Thursday, October 25, 2012

Getting to know me: I answer 50 Questions. Please do too!


1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes, Sister Canissia 

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
July 2012.


3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
It's ok.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Sea Food

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I'd adopt me

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Yes. I work in a dark and stressful job and sometimes it helps to let off steam.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE and Who?
Yes, Sister Canissia
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED and why?
July 2012. I was getting kicked out of the apartment by someone who didn’t even know me.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
It’s ok. It changes a lot. Good thing nobody writes anymore.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAT?
All Mea! Sea Food.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS and How old are they?
No
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I would be my best friend. I am my best friend.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
All the time.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes, even though They troubled me a lot as a kid and started again recently.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
I’d love to.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Oats aka Oatmeal (Yuck, I know)
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I know I am. Physically and emotionally.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Vanilla with choc chips, fudge, caramel and choc chips with peanut butter. How can you not like that?
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Teeth and eyes. Or their ass, depends.
15. RED OR PINK?
Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My weight
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My brother who passed away in 2005. R.I.P B.I.G.
18. WHAT IS THE PAUL MCKENNA TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?
Assessing if I’m really hungry or it’s something else. Then dealing with the emotional cravings and using the tapping technique.
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Teal boots.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Halls Cough Drops, otherwise Ribs for lunch
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Julio If you go Away
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Baby Pink
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Oh my Word, not a fair question. 90 % of nice scents out there I love if not more
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Terry, from California
25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Definitely a Beach House.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Dance, Swimming, Gymnastics
27. WHAT’S YOUR HAIR COLOR?
Black, I can’t wait to be blonde or light brown again though
28. EYE COLOR?
Dark Brown
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Not yet.
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Indian
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Bridesmaids
33. WHAT COLOR TOP  ARE YOU WEARING?
Royal Blue
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer  PLEASE
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs  
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Cake or White chocolate milkshake
37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
Cardio.
38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
Computer to watch Television show. Go figure!
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Nothing, I will start tomorrow, promise!
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Don’t use a mouse
42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Music.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Rolling Stones
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
USA, right now. But then again, I’m always far from home.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Yeah tons.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Uitenhage, South Africa
47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
New Jersey (United States). Not for long though, watch this space!
48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?
Cream
49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?
 N/A
50. DID YOU ENJOY ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONS?
It was ok,  I will find better ones next time.



8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes


9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Nope

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Not a big cereal eater, but when I was a kid I got Cap’n Crunch for Christmas or birthday.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
depends on the shoes

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Physically not so much any more. Emotionally I’m a Rock in trying times.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Soft serve Vanilla with sprinkles

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Teeth and eyes

15. RED OR PINK?
Green hehehe Pink I suppose.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My C-section belly

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My mother who died 7 months after my daughter was born following complications from Gastric bypass.

18. WHAT IS THE PAUL MCKENNA TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?
Assessing if I’m really hungry or it’s something else. Then dealing with the emotional cravings and using the tapping technique.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Brown boots.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A bag of microwave popcorn

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Drop Dead Diva on my phone while I work on notes.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Green

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
yankee candle balsam cedar & sage and citrus

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
client

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Beach House all the way!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
tennis occasionally otherwise no interest

27. HAIR COLOR?
Dark dark brown

28. EYE COLOR?
Dark Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
In the summer so I can wear sunglasses

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican and Italian

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Bridesmaids

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Red

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer all the way.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs and kisses from my kiddos

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
tiramasu

37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
Cardio.

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
TV for vegging out. Computer for connecting with people.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Just Finished Terry Pratchet’s The Color of Magic.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Speedy Gonzalez (cartoon mouse)

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
the quiet on morning weekends.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Spain.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
making others smile

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
New York City

47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
Upstate NY (United States)

48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?
Green (My husband just painted the house this summer)

49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?
blue.

50. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONS?

Thursday, October 18, 2012

My First Job in the US


End of June 2012.
I spent hours and hours in the library applying for jobs and downloading music. It really is how I spent my days when I first arrived in The US. Thursdays, I’d leave first thing in the morning, laundry in tow and go to T’s. She’d cook us very yum  food.  From Corn on the cob to dumplings, paap etc. Fun times all round!

She even let me drive her car one day, to the store. It was really nice. If you know me, I love to drive, this was different because it was a left hand drive, driving on the right side of the road, at 25miles/hour (60km/hr)  25 just seemed so much slower, you know? In my head, I felt like I was driving at 25 km/hr.

