how I spent part of the summer

What I did on [part] of my summer vacation...

What do you do when you live in the greatest city in the world?

Well, how I spent my summer vacation was enjoying New York via a staycation.

New York is the place to be, with the food, culture, sights, and  did I mention food- 

there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the vast offerings of New York, 

and of course the amazing views!

Georgetown cupcakes! yummy and delicious ;)

Hanging at Lincoln Center Jazz listening to live Jazz Music

Views on the Hudson

Freedom Tower

Sunset- God's Beauty

Times Square- a NYC must do!

I love NY

Me this year

Pictured are 12 'ME's that capture who I was being this 2016. 

There is a story behind everything that happened here- 

alas some pictures are worth more than 1,000 words... 

we shall see what this next year brings, right? 

Be blessed... 

that's all...

J.Lo killing it

just so y'all know this lady right here is killing it on her birthday
y'all. This dress is amazing and she is letting all y'all folks know:
It. Is. Not. A. Game.
Mental note to hit the gym
Images subject to copyright- as in I didn't take these pictures

eye of the beholder...

So  today, I had a day off (yay) but still ended up working (boo) but I mean what else is new? But that is not what I am here to talk about... 

I put up this pic of me and it is interesting some of the comments that I received. 

[Yes, I know by putting myself out there I open myself up to this-- but considering the folks on my list are friends and folks that I have approved to be there it is like ummmm OK- to the point since luckily I have to approve all the things on my timeline, I ended up not approving more than I let show]

Now, let's be clear- I am human. 

It is a leg/ thigh combo 

(like Popeye's without the breaded deep fried-ness and biscuit) 

and I am not ashamed.

But what is ashamed is the words and comments of some who feel that

• I should not expose myself like this
• That this (aka ME) is unattractive 
• I should cover myself up
• I should hit the gym
• Why am I naked?

And a few others that I shall not write because they may or may not read this blog and I am being a bit passive-aggressive at this moment vs being aggressive-aggressive and calling them out.  

[Just for today, tomorrow I may return to my regularly scheduled bitchy program where I fuck the feelings of others and speak my mind because the truth...the truth shall set you free!]  
Now, there were some others that were basically yay & all that (yay love love love ya'll)
but I am not gonna focus on them (cause like I tend to do is focus on the negative--)
Now I was going to answer some of the questions and some of the more asinine comments 

but I am like what gives you the right, the gall and the audacity to...

but then I stop. 

Free Speech. 

And there it is. 

Well. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion 

and thank you 

for reminding me that your opinion is just that-

yours. 

I choose not to suscribe to it, 

and you know what

 I welcome your opinion because 

I can choose to acknowledge it 

and internalise it 

and have it effect/ affect me 

or 

I can choose

 to let it roll off my back 

(and leg and thigh in this case LMAO)

Hey as one of my friends says:

love me or leave Tasha alone

well all my personalities are in agreeance with this statement

love me (all of me) or leave Tasha alone.

[but could you imagine the scandal if i put that other pic up??]

Sheesh

Good thing I do not plan to run for congress 

(tho I have a much cleaner record than any of them)

but I guess if I plan to get married to my Barack Obama 

I may have to let him know all of my secrets...

Oops...

well beauty is...

#KaraWalkerDomino

I visited the old Domino Sugar Factory (Williamsburg, BK) to get some culture and all that jazz primarily to see this art piece by Kara Walker. The images that were presented in this grand scale art instillation were fascinating to say the least (inclusive of the Marvelous Sugar Baby) and really thought provoking. Ms. Walker is paying homage/raising questions to those who 'refined' our sweet tastes...

Specifically, the trip subtly/ not so subtly were raising questions (to me) on who and how and what is valued -- starting back in the days with the complicated business of production of sugar and its ties to the Islands and slavery et al. She has images of little negro boys presumably workers from the fields carrying baskets who would have been child labor  (which was not illegal) in various poses and dispositions. These children were used to cultivate the sugar cane from the fields to wherever they went for profit.  The sugars (molasses) marks on the floor (representing blood maybe) was interesting...

The grand piece was a Sphinx that was made entirely out of white sugar which is

1. Not sugars' natural state but
2. Made in the image of a black woman and
3. Is naked

That was astonishing.

 I must say that people do not know how to react to a black woman's' body or a naked body (even if she is made of sugar). I am sure one of the objectives of the piece was to make people absolutely aware of and celebrate the intricacies and beauty of a woman (yay me) but some people cannot and do not know how to receive that. There were many comments and inappropriate pictures taken and it definitely made me think of the issues I face as a woman today (objectified/ subjectified/ sexualized/ etc) and the demoralization that women now and of the slavery days (which I can attribute her period of time to be) were constantly subjected to.  I think about us women-- from the woman workers in the kitchen, the women who raised the children of their own and others by whatever means (meaning their masters children, their children born out of non consensual means), the women who were left to be strong for the families as the men were just chattel away...

