Legend.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Moving on Up! *Que the Jeffersons*
Check out my new home. www.brandiworley.com
www.lulu.com/brandiworley
Cozy.
www.lulu.com/brandiworley
Cozy.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Unfortunate Events of Joon
When the storm comes Momma gets excited. She runs around the house telling us kids to open up all the windows to “Let God air out the house.”
We do what she says. The breeze usually feels good. But we know its running from a monster. Like the birds did a week before. And the horses prance in circles around their pastures. Animals know when bad weather is coming. Even bees stop buzzing as if they know to hide.
Momma’s just different she looks at the glass half-full.
I sat on the front porch that day in my pajamas. My hair blew in the wind. I watched some neighbors board up their houses. Momma wouldn’t board up the house because neither of us could muscle the plywood nor wield a hammer properly. So we prayed God would keep us safe.
As I sat, I wondered what my old friend, Joon was up to. A few minutes later I saw him make his way down to my porch.
Just as we always do we made simple conversation. Well, I usually let him do most of the talking. I listen. I could tell someone put a few dollars in his pocket. He walked with an extra hip to his step. Someone probably paid him for hammering their plywood.
I liked when he had a little money. At the least he can buy himself a hot meal.
Unfortunate happenings always hit him. He drank. He walked the streets all day. He smelled like a drunk. In a few more years he would be eligible for senior citizen benefits. Which he would probably waste. His wife left him because she couldn’t take the poverty-stricken lifestyle anymore.
Momma gets on him from time to time.
“Joon go cut your grass.” “Treat Rena right, Joon. Do right by that woman.” “Stop drinking so much.” “Go pay your bill.” “Stop being so stubborn.” “Joon you need to stop letting people park their old cars in your yard.”
Joon hates it when Momma preaches to him. He befriends me, because at least I don’t talk back. I guess what she tells him goes in one ear and out the other.
Joon’s a boney man. Yet, he’s stronger than anyone I know.
One day he came under the porch wearing thermal underwear. In mid-August. I told him it was thermal. He insisted it wasn’t. I really was quite sure that it was thermal. Again, he insisted it wasn’t. Momma even came out on the porch and said, “Joon, go take that thermal off and put a t-shirt on.”
“No, ma’am, this ain’t no thermal,” he proclaimed in a defiant tone.
I didn’t want to be disrespectful, ridiculous or not, he’s still my elder.
Without looking, as I wiped sweat off my brow, I just mumbled under my breath, “That shit is thermal.” I sucked my teeth then I let it drop.
Had that would have been a normal person, they would have passed out from heat stroke. Not Joon. He can walk all day without an inkling of arthritis. I never hear him talk about pain. I know his house isn’t clean but he never has a cold or food poisoning.
But let me get back to my story. Well Joon’s unfortunate story. With the storm coming, everyone needed cover. We sat on the porch and Joon told me he was going to the shelter. I figured he would be. It’s just him and his old banged up trailer. I wanted him out of that trailer. It swayed in light wind. The newscaster said Gustav would be a category 4.
I figured the storm would come along and help some people. As Joon talked, I thought about people patching up their already patched up shacks. I figured they probably should at least hope to get it blown down instead of patching some more.
Saving that crap for what? I thought.
Momma would let the storm come through and rip up everything and she would say, “I’ll just go and get a new one.” There’s a blessing in the storm.
Momma had a point. Joon didn’t patch his trailer up because he couldn’t afford the plywood. The plywood probably valued more than his hut. I hoped for him that the storm would take it down. I knew he wouldn’t. I figured that in his state FEMA would help him. I had seen FEMA fix people up. Folks, whose homes were raggedy before the storm, but filed a claim on it and won the award. I liked them because at least they actually took the money and fixed the house up.
The storm came and ripped up everyone’s home. Even Momma’s house took on roof damage. FEMA came out in droves. Some people got help. Some people didn’t. Every day I sat on the porch. Each time in a new pair of pajamas. I watched people get their homes fixed up. Every other house had a roofer on top its structure.
As things started to die down, Joon came back to visit me. I jumped with excitement when I saw him. I figured he would tell me how much FEMA gave him. Then I would put it in his mind to go buy himself a new trailer. I had all kinds of things I wanted to tell him. I had to listen though.
Joon talked to Momma.
Joon said, Mr. FEMA man came for the home inspection.
