Top Ten: Friday Afternoon Hair Salon Shenanigans

Well. Happy Saturday, good people. It's a beautiful morning here in Atlanta. And guess what? I got my hair done yesterday and man, oh man was the beauty shop hopping. Good times, I tell you. All of the girlfriends seemed to be there and the topics were all over the place.

Matter of fact, I wrote a little top ten about it. Like to hear it? Here it go!

This morning I proudly bring you:

THE TOP TEN DISCUSSIONS PARTICIPATED IN OR OVERHEARD IN THE HAIR SALON YESTERDAY.

#10   Halle Berry is Pregnant.

 

Client in chair:   "Girrrrrrl, Halle Berry is pregnant!"

Me: "Really?"

Client in chair:  "Yup. I just saw it on a tweet from TMZ." 

Client getting weave:  "Damn. Halle's ass will find her a fine looking dude to get knocked up by, won't she?"

All:  exaggerated head nods

Stylist:  "I thought he got beat up?"

Me:  "Who?"

Stylist: "That dude she's with now. Didn't her first baby-daddy beat him up?"

Client under dryer:  "Uh uh. I think he beat up the baby-daddy." 

Client in chair: "Yeah, girl. He jacked that dude up." Pulls up picture on Google images.

All:  "Daaaaaamn."

Client getting weave:  "Either way, what's that got to do with her being pregnant by him?"

Stylist:  "He could've gotten kicked in his junk which would make him NOT THE FATHER!!!"

*laughter*

#9   --   Kim Kardashian is pregnant.

Stylist:  "What about your girl, Kim Kardashian and her pregnancy?"

Client in chair:  "What the what! Why she got to wear all those tight clothes? She look like a pack of biscuits, don't she?"

*laughter*

Client in chair:  "If I was her, I wouldn't even bring a spoon anywhere near my mouth. 'Cause you know what happen when you put a spoon next to a pack of biscuits."

All:  "POOF!"

*laughter*

#8  --   Rutgers basketball.

Client under dryer:  "That dude from Rutgers resigned."

Client just hanging out:  "The basketball coach?"

Client under dryer:  "I think so."

Stylist:  "No, he got fired. I think it was their athletic director that resigned."

Client just hanging out:  "Was this the guy who said the womens' basketball team had nappy hair?"

All:  "NOOO!"

*laughter*

Stylist:  "No, this is the coach who was throwing basketballs at players and got caught on tape wilding out on everybody."

Client just hanging out:  "Oh, my bad. But didn't somebody say something about nappy hair with the Rutgers womens' hoop squad?"

Me:  "Ha ha ha, yeah I think that was Rutgers. But that was that radio guy, Don Imus. He's back on the radio, too."

Client under dryer:  "Maaaaan, real talk? When I used to play basketball in high school, my hair was NAP-PY."

*laughter*

Stylist:  "Yeah, but I don't think you wanted anybody saying so on the radio."

Me:  "Let's not forget that he said 'nappy-headed hoes.' Not just nappy-headed."

Client under dryer:  "Whaaaat? Aaww hells no. "

Me: "Yup."

Client under dryer:  "He went too far. I needed my hair done back then but I definitely wasn't a ho."

*laughter*



(Just rewatched this Don Imus clip and realized how not funny it was, though. Sheeesh.)


 #7  -- Cravings

Client under dryer:  "Is the peach cobbler dude coming over here today?"

Stylist:  "He hasn't been by here in a while."

Client under dryer:  "What about the sandwich dude?"

Stylist:  "Not sure."

Client under dryer:  "Is the sushi spot open?"

Stylist:  "Not until five."

Client in chair:  "Damn, heifer. Are you pregnant?"

*laughter*


#6  --  Justi-fied.

 Me:  (looking in People magazine) "Good heavens. I love me some Justin Timberlake."

Client in chair:  "Yeah, girl. I know I'm married but he could get it right here, right now in this chair."

Me:  "In that chair?"

Client in chair: "In this chair right here."

Me:  "Wow."

#5  --  Follow up.

Client just hanging out:  "Hey, Kim! What's up with your ankle?"

Me:  "Mostly better, but still kind of 'flicted. But they did x-ray me today and it showed that my stress fracture is healing."

Client just hanging out:  "Awww damn. So you still can't run yet?"

Me:  "They said about two more weeks."

Client just hanging out:  "Damn."

Client under dryer:  "Oh well. At least your hair will look good."

Me:  "True."

