Update- 30 Day No Soda Challenge & Other Items

Can you believe it has been almost a month since I began my 30 Day No Soda Challenge? I began the challenge not only as a New Year's Resolution, but as a goal to live my life healthier in '09. I found myself drinking at least a six pack or so more of soda each day, and with diabetes being a problem in my family for so many years, I knew I had to stop the addiction. So on Monday, January 5, 2009, I started my 30 Day No Soda Challenge.

There have been many times that I slipped and fell off the wagon. But what kept me on the straight and narrow (besides prayer) is knowing that I would be so defeated if I drank a soda because I would have to blog about it and let you all know that I lost the good fight. That is one blog I don't want to have to write, especially since a few of my Twitter folks are also riding with me on the Challenge.

I have lost 11 pounds since I began. I wasn't doing this Challenge to lose weight, but this is a great side effect and I needed to lose bout 15 pounds anyway. I feel like I have more energy each day and I don't feel as bloated. I still get headaches every now and then but they don't last as long as they used to, and my body is getting used to not having as much caffeine. I drink about 15 glasses of water daily along with a few servings of juice (either cranberry or apple) and I also drink sweet tea, which is my latest addiction.

Someone on Twitter recognized that sweet tea can be just as bad as soda and pointed that out to me, so I began weaning myself off of that this week. I plan to be completely sweet tea free by the middle of next month as well. I am trying not to start too many Challenges at one time in order to keep balance and control in my life. I don't want to be overloaded with too many goals.

This Challenge will last beyond 30 Days. I would like to stay soda free (with the exception of a can or two here or there once or twice a month) for the rest of the year. I also want to begin a rigorous exercise challenge of Cardio and Yoga in February. My homie Forever Lex and I along with the USUAL SUSPECTS are planning a TweetUp in Miami in May and I so want to look flawless in a  two-piece. Dade County will never be the same. 

This Challenge this is slowly morphing into a lifestyle change and a way of life for me. Thanks to everyone who has continued to show me support through this No Soda Thing. I am ever so grateful. More than you know. :P

The Hilton.

We both knew why you called me. And we both knew that when I arrived at Room 742 that it was going to be about business. Business that only you and I would be able to handle. As of last year, it was unfinished. I replayed the interrupted scenario over and over in my head many times and tonight, I would finally be able to see it play out in its entirety.

You answered the door with that smile that you always had. Crooked. Showing just a few of your exceptionally beautifully white teeth made for a Colgate commercial. You were dressed comfortably in a white T-shirt and basketball shorts. Lounging in the room watching the play-offs. Waiting for my arrival since you touched down in the Lou five hours previously. My heart pounding, I gave you a playful hug and walked into your room and allowed the door to close behind me. There were double beds. I smiled to myself. Okay. This is going to be interesting.

I sat down on the bed and crossed my legs with my coat on. You told me to stand up because you wanted to get a good view of me. I felt your eyes on me seeming to pierce through the epidermis of my skin. It was like you could read my every thought and movement before I moved or thought. You told me to take off my coat and I did as I was told. I was wearing a black blouse belted at the waist and a pair of black leggings and heels. You licked your lips and I knew what you were thinking.

You gave me them fuck me eyes. I reciprocated.

Hands around my waist, you pulled me close. Stuck your tongue down my throat hard and fast and I was frustrated because I was used to being in control and you were taking that away from me. My hair was in a ponytail and you pulled my head back so your tongue could penetrate me deeper. Then you stopped suddenly and I opened my eyes to see you smiling at me.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

Last year, you and I were at this same place. Different room. But during that time, we were interrupted by feelings that seemed to overwhelm us. And vibrating phones and secret phone calls brought about our hiatus. Jealously. Envy. But tonight, it was going down. We didn't care about the past.

You slowly unbuttoned my blouse and we both watched as it fell to the ground. My strapless bra was next to be removed. You marvelled at the 38 D's that were in front of you and cupped. Kissed my nipples and watched as they hardened in slow motion. You slid off my pants and you smiled because you saw that I still didn't wear any panties. Your hands were on my ass and then my back and then my neck as you kissed  me again.

I took off your t-shirt. Your chest still sported muscles. No hair. Shit was sexy. I played around with the elastic on your b-ball shorts, putting the tip of my nail around the drawstring and pulling on it teasingly. You took my hand and put it on your hardened pole.