The man walked in the un kept yard. He walked past the junk cars. He walked past the dead animals. He walked to the broken steps. He opened the rickety door. He followed Joon to the threshold of the door. He smelled the stench of human fecal rot. He backed up. Joon smiled a toothless grin at Mr. FEMA.
“Come on in man, this is my house.”
Mr. FEMA backed up some more.
“Oh, man, come on in,” Joon said.
“Oh, man, turn the lights on,” Mr. FEMA said.
“Ain’t no light,” Joon replied.
“Go ahead on in, my bedroom is in the back,” Joon pointed.
“Man, I’m not going in this house,” Mr. FEMA replied.
Joon stood confused.
Mr. FEMA pulled out his hand held computer and typed in a few things. Joon thought maybe he would get something. Mr. FEMA shook his head no.
Joon stared in utter disbelief.
“Now, Mr. Jarvis, you know and I know, that this is an abandoned house.”
I guess that’s the last thing he wanted to hear. But he really did live there.
We do what she says. The breeze usually feels good. But we know its running from a monster. Like the birds did a week before. And the horses prance in circles around their pastures. Animals know when bad weather is coming. Even bees stop buzzing as if they know to hide.
Momma’s just different she looks at the glass half-full.
I sat on the front porch that day in my pajamas. My hair blew in the wind. I watched some neighbors board up their houses. Momma wouldn’t board up the house because neither of us could muscle the plywood nor wield a hammer properly. So we prayed God would keep us safe.
As I sat, I wondered what my old friend, Joon was up to. A few minutes later I saw him make his way down to my porch.
Just as we always do we made simple conversation. Well, I usually let him do most of the talking. I listen. I could tell someone put a few dollars in his pocket. He walked with an extra hip to his step. Someone probably paid him for hammering their plywood.
I liked when he had a little money. At the least he can buy himself a hot meal.
Unfortunate happenings always hit him. He drank. He walked the streets all day. He smelled like a drunk. In a few more years he would be eligible for senior citizen benefits. Which he would probably waste. His wife left him because she couldn’t take the poverty-stricken lifestyle anymore.
Momma gets on him from time to time.
“Joon go cut your grass.” “Treat Rena right, Joon. Do right by that woman.” “Stop drinking so much.” “Go pay your bill.” “Stop being so stubborn.” “Joon you need to stop letting people park their old cars in your yard.”
Joon hates it when Momma preaches to him. He befriends me, because at least I don’t talk back. I guess what she tells him goes in one ear and out the other.
Joon’s a boney man. Yet, he’s stronger than anyone I know.
One day he came under the porch wearing thermal underwear. In mid-August. I told him it was thermal. He insisted it wasn’t. I really was quite sure that it was thermal. Again, he insisted it wasn’t. Momma even came out on the porch and said, “Joon, go take that thermal off and put a t-shirt on.”
“No, ma’am, this ain’t no thermal,” he proclaimed in a defiant tone.
I didn’t want to be disrespectful, ridiculous or not, he’s still my elder.
Without looking, as I wiped sweat off my brow, I just mumbled under my breath, “That shit is thermal.” I sucked my teeth then I let it drop.
Had that would have been a normal person, they would have passed out from heat stroke. Not Joon. He can walk all day without an inkling of arthritis. I never hear him talk about pain. I know his house isn’t clean but he never has a cold or food poisoning.
But let me get back to my story. Well Joon’s unfortunate story. With the storm coming, everyone needed cover. We sat on the porch and Joon told me he was going to the shelter. I figured he would be. It’s just him and his old banged up trailer. I wanted him out of that trailer. It swayed in light wind. The newscaster said Gustav would be a category 4.
I figured the storm would come along and help some people. As Joon talked, I thought about people patching up their already patched up shacks. I figured they probably should at least hope to get it blown down instead of patching some more.
Saving that crap for what? I thought.
Momma would let the storm come through and rip up everything and she would say, “I’ll just go and get a new one.” There’s a blessing in the storm.
Momma had a point. Joon didn’t patch his trailer up because he couldn’t afford the plywood. The plywood probably valued more than his hut. I hoped for him that the storm would take it down. I knew he wouldn’t. I figured that in his state FEMA would help him. I had seen FEMA fix people up. Folks, whose homes were raggedy before the storm, but filed a claim on it and won the award. I liked them because at least they actually took the money and fixed the house up.