*finger snaps all over salon*


#4  --  Easter Passover

Me:  "How was everybody's Easter?"

All:  "Good."

Client:  "But I didn't go to church, though."

Me: "What? You always go to church! Why not?"

Client:  "Too many CME church-goers on that day."

Stylist:  "What's that?"

Client:  "Christmas, Mother's Day and Easter."


#3  Speaking of which. . .

Client just arriving:  "Hey y'all!"

All:  "Hey, girl!"

Client under dryer: (after lifting hood to give a hug)  "Girl, you look good! Did you lose weight?"

Me:  "Yeah, you look awesome!"

Client just arriving:  "Girl, I always look good after the lenten season. Those 40 days without treats get a sister foine." (foine = fine, fine = hot.)

Client under dryer:  "Dang. Let me know what I need to give up next year. I want to look like you."

Stylist:  "I kind of think that isn't the point of lent, but it could just be me."

*laughter*


#2  -- More Halle

Client under dryer:  "Isn't Halle Berry like 50? How is she pregnant?"

Stylist:  "She's actually 46."

Client under dryer:  "I wish somebody would come and tell me I was pregnant at 46."

Client getting weave:  "That's 'cause you already have kids and they're grown."

Client under dryer:  "I would be catatonic. Y'all would have to put me in a straight jacket."

Me:  "She's a young 46, though."

Client under dryer:  "She's 46."

Client getting a weave:  "One of my friends got pregnant at 44."

Client under dryer:  "She tripped!"

Client getting a weave:  "She was happy. She got married late."

Client just hanging out:  "I guess she could get her tubes tied and her hip replaced at the same time, though."

*laughter*

Me:  "That's cold."


Client under dryer:  "Bet her first baby-daddy is doing the Jerry Springer dance right about now!"

*laughter*



#1  -- Keeping it real.

Client under dryer:  "Kim, is this fattening what I'm eating? I'm starving."

Me:  "Uhhh? Kind of."

Client just hanging out:  "Kind of? B@#% please!  That's horrible what you're eating. Just know that your ass is getting bigger with every bite."

Client under dryer:  "Shut up! You ain't the doctor, hater! Kim, is it really that bad if the portion isn't so big?"

Me:  "Um. . .actually? Uhh, yeah. Pretty much."

Client hanging out:  "What, what?" (then does a Jerry Springer show move for emphasis

*more laughter*

And just think--that was only ten of the ten thousand things that got talked about yesterday. . .  ha ha ha ha. . . .Man. I love that place. So glad y'all could hang out there with me. What's up with y'all today?

***

Happy Saturday.

Top Ten: The Beauty-licious Hair Salon Super Bowl Recap

 

 "I don't think you're ready for this jelly."

~ Destiny's Child in Bootylicious

By now I think everyone knows how much I love going to the hair salon. Partly because I love getting my hair cut but just as much because I looooove the banter that is guar-own-teed to be overheard each and every time I'm there.

Today was no different, y'all!

So clearly. . .I mean CLEARLY after the Super Bowl which--YES!--also gave us some Beyonce talk-points AGAIN. . . CLEARLY it would only be right to launch straight into a proper little top ten before I forget all the good things I heard. Or said. Or both.

And now. . .without further ado. . .I bring you:

THE TOP TEN THINGS I HEARD, OVERHEARD AND/OR DISCUSSED RELATED TO SUPER BOWL XLVII WHILE IN THE HAIR SALON THIS WEEK

Like to hear it? Here it go!

#10 -- Yo' mama. Yo' stylist.

 

Me: "What did y'all think about Beyonce's Halftime Show?"

Stylist:  "She killed it."

Client: "Yeah, she was working it. But it look like maybe she letting her mama sew her outfits again."

Me: "What?"

Client: "What the hell was up with them catwoman pull-away outfits? And why she always got to have on a leotard? She ain't Tina Turner!"

Stylist: "I didn't think the outfits were so bad."

Me:  "Definitely not THIS bad." Pulled up this image below on Google images.

Client: (winces) "Damn. Okay, nothing could be that bad."

Stylist: "Beyonce's mama should be ashamed of herself for that."

Client: "Yeah. That looks a hot ass leprechaun mess."

*laughter*

#9  --  High Profile

"You know you's a bad beeyotch when you got the stage built with your profile in it! And you a super bad b@%&  if you got the crowd inside of your face."

"Whaaaat?"

"The crowd was in BEYONCE'S FACE. Like literally."

"I'm confused."

