Alter Your Summer Plans

The economy has taken a toll on my travel plans. I'm in prepare-for-the-worse mode so I had to re-evaluate the trips I had planned or thought about taking.

Memorial Day I was thinking about going to Miami or Atlantic City. Neither happened and I enjoyed just kicking it in NYC.

Fourth of July I was originally going to go to New Orleans for Essencefest. But it looks like I'm going to stay in NYC. I can't remember the last time I was in NYC for the 4th. To mark the 350th Anniversary of the Henry Hudson voyage the Macy's fireworks will be on the Hudson River. So I think a few friends are going to stake a spot at Riverside Park for the day and watch the fireworks. I'm looking forward to laying on a blanket, laughing and talking with friends, maybe reading a magazine or two and just relaxing.

August will still be a busy travel month. I'm going to Tampa for the NABJ convention. I'm going to go to Boston for a weekend to see the Yankees take on the Red Sox. I have never been to Fenway. The end of August I have a girl's trip planned for Asheville, NC. (If any of my Carolina girls are interested in coming hit me up offline.)

October I'm going on a cruise Columbus Day weekend and December will be my BIG trip. I'm going to Costa Rica with my best friend.

I know, I know, you are going to say that's still a lot of travel but for me that's a lot less travel than I am used too. I'm used to go some place every single month. But when I think about the economy and look at my personal goals it's best that I curb my travel, even if it is just a little bit.

Has anyone else had to alter their summer travel plans?

The Joys of Staycations

I had a good, long (but not long enough) staycation after Christmas. And I noticed a lot of other people did the staycation thing as well. If I wasn't in D.C. for the inauguration festivities this would have been another long staycation weekend for me.

Whoever invented the staycation were they cheap or were they smart? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to travel and I have some great travel plans already for 2009 but after my late December/early January staycation I really appreciate the time at home or in the city that I live in to do what I want, when I want and just to relax and enjoy with no pressure to do anything or deadlines to meet. I also like the savings. There is really no place like home.

But if I had to do my last staycation all over again (or if I had another one coming up) I would do the following:
- read a book
- watch movies
- hit a spa for a nice massage
- do a touristy thing (i.e. go to the top of the Rock, go to the Empire State building, etc.)
- depending on the weather I would go to the park
- go ice skating (last time I tried to go it was too warm)
- go to bed late and sleep in

Oh how my staycation seems so long ago and I'm already ready for another one. Just listing all the things I would do makes me want to jump in to bed and put the covers over my head. But it doesn't look like I'll be able to do another staycation until March (I hope). When you go on staycation, what do you do?

2009 Travel & Vacation Plans

My job asks for our vacation dates very far in advance. The dates are not set in stone but it forces me to think about my vacation days and how I will utilize them in relation to things I have to do/cover at my job.

For the most part I have the first half of 2009 figured out in terms of travel. But I always leave room for flexibility.

January 2009
My best friend is flying from Chicago and we are driving down to DC for the inauguration. We are staying with my sister, outside of Baltimore. I can't wait to be apart of history.

February 2009
I have two weddings to attend, luckily one is in New Jersey. The other is in Atlanta but because February is a crazy time at work between fashion weeks and award shows so I'm literally going to fly in and out of Atlanta in less than 24 hours just to attend this wedding.

March 2009
For my birthday I'm going to Orlando for ESPN the Weekend at Disney World. Sports, Disney World, a warm location. What more could I ask for?

April 2009
I will be attending a wedding in Houston.

May 2009
In November 2007 (yes 2007) I attended a timeshare presentation and got a free 3 day/2 night trip. It was always in the back of my mind that I had this trip and that I needed to use it within 18 months. So one day I called to see when it expired and when I could book a trip. The day it expires is the day I'm checking in to my vacation in St. Thomas. I extended the trip to 5 days/4 nights, from Thursday May 14 to Monday May 18. I can't wait to go.

June 2009
My Mom turns 70. I want to have a party for her but my brother wants to take her on a vacation. I'm hoping that maybe we can do both. My Mom has never been on a plane before and my brother feels that because we travel the most we are the most equipped to travel for the first time with Mom. I haven't talked to her about it yet but I hope she can be convinced.

July 2009
I usually go away for the 4th of July. Right now the leading candidate is Essence Music Festival with my best friend.

