Friday, May 26, 2006

When they know too much...

Group meeting during a lazy, Sunday afternoon.

Me: “Okay, so our next meeting is Wednesday night?”
Eric: “Yeah. Man, I hate it when our meetings are late. I get so hungry!”
Me: “Yeah me too. Well, I’ll be happy to get some pizza.”
Eric: “No you don’t have too I was just---“
Shannon: “Nahh. Erzulie can afford it. She has a stipend from the government.”



Way3at yadee. Oo la2, etkamel, “from the government!”


PS's...
Tricky - Aftermath
Badly Drawn Boy - The Shining
Pink Floyd - Pillow of Winds

at 11:43 PM 20 comments

Monday, May 22, 2006

Little Brother Thinks Big

Every now and then, I grumble and complain when my older brother scrutinizes my dark kohl or fitted attire. However, I have come to realize that my big bro is way more indifferent to my skirts and even guy friends than my squirt of a little brother.

Two summers ago, I was vacationing with my parents and younger brother in Europe. The almost seven year old kid plopped on my bed and watched me as I gave a surprise phone call to my good Saudi Arabian friend who was then in London for the holidays. When I finished my cheery conversation, my brother was looking at me in a peculiar way before he asked, “Mino hatha?” I told him it was my friend from college. Suddenly he inquired, “Hatha rifeejich?” Note that he did not say “Your friend” or “9adeeqich,” which is less black and white than the term he used. Of course, I was taken back. Was I being interrogated by my seven year old brother? I told him he’s one of my best friends before he looked at me amusingly, “Hmm…okay.” I was still stunned and slightly freaked at his sudden change in demeanor and tone.

Last summer, I joined my older brother, mother, and the squirt for a not-so-quiet dinner at the overrated Indian restaurant in Marina Crescent. The gang was waiting for me in the car. Everyone was already jammed in there. Everyone except the squirt; he was waiting for me patiently near the front door. He looked at me quizzically, eyeing my knee-length skirt, “Hathi il tanoora gi9eera?” Again, I was startled by his question/pseudo-provoking comment, “La moo 7i9eera. 7ilwa. Yallah imsh il sayara.”
Seriously!


PS's...
Weekend Players - Best Days of Our Lives (Just click YES)
Incubus - I Miss You [Acoustic Live]
Elton John - Daniel

at 10:37 AM 12 comments

Friday, May 19, 2006

Back in the Hood

Pearl Street, Boulder, CO

I had a short but much needed five day break. I met up with my dear, good friends and we had a lovely time during the toasty days and breezy nights. I shopped, had my portion of homemade cookie dough ice cream, and clashed with a French tarot reader in an Indian clothing boutique. “Are you from Morocco?” was the first thing the snotty, silver-haired hag asked me.
Pearl Street, Boulder, CO

My flight back took 7.5 instead of 2.5 hours due to bad weather. But my bus ride to the airport was more amusing, or rather, discomforting. As always, I sat in the back of the bus to stretch my legs and embrace the available spaciousness. Unfortunately, a fifty-something year old man with visible hair plugs and a cheesy orange tan plopped down next to me. He talked about his destination, Brazil, and its wonders, “You know, Brazilian women are very flirtatious. I mean, it is okay for an eighteen year old girl to flirt with an eighty year old guy, you know, to make him feel good.” I felt strange when he said that. I am sure I made a face because he gave me an awkward grin before shutting up for good.

Pearl Street, Boulder, CO


I took a second, one hour bus ride back home. My friend had called me earlier and told me that if I needed a ride to my apartment I should call her; however, I thanked her for the offer and told her that I will simply flag down a cab.

Pearl Street, Boulder, CO

Yet when I reached the bus station at 11 pm, the ever-present row of taxis was nonexistent. The streets were dark and muggy from the rain. There was literally no one around except the middle-aged couple who hopped off the bus with me. “Are you waiting for someone?” I answered the woman and told her that I just phoned the taxi company. Her husband looked around the bare streets, “You know, this is a bad area. Are you sure you will be okay here? Do you want us to stay with you until the cab arrives?”

Suddenly, their thirty year old daughter pulled up in her minivan and she was quickly informed of my taxi-less situation. “Come on hon, we’ll drop you home. You can't stay here alone.” And home was about a five minute ride anyway. So I hauled my plump suitcase in the trunk and chatted with my helpful hosts. The people you meet whilst traveling…

I came back home and unpacked. I woke up at 4 am only because I was starving. Fortunately, my friend was still up so we headed to a nearby diner. I was looking over my menu and we both laughed at the following:

Good times, good friends...

PS's...

Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason

Weekend Players - Into the Sun

Thievery Corporation - Liberation Front

at 12:53 AM 9 comments

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Exams




Back in a week or so...



In the meantime, I'll leave you with extra notes...

Fat Jon - 624 Part One
Breakestra - Show & Prove
Kanya West Ft. Talib Kweli & Common - Get 'Em High
The Roots Ft. Jill Scott & Erykah Badu - You Got Me
The Roots Ft. Big Daddy Kane & Kool G Rap - Boom!
Mos Def & Talib Kweli - Definition
Snoop Dogg Ft. The Doors - Riders In The Storm

at 4:44 AM 20 comments

Monday, May 01, 2006

International Ditz

Sometimes, I deliberately play the part I proudly call “The International Ditz.” It may be because I aspire to be an actress in my next life, or in this case, to weasel my way out of a speeding ticket.

Red, blue, and white lights blind me. My friend interrupts my conversation and says, “Yo Erzulie, pull over, it’s a cop.” So I do. I observe the policeman walking toward me with his beaming flashlight. I lower my window and look up at him, cocking my head slightly to one side and giving him a confused, doe-eyed gaze.

“Miss, was there any reason you were sailing down an inner street at 60 miles per hour?” I study his face, part my lips, and consciously brush away any hint of an American accent, “Ummm…not really.”
My dutiful, slightly flustered friend hands over my registration from the glove compartment and I calmly give the document to the cop, along with my license. I continue eyeing him as he studies the paperwork.

“Were you in a hurry to get anywhere?” He looks up from my records. Our eyes lock. I knew right then I was off the hook, “I’m going back home,” I cooed while purposely stressing on my forced accent.
He cleared his voice and mumbled, “Well, next time slow down. Have a good night Erzulie.”

“Oh thank you officer!” I closed my window, turned to my friend – whose jaw hit the floor- and raised a mocking eyebrow along with a smirk.
I think my buddy said “YOU LUCKY ASS!” a million times that day.
Sometimes, being a girl pays off. In this case, it got me out of a $500 ticket. Ah well, c’est la vie boys ;)


PS's...
MF Doom Special Blends Ft. Erykah Badu - On & On
Common Ft. Erykah Badu - The Light
DJ Shadow - Six Days [Remix by Mos Def]

Trance...
JASEfos Ft. Claire Van Der Boom - Do What U Want
Ahmet Ertenu - Why
ToneDepth & Soultan - Moments
Solarstone & JES - Like a Waterfall

at 2:07 PM 18 comments