I want some more calamari!

I guess I'm working backwards on the weekend recap. Fri night, I went out with the ladies. I coaxed them into trying Thai Kitchen on Montague after we met at the Marriott lounge. I had fried calamari,drunken noodles with chicken and a glass of Cabernet Sauvigon. My meal was delicious. I even had Prailenes and Cream afterwards. I hadn't had that in over two years, maybe. We went to Red's new apartment for a while and marveled at her new studio. Joan drove us all home which was great. Lord knows I was not trying to get on that ghetto A train. I came home to a quiet house, which was even better. All in all, it was a great night out. It always feels so good to go out to dinner and have some wine and great convo. I used to do this every weekend before last year and now I do it once in a while. Sometimes, I think about my previous lifestyle compared to the scaled back one that I live now. Was I really excessive? Maybe with the car rentals, but shit, I don't regret a damn thing! I've lived the good life at a young age and now I know how to balance it out in a sensible way. Still, I agree with Joan. Dining out and traveling is my lifestyle. It's what I know and how I enjoy myself. I can tolerate not putting on my dancing heels every weekend now, but I'm a wine and fine dine kind of girl. I like the finer things in life (that won't break the bank). I like the fabulousness but I'm not a label whore. Lol. I can't drop 300 on a coach bag or 1000 on some LV- the hell! But I would drop 300 on two pairs of Aldo's and a hot ass Baby Phat bag from Century 21 and $1000 for a weeks rental of a g6 or g35. Now, let me look at this and ask myself am I tripping? No. I still think ownership of a car is a liability but as long as I rent and my card covers insurance-then I'm good. And no more pesky underage fee after next month. No, seriously though, I lived a lifestyle that some people find excessive and I find normal to a point. I won't drop $500 for the same pair of diamond earrings at Zales whenever I lose them (3x) anymore but I will invest in a pair and take better care. I've re-prioritized. I haven't gone on a shopping spree in almost two years. Or threw away a buck at the bar. I was watching "Confessions of a shopaholic" and I thought that girl was one dizzy chick, but then I could relate. Ive never had 4 credit cards, let alone twelve, but I know the feeling of contentment that you get when you are doing something you love. Be it shopping or enjoying the nightlife and entertainment. Having a good time out is my things. I live off of good energy and I get high off of a night on the town. That's my drug. I used to be an impulsive spender. Swiping my car whenever I wanted with no problem. The envy of some haters wo always want to know how I got it. Always have to keep your eyes open to haters. I'm like the sim whose aspiration was "PLEASURE". Lol. I love pleasure.. and good fried calamari. But I wouldn't be where I am now if I let my life be all about pleasure. I often see some of my old self in Joan, and I hope to never fall in the pretentious trap again. There are times when we'll discuss issues like gentrification and she can't understand the plight of the misplaced. She would say it's their own fault. I realized that there comes a point sometimes when you reach a certain level and you lose touch with reality. Sometimes people just are so caught up with their lives and the easiness of it all that they don't see it or they just don't care because it is not their reality. I used to be like her. I only hope for her sake that she doesn't get a wake up call and is forced to be humble like I was and whle it may be in her best interest, I still hope she opens her eyes on her own. We agreed that we've had a charrmed life. Or as I describe it " half a silver spoon in our mouths." Our lives weren't a major struggle like some people and our parents afforded us a comfortable life, but it wasn't easy and they worked hard to make us comfortable. Mel had the nerve to beg to differ in her case but we shut that down. She lived in a house and had food on the table and could afford to go to a college of her choice. Basics that some people dont even see. Then there are times, like Fri, when she opens her mouth and talks about buying a condo now as if it is as easy as pie. Then wouldn't everyone have one? She says she pays what is half my mortagage in rent now, which she seems to think is a lot but will never get her a studio in Manhattan outside of Harlem or WAHE, and that ain't but a piss in a pot (excuse my language). I had to shut her down with a reality check on that too. Mortgage, taxes, maintanance, water, electricity, heat, phone, cable, gas, Hello? My reality. I told her she is living in la-la land pretending like just because she may find a place for 250, it will be a walk in the park. Joan, who makes almost twice as much as she does, was more realistic about the responsibilty of owning. Sometimes I think people just talk just to talk. Out of touch with reality. It annoys me how she'll try to make things seem as if it is so easy when it is not and then turn around and try to claim to have a hard life. Make your mind up. A little bit of money makes people fall into delusions of grandeur. Let me stop rambling. In any event, I sit back and watch as some people climb and fall into the trap or walk backwards and talk foolishness that will require a wake up call. I think I've learned how to be sensible, semi-frugal and definitely re-humbled (is that a word?). Now that I have the brownstone for sale, I can utilize my lesson learned effectively. Point is, the world is still my oyster, but I don't have to slap you with my pearls or buy a pair of new ones just because..

On another note. Guess who was nominated by her school and invited to join the National Society of Collegiate Scholars?! Why, yes! Moi! I realized my plan of utilizing financial aide and then maintaing a GPA high enough to get on the honor roll and get scholarships. At this point, i'm making sure I come out with my bachelors without spending a dime on tuition or books. Do what it do!

(Maybe I should have made paragraphs)