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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Fly like a Bird and Take to the Sky

Soooo now that that's all over its back to life, back to reality. Kudos to all you retail folk who worked this Black Friday, especially all the Walmart employees. My friend went out around 10:00pm Thursday night and didn't leave that wretched place until 5:20 in the morning. I chuckled while she demonstrated shuffling to me, apparently walking wasn't possible.  Lucky for her, she's pretty physically fit so she got her morning run in.

If you've been with me for a while, you may have noticed that my blogs undergone some extreme changes. I had to rename it, thoughts and recollections of a repressed socialite couldn't quiet describe my life anymore lol. Matter of fact, I need to repress the socialite. Balance is key.

Recently I've just been ready to get away, its that end of the semester itch, kinda, sorta, but not really like the anticipation bulls feel right before they release them for a rodeo show, like, "just let me go already!" Good luck to all the college kids prepping for finals this next upcoming weeks. Just remember, if you don't know it by now, you probably wont be able to master the whole semester in 2 weeks. I shall be spending my time digging deeper into my studies of the Zen Buddhist religion, pulling that old sketchpad from up under my bed and getting back to the things I love to do best: read, blog, dance, and sketch.  Oh, and lets not forget running. Luckily this snow melted. Time to take full advantage of the last little bit of outdoor mileage I can rack up before it gets ugly, not many things can reduce the madness in my head like a long run. When the world becomes too much, I hit pause and recenter. So if you don't see me, its because I'm in the clouds.

Reese

Is It All Ready Time to Say Goodbye to Fall?

Well dang. I was just getting warmed up....

What's ironic and funny is that my last Thanks post was about discipline and here I am, about 5 or 6 days short of completing my Month of Thanks series. Sorry, does it count that I missed blogging because of work? I live there currently.  To finish this off, here's my last 6 things I'm thankful for.

#6  Volunteering: I'm very much thankful for the many lessons I've learned helping those less fortunate than myself. Do something nice for someone, it'll make you feel better. I promise.

#5  Mentors: I've cultivated some amazing friggin people on my journey. They've taught me key lessons to becoming a better student, leader and just an all around better person. I wish I could carry them in my back pocket most days.

#4 Audrey Hepburn:
"Everything I learned I learned from the

movies."

— Audrey Hepburn


How am I not grateful for this big screen siren? I said it once and I'll say it again: I live vicariously through Holly Golightly. What would I do on a lonely Friday night without Breakfast at Tiffany's and a bowl of icecream??

#3  Education: I'm blessed to be a public school educated, hell yeah, American girl. I take my education seriously and try to get the most out of it as often as possible. On a serious note, overseas some kids die for the oppurtunity to get what we often take for granted and I won't forget the many women and African-American people who fought to get theirs here also; study on scholars.

#2 My Mom: I'll have to make a seperate post for my momma dearest later on but she's my favoritist person and I'd be insane for not thanking the one who brought me into this world.

#1 Love: Everybody could use a little more love. Every kind is the best kind.

I hope everyone had a most lovely Turkey Day. I worked and slept, completly exhausted to say the least. I swear it was just yesterday the trees were only beginning to change colors and today, well, it snowed. I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. I haven't had enough Pumpkin Spice lattes!! Oh and Starbucks, feel free to sponsor me to broadcast the deliciousness your sweet coffee nectar brings any day wink, wink lol.

Later Gators,

Reese

Friday, November 26, 2010

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!


Hey guys! I've been swamped with work. I live there nowadays. I plan on uploading those last few days of Thanks and then its back to the life and times of moi, I've got some pretty interesting topics I'd like to write about. Hope yall enjoyed a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. It snowed down here in The Field! I'll be posting this weekend so stay tuned!

Reese

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Day 17 & 18: Double Whammy! Faith and Self-Discipline



I have quite a lot of catching up to do on this blog so I've merged yesterday and today's Thanks into one grand post centered on appreciating the virtues of faith and discipline.  That actually sounds sort of weird to write about. I mean, how can one be thankful for aquiring an intangible trait? I guess in a world where everyone wants to live the "good life", expect immediate rewards with minimal effort, cut throats and sell souls to get to the top, I can surely  take time out to count my blessings for appreciating the richness of a few of life's chivalrous values. I chose Faith and Self-Discipline because well, they compliment each other.


