15 things I'm digging right now

09/27/2011

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It's been a minute and a whole lot of experiences within this past month so I'm just now making time to do the "Five things I'm digging right now." Since it's been three weeks, it'll be 15.

1) Cosi's Hummus & Veggie sandwich: I used to go to Cosi's when I temped for a real estate company, but I hadn't been there in years. This past summer, I was a "guide" for a Tribune intern and I took him to lunch at Cosi's. It made me remember how much I loved their bread. I got the sandwich and since then got it a few more times.

2) Tayari Jones' "Silver Sparrow": Check out my review on the Trib's site here.

3) Olive Garden salad dressing: Seriously, I like eating salad but the salad dressing they use is better than any I've ever tasted. While dining with my mother, I found out this past weekend that they sell it. Looks like they'll have two regular customers!

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I chopped it off!

09/18/2011

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I've always been a big fan of short hair. From the age of 15 to about 25, I used to chop off my hair all the time. In my early 20s I chopped off the back, but I used to just get the top half done. Well, I'm dead tired of the ponytails, wrapping my hair in clip pins and dealing with rollers so I got a few inches chopped off again. I was absolutely relieved the beauty salon I used to go to is still around; my beautician isn't there but one of the cool ones I met in my teenage years is still there. (My beautician is now a bus driver; talk about a change in career titles! But hell, it's a recession and I say make that money however you see fit.) About 5-6 inches gone, and I like the new cut.
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Five things I'm digging right now

09/09/2011

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After seeing both DVDs for "Shaq & Cedric the Entertainer Presents: All Star Comedy Jam," watching Kevin Hart's "Seriously Funny" for the umpteenth time right now, finishing Whoopi Goldberg's "Is it just me? Or is it crazy out there?" and digging and buying "Black Comedians on Black Comedy: Why We Laugh," I'm going to dedicate this "Five things I'm digging right now" to my favorite comedians because a few of the jokers on "All Star Comedy Jam" were not funny at all.

1. Bill Cosby: I rushed home every Thursday to see "The Cosby Show." I have all eight seasons of the DVDs, and although I take breaks from watching the show because of all the syndication, there is no other show I like as much as this one. Not only is the show a powerful and necessary part of African-American entertainers but watching early Bill Cosby doing stand-up is hilarious. I follow him on Twitter, and I dig the fact that he's even on Twitter and has an iPhone app. He's always ahead of the game. And just so we're clear, I 100% agree with his views on Black America today. He told the truth, and some folks couldn't handle it. My advice is work to prove him wrong instead of being annoyed he spoke up.

2. Chris Rock: I loved his CW television show (BTW his gorgeous brother Tony Rock was the only reason I watched "All of Us" and I dig that he actually responds to folks on Twitter), loved all of his comedy stand-up routines, saw him live and cried laughing, and I respect what he does behind the scenes. I enjoyed his wife Malaak Compton-Rock's book, too. What I love about Chris Rock is how he effortlessly blends politics, hip-hop, relationships and knows just how far to go with jokes about women. He reminds me of early hip-hop. He knows how to get a serious message out and be entertaining to. I definitely think he took notes from the music he's "tired of defending."
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Don't stop. Don't give up. -Ryan

09/05/2011

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Two of my favorite songs to get motivated are Mos Def's "There is a way" and Outkast's "The Whole World." I'm adding this little girl Ryan to my list. The song is catchy, she's adorable and I love her message. I dare you not to sing along. We could all use a little bit of motivation (yeah, I'm digging Kelly's song, too) wherever we go so "don't stop, don't give up...keep trying."
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Why pay for a car wash when rain is free?

09/04/2011

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I've been plotting on pulling this off for two weeks. My grandfather and mother laughed hysterically this winter when they found out I dug my car out of the parking lot with a bucket. I didn't (and still don't) own a shovel and nobody was around to borrow one during the second largest Chicago winter. My bucket looked all right to me, and it worked, but man those two got a good long laugh at that one when I told them later.

This time around I decided I'm done paying for car washes. I used to get my car washed for free at the dealership I bought it from, but they sold off their Suzukis to another location and now the service sucks since they don't service Suzuki. The other location is way too far away to bounce into every couple of weeks, and I take pride in my car looking so clean. But why should I pay for washes when rain is free? It's constantly raining in Chicago, and I just refuse to shell out $10 every time my car is dirty or get those mediocre drive-thru washes only for it to rain the next day. Only problem is rain water doesn't always "clean" your car; it just rinses the car off kinda like rinsing dishes. So I plotted on a time when I could wash my car for free.

Here's how it went down:
Step 1: Get an umbrella, car wash liquid, a sponge and gym shoes.
Step 2: Run outside and soap up car.
Step 3: Run back into the house before I get to the car because I realize it's raining too hard and I can't keep the umbrella from flipping up.
Step 4: Stare out of window to see when the rain calms down.
Step 5: Run back outside fully equipped and speed through soaping up car. Make sure to get the bottom.
Step 6: Hold umbrella under my neck so I can use both hands.
Step 7: Soap car again for any missed spots. Run full speed back into apartment.
Step 8: Take photo attached.
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Why does race matter on surveys/statistics?

09/04/2011

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I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker about surveys that ask for race. She said it shouldn't matter and she usually will put "Other" so she doesn't have to answer. I got where she was going with it; people shouldn't classify your responses based on race. I can't say I agree though. We jokingly talked about how I would not only check the "African-American" box but would put a grinning photo of myself next to it to make sure they know I am. Although I laughed, I'd have absolutely no problems doing it. I am as proud to be black as I am to be a woman as I am to tell my age, my political affiliation and even my religious affiliation (although I do tend to hesitate with religion because I know my response will more than likely turn into an argument, specifically within the African-American community who is heavily religious). For the record, I'm 29, black, female, lean more towards Independent than Democrat (and I've voted for Republican and Green party candidates but mainly for Democrats) and I'm agnostic.

So why is this stuff important? Who do surveys care? Why is it any of their business? And why do I always do surveys in person or via phone whenever anyone asks me to. My main reasons are because of my background: I took several psychology courses in college and I used to work for a radio research firm in high school. I realized how quickly people's opinions sway companies and studies.
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Five things I'm digging right now

09/04/2011

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1. Kita cooking for Terrell Owens on "The T.O. Show": I know they're not together. I can respect that, and I have a great deal of respect for platonic friendships. Men and women can be friends, but I think it's incredibly admirable that she's a big enough friend to empty his urine container and cook for him. You can't get girlfriends and some wives to do that like a champ, but she did it in stride with a little bit of complaining. However, the scene in the kitchen with him accusing her of sneaking in caterers and being skeptical of the flour on her face cracks me up. I can't get enough of that scene. I've watched it at least five times and recorded it to watch at my leisure.

2. Hanging out with Grandad/Chi Tung: Chi Tung is my favorite Asian food restaurant. I've been to some fancier ones like P.F. Chang, and they're cool, but I like Chi Tung. My grandfather and I went there a couple times and for the past few years it's pretty much a tradition. I even tried buying my own food one time so we didn't have to go anywhere and he still wanted to go. I went to his house yesterday, and he was cleaning up. Then here he comes all decked out with his leather shoes, collar shirt and neat jeans (he's always fresh) and ready to roll, completely ignoring the storm outside. Although he kept trying to convince me to say it was my birthday so I could get those "pick-up sticks" that I was jealous my mother got for hers, I wouldn't budge. November will come soon enough, and I'll get my chopsticks then. He's a funny guy and always has jokes about how I manage to eat with "the pick-up sticks." I love hanging with him in general, but it's cool that we have a regular hangout location.
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