August 2009
As of this blog I'm planning to attend the NABJ convention in Tampa. But I HAVE to find a roommate because I know how tight money is going to be in 2009. Also the annual ATL girls trip has been moved to August to coincide with my best friend's birthday. We haven't picked a location yet.

September 2009 - December 2009
So far I don't have anything planned in terms of travel for the 4th quarter of the year but it's still early, still plenty of time to plan something.

I know what you are thinking, we are in a recession, how the hell are you planning to travel so much? One word, PLANNING. If you plan far enough in advance you can save a lot of money. I'm using a lot of miles I have accumulated. I have a hookup on timeshares so I don't spend as much as I would if I stayed in hotels. And if I charge my trips now I can pay them off through the course of the year. So despite my self imposed Vegas ban, I'm still looking forward to the trips I got planned in 2009.

Do you have any travel/vacation plans for 2009? What was the best trip you took in 2008? What was the worst trip you took in 2008?

Staycation & New Year's Eve

I'm doing my first staycation and I just can't seem to relax. I made a list of all the things I want to accomplish while I'm home for a week. Some of the things on the list are fun like finish reading a book and watch some movies. But the rest is about getting organized for the new year. I'm trying to clean, organize and purge. Gotta make room in my life for new things to enter.

Also I have NO PLANS for New Year's Eve. I know that is pretty shocking to everyone because I usually do it big. But I have had such a good year I really think I'm just going to stay home. Enjoy the fact that I'm happy and healthy. At home I have all the comforts I need from food and drinks to the tv and radio.

As this year has proven nothing is guaranteed. Job security is just not what it used to be. I have no idea if I will still have the job I currently have in 2009. Plus I have a problem spending $175 for a place I can normally get in for free or for $10 or $20. Given the current state of the economy I just can't justify the expense.

Anyone else off this week? What do you have planned? What are you doing for New Year's Eve?

The Vegas Curse

Now that I'm done gushing about Vegas I have to admit I have a Vegas curse. The curse is that EVERY TIME, without fail, that I go to Vegas SOMETHING happens in terms of travel either on my way there or on my way back. So much has happened you would think it would make me stop going back to Vegas...but I keep going back.

Here are a few examples of my travel disasters:

December 2008 - I get to the airport to go and they tell me I never bought my ticket I only reserved it. So Delta, why did you hold a ticket for me for almost 2 months because that is how far in advance I supposedly "ordered" it? Then I get to Vegas and they "lose" my bag. Translation: my bag didn't make my connection and was coming in on a later flight. So why am I paying you money to get my bag there when I arrive and you get it there after I arrive? Then on the way back why do I have to sit in the airport for 3 hours? You tell me I can't get on a plane seperate from my bag YET my bag arrived back in NYC before I did.

September 2008 - I literally passed out on the plane. I was fast asleep and I felt my blood pressure dropping, blood rushing to my feet and I was nautious. I try to get up to go to the bathroom and I fall out in my seat. I still haven't been able to explain how that happened.

August 2007 - It's NYC, you think no matter what the weather is, the subways always run. WRONG!!! There was a HUGE rainstorm that flooded the subway. But I wasn't worried I take the bus to the airport, not the subways. Well the subways were so packed I almost missed my flight. I literally stopped a random guy at a stop light and said I would pay him if he would take me to the airport. At first he thought I was a cop, when I convinced him I was desperate to make my flight, he gave me a rid.

February 2007 - the journey to Las Vegas was so outrageous I had to do a blog entry about it.

I could go on and on and on about the travel disasters that have happened to me in regards to my trips to Las Vegas. Should I let my travel mishaps keep me from going back to Las Vegas in 2010?

What is your worst travel nightmare?

Best Vacation EVER!!!

Sorry for the late blog folks. I thought I had banked a few blogs in anticipation of my vacation and that I knew I would be too tired to blog.

I won't give a full fledged recap (to protect the person I went on this trip with) but I will hit the highlights of why this trip qualifies for one of the best vacations I have ever taken.

1. As always, we stayed in a great condo. I *heart* timeshare condos for vacation lodging.

2. We found a casino whose sports book pays on ties for parlays. They also do 6, 6.5 and 7 point teasers (You gotta be in to sports gambling to understand the significance of that.) I will be going back there to gamble.

3. We went indoor skydiving. I loved it so much I want to go skydiving for real in some place exotic like Costa Rica.

4. I did things and went places I had never done or gone before on all my previous trips to Las Vegas.

5. I took my first helicopter over Hoover Dam. And my travel buddy got to fly the helicopter. If he ever gives me his permission I will post the pictures.