The storm came and ripped up everyone’s home. Even Momma’s house took on roof damage. FEMA came out in droves. Some people got help. Some people didn’t. Every day I sat on the porch. Each time in a new pair of pajamas. I watched people get their homes fixed up. Every other house had a roofer on top its structure.
As things started to die down, Joon came back to visit me. I jumped with excitement when I saw him. I figured he would tell me how much FEMA gave him. Then I would put it in his mind to go buy himself a new trailer. I had all kinds of things I wanted to tell him. I had to listen though.
Joon talked to Momma.
Joon said, Mr. FEMA man came for the home inspection.
The man walked in the un kept yard. He walked past the junk cars. He walked past the dead animals. He walked to the broken steps. He opened the rickety door. He followed Joon to the threshold of the door. He smelled the stench of human fecal rot. He backed up. Joon smiled a toothless grin at Mr. FEMA.
“Come on in man, this is my house.”
Mr. FEMA backed up some more.
“Oh, man, come on in,” Joon said.
“Oh, man, turn the lights on,” Mr. FEMA said.
“Ain’t no light,” Joon replied.
“Go ahead on in, my bedroom is in the back,” Joon pointed.
“Man, I’m not going in this house,” Mr. FEMA replied.
Joon stood confused.
Mr. FEMA pulled out his hand held computer and typed in a few things. Joon thought maybe he would get something. Mr. FEMA shook his head no.
Joon stared in utter disbelief.
“Now, Mr. Jarvis, you know and I know, that this is an abandoned house.”
I guess that’s the last thing he wanted to hear. But he really did live there.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sheets
I froze last night. The temperature dipped below 33 degrees. When I was little I learned in a science class that water freezes at 32 degrees and I always remembered that.
That’s how I know I froze.
I slept under two blankets, swath like a newborn, yet I shivered. Sad little shivers prickled off my body from under my pajamas.
The night before I stripped my bed of the sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases. I figured I could do without them just for the night. I didn’t feel like washing my only set. After a horrible bout with a cold I didn’t have the energy.
I’d have to take you back about three months ago to tell you how I ended up with one set of sheets.
It came from a difference with mother. She insisted that I get 500 count sheets and nothing less. I walked the aisles of the pricey department store for sheets and watched her as she stocked piled up on a cache of fresh sheets.
“What’s the point?” I asked.
“Ohhh baby, you’re going to see once you lay on these sheets. These are luxurious and not scratchy like the ones you buy,” she responded in somewhat of a slight snobbish air or one accustomed to finer things in life.
I sighed. On her salary she could afford the nice sheets and more. On the other hand I was content just to get a dollar to actually stay in my hands. If I wasn’t robbing Peter to pay Paul I tried to keep a dollar to eat.
She bought about three new sets of sheets. She did offer to buy me a nice set. I declined. I didn’t want any handouts, let alone expensive, soft, comfortable what I may fall in love with sheets. I asked her if she would bring me to the dollar store so I could get some new sheets. She scoffed at my choice of a plain, dusty colored set. I knew that I had a boring set of sheets but I was happy that they were clean.
When we got home she surprised me and gave me a set out of her three new sheets she just bought. I really didn’t want them but decided that I would try them out anyway. She made them sound so good.
I slept on the new 500 count sheets for a week. During that time I slid off the bed, had to adjust the sheets every morning, which I hated. Pulling and tugging on the corners every time I woke up to keep them neat and crisp. The final day on the sheets I washed them and gave them back to her with thanks. She said that I was missing out on great sleep without such splendid sheets. Now, if you know my mom, you know that she can sell anything and she almost had me thinking that I was missing out on something great.
I surveyed my friends and asked them what they sleep on. A lot of them, mainly recent college grads said that they buy “good” sheets. Then I began to think that I was alone with a knack for cheap sheets.
The next trip to the store I fell in with Momma and ended up splurging two high-end sets of sheets. I slept on them and hated them both. Again, I gave them away.
That brings me to now, the girl with one set of sheets. I kept a set that my aunt gave me from awhile back. They look like the sun and match my seafoam green colored walls. My room is decorated to give off an Asian inspired, calming effect and the colors help. That’s how I ended up with the soft banana sheets against the sea walls. I would take that one set sheets and wash and put them right back on the bed for the weeks.
