Lenten Diary: Day 1 of my Sacrifice

Though I am totally 5 days late in participating in Lent, nonetheless I have figured out what I was sacrificing for my 40 days and 40 nights (well actually more like 36 days and 36 nights) and I have successfully completed my first day!

After Mass on Sunday (Yes, if you havent figured it out, I am Catholic) I sat in my car, responding to some text messages when a lightbulb went off. Like a inventor with a budding new idea, I was a Catholic looking to make my ultimate sacrifice. TECHNOLOGY!!

Life as we know it has become so self-less and impersonal. Conversations now consist of test messages, Facebook messages or IM messages, Twitter Updates and emails. That especially includes my life because I am one of those people who hates talking on the phone and is always in a meeting that I text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Text messaging has become SO depended upon in my life that the buttons on my G1 have special finger indents in them.

There was nothing better for me to give up but my technology vices because my days are so encompassed by them. I text my boss, I text my co-workers, I text my grandma, I text my dad. If you have text messaging, then I am texting you. Simple as that.

At Mass we discussed the story of Jesus fasting from food and drink for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert in preparation of his public ministry. In the Book of Luke (Luke 4:1-13 to be exact) The Devil tried to trick him, bring him off task, telling Jesus "If you are the Son of God, turn this stone into Bread," but Jesus stayed focus and told the Devil "It was written: Man does not live on Bread alone," and continued to press on and conquer all the temptations the Devil set forth for his to succumb to.

Like Jesus was in the Desert, hungry and alone, I am hungry and alone (technologically), but I have the inner strength like him (Jesus) to make it through my Lenten promise. With this as my Lenten sacrifice I hope to learn that I am not as dependent on those things as I am today. The purpose of lent is to challenge self to self-denial, bringing you closer to Jesus and to God, praying for the strength, scrutinizing yourself and your life and re-evaluating your life from here on out.

Everyone of my friends and family members know I hate talking on the phone, but if they were on Facebook or Twitter (or had text messaging, I would talk to them everyday. This is something that I want to change about myself. I dont want to have to schedule phone calls to my family members on my calendar again. If I can routinely check facebook, tweet and text message, I can pick up my cell phone, call whomever I want to talk to and have a regular conversation.

Everyday (or every other day if I can remember) I will blog about my experiences throughout my Lenten journey...

Peace be with you always

Schmalentine's Day

My bestest Homie in the whole wide world Yasmin (a fellow blogger Her blog!) told me I was anti-Valentine's Day. Now it may seem that way because I really dont give a damn about it personally..well, at least not anymore (Thank Goodness I grew up), and NO its not because i'm a bitter single woman. I very much have a boyfriend (who i've been dating for 5 years) and I STILL dont give a damn about it. Why? Because I am a realist.

I don't fancy Valentine's Day because of TWO distinct reasons:
1. I do not believe in beefing up on LOVE just because its Feb. 14th
2. It only benefits women

Yeah..I said it!

In my personal, realist, totally not single opinion, I feel there is no need to have valentine's day. If people are in LOVE...like they should be, Valentine's Day should be just another day on a calendar. LOVE is a 365 day long holiday. Not just 24hrs. LOVE is not red, its whatever color you want it to be. LOVE has nothing to do with teddy bears and balloons, its whatever items reminds people in love what their LOVE is about. Do not get me wrong... the IDEA of valentine's day was a stellar idea, just not properly thought out. Question! If there was no such thing as valentine's day...would our lives, marriages, relationships be any different? Would love just NOT exist because Feb. 14th wasnt Valentine's Day? Really..ask yourself that question and let me know what your answer is. I probably already know...

Secondly, Valentine's Day is a bit one sided. There is this stigma that Women are the receivers and Men are the givers. I believe in fairness. I havent met ONE guy that has admitted to me that he likes getting silk boxers, teddy bears and flowers for valentine's day. Not ONE! But i've met 100 females that can catalog the time, weather forecast and outfit they were wearing when they got their box of chocolates, giant teddy bear and special "I love you" card. Can you say CHEESY!! If we're going to by gifts for valentine's day just get regular presents that your significant other likes. if your girl or wife likes Kitchen appliances..POW! Baby..Happy Vday..here's your new toaster! If your man/husband likes game consoles...BAM! Hey baby, here's that new Wii! Screw all the stereotypical Vday themed crap. Just admit it people...they market that shit towards females.

And to my single people this Valentine's Day...dont feel lonely! You're not missing anything you havent already done. Dont let the lovey-dovey people bring you down. Keep your head up and go on about your business. Get a group of your single friends together, Male and/or Female and just vibe out. Grab a bite to eat, go to a movie, just enjoy each others company. Add a bottle of wine too. Fun things always happen after a couple of cups of wine.

Guilty Pleasures

So I was browsing through Google images and INSTANTLY a lightbulb went off. GUILTY PLEASURES...all the things I google and look at on a daily or weekly basis came to mind and there you have it, a BLOG idea.

There are a few things that I go Ga-Ga over: Shoes, Makeup, Black & White photos and Greece. Random? Yes, I know, but what can I say? One way to my heart is to understand my indulgence of these things and helping to feed my habit.

Plus since i've been sick for the past couple of days, i've had plenty of time on my phone and my laptop...googling away!

So without further ado, I introduce to you...Jovani's Guilty Pleasures...