It was time to begin.

We started with me on my back, my legs over your shoulders. I could feel all of you when it was like this. You showed no mercy and I didn't want any either. We had a lot of time to make up for and with each thrust inside of me, you were punishing me for the time we were apart. I didn't want to moan, didn't want you to know you had me feeling all good but I couldn't help myself. You withdrew and watched as my mouth begged for you to continue. Your chest was sweaty. You looked high but it was my chocha was now your drug. 

We hit a rush.

You turned me on my back and infiltrated me from behind, moving slow and deep as I purred and cooed at your prowess in the bedroom. It was magnetic heat that was being transferred in between the both of us and we were both spellbound at the action taking place. Unable to get the proper leverage you needed, you had me get on my knees and you entered me hard once again, moving in as I arched my back and backed up into your rhythm. You began to move faster and I didn't want it to end but I could tell you were getting ready to explode because I was too.

I got on my knees and pleasured you orally. This, above all else, was what kept you coming back for more after all of this time.

You dreamt about it. You plotted and planned. And now it was happening in this room.

I started off slowly and then with each movement, I took more of you inside of me.

Before you could say my name, I stopped. Looked up at you like I used to do with my doe eyes and allowed you to spill your liquid all on my breasts.

Round two would commence shortly. After a small breather.

Um, I'm Milking.

Okay. A strange phenomenon just occurred within my body. I was sitting here responding to work emails when I felt something wet and warm on my bra. I looked down at the blouse I am wearing and viola! There was a wet stain near my left nipple. WTF?

I rushed to the bathroom and unbuttoned my blouse and noticed a substance coming out of my nipple. MILK.

Now I've watched enough porn to know what milking is. The thing is, this never happened after the birth of my son and daughter who are 14 and 4.

I am not even pregnant. Just had my monthly visitor. Why is milk coming out of my left titay? OMG. I need to look this up on Web MD.

Homeless. Gypsy Woman.

Most of you are familiar with the Crystal Waters tune from 1991 called Gypsy Woman in which she sang about a homeless woman against a thumping house beat. Well, I was literally a gypsy woman a few years ago and was officially homeless for about two months. Below is a recount of how that unfolded and how I found redemption.

In the fall of 1998, I was tired of struggling and barely getting by. My son at that time was 4 years old and I was a single mother. My son's father wasn't contributing that much financially due to his recent arrest for selling drugs, so it was all on me to provide for the welfare of our child. I was making about $7.00 at that time and living in Florida where I was in an area known as Safety Harbor near Clearwater. I was paying about $550 per month rent for a two bedroom apartment and about $95 per week for daycare. In addition, I also had a car note, car insurance, utility bills, etc. etc. and with my wage, it was hard to make ends meet with no additional contributions.

So I came up with this brilliant idea to move to Atlanta. A friend of mine's sister lived there was needing a secretary for her up and coming business and was willing to pay me $11 per hour. Thinking I was on a come up, I gave a 30 day notice to my apartment building and gave notice to my employer, and began selling off my furniture because I was going to start fresh in Atlanta. I cashed in my 401k at the company I was working in and made the necessary plans to move.

My dad agreed to let my son stay with him in St. Louis for a few months until the Christmas holiday while I was in transition. The plan was after I got settled, I would fly back to St. Louis to retrieve my son. The day before I was due to leave, a series of events happened. My 401k was deposited in my bank account, but my account was levied because I owed past due taxes. The IRS took everything in the account so I had no money to move. My last paycheck was also deposited in my account and that was taken too.

I was going to need a few weeks to hustle up some more money before my move but I was told by employer that they had already hired someone to take my place and they were starting that next Monday. I then called my new employer in Atlanta and told her it would be a few weeks until I would have the money to move and she then told me not to even bother coming because she needed someone like yesterday and was going to hire someone else if I didn't get there ASAP. I had already sold all of my furniture and had to leave my apartment at the end of the weekend because my complex had rented it out.

The only good thing at this time was that my son was already in St. Louis so I didn't have to worry about him. My Aunt had flew in from St. Louis for my father and she and my son flew back.

I had only $100.00 to my name.

I was too embarrassed to tell anyone I didn't have any money or nowhere to go. 

