Gas around my way (at the cheap gas station, mind you) yesterday morning was $2.63 for regular, last night, it jumped to $2.83 and this afternoon it was $2.99.... NOW.. it's $3.19... I no longer want to drive my car....... So to ALL of my friends/comrads/whatever you are to me.... if you want me to go somewhere with you... YOU will have to drive....

Next Monday, I begin Grad School. I'm a little excited, but nervous all at the same time. My tuition reimbursement depends on how well I do in school. I've been out of school for a year now, and I'm honestly not sure if I'm ready to go back.. but I really have no choice, seeing as though school starts in 3 days... I have an issue.. work is trying to be a roadblock for school.. and I honestly didn't think that it would be b/c my department manager encouraged all of us to go back (not unless she didn't mean it??) But back to the title... On Monday, my company begins the implementation of a new phone system, and it's supposed to be my project. Well, my department manager decided to schedule a meeting with the phone people on Monday from 4PM to 5:30PM... I work in Beltsville.. I go to school in Stevenson (the Owings Mills/Reisterstown area.) I need to be gone by 4:30 to make it to class on time without rushing... therefore, I can't make the meeting. I informed my department manager and she kind of got snippy with me, saying that this was MY project and she'll let me pass on this meeting, but I need to make sure that I'm available for the rest of upgrade next week. I'm like.. Bitch! If this really was my project, you would've consulted with me to see if the week of 8/29 was good for me... which it's not! I have to be late on Tuesday.. I'll be by myself on Wed... I'm off on Thursday... and I'm by myself again on Friday... But I'm like.. she knew that I had school coming up.. and for how much the courses are... school is my number 1 priority! But I think that she expect's work to be it.... I think NOT! What do you think?

..was great! We exchanged gifts at midnight on Thursday (his idea, not mine.) I wanted to surprise him so at midnight, I gave him 2 cards and this watch.. the watch was nice.. but honestly, it was cheap.. I wanted him to think that was his gift... but that didn't really work as expected b/c he actually liked the watch! I got this pretty pink-saphire bracelet, tennis, and unmentionables. Anyway.. I had off on Friday.. but he didn't.... I told him that I didn't have anything planned for us.. that he could do whatever he wanted when he got home... but I lied :o) I cooked him/us dinner and prepared a bubble-bath for him. When he walked through the door.. I was standing there waiting for him with the real gift and candle-lit dinner already set up on the table.

Needless to say we had a good night :o) Saturday.. we did lunch/dinner at Tony Roma's (there food isn't the greatest) But it was good to be out with my husband... That night, we went to the 13th floor. It was nice.. something different. We were able to get a table and it was a pretty view of downtown... Sunday.. we went to Church together... and then we went to lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. After that, we packed.... He moves in a week!!! All in all it was a great weekend and I can't wait until next year's anniversary!

I interviewed last Tuesday for a job 15 minutes away from my house.. but I didn't get it. I'm not upset that I didn't get it because honestly it wasn't what I wanted to do.. I was just pressed to get out of my current place of employment. What I don't understand is why someone (such as myself) with 2 degrees, working on a 3rd, with 1 year of experience and 2 internships can't get a telephone job b/c it requires a certification?? Certifications don't mean crap! My co-worker has 3... and he's worthless! Just because you have a certification doesn't mean that you're qualified to do IT work. Many certified professionals study to pass the test.. but once the test has been passed... ask them to apply the information and they can't do it! I just don't understand why experience and degree's can't/don't outweigh a certification w/o experience..... Then that makes me wonder.. why the hell did I spend 4 and 1/2 years and a bunch of money on 2 degrees at Penn State when I could've took 1 year to get 2 certifications..... Should I not go to Grad School to get my Master's.. should I attempt to get a certification that states (in my eyes) that I know how to take a test??? I don't know.. then I'm like.. most positions want you to have a couple of years of experience, but how the hell are you supposed to get any experience if no one will f*cking hire you!

Just needed to vent... but just b/c I didn't get that position doesn't mean that I will be discouraged. I'm still looking... Everything happens for a reason.. I take that as a sign that I need to be more particular about where I apply.. If it's a position that I really don't want to do.. don't apply.. regardless of how convenient the location and how much the pay....

Keep me in your prayers that I find a career close to home, that I like, and that pays well, where I can grow.....

I've been too lazy to get the pictures off of my camera from Busch Gardens. And I didn't take any pictures from the crab feast.. but my friends aren't like me.. so here you go!

Busch Garden Photos:











Crab Feast Photos

Webster defines anniversary as the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event... and that's what tomorrow is for me. August 19th will mark one year that my husband and I have been together. I'm so excited because he likes to do things to surprise me and I can't wait to see what he has in store for me... I've actually known my husband a lot longer than a year. We used to go to basketball camp when we were little. And then we would see each other at basketball games throughout high school. He attended my high school rival's school. So anytime St. Frances and Towson Catholic would play - I would see him. And then I transferred to Randallstown and he knew a lot of people that went there, so I would see him there. We were always just friends... only speaking when we saw each other but nothing more. It wasn't until Black Friday 2003 he grew the balls to say something more to me down HammerJacks (sike baby, you know I'm playing :oP ) But that's when we exchanged numbers and became really good friends. Then the summer of 2004, when I came back home from school he revealed his true feelings to me.. took him long enough (just playing!) But August 19, 2004... he and I decided to dedicate ourselves to each other... and this has been the best year of my life. I love you so much James! And I can't wait to make it to our 2nd anniversary....

