So How Do You All Know Each Other ??

Pay close attention..... This could get tricky....

There are about 11 of THE GIRLS currently living in the Tri-State area. Some of us are from the same hometown, but did not know each other prior to moving to New York. A few of us went to college together, and still, never hung out with each other until we moved to New York. No matter how we met, THE GIRLS have definitely been a blessing to each other's lives.

Let's go....

PARTY GIRL, SUNSHINE GIRL AND KC GIRL moved to New York in 2005. KC and SUNSHINE coming from the same city, PARTY GIRL coming from the south. The three moved into an apartment in Harlem in the DEAD of winter and took to the city like a fish to water. The three of them decided to have a Housewarming/Welcome to New York party at their new apartment. Unbeknownst to them, one of their college classmates had a friend who lived three doors down from them. As she was walking into the building, she runs into CARE BEAR GIRL, invites her up to the party and introduces her to us. CARE BEAR lived with 4 guys, so she enjoyed spending time at our apartment with fellow women, and we enjoyed her as well.

PARTY GIRL received a phone call from one of her former classmates saying "Hey, my line sister is thinking about moving to New York, do you mind if I give her your number ?" OF COURSE NOT !!! Introduction of FASHIONISTA GIRL. She came to visit the three of us, we took to her like we had known her for years. Her only flaw is her sorority affiliation, but she holds her own with us :)

PARTY GIRL receives another phone call from a former acquaintance from her hometown, "Hey PARTY GIRL, I think I belong in New York, can you give me some advice about moving up there and getting situated ?" OF COURSE...COME ON !!! Ladies, meet RIGHTEOUS GIRL. Her afro was a big as her smile and personality. I never knew she was this down to earth in high school !!

By this time, we are rolling with a crew of sorts, everyone is getting along..it's great !!

KC GIRL is working at a law firm in the city and becomes good friends with one of her co-workers. She decides to bring her out for a night on the town and let's just say, everyone didn't take too well to CALI GIRL....namely PARTY GIRL. While riding back from the event, PARTY GIRL admittedly berated CALI GIRL about her choice words in describing something as "ghetto".

Nevertheless, the two belong to the "trouble maker" sector of THE GIRLS along with FLIRTY GIRL whom you will meet later.

PICTURE PERFECT GIRL and PARTY GIRL went to high school together and became reacquainted through the various parties thrown on behalf of their hometown. When I tell you sister girl is always on point, not one strand of hair out of place, she is always on "ready, set, go". Through PICTURE PERFECT GIRL we met FLIRTY GIRL, a doctor from the same home town as PARTY GIRL, PICTURE PERFECT, RIGHTEOUS and FASHIONISTA.

We then learn that CHATTY GIRL is moving to New York for her residence program. CHATTY GIRL, SUNSHINE GIRL, KC GIRL and PARTY GIRL are line sisters, so we are excited to have her up here. She is a chatterbox who refuses to let a moment go by without offering her two cents.

GRACEFUL GIRL is introduced to us by one of our former "lone wolves in the henhouse". She is one of the sweetest, most graceful people I have met in my life. Her calm disposition provides an example of how to truly handle life's experiences.

Months pass, we party, we laugh , we eat, drink and be merry... life is good. A circle of great girlfriends helps make time in New York grand. At one of our many house functions held at the "Community Center 231", the home of SUNSHINE, CHATTY and FASHIONISTA, we meet and also become reacquainted with BEST ALL AROUND GIRL. BAO went to college with SUNSHINE, CHATTY, PARTY and KC, but we didn't really have a close friendship until 7+ years after we all graduated. She is every woman literally.

We hang, we dance on couches, we ask for advice, we listen, we cry, we confess wrong doings, we fuss, we move in together, we fight and argue, we have make up parties, we go cocktailing, we smoke cigars, we take trips, we do it all. But most of all WE TAKE PICTURES AND SHARE THEM WITH OTHERS.

We recently received two new imports from the south. JUJU GIRL and DADDYS GIRL. Life's circumstances caused changes with them and wouldn't you know it...both of them get new jobs in New York. JUJU GIRL and KC are twin sisters. ALSO, JUJU and DADDYS GIRL are line sisters of CHATTY, KC, SUNSHINE and PARTY

Now, people think we are up here swinging from chandeliers and for the most part we were..... but like I said, there is a transition going on with THE GIRLS. CAREBEAR GIRL just left to go home and sleep at 9:00 pm. She's expecting a baby and can't stay up like she used to. FASHIONISTA just got in the bed at 9:30pm as well. CHATTY GIRL isn't going out tonight. She has to drive 8 hours tomorrow for part one of her move to Florida. (sniff sniff)

HOWEVER, PARTY GIRL, CALI GIRL and FLIRTY GIRL are about to keep the party going....

Rest in Peace Michael Jackson, we are about to come sweat our "Personality Pieces" out on your behalf. I told you we were the troublemakers.....heck, we're in the city that never sleeps !!! ....We Wanna Be Starting Something ... like NOW !!

Is This The End ???

I had a BlackBerry Messenger Meltdown the other day with one of THE GIRLS. She was visiting family on the West Coast, so I hit her in part because I knew she would be one of the few still up at that hour since she was operating on West Coast time and also because she is one of the "trouble makers" of the crew who I figured would understand where I was coming from.