It took many a years to understand not only what Faith was but also how to get it and never let it go. I'm grateful for being faithful. Since acquiring this virtue most of my worries die out upon birth. I'll be honest, I'm not the most religious person in the room. I'm only beginning that journey but what I can say is that regardless of which ever religion one practices, the power of faith seen in believers is beyond describable, beautiful, powerful.  I stand back in amazement at the person who relinquishes themselves from all physicial and emotional stressors; putting their faith in an inmaterial higher power.

My experience with faith occured this time last year, I'd pretty much lost everything I owned and was trying to finish up some ridiculously challenging course, no job and bills to the ceiling. Once you've done everything possible to solve a situation and you're still at the bottom, all you really have left is faith. As much as I wanted to give in to my depressive state, I told myself that this moment in time is only temporary. I'd have to have faith, something I had rarely relied on to keep pushing through. Naturally this was a challenge for me, for I'm truely a fighter in more ways than one. I don't stop pushing but I had done all that I could: applied to every feasible employer, took odd jobs to makes ends meet and cut back on the grand and the necessary. I waited. I prayed. I cried to my mom a few times (okay, everyday almost) and I most definetily sat in silence in a meditative state hoping to calm both mind and spirit. This lasted about what I'd like to say 3 weeks; worst 3 weeks of my life too before I got that call.

Friend: I've been trying to get in contact with you.
Me: Why so?
Friend: Cos you got the job??

Oh, I forgot to add that I had no phone either, I was using my friends line at the time til I could turn mine back on. Apparently my dream job, the one that would be my stepping stone to bigger and better things, was quite impressed with my application and wanted to take the next step toward employment...4 months later that is. In the back of my mind I thought, surely that job was long gone and out of my grasps. I'm chuckling as I type because I dropped to the ground in the student union and everyone stared at me like a lunatic. I didn't care if they didn't get it. I didn't start praying or anything, but my days of dusty ass grits, sans butter or sugar, ramen noodles and Easy Mac were slowly coming to an end and that was well worth singing the praise Hallelujah (not to mention dream job vs.McDonalds was very kickass too).

That period of my life tested my faith, very much opening the eyes of a non-believer. God knows I'm strong willed, he literally has to break me hardcore to reach me. I'm still learning this.

In retrospect, faith is the harder of the two to write about for me because I have the least experience dealing with it. However, discipline is my long lost cousin, one of my closest friends.




As any premedical undergrad student knows, the journey to gain acceptance to any U.S. medical school is a long, hard and strenuous road. Many fall through the cracks while others reach the finish line graciously. Staying focused on my career ambitions and goals strengthened my self discipline but it didn't teach me it. I'm thankful for possesing this ability before I entered the race, because without it, I'd surely fail. Here's another rave about mah daddy, he held my hand and introduced me to the meaning of discipline at a very young age; through art actually, later dance, boxing and most important of all, academics. Self-discipline is the glue that holds dedication and motivation, hard-work and vision into one big ball of success. We only strengthen it through practice and it all starts with some solid self esteem. Rarely have I heard of people getting golden tickets to achievement without holding on to some type of dream and then having the discipline to seek it out until completion. Whether we shoot for financial, career, fitness, spiritual goals and more, a sound amount of this stuff will keep us along our path through rain and sun. So yeah, discipline is right up there with double layered chocolate cake with chocolate icing: Perfect.

Reese




Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Day 16- Music: The Beautiful Disturber of Air

Currently my ears are scarred due to never taking out my Ipod and yet, the only thing on my mind is how long it'll be before they heal so I can put them back in.....


 I'm not antisocial, I promise, I just love my music. It can inspire and relax all with the press of the next button. Artist may take alot of crap for the happenings in their personal lives, but I just don't know quite what I'd do without them. Why yes, I do sing in the shower, but god forbid the day anyone other than my family and roommate have to listen to that. 

Honestly I'm a fan of everything, unless of course, I'm cringing more than 3x before the chorus plays. No, but really, I just have to be in the mood for it. Can you imagine watching a movie without music? The only thing scary about scary movies nowadays is the music. Hmmm maybe being in the hospital warps that opinion just a tad bit.

