Been a minute

Haven't blogged in a couple of months! WOW!!!! A lot going on and then nothing at all!!! Summer finally arrived here in the Chi and ooooohhhhh weeeeeeee I am soooooooo grateful!! I love, love, love summertime!!!!!

First off, no million layers of clothes,stays lighter outside longer, summer fruits, more festivals, summer fun!!! I love it!!!!

Today is Wednesday and I'm just chillin out today. Oh yeah another thing about summer is my all time fav summer show, Big Brother!! It comes on tonight. I'm such a dork, this I know for sure, LOL!!!

The Dollface is at sleepaway camp. She has been gone for three weeks. She hates it and says she is never going back. She said that last year too but I kinda think she is serious this time. LOL!!! She comes home this Friday. Well I pick her up this Friday. Her parents are going on a 3 day family reunion cruise. They couldn't afford to take all the kids, so none of them are going. The two oldest will be at home and the Doll will be with me. I know she is not happy about missing that cruise.

Still working out just not as early in the morning. Those 4am wake up calls were killing me!!!! I get there between 7-9 now. Much better cause yall know I fuggin' hate mornings!!! UGH!!!

My troubled soul went to a summer festival with me this past weekend. He stayed here at the house with us for two days. Seemed like old times but I didn't want him getting comfortable. The boy/man is a mess, still!!! The very next day he posts pics of himself doing something real dumb and illegal on fb. I sent him a quick msg to get that ish off of his page immediately. Just dumb for no reason. Some young folks, I don't get them man!!!! And to think he has a kid too. Lord Jesus be a fence all around them everyday!!!!

Had the best freakin' time of my life at the Chosen Few House Music Picnic this past weekend. We danced, ate, drank and partied for 13 hours in the hot blazing sun!! HOUSE MUSIC ALL NITE LONG!!!

I think i got a lil burned that day cause my face and the back of my neck stings when I touch them. UGH!!!

Love the Farmer's Market too. Nothing in the world like super fresh, straight off the farm, fruit and veggies.

Been watching that horrible Single Ladies. It's so awful I have to watch!!!

Weeds is back on too. That show is stupid funny! I think this may be the last season though. Nancy can't possibly sell drugs for an eigth season can she????

My mother's last remaining sister is celebrating her 80th birthday next weekend. She says after her party she's going home to be with her mother, husband and other siblings. She said she's tired of living. *sigh* That's deep and what do you say to that???

I saw the cutest puppy the other day. That want is back but then of course I think of the time you have to invest and NOPE not happening.

Our bookclub has been seriously slacking LOL!!!! We haven't read a book in like months!!! But we meet and have a good ole time talking about why we didn't read!!! Just crazy!!!!

Bout to go roast some veggies in the oven. Today is super cool outside, then the warm up comes back for the weekend. I'm glad because I'll have 3 lil girls over here and we will be hitting the beach for sure.

Man I love Summer!!!!!

Oprah takes her final bow...

Today was the last day of the Oprah Winfrey show and to me it's kinda surreal. I mean I have been watching Oprah since 1984 here in Chicago. A couple of years before she went national. I'm in denial about this really!!! I arranged my college classes around Oprah lol!! She was smart as hell, cool, crazy, funny, interesting, blessed, a blessing! Finally someone who looked like me and represented me was on the air!! For the past few weeks my friends and I have been swept up in the finale (of course with our Dollface being on the show and all)the end of an era as we know it and it brings about a certain sadness. I mean really we call each other and ask, "Did you see Oprah today?" So now that it's over what are we gonna do without her???? I know yall must be thinking this chick is nuts, Oprah is just a talk show host. To me she is sooooooooo much more!!! To watch how giving she is and how she used the show to promote so many people and things is just a phenomenal thing!!!! Oprah is the gift that keeps on giving!!!

On this last show she truly gave God the Glory, Honor and Praise. I mean she straight out said I'm talking about G-O-D!!!! Go head Oprah. Her last words were, to God be the Glory!!!! Shoot I had goosebumps and was shouting up and thru this house!!!

25 years, that's a long time without misssing a day!!! She never missed a show in 25 YEARS!!!! WOW!!! That's some dedication for that azz!!! I love her man!!! I wish her the best at OWN!!! But the spoiled, always wants my way, self wants my Auntie Oprah show still. *sigh*

The bell just rang, how awesome!!! Mom's bike from the Oprah Show was delivered today. I mean ok too cool!!! :-)I just mailed off my certificate for my bike today. Yall know how I procrastinate!!!