The exchange went as such:

PARTY GIRL: CALI GIRL ... I think its the end of an era

CALI GIRL: Why, what happened ?

PARTY GIRL: I just feel it, we are about to start dropping like dominoes. No more kickin it and carrying on....we all bout to look up and be like WTF happened and where did this baby and husband come from...MARK my word.

PARTY GIRL: I just came from this event and it hit me like a ton of bricks

PARTY GIRL: In the words of the infamous Vince Carter..."It's OV-AH"

CALI GIRL: No offense PARTY GIRL, but you've had that feeling before...last summer...maybe even round about this time. You started making rules like no more dancing on couches and what not.

PARTY GIRL: Noooooo

CALI GIRL: I think we still have some more time in us, we might also be that group that turns into the couples crew

PARTY GIRL: This is different...I think its a culmination of people moving from NY, SUNSHINE GIRL is going to Montreal for 2 months, FLIRTY GIRL is thinking of moving to LA for a fellowship, CAREBEAR GIRL is having a baby...

CALI GIRL: Don't speak it into existence homie, I just left a pole dancing class and feel like I'm still in my prime.

PARTY GIRL: and maybe my being in that club like "I'm almost 32, this is ridiculous !!!!"

PARTY GIRL: ....though I look 23 :) ...hehehehe

All Is Forgiven Mr. Brown

About 3 years ago I dated a guy who was OBSESSED with his phone. Every 5 minutes I swear he would pick it up, look at it, check his emails, check his text messages, etc. and it drove me crazy. I had just moved to NY, so I wasn't totally immersed in the hyper-communication era that was beginning. I didn't understand this whole phenom of ALWAYS being available to work, friends, family, jump offs via Smart Phones.

He wasn't the most savvy keeper of this phone though. I often times would have "dry run" tutorials on how to use it while he was in the restroom or away from the car or something. You know, just in case the time came when I needed to find some shit out and have to "stick and move" with retrieving information from his phone. Which I did end up doing unbeknownst to him as he drove us around Maryland.

"How does this little wind thing on the side work ?"
"How do I get to the text messages ?"
"Freakin high tech ass phone...can't stand this damn thing."

Those were all of the sentiments I had about this dang toy of his that kept his attention 24/7. He couldn't even hold a decent conversation with me because he was always peaking down at that phone.

I just recently got a BlackBerry, a whole 3 years after my initial hatred for that thing began and I too had the evil eye given back to me from someone I love dearly because I would stop mid sentence to check it once that red light started to blink.

My Grandfather. The man who doesn't even turn on his cell phone. I know he didn't understand my obsession with this thing. Checking phone calls, emails, text, BlackBerry messenger and Facebook CONSUMES me to no end. I wasn't like this with my Treo, so I have no idea what is going on.

I once thought my ex's behavior with that phone was odd, hell... HE was odd to begin with. I would secretly think, "Oh My God, is he bored ? WHO is he talking to ? Is it THAT important that you have to text them now ? ... really ? right now ?" However, I am learning that there is something about always knowing what is going on that drives this obsession with my phone.

I love my Grandfather to pieces, and it dawned on me while having lunch at our favorite restaurant. I too ignored some of my Grandfather's statements and conversation to check that damn phone. Somebody cue Chrisette Michelle, hot damn...I just had an epiphany !!!

It wasn't you Mr. Brown....it was the crack....

The Choice is Yours....

*INSERT LOUDEST SIGH EVER *

Man, it's hard making grown woman decisions.

I think I have been doing pretty well in 2009 by doing the right thing (sometimes). It is definitely not easy and my flesh literally cries out "noooooooooooooooo" when I decide to do what's "right", as opposed to what I am accustomed to doing by nature. So, as I sit here talking myself out of making what I already know would be a counterproductive decision, I decided to compile a list of all of the things THE GIRLS would like to do better.....for ourselves, our goals and those who may be affected by our life decisions. We have shared these sentiments over tears, laughter and open/honest conversations.

List of things THE GIRLS and I would like to start doing better:

1) Exercising Faith in times of turmoil
2) Heck....just plain exercising...
3) Accepting healthy relationships
4) Walking away from unhealthy relationships
5) Being fiscally responsible
6) Decreasing liquor consumption
7) NO MORE DRUNK TEXTING
8) Giving and receiving unconditional love
9) Demanding more professionally
10) Demanding more personally
11) Asking questions and not being afraid of the answers
12) Exercising Patience
13) Having all of our actions align with our goals....

Shout out to one of my closest homeboys for talking me off the ledge.... ahahaha, cause MAYUN I was about to do something so stupid !!!

Simply Red

Sometimes you just need to let shit go.....

It's time to move forward....

This is dedicated to all of THE GIRLS... and my damn self....

Nothing funny or sarcastic will come out of this post, so I will just give us time to reflect on everything we have held on to in the past that needs to be released to get what we ultimately want out of life.

You know how it is when you are thinking, "Damn..is she really STILL talking about that no good ass knuccka ?" or "Ok, that was college, are you STILL upset with her about that ?"

OR MY ULTIMATE FAVORITE:
"Soooo....because the girl you liked in 9th grade ended up breaking up with you to date a Senior, you have a fear of commitment ??? at the age of 37 ???"

Ok, I lied... that last one was funny...ahaha

Whatever it may be, let's look for strength to move past it...in an emotionally, physically and spiritually safe and discerning way.

Your destiny awaits you pimpin !!!