"Never mind. Just know that she's a bad b@%ch!"

#8  --  Songs in the Keys of Good Times

 

Client:  "I liked Alicia Keys' performance."

Stylist:  "I was too busy being glad that she finally took them old school Thelma Evans braids out of her hair."

Me: "She's had those things out forever!"

Stylist:  "Yeah, but I'm still traumatized by them."

*laughter*

Client:  (laughing) "Why they got to be Thelma Evans braids? Thelma had a 'fro!"

Me: "Nuh uh. Not when she was about to marry that African dude."

Stylist:  "Exactly!! That's how Alicia Keys' braids used to look! Yes!"

*laughter*

 

Client:  "Hold up. Remind me why didn't Thelma marry that dude?"

Three people in unison from the dryer, the chair, and the shampoo bowl: "Oh, 'cause he wanted to take more wives after her."

Client: "Oh yeah. That's right."

(Okay. Maybe it wasn't in unison--but no less than three people had a fast answer to this Good Times trivia.)

#7 --- Ball gowns at Ball games

"Speaking of Alicia Keys, it's all Beyonce's fault."

"What's Beyonce's fault?"

"That she had to wear that frickin' Jessica Rabbit ball gown."

"Huh?"

"Ever since she came in a formal to the inauguration, everybody feel like they got to have on a ball gown, too."

"Dayum! Can a sista pu-lease just show up in a head band and a warm up suit and lip sync? Since when do we need to grand piano and a ball gown?"

 

"WE WANT WHITNEY!  
WE WANT WHITNEY!  
WE WANT WHITNEY!"

#6  --  The Doors of the Church are Now Open.




Stylist:  "Who was y'all rooting for?"

Me: "I find Ray Lewis rather entertaining so I was kind of rooting for him and the Ravens."

Client: "But he sure did seem extra . . .  Jesus-y, don'tcha think?"

Me: "Extra Jesus-y?"

Client:  (shrugs and turns page in Essence magazine)  "I'm just sayin'."


#5 -- The Ray Lewis Dance





"Speaking of Ray Lewis. . .does anyone know how to do the Ray Lewis "squirrel" dance?"

"I do, girl!"

A forty-something year old woman gets up from under the dryer, kicks off her high heels, and then demonstrates it -- exactly as you see here.

*laughter*

"Well, damn. I didn't see that coming."

*laughter*


#4 --  Oh, baby!

Client:  "Well, girl. Now we know for SURE that Beyonce really was pregnant with that baby!"

Me:  "Huh?"

Client:  "Yeeeeaaaaaah, chile. Once you drop a baby, thangs just don't fully snap back the same. Bey was kinda thick."

Stylist (pausing with curling iron in hand): "Yeah, now that I think of it, she was kinda 'bootylicious.'"

 

#3  -- All of the Lights

"Getting your lights turned off in the middle of the Super Bowl might be the most trifling thing I have ever seen in my whole life! I was like, 'Seriously, New Orleans? Seriously?'"

"I think it was a technical difficulty."

"Come on, baby. I'm from the 'hood and I know what it feels like to get a utility cut off. And trust me, Pookie 'n'em is who rigged something to get 'em back on." *inserts eye roll* "That's why it took thirty minutes to fix."

*laughter*

#2  -- Destiny's Children.


Me: "What y'all think about Destiny's Child reuniting on the stage? That was kinda cool, I thought."

Stylist:  "Yeah. That was nice of Beyonce."

*laughter*

Client from under shampoo bowl--super loud voice:  "YEAH! AND EVEN THOUGH MICHELLE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS ON A HUNGER STRIKE, HER WEAVE WAS HOT-TO-DEATH!"

Everyone nodding their heads and agreeing--at least on the weave, part.

 

Stylist:  "Yeah. Michelle's weave won for 'most natural'."

Me: "Wait. I didn't even know there was a weave contest going on that night!"

Stylist: "Oh, boo, there's always a weave contest going on. And this time Michelle won."

*laughter*


#1  One more for the road.

Client dusts hair off of her and is applying lipstick in the mirror preparing to leave.

"Girl, PLEASE -- before you leave -- you've just GOT to do the Ray Lewis dance for us just one more time for us!"

Which she he puts her purse down, takes off her coat and then promptly does. Again.



This time even better than the first. High heels, fresh hair-do and all.

*round of applause*

Man. I love that place.


***
Happy Thursday.

And now playing on my mental iPod and now, unfortunately, yours as well. DC singing "Bootylicious!" Yaaaaassss!!!!!