Oh? So you have 50 murderous stab wounds to the chest with blood and some strange bodily fluid rushing out of them ?
 Seen it.
Next.

I used to play the alto saxophone when I was little; played the hell out of Hot Cross Buns too. Don't judge me readers, I loved that song and I played it with exuberant amounts of passion. I'm sure most of us were made to music. Ode to Al Green (and many others) for increasing the population in the '70's. Thanks for Michael Jackson, period. I pay hommage to 90's gangsta rap for providing me with lyrical ammo to spit at all my haters. Here's to R&B: good R&B music will remain my favorite genre til the day I die.   

Thank you Music for uniting people regardless of color, creed and background, not completely, but for the length of a song or a concert;  for a moment in time we're just fans. I love how you can describe my life in words more eloquently than I can. Girls just wanna have fun? I know right! Thanks for getting me through some of life's worst moments and giving me the extra sprinkle of hope I sometimes need. Here's to boy bands. I'll always love you Kevin, Aj, Nick, Brian, Howie, Justin, Lance, JC, Joey and Chris. You were the demi gods of my pre-teen years. Here's to my facebook statuses (which are about 90% lyrics) because I've just ran out of things to say these days.  I'll always make time for you music. You. Complete. Me.

Reese

Day 15: Friendship

"There may be big ships and small ships but the best ship of all is Friendship"



According to the average person, good people are hard to come by. Guess I'm one lucky bastard. It would be awesome if I could measure exactly how much of a better person I've become since these 4 people have walked into my life. I don't want to limit my post to my BFF's only. I have some really great friends in general. My brothers; my friends from high school who've I've managed to develop even stronger friendships with, college buddies and coworkers. I'm blessed with all types of positive people.



I remember my BFF Ashley once telling me that sometimes all you really need in life is one good friend. Truest statement since E=mc2. A friend is a person who you enjoy being around with with no alterior motives; not to network through or borrow from. A friend is someone you trust, can depend on, a supporter of your goals and dreams and hopefully someone that loves ya on some type of level. They don't always agree or believe in the same principles you may stand for, but you can always bet they'll respect them. The best thing I respect and thank my friends for is keeping me a humble, thankful person. A good friend will let you know if they think you're accepting less than what you deserve regardless if its your own wrong doings or someone else pulling the strings.

Sometimes we have to let our friends go, no matter how good and great they are. I'm a strong believer in people taking sufficient time to figure out who they are even if that means figuring it out without you. The hardest part may be walking away, but you never know, Love is a many splendid thing. If its geniune, I'm positive there'll be a way to reunite when the time is right. We can't control everything, sometimes its the experiencing part that matters (some more wise words from my BFF). So here's to my friends and your friends for just being friends. Damn, you make life so sweet.


Reese




Day 14: Siblings

Yep. Can't live with them, sure as hell can't live without them. Day 14, you're all about my bro and sisters.


One thing about being apart of my large family is silence, it doesn't exist. At least not in our house it doesn't. In the 23 years I've been alive, I've yet to remember a day where there was peace and quiet, even sleep was loud because surely, 3 out of the 5 of us was snoring like we were breathing our last breaths. I'm blessed with 4 wonderful, irreplaceable hermanitos. All indistinctively unique in their own light. My parents often remind me that I complained everytime one was born (I'm the oldest). Selfishness is a character flaw of mine btw but I was out of my mind in those days. Once I moved off to college they were the very first people I missed more than anything else. I have to add my cousin to the mix, she's sort of a sister too and equally missed.


Many of my greatest memories include my siblings. I mean, what's not to love about them? Who would I have to test out my cookin on? Because of them I can watch cartoons without feeling guilty for being a college student and grown ass woman. No one will ever tell you about yourself like a sibling. They don't hold back nothing (and I really wanna say shit just for the much needed emphasis) and they usually know your triggers to so they know exactly which buttons to press lol. Sometimes ya fall out; people change and everyone needs time to grow into who they're supposed to be, but even reuniting with a sibling outshines reuniting with friends in my experience. I've changed a diaper or two, babysitted alot, fought with, imagined a many of ridiculous games with, cried with, and laughed non-stop with these people. I hope they're reading this and looking back on those "lets see who can stay quiet for 5 minutes" games of back in the day, most pointless game ever ( I think our parents invented that game to be honest). The best thing about my siblings is that they accept and love me in all of my flaws, no frontin with family!