I’d sleep over Thursday nights and when she had her long breaks, we’d go to West Haven together, have lunch at the Chinese Buffet place, she’d run her errands with me tagging along, and then drop me off on her way back to her work, which is where she lives. I lived at her place (which her roommate) while she lived at work (sleep in, so to speak).

One evening, I got a call from T’s friend, she told me her friend needed someone to fill in for her for the night. Oh my word, I didn’t even hesitate, I WAS IN! I had to wait for the lady to call me to finalise everything. I was so anxious! I called T, she was so happy for me. I sat there impatiently waiting for the call.... Finally, she called! Let’s call her Pinky. She told me she’d pick me up around 8pm, drop me off at the house, I was to look after the elderly lady she looks after, for the night. She’d be back 24 hours later and take me home. I was so excited just to have something to do. Something different, you know?
She picked me up as promised, I had an overnight bag ready, a change of clothes and my laptop, something to keep me occupied. She’s a very nice lady, very bubbly. It was such a pleasure to meet her. She’s from the Eastern and the Western Capes n South Africa. So off the bat, we had things in common.  We arrived at the house, it smelled like medication, I tried not to freak out.  I met the lady, she was ready to sleep. Pinky left. I called T to update her. Turned out she knows Pinky, she said not to tell Pinky that we’re friends, that could ruin my new friendship with Pinky. I found that interesting. That made me really want to tell Pinky. Just so I could find out what she was hiding. Wouldn’t you?

There was no cellphone network in the entire house, I found a tiny little spot in the garage, where I had to have the phone on speaker, to maintain signal. That’s how I managed to talk to T, halfway through the conversation, she asked someone else something in our conversation. Turns out, we were on a 3way call the entire time! Interesting! I watched some telly, had some nuts and went to sleep. I got up, bathed and got the old lady ready for the day. When we got to the bottom, she looked me deep in the eye and went, “oh Brook, right there!  That feels so good Brook!” I was like, uhm, I think that’s enough, it’s clean now. AWKWARD! She complained and complained about how she didn’t like Pinky and wanted me to replace her. I told her I was flattered but couldn’t do that to my friend and if Pinky’d been there for a year, she must have been doing something right. She kept me running around all day, I was literally sweating ALL DAY! Did I mention I was running around all day? ALL DAY! Pick this up, take this there, I wanna bathe, I wanna bathe again. Put me here, take me there, bring me the phone, not this one, the one in the dining room. Don’t tell Pinky I made you do this. By the way, do you like me? What do you say to someone who asks you such a question? This was before she drove me up the wall. I honestly thought she was a nice old lady then.  She asked me to tell Pinky when she got home what I thought of her because Pinky tells her everybody thinks she’s mean and they don’t want to help Pinky when she needs someone to fill in for her. I told her I’d tell Pinky if she asked what I thought of her.

After that she became an absolute monster! She told me to bathe her again. Just the private parts. She got up and wanted me to rub her with the wash cloth there. When I stopped, she was like, do it some more Brook. I was like, I think it’s clean now (Good Lord! She said, “never mind, give me the wash cloth!” She went to town with it, while I was standing there in utter shock.
I couldn’t wait for Pinky to get home and get me out of that misery. The excitement of it all wore off so quickly! I literally didn’t even have time to shower. When the old lady dozed off, I was breathed a sigh of relief. Quietly, God forbid she heard me and woke up! The phone rang while I was in the shower, she yelled for me to bring it to her. She had a phone right next to her, she wanted me to bring her the one that was in the dining room. I had to get out of the shower, wet as I was and get her the phone. My, oh my! Eight PM came and went. Pink got home at exactly the same time she left, 24hours prior. I could have kissed her, I was so relieved! She asked me if the lady behaved. I was like, Girl, I’m ready to go home! She asked me if she didn’t ask me to do that thing that she made me do to her genitals, I was both relieved and grossed out. Relieved that I wasn’t imagining it, grossed out for obvious reasons. She also asked me what I thought of her in general, I gave her my honest opinion. She told me the old lady doesn’t believe that she’s mean. Well...

Pinky asked if I didn’t want to spend the night, she would take me home the next day, I was like girl, I think I’m good, take me home, please NOW! Old lady wanted to see me before I left. She asked if there were something I wanted to tell Pinky. I was like, “like what?” She went, like how you feel about me, the fact that you think I am a nice person. I was like, Oh no, that was before you were so mean to me all day. Telling me how you don’t like black people, you think they are lazy, blah blah bah. I told her exactly what I thought of her. She asked!
Pinky dropped me off and I was glad to have made some money! My very first week in the US. It was a good sign, don’t you think? Oh and no, I didn’t tell Pinky I knew T... yet!