Top Ten: The Hair Salon Inauguration Recap.

 

Oh man, y'all. So much has been going on in the world that I was absolutely delighted to discuss it all in the hair salon today. (From the perspective of the sistas getting their hair done, that is.) Clearly this warrants a top ten.

Clearly.

So. . . yeah. . . the inauguration. Yes. That. This was our hottest topic, of course. Once we got past the whole "We love President Obama" and "Isn't it wonderful to see him getting inaugurated on the Martin Luther King Holiday!" part, we moved straight into the absolutely, positively unimportant parts that we'd all saved up for the beauty shop. 

Therefore. Without further ado, I bring you:

THE TOP TEN THINGS I EITHER DISCUSSED OR OVERHEARD SOMEBODY DISCUSSING IN THE HAIR SALON TODAY.

Like to hear it? Here it go!

Note: Whenever I don't indicate who was speaking, it means that nearly everyone in earshot was chiming in. (Which is nearly all of the discussion points.)

Alrighty then. . . . .


#10  BANG-UP JOB

 

"What y'all think about them bangs?"

"What bangs?"

"Michelle's bangs."

"Oh. Those. I think they were fine. Not as big a deal as everyone made out of them, though. But fine."

"Girrrrl, you TRIPPIN'! I thought they was BANGIN'!"

#9  CLINTON AND KELLY

Stylist: "Did you see your boy Bill eyeballing Kelly Clarkston when she came on that stage?"

Client #1: "Girrrrl! No! What did he do, girl?"

Stylist: "That man about broke his neck when that girl walked out!"

Client #2 (across room): "That's his type you know."

Me:  "His type? Say what?"

Client #2: "Yeah, girl. That's cause Kelly kinda thick. Sorta like Hillary and Monica."

Me:  >_<

#8  CONTACT PRECAUTIONS.

 

"Damn! Doesn't Hillary Clinton have some contact lenses? Did you see her with them Coke bottles on? Poor Bill."

"That's jacked up. You know she just had a clot on her brain!"

"What's that got to do with her putting in some contacts or at least getting some new glasses?"

"You're going to hell."

"And so is Hillary's stylist." 

#7  EXTRA! EXTRA!

"Let's discuss whether or not Miss Beyonce was mouthing or singing live."

"No! First we have to discuss what she had on and her hair!"

"I thought she looked nice."

"I thought she looked extra."

"Extra?"

"Hell yeah. Why was she giving us sequins and sparkles and big hair at the daytime inauguration? I mean, she was giving us red carpet and Golden Globes and it just wasn't even called for."

"I agree! And you know the only reason she took that ear prompter out when she was singing was 'cause it was irritating her with that big ass emerald earring in her ear."

"No, guys.  I actually think it was because she was trying to hear better when she sang."

(side-eye glance) "Hmmph. You can believe that if you want."

"Girl! Where is you goin' in that ball gown?!"

"I'm with you, girl. She walked out and I was thinking, 'Uhhhh, Dreamgirls called. They want their dress back." 

*laughter*

#6  LIP SERVICE

Me:  "Well? Who thinks she was lip syncing?

Sister-getting-a-relaxer:  "You know what I think?"

Me: "What's that?"

Sister-getting-a-relaxer:  "I think Beyonce is a bad ass b@%h and it don't matter what she did."

Me:  "I heard that!"

Sister-getting-a-relaxer:  "Did you see how she walked up there looking all around like a diva when that music came on? She was giving us Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Barbra Streisand!" (looks around and bats lashes.)

Me: "I know that's right!" 

Stylist:  "It totally looked live to me."

Sister-getting-hair-shampooed (yelling over rushing water):  "Well you know what I think? I think it just made me want to hear the Whitney Houston version from the Super Bowl. That's all it did for me."

Me:  "Now Whitney Houston definitely lip synced." 

Sister-getting-hair-shampooed (still hollering like she's deaf): "Yeah, but she was Whitney so she could do whatever the hell she wanted to do!"

*Everyone sits in quiet reflection for a bit trying to recall the Whitney performance. *

Everybody nodding and in unison:  "Yeah. . . Whitney pretty much killed it."

#5  POETRY IN MOTION

"Who else besides me fell asleep when dude was reading that poem?"

"Okay. Now you really, really going to hell."

#4  JAY Z

 

"It woulda been hot if Jay Z got up there and spit a few rhymes instead of the Star Spangled Banner. Bet nobody woulda been accusing him of lip syncing then!"

