17 years....

On my 34th birthday, my best friend pointed out that he has known me for half my life. It's been 17 years since we started college, ya see. That struck me then as profound, for my life can be clearly delineated into before college during/after college. My life as it is today, is so directly a result of college, but what about my upbringing? Moms always questions that I even remember my childhood and I have to often remind her that I do.....but I see her point when I consider that I've spent half of my life away from home. Some 17 years.....

A year ago, I jotted something down in response to the question: What Are You Seeking In A Relationship?

What I Want in A Relationship -- as of 2/28/07:

Companionship. Protection. A confidant. A partner. Someone I can rely on, someone I can confide in, someone who I can trust, unequivocally, with my life. I want to be held accountable by someone, just as I want to hold someone accountable. A relationship built on honesty and compassion, where we are responsible for each other. He should be able to learn from me as well as teach me new things and vice versa and we should always encourage each other. It's a simple as knowing that at the end of the day we can snuggle in each other's arms and talk about anything. It's a simple as knowing that we may not always see eye to eye, but can agree amicably find a compromise and not let it interfere with our love.

The man for me would have presence, character, witty conversation skills, integrity and passion. He should be able to stand for something, be able to share that with others, be honest, true, aware, be motivational and be encouraging. Have a spiritual foundation from which he gives back to others from the blessings he's received.

I want to feel really loved and respected by a man I really love and respect. I want to feel free to know all of the happiness and vulnerability and raw passion that I can stand.

I'm not asking for much, yet I am asking for everything. Can you get with it is the question?!

Tell me something good...

I may get it this year, I may not, but it's something I should reference from time to time, ya think?

Earlier this week, my game started slipping on account of having too many "J's" in my life. Jayden, Jarrel, James, Jack, Jaylen.....nicknamed "Jay." Won't go into the messy details, but I've now marked "who is who" in my cell phone rolodex. Can't have such mishaps when one is on a quest to achieve what she WANTS IN A RELATIONSHIP, now can she? It's no longer about the "letter" anyhow. After I convinced the last no-good loser he was "it" because his name began with the letter "D", it became clear that my good fortune with brothas that had D-names had come to an end. Safe to say that theory no longer holds credence for me. Alphabet Soup, I say....

And so the journey continues. More pleasant than it has been in years with very pleasant surprises, the latest being a possibility some 17 years in the making......

When a brotha says he has known you for half your life....you gotta pay attention. No matter the letter.

...::More to Come::...

[Song of the Day: "Trouble" by Amel Larrieux]

What I Said Was....

That "this may be reason enough to move back to DC."

THIS being, brown babies in the White House.

For the first time since I first voted, in the 1992 Presidential Elections, it's not the lesser of two evils and I am ANIMATEDLY EXCITED about politics and have a certifiable case of Election Fever!!

I keep talking about going to Denver for the convention....sheeit, it's time to make Inaguration plans, baby! Have you ever been to DC during Inaguration?! Honeychile.....definitely time to pull those *connection* strings!

I must admit, much of my *free* time -- and not so free time, for that matter, has been spent on that dayum BRU! It's like HU Homecoming everydayumdayoftheweek!! Who can sustain that?! LOL Fun is an understatement, but it warms my heart to see soo many long lost friends doing well! It's a lovely thing to reconnect and catch up, and I don't even have to spring for a trip to homecoming this year, since Launch Parties are bring the party local! I'm surprised to see long-forgotten crushes, shocked by some of the couples -- married with children -- and inspired by everyone! Those that have "fallen off"and those that have blossomed beautifully. I'm motivated and inspired by them all!

Especially since I've taken too much time off....and it's time to get back to my grind, health wise. My gums are nearly healed, and I am off the meds, cleared to exercise again, so......

I have a physician check-in sometime next month, and I'd like to have some progress, considering I had a mini-revolt after my last doctor visit. Seeing more and more news segments on hypertension and really, though....I want to live! It's such a silent killer, and I'm so sensitive to the symptoms, so I've got to DO better to BE better. Pray for me!

..::More to Come::..

It's Super Tuesday...

...and I feel like singing the ANTHEM:

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast'ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.

I feel it, CHANGE, We Can Believe In!!!

I hope you VOTED, if today was your primary, caucus, or convention election!