well the moment has arrived. The moment when I realize that my dating history has become such a farce that It just wouldn't be fair not to share some of my stories with the public.
I had a few "dating" experiences in Sweden before I moved to the states but the formal dating in the U.S. is far different from the way Europeans go about the whole thing. For all intents and purposes, I will try my best to tell these episodes in chronological order, beginning with the times leading up to my departure.
This story takes place in a time where the internet was a new and exciting thing. It was mostly used by the military, people doing research and meeting people on the website Blackplanet. I was not in the military, nor was I old enough to do research so I used my time the best I knew how: booking Greyhound tickets and chatting with random Black Americans online. I guess you could say I was conducting a bit of research - How to infiltrate the black community!
Now, I know now that meeting people online is different from meeting a person in real life. You can be anyone online and back then, nobody bothered to fact check.
I started talking with a few different people and one in particular. I forget his name, lets call him Steve. You would think that I would remember him, things were pretty intense for a while there. We talked on the phone a few times, we even planned a meet up once I was in the States. He lived in Maryland and I was going to arrive in NYC. My plan, though somewhat lofty, involved hanging out in NYC with my good friend J for a few days, meet up with random black planet guy, then catch a greyhound bus to CO where my friend M lived. after that I was to at some point meet up with relatives on my mother's side who live in the Midwest.
But I digress. My New York stay was coming to an end and I had not been able to get a hold of the guy to arrange a meeting.He was not answering my phone calls and I did not have a cell phone. My friends I believe were a bit relieved but it was with a heavy heart that I made my way to Port Authority and got on the bus to CO. It was not long until I had completely forgot about the guy, I was too busy staying alive on the 2 day long ride to the Rocky Mountains.
PSA Announcement: Don't ride the Greyhound unless you really, really have to.
I had to. I had $2000 and no solid plan. cheap travel was a necessity.
Fast forward a few months. By now I am with my Midwestern family. If I remember correctly, I received a phone call, it could also have been an e-mail... It was from the boy's parents. They had somehow figured out my number/e-mail, I am guessing my mom had picked up and gave them the number to where i was in the States.... To this day I am a bit fuzzy on how they found me....Remember this is 11 or so years ago now and I have tried my best to forget the whole incident.
His parents were calling me to see if I knew where their son was. Apparently I had been talking to a person who had a lobotomy after a car accident a few years earlier. The procedure had obviously affected/impaired his judgement which was part of the reason he was still living at home! He was now missing...
That's right, yours truly was infatuated with a man who had part of his brain removed and was now on the run. I was, to say the least, in a bit of a shock and disbelief after hearing this information.Seconds later, I decided that disbelief was an illegitimate feeling in this situation. If someone tracks you down to inform you that their son has part of his brain missing and is in fact himself missing - believe them! I can see no reason as to why a perfect stranger would make something like that up.
Needless to say, I did not date online for a while after that.....
Stay tuned for the next episode of the X-files.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Creating your own destiny
Have you ever had the feeling that something big is about to happen? That there is something in the works, churning away somewhere in the periphery of your existence, ready to explode onto the canvas of your life?
Now imagine that feeling and add the realization of that force being yourself. That is kind of where I am mentally today.
My whole life, I knew I was supposed to do something really cool and fun and so far I have had a lot of experiences that were, but my life as a whole was not. At least it wasn't to me.
Now, I don't know why or when this happened but I have this weird image of myself that I just can't seem to shake. It is like the outside that everyone else sees and my insides do not match. Maybe it is a lack of encouragement or feedback from my peers, maybe an insecurity rooted in my absent father figure or maybe I am just a weirdo. in any case, my entire life, I felt as though I was waiting for this moment of greatness, some magical event that would transform my life.
Every so often, I'll have this stroke of genius of an idea and think to myself: "That would be fantastic, you should do that!"
Then there will be this other thought in my head: "But you don't know the first thing about that, how would yo do it, where do you start? You might as well not do it at all."
Basically the story of my life, right? So I go back to waiting for that amazing thing to happen to me, you know that thing that I am not entirely sure of what it is.
Fast forward to today.
For some time now I have been watching videos on Youtube. I watch videos on natural hair care, DYI videos and just random things recommended by the site...It has become my nightly routine. A lot of times it is better than TV. Scratch that - It IS better than TV.
So, today it hit me! I keep watching all these cool people and listening to their stories rather than telling my own! If I find them and their lives fascinating, why wouldn't they or someone else for that matter, find my life fascinating?
So, therefore I have decided to start making videos. "Of what?" you may ask. Well that has yet to be determined but I can tell you one thing:
It is going to be amazing!
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/542372225/">Thomas Hawk</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>
Now imagine that feeling and add the realization of that force being yourself. That is kind of where I am mentally today.
