That Time I Went Home & Had a Great Weekend

This weekend went by so quickly.  A little TOO quickly for my liking.

It went by so quickly that I was already planning my next trip before my current trip was over.

My brother, Kevin came to pick me up from the airport and took me to see his new place. Then dropped me off at (my sister) Cassandra’s , so I could see her new place. Then I made my way over to the City (New York City for those who don’t live in the Tri-State Area) to see my old co-workers at Rockefeller Center. It was nice to see everyone,  I stayed with them for a few hours because I was chatting with everyone individually. Afterwards I headed back to Jersey to pick up my Dad from work.

After spending sometime with my Dad and Grandmother, I ended up back at Morgan’s (my other sister) for dinner. We were supposed to go to Hoboken for dinner, but stayed put instead…then the drinking ensued.

Fast forward to Saturday (because I hardly remember what happened after we started drinking), my friend Carmen came to take me out to brunch because she wasn’t able to make it that night. I don’t have  a picture with her, but I was just happy that I got a chance to see her. After spending the day running around getting pretty with Cassandra, it was time to head back to the City for the actually party.

I was really excited because one of my old Army friends, Rashonda was able to come out. I haven’t seen her in person since 2009 before I went to Iraq. She’d gotten out of the Army the year before so we weren’t seeing each other that often any more. When she met up with us that night there was lots of screaming, jumping up and down, hugging, and more screaming. There was one point where we paused and looked at each other and said, “You’re so beautiful!”.

My other friends, Shenitha and Kay also met us there. My friend Maggie wasn’t able to make it Saturday because she sprained her ankle during a Tough Mudder Run. I did meet up with her on Sunday for brunch. I told her not to bother because she was injured, but I obviously lost that fight. She really proved to me how much she loved me with that move. I think I’ll keep her.

The best part of this trip wasn’t even the night itself, but the company that I had. I was so excited to be around family and friends that it didn’t matter what we did just as long as we were together.

Before I came home I went to see my Dad and Grandmother again, and I was also able to spend more time with Jojo. I was happy that she was comfortable with me considering that when my brother Keith went home to visit she wouldn’t go near him for almost 2 days. All the Skyping we do must come in handy.

I can’t wait for my next trip.

Going Home

I’m going, going, back, back to….Jersey!

Yay! I’m FINALLY getting a chance to go back home and I am so excited. I tried not to fill up my schedule with too much stuff because I know some things are going to pop up last minute and some things are going to take longer than others (in other words, I talk too much). I definitely need to make sure I spend time with my niece, my Dad, and my grandmother, but Friday and Saturday night are for my friends. (Can you say…Party?)

I also got a new hairdo. I was a bit nervous about getting it done because I got extensions and I haven’t had long hair since before I moved to Georgia. Curtis (my stylist) got me used to wearing my own hair over the past two years so I was kind of hesitant to get it done. Please he used a technique called microlink, which I’ve never heard of before but I think it looks amazing. No glue, no sewing, no braiding…I think it’s being held in by magic and Jesus.

Lorenzo and I also got a chance to go out to E-Villa Lounge this weekend. One of his military friends’ fiance was celebrating a birthday so it gave us a chance to get dressed up and go dancing (and show off my new hair). We had a really good time. I don’t think I got drunk but Lorenzo did end up helping me out quite a bit when we got home. But even if I didn’t get drunk last weekend, I’m definitely getting drunk this weekend! And for me it might only take about 2-3 drinks.

What I Love about Atlanta

My Blog is officially 2 years old!

Wow,  May of 2013 seems so long ago. When I first started this blog I only thought that I would have it for about a year before I got distracted and starting doing something else, but I’m happy that I stuck with my guns and chose to keep going with it. Just think about it, when I started this I was nervous about moving in with my fiance, Lorenzo, and now we are getting married next week! Wow.

So with my blog being 2 years old that means that next month will be my 2 year anniversary of actually living in Atlanta. I still feel really “new” here because there is still so much I don’t know. For example, I’ve learned that people give directions by street names as opposed to exit numbers, like we do in Jersey. You want to go to Six Flags? Take Exit 7A off the Turnpike- that’s how we give directions. Here in Atlanta, they may tell you to the the Mableton Exit…or something to that effect. So I have to learn exit names instead of just exit numbers, and no I don’t know the name of the exit where I live.