The one thing (of many) that I will take from the show is what she said today: "You are responsible for your own life. Doesn't matter what your mama did, doesn't matter what your father did, YOU are responsible for your own life."

It will free you!!! I love that so much!!!

Wishing nothing but the BEST for her life!!!!

Oprah Winfrey show 1986-2011

25 years...

*** I'm sitting here crying watching the 11:00 am news showing clips of the last show cause I still can't believe it's over!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!***** Uh and yall know I don't ever cry!!!!!!!!!!

Dollface and Auntie O

My Dollface got to perform at the finale Spectacular for Oprah!!! Do yall even know how awesome this was for her???? Let me tell you she was in seventh heaven!!!

Oprah had a topic on her website about Chicago moms do you have a daughter between the ages of 8-17. So I told her mom and a couple other people to go ahead and submit according to the website to see if the girls could get on the show. Well they called one of my other friends first and then they called Dollface. Baby bye!!!! We were soooooooooooooo frantic to receive a call from the producers of Oprah. They made sure we didn't tell anyone and they stressed this over and over again. It had to be a secret until the day of the taping because the media was going to be all over it.

They found out Sunday that Dakota Fanning and Beyonce' were going to be the celebs they were performing with onstage. How Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They rehearsed for two days and the girls met both Bey and Dakota. Dollface said she was never washing her hand after Bey shaked every girls' hand. 60 girls in all. The actual day of taping she saw sooooooooooo many celebs and she had the biggest smile on her little face!!! This is something she will remember for the rest of her life.

Only one parent could accompany Dollface, so her mommy got the golden ticket!!! Whoo Hoo!!! What a blessing huh? They were in the greenroom and her mom said the room at the United Center was simply awesome. She got to watch the entire show. Her mom was really excited too, as we all were.

Dollface went to school today totally excited to share her awesome, once in a lifetime experience with her classmates and some of the mean girls in her class cut her down. They told her they didn't want to hear it and to shut up cause nobody cared. Simply rude and jealous little heffas!!! That hurt her feelings but she said the older girls were excited for her and the boys in her class were happy as well. I was glad about that but you know how I feel about my doll. I hate it when her feelings are hurt and these girls make me wanna cold snap!!!

I went to see her today and my mom asked her for her autograph because she was now our little celebrity. She smiled from ear to ear!!!

Her grandmother is hosting a viewing party on Monday morning when the show airs here. Going all out with mimosas and a big breakfast/brunch buffet. The doll will be in school this day as she missed two days this week due to the very late rehearsal times and the 4 hour taping last night. That baby needs her 10-12 hours of sleep or else she is noooooooooooooo good!! LOL!!!

Gotta love the Dollface!!

Auntie O and her staff RAWK!!!!!

Dollface

Big things poppin' for the dollface. More details soon!!!!

Blessed!!!

I know you won't believe it but the very next day. My exercise guru and I went out for lunch and were in the vicinity of Harpo Studios. So I asked if we could go over the Oprah store because we, mom and I, didn't get a chance to get to the store when we were there the day before. Guru was like yeah, but she didn't really wanna go cause she wanted a few minutes to herself at home before her kids came home from school. I get that, I really do. But she drove us over there anyways. While I was in line purchasing my O goodies, the cashier asked if we wanted to go see the show. Picture me with my mouth WIDE OPEN!!!! I told her I was at a taping yesterday and she said it was cool, they were pulling us from the store and there would be no problem. I started doing a dance!!!! Going to the Oprah Show TWO DAYS IN A ROW???? Never ever happens!!!!! But it did and we went!!! Mind ya we were not dressed to the nines like most people that go to the show but who cares we were getting to see Oprah baby and we didn't have to stand in any lines either!!! They searched us and lead us right into the studio for the Freedom Riders taping.

Such a deep show man. Oprah got really emotional and had to do a retake a couple of times. Oh she had on a red dress this day and some bad azz green shoes!!!! Love her!!!

PBS is airing a special on May 16th so please tune in. I never knew the horrors the Freedom Riders went through. They were sent to prison even. One person brought Oprah a pair of prison shorts they wore during their stay at Parchment. Like I said the show was deep!!!!

As we were leaving they gave us the book Freedom Riders and the dvd too.

