TOUCHY FEELY......

So I met a guy at the gym the other day and he seemed pretty cool. As is the case for the past 3 months, conversation was initiated because of my slight limp. What happened? How did you do it? When did it happen? etc. We ended up talking about some of his family members and the possibility of me helping them with some nutritional and weight loss information which I have been doing some part-time work around.

Anyway, so by the end of the conversation, he invited me to lunch. I wasn't sure what was his motivation for inviting me, like I said he seemed cool. I decided however to be very upfront with him and tell him that I was NOT available and that it would strictly be platonic in nature. I just wanted to be clear from the get-go so that there would be NO misunderstanding. He said ok and so a couple days later we met up.

First of all, we met at the gym and he said we should go in his car. I said OK and then I saw that he was driving a convertible! Not my thing at all. For those of you that don't know, let me fill you in.....CONVERTIBLE + BLACK WOMAN's HAIR + NO SCRUNCHIE/PONYTAIL HOLDER = NO FUN AT ALL!!!! I aired my non-preference of the top down situation but he just told me to go to the drug store next door and buy a scrunchie..... OKaay then! Now if this were a date and/or this was someone I liked in that sort of a way, then I would have been feeling far more accommodating but given the scenario, ummm not so much. Anyway, being the nice girl that I am, I went and bought one.

We got in the car and drove to a nearby Cajun restaurant. As soon as we walked in, it was instantly clear that he knew EVERYONE in there. "Hey", "what's up", "you good?", "I see you", nods, hand shakes - you name it, he did it. By the time we were seated a mere 50ft or so from the door, he had already said hello to at least 10 people, no lie. He started touching my back and ushering me to my seat and calling me honey and some other names.....ewww! Through the course of lunch, he touched my hand a bunch of times and my leg over and over. I was SO uncomfortable. I will say the food was good though:-) I was very aware that he was trying to give the impression to everyone that we were together and I was definitely trying as politely as I could to do the opposite, especially with the waitress who he also clearly knew.

Anyway, lunch ended and we went to get up and he reached for my hand to hold it to walk out of the restaurant!!!!!!?????? Is it me or this is way over the top? I turned my head and looked the other way, pretending not to see this gesture. He bid his goodbye's to everyone again on the way out and I held onto my purse with both hands so that they would both be occupied, lol. At least he put the top up on the car for the drive back. I was literally counting the seconds till I could get back to the safety of my car. We finally did. I said thank you, reciprocated his hug that lasted too long and got the heck outta there.

He has since called several times and I think I picked up the phone once. I finally had to tell him today that there would be NO further outings and that NO I couldn't "make some time for him". I just wish I could've forseen how this was gonna go. Maybe I'm just naive (as I've been told:-). He was a nice guy, but just WAAAY too touchy, feely for me and way too "friendly". I haven't seen him at the gym since, but I know I will. I will for sure say hi but I can assure you that there will be no more lunches or drinks or anything of nature. Hopefully I've learned a lesson, but knowing me, probably not, LOL!! That benefit of the doubt thing just doesn't always pan out.

NEW PURCHASE

I had some free time on my hands this afternoon so I made a quick trip to the mall and took a stroll around (or a limp) to be more precise:-) Usually this type of trip is dangerous because I didn't really have a purpose for being there and so often times I will buy things that I don't really need in this sort of scenario.

I almost made it out unscathed, lol but I saw this neck accessory - I don't really know what to call it - a chain? a necklace? - as I was in the last store that I planned on stopping in and I just couldn't resist. It's a little bit different for me, a little extravagant as I was told;-) but I know one of these days I'm gonna put it to good use, maybe even this weekend as I have a party to go to.

Anyway, here are a couple pics of it. It looks a little bit Indian, a little bit heavy and it's pretty bold but every once in a while you gotta step outta the box right and change it up!

HAIR-RAISING FUN!!!

So tonight, after a pretty long but really nice day (which I might blog about later), I was messing around on my laptop when I logged onto the Essence website. I found the most interesting tool on there. You can basically upload a picture of yourself and try out all these different hairstyles on yourself just to see what you might look like with different haircuts.

Lately, I've been considering cutting my hair. It's something I've done twice before and the result actually looked very similar to the very first picture below. You basically can click on different pictures of different celebrities and "try out" their hairstyles. I had loads of fun doing it and here are just a few of my favorite ones. To all the ladies out there, click on the above link if you want to try it out for yourself!!! Don't laugh too much at my new 'do's!!!

#1 "Halle Berry"


#2 "Wendy Raquel Robinson"


#3 "Tia Mowry"


#4 "Serena Williams"


I'm definitely tempted to just bite the bullet and go short....I think my favorites are either #1 or #2.

RISKY BUSINESS

A couple days ago, I was coming home from my first day back at the gym (woohoo!!!) and as I was getting out of my car, I saw two guys with skateboards stop at the apartment next to mine and sit on the wall. Picture this - black guys, twins, 6ft 2ins tall, big big afros, my kinda skin colour, one with big rectangular glasses, one without.