I could list 20 highlights...easy...but I'll keep it short and simple to just 5.

As always I left my Vegas vacation happy and I'm already longing to go back. But I'm looking forward to 2010 in Las Vegas. It will be like a brand new city to me with all the changes coming. They are building new casinos, a new indoor water park and an indoor ski resort...you heard me, indoor skiing in the middle of the desert.

So I'm going to list 5 things I would like to do when I go back to Las Vegas in 2010...yes I said 2010 not 2009.

1. See O and/or La Reve.

2. Visit the Grand Canyon.

3. Visit the new indoor water park.

4. Check out the new City Center.

5. Go to a club and a restaurant that I have never been to before...there are plenty of options for that in Vegas.

What's your best vacation?

Travel Nightmare

My worst nightmare actually came true...but not for me.

My worst nightmare is to go on vacation and come back to find out that I don't have a job or that my home has been burned down or someone very close to me has died. Well one of these 3 things did actually happen to one of my friends.

One of my boys, who happens to love Vegas as much as I do, went on vacation and came back and was laid off from his job. He was out in LA and Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. Vegas is a good time and you can really spend some loot, not just gambling. But you don't really think about that when you go on a trip cause you know you can always make more money when you go home. That is unless you get laid off. And that is exactly what happened to him.

As much as I travel that is a HUGE fear for me. Because when I go on vacation I spend money. Mind you I always have a budget BUT if I blow my budget a little it shouldn't be that big of a deal right? WRONG. In this current economic state you just never know.

Today is my first day back from vacation so let's hope I still have my job AND that I can get in to my office (that's another blog for tomorrow).

Bye Bye Vegas

I'm getting ready for my last vacation of the year. This one has special significance because this is also my Farewell to Vegas trip. For those who don't know I'm taking a break from Vegas for 2009. There is a pool for when/if I will break and fly to my beloved city in 2009 (if anyone is interested in placing a bet).

As with every Vegas trip I'm going to try and do a few things I have never done before in addition to some of my favorites. I really want this trip to be memorable since I know that I won't be back to Vegas for 12 months or even longer. I hope I don't cry when I have to get back on the plane and fly to NYC. Hopefully I'll be too happy, content and tired and the vision of Vegas show girls can dance in my head as I travel back east.

Given the economy this might actually be my last vacation for awhile. For 2009 the only planned trips I have is Obama's inauguration (which doesn't count) and my girlfriend's wedding in Atlanta. The inauguration doesn't count because D.C. is a short drive away and I'm staying with my sister. Atlanta is a trip because I have to get a flight, hotel room and rental car. So cost is the determining factor on what I call a trip/vacation.

I thought about trying to take a year off from traveling. Literally not going on any trips that involve flying or driving for more than 2 hours. But even I know travel is the one thing I can't give up.

Grounded

My one vice is travel. I travel more than the average person but less than the average business person. I average about one trip a month. But the airlines are determined to ground me.

One by one the airlines have been adding fees for checked luggage. I've never had a problem with them charging for 2 or more bags. But to charge me for my 1 bag that I have to check because of the liquids inside is just unfair. What I think sucks most about the baggage fee is that you have to pay both ways. So on top of the airline ticket you have to pay $30 plus just for your luggage.

The number of airlines that don't charge for checked bags was down to 3: Airtran, JetBlue and Southwest. Then the announcement came on Friday, my beloved Airtran would be charging for checked bags as well. What is a leisure traveler like myself supposed to do? Southwest does not fly out of NYC. So I'm not going to drive to Philly just to get a plane, I might as well pay the baggage fee. I like JetBlue but it doesn't fly every where I want to fly and it only flies out of JFK. I prefer to fly out of LGA, it's closer to my apt.

I'm not really sure how I'm going to deal with this change. On shorter trips it won't be a problem. I just came back from Atlanta and I carried on and kept my liquids to a minimum. But what will I do about longer trips? I have to go back to Atlanta in February and even though it will just be for a weekend I'm going to a wedding and I don't want the dress I'm wearing to be crushed in to a small carry on. I'm thinking about paying for the baggage fee one way and then just rolling the dress on the way back so I can carry it on. It won't matter that it's wrinkled for my trip home.

How are the fees for checked baggage affecting your travel? What, if anything, will you do differently when you have to fly?