I can't believe my luck!!! I had never ever been to a taping and then wham, I get to go two days in a row. UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Oh and I saw one of my friends in the Oprah store. She was in the morning taping with Shania Twain. Uh, they got a trip!!!! Yeah a 2 day trip to Nashville and a big party with Shania. LUCKY HEFFA!!!! But I ain't mad I got a bike, a helmet, a book, a dvd AND I got to see Oprah two days in a row!!! HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Now only if I can get in on this last show at the United Center!!!!

One can only wish right?

Today was Awesome!

Early this morning my mom and I went to our very first taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show. I logged onto her website in March and saw that the reservations window was open and I checked out a few topics and one really hit home with me. Weightloss success stories. As you all know I had bariatric surgery in 2007 and I lost over 150lbs. YAY me!!! So I filled in the form and a couple days later I rec'd an email from the producers of the show saying that I could be in the audience. Cool!!!! I had always wanted to go to the show but never really tried other than the favorite things shows. Greedy thy name is Bunny!!!

Well initally we were scheduled to be in the afternoon taping but two weeks ago they changed us to the morning taping and said for us to show up between 7-7:30am. Then two days ago I get a call to come no later than 6:30am. Cool.

Then we find out that the President and the First Lady were coming to town to tape Oprah on the very same day!!!!! OMG!!!! I was sooooooo wishing we would be in his audience. I get goosebumps thinking about it, really!!!

We got there at about 6 this morning and it was a long ass line!!! I mean crazy long. Stood in line for two freaking hours man!!!! And of course President Obama would be taping the afternoon show. WOMP, WOMP!!!!!

Ok but this is still the Oprah show and we were getting to see her right!!!! OMG yall Oprah looks sooooo good. She has lost weight herself and her little waist is soooo tiny!!! Her hair was beautiful. I was trippin' cause I was in the audience at at the OW show!!! Ha!!!!!!!

Bob Greene was there and it was funny because Oprah said, Bob's show was airing today about his new book and here he was taping another segment. She said that had never happend before in the shows entirety.

Stacy Halperin (sp) was there too. She is a woman who was morbidly obese and came on Oprah many years ago when she was heavy and she too had gastric bypass surgery and many reconstructive surgeries as well. She felt she didn't deserve to come on the show because she had gained 70lbs back but Oprah told her she was worthy. She still lost over 300lbs and that's to be celebrated!!! Life is to be celebrated.

A mother daughter duo came on and lost weight together. The daughter was such a sweetie. I think she lost 50lbs and she talked about how people treat her differently now that she is thin. I think her name is Mackenzie, or Michayla. Not really sure but she is a doll!!!

After Oprah talked to all the guests which there were at least 6 or 7 segments at the end she said that the 100 people they selected would be getting bikes from Schwinn and then in pure Oprah fashion she said everybody in the audience would get bikes and the crowd went wild!!!!

They gave us all helmets and a certificate to mail in for our bikes to be shipped to us. YAY US!!!!

After the show she took pics with the 100 ultimate weightloss viewers, (I wasn't a part of this group #sadface)

The studio is really smallish. They make it look a whole lot bigger than it really is. TV man!!! LOL!!!! AND OPRAH!!!! OMG she was stunning!!!! She looked damn fine!!! Body on point baby!!! Hair fierce. You know Andre Walker was right there between takes and her makeup and wardrobe team was right there as well. Funny she was having boobie issues today. One kept popping up. SOOOO funny!!!

I'm grateful for the chance to see Oprah in this last season and I even got a new bike out of it too!!! How cool right??? But I'm still in shock and awe that my President was going to be in the same building in mere minutes and I missed it by this much. UGH!!!!!! Maybe I'll get the chance again to see him again. This is of course his hometown ;-)

OOOOOO Oprahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Back from the Home of Mickey Mouse

The Dollface and I had a wonderful, wonderful vacation. This time it was all blue skies and sunshine. I loved it, she loved it, we loved it!!! We arrived in Orlando early Friday morning, picked up our rental car and headed straight to SeaWorld. I had said since we couldn't check in to our hotel until 4, we might as well take in a park on the very first day, so we did.

SeaWorld is sooooooo much calmer than the Disney theme parks. They've added a water park right across the street but we didn't go to it but trust we went to quite a few other tourist traps!!

Couldn't get over how Shamu is still able to perform after killing a trainer. I kept thinking about it as we were watching that show. The trainers didn't get in the water with the killer whales like they used to do but they also said they were starting a new show this week and maybe they were getting back in the water again??? Who knows?

The dolphin and whale show was pretty cool. The trainers still get in the water and ride the dolphins. We saw the Shark Encounter, where the sharks swim above our heads and the penguin exhibit with soooo many adorable tuxedos running around.