Thanks guys! Its good to know I'll always have minions to do my evil work.

Reese

Day 13: Life

Oh the things we take for granted. I spent the entire day thinking about what I'd like to dedicate Day 13 to. It actually just hit me sitting here at the computer. I'd like to share a tale of a girl who wasn't always so happy and almost did the unthinkable, no bullshit, I promise lol. This is sort of a confessional story, remembrance to those who've fallen and possibly hope to other inflicted folk.


According to TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.) there's an estimated 19 million Americans suffering with depression, two out of three never get the medical attention that they need, and often more times than not, this leads to suicide (twloha.com). I'm really sorry if you came to my blog today looking for the bubbly Reese Nicole. I promise, she'll be back tommorrow, I can wake you when she gets here but I'd like to take a second and be thankful for still having the most sacred of entities I'll ever posses.

 Life.

Its been almost a year and half since I was first diagnosed with clinical depression. I can say I'm most unrecognizable by most nowadays. I'm doing fairly well, but I remember the times when I stayed near the darkness, never socialized, always slept, hated life and sometimes attempted to take it. You see, at the time the thing I didn't understand about my own depression was that I didn't control it. It was an energy wave, a cycle I had to learn to track. It swept into my life at the most unfortunate of times too. I feared being my own worst enemy. Everyday of happiness just meant one step closer to meeting an old bully.

Oh why hello Depression, I've been expecting you.
 Please, come in, take a seat.
 Would like some tea?

Not to be dramatic, but that's sort of how it went. I've spent the past year and a half working on doing everything I physically can to stay one step ahead of the game. Sometimes I slip up. I'm still learning. For me personally, the common denominator was eliminating as much negativity as possible from my life. Sure, I probably hurt some feelings, let some down or even given up parts of my life I sometimes wish I could revisit but in the end I'm a much happier person and its much more visible to notice when it hits because of this. Blogging has been such an amazing experience so far, a much needed outlet. I'm quiet bored of journals to be honest.

I have to remind myself however that there are plenty of other people not so fortunate and as someone who walks this dark path often, I know how hard it is to juggle a mental illness and keep a smile or go about one's daily business. So I pray for all those facing these demons, their families and loved ones. Its hard, I know, but after the rain, no matter how long it pours, the sun eventually appears. Today, lets celebrate that.


Reese




Thursday, November 11, 2010

Day 12: Mah Daddy!

Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. ~Joseph Addison



For Day 12, I'd like to make a toast to my one and only Father.  If there's anyone in the world I couldn't be more thankful for it'd have to be Mom, but today Daddy, its you. Here's to raising me with the knowledge that a man can't take too many body shots to the ribs. That eventually boys will become bigger and stronger than me so its not a good idea to hit them because you'd hate to do time (but you would if you had to). That no decent man will ever marry me if I don't learn how to cook and that sometimes you have to put that jersey away and put on a dress for goodness sakes!  Here's to taking the remote control out of my hand and replacing it with an encyclopedia. "If you don't know a word, look it up, then use it in a sentence".  Yes, and teaching me that X-men shall always remain the most badass group of superheroes in existence.  That my fists won't always teach someone respect and surely my mouth will get me in some serious trouble one day, so I ought to think before I speak.  For furthering my inquisition of art, dance, literature and science. Thanks for hooking me on peanut butter pancakes and watching Saturday morning cartoons, every Saturday morning, like clockwork.  For practicing cheers with me, and those `Nsync dolls, yeah, I want those back now. Thanks for always waiting for me at the bus stop so I wouldn't get hurt walking home, even if we only lived only a block away and regardless of how late, cold, rain or snow; weather was irrelevant. Thanks for making me into a Warrior, a stone cold killa grrrr, supa Ninja, power ranga: tough on the outside but soft like fresh playdough on the inside. For wiping my tears away when I broke up with my first boyfriend, second...third.....you catch my drift.  Thanks for kickin my ass when I needed it, some kids just need a whoopin and a hug, I needed many but in other news, bestestest of all, thank you for never letting me justify any excuse to not perform at the highest level possible. I really may be rich one day, I won't forget what you've done, I'll buy you that house. So thanks Dad, here's to you!


