Sweet Escape

I have to many jobs to blog. But now it's vacation time and I'm gonna relax, damn it!

I'm leaving to judge NFA tomorrow--I'm the most excited to see everyone! I've planned two outfits for every day: dressy and casual. I also got a weave. I'm not kidding. Looking fly at this tournament is serious.

I'm going to miss my boyfriend, but I'm glad to get away for a while. I work really hard and I'm finally getting some time to enjoy myself. :)

I'll post pics and stories throughout the trip when I'm not too busy being sassy and fabulous. :)

Rude Boy - Rihanna

Three Good Things:

• Vacation TOMORROW!
• I just made the last payment on my furniture.
• Backrubs from my boyfriend.
  

Can you retract a retraction?

Okay. So I may have spoken a little too soon about speaking too soon. I know that sounds ridiculous, but everyone makes mistakes, right? I'm sure this sounds a bit cryptic, but since I don't think anyone actually reads the nonsense I write here, I think I'll be okay.

The rest of my vacation was fantastic. It had its ups and downs, but at the end of the day I know so much more than I once did. I'm no longer planning, but reacting. :) I've learned that I worry too much and I think too deeply. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it can make situations much more complicated than they should be. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next with Marcus and I; hopefully I'll find my happy ending by taking things one day at a time.

Anyhow, I think it's time for a snack and a nap--driving to and from the airport always drains my energy. My apartment seems too quiet now and I'm not sure what to do with myself since he's gone back to LA. This sounds cliche, but I can't wait to see him again. Hopefully our reunion will be sooner than later.

In My Ears: Jay-Z, 'Run This City'; The-Dream, 'Rockin' That Shit'; Hairspray: The Soundtrack to the Motion Picture

I've been thinking...

Perhaps I spoke too soon. We'll see how today goes.

In My Ears: En Vogue, 'Don't Let Go (Love)'; John Legend, 'Ordinary People'; Aaliyah, 'Rock the Boat'

"And I say the same thing every single time..."

I was definitely right. I'm having the time of my life on this vacation. Hanging out with Marcus every day has been truly amazing. Here's a little recap of what we've done so far:

Friday: Marcus's flight lands at around 9 p.m. I'm a teensy bit late picking him up because people from Bowling Green can't drive--traffic on I-65 between Bowling Green and Franklin was terrible. Eventually I make it there and I finally get to see him after almost two months apart. He looks fabulous (not that I doubted he would) and we talk a lot about his flight on the drive back to BG. Apparently the plane hit some pretty intense turbulence that he just kept reading through. I would have been screaming my head off and praying to Jesus to save my soul, but that's why he's the level-headed one in this twosome. I tell him a few things I have planned for us to do while he's in town (Dinosaur World, Mammoth Cave, going to Hodgenville to eat dinner with my family, etc.) and he just happens to notice a sign for Steak n' Sheak and asks if we can go there. Apparently they don't have Steak n' Shakes in California (or Waffle Houses either) and he loves both restaurants, so we stop at Steak n' Shake before turning in for the night.

Saturday: I wake up super early (as usual) and bake some biscuits for breakfast. We spend the day just hanging around the house, watching movies and talking. At one point I had to go into work to get my schedule, but other than that we just stay in. We do make it a point to go to Waffle House for lunch, where Marcus informs me that he could eat Waffle House twice a day while he's here. (For the record, I have absolutely no problems with that happening. I can get down on some chocolate-chip waffles, y'all.) Our server, Missy, is an absolute riot--she's cracking jokes and reading us fun facts about Waffle House and just being hilarious in general. I then challenged Marcus to eat 25 waffles in 10 minutes to beat the world record; he replies that he doesn't want to go into cardiac arrest over lunch, thank you. We head back to the house and just chill, watching Fun with Dick and Jane and just enjoying each other's company.