Summa, Summa, Summertime

I work hard (too hard) but I play even harder (or at least I try to). So I finally have secured my summer plans.

Memorial Day weekend - ATL for Smurfest. It's an annual party my ATL friends have and I haven't missed one yet. (knock on wood)

Fourth of July - July 4-8 Mz. B, Mocha and I are heading to Chicago for the Taste. Hopefully some of my girls from Carolina will be there too.

NABJ - I'm going back to Vegas...Vegas...Vegas...I'm going back to Vegas...and I'm excited. I never get tired of Vegas there is always something I haven't done before and there are some things I like to do every time I go. But it will be fun in the desert sun at the beginning of August. If anyone wants to come I got a good convention rate on a room at Bally's.

Labor Day - Mz. B and I are going to be adventurous. We are going on a White Water Rafting trip in Tennessee.

Although I have the major holidays on lock there is still room to do other stuff. I'm hoping to go to Great Adventure, to make a few trips to the beach (Jones, Coney Island, Atlantic City, Jersey Shore, Miami, Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, Bahamas...you get the idea...a beach), and whatever other random fun presents itself....baseball games, parties, cookouts, festivals, mini road trips...whatever...I'm down for it all.

NBA All Star Weekend

I arrived Friday morning around 4am and what did I do...go out of course. The anxiety of getting there mixed with the strip being all lit up I was ready to party.

My girls and I made a quick run to McDonalds which would be the late night eating spot every night. I told them to not feel bad about eating McDonalds this late because technically it was breakfast time on the east coast. I changed my clothes and I went over to MGM Grand just to walk around and see what was up.

My girls had been to Studio 54 earlier in the night and had gotten in to VIP thanks to Vince Young and his entourage. A little sad I missed out on that but more was yet to come.

Friday I was up and out by 11am. I hit the strip early to see what parties were going on that night and what I could get in for free or discounted. I ended up getting on the RSVP list for Pure but that night we came close but ended up some place different. For lunch I went to the buffet at Ceasar's at it wasn't that great. I think the best buffets in Las Vegas are at the Bellagio and Aladdin. Later that afternoon I got up with one of my girls from Carolina and we had a few frozen drinks and hit the tables. I spotted the Office Spouse and his crew...or I should say he spotted me...cause surely if he had kept on walking I wouldn't have noticed...that was the only sighting all weekend.

So the plan on Friday was to go to the So So Def party at Aladdin and if that wasn't popping head over to Pure. We get to Aladdin and there is a lounge in the middle of the casino and we go in there and chill for a minute. End up chilling with Chingy and his entourage. The So So Def party was wack, maybe because it was early, but we left and were headed over to Pure. Just as we were making our way to Pure a guy stops us and offers us free passes to Light. Light is one of my absolute favorite clubs in Vegas because they have 4 poles which allows a woman to let her inner stripper girl out. So we totally changed plans and headed over to Light. It was a mob scene outside of the club because Sprite was doing a promotional party for LeBron James and the release of his 3 commercials that users are supposed to vote on. Somehow we hooked up with some random white chick who seemed to know everyone at the door and we were in the club by 10:30pm. Well the Sprite party was not over and in fact was just getting started so we got up close and personal with LeBron...so close I could count the pimples on his face...he needs Proactive. We partied so hard that my feet have never, ever, ever hurt so bad.

The line to get a cab back to the hotel was ridiculous...so we chose to walk with no shoes on...at first. We got maybe a block away and a random cabby picked us up. It was the end of us his shift but he saw us struggling and picked us up. The cab ride was only $5 but we gave him $20 just because we were so thankful.

Saturday I was up and out early again, back on the strip people watching and trying to secure another party for our last night in Vegas. I got so much random free stuff on the strip...from LeBron t-shirts to a special poker chip that would get me and the girls in to a party at the Empire Ballroom for free to magazines and CD's. We went shopping, or in my case window shopping cause y'all know I hate shopping and celebrity watching. There were so many celebrities every where and they were just mixed in with us regular folks. There were honestly too many celebrities to name them all.

Saturday night we are looking cute, of course, as we waited in line to get in to LeBron's party at the Empire Ballroom. After waiting for an hour, which was an hour later than the get in free poker chip was supposed to work, someone comes out and makes an announcement that they are having sound problems but they would still honor the chip. Now there was a VIP line where people paid $150+ for advanced tickets and $300+ for VIP. I might have had to wait in line but those VIP's looked stupid paying for the same party I was getting in to for free. We partied in line and had a good time laughing, talking and of course drinking. I had never been to the Empire Ballroom before and it is actually a nice venue. We paid a security guard $20 each and was able to go in and out of the VIP area at our leisure.

