Reverb10 :: Ordinary Joy

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 27 :: December 27, 2010 :: Ordinary Joy

• Our most profound joy is often experience during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brene' Brown)

I remember going to visit a friend this summer in D.C. and I stayed at his house. We did some piddling around town and what not and that was cool. But I remember getting back to his house and just staying up and talking about all sorts of things: music, movies, life ... and all of a sudden it's 1 a.m. on a school night. Good people, good times, ordinary joy.

Reverb 10 :: End of 2010 Video :: Lovin Life

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 25 :: December 25, 2010 :: Photo/Video

• Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where and what it best reveals about you. (Author: Tracey Clark)

I've fallen behind on my Reverb10 posts over the past few days, but the funny thing is I've been working on this video for the past few days; trying to make it just right. So I'm not going to focus on one image, but several.

Boy, did I have some fun in 2010. Had some tough times too; still working through some things. Will probably always be working on some things. But my focus here is on the good times and there were plenty of good times w/good peeps because mostly I'm lovin life and my options right now.

I put together this 35 second Animoto vid to recap some of the blessings of this past year.

Reverb10 :: Friendship

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 16 :: December 16, 2010 :: Friendship

• How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst? (Author: Martha Mihalick)

I'm just going to respond to this prompt in a general sense and not specifically. This is not my best post for Reverb10 AND I could not find a picture that was a good fit. Oh, well ...

I have some wonderful friends in the U.S. Love them all and appreciate their contribution to my life. I tell them this all the time. And even though I now live in Cairo, we still manage to help the friendship grow. There's nothing like getting these urgent sounding voicemails from various parts of the U.S. Or getting a series of email messages saying 'call me'. You know how it is. We live in a world now of instant access. If I call your mobile phone, which you always have with you, why aren't you taking my call? What could you possibly be doing?

Being a long distance close friend is sooo not the same as getting a call that some crackhead broke into your friend's house and you're there in at her house in about 10 minutes (true story).

I said that I would do better, but the time difference is tough to deal with. Sometimes I just can't find the energy to say up and make phone calls and get caught up w/my friends. So, I'll challenge myself to try again to do better for 2011.

Meanwhile, I'm slowly crafting this small community of friends in Cairo. It's relatively easy to meet up w/colleagues, but I'm trying to break out of that comfort zone. Time to meet some fresh faces and explore a little more.

Reverb10 :: Beautifully Different

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 8 :: December 8, 2010 :: Beautifully Different

• Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)

Wow, this is a good one. Trying to think about who I let in my inner circle and if they're a close friend, then there must be something about me that they like. I'll go with 'sense of humor' for 100 ... or maybe it's my candidness. I can do proper and professional, but when I can be myself and just down to earth, well, there I am telling all sorts of stories in a very fast and animated way. That's complete w/gestures and intonation and some crazy facial expressions too.

Me driving my Mom's car last year after the Annual Ten Friends Party. Taken by my brother. (Dec, 2009)

I have some friends who egg me on in terms of silliness and some of the outrageous things we say. We go back and forth and on and on and the next thing we know, an hour's gone by. Good times indeed.

7 Things People Don't Know About Me

7 Things People Don't Know About Me

I know that this is an old list that's been going around, but I'm feeling like revealing a little bit about myself. Going for a bit of transparency here.

Saw Princess Lasertron's Things I Don't Want People to Know list and her cutie pie webbie and I thought 'why not give it a go?'.

1. I've never seen the movie "Superfly" or "Foxy Brown" or "Dolemite" or most of the blaxploitation films. I'd like to blame my parents, which is good for them that they wouldn't allow me to watch those films as a kid, but it's been, what, too many years to count, when I could have seen them on my one and I haven't. Oh, well, there goes my black card.

2. While I'm on the subject of films, can I just put it all out there? I've never seen all of "The Godfather" and I haven't seen "Scarface" at all. I think that this is as bad as it gets as it relates to movies ... and so I'll move on because, well, because I'd like for you to forget those first two and fast.

3. When I was young, like 2 years old, I used to have braces on my legs. Seems my feet just wouldn't do what they were supposed to do on their own which is point straight. I thought I saw a picture once, but I can't seem to find it lately.

4. Less than a year after I'd finished my undergrad degree, I'd lost two very close friends: one while still in college in a motorcycle accident and one soon after (murdered). They were like my brothers always looking out for me. Miss them both - a lot.

Sometimes I'll have a smoothie with my breakfast.

5. I eat breakfast almost daily. I love a big breakfast, though I don't eat a whole lot and I usually only get a big breakfast on days when I'm not working (time constraints). I'm a fan of pancakes, french toast, omelette's, turkey sausage or turkey bacon, grits, oatmeal and cereal. Not so big on bagels or muffins, but I might take some banana bread. Oh, and some juice. I like a nice breakfast to line my belly and get me off to a good start.

6. I've met some of my best and closest friends while working at WBLK in Buffalo. I thought I'd be there for a year or so and ended up staying for four years. Some of the worst winter storms of my life, seeing the Bills lose four Superbowls, breakfast at Mattie's, being a Girl Scout leader, frequent trips to Toronto and just some plain ole, ridiculous, knock down, drag out high end drama! My grandfather was right when he told me that Buffalo was just a "raggedy ass city", but the people are priceless. Not a day goes by when I'm not in touch w/someone from my Buffalo posse.

7. I fell in love once ... and with someone who was also madly in love w/me. You know how people are always saying 'live in the moment?' and 'enjoy the moment?' ... well, that's what I did then! Incredible. So glad that I had a chance to experience that. I used to regret that I let that guy go; that the relationship didn't go where it could have gone, which was down the aisle. But now ... today, I'm so glad I am where I am in my life and I would have never gotten here had I stayed there.

My Friends from the States Came to Visit me ...

and they bought some gifts.

Posted via email from Ohradiogirl's posterous

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Family That Preys"

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Family That Prey's"

I saw a preview for Tyler Perry's "The Family That Prey's". It seemed, well, interesting. Interesting because I saw that Kathy Bates seemed to have a lead role. Whaaddd? And Alfre Woodard too? Nice get there Tyler.

My girlfriend, Josee, recommended that I see the movie on opening day. Good idea. So, yes, it was a week ago that I saw the movie and I am just now blogging about it. What are you gonna do about it? ;-)

Well, I liked the movie. I actually that I'd be more on the it was so-so kind of vibe. But it was bonafide likeable. For real. And let me tell you why:

• the scenes w/Kathy and Alfre are priceless; such a genuine friendship
• some real deal eye candy for the ladies.
  
• it was a believable storyline; not too contrived or dramatic
• Robin Givens character was refreshing; she usually plays a different type of gal
• Props for the cast (and you know that Tyler is in the movie...?)
  

What I did not like:

• Sanaa Lathan's depthless acting

I'm going to keep this short so that I don't give the story away, heck, I guess I have not given you much anyway, huh?

Weekly Gratitude

I spent this week being thankful and grateful for my family and friends.

My fam is always there - enough said

My friends - they are awesome. A couple of them have sent some cute and brief emails to make me smile; another friend sent me a care package - just because. Yet another friend I called and ranted for nearly an hour and she listened, adviced and followed up to see how I was doing. It's the little things that matter and make me happy.