The seal and otter show was cute too. Our first day in Florida was quite enjoyable.

The next day we hit Epcot, which I seriously hadn't planned on going but they advertised a couple of new rides on tv and the Doll wanted to go there and so did I after seeing the coolness of Soarin'. Didn't complete the World Showcase because my chica wasn't really interested in the other countries. We did take a ride in Norway and met up with Donald Duck in Mexico. So all was not lost. We had a good time in future world with Soarin' being the best ride of all in Epcot. Long day to say the least but we hit the pool for an hour that night before crashing. The weather was magnificent. High 80's and 90's the entire time so a night swim was just perfect!! Best ride in Epcot for us both was Soarin'.

The third day we went to The Magic Kingdom. I don't care how many times I go to Disney that castle is GORG!!!!! I wanna be a damn princess too!!!! Parents had their daughters decked out in full I MEAN FULL princess costumes. Um, Imma need them to chill with that foolishness. First off it's hot as fugging fish grease and you got your little princess in a big azz ball gown, slippers, hair all cutesied up, glitter and ish all over their little faces for what???? Hell do that ish first thing in the morn, take a damn pic with the princesses and take that hot azz ish off!!! Poor chillen' walking around all dehydrated looking and whatnot!! LOL!!! We were in line for the speedway and this little girl told her mom take this glitter sticker off of my face!!!! Baby was like I'm done-T mom!!! That child needed on some shorts and a cute princess T and that's it. Folks be doing too much, hell!!

We walked that park til my feet said, "Fugg you let's go!!!" I mean I literally couldn't walk another step. My legs were sooooo heavy and they were seriously hurting. I think we left Disney around 7:30ish and we got there at 9:00 that morning. Best ride there for me was Space Mountain. Best ride for Dollface was that water ride that had me sopping wet!!!

The next day was going to be the Ultimate!!!! Universal Islands of Adventure!!!! I love this freakin' park. Big kid at heart here!!! Ok and since we had been going from park to park and standing in long ass lines, I couldn't do it another day. So I opted to buy us both Express passes. With these we could bypass the long lines and head straight to the front of the line. LOVED THAT!!! Folks were giving us dirty looks all day long!!!! I ain't even care!!!! Longest line that we didn't have to stand in was two hours, we got on in less that 2 minutes. So worth my $345.00. Yep two tickets with express passes was that much fuggin money but I'd do it again in a heartbeat cause we rode on just about everything and walked around the park three times. I shole nuff got my exercise in while on vacay TRUST!!!! Best rides would have to be Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Dr. Doom and Spiderman. The Harry Potter Pavillion is pretty new and Awesome with a capital A!!!! Dollface would not under any circumstances get on the Hulk again this year. Or the Dueling Dragons. She was not having it!! I could not sway her to get on and believe me I begged because the Hulk is a fantastic thrilling ride. Oh and The Forbidden Journey has no express pass get thru. You have to stand in line to ride it. *SUCKS* They need to find a new way to get people into HP pavillion too because it was kinda chaotic and borderline crowd crushing. If someone had fallen, baby it would have been over!!! Too many folks in an over crowded area, SO NOT COOL!!!

Worst part of the day for me was when the battery on my camera died and I didn't have my back up camera AND they didn't sell any digital batteries in the whole entire park. So i bought one of those disposable ones for $21.00 fuggin dollars #RIPOFF!!!! I was embarrassed as hell!!!

Best ride was hands down Harry Potter and the FJ!!! With the other two closely following. Dollface said HP and another water ride that had me soaked to the bone all day long!!!

We got to the park at 10:00am and left at 10:00pm. Left there totally exhausted and promised myself no park the next day eventhough we were supposed to do Universal Studios, which is directly on the other side of the park. Told the kid that a couple of rides were broken. *Forgive me father for I have sinned* Uh, lemme preface this by saying that while researching a guy said 3 rides were broken when he was there 2 days prior, so I wasn't taking any chances because they do not refund your money and the last time I was at US, Jaws and King Kong were broken. We'll go next time. Like in 10 years next time. Cause a sista has much lighter pockets and needs a JOB!!!!

Our last full day there Dollface slept in til 10. My babydoll was wiped out!!! We totally chilled out this day, did a little shopping, ate, swam and ate some more.

I'm soooo glad we went. We had an absolutely wonderful vacation, with fabulous warm, sunny weather which I soooooooo love!!!