My whole life, I knew I was supposed to do something really cool and fun and so far I have had a lot of experiences that were, but my life as a whole was not. At least it wasn't to me.
Now, I don't know why or when this happened but I have this weird image of myself that I just can't seem to shake. It is like the outside that everyone else sees and my insides do not match. Maybe it is a lack of encouragement or feedback from my peers, maybe an insecurity rooted in my absent father figure or maybe I am just a weirdo. in any case, my entire life, I felt as though I was waiting for this moment of greatness, some magical event that would transform my life.
Every so often, I'll have this stroke of genius of an idea and think to myself: "That would be fantastic, you should do that!"
Then there will be this other thought in my head: "But you don't know the first thing about that, how would yo do it, where do you start? You might as well not do it at all."
Basically the story of my life, right? So I go back to waiting for that amazing thing to happen to me, you know that thing that I am not entirely sure of what it is.
Fast forward to today.
For some time now I have been watching videos on Youtube. I watch videos on natural hair care, DYI videos and just random things recommended by the site...It has become my nightly routine. A lot of times it is better than TV. Scratch that - It IS better than TV.
So, today it hit me! I keep watching all these cool people and listening to their stories rather than telling my own! If I find them and their lives fascinating, why wouldn't they or someone else for that matter, find my life fascinating?
So, therefore I have decided to start making videos. "Of what?" you may ask. Well that has yet to be determined but I can tell you one thing:
It is going to be amazing!
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/542372225/">Thomas Hawk</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>
Friday, February 8, 2013
A visit to D' Road Cafe
As a self-proclaimed nomad, i have developed a rather diverse palate. I love trying new foods and although I am far from snobby when it comes to food, i do prefer well made cuisine whether it comes from a five star restaurant or a street vendor.
For the last two years, I have enjoyed learning and tasting a variety of southern foods. Greens, Beans and rice, okra, and shrimp étouffée just to name a few. But living in a smaller city in the south unfortunately also means less choice in other types of food when it comes to eating out.
About a week ago, I got word of a restaurant, right here in Montgomery that lo and behold, serves Venezuelan food! There was no question about it, I had to eat there! About a week later, I took a friend there for lunch.
D'road Cafe is owned by Janett, a very sweet lady who can cook up a storm. The place is small and intimate, the decor is simple but welcoming. Make sure to look at the mural on the right hand wall.
We both ordered the special, roast beef with black beans and rice. We also received a side of coleslaw, home made bread and Janett's "magic sauce". when I tell you this sauce is delicious, it is an understatement. she told me it has cilantro in it and something else that I can't remember. what ever it was, it was divine.
I finished everything on my plate and was very satisfied. The lunch price includes a drink and dessert for under $10, you can't beat that!
Everything is made from scratch and cooked to perfection. I will definitely come back here again and again. I can't wait to try their breakfast items and dinner menu.
When I left, I not only had a great meal, i felt like I made a new fried. Janett is very friendly without invading your privacy. you really feel as though you are eating a meal in her home. The food and Janett's hospitality transported me to a different space. The only time I was reminded that I was not in a South American country was when I looked out the window.
For the last two years, I have enjoyed learning and tasting a variety of southern foods. Greens, Beans and rice, okra, and shrimp étouffée just to name a few. But living in a smaller city in the south unfortunately also means less choice in other types of food when it comes to eating out.
About a week ago, I got word of a restaurant, right here in Montgomery that lo and behold, serves Venezuelan food! There was no question about it, I had to eat there! About a week later, I took a friend there for lunch.
D'road Cafe is owned by Janett, a very sweet lady who can cook up a storm. The place is small and intimate, the decor is simple but welcoming. Make sure to look at the mural on the right hand wall.
We both ordered the special, roast beef with black beans and rice. We also received a side of coleslaw, home made bread and Janett's "magic sauce". when I tell you this sauce is delicious, it is an understatement. she told me it has cilantro in it and something else that I can't remember. what ever it was, it was divine.
 |
| My lunch from D'road Cafe |
Everything is made from scratch and cooked to perfection. I will definitely come back here again and again. I can't wait to try their breakfast items and dinner menu.
When I left, I not only had a great meal, i felt like I made a new fried. Janett is very friendly without invading your privacy. you really feel as though you are eating a meal in her home. The food and Janett's hospitality transported me to a different space. The only time I was reminded that I was not in a South American country was when I looked out the window.
 |
| The menu |
D'road cafe is affordable and a great place to eat. Whether you already love south American food or just want to try for the first time, this place is excellent. Make sure to check her Facebook page for daily menus and her Friday special. Each Friday she creates a menu from a different country!
D'road is located on 6250 Atlanta Highway in Montgomery, AL in the same strip mall as Virginia College.
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