Too Close for Comfort

I sat down with the intention of keeping a promise to MommaWheel by recalling a very funny conversation between Kyle and I, but then I turned on the Television and what was so frigging funny turned so serious, so unfunny.

I've lived in Philadelphia for my entire life (with the exception of college), and I've never been afraid of city life.

As a child I didn't have the restrictions of staying on the block or being back before the street lights came on... I was a kid, all I worried about was getting my play on... When I was 12 and my grandma put me on the #10 trolley in West Philly with instructions to get on the #65 bus, and then the K to Germantown I wasn't scared. I knew people (even strangers) were looking out for me. I was allowed to travel from Broad & Olney to Center City alone to go to the Christian Street YMCA and swim (more like play in the water) with my cousins... I wasn't afraid of getting robbed or shot.

Philly was always a fun and safe place for me. It wast until 1988 that I heard about crime... someone on my block had their car broken into, but no one died, no cop was shot, no babies were raped or killed.

When we bought our home in Olney over 6 years ago we chose Olney because of its diversity. Blacks, Whites, Asians and Spanish all lived on the same blocked. The streets were clean, lawns trimmed, and faces smiled. We were confident that Olney was not only a wonderful community to live in, but to also start and raise a family. Were we wrong???

Fast forward to 2008... Olney is now that place you hear about on the news every evening.

POLICEMAN RESPONDING TO ROBBERY...DUNKIN' DONUTS AT 66TH AND BROAD STREET... KILLED.... FUGITIVE AT LARGE....

POLICEMAN RESPONDING TO ROBBERY AT BROAD AND OLNEY.... SHOT DEAD... GUNMAN SHOT ONCE IN THE CHEST...STABLE CONDITION AT EINSTEIN HOSPITAL...

BUSINESS OWNER KILLED IN ROBBERY... SHOT DEAD AS HE CLOSED HIS DRY CLEANER AT LOCATED ON THE 400 BLOCK OF CHEW AVENUE... GUNMAN STILL AT LARGE...

What the Hell is going on??? And Why is it happening in my backyard? For the past year or so I've seen way too many police helicopters circle my neighborhood with the search lights on. I keep hearing sirens... police... ambulance... SWAT...

We're on high alert here. We used to never lock our windows and doors and now were going behind one another locking and re-locking, putting chairs to the door...IT'S RIDICULOUS... IT'S SICKENING...

So I sit here, wondering just where this neigborhood is going... How much longer until there are more guns at play than children? how long until drug dealers take over?? How long? Where are the community leaders? The protestors? The church leaders? the citizens? Am I the only one outraged? I can't take anymore... No one should live in fear!

Back 2 Skool

Today I went back to school... a place that I hadn't been in over 4 years.I enrolled myself in a Writing Workshop at Temple University where I will learn how to write! ya heard me (that's actually a quote from a really funny story.. I'll tell you later).

I rushed out of the daycare at about 5:30 to take Derek & Niyonna to my dad's house since Malisa was in class (yes! I finally talked her into taking a class), and arrived at the temple campus at about 6:30 or so. I took Broad street all the way down so that I could see the lights... It may sound weird, but I don't really get to spend too much alone time, so driving down Broad street in the height of traffic was quite soothing.

By the time I got to class I was a little jittery... nerves, 20 oz of French Vanilla Coffee, 20 oz of Pepsi, and a 10.5oz bag of mini marshmallows may be the blame, but I was on the edge of my seat chatting away, making friends, and connections like you wouldn't believe.

At about 7:10 the instructor came in and the class went quiet. She was a itty bitty woman with a powerful voice and the most beautiful smile Ive seen on a black woman in a very long time - you know the smile you got from your Nana or mom-mom that told you that you were safe, and the everything was gonna be alright, added with a little twinkle of the eye?? Yeah that one.

We went over the syllabus, went around the room playing the name game and got down to business. This class was the reason that I went to Lincoln University over 11 years ago. I was surrounded by a diverse group of intelligent, beautiful black people who weren't acting like fools or using foul language. There was a preacher, a school teacher, a young lady and her grandmother, two nurses, a poet, and some others. The teacher, Ms. Pherlyn Dove was actually a classmate of my grandmother back in 1979. They were freshmen in Sonia Sanchez' creative writing class at Temple U. AMAZING!!!

We even elected class officials (something that I hadn't participated in since 8th grade)apparently the coffee, Pepsi and marshmallows made me sort of social butterfly, but everyone was like Trish, you do it, you be class president.. I was like whaaaaa? go figure...

All in all it was an amazing experience. the only bad part to the entire evening was the fact that we have homework.... something I always dreaded....

A stripper is a tool used to remove paint!!

Today a boy in our after school program began singing the song "I'm in Love with a stripper"...

Please don't even get me started on some of the crap people let their children listen to... It's amazing to hear children sing such complex rap songs, but struggle with basic reading and social skills. It makes me sick!!!

Anyways...
Boy#2 proceeds to ask boy # 1 "Do you know what a stripper is?"
Boy # 1 replies: "Yes, it's a girl who dances naked on a pole.... "

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!?!

Immediately Zoe interjects by saying "Boys are so silly.. A stripper is a tool you use to remove paint... y'all don't know jack!"

I love my little girl. I love that she is so smart, so bright, and so above all the BS... Every time Zoe opens her mouth I am reminded that I am doing an okay job raising her right... God I'm lucky!

Yes! It's been a while...

Wow! Time has truly gotten away from me.

I didn't notice until today that I haven't blogged in almost two whole weeks... It's not that I haven't had much to say (that's never an issue with me) it's just that I've had too much on my mind, and my thoughts, feelings and words were coming out all jumbled...

