Lazy Ankles

~Nestling comfortably into the plush sofa with my laptop after sipping a cold beer with my girl Kia in front of a crackling fireplace~

I feel better now.

I took a nice nap after work but my ankles are still throbbing. I love this job. I love this experience. I know I’m working for minimum wage (I honestly don’t even know how much that is) but I feel like a million dollars everyday. All day long I smile and laugh and make people feel as loved and appreciated as I can. That’s my job. This restaurant is great with customer service. They have a high standard and I enjoy their foundation and taking it to the next level. How about when you walk into our restaurant, I treat you like you are a star. We all do. Bright, shiny smiles and genuine kindness is all I see so far.

Even the guys in the kitchen..Man…I never saw such a fun loving group. Those dudes STAY clowning in Spanish and they are always bothering us. Sometimes we can’t even get away from them, one after the other, just JOKES. But we’re all working toward the same goal. That’s cool. I really like being a part of a team like this.

It’s weird because I’m not sure if my poor body can take it. I’m ALWAYS hurting. My thighs, my legs, my shoulders and especially my ankles. I guess I’m out of shape. I want to do something about it.

I watched the Grammy’s the other night. I’m usually so self absorbed that I don’t know what’s going on in the outside world. That’s not a great trait. How can you grow if your ideals and goals are not challenged? But Kia is great! She loves to read and reads all day. She has a list of websites she hits up and she subscribes to every magazine. This chick is full of knowledge. She went to her bookshelf and handed me a book called BLACK BEAUTY that catalogued African American beauty over the years.

I’d never even heard of it. I felt so dumb. I’ve been saying this for a long time but I really need to be more well versed on the issues that confront me as a woman, as a mother and as a creative mind. What are the other creative minds doing? What collective goal do we seem to be working toward? What are the issues on the tips of our tongues? What is causing us to cringe or even smile? I need to know the answers. I need to raise some questions. And achieving a habit of social conciousness is going to be a big task.

What websites do you visit so that you will stay in the know? Are the majority of the websites you read, news related or social?

I’m still working on my first feature stories. I’ve finally secured interviews and I’m preparing by doing research and actually thinking of questions beforehand. I guess I feel like I’m rusty. But I know once I get started writing it will be smooth like caramel. I love writing. But I can’t just entertain and inspire. I have to learn to use my gift to inform and empower. I can’t WAIT to see my name in print for the first time in Houston! Once I see my byline, I will KNOW that I can go anywhere and get published!

I’m ready!

Valentines Day is tomorrow. I am actually excited. Well, I usually am. The romantic in me won’t allow the holiday to go by without celebrating it in some way even though I’ve never had a real Valentine.

But you know I have to work tomorrow and at least I can look forward to going in there and having fun by making everyone I meet feel great. Even though …I wasn’t feeling so great today. I need to go to the doctor.

But otherwise my boys are great. These days when I call they are sometimes too busy to talk to me. I can understand. They’re into their video games and computer so I don’t stress them. I just give him my love and tell him I’ll always be here when he has more time. My boys are so handsome!

They are little charmers too. They get THAT from their Daddy. He had that game on lock. I’m sure he’s passing it on to them. I hope they pick up a few cool qualities from me too.

Let me go and relax my ankles and nerves in anticipation of a wonderful Valentines Day.