Denial...

...is what I have been in. I thought that if I woke up it would all be a dream but no. Its real. The truth. REALITY! For the first time since 1994... my favorite team in the NBA will NOT be in the playoffs! AInt that some ish*. I have no reason to watch now. None at all. I knew it was a don deal before the end of the regular season... but i didnt want to admit it. HELL!!! I knew the Los Angeles LAKERS wouldnt be going anywhere once Shaq left. DAMN YOU SHAQUILLLEEEE!! DAMN YOU KOBEEEE!! (Please note, I AM THE BIGGEST LAKERS FAN IN THE STATE OF NY!!!!). Kobe messed up big time. I was reading Phil Jackson's book , Mindgames, and he said that he would not go back to the lakers if Kobe was still on the team. He was THE hardest player he has ever coached. I guess Kobe knew it all! He should have been the damn coach. See what you did Mr. Bryant! You turned off THE BEST COACH to ever coach in the NBA and one the best damn centers to ever play the game...Jeez. Jackson also went on to talk about Kobe actions following Colorado, the chemistry, or lack there of between Kobe and Shaq, his decision to retire, and what I like to call "The End of Lakers Legacy (see for yourself). But, now that I have faced the facts, I THINK i am ready to move on... Hopefully next year will be a better year. We need a good damn draft pick! Until then... bring on the WNBA!!! *hmph* LIBERTY SEASON OPENER SUNDAY MAY 22nd!


...signing off with a smile*

Interviews...

so i had two interviews today. one with Trace Magazine for an advertising/marketing event planner position, and the other with allhiphop.com for i guess an assistant position to the vp of marketing. they both went well. i'll know for sure what the outcome is next week. ill keep you posted *smile G.C.H*


..signing off with a smile*

Mommy...

I think I may have the best mother in the world. When I think of some of the things ive done, and how ive acted in the past it makes me sad. Yes, I kind of had the only child syndrome so I was a bit spoiled, but that is no excuse for the way that I acted at times. I say this because today during one of our many daily conversations, I told my mom about my money situation and how I was almost done paying off my credit card bills that I had accumulated while in college. I guess she saw that I was making an effort to clean up my "not so good" credit (Keish explains the importance of good credit: READ THIS!) and offered to pay off my last big bill if i paid her back monthly. I was so happy she offered. I wouldnt dare ask her to pay it because I did it to myself AND because she paid my college student loans IN FULL (lets just say they added up to more then what a lot of people make in one year... DAMN PACE UNIVERSITY). But my mom is the best. I just had to sit back and think about a few things that she has done for me. Just because she didnt do exactly what I asked of her doesnt mean she didnt do for me. For example, when I bought my first car (good ol' Brent, 1997 Altima) i begged her to put me under her insurance but she said no and man was i was pi.sse.d. but she did put me on her triple AAA and got me full triple mileage or whatever it is called. Thats just one of many instances but atleast now I recognize what my mom has done for me. Better late then never... right?

...signing off with a smile*

Decisions...

Life is full of 'em

Everything that happens to you is a result of a decision. Not necessarily one that you made, but a decision just the same. Right now I am embarking on a semi- big decision in my life. Its not life threatening or anything but it will begin my next phase in life. I look at my life in stages. Last year was graduation from undergrad and me having to deal with moving from my home of 22 years. It was a sad summer. I was happy about graduating from good ol' Pace University, but devistated about leaving my humble abode. My mom retired and moved back to VA, so I moved in with my aunt in Throggs Neck. Now im ready to move out on my own, (I think). Its about that time... I say that to say this... im going to have to make decisions on my own from now on. I was having a hard time grasping the concept of "decision making" but I think I got. Im going to make decisions, what I think are the right ones, they may not be, but if not ill make another, and another and another until I am blue in the face. Why not? I have to live with the results of my decisions be it good or bad... so here goes nothing...

...to be continued*

Carrsville...

...is the lil ass hick town my momma lives in. We got in around 9 am and damn... i forgot how far behind gods back she lives! LAWD!!! This aint noooo joke! Its about 6 miles off the main damn road! What the hell... if they are ever in need of help back here... shhiieeettt... anyway. The drive down here was so comical. I knew it would be fun (in between my cat naps). First off, my Aunt Eileen (my fav aunt in the world) is hilarious. We drove in her big Park Avenue (Barry is his name). Since I have my liscense as well, I figured we would split the drive. HA! No sir ree*. No driving Barry for me. OK fine... ( didnt wanna drive that big ass living room on wheels anyway!) My aunt has hot flashes so she had to turn the "air" on. MANNN it was cold as hell in that damn car. Thank god for blankets. Ok fine. I changed her radio station because although I love oldies (but goodies) I was not trying to hear lullabies on our 8 hour drive to CARRSVILLE VA, (dont bother looking it up, shit so damn small its not on the map or mapquest!) She let me listen to a few songs and then changed the damn station... Lol.. I was like hmph... this is a no win situation huh? Trying to freeze my ass, wont let me drive, and wont let me listen to some new tunes. So... I took my ass to sleep! Here she come talking about "Wake your young ass up... you said you could stay up the whole ride!" I sure did, PROVIDED I had a few things to keep me up.. like some damn music! Gotta love the family road trips! I forgot to mention that my other aunt, actually my great aunt Clara Lee, was knocked out as soon as she got in the car! God bless her heart! :)