"And Barack coulda jumped in and free styled."

"Yeah. That woulda been hot."

#3  LADY IN RED

"Girrrrl! Did y'all see how Barack was looking at Michelle in that red dress?"

"He was looking like, 'It's 'bout to be ON when we leave here.'"

"Y'all are disgusting."

"Oh come on! Everyone knows that dressing up in black tie puts you in the mood."

"True dat."

"Yeah. That and waking up the morning after a big argument."

*everyone nodding their heads*

#2  MRS. BIDEN

 

Client #1: "While we talkin' about dresses, don't sleep on Tipper in her dress. She was killin' em in that blue bias cut!"

Stylist:  "Yeah, girl. And you know bias cuts are totally unforgiving."

Client #1: "Totally! They show every lump, bump, nook and cranny! She was workin' it, though."

Client #2:  "Mmm hmmm."

Client #1:  "I was like, 'Tipper, boo, you DID that!'"

Me:  "Uhhhh, am I the only one who's tripping off of you calling her 'Tipper' and not 'Jill?'  Uhhh, Tipper was Gore's wife."

Client #1:  "Oh, hell. Y'all knew what I meant."

Client #2:  "Didn't she have blonde hair, too?"

Me:  0_0

#1  UH OH, UH OH, UH OH!

"I love me some Michelle. Lord knows I do. But can I just go on the record and admit that I look at her husband in ways that she wouldn't like. For real, girl."

*high fives all around*

"Especially with that gray hair he has now. Girrrrrl."

"I know that's right. If I was at that ball she would have been like, 'Who is this broad hunching all up on my husband like that?'"

*laughter*

"I wouldn't go near that dude."

*heads swing in the direction of person speaking*

"Yeah, he's fine and all, but Michelle from the south side of Chicago. And have you seen her arms? She'll kick somebody's ass if they get up in her man's face."

*laughter*

"When Beyonce walked up, Michelle was all like, 'Why you got to be all hugging and kissing all on my man and just giving Joe Biden the nod?'"

"Ha ha ha! I bet that's what she said in Beyonce's ear when she got up close to her."

"It is! This is what she said:

Beyonce: "Yes, ma'am."

 (teeth gritted) 

"Loook, little girl. I'm from the south side o'Chicago and I will s-natch you up by that weave if you pull some mess like that again! Do you hear me?" 

*laughter*

See? I told you that there's never a dull moment in the beauty shop. Never, not ever. Ha ha ha!

Yeah, so that's what we were talking about. What were y'all talking about that had zero relevance or importance regarding this monumental moment in time?


Good times, y'all.

***
Happy Wednesday.

And here's Miss Whitney lip syncing and killing it--simultaneously.



And yes, Miss Beyonce--personally, I loved your rendition. But I have to agree with my shampoo bowl sister. . .something about hearing you sing that day made me wish for Whitney in her warm up suit a little bit, too.




BONUS TOPICS:

* Michelle and the Boehner eyeroll. Hee hee.
* Whether or not Michelle Obama's bangs were cut or just clip ins."
* How fun it seems like Joe Biden is to have around
* Whether or not Michelle's mama spanks the girls when they act up
* Why Hillary hasn't gotten Lasik eye surgery yet
* How Jennifer Hudson manages to get such high profile gigs all the time
* How Michelle Obama needs to give Condoleezza her hair stylist's contact information

Random goodness.

"What is it you think you see when you see me?"

~ Mary Mary

_____________________________

Well.

I can't say I have the energy to type the story that's in the queue of my mind. Promise to get to that soon. In the meantime, here's a little bit of random goodness.

Let me start with this:

I was in clinic on Monday and a patient that I have been seeing for several years came in to be seen. I mostly see patients with the residents and for this patient, we'd together seen two trainees from internship to board eligible graduation. Now seeing her third resident primary care doctor, we felt like the seasoned camp counselors returning year after year as constants in an ever-changing system. Instead of the doctors showing this patient all of the ropes, she knew Grady so well now that she schooled them.

It had been a while since i'd seen her. As a matter of fact, it had been well over six months considering all of her medical problems were under such great control. On this day, everything was still in great shape, so the encounter was easy and familiar. After the resident saw her, I came in and socialized more than anything else. I examined her briefly and then jumped straight to the pleasantries. It was great.

But then, she reached into her purse and handed me something. It appeared to be some kind of card and I could tell she wanted me open it right then and there.

So I did.

A birthday card. With my actual date of birth on it. My mouth fell open.

