Homegirl Quel (kel) in Austin

Face to face with The Subway Guy

I went back to that Subway where the guy asked me for a ride. He wasn't so happy to see me this time. In fact, I think I got a look from him. Now things are all weird, so I'm gonna stop going there for a while. This marks the second time I'm holding off on visiting that location. The first time, I stopped going because this lady who worked there use to give me extra cookies if I ordered them or extra Subway stamps. It felt wrong to accept them, plus she looked kinda very butch and may have had a crush on me. That was just too weird, so I stopped going. I think I'll just pick a new spot altogether. My luck hasn't been too good with that one.

Exhale

I took the promotion.

For the back story, read Dilemma.

I told the bosses my decision today. Needless to say they are thrilled. I am too. I still intend to finish the interview process with companies I'm already in talks with. I just want to tie up all the loose ends. I made sure to tell the bosses so they won't be nervous when I come to work in interview drag.

It feels good. While, no doubt, I could be making much more money elsewhere, there are so many intangibles where I am that mean a lot more to me. For example, after I accepted the promotion, my "big" boss jumped up (literally) and hugged me and my supervisor followed. And when I told them I didn't like getting up so early in the morning they told me to come in an hour later. I could go on, but you get the picture.

I'm in a good place right now. The fact that I had to almost leave to get there kinda sucks, but sometimes that's just how things play out.

Weekend Recap

Home to Memphis

My flight in to Memphis was pretty cool. I finally got to read for a good stretch of time. The book I'm reading is really good, but I hadn't had a time to really sit down and read it. I'm glad I did, because it literally took me to another place in my mind. Apparently there was turbulence during the flight. I didn't notice, but when when we landed in Memphis, the guy next to me told me how impressed he was that I didn't flinch at all during what was apparently a rough ride. I'm not surprised. The Kite Runner is an enthralling story. Heavy, though.

She's Married Now!

My friend Terri got married. Like all our other gatherings, it was a mini CBU reunion. She was beautiful. Our friend, Tonya, sang Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" during the processional and Des'ree's "I'm Kissing You" during Terri's march. I gave a WAY too tearful speech at the reception and we danced the.whole.time. There were bubbles and flowers and kids and a purple cake. It was great. Congratulations, Terri!

 

Fish Fry

I asked my mom to cook some spaghetti. The next question was, "And what else?" In the South (or maybe just in my hood?), the answer is usually, "Fried fish"...and coleslaw, of course. So after church on Sunday...at which time the big question with my kin folks is usually, "Who cooked?"...word got around that my mom was cooking and it was on. My brother, Rodney, fried the fish, mom hooked up the spaghetti and lemonade, and some of my folks passed through. One of my brother's friends brought a "Welcome Home" cake for Billy and me and it was officially a party. This was one of those tough trips home to leave. I'm homesick all over again. Our family reunion is Memorial Day weekend, and I already know I'm gonna be sick when I leave then too.

The Police is bastards.

...not per se, but I'm just sayin'. I'm just kidding...sort of.

Really, I had no business speeding. But 36 in a 30?! And literally around one corner from my house?!That was just some bull.  And he was so dayum friendly too. And dayum my county for having zero tolerance traffic laws. Bastards.

More Love from the Austinist!

So E over at the Austinist chose one of my recent posts to be part of their "Best of the Austin Blogs" list last week. This makes the second time I've been featured on their list. The first time was back in December.

I'm a little late on this 'cause I've been out of town (just got home from my friend's Memphis wedding...more on that later). I had to give a shout-out to thank E and The Austinist for showing me love.

As for my "dilemma"...still wrestling with it. Will keep you posted.

Happy be-lated Birthday Cheronda!!!

You know something's wrong when I miss your birthday. Paula's shout-out on my 10th post reminded me. You know I love you cousin!

My 1000th Comment!

From
Terri (http://www.indigosoul.blogspot.com)

On
Why am I watching the OC tomorrow night? -April 19, 2006

Comment:
"oh the seth is quite the hottie..."

This is SO appropriate! Terri's my sister-friend. We been friends for 'bout 18 years now. So along with graduations, boy dramas, my first (and only) swig of a Black & Mild, weddings and a baby, we have yet another "big" moment to celebrate.

If the thousandth comment had been from a non-real-life-friend, this would just be a shout-out. However, since Terri's my fam, scuse me while I take a moment for an inside:

Terri, Uum comin' ovaah!

Why am I watching the OC tomorrow night?

AND
Anna is coming back. I LOVED Seth and Anna!
 
AND
Ryan finds out he may or may not be a baby-daddy.
AND

I haven't watched the last two seasons, but I'm SO there for tomorrow's show. I saw the preview tonight and can't believe I've stayed away from Seth so long.

Dilemma

I was offered a promotion and a raise at work today. The messed up part is I'm not sure if I'll take it. My bosses know that I'm interviewing with other companies and have done an amazing job accepting and supporting my decision. Until today, that is, when they slapped this sa-weet offer on the table.

It feels good to know that I'm valued and that they would go to such lengths to keep me there. There are so many cool things about the job, my coworkers, the company. But my initial reasons for initiating a job search still exist.

Ladies and gents, I have a lot to ponder. What if I accept the promotion and then one of the very sweet jobs I've interviewed for comes through?  Or what if I get a new job and it's nothing like I thought it would be? Will I regret leaving? Yep. I got a lot to think about.

DAYUM THEM for making it hard for me.

Dog B to the izzy ness

Our very huge dogs dug a very huge whole under the fence and got out a few days ago. They didn't run away though--camped out on the front porch. It was 102 degrees outside and they wanted some open-air shade. One of our neighbors, a Mr. Mom,  kept an eye on them and put them back in and boarded up the whole for us. We're working on a very awesome "thank you" for him.

The dogs broke part of the fence, so we went to Home Depot to buy replacement wood and were up SO late fixing it. Now the new wood is mismatched from the old wood, so I'll be doing some fence staining while Billy's out of town.

Okie and Stella stay inside during the hot Texas summer days, but it's STILL SPRING!!! Not suppose to be 100 degrees yet! They'll spend the next couple of weekends at Dog Boys Ranch...they'll be outside, but at least they'll have a pond to swim in and trees to nap under.

They lose their coats in the summer too, which won't suck so bad for us this summer because we're switching our hair magents carpets out for hardwood floors.

It's amazing to me how much we humans go through to have dogs in our lives. They really are special creatures.

Marriage. We got 5 on it.

 

We've been married 5 years...officially at 4pm this afternoon. I have literally grown up in this relationship. I'm still growing up actually. I was 18 when we met...in college...a young whippersnapper...still wet behind the ears. Ten years later, here we are. Still kickin' it. Still riding the highs and the lows. Still doing this marriage thing. Working on making sure our grass stay green. Watchin' all our closest friends have babies and things. (scuse me y'all, I was 'bout to get my Kanye on). Seriously though, what we have is cool. Goes without saying that it's not perfect...no relationship is. But it is good. So we're celebrating our 5 years...and Billy's second promotion...this weekend.

Creepy Bunny

I was creeped out by the Easter Bunny picture person at the mall yesterday. I think it was those creepy bunny costume eyes. Business was slow...no kids were in line to take pictures and the person in the suit was just sitting there. Slouched down in the big chair with the head kinda' down but looking up? It looked very creepy and evil. I felt like the black bunny eyes were watching me when I passed. Could'a been 'cause I was staring though. Adult-size bunny costumes are creepy...bunny costumes and clowns.

Tomorrow...

...or today, depending on when you read this.

Time: 1:23 (AM and PM)
Date: 4/5/06

1.2.3.4.5.6...

These six numbers will NEVER line up again like this during our lifetime. We should do something totally significant in that minute...like dance silly or meditate or something.

@1:23 AM, I'll probably be turning over in bed busting a fart or dreaming about unicorns and babies or some weirdness.

@1:23 PM, Me and at least one of my co-workers will do something silly...most likely,the cabbage patch. Hopefully others coworkers will join in.

What will you do?
Or do you even care?