london TOWN - day 1

just arrived to london town about 10 am on oct 23...took a long ride on the underground tube from heathrow to s. kensington transferred at victoria station to the national rail, dragged my suitcase 4 blocks up a minor hill and arrived to David & Yvonne's place exhausted and was sweetly greeted by their niece with this sign (made by her brother). I hung out with the kids for a bit, showered and took a very looong winters nap. Later David arrived to the house, prepared (as always) a delicious dinner. Yvonne arrived just in time (David was trying to gauge her ETA so the stir-fry would still be warm and crisp...the consummate chef). So began plenty of eating, drinking and chatting from there. And I was finally able to give them a gift I have been holding onto since my trip to Barbados for my god-sister's wedding in May '06. The rum was a HIT! Cheers to that.

oct 21 - big apple circus

the following afternoon, after recovering a bit from the night before I picked Ua up from school and took both she & Azana to the Big Apple Circus in Lincoln Center. We all had a blast...aside from the sheer joy I had just being with them as an auntie, they are such unique beautifully developing people...whom after some subway antics made it clear to the general public that they will make amazing clowns someday...

Oct 20 - Birthday GALORE

Oct 20 - Birthday GALORE

birthday trip begins...

I arrived to JFK from San Francisco to a wonderful surprise....the party crew planned a pickup and champagne toast for me at the airport seeing as I would turn 30 at the baggage claim solo. It was a beautiful gift that I had not expected...Jenga (who flew in from New Orleans to celebrate with me) even came in hand with food per my request (goldfish snacks just don't fill you up like in the old days). Since we didn't know if it was "legal" to drink in the airport we waited until we arrived to Bed-Stuy to crack it open on the stoop which surely is of course okay!

Oct 20 - Birthday GALORE

My birthday was a succession of too many wants and not enough time but we got in what we could. The weather in NYC was crazy warm and sunny....just like I like it! Nneka and I had lunch, I had my hair blown out Dominican style, we dropped Ua at Cesar and Dene's (who was ready to put on her Samba shoes and come out with us), a group of us saw the Fela play on Broadway which had a phenomenal set and lighting. The show was good overall...though it dragged in spots and I'm still laughing about the tap dancing orisha that Kiini was not feeling (to put it kindly). Met a few folks for drinks in LES at Fat Baby's (thanks KT and O for the LOVE). Then had dinner at 1230 am with Omar who hung tough with me until the early morning hours and who insisted I have cake on my birthday. We found a pastry spot open at 2AM (god I miss NY) and compromised on a devils food cupcake. I was given a single candle by the waitress and able to make a wish and end the entire day in a great way!

Much time and effort was put into making that day possible for me, hit or miss, and I adore and appreciate Kiini, Zenobia, Jenga, and Nneka for all the love they showered on me.

& shout out to my OAKland crew for the great gift of a camera to document all my travels!