I have an interview tonight. Hopefully I like the position and that I get it... b/c I need to get the f*ck out of KCCO!

I'll keep you posted......

My favorite Disney movie is The Lion King. Tuesday night I had the opportunity to see Broadway's version of it and it was wonderful! They added a couple of more songs and shortened, modified and snipped a few scenes... but it was really good. The way that they did the animals was really creative. I have the movie on tape somwhere, but the play makes me want to go buy the DVD.

It was me, my husband, my mom, my grandmom, and my aunt that went. A few people from my church were there. It was at the Hippodrome Theatre. The theatre's ok. I think I was expecting more from it.. but the play was great and I guess that's all that matters for $74 a ticket??

Friday I attended Delta Sigma Theta's (Balto County Alumni Chapter) 9th annual crab feast. I had a ball, as I tend to do whenever alcohol is involved, and since it was open bar, I had a lovely time. It was me, my mom, my aunt, my husband, T, S, and her beau M... and of course my grandmother since she's a member of DST. The crabs were a little small, but eating large amounts add up, and I was nice and full by the end of the night. We all boogied! S & M had to leave early, but the rest of us stayed until they kicked us out. Although it was open bar, they served house drinks. Anyone that knows me, knows that my drink of choice is Hennessy... so since the crab feast ended at 1AM, and our favorite bar has a sub shop next door with some banging chicken tenders, me, my husband and T went to BJ's... and I must say, Hennessy is such a lovely drink! Especially when it's $3.20 for a cup that has 3/4 Hennesy and 1/4 coke! But by time we finished our drinks, the sub shop was closed =(

Saturday the Ravens had a scrimmage against the Redskins at M&T Stadium. It was me, my husband, T, M, K, and K's cousin that attended. It was hot as HELL outside!! But we moved up into the shade, so it was ok after a while. I never attended a scrimmage before. It wasn't what I expected, but it was something to do. Afterwards we went to the harbor for a bite to eat... and then home for a shower and the bed!

Sunday was chill. My husband is moving, so he and I went to view his actual apartment, as opposed to a model. NICE! I can't wait until he moves!

Last night I experience Jazzy Summer Nights at Hopkins Plaza for the first time with my new found friends. It's great to have friends that don't have any kids and can just go when/wherever they want. And that actually like to do things and for the most part have the same interests that you do. At first I was kind of skeptical about going b/c I'm not a big fan of neo-soul music, but I'm glad I went. Raheem DeVaughn was there.. and he rocked! I'm so going to buy his CD this weekend. And the best part about last night, was that it was free! But Raheem did so well that if he goes on tour, I'll pay to go see him live in concert. He's so talented, and he sounds the same on CD/radio as he does live. That's when you know you can sing... I wonder if they're having another Jazzy Summer Nights for the first Thursday in Sept....? If so... I'm there!

I have this one friend, he and I have been close for like ever! Recently, he has "lost" is cell phone, so it's hard for me to catch up with him. He has a 9 to 5 and he's also in the music biz. He has his own studio downtown, so if he's not at his 9 to 5, he's at the studio. He doesn't have a phone at the studio, so my only way of really contacting him is via email, b/c he's NEVER home.

I haven't talked to him for at least 2 or 3 weeks (if not longer.) And he calls me today from work. While we're talking, I sense an attitude in his voice that he feels as though it's MY fault that we haven't been talking.

Umm... hello! Kessino! You're never home! You don't have a cell phone anymore! And I don't your work phone number! I send you emails, yes the majority of them are forwards, but I also send you "how are you" emails. Try checking your email from time-to-time if you're never going to pick up the phone. That's why I don't even bother calling the house anymore.. b/c you're NOT there!

And if you can make phone calls from your job.... why don't YOU call ME more often. So again, I ask, how is it MY fault that we haven't been talking????

How can you tell someone that you strongly disagree w/ their decisions/actions w/o saying "You're so stupid!" And w/o hurting their feelings, but still getting your point across?

My best friend lacks the ability to use the common sense that God gave her. She has a child that she needs to make him her number 1 priority, but she's too selfish to do so. She's too concerned about having a man in her life and having a social life, than being worried about whether or not her son is potty-trained or if he can speak clearly. She's so pressed about dating someone that she dates people that she works with... this is a big no-no. When you're in high school and you don't know better and you have no real responsibilities, then ok, I'll permit it. But you're grown! And you have a lot of responibilities that you have been neglecting and putting off to the back burner long enough. I talk about with my husband, with my mother, and I take their advice, yet I still get no where with this girl.

Sometimes I think that I care more about the well-being of her son than she does. And that should never be the case. It's hard to talk to her b/c she's so defensive and although she hears what you're saying to her, she doesn't listen b/c she's thinking about what to say as soon as I pause to take a breath... how can she defend herself. So I opt to emailing her my thoughts. That way she will read all of it (and hopefully I won't forget any of my opinions) before she has a chance to respond. Most times her reply is "I know, I plan to do...." And she really puts forth an effort for like a week, and then it's back to the drawing board. My husband tells me to be nice when I right these emails, but that's not me. But I listened anyway.. all but once. And when I didn't listen, I hurt her feelings and made her cry. That wasn't my intentions, but she really needs to open her eyes to things. I was also told to back away and let her handling things on my own, but my Godson is at stake and I can't do that. I may not care about a lot of people, but I do care about my baby!

I need help getting into her thick skull! If anyone has any suggestions to how to talk to this chick.... PLEASE help! I can't go too much into detail about her situation, I'd hate to put her out there like that, but if you feel where I'm coming from a little bit, please tell me what you think....