So we roll up to the crib, (lovely crib, lovely lovely) and I was just happy to see my momma (like i didnt see her last week) and relax in her huge yard with the rabbits. (Ill post pics later). Im being a lil anti-social right now and I think... *sniff sniff* aww shyt... i think I smell collards... :)










...signing off with a smile*

ROAD TRIP!!!

So, by 12 am I should be on the road. To where you might ask... VAAAA! My homestate (actually my momma's homestate but mine just the same). One of my cousin's is getting married on Saturday so I guess you can call it a mini Bates family reunion. Cant wait... tell you more when I get to sunny Virginia.





...signing off with a smile*

Yeah so...

It feels kind of wierd not having to get up at 6 to go to work. BUT I have been doing work for two Marketing companies. Check out www.powermovesinc.com and www.movementmarketing.com. Although I wont have the secure salary that I had while at Columbia University, I will have peace of mind, AND will finally be able to enjoy what im doing! I love being able to come and go as I please and work at my own pace, but I DO KNOW, if I dont work, I dont get paid! But im kool... im happy... im content... im free! :)


* Now J. Walker PR can come into form! WATCH OUT LIZZIE GRUBMAN AND MARVETTE BRITTO AND SUSSSAAANNN BLONDD! HERE I COMEEEEE!


...signing off with a smile*

Frreee....

I will go into detail later but just know...

aint no feeling like being free
im like an ea.gle set free
FINALLY im looking out for me..


Since graduating and being inducted into the "Real World" society, I have learned that things happen for a reason. You should definatly live for yourself and make decisions for yourself, because only you will have to live with the results... with that said I can spread my wings and prepare to fly!!!! :)

*singing*
...this is my newww beginninggsss
Gotta make some new decisionss...
no more time for hesitationssss....

...signing off with a smile*

Slow down...

So... three nights ago I went to the Bobby Valentino album listening party at Negrils. Can you say Q T PIEEE!!!! BUT... can you also say SHO.RT! Damn...




So... im sure all of you know who Bobby V is. His single is steadily climbing charts. Hes getting some serious airplay and is in heavy rotation on the West Coast and is definately making some noise now, here on the east side. Im sure you have noticed that he was the lead singer in the group Mista (think back to 96). Oh... no? You dont remember Mista? Let me refresh your memory...

*A-Hem* * clearing throat*

Blaaackkberryyy molllaassesss
one of the things that never changeeee
you gotta keep pushing onnn
the sun dont reign all the timee
there's gonna be some heartache and painnnn

* taking a bow*
Thank you thank you!

Anywho, the event was kool. I went and networked as usual. I did what I do like I was doing it for TV!!! In between my mingling and sipping (water) I was able to take a listen to some of the tracks on his album, and if I must say so myself, hes going to do well. First off, hes a cutie ( short. as. hell. but still a cutie) and hes associated with one of the most creative rappers and production teams in the music industry (Ludacris and Chaka Zulu). There is no way that he wont have serious sales his first week out, (well there is a way, but lets just hope that Def Jam's marketing deptartment is on their ish*).

Back to Mista for a moment:



Listening to Bobby V. inspired me to dig through my crates and find my old Mista CD. I loved listening to this CD as much as I did as a 14/15 year old. Im sure that if they had the right team behind them, and released another godo single, they would have a made a lil' more noise and might have been a bigger staple in people's memories. Oh well... but the album is good. I wouldnt say its one to search through amazon or ebay for, but if you can download a few tracks, that would be enough. Lol..


...signing off with a coke and a smile*

Have you ever...

... loved someone so much that you would be willing to do just about ANYTHING for them?

... thought about relocating (across state lines) to be with your special someone?

... wanted to learn about their religion just so you could understand their views on certain things?

... considered practicing their religion so you two could be together without conflict?

... loved someone so much that you would spend your last dime just to see them for 5 whole minutes?

... loved so deeply that you thought he/she was one you could see yourself spending the rest of your life with AND bring lives into the world with?

... wanted to understand everything he/she was going through?

... wished you could take away their pain?

... cried at the thought of not being able to be with your special someone?

... smiled when your cell phone rings that special ringer that you allotted to his/ her name?

... not wanted to get off of the phone at 6 a.m. knowing damn well you two are dozing off, but stayed on just so you could hear him/ her breathe?

... felt like your special someone compliments you?

... felt like you have met your soulmate?

... went to sleep with him/ her on your mind and woke up with him/ her on your mind???


If you have... thats love! :)

I know its not Valentines day, not even close, but I just felt like rambling a lil' bit. Most people probably will never know the extent to which someone loves them or how strongly someone feels about them... until its a lil' too late...



Follow your heart but take your brain with you...





...signing off with a smile*

I almost forgot....

that he who an.gers you CON.TROLS you...





...signing off with a smile!

YAY!!!

I just remembered that my favorite person in the whole wide world would be here today! Thats right folks, my mommmaaaaaa is in town!! She is starting her new consultant job this week. She'll be in NYC one week out of the month for work. Gonna be good times having her around for a minute. Gotta luv the moms!

...signing off with a smile*

Bad business...

Ok... so today is Sunday and you would think that it would be one of the most relaxing days of the week. But no, not for me! To top off a somewhat iffy weekend,I have been faced with a HUGE issue. First lets begin with Friday. No... how about Thursday.

Ok so for the past few weeks I have been keeping track of Faculty and staff cap and gown order forms for commencement (part of my job). We attached order forms to the last TWO paychecks and expected faculty to return them to the mailbox indicated on the sheet. OK fine. Done deal. I get the responses and begin to keep them in an excel sheet to keep track. About twice a week my boss asks me " How are we doing with the Faculty order forms?" my answer... " Everything is fine. When i get them I add them and keep the forms in a folder" her response " Ok good! Wonderful!" She would even smile at me and say "You are doing good kid!" Which is great. Everyone wants to hear that their boss is pleased with their work.

Fast forward to this past Thursday. My boss tells me that she wants to wrap up the list so that she can put the order in. Ok fine. So I stay late on thursday to make sure that everyone who's paper I have has been entered onto my excel spreadsheet, and HIGHLIGHTED. Those that did not respond were NOT highlighted. I dont leave until after 7 and DELIVER THE DAMN SPREADSHEET TO MY BOSS'S HOUSE!!!!!! UNAPPRECIATED DEDICATION!!! Friday morning I come in and my boss calls. Here's how the convo goes:

Me: Good morning, Omotola speaking.
Karen: Good morning Tola.
Me: Hi karen... how was the list? Was it ok?
Karen: It was wonderful. Thank you!

OK.. so that was the initial convo. At 3 p.m. she calls back frantic.

Me: Good AFTERNOON, Omotola speaking.
Karen: Hi Tola. Its Karen, Question for you. Are the people who's names are highlighted the ones that replied?
Me: Yes they are. And those that did not respond are not highlighted.
Karen: Ok this is not good. This is very bad. So only 120 out 250+ faculty members responded?
Me: (thinking to myself: Im guessing she just looked at the sheets AFTER she said they were PERFECT at 9 am) Yes those are all of the responses that I got.
Karen: Well you were supposed to follow up with the faculty that did not respond and find out why they hadnt with an email and calls...
Me: (Oh HELL NO!!!) Was I? I was not aware of that. YOu never told me that I was calling these poeple and emailing them. You told me that I was keeping TRACK of the responses and you would handle those that did not respond! (and I swear its the truth)
Karen: Well... I am not giving up another weekend. This is not good at all. I cant give up another weekend to do this.
Me: Ok do you want me to email those that did not respond?
Karen: No! Its Friday. And most of them do not know you anyway so chances they wont respond.
Me: (If you know that they would not respond to an email from me, why did you just say that I was supposed to follow up with them with an email?) OK... Do you want me to call those that did not respond?
Karen: Yes!!! Thats it! I want you to call EVERYONE that did not respond and tell them that I need their information by Monday 10 a.m.
Me: (Bitch! Are you serious) Ok will do.


By this time I am STEAMING! I was so upset. This was NOT the first time the ball was about to be dropped on an event and I was going to take the blame for it. The first time I was able to clear my name because of my emails! What the hell? What do I do now? Tape every damn convo that my boss and I have??? This is crazy. They didnt hire me to be the damn Event Coordinator, they hired me to be the f***ing scape goat! Needless to say, good ol' Marlena walks in and I explain what happened to her. She then says " Yeah... I dont remember Karen telling you to make calls and emails. Maybe she was thinking it" I should have known better then to tell this **$%$ anything. I walk out of the office to cool off and do some things. i come back and Marlena is on the phone with Karen running her damn mouth. I could tell that my presence changed the tone of the convo, because when I returned all you heard was " Uh huh... yes I know" from Marlena. Mind you, Marlena is NOT an uh huh, yes I know person. She runs her mouth like water from a broken faucet! So again, im annoyed. She gets off the phone and starts by saying

Marlena: "I dont think Karen is mad but she is upset that this happened. I dont think you understand the importance of this. We needs to know exact numbers for blah blah blah... "

I tuned her out.