My mother and I weren't talking at this time because I called her out on her shit with her drug abuse. My best friend and I weren't talking because she owed me money and didn't want to pay me. When it came to Florida, I didn't have many friends left. That was one of the many reasons why I wanted to leave. The "friend" who's sister I was going to work for in Atlanta stopped taking my phone calls. I had no one.

I called my dad about the job offer falling through but I didn't have the nerve to tell him I was broke. He was taking care of my son and helping me out, so I didn't want to ask for even more when he was doing so much for me already.

So I took what possessions I had and loaded it in my Neon and basically began living out of my car. I found a job working through a temp agency and began working right away as a receptionist. I worked during the day, slept in the car at night, usually in a Denny's parking lot. And in the wee hours in the morning before the sunlight came up, I would wash up in the Denny's bathroom or a hotel lobby bathroom which was next door and get dressed. No one at work knew I was homeless. I dressed well. Hair was done. Make-up applied. I didn't smell. No one was the wiser.

This was such a scary time. I had a cell phone (PrimeCo) that I was able to keep during this unfortunate event, so I would talk on the phone to mere acquaintances to keep myself awake at night. When I couldn't fight the sleep anymore, I would make sure the doors were locked, turn on the radio, and get in the backseat and let the music lull me to sleep. Every car that passed, every person that walked by, I woke up and acted like everything was normal. It was so hard putting on this act day in and day out. But I did it. And I did it well.

It was November and December in Florida and although it didn't get really cold, there were nights that I would turn my car on in intervals and run the heat so I wouldn't freeze. I missed all of my favorite shows without a television. I had no idea what was going on in the world or the news until I got to work each day. I was living a double life.

On the weekends, on the Friday I got paid each week, I stayed in a hotel where I enjoyed sleeping in a real bed and taking a real shower. It was like heaven to me.

Towards the end of December, right before Christmas, I saved up enough money for a small one bedroom apartment in St. Petersburg. I was elated even though it was nothing like the apartment I had before. At least I had a roof over my head and I would have heat and a shower, and a kitchen to fix meals.

Every time now that I get down, I think of this time in my life. I think of the pride that I had during this time and the fact that that pride, that inability to ask for help resulted in me sleeping in my car every night. 

I am so thankful God watched over me during that time and that nothing bad happened to me. I was also thankful that I was able to get out of that situation quickly. I never want to go back to living like that again.

F-O-C-U-S-E-D

Dear Hater:

I usually don't dole out time to those who are unworthy and simply put, not worth my time. But when I was a young shorty, my Grandmother told me to:

1. keep my friends close and my enemies closer

-and-

2. kill negative folks with kindness

Grandma, this one's for you.

Hater, I know that your main objective each and everyday is to spew your venom like a python but I won't allow you to do that. Not on my watch. See, someone should've checked you long ago, and since they didn't, please allow me to do it. You are the type of person that hates to see it when another person makes a come up because you have suspect feelings about yourself. You are insecure. You are laughable. You think you are wise with your qwirky comments and funny wit but all that shows me is that deep inside, its easier for you to think of something smart to say than do something smart for yourself. Like be quiet.

Bad move.

You wait around until someone makes a mistake, and bam, you are on it like white on rice. But who's to say you don't make mistakes of your own? Who's to say that you are perfect? You have many flaws many of which happen to start with your lack of self esteem and poor hygiene. Grab a Altoid and take a long bath and have a tall can of shudafukkup.

Hater, I don't like you. But I would never hate on what you do because you are getting yours. So why hate on me? Why spend so much time and energy focusing on me? Don't you have a life? A man? Some family? Any friends? Doesn't seem like it. And I am not surprised. Because why would people even want to be around someone like you? Someone that is 95% negative and 5% bullshit. You need an enema and a body cleansing STAT to wash out all of that bad karma.

I will pray for you, Hater. And although you continue to pray and pray on my downfall, I will rebuke you because I am a one-woman show and I never needed anyone to raise me up. While you count on others to give you applause, my audience is my mirror and my applause is my reflection. Each day I awake on this earth is better than the alternative. And I hope you get a life because honestly, if you don't change your ways, you will be just another old bitter and sour person with stank breath.

But alas.

Bye Hater. You have taken up enough of my time and I got things to do and people to see. SMOOCHES. Call me when you get a personality and a little love for yourself.

MUAH!  :P

D to the anni.

8 Grammy Nominations?

Really Dwayne Carter?