Eat Pray Love...emphasis on EAT

I had an epiphany as I was eating dinner. I have lived and visited more countries than most other people. My parents move alot and I love to travel. Yet after everywhere I've been, the food in Trinidad will always be best. I'm serious! Today I had fried rice, callalloo and stewed lamb and it took everything in me not to lick my fingers (and my plate!) Yesterday, I got home from the movies and mom got corn soup...I was literally sad when I realized dad had finished it all before I woke up this morning. The day before, I went to the beach. Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE sand! So why go to the beach? That's easy, bake and shark. Honestly though, that was not the best bake and shark I've had. Richard did not have pineapple :-( Despite that, the meal was more delicious than anything I've had in Texas over the past 10 months!
When I eat food like that, it makes we want to like cooking b/c even when I'm away from home, I can eat great food! Only problem is, it's more than just the food itself. It's about the spices and sometimes if it's mom's home cooking, it's the love that she puts into it. Regardless, I am going to continue my cooking adventures because after this trip, I can't wait until I get back to Trinidad every time in order to eat the food I love. The good thing is that while I'm still in home, I don't have to worry about cooking...I have my mom and the good folks around the savannah to keep me smiling until my return.
PS. This post was written with references that only trinis would get. Questions? Leave a comment.

I'm Ba-ack!!

Hello Boys and Girls! I know I've been gone a while but I had finals so I had to take a little break. But the wait is over. I am finally on vacation, for the first time since I started law school! I can't even express how happy I am right now.
My life has been pretty hectic over the past few days though. I could not have predicted my first few days would go like this. I witness two fights in two days; the first was between crazy strangers, the second was between crazy friends. Each time, I didn't even know the people and both took place at the pool. What is it with people trying to ruin my pool time!!? Well, I'm over it, but I was pretty disappointed that the first few hrs after my final, I found myself holding one of the fighters back!
I spent all day Friday with 3 really good friends. Literally, all day! We did laundry (which usually is not fun, but we managed to make it pretty good). Then we got pedicures followed by window-shopping at Target lol. There is a delightful Mexican restaurant in Waco, El Chico. Looks kinda grungy but we had dinner there at it was GREAT! We decided that for the rest of the night we were in Mexico! Our night ended at about 2 am after going swimming in the "ocean" (aka the pool at the Grove!) That was hands down one of the best nights I've had in Waco.
Now I'm in Trinidad, visiting the fam. It's the first time I've been back in a year and it feels pretty good. I must admit, I was a bit skeptical because I thought I would be exhausted and irritable after traveling all day but I am in a surprisingly good mood. Last night, I got about 4 hrs of sleep because I drove to Dallas last night rather than trying to drive there in the morning before my 10:30 flight. Arrived in Dallas at 1:30, went to bed at 3, then woke at 7:30...fun fun! Then when I got in tonight, my little sister was so tired and I felt bad so I did the dishes for her and cleaned the kitchen. Yup, I've been home 5 hrs and I am already doing chores. I don't mind though, I think washing dishes is relaxing (esp. because I don't cook, I have to earn my keep somehow right?) It's 11:55 Trinidad time and I am watching Criminal Minds. I don't know why 1. they air this show so late at night and 2. I watch it this late. It always scares the heck out of me! But I can't resist; this is the best drama on TV.
All in all, despite a rough-ish start, I've been having a great past few days.

Normal? Not so much...

Klutz moment of the Day: Today I learned something about myself. I am incapable of driving with a pencil in one hand. If I attempt to do this seemingly mundane task, there is a chance that as stab myself. See the bruise on my right hand as evidence of such activity (there is still graphite stuck in there btw)

Life...not so awesome right now.

First: Klutz moment of the day. I dropped my keys and in an attempt to catch them before they hit the ground, I dropped everything else in my hands. And no, I didn't save the keys either.

Second: I learned something about myself. I hate having people express their disapproval of me. Constructive criticism is always welcome. However, if you are frustrated with a question I ask because I don't understand something or need clarification, and are thus disappointed with my work product, that throws me for a loop. Seriously. I had to delete the email b/c I kept reading it over and over wondering what I did to be so "frustrating". Also, I hate being told that someone is genuinely worried about my level of understanding. Tell me that you are worried that I didn't eat all week, or that I have not slept more than 2 hrs or biting my nails until my fingers bleed could never be a good thing. But please don't tell me that a question I asked makes you worry about me. Though there are stupid questions, if I ask something that you think I should know the answer to, it advances neither of our goals for you to belittle me. An alternative response is "[Answer to question] + I thought the instructions were clear" or something like that. In that case, I have the opportunity to explain why I asked the question (like the fact that it was on the behalf of another, or that I knew the answer but rather than assuming that I was right, getting an authoritative source for my information/beliefs). I can't even think right now I am so dismayed (yup, it's so serious, I'm using "dismay"). I have to get back to studying b/c apparently I am "frustrating" to work with and my level of understanding is "worrying" some folks.

It's finals week, people. I cry for no reason and take things really personally. Best advice: leave me alone for the next few days.

Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up...

Passive aggression blows my mind! I think I am one of the most rational people in the world. If you have an issue, or I have slighted you, you think that I did something wrong to you, I would seriously appreciate if you felt close enough to me that you can talk to me. Scratch that, even if we are not that close, I rather you just come out and say it than harbor your anger. Worst case scenario, I deny your allegations. Best case, I apologize. Actually no, best case is that this is based on a misunderstanding and we move on like adults. What's the point of being an adult if we can't have grown up conversation. Why do we continue to act like children when the situation calls for "manning up?"
Oh no! So I just realized, this post could potentially be viewed as a passive aggressive rant. That's no good. Well here's my theory. Despite the fact that I prefer to be confronted, I am not sure most people would agree. So though I think that this method does not advance anyone's cause, I will continue to employ it because the alternative does not provide a better solution.