Last week I caught a horrible cold and knew that I was dirty with cold germs and so were my lone, faithful banana sheets. Sense would tell you that as I battled a cold I couldn’t just quickly wash the sheets, dry them and have them back on the bed, considering I spent most of my time in the bed. I couldn’t do both. My proud sheets held me down as my temperature hovered around 100. They looked as if they shown more brightly as its master lay in a slumber. Until I woke up yesterday evening with enough strength, I didn’t say it but I knew I needed clean sheets in order to get better sooner. I had no spare. I dragged myself up and stripped my bed. I lied to myself and said I could get my favorite sheets into the washer and dryer. I lacked clear sense. My body said different. I hit the bed with a cotton mattress cover and three comforters. I knew I should be ashamed. My sheets lay in a crumpled pile in the clothes hamper looking at me like, “What have you done?”
I slept that night. In the coldest winter ever. I left my sheets, thinking that I could do without them. I woke with a goal to buy a new set of cheap sheets. I couldn’t figure out why I needed them. I made it to Wal-Mart and bought a clearance set of green plaid sheets to bounce off my green walls and figured I’d be much warmer tonight.
I then called up to ask one of my friends, “Friend, why is it that a sheet with three blankets can keep you warmer than just three blankets? When we all know that the sheet is thinner, more flimsier and lighter than the blankets.”
I wanted to know, I needed to know.
Friend responded, “It’s a tighter weave.”
That’s how I know I froze.
I slept under two blankets, swath like a newborn, yet I shivered. Sad little shivers prickled off my body from under my pajamas.
The night before I stripped my bed of the sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases. I figured I could do without them just for the night. I didn’t feel like washing my only set. After a horrible bout with a cold I didn’t have the energy.
I’d have to take you back about three months ago to tell you how I ended up with one set of sheets.
It came from a difference with mother. She insisted that I get 500 count sheets and nothing less. I walked the aisles of the pricey department store for sheets and watched her as she stocked piled up on a cache of fresh sheets.
“What’s the point?” I asked.
“Ohhh baby, you’re going to see once you lay on these sheets. These are luxurious and not scratchy like the ones you buy,” she responded in somewhat of a slight snobbish air or one accustomed to finer things in life.
I sighed. On her salary she could afford the nice sheets and more. On the other hand I was content just to get a dollar to actually stay in my hands. If I wasn’t robbing Peter to pay Paul I tried to keep a dollar to eat.
She bought about three new sets of sheets. She did offer to buy me a nice set. I declined. I didn’t want any handouts, let alone expensive, soft, comfortable what I may fall in love with sheets. I asked her if she would bring me to the dollar store so I could get some new sheets. She scoffed at my choice of a plain, dusty colored set. I knew that I had a boring set of sheets but I was happy that they were clean.
When we got home she surprised me and gave me a set out of her three new sheets she just bought. I really didn’t want them but decided that I would try them out anyway. She made them sound so good.
I slept on the new 500 count sheets for a week. During that time I slid off the bed, had to adjust the sheets every morning, which I hated. Pulling and tugging on the corners every time I woke up to keep them neat and crisp. The final day on the sheets I washed them and gave them back to her with thanks. She said that I was missing out on great sleep without such splendid sheets. Now, if you know my mom, you know that she can sell anything and she almost had me thinking that I was missing out on something great.
I surveyed my friends and asked them what they sleep on. A lot of them, mainly recent college grads said that they buy “good” sheets. Then I began to think that I was alone with a knack for cheap sheets.
The next trip to the store I fell in with Momma and ended up splurging two high-end sets of sheets. I slept on them and hated them both. Again, I gave them away.
That brings me to now, the girl with one set of sheets. I kept a set that my aunt gave me from awhile back. They look like the sun and match my seafoam green colored walls. My room is decorated to give off an Asian inspired, calming effect and the colors help. That’s how I ended up with the soft banana sheets against the sea walls. I would take that one set sheets and wash and put them right back on the bed for the weeks.
Last week I caught a horrible cold and knew that I was dirty with cold germs and so were my lone, faithful banana sheets. Sense would tell you that as I battled a cold I couldn’t just quickly wash the sheets, dry them and have them back on the bed, considering I spent most of my time in the bed. I couldn’t do both. My proud sheets held me down as my temperature hovered around 100. They looked as if they shown more brightly as its master lay in a slumber. Until I woke up yesterday evening with enough strength, I didn’t say it but I knew I needed clean sheets in order to get better sooner. I had no spare. I dragged myself up and stripped my bed. I lied to myself and said I could get my favorite sheets into the washer and dryer. I lacked clear sense. My body said different. I hit the bed with a cotton mattress cover and three comforters. I knew I should be ashamed. My sheets lay in a crumpled pile in the clothes hamper looking at me like, “What have you done?”