I’ve enjoyed my time here. Even though I think Lorenzo and I would be able to make the best out of most situations, I really like living here, and here’s why:

It’s very quiet. Working in NY you always hear sirens, honking horns, bullhorns, and just the hustle and bustle of the always crowed Times Square. New Jersey was quieter than New York, but still not a huge improvement.

It’s Clean. Well, most places are. Where I live and work its very clean and well kept. Its rare to see trash on the ground or piled up on the sidewalk.

The food is amazing. While NY/NJ has an outstanding selection of dining experiences, I just think the food here tastes better. I’ve put on 20 lbs. since I’ve moved here, something I’ve never been able to do up north. I also have to take into account that I don’t walk as much as I used to because you have to drive everywhere, but that’s besides the point. I love the food.

Winter is not that bad. And Spring seems to come early. Yay. I’m definitely a summer person, so I love, love, LOVE warmer weather. I know that I teased about the whole, declaring a state of emergency over 2 inches of snow, but I see why they have to do that now. I love that it doesn’t snow that much here. Dealing with 20-something inch blizzards is a nightmare.

There’s still a lot I haven’t done yet. I know that Atlanta is not as big as New Jersey and New York, but let’s be honest, when I was living there I never really took advantage of everything they had to offer. I’d only been to Six Flags once, I’ve been to Atlantic City a few times, and I haven’t gone to see the Statue of Liberty until I was 27. Most New Yorkers have never been there, ever. I’ve done a fair share of touristy things since moving here, but I know there’s still a lot more to do.

I’m not quite done with Atlanta yet. There is still so much more to experience.

Random Snippets of My Life

1.

I’m starting to get really homesick. I want to go home for a while-at least a week- but I have no clue who Lorenzo and I would stay with because I don’t want to get a hotel and then everyone is going to have work so what would we do all day? Some of my siblings are moving soon, so it would be hard to get everyone together and it’s like pulling teeth to get a day off of work at my job. I’ll have to figure something out.

2.

Lorenzo has become a little preoccupied with frozen yogurt lately. Sunday, my brother, his girlfriend, Lorenzo and I went shopping at Perimeter Mall and we stopped by the food court for some food. We also stopped by Pinkberry for some fro-yo as an after dinner treat; and for the past two days he’s been wanting to go back. Mind you, last night Atlanta was in the middle some kind of “storm” where there was going to be “frozen rain” and all this black ice but he wanted to get frozen yogurt. It was frozen outside! He went to get dinner tonight and came home with more frozen yogurt from a place called Yogli Mogli. I don’t know what’s going on in his head right now.

3.

I really can’t wait to get married, but I’m hoping that people would stop asking me- or rather forcing their opinions on me. One of my co-workers from New York got married about 7 months before Lorenzo proposed, and after I announced the engagement she gave me the absolute best piece of advice that I’ve remembered and stuck with throughout the past year and a half: everyone has an opinion. She told me that everyone was going to have something to say about how Lorenzo and I should plan our wedding, but to remember that this is for US so plan it how WE want to. She was SOOOOOO right. I’ve never been one to ask other people their opinions on what I should or should not do, primarily when it comes to how I spend my money, so all these people who’ve been telling me how I should have the wedding of my dreams have been more annoying than helpful. Of course I don’t want to be rude because I know their suggestions are coming from a good place but sometimes I just want to scream, “Let us have OUR day OUR way!”

4.

I find myself feeling tired a lot more than I should. If my mom was alive she would accuse me a being pregnant. But then again, when I was in high school, every 15 minutes she was accusing me of being pregnant: if I wanted to sleep in on the weekend or didn’t want chicken for dinner for the umpteenth time- I was pregnant. Whatever. I think I just need to exercise more.

5.

I’m not a huge TV person- I have my few favorite shows that I watch faithfully: Sons of Anarchy (before it ended), The Walking Dead, Scandal, and How to get Away with Murder… but now I have to watch Empire because my team won’t talk to me unless I watch it and discuss it with them on Thursday mornings. They also looked at me crazy to because I didn’t discover shrimp and grits until I moved here. What do they want from me? I’m a Yankee…remember?