Anyways, here's an update of some sorts on what's been going on..

No, I have not gone back to church yet. I am still so friggin upset with so many things there that I have not gone back. I am either too angry or afraid to confront the issue at this point so I've decided to just leave it alone. I've been to a church, just not my church home.

No, I didn't join that Analog (as they're calling Film) Photography class. After visiting the class, I realized that I already knew what they were teaching,and that my problem wasn't that I didn't know how to take pictures as much as I just needed to get out there give my self a few assignments and get shooting.. I just bought 50 rolls of film (please don't tell Kyle, cause He's gonna be like Film?!?!) and I'll be hitting the streets this weekend.

Yes. I did register for that class. I'm taking a writing class at Temple University (Go Trish!!!), The class will cover a variety of topics such as personal, business and even grant writing, so that ought to be fun. So Tuesdays at 6:00 I'll be learnin (its funny when you say it in the voice of Forest Gump) I'm really excited, and this evening I'm gonna convince kyle that I need some notebooks....

Yes/No - Yes, We finally decided on the breed of dog for our family, but we haven't actually committed to purchasing a dog yet. It's alot of responsibility, almost like having another baby, and as far as Kyle and I are concerned we're not ready for a new baby yet.. maybe by the spring (a dog, not a baby) ...lol

YES!! Our taxes are done, and we actually made out this year! AMEN

I am in the process of booking our Summer 2009 Family Vacation.. We're looking at an 8 day cruise to the Bahamas, but might go to Haiti instead... either way, I'm going to a beach. The Meter Maid who called me a BIATCH apologized openly in court, even the judge agreed that his actions were uncalled for.

I'm thinking about taking up running, but keep wussing out. I don't know if its the cold or the fear of falling out somewhere on Olney Avenue that keeps me inside..

and I guess that's about it...

Some time for myself...

Today I took some time for myself.

This "time-Out" kinda happened by accident. It all started with a snow day for the Philadelphia School District. When there's a snow day, we (the daycare) do not offer any before or after school services which is a huge relief most days. Now don't get me wrong, I really love all (um, most) of the school age kids, but 4 hours of calm makes a world of a difference. Plus its a guarantee that I can get out of here by 6 at the latest verses 6:30/6:45... Anyways, it was a light day for us, 3 day care kids, and 2 after school kids that I did a favor for (plus they're 2 of Zoe's best friends and I figure she could use some company).

By 10:00am I was on my way out the door taking Miles to his Dr. appointment. Miles and I don't really get to spend too much one-on-one time together, so it was kinda nice being able to talk, laugh and play with him even though we were in a doctor's office. On the way back we stopped at the park and played in the show until our hands were red, by the time we got back in the car he was half asleep. I drove back to the daycare, gave Kyle an update on his growth & the Dr's comments and I was back out the door.

When I got in the car I sat there for a while trying to figure out what I would do now... I ended up at a new Thrift Store out in Mayfair. I Love Thrift Stores! And on my way I drove by small bridge (at the corner of Adams & Cresentville Ave.) that I always say that I'm gonna photograph one day. I stopped, trekked up the snowy path and took some pictures, and I felt so damn proud of doing something that I wanted to do for so long. Something that was ridiculously easy to accomplish, something so darn close.. I mean it's less than 2 miles from where I live. Anyways, I ended up spending over an hour taking pictures, the only thing that convinced me to get back in the car was when my hands got cold.

I continued on my journey to the Thrift Store... It was a small cramped place with a really rude "salesman" but whatever! I saw, what I thought was mahogany, moved closed and realized that it was!! Oh Man, this would be like the 2nd time in less than 2 months that I would find real mahogany in a thrift store... last time it was a leaf shaped table thing,and this time it was 3 dining room chairs. I tried my best not to display my happiness hoping that other shoppers wouldn't notice and move in and the "salesman" wouldn't notice and all of the sudden mark up the price on me... I paid 30$ for 3 Mahogany Chairs Y'all!! 10$ a chair, for solid wood Mahogany chairs!!

In the words of Lil Wayne "oh oh I can't believe it!"

by the end of the day I had gotten so much done. I spent time with miles (which I plan on doing more in our weekly music classes which start next Wednesday) , I played in the snow.. which I haven't done since 2005!, I took a picture of that darn bridge, and I found 3 mahogany chairs for $30. What a day!

Does this Make me Ghetto?

A few days ago I missplaced the can opener. But that did not stop me from opening 7 cans since that... Does it make me ghetto that I can open a can in the absence of a can opener?

I have on occassion sharpened a pencil with a knife. Does that make me ghetto?

Am I ghetto for drinking the juice out of the can of pineapples?? I mean I can't resist it..

I like Now & Laters, Chicco Sticks, and I eat at least one bag of chips a day... Does this make me ghetto??

When I run out of Dish Detergent and I dont feel like going to the store for more am I ghetto for using a lil bit of laundry detergent... I mean it makes bubbles dosen't it?

I pay my cell phone bill every other month (even though I have the money to pay it on time) Does that make me ghetto?

When it's late at night I look out my window (with the light off of course) to see what's going on in my neighborhood... and if one of my neighbors is talking really loud next door, I turn down what ever devise (TV, Radio) so I can hear better.. Does that make me ghetto?

When I run out of real milk, I use carnation milk, and I use honey when I run out of sugar. I keep a container of used cooking grease on my stove, and flour that I used to fry chicken last week is in the freezer.. does this make me ghetto?

I don't curse... I cus. Does this make me ghetto?

I'm Yours

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours