Say It Aint So...

Say it ain't so...
but I received a text mid-day this week from my property manager (never a good sign) saying that our property in NC had been broken into, no one was hurt!

As I sat there in complete disbelief, my mind was bombarded with thoughts of my tenant of whom has small children because I know how I would have felt if it would have occurred while I were there. Our neighborhood is pretty "off the beaten path" so unless you have a purpose there, you're not there. There is no bus traffic and everyone knows each other (I sound like a evening news soundbite now) but seriously!

I was just there last summer completing my semi-annual walk through and the community hadn't changed surface wise - had the "ni***'s" moved into my neighborhood? Sheesh! You think other folks don't like 'em; even black people hate it when the "ni***'s" move into their communities! They are an embarrassment! They tear up stuff and ruin property values; they have no pride in anything!

Well no one was hurt, and my tenant is OK, mentally and physically - well at least that's what she has relayed through my property manager. She carries rental insurance so the contents that were stolen will be replaced - but in my opinion, sense of security cannot! Another positive was that he was actually caught in the community with the stolen items just a few blocks away after he kicked my darn door in; my "unrehabilitated" Christian side wished that he'd been tazed or hit at least once with the Billy Club for causing all of this drama! But I digress. How foolish - a young, black, man kicked in the door and was caught within blocks of the property with possession of the stolen items.

Now, I have to reframe the door entrance and replace the door. Man, Thank God, it wasn't worse.

K.R. Hanchey Storybook Character Day

Tomorrow is Storybook Character Day at Rah's school. You are supposed to dress as you favorite storybook character and bring a copy of the book to school for the Storybook Character Parade! They discuss the characters within the class and read the books aloud, it's a wonderful program.

Rah has decided on his favorite book, Big Dog...Little Dog; he made Darryl and I read this book to him nightly for, I kid you not, no less than a month!

So he told me what he would need for his character and this is what we came up with...

Rah as "TED"

I used mascara for his nose and a rubber band with brown construction paper stapled around it for his ears! LOL

The letters on his shirt are also cut from black construction paper and taped to his shirt.

Rah said TED doesn't have on pants because he's a dog and he wears his skin; so he should wear his brown skin to school on the bottom half too, LOL! I convinced him that I though that would be inappropriate.

BTW, his first storybook character was Jesus from his Book of Bible Stories his Godfather, Shane gave him after his christening. I could only imagine the repercussions I would have received if I would have sent Rah to school as Jesus; Rah, the boy who gets written up daily and bad behavior checklists so much the teacher attaches paper to the standard form for additional comments...only Rah, only Rah!

How do you think we did as far as his favorite storybook character?

Kalema's Birthday

Happy Birthday Kalema

Kalema is Rah's "unofficial" little sister and Kenya's daughter. Her birthday party was Saturday and we walked outside into the courtyard to help her celebrate her 4th birthday. We got a chance to fire up the grill and inflate the bounce house. I promptly ran back into the house and sent Rah back out with every "veggie dog and burger" in my freezer for JR to grill. The little princess had a wonderful day and the weather was extremely agreeable... Check out a few pics of us with friends having fun!

The birthday girl and friends enjoying the bounce house in the complex courtyard

Enjoying all of lunch from the grill

Grill master "JR"

Mommy and Rah

Kenya tried to light the candle, but the wind was blowing - it simply didn't happen LOL

The birthday girl was lavished with gifts - she loves La La Loopsy

Even mommy Kenya ventured in the bounce house...lol

Mommy & birthday girl

My Fellow Morning Commuter

I simply had to take this picture (minus all of the bad driving that it took to get the shot) so that I can share with a simple glance of a vehicle that I passed on my way to work. Once I passed a tractor filling up at the gas station, it was soooo huge and out of place; I wanted o pull right over and get a photo but I wasnt resourseful enough. And to think, I use to think seeing the Amish every now and then with their horse drawn buggies were a sight. Maybe I'll do a series: "Land Rovers of Louisiana"...

Girls Night Out

I saw this sign and couldn't resist! HA HA HA! I was hoping, OK, praying that somewone would get venture up there and fall!

My friend Kenya finally convinced me to hang out with her a couple weeks ago (this was my first night out since hanging out with Ebby & Aunt LuLu at home) and it turned out to be quite fun and "interesting".

I must say I am sooo past the "club scene"; visiting a lounge and hearing some Jazz or live performance art - or simply going to a concert or catching a local artist at an intimate venue is more my current frame of mind. But I went along anyway and as her friend Keisha's husband DJ's there we got in free, drank free, and I got a chane to play dress up in funky club clothes. But wow!!! As I scanned the room of all of the latest "acceptable" club protocol and dances, I knew for sure I was too much of an adult, had theses people lost their minds and not known how they appeared to the "average eye"? I mean sheesh. It was seriously a hot mess!

Which takes me back to getting ready: When I was getting dressed, Darryl told me and I quote, "You look skanky." Now, he claims he said "You, are too old to dress that skanky, and people don't dress like that for the clubs down here." Either way, I was offended and quickly informed him that I was in fact not dressed "skanky" and my clothes were appropriate for both the environment and my age - additionally my clothes don't wear me, I wear my clothes. I am the prototype. (OK, he got me in my feelings). But how would he know anyway. He has no style, all he'd wear is his "DC uniform": jeans, black tee, and Nike boots, if I'd let him. How dare he...the nerve! LOL. BTW - I was extremely modest as compared to what I witnessed within those four walls; in fact I could have administered the Holy Sacriment with how modest I was in comparison!

So I sipped my drink and danced in my confined area and took in all of the ridiculous sights and had a good time, just laughing at how foolish I must have appeared to the back then to the "mature mind" who visited the club with her friends for a Girls Night Out.

I chopped my head off because I was talking and my mouth was open when Kenya snapped the dang photo, but my pose was on point! LOL

OK, I was sooo channeling my Cindy Lauper-esq vibe! Never mind the snacks on top of Keesha's refridgerator in the background! LOL

This was not planned! Kenya and I simply had an 80's desire. I soooo need to tone up my legs (agghhh)!

Kenya's friend Reese, darn flash - we didn't see her glow by the black lights at the club though so it was "all good" ;)

Kenya

Reese in the lounge area of the club, where we found some solitude for a moment.

Kenya, just posed - believe me we tried sooooo hard to get her to swing around a time or two!

Blast from the Past

I fused my 21st century take on the 50's Pompadour with some high waisted pants and a tailored shirt and felt ultra chic! Kinda played upon the 30's and 40's era that entered my head last minute and arrived at a really cute outfit that comprised of like like 3 decades...LOL

It was such a nice day, I had Darryl snap a couple pics after I left church to share with you all.