It wouldn't be Vegas if someone didn't get drunk off their ass and for once that person was not me. When one of my girls came over and took a shot of a dark liquor and a light liquor me and the guys I were talking to gave each other the "she's going to be spending the evening in the bathroom" look and we were right. But her getting sick didn't ruin the night just added to the experience. When the vomiting was under control we sent her back to the casino with some random guy in a Ferrari...I know, sounds dangerous but it worked...and we stayed and partied for another hour or so.

The trip went by so fast it was like a blur but honestly I couldn't have stayed another day. I got a terrible cold and I needed a day at home just to recover before I went back to work. Las Vegas you can only take in small doses because too many days in Sin City might kill you.

All in all it was a great weekend. I met some really nice guys no matter where I was but of course no one I would keep in touch with. Saw some people I hadn't seen since graduating from school. And all in all it was exactly what I expected. It was the most black people I have ever seen in one place and that is saying a lot since I have been to Essence Fest and Bayou Classic in New Orleans as well as lived in one of the blackest cities in the USA...Atlanta. It was also women dressed like they were going to the club even though it was 1 in the afternoon. There were the GQ guys and the thug guys and just a little bit of everything in between.

But if you weren't paying attention 1st night I paid nothing to party and second night I paid nothing initially to party and then $20 to the bouncer. So I partied my ass off in Las Vegas for $20. I am so glad I didn't buy tickets in advance for any of the parties that were being advertised on the internet.

I will be going to New Orleans. I'm already making plans. I hope the NBA does All Star weekend in Vegas again, and soon before my days of travelling across country to party my ass off are over.

I MUST Love This Game

Commissioner David Stern...if you are reading this...no one loves this game more than I do. For months I have been so hyped about going to Las Vegas for NBA All-Star weekend. And with one snow storm my dreams were about to be snowed under.

The original plan was to fly out to Vegas on Valentine's Day to get there before the crowds and celebrate loving me on the day of love. Thanks to the snow storm that hit NYC on V-day eve my plans were blown to hell.

Valentine's morning I was checking the status of my flight online every 10 minutes. My flight was at 12:29 and I held out until 11:00am before I finally left for the airport. Just as I pulled up to Laguardia my cell phone rings. It's an automated message from American telling me my flight was cancelled. Why didn't they call me 30 minutes ago? I could have stayed home and been on the internet and the phone figuring out how to fix my travel plans.

I stayed at the airport for 3 more hours trying to figure out how to get out on a flight that day or the next day. Everything was a bust. No flights available until Saturday night. The airline refunded my ticket and the hotel I was staying at refunded my one night stay. I sadly took the bus home, because the cab line was too long at the airport and I was ready to unpack and go back to my daily grind.

But thanks to my indescribable office spouse, he would not let me give up. There just has to be a way.

He was able to catch a flight out of Newark on Continental to Los Angeles and was going to drive with his boys to Vegas. He told me if I could get to LA I could ride with his boys to Vegas. So there was still hope.

I got home at 3pm and was on the phone and the internet for 4 hours trying to figure out how to get to L.A. or Las Vegas. Around 7:30pm a solution finally came and my Vegas adventure was about to begin. Get to Las Vegas or die trying...lol...well not die but try my hardest.

I caught a 10pm Amtrak train to BWI airport. I got to the airport around 1am and had to sleep on a bench in the airport. Luckily I brought my neck pillow with me and there were other stranded passengers in the airport so the airline gave us sodas, snacks, pillows and blankets (the skinny airline kind). By 5am I was in line and checking my bag on Southwest to LAX. My flight was supposed to leave at 9:30am with a layover in Phoenix and I would land in LA at 2:45pm. Due to flight delays I got bumped to an earlier non-stop flight that was departing at 9am. I was supposed to land in LA at 12 noon but actually landed at 11:30am. So things were starting to look up.

