Friday, March 7, 2008

Violated

1986. I was 14 & a freshman in high school & my friend was 15 & a sophomore. We planned on attending a dance at her school one Friday evening & so we did.

I went to her house after school & we got all dolled up to go to the dance. We made it to the dance & I made a friend, yeah a boy friend. (I told y’all long ago, I’ve been boy crazy since kindergarten.) When the dance was over my friend wasn’t ready to go home. I really didn’t know anyone else so I was rolling with the crew. We ended up going to a local pizza parlor for food & drinks. Afterwards we all went to a friend’s house for an after-party.

When we got to the house, people (mostly high school kids) were in & out & having a good time. I took a seat in the living room, sipped on a soda, listened to the music & people watched. My friend and her boyfriend went into a back room to watch TV. (Yeah I know…)

Shortly afterwards, another young lady who was in the house came & asked if my name was “Monni”. I replied, “Yeah.” She said, “I think that girl is calling for you.” I’m like, “Huh?!” I get up & walk towards the rear of the house & my friend isn’t calling my name…she’s screaming it! I call back for her & she screams, “Monni! He’s got a gun!” I started to scream & cry. I push & push the door (with all of my then 135 lb. might) until I open it just enough to stick my arm in & flip the light switch. No sooner than I do, someone flips it back off & smashes my arm in the door, forcing me to pull it back.

I tried to get some help, but I was screaming & crying too hard for anyone to understand me. I pointed to the door and one of the guys went back & got a gun stuck in his face. A few moments later, 2 guys who I don’t recall entering the house, came out of the room. One holding a gun & the other zipping his pants. They walked out, got into a car & left. My friend had just been raped. She was crying & so was her boyfriend. I think he was 16, maybe 17. He was held at gunpoint & forced to sit there while this criminal violated her.

When she came out I grabbed her & hugged her so tight, they had to pull us apart. They put us in separate cars because we were hysterical & drove us back to her house. We ran up the stairs to tell her mom what happened. I was still crying uncontrollably. Her mom called the police.

By the time the detectives arrived my friend had somewhat calmed down. I was still a crying mess. So much so, that my friend was comforting me, & the detectives thought I was the victim. I hadn’t been touched.

The detectives were questioning my friend & I was still crying. Another male friend tried to comfort me, but he was actually getting on my nerves. I moved from room to room to cry in peace & he was on my heels. Her mother saw what he was doing & convinced him to leave me be & to just let me cry.

My friend’s father & grandmother show up. The detectives finish questioning everyone who was at the party {who came to the house} & then they left to take my friend to the ER. Her grandmother stayed at the house & continued the line of questioning with me. I told her what I could & I cried myself to sleep in her arms.

We later found out that the host’s parents were out of town & he didn’t have permission for the party.

That was the last house party my friend attended.

She doesn’t remember the violator’s face. I’ll never forget it.

I'm still the only person my friend can and will talk to about this. She shuts everyone else out. She couldn't even tell her fiance. She asked me to tell him the story.

I've never been in those shoes, but I wish I could warn every young woman of the possibility.

Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe

Remember the old adage "Mama's baby, Papa's maybe...."?

I blog-hop when I want to read what's on the minds of others. In my travels, I came across an open-forum type blog about controversial opinions & found the comment of one person to be quite interesting.

This quote is verbatim. "I think single women who make the decision to have a child should be obligated to support it alone. If he's not obligated to YOU, he shouldn't be obligated to YOUR (the woman's) decision to have the child. " Author's identity withheld.

I don't know the author, and as a single mother, I certainly have an opinion on the topic & want to hear from you, especially the men.

I *Think* I Wanna Weave

 
I *Think* I Wanna Weave magnify

I'm having a hair dilemma & ladies, I need your help. Fellas, feel free to toss in your nickel's worth also.

With my after hours workouts & this half-breed hair of mine, it's a pain & a challenge to get it together for my 9 to 5 on a daily basis. I'm extremely tender-headed and from shampoo to drying to a finished look, would take more than a few hours, which I don't have, from my daily routine.

I've never worn a weave, oh wait, I did have about 10-12 big braids once when I took a beach trip, if that counts. In an effort to continue my workouts and maintain my 9 to 5 look, I'm considering a few removable ponytail options for the office. However, I don't know where to start.

I refuse to seek advice from Soo Lee in the beauty supply house. I see them "counseling" black women all the time, but er um, naw, not the kid. I want to toss my nickel's worth in so very badly when I see sistas buying hair that is no where near their true or chemically treated textures, but I know how you black folks get so I keep quiet. I will take my sister with me so she can be sure the hair matches my own, before I go to work looking like something crazy.

So friends, what do you think about this drawstring ponytail on me?

this one?
or this one?
What about these Instant Ponytails?
this one?
or this one?

Does anybody know how often these things need to be replaced?

Holla!

It's Time to "Spring" Forward

Start:     Mar 9, '08 02:00a
End:     Mar 9, '08 02:30a
http://www.timeanddate.com/time/aboutdst.html

I hate this crap! I think we should stay "sprung" (pun intended) and leave well enough alone.

Airlines Guidelines For Lithium Batteries

http://safetravel.dot.gov/tips.html
As of January 1, 2008, travelers may no longer pack spare lithium batteries of any kind in checked baggage. Passengers wishing to carry spare lithium batteries for devices such as laptops, cell phones and cameras are now required to pack them in their carry-on baggage with the terminals covered/insulated. Travelers may check bags that contain batteries, as long as they are installed in electronic devices.

Step up office exercise with a treadmill desk - MayoClinic.com

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/treadmill-desk/MM00706
I could definitely see using this at home, but the office...not so much.

What do you think?

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Multiply Love & Hate

Ha!  Thought I was talking about you didn't ya? Well I kinda sorta am.

Here are a few things I love & hate about Multiply:

  • I love that you can customize the viewings of your posts.
  • I love that you can pick & choose who sees what - by groups and/or individuals.
  • I hate when my fellow 'Pliers flood the message board with mass videos (even tho I love the ones that wax nostalgia) & blog imports (this needs to stop! LOL).  Here's a teeny tiny lil suggestion - post all your vids & import all your blogs (if you can) without the notification then post a single message or link announcing the mass imports & let your contacts knock themselves out.
  • I love that you can pin your favorite posts to the top of the message board, so you don't have to fish for the ones you wish to follow.
  • I hate faceless & unconnected users repeatedly viewing my page.  Even with limited viewing, that shit is just creepy.
  • I hate that people who connect with you, yet never interact with you, will try to re-add you 15 seconds after you dump them.  Sorry Chief.  I have no desire to be a part of your wall of fame or shame.
  • I hate that sisters have found it necessary to cyberstalk and/or contact the women who are connected to the men in their lives.  Ladies, this has got to stop - like yesterday!  Check your man!  Don't bring that shit to me.
  • I love that you can page hop without being connected to everybody & their mama.

Most of all, I love that I'm connected to some of the best folks on-line...ever!