I think about the value placed on certain attributes women have- let's look at today's standards that all of hip-hop America is singing about: big asses & big breasts are the main value standards.  There are folks who are doing the most (butt implants/ breast implants/ liposuction and other crazy ass things) literally killing themselves to fit this mold. Because society says this is pretty.  Hell, even Beyoncé said pretty hurts...but this is what is considered attractive...but this is what men want...but this is what YOU (woman) need to be like to be worthy of love, attention, anything-- because if you are not that then you are not something society would like to know- never mind the brains or the compassion or the any other of the myriad of things that make up a woman. I could go on about the fucked up morals we have as a society based on any of the recent headlines, but I'll save that stand on my soapbox for another day. This 'art' was just...subtle in an overt way. Here are some of the pics:

 

These are my favorite because of the broken-ness that is surrounding the baby.

up and above the clouds...

Location: Somewhere flying over the Atlantic ocean

Right now I m about an hour away for St. Thomas USVI- which is good because my arse is about and hour away from being numb on these non cushy American Airlines cramped seats. (Now, while I am a curvy girl I am in no way too big to sit in a seat here however these seats are pushing it even for the small chicks in us all)  In all my years of flying , one thing that never has happened to me happened today- and I can truly say it was moving and humbling to say the least. 

TSA gathering

While we were waiting in the Miami airport there were a bunch of TSA officers surrounding our terminal.  Now, being in a post 9/11 time and everyone is a suspect when flying and the officers and police personnel with loaded guns were showing up, I got concerned. So we asked what was happening at our terminal. Unfortunately we learned that an officer (Colvin Georges) was killed in the line of duty- and his body was being air-lifted on our plane back to his family in St. Thomas. 

There was a bit of a press conference and a lot of officers paying their respect to the family.  Once the ceremony on the tarmac was completed, the plane loaded, we were off and as we were taxing down the runway, the plane was sprayed with hoses.  It was sad, humbling and awe inspiring at the same time.  Continued prayers and blessing for that family and all the families of those who serve, protect, watch over, rescue, and maintain civility for us all. 

  

sunset.

Wow...



why am I off to the side? forshadowing...



family times...

80's for sure.

pink and yellow do match (in this world)

love surrounds.

coffee thought...

coffee thought

9:06 am

July 24,2012

I have been stuck on this train for 25 minutes with the excuse of train traffic ahead.

Now the MTA has resorted to blatant lying as I had to wait about 15 minutes for any train to show up-

and as far as I can recall the trains go in one direction per track.

Anywho, my thoughts are on procuring coffee this morning. Iced? Hot? Strong? Weak? Decaf? Never decaf...

And thinking about this weekends past events-

Saturday hung with trs for her bday/ we got manicures pedicures and visited my almost favorite place Swarovski. Let me tell you... I can and will eventually go broke in that place.

OK.  and everything sparkles.  OK.



Stephanie & Me. BDA connection

Sunday went to a bridal shower for Steph- wedding to follow in sunny St. Thomas in October. The event was beautifully done and had so much fun. Weddings...love... family...friends...mother of the bride...grooms...oh joy.


Monday was trial and error with work.

I tried-- that was an error but I managed thru it all. As the only manager available I did what I had to do.

And survived.

And didn't light a match and walk away.

Tuesday back to work. Weather is hot and humid. Maybe there will be some breakfast provided by the office that I can enjoy...then again maybe not as the early bird gets the bagels and cream cheese and the late-comers get the leftover questionable items.

Conclusion= This train may will make me mega late.

that's all.

summer me

Cacti in the city

rainbow connection

fanta orange

I have been meaning to post these pics of "cacti in the city" for the past couple of weeks ever since the sprouted up around Astor place in NYC-- it is an interesting way to spruce up the light posts in the area and love the pop of color.

Sunshower

not a very good pic but trust me it is raining all of animal kingdom out there.

coffee thought...

coffee thought...

Today is my last day of vacation.

I am sitting here on the balcony of this hotel enjoying the last of the sounds of the crashing waves

the beauty of the beach and the calm peacefulness of it all.

I am taking away a real real new perspective on my life-

such that it should involve me getting back to places of such comfort on a regular basis.

What does this mean?

I don't know but I do know to enjoy the moment -

which is this beautiful moment the Lord has made.

Sent from my iPhone

Working Late

And the sun is setting- view from my window