Until tomorrow folks!

Reese

It's Never Too Late to Jump into the Game!!


Hey All! So I know I'm late to the game on this one, but one of my new favoritist bloggers,  Heather22 from Simply Living, has inspired me to take part in November's Day of Thanks series. It really is a great way to hold oneself to blogging. Yeah, its November 11th, so what, I'm still doing it lol. So in honor of the past 10 days I missed out on, I'll spice up Day 10 with an extra kick of sweetness. 

DAY 11: FALL
Dear Fall,

I Love You,

Reese

 Where to start?
Up until this year I always considered myself a Fall baby, that is until a special someone, cough..cough..Vincent, ruined my happiness and informed me that September 7th is still summer. Clearly, he's out of his mind though, so I'll write that off as irrelevant. From the change of colors to Halloween and Thanksgiving, Fall has given me some of the absolute dearest memories. I like to kickstart the season with Pumpkin Spice Lattes from good ole Starbucks. Oh Starbucks, you never do me dirty. The best color palettes are fall palettes: dark purples, navy, maroons, creams, oh yes, the list goes on. Don't get me wrong, pank (pink) is my favorite nailpolish color but tis the season to change it up and once I get these nails of mine to grow out some more, guess who'll be taking full advantage of the seasons newest shades?
Some other fab fall fashion lusts include coats and boots. I love a new winter coat, boots and matching purse like I love my Mama.  This Tommy Hilfiger ad makes me wish I had the salary to support my dreamworld bc I'd buy it all! Damn self supporting college student...
Food. Can't live with it, can't live without it. Run everyday, oh I will, but I sure will not pass up a candy apple or pumkin pie or Thanksgiving turkey. Nope, sure wont, so let's just bet on me gaining 10 lbs; Holiday weight for sure. There are soo many recipes I'm itching to try out, Pumpkin Cream Cheese brownies, sweet potato and apple pies oh my! Reminiscing on memories with Mommy cooking Thanksgiving dinner, I remember getting down in the kitchen like nobody's business;  my once a year treat to my family; they say I'm selfish, I say I cook, what more do you want (joke of course)?  
Good Friends. Yeah, this could really apply to any season but ever notice how the last few months of the year just bring people together in ways Spring and Summer just can't compare to? People get nicer, humbler, more giving and lol more thankful. Those who've  pissed us off previously even sometimes get an occasional smile. I love Fall because it brings folks together and makes 'um appreciative of the little things (well, most people, we have to throw in the occasional Grump) and I'll tip my hat to plain old happiness anyday. Yep. I wish you could stay forever Fall.
 I love you.  

Reese

Thursday, November 4, 2010

I Be's a Root Toot Tootin Damn Fool! Happy Halloweeny even if it is November 5th!

I hope you enjoyed your Halloween as much as I did down here in The Field, Mo. Seriously, I think I out do myself every year! For a long time I couldn't decide what to be. Honestly, IMO the slutty cop, maid, nurse thing has grown old with me, so when everyone takes it all off, I put more on. I'm not downing anyone. Hmmm take a trip down memory lane with me...

Lightyears before the whole Twighlight craze I spent every Halloween as a vampire; for 4 years to be exact. It was beyond obsession. My sophomore year of college I took a risk and tested out the "lets have an excuse to be nekkid" thing and went as a Playboy Bunny.  I loved it, it was fun, but my mom saw pics and cried lol sooooo it was good while it lasted lol. Last year I went as a Mad Scientist. It took alot of out me to step out with no makeup, green afroed hair and waisthigh pants and suspenders, yet ironically it was a smash at the costume party. In fact, I took 2nd place in a contest (I was out shined by some girl in my baby sister's Miss Muffet costume...go figure).

This year I just wanted to dance..um, without my feet hurting by 12 'o clock. Here's the best thing about all of this, I show up at the club and half of my friends went as cowboys too! Who'd of thunk? We were a mean gang of desperados partna.

Anyways, Springfield has an annual Halloween pub crawl. I snapped a few pics for you all of some of the funnier costumes of the night.

Halloween was an epic success I'll always remember. Can't wait til next year!