I caught a shuttle to the apartment of my office spouse's friend in Pasadena. Of course the office spouse (and everyone else) thinks I'm crazy on the regular but even more crazy for travelling by plane, train and automobile to get to Vegas. I had been on the go since 7:30am on Wednesday morning and it was now 1:30 Thursday afternoon or 4:30 for y'all east coast folks. The office spouse said it was time for me to chill and relax after all I went through. So we went and got some lunch and sat outside and enjoyed the weather. Eating lunch outside, in the sun, in the middle of February. ONLY on the west coast. After lunch I took a shower, handled some business on the internet and took a nap. My journey was almost complete.

By about 11:30pm (2:30am EST) we were on the road to Vegas. I arrived at the casino I was staying at about 4am and that is when the real adventure began.

I think this blog is long enough so you'll have to wait for part two. But I gotta close with some thank you's and shout outs.

Commissioner Stern - after reading my adventure if this does not prove that I love this game I don't know what else does. For my effort I should get tickets to all the NBA All-Star festivities in New Orleans next year.

Office Spouse - What would I do without you? This weekend would have never been able to go down without you.

MC - thanks for letting me crash on the Wash U couch and for letting me get comfortable in your crib like it was my own home.

Story - Next time you are on the right coast I promise to take you anywhere you want to go.

All the people I met on the train, in the airports, on the planes - thanks for adding to the adventure. Everyone has a story to tell and y'all each added to mine (although too many side tales to add to this blog).

Holiday Travels

I'm not a big fan of the holidays. I don't have a family of my own (or a man) so the holidays just don't hold that same warm and fuzzy feeling for me as they do for other people. But thank GOD for my friends. As I have said many times before my friends are my family.

So for Turkey Day I'll be in the A-T-L. Home sweet home to me. My crew is doing our usual friends and family potluck Turkey Day. So I worked it out with my boss to work that week out of the Atlanta offices of SI.com. But this will be interesting because I'm having surgery on my right foot 96 hours before my flight to Atlanta. And I have rented a car as well. I'm anxious to see how I'll be able to manuever. But when there is a will there is a way and I'm the most stubborn person I know. :)

But the holiday fun doesn't end there. December 16 the crew is doing our annual Holiday Slumber Party. Yes, your eyes did not deceive you. It's a slumber party just like you used to have when you were kids. Everyone MUST wear pajamas. The event is pot luck, we play games, talk, laugh, drink, watch movies, listen to music, etc. We go to sleep, at least for a lil while...Unk T cooks us breakfast in the morning and everyone goes home after breakfast. It's pretty straight forward and tons of fun. And I wouldn't miss it for anything.

I don't have anything planned for X-mas or New Year's Eve but it's just the beginning of November. Who knows what might happen? Maybe some surprise trip will happen like last NYE or maybe I'll go to Vegas...

Weekend in the A-T-L

I hate going to Atlanta. Because as soon as I get there I have to come right back. The entire time I am ripping and running.

I said I need to come back to ATL in September and Mz. B said, "Why do you NEED to come back?" I told her she didn't love me...lol. I don't NEED to come back but I NEED to come back. I just don't have love for NYC like I do for ATL. I'm sure that's only a matter of time but I still hold on to my ATL connection.

Highlights of my trip:
- Met a very nice guy on the plane...he has dating potential (more about him in a future post)
- Sweet upgrade at Hertz courtesy of Airtran had me riding in style
- Big Sister Gorgeous 1 made me breakfast
- Got to see one my girls from Carolina
- Got to see the majority of my friends at the ASB reunion
- Granddad hooked the food up :)
- Smoochie came through with the "Smoochie Cookies"
- Unk T hooked up my Ipod

All in all I enjoyed every second I was there...and of course I'm missing it now.

Mini Vacation

I told y'all about my first day at work but I need to back it up. I was incognegro for an entire week between jobs and I loved every minute of it. Since I referred to my former job as a plantation I will describe my vacation as days of freedom.

First day of Freedom
I had a spa appointment in the morning to get a facial and a one hour back massage. It was great. After the spa I met CosmoGirl to see a free play called "Beer for Breakfast." It wasn't that bad and given that it was free I really can't complain. We then went to eat at Olive Garden.

Second day of Freedom
I went back to the spa and as my specialist at the spa would say beauty can be painful. So this was not fun. I got waxed (leave that one to your imagination), got a pedicure and I tried sunless airbrush tanning. Later that afternoon I got my hair washed. And I met a former coworker for dinner and happy hour at my favorite spot...Dave & Busters in Times Square.