Me: Marlena, I UNDERSTAND the importance of tracking and knowing exact figures. That is not why I am upset. I am upset because I am about to take the blame for something that I was not aware of. How was I to know that i was supposed to be following up with the faculty that did not respond if i was never told too? How was I supposed to know TO even ASK about these things IF I DIDNT KNOW THEY HAD TO BE DONE. It is very hard being new to a job, trying to make sure you do EVERYTHING the right way, and make sure you are doing what is asked, and then with situations like this, you have to worry about someone else dropping the ball and you getting blamed.


I had a lot to say!!!!!!! To make this rather LONGGG story short, the black scape goat was pissed! Actually, that is not even the end of it. I have been getting major headaches from light and I guess looking at the computer too much. Karen claims to be an advocate for good health and has been pressing me to make doctors appointments to go get my eyes checked. I sent her an email on friday tellng her that i made an appoint for Tuesday to get them done. She emails me back and says " I would appreciate it if you re-scheduled. Please confirm with me before making doctors appointments. " LOL OK... now she wants to act up. It wasnt an issue before. She is the one that insisted that I go to the doctor. Jeez... it never ends.

Here is the HUGE issue. I was asked to help with the publicity for BET's Up To Front event this Tuesday. There is a meeting tomorrow night after work that I will be attending. But if I am correct, Tuesdays event is an alll day event. All day meaning, 9 to whenever. I want to go to this event but because of Fridays turn of events, im skeptical about going. I honestly think that if thigs hadnt turned out the way that they did, I would be able to say that I went to my doctor's appointments (2) and go to the BET event. But now, Im stuck. Dont know what to do. HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!

Lastly, my monthly assessment is coming up this week and I KNOW that this lil incident is going to have an affect on my review. Boy oh boy!



... and the scapegoat signs off...

Guess who's BIZZACCK!!!!!

Those were the longest 10 days ever huh? LOL Sorry 'bout that!



Spring is hereeee and that means summmmeeerr is NEAR!!!! (soooo corny) Now that I have a moment to breathe, it is time for an OVERDUE update. Where shall I begin? At the beginning perhaps? Where is that? I havent a clue! Ill just start where-ever.

* Ok... so my job is kool and all. It is not one of those " I hate waking up in the morning, I dont want to go to this damn place" jobs. Its kool. BUTTT (you knew there was a but coming) It is NOT where my heart lies. I appreciate it for what it is, Lord knows I do... but again... its not where I want to be.
I dont like to talk bad about people, (so maybe I should'nt) but MARY* is WORKINGGGGG my nerves. When I say working, I mean she makes me want to strangle her! Scenario 1: We were both supposed to attend a meeting with the CIS department so that we would BOTH know how to enter student information into the database so that they could register for graduation. Meeting time comes and Mary* tells me to go up and that she will be up in 15 minutes. 15 minutes come and go and im damn near done with my tutorial. A few minutes later, meeting is over, I head back to my office, look at Mary* shaking my head and say " 15 minutes??". Mary* says "Oh I am busy doing something else, can you show me what to do later??" NO B***H! I can not show you anything. (I thought) I just walked away and returned to desk. So as I surf the site and try to job my memory of what I heard in the meeting, who decides to stand behind me and watch? Mary*. First off... I DO NOT like people standing behind me. Secondly... she smells soooo bad... SO BAD!!! Its not horrble body odor... its her mouth! It smells like rotten gums. I feel bad saying this (not that damn bad) but it is the truth. Her mouth emits this foul odor EVERYTIME she opens it (which is VERY OFTEN). *Shaking my head* So I politely turn around, look at her, and say please do not stand behind me like that. She then says oh... sorry... you can teach me later... DAMMIT!!!! LEAVE ME ALONEEE... arrrggggg. I dont even feel like going into a nother scenario but there are PLENTY MORE... Fill ya in later.

* Im still doing my side work with Complex Magazine and its great! I have met tons of people on all frames of work and im loving it. For those that know me, you know I am in my zone when im networking and making my connections! Pure BLISS!! lol


* An upcoming DJ... DJ Treats to be exact, and I are in the works of working out his Publicity plan. He asked me to be his publicist! :) Im also doing publicity work for Peter Pierre, (my boss at Complex) who will also be writing a Fashion Column for the mag! So things are moving right along as you can seeeee!

* My long distance love and I are getting so caught up its crazy! Ill go into details about that later! If the title of my blog says "Gone to the Chi" you know what that means... (I got hitched)




* Names have been changed to protect the innocent.