Twin #1 says: "Excuse me, ma'am can I use your phone?"

Jackie: "Why do you need to use it?"

Twin #1: "We just checked out of the hotel behind these apartments and our friend who was supposed to pick us up hasn't shown up so we need to call him."

Jackie: "Why are you staying at the hotel?"

Twin #2: "Cause our mom kicked us out the house and we had nowhere else to stay. We've been homeless off and on for a long time but we're doing the best we can."

Jackie: "That's sad. So how do I know you're not gonna run away with my phone. I know you see me limping so you know I can't chase after you."

Twin #1: "Yeah that's the problem we're having. No one wants to let us use their phone cause I guess we look dangerous or something."

Jackie: "Well, I'm gonna dial the number for you and then if you run away with the phone, so be it. The Lord will show me mercy for being kind to you today so I'm just gonna believe you guys and lend you my phone."

So I let them use the phone. They called their friend. The friend didn't answer. They called another friend who told them they didn't know where that guy was so now they're still stuck outside my apartment building. I ask them where they're going. They say Cheviot Hills, which isn't too far from my house as far as driving distance so..........I offer them a ride! I MUST be crazy or something cause basically I could be signing my own death warrant. They thank me profusely and get in the car for the 10 minute drive.

Turns out they're 20 years old. Twins as I said before. Homeless. Twin #1 whose name turns out to be Ryan has cancer - Hodgkins Lymphoma. Twin #2 Robert is his support and backbone. Their dad lives in San Diego in an apt "the size of you car" and doesn't want them. Their mom can't stand them because according to them, they remind her too much of their father whom she hates. She stole the $10,000 Ryan was given by some agency towards his medical bills. I asked them what were their plans. I said, "You have to have a plan for your life. You can't just continue to be homeless, dwelling on the past. The hand you've been dealt is pretty bad but you're gonna have to come up with a plan. Did you guys finish high school?"

They say yes, in fact they graduated early and Ryan started school at Loyola Marymount but had to drop out because he couldn't afford the tuition. I try to tell him there are loans and scholarships that they can still apply for and that they can't give up. Robert is going for a job interview the following day at Urban Outfitters because he just wants a job he says, but truth be told these boys need a good shower before they go anywhere:-( My car was getting a little bit stuffy, if you know what I mean.

We get so caught up in conversation that we miss our turnoff but we make our way to their destination soon enough. I wish them all the best. They thank me profusely again. I tell them to make plans for their lives and not to let anyone determine their future aside from themselves. That they can still do great things and that it's not too late. I wish Ryan the best with his Lymphoma which thankfully he says is in remission. Just before walking away, they ask me for $1. I give them $4 and they say please say hi to us if you ever see us anywhere again. I say, "Definitely!" and I drive away.

OK, in retrospect, that was some RISKY BUSINESS that I involved myself in but my gut was speaking to me and telling me everything was OK and thank the Lord that it wasn't just indigestion or something I was having lol!! I probably would never do something like that again in hindsight, it being 20/20 and all but I hope if only for one second that Robert and Ryan got to hear and see that there is still a chance for them. That they don't have to just accept their awful hand. That they can choose their path and if I passed that thought on to them in the slightest of ways, then the risk that I took will have been worth it.

CROSSING THE LINE

I have a pretty good male friend who I'm relatively sure doesn't read my blog so I'm gonna write this taking the risk that he won't google me now and start reading tomorrow:~/

I've been friends with this guy now for the past 4 or so years and actually I've known him since my college days. We get along really well and I enjoy his company. He is funny, quick-witted, intelligent, good-looking.....and married (with kids)! We joke about pretty much everything and whenever I see him we have a good laugh.

However, the past several times that we've hung out, he's decided for one reason or another to try push things beyond the line of what is appropriate. He's made certain comments, made certain moves, and without being completely blatant has pretty much made it very clear that he would like to take "things" further. Now at first, I just laughed and blew it off with a chuckle and a wave of the hand and a "you're so silly". But as time has passed, he has made his intent all the more clear and things finally came to a head recently.

There was no more aversion that I could do, or laughing or dismissing of particular statements and so I finally had to make myself explicitly clear. I told him that while I thoroughly enjoy our friendship that I am not the chick who fools around with other people's husbands and that I hope he could accept and respect my standpoint. One to which I would hold firm. He immediately said "absolutely" and I felt much better for having finally said what NEEDED to be said.

I'm not sure why people do that. Why get married if you're not ready? Why cheat? Where is your conscience? And why risk messing up a perfectly good friendship for some foolishness? I don't know the answers to these questions and I'm not sure what I'm gonna do if he comes at me like that again because I have the distinct feeling that given his ego, it's a possibility. He's not accustomed to being "denied", but I hope that he will at least respect my wishes if this friendship is to continue. I guess my only other option at that point will be to just completely end the friendship. I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that!


