U Don't Have To Call

True playa fo' real, ask my [baby] fo' real.... How's Usher for you? You were 7 when that song came out, youngin'. You don't know nothing about that.

Anyway, let me stop pretending to be cool. I just have awesome taste in music. I'm going to hit you up with another oldie but goodie on my next post but I wanted to be true to the rule of opening a music player and titling my post whatever song plays first.

In the same way that your summer will be over in less than a week, my internship will be done in less than a week as well! Five more days of work, counting today (Friday), a couple of days to pack, and then it is back to Georgia for me. I cannot believe how fast this summer has flown by.

Naturally, I'm disappointed but I really cannot wait to come home and hug and kiss you and mommy, dive into my own bed, sleep til 3, and paint my nails every color of the rainbow.

The SULU DC Showcase Cast! All Asian/Mostly Gay/All Awesome

This past weekend was a lot of fun for me. I don't think I did anything on Friday. I can't remember. I might as well be a paper napkin. I have no memory retention. Thank goodness for cameras. I wouldn't remember anything if it weren't for pictures. On Friday I went to an art showcase held by SULU DC and the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance. It was really cool. It was defintiely eye opening from a racial perspective. How often are you in a room where you're the minority and the majority isn't white. Still, I didn't feel uncomfortable or anything. Most of the struggles that Asian Americans deal with are familiar to my struggles as a person of color. It was nice to bond over that. Plus, I wasn't the only African-American there but I was definitely in the minority.

On Saturday I went to a French film! You know me and my foreign films. It was The Intouchables and it was really sweet. See the trailer above. I don't think I'd give it all the amazing accolades it has received. I've seen better films but it was really good. Certainly worth the adventure it took to get to Maryland to see it. Apparently the stop we needed to get off was closed for track work so we had to get off the train, get on a bus, and get dropped off at the station. At least the bus was free but it added about half an hour to our commute. Loryn, my coworker, and I wolfed down a quick dinner and missed the first two minutes of the movie but we made it. Sorry I don't have any pictures but we were in quite a hurry.

A portrait of John Brown from the portrait gallery. John Brown was an abolitionist. If that didn't make him awesome enough, this portrait certainly seals the deal.

The courtyard/fountain area of the Hirshorn. Modern enough for ya?

The fam :)

Sunday was a little more relaxed. Ivy, Rahsaan, the babies, and I went to the National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshorn Museum of Modern Art. I had a lot of fun. I got to hang with all of them plus Corey and his friend Eric yesterday. We had dinner at a delicious restaurant called Carmine's.

My view for the night. The people on the floor don't know what they're missing.

Monday was Monday but Tuesday I went to an open mic with my friend Anand at this restaurant/bookstore/open mic cafe called Busboys & Poets. It was awesome. I've never really cared for slam poetry or spoken word or whatever you want to call it but I loved that place. There's some real artistic talent here in the District. It really turned me on to poetry. I might give writing a try again when I get home and have a little extra time. The coolest part, next to the talent, was the venue. Anand and I were both running behind and apparently you need to get there pretty early because it's wildly popular and tickets sell out quick. Well, we got tickets the night before so we were fine in that respect but when I arrived, 20 minutes before the show started, there was no seating! I asked the usher what to do and she told me to sit on the stage, so I did. At first I was one of the only people up there but then Anand came and soon the stage filled up. I personally thought it was the best seat in the house. I was off to the side so I had a perfect view of the talent but could also gauge the audience's reactions which was super cool. It also resulted in some pretty fabulous photo opportunities.

so..... That's my life as of late. I'm leaving no stone unturned before I leave. BUT I have a feeling I'll be back soon...maybe with my lovely sister to visit the college of her dreams!

Love you, tootsiepop!

Imani