Guilty Pleasure 1: Christian Louboutin

 I am  a SHOE WHORE! Nobody knows this because I am a simple Journalist and my salary does not allow for such elaborate shoe purchases..BUT, do not underestimate me. I love shoes. Right now, I am a huge fan of Christian Louboutin. He is simply THE best shoe designer to me right now. What gets me about Christian of course is that signature Candy Red sole! (Shivers) It is magnificent! I love platform shoes, I love animal prints (especially Python) and I love boots. Christian gives me EVERYTHING I need. I can have a platform Python Boot (which he has) if I want. One day I tell ya...One day..

Guilty Pleasure 2: Mac Cosmetics

 In High School, you couldn't pay me to wear makeup...now I swear by it! I do not wear it everyday because I never want to be the chick who is Gorgeous with makeup on and Horrendous without it. But when I DO wear makeup..You cannot tell me SHIT! I'm big on eye makeup. I've been told I have pretty eyes, so I accentuate them as often as I can and who best to use for glamorous eyes..MAC. Yes, it can be expensive, but Beauty is Pricey. I love the above photo because its their Barbie Mac campaign and what girl doesnt love Barbie? I love their high intensity pigments and their lipgloss is the BEST. Cheers to you MAC..every girl's best friend!

Guilty Pleasure 3: Black & White Photography

I love pictures (being in them and taking them). In college I took black and white photography and absolutely fell in LOVE! The essence of black and white photography is astounding. With color pictures you get soo caught up in color that you forget the story in the photo. By removing the color, you are allowing the picture to speak to you. You can capture the moment with black and white photography and tell a beautiful story without in using words! Ahhhhh...its just classic!

Guilty Pleasure 4: Greece

 

What is there NOT to love about this image above? This piece of heaven is a beach on one of Greece's islands--Santorini. I dont know what it is about Greece that I love. Maybe its the Superb turquoise waters, the beautiful people, the food (its GREAT) or the Black Sand beaches. Whatever it is, I know I must go here one day. I am a huge fan of beaches so I know I will find this beach (or one of Greece's many black sand beaches) and lay out, soak up some sun or bottle some up and bring back to the states with me. I mean, Black Sand..come on! How sexy is that?  

SNOW DAY!

SNOW DAYS! Every school kids favorite day, and when your a workaholic journalist like me, I guess its my favorite day too! Tho I wish it snowed like it does in Boston (my hometown) it was still nice to see in Alabama. Too bad I spent my snow day sick as a dog wit tissue in my nose and tons of lemon tea and drugged up long naps. Yet, at Midnight I rise! Like a flower in the springtime.
It was a good quiet day tho. My house that is usually full of boys (my 3 male roommates) was EXTREMELY quiet and pleasant. My television stayed glued to my two favorite channels: Travel channel and Food Network. I made cheese grits and bacon for brunch, tea for breakfast, lunch and dinner and lots of vitamins and cold medicine tablets.
And while I slept thru most of my snow day, I couldn't help but think of HOME! I thought of all the days I wished were snow days, but to all of us Boston Public School kids, u know snow days were hard to come by. I guess the school system figured we were too dumb to appreciate a day off. So...when all the suburban kids in Swampscott and Agawam (actual towns in Massachusetts) got days off...we BPS kids were truckin it to school...snow suits

I also remembered making dirty snowmen, sledding, snowball fights and the trips to Northern New England. I am a natural when it comes to winter sports. I'm an avid ice skater, skiier and snowboarder. I'm what you call a cultured little black girl! What can I say? My parents let me and my brother Joe experience the finer things in life. I'm truly a winter baby. Probably because I was born in the dead of winter on a snowy day in Massachusetts.

But back to snow days...then, there was always the down side to no school snow days..the eminent doom so to speak...the MAKE UP THE SNOW DAYS AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR! Yes people, u didn't hear wrong. I'm talking about school in the summer time! Its bad enough the sch yr ends in June in Massachusetts, now u want me to sit in the classroom for half of the summer vacay? This shit sucks! It snowed soo bad on winter (thank goodness I was in college by then) that my poor little cousins were in school on Saturdays! Talk about total bummer!

In all, tho I didn't get to make my snow angel today, I still had a good snow day. I look forward to more snow days in Alabama if it means I get a day off! Wait...did the groundhog see its shadow?

The Sickness: Day THREE

Okay, so I am still sick! Its Day THREE and its getting old already. You jus don't know how I despise being sick. I've blown everything out of my nose and now I am coughing.
This CAN'T be good!
Aside from being sick, its a Weather Warning here in Alabama. Can you believe it, they says its gonna Snow. See, now I know snow and I know (yes, I rhymed) that this isn't gonna be as bad as they're making it out to be. I've come to the conclusion that as soon as the snow falls it will melt once hitting the ground. Sorry if I am ruining some peoples dreams, but I am jus being a realist. I have seen this happen b4 many a time.
Meanwhile, errybody in Montgomery has wiped Walmart and Winn Dixie, hoping we find you sale. Go figure fat boy

Sick Days...WTF?

Okay, so like always I am sick, which is my least favorite feeling in the world. To me, there is nothing worse than a sore throat, body aches and a runny nose. What the hell kinda grown up would I look like wiping my nose every three minutes on my sleeve? Its ridiculous!
Anywho, I keep trying to ignore my symptoms so I can focus on work and getting things done. Also because medicine is so expensive (and I am afraid of generic medicine) I try alternative methods, which only work for a few moment. Then I feel like doo doo all over again.
Now, I am sitting here in my bed bundled up under my reading lamp dozing off, but I am fighting the sleep for a little while. I want to finish up this last minute publication b4 I completely fall asleep. (Editor's Note: Jo has nodding off while typing atleat 2 days tonite)
Please pray I get well soon. This feeling is sucks