"I remembered from one year that I was here in clinic and it was your birthday. I always remembered that it was on September 7 after that."

I was speechless.

"I wanted to bring it sooner but I knew this appointment was coming up. So happy belated birthday, Dr. Manning."

But by the time she said that, I was getting choked up. Reading this card with my date of birth on the front that this patient with all of her medical problems and life issues had remembered.

Here is what it said:

"You're such a cheerful giver, Dr. Manning. You give of your spirit. Thank you for blessing me with that gift."

Come on, y'all. Now you know what happened next. And if you think I didn't do it right there in front of her, you haven't been reading this blog very long. Yep. Cried right then and there. Didn't even try to front like I wasn't moved to tears.

She gave me a meaningful hug, hand tight on my back. And I was tired that day, too. So reading that card and feeling her hand pressing between my shoulder blades made my soul just open right up.

She pulled back from the hug and looked at me. With a chuckle, she said, "You know? This isn't the first time I've seen you cry, Dr. Manning. And I love that about you."

And well. What do you say to that? Especially on a day when you're tired and you really, really needed something like that?

"Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me."

"I do. This is why when I saw that card, I knew I had to get it for you. "

And that was that.

Can I just say this? I have done some cool things in my career. Like, I've been on really high profile television shows talking medicine and taught some amazing students and have received some really unbelievable awards, too.  And hand over heart, I appreciate every last experience and accolade. But these moments? These one-on-one pivotal moments with real people are the ones that tell me the most about who I am and what I've accomplished.

Yeah.

Someone at Grady Hospital felt like I was a cheerful giver--of my spirit. My spirit, y'all. This? This is making me cry right now because this is what I want to do in my life more than anything else.

Whew. Let me lighten things up with a change of subject.

The hair salon was great today. Nobody was selling peach cobblers or talking about Mrs. Obama, but two of my good friends had appointments today so that was awesome. And we weren't expecting it, so that made it even better.

Joy, one of my besties and college sorority line-sisters, was there. We caught up and agreed that we should coordinate our appointments more often.  That's Joy on the left.

Isn't she gorgeous?

Yolanda, my med school classmate, was there with her daughter, Ryan, who is turning six next week. Ryan had the appointment--not Yolanda.

Yolanda and me, both medicine nerds

Her first press and curl? Chile please!


This is a milestone, people. We all applauded Ryan as her little afro puffs slowly took on another form. And this is not saying that we have any issues with afro puffs. Or the darling braids and twists she normally wears. No, we do not. I'm just saying that there's something about getting your hair straightened as a kid that feels like a big deal. I know you couldn't tell me NOTHING (yes, I meant to say nothing instead of "anything") when I got my hair pressed out as a kid.

Don't believe me? Here's one of my very first press and curls. Clearly that sidewalk in front of our house was a runway. And clearly I was FIERCE. (Can't you see me smizing?) JoLai was ready to take up the runway next.

You betta work, honey! (That's Top Model lingo for those unfamiliar.)

Whaaaat?

There's her mom, Yolanda, standing in the background. I took out my phone and said, "Girl! This is a milestone! Why ain't you snapping pictures?"

And yes. I said "ain't" and not "aren't" because that's just me being honest.

I can say for certain that I did NOT have an iPad to keep me company when I got my first press and curl. Furthermore, I was not in a salon but in a kitchen. And I was not sitting in a fancy chair but on three to five phone books.

I'm just saying.

You can't really see it in this light, but one thing that hasn't changed:

You couldn't tell Ryan NOTHING when she strutted out of there. That baby almost broke her neck from swinging her hair. And yes, the parking lot was a runway.

Sashay, Shante! You beta work, Ryan!

That made me think of this, listen to this, and pause from this post to "sashay, Shante!"



First press and curl? Been there. Sho nuff done that.

What else?

Walked to campus today for my meetings. How gorgeous was it? A fall teaser of a day, I tell you.

I snapped these shots while strolling along and humming a song.

Here's another shot from another meeting I had downtown. I just liked the view.

Purty, huh?

What else do I have? Oh this:

Isaiah had a family tree project due this week. He really worked hard on it and got into the whole process. I loved seeing his face light up with ideas. When I'd try to redirect him, he'd say, "It's my project, Mom." To which I'd say, "That it is."

He was very proud of his finished product.

"This is awesome, Mom, right?"

"That it is."

***
Happy Wednesday-pretty much-Thursday.

Now playing on my mental iPod. . . .