***HAPPY 4TH of JULY EVERYONE!! BE SAFE!!!***

TRIP TO EUGENE

So I got back late on Sunday from my trip to Eugene and the US Track and Field Championships. I'd have to say all in all I had a pretty good time. I got to see so some of my friends, many of whom I hadn't seen in quite some time, particularly because I haven't been competing. I shared a hotel room with one of my really good friends and a former training partner, Robyne Johnson. She's currently the head coach at Boston University. We had a lot of fun catching up and reminiscing on all the shenanigans we used to get into. No need for detail:-)


Me and Robyne

My girl Steph Durst who had been running really well over in Europe in preparation for the Championships unfortunately injured herself the week prior by running in a hole at practice and severely twisting her ankle. She was hoping that there would have been some significant improvement while she was there, but this was not to be and so she was unable to compete. I spent some time with her and tried as best I could to point out the "silver lining", that once she gets better in a couple weeks, that she can just go to Europe and run as many races as she likes as she doesn't have to peak or taper in preparation for Worlds. So therefore she can just rack up the cash and let the season ending World Athletic Final in Thessaloniki, Greece be her World Championships.

I also hung out with my friends, 110m hurdlers Ryan Wilson and Kai Kelley, my friend Ross, the Sport Psychologist for USA Track & Field and also my friend Celia who is former sprinter Jon Drummond's wife. I spent some time with Coach Brooks Johnson and it was great to see Aub and Joel again but my trip certainly was lacking the presence of the one and only DO. I am convinced that he would have been National Champion again, no doubt about it. Not to worry though, the crux of the European season awaits him and all the other athletes that suffered untimely injuries - Hyleas Fountain, Bryan Clay, my girl Steph, maybe Walter Dix (although I'm not too sure on the severity of his hamstring injury) and all the others who simply were just unlucky.

I decided to leave on Sunday because this was supposed to be a fun trip for me and given my current situation, I don't think it would have been fun to watch my own event, that being the women's Long Jump. I'm a huge track and field fan but I've never liked watching the long jump. It doesn't matter that I'm not American and that I wouldn't have been vying for a spot on this team. It only matters that it makes me anxious and wistful and pretty much uncomfortable to sit there watching others do what I've done for so many years. And this is not a new thing that's come about since I've been injured, it's always been the case. Just not my thing. Congrats however to Britney Reese, Brianna and Funmi Jimoh on some excellent results and I wish them all the best in Berlin.

Track and Field is a cut-throat business. There are no second chances. No do-overs. You're either ready physically and mentally on the day or you're not. End of story. I've often wondered if the US shouldn't implement the team selection policy that both Great Britain and Jamaica employ, that being where the 1st and 2nd place finishers are guaranteed their spots on their respective teams and the third spot, while often going to the 3rd place finisher, is ultimately left up to the discretion of a selection committee so that clear medal contenders such as Dave, Hyleas and Bryan who for all intents and purposes will be perfectly healthy come Berlin time, don't get left off teams because of an untimely minor injury. There are pros and cons to either process and the debate could continue on forever without resolution.

Congrats to all those who made the team and congrats to my Bahamian teammates as well who participated in our own National Champs this weekend as well. Lord knows I wish I could have vied for a spot myself, but this was not my path this year. I guess my tally of World Championships that I've qualified for and competed in will remain at 9 (3 time finalist) and you know what, I'm ok with that.

WHAT A WOMAN/MAN NEEDS.....

A friend of mine (a guy) sent this to me today and while I didn't necessarily agree;-), I did find it rather funny. Could this be true???? Nah..... but I thought I'd share anyway!!

How to Make a Woman Happy


It's not difficult to make a woman happy....
A man only needs to be:

1. A friend
2. A companion
3. A lover
4. A brother
5. A father
6. A master
7. A chef
8. An electrician
9. A carpenter
10. A plumber
11. A mechanic
12. A decorator
13. A stylist
14. A sexologist
15. A gynecologist
16. A psychologist
17. A pest exterminator
18. A psychiatrist
19. A healer
20. A good listener
21. An organizer
22. A good father
23. Very clean
24. Sympathetic
25. Athletic
26. Warm
27. Attentive
28. Gallant
29. Intelligent
30. Funny
31. Creative
32. Tender
33. Strong
34. Understanding
35. Tolerant
36. Prudent
37. Ambitious
38. Capable
39. Courageous
40. Determined!
41. True
42. Dependable
43. Passionate
44. Compassionate

WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:

45. Give her compliments regularly
46. Love shopping
47. Be honest
48. Be very rich
49. Not stress her out
50. Not look at other girls

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:


51. Give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. Give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. Give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes


IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:

54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes



HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY

1. Show up naked
2. Bring food

Now, c'mon ladies, we all know that life would be superb, if this were REALLY true!!! Unfortunately, in reality, this is not the case, lol!! Sure would be nice if men were that simple though.....


****On a more serious note, words cannot adequately express how sad and disappointed I was/am when DO told me that he hurt himself and is out of the US Champs this week/end. It was almost as upsetting as my own injury. He would most certainly have retained his title and I was looking forward to seeing it firsthand. God works in mysterious and wonderful ways though, and His plans are not always ours. I can attest to that. Eugene's not gonna be the same without you:-( but I know you'll be back with a vengeance! *****