Third day of Freedom
I went back to the spa...no I don't have a spa habit...I can't afford to have a spa habit. I got another application of the sunless airbrush tan...I don't think it really worked...oh well, it was an experiment. I finally got my cable/internet installed at home...I had no need for either at home before because I was ALWAYS AT THE PLANTATION. That evening I met up with CosmoGirl to do a little shopping. I bought a few things to wear to work and a cute top for an event later in the week. Scroll below for more.

Fourth day of Freedom
I went shopping...I know...a shocker...cause anyone that knows me knows I hate shoppign and I hate spending money unnecessarily. But it was all CosmoGirl's fault. She gave me a coupon for Express so I HAD to use it. I bought a few tops to wear at the new job...and thank God I did. I also bought 2 pairs of shoes. Total money spent - $100 :) Later that night I met up with SistahBiz. She took me to this great spot close to work that has good food AND 2 for 1 Martini's...y'all know I was in heaven. German Girl met up with us and after GG introduced me to one of her very fine friends and then we headed to Chevy's for a lite mexican snack.

Fifth day of Freedom
I did absolutely nothing...but sleep. Well I did do some chores but mostly I slept. Needed to get as much sleep as possible because the weekend was coming and I wanted to be ready. I got my last New York Times paycheck :( so I paid bills as well...at least the rent is covered :)

Sixth day of Freedom
I had no choice but to go and get my nails done because somehow I had cracked one and it was lifting badly. That evening I went to the UNC Black Alum happy hour at Kanvas and had a blast. It was so good to see everyone. My office spouse from Forbes joined me and I introduced him to one of my friends that is Business School at Columbia since he would be starting there in the fall. After, me and a few peeps went to grab something to eat at Caliente. I really like that spot...you know I'm all about good eats and drinks. I ended the night off at Triumph Room for CosmoGirl's birthday bash. I set the party off in the cute top I had bought earlier in the week, a jean mini skirt with matching jacket and the cute shoes I had also bought earlier in the week. It was a great day...my first Friday of Freedom and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Seventh day of Freedom
I went to a rooftop cookout and then hit up this club Eugene's. The Video Vixen was back in full form. This was part two of CosmoGirl's birthday weekend bash. I was just so happy to be out and about in NYC.

Eighth day of Freedom
I spent it with the family. I was so broke at this point that my momma bought me a tank of gas and some groceries. Then she and one of my neices came over to the city to hang out with me. We had brunch at Cosi and just enjoyed driving around the city like I used to do with my family when I was little. German Girl also cooked. So after I dropped the family off I headed to her place for some pork cooked German style and a bomb ass banana creme pie. It was so good I had to get 2 pieces.

So as you see, the basic theme of my mini vacation was drinks, food and fun...and I had plenty of each.

A-T-L

I saw the movie ATL and I'm not going to say it's the best cinema I have ever seen but it sure made me home sick and sentimental for Atlanta. I was tearing up from the start because you know most movies start off by setting the scene. So they showed various places in Atlanta and I just wanted to cry.

I won't spoil the movie but I will point out one HUGE inaccuracy. In one scene they are in a Waffle House and their waitress is Monica (the singer). Her hair is two toned, blond on top and red underneath. As I'm watching this scene I'm like you know nobody that looks that good works in a Waffle House. It's like it is almost a requirement to be busted with a few missing teeth in order to qualify for a position at Waffle House...any position at Waffle House. So that was the biggest inaccuracy that I had a nice laugh to myself about because that was the one thing that was not a true portrayal of Atlanta or of any Waffle House I have ever been too. But what I wouldn't do for a waffle right now...hmmmm.

I have moved around a lot but I have to admit, leaving Atlanta had to be the hardest move I have ever made. It's not like I moved to Podunk, Idaho or something...I moved to the Big Apple BUT home is where your heart is and mine is in Atlanta.

I am so homesick and I was born and raised here. If I could come back to Atlanta every weekend I would but I know that is just ridiculous and unreasonable. I wonder if NYC will ever feel to me like ATL does. I know it's going to take some time because trust I was not immediately in love with Atlanta but it also didn't take me long to fall in love with ATL.

So please go support the movie. Don't bootleg it. Whether you are in Atlanta or not it might make you a little sentimental too.

What happens in Vegas...

What happens in Vegas never happened thus I can't talk about something if it never happened. But let's just say I'm not quite as vanilla as I was before I went to Vegas and I'm definetely not as vanilla as I was a year ago.