Sunday: This was the BIG day, people. I took Marcus to Hodgenville to meet my family. I got up early to go to bible study, and after making some baked pasta for us to eat later, we head north on I-65 toward my hometown of Hodgenville. I'm convinced my family will love him, but I still maintain a somewhat nervous silence on the drive--I'm hoping my family doesn't cut up too badly and embarrass me. (Not that I think they're embarrassing. I just know how Black people (and Elizabeth, my foster sister) can get in the presence of new people.) But the visit goes wonderfully. We eat my mom's awesome cooking--fried chicken, hashbrown casserole, fried cabbage, sweet corn, deviled eggs, and a double-chocolate cake for dessert--and I'm pleasantly surprised that no one is giving Marcus a hard time. In fact, they get along great. We start watching a marathon of America's Got Talent and have a good time laughing at some of the crazy things Americans are willing to do to get on television. On the drive back we rock out to John Mayer and talk about everything under the sun. I text my mom to let her know we made it back safely, and she texts back that she really likes Marcus. :) I rent Gran Torino from the redbox and that's the end of the evening.

Which brings us to the present. Today I'm planning on taking Marcus to Mammoth Cave and hanging out with my best friend/soulmate Katie when she gets back in town. Tomorrow is Dinosaur World and $5 all-you-can-drink at Brew Co. (I also may be getting my tattoo that day!). Wednesday, who knows--I just want to make sure I get to spend as much time as I can with him before he flies out on Thursday. I've had such a good time so far and can't wait to see him again (even though he hasn't left yet). I'll make sure to keep y'all updated on how the rest of the week goes. :) Have a good day!

In My Ears: Drake, 'Best I Ever Had'; Luther Vandross, 'So Amazing'; John Mayer, 'Free Fallin'

Vacation

My boyfriend is here. I'm so, so happy. I can tell this is going to be a great vacation.

I almost forgot!

I promised you all pictures from Krimson and Creme (the Greek formal I went to with my boyfriend last month). I apologize for my tardiness in posting them--I'm scattered to say the least. :) Here they are:

Stavon (one of my friends) and I before the party.



















My boyfriend Gabriel and I. He picked out my dress himself and gave it to me as a Valentine's Day gift!



















Us being silly. :)

It's been a long, long time comin'...

First off, my sincerest apologies for not writing more often. I broke my New Year's resolution to write once a week and, since you're reading this, you know about my lack of willpower. :( But I plan on using the shame I'm currently feeling to get my ass in gear and write like I should. Thank you, conscience.

Anyhow, so many things have happened since I last wrote. I met my district manager, Laura, and tried to turn on the charm in hopes of getting a full-time job with the company when I graduate in May. I'm not sure how charming I actually was considering I was nervous as all get-out, but she likes the results I produce so hopefully she'll work some magic. Keep your fingers crossed.

My great-great aunt, Lois Smith, passed away a few weeks ago. I was really shocked by it; I just saw her when I went home for Christmas break and she seemed happy and fine. It's crazy how someone can be here one minute and gone the next. I wasn't able to go to the funeral because one of my professors wouldn't let me make up the classwork, but I did say a special prayer for her. I know she's much better off than we are, but it's still odd knowing she's not here anymore.

On a lighter note, I have a boyfriend! I didn't expect him to come into my life, but I'm so glad to have him. He's younger than I am, but he's awesome--so sweet and funny and just...great. I'm ridiculously happy for the first time in I can't remember how long. I hope things work out with us, but I'm trying to not get my hopes up. We'll just have to wait and see. :)

And on another boy-note, I finally let go of someone that I'd kept in my life for way too long. I told this person (a previous ex boyfriend) that I didn't see us getting back together because I couldn't recreate the feelings that I had for him the first time around. I gave him my whole heart--every single thing I had was his. When he left, he left scars that I still can't look past. I guess it's the realist in me showing--why would I give you my heart a second time when you've already broken it once? But I told him how I felt and I haven't heard from him since. I cherish the time we had together, but there was no way I could go back. I still care for him deeply though, and I hope he finds what he's looking for.

Nationals for speech is fastly approaching, and I'm more than a little nervous. I want to end my senior year with a bang, but with class and work and my sorority, my plate is a little more than full. I will miss speech more than anything once this year is over, and I feel really bad that I can't focus on it completely. But I just keep telling myself that I'm looking for a career, something that will feed me and clothe me and keep a roof over my head after college is over. I don't feel good about it, but I have to sacrifice the short-term for the long-term. It's for the best.

Anyway, now that you've been sufficiently caught up on the life of Ashley, I'll leave you to the rest of your day. I'm going to a Greek formal tonight with my boyfriend; I'll post pictures as soon as I can. Also, I'm delving into the foray of slam poetry, so I'll be posting some of my work for (constructive) criticism. Thank you for listening; I appreciate it more than you know. Talk to you soon!