I slept that night. In the coldest winter ever. I left my sheets, thinking that I could do without them. I woke with a goal to buy a new set of cheap sheets. I couldn’t figure out why I needed them. I made it to Wal-Mart and bought a clearance set of green plaid sheets to bounce off my green walls and figured I’d be much warmer tonight.
I then called up to ask one of my friends, “Friend, why is it that a sheet with three blankets can keep you warmer than just three blankets? When we all know that the sheet is thinner, more flimsier and lighter than the blankets.”
I wanted to know, I needed to know.
Friend responded, “It’s a tighter weave.”
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
HIStory
My cousin called me last night and said that I must have written a book about Obama by now. I laughed. I didn’t have much to say to her. I couldn’t watch the election because I was so anxious. When I found out I sat for hours in awe and its still taking me awhile to believe it. I came up with a few things to write though.
Here are my thoughts:
I’m very disappointed in Louisiana. I think the numbers were like 60-40. At any rate La. had the most numbers for he-who-must-not-be-named.
Must we lead all 50 states in the worst of everything: education, health care, jobs, etc.
I just wish that once we can be on the same page as the rest of the country. Our streets were empty last night, while in cities like New York, Chicago (of course), Atlanta and L.A. there were celebrations in the streets.
My heart swelled with pride when Michelle was announced as the First Lady.
I also smiled at the thought of little Malia and Sasha running around the White House. I figured someone must have been backstage wiping their tears because it took them so long to come out on stage. Everyone looked fresh.
I wish Toot could have lived another day. But it was not in His will, therefore I understand.
I loved my girl Tillery’s note, “11/4/08”. She squeezed it in right at 11:50p.m. lol
Obama said he was going to build a basketball court in the basement of the White House. Cool. LOL
From my travels this summer I realize that the world supported Obama. People from different nations kept telling me to vote Obama.
I watched CNN to see people in other countries waving USA flags. WOW!
For the 1st time in my life I’m finally proud to be an American. An inspired American.
We Did it! Change!
Here are my thoughts:
I’m very disappointed in Louisiana. I think the numbers were like 60-40. At any rate La. had the most numbers for he-who-must-not-be-named.
Must we lead all 50 states in the worst of everything: education, health care, jobs, etc.
I just wish that once we can be on the same page as the rest of the country. Our streets were empty last night, while in cities like New York, Chicago (of course), Atlanta and L.A. there were celebrations in the streets.
My heart swelled with pride when Michelle was announced as the First Lady.
I also smiled at the thought of little Malia and Sasha running around the White House. I figured someone must have been backstage wiping their tears because it took them so long to come out on stage. Everyone looked fresh.
I wish Toot could have lived another day. But it was not in His will, therefore I understand.
I loved my girl Tillery’s note, “11/4/08”. She squeezed it in right at 11:50p.m. lol
Obama said he was going to build a basketball court in the basement of the White House. Cool. LOL
From my travels this summer I realize that the world supported Obama. People from different nations kept telling me to vote Obama.
I watched CNN to see people in other countries waving USA flags. WOW!
For the 1st time in my life I’m finally proud to be an American. An inspired American.
We Did it! Change!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Ok. Ok. I did it!
This is part two of “Shopping for…. Gasp. Don’t Say It…”
I finally got my bookshelves and I’m so excited. I’ve been searching for a month. I wanted straight shelves to hang on the walls but that idea did not work out because my carpenter bailed out on me. But I won’t talk about him because he vowed to buy a copy of my book. I’ll talk about him later.
Here’s a sneak peak of Crumb… Oh no, you thought I was going to post a chapter or something? No. Wait. Here are the shelves or bookcase. Yeah, that's better.
I finally got my bookshelves and I’m so excited. I’ve been searching for a month. I wanted straight shelves to hang on the walls but that idea did not work out because my carpenter bailed out on me. But I won’t talk about him because he vowed to buy a copy of my book. I’ll talk about him later.
Here’s a sneak peak of Crumb… Oh no, you thought I was going to post a chapter or something? No. Wait. Here are the shelves or bookcase. Yeah, that's better.
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