so fabulous!

4. A supa chill and laid-back boyfriend who helps keep this Aries ram mellow.

5. Writers who write beautiful, inspiring novels that transport us to another world.

So, my daugther and I spent yesterday in Itaewon getting our hair braided.  Itaewon is a popular section of Seoul (Korea)  literally bursting with foreigners.  Part of this is due to the fact that there's a military base located at one end -- but the other I discovered a couple of years ago -- is a product of the large African community living there.

The woman who braids my hair, Angie,  is from the Ivory Coast of Africa and she now has her own little hair shop tucked on the 3rd floor of one Itaewon's endless winding alleys.  She always has a team of women helping her  (also from the Ivory Coast) - "her sisters" -- not sure if this by blood or not.  They speak rapidly to one another in French - their native tongue and I sit there smiling to myself -- wishing I knew what they were saying; especially yesterday when they got into an argument about a guy one of the women is dating.  

What's hilarious is that they  play these African "soap operas" while you're getting your hair done.  Yesterday, my daughter and I had the pleasure of watching "Campus Love" and "Crying Angel."  The actors are all African but speak their lines in English all while wearing a mixture of contemmporary clothing and traditional African garb.  They're low budget -- but always hilarious -- with the usual scenarious of unrequited love, jealousy, murder -- etc.

After a long sit in the chair -- 8 hours to be exact -- my daughter and I left the shop to find a group of African men sitting together talking across the street.  Right around the corner sat a West African restaurant  filled with African patrons and a small mini-store with a large selection of traditional Nigerian spices and food products.

Wow ~ how interesting I thought to myself.  I never imagined that within the city of Seoul there would be such an active and burgeoning West African community.  Cool right?

Ok ~ so like Splendora's super fashionable Dena ~ I too am not a big fan of the high heel.  I mean I love the way they make my legs look ~ but not the way they make my feet feel at the end of the day ~ night -- whatever the case may be.  I'm always crackin' my friends up because I tell them I just can't do it -- I'm not committed enough to the pains we're supposed to endure as women for "beauty."  I remember,  growing up and going to clubs and seeing women shivering and shaking as they stood in line waiting to get in a club ~ they're backs and legs exposed in dresses or super minis ~ never been able to do it -- but that's another story.  Back to the heels. 

I snatched up these super cute  Linea Paolo heels  in anthracite ~ fueling my love of all things grey ~ yesterday and I can't wait to rock them at work with sexy black denim jeans, skirts, dresses ~ you name it!

P.S.  Of course I'll be wearing my Adidas kicks to work as the jagged streets of Seoul are just too dangerous for shoes as cute as these -- plus I don't care how I look on the way ~ TO work ~ lol.

*sorry I couldn't get the photo to upload.

So -- I recently returned from a great  vacation in Vietnam (Hanoi & Hoi An) and Siem Reap, Cambodia.  If any of you saw my entry "Delayed"  -- my trip began on a sour note with my family having to delay our departure 1 day -- due to not having a Visa to enter Vietnam.

Well, the next morning everything went smoothly -- that is until we got on the plane.  About 20 minutes into the flight I was ready to try and catch some zzzz's so I attempted to push my seat back.  Each time it felt like the seat was stuck -- I'd push and it would pop right back up.  I looked over at my brother who was on the other end of our row -- he could see the guy in the seat behind me.  I gave another unsuccessful try and my bro turned around and said, "You can't keep her from putting her seat back."  "Wow, that was a little harsh," I thought to myself.  Unaware that my brother had seen the guy pushing my seat back up everythime I'd try and recline.  

"Why don't you compromise" the man says, just push it back halfway."  "Compromise," my brother replied, "how is it a compromise when you've got your seat all the way back.   "Oh are you American?" he asks.  "Yeah, so what," my brother retorted.  

"Oh, I forgot, American's don't compromise." he sarcastically replies.  Well, suffice to say, they continued arguing and it got a little heated -- with the man continuing to tallk abou how "American's are -- Bush -- the war -- you name it.

What I was left with is this sick and irritated feeling.   That just by virtue of my saying I'm American -- this man made all of these assumptions about me -- that I don't compromise that I'm a certain kind of person -- based on what -- the actions of my government?  Crazy -- when he was the one who wasn't willing to compromise.  Why didn't he just ask me to go back halfway instead of pushing up my seat without saying anything.

It has been an interesting experience living in Korea.  It is the first time that I have been seen 1st  -- as simply an "American" -- not a Black American.  And the first time that I have been judged by the actions of my country as a kind of representative overseas.  When two Korean girls were accidentally killed in late 2002 by a military tank there was a fierce backlash against Americans -- candleight vigils -- angry slogans and signs --the works.  There was a residual anger against Amercians for a couple of years.

It reminds me how strong and dangers our "perceptions" can be.  And the baggage that a nationality can bring.  "Scary!"