Notorious

This weekend, my sister and I rented Notorious, the Biggie Smalls biopic. 3 stars. But it had me reminiscing and wondering, "What if...," and feeling shafted that I didn't enjoy his music more when he was alive and angry that he only recorded two albums, was only alive for the release of one, and was basically a child when he died (24 year old are only kind of adults...).

So here are some of my favorite videos and songs.

Watch more Ready to Die videos on AOL Video

But why were there swimming pools in all of the rap videos from the 90s? Huh? Hype Williams, if you're out there, holla at me on that one. And big ups to Resurrection ;o)



I couldn't WAIT to be old enough to go to parties like these!



And like this. But that girl was BUSTED. "TRUE!" Never understood that one.




And poor Lil Kim, looking like Miss Piggy. And let's be really real; Puff wouldn't have been who he is without BIG, jumping around in all the videos. I remember coming home from school to see this video premiere! Let's hear it for the old MTV...

Just Fallin Out

::blush:: don't you just love him?



By the way, I received my letter of thanks for volunteering at the Easter Egg Roll yesterday, signed by Michelle Obama. I'm telling myself that she saw mine and signed it herself. I know how these things work...but I'm telling myself that anyway (you never know...I mean I know some people in her office, so I could ask...but...).

Just had to share...

This is so classic. Thanks to theYBF.com for the pic. Jay is one of my faves (birthday twins!). I would love to know at what they are looking!

And what happened to the kid behind them???

Sweetest Thing

(photo courtesy of DCist.com/Stacey Viera)

I'm a Christian, so the best thing about Easter is the real purpose of the day, the celebration of Christ's Resurrection.

But the second best thing about Easter is Easter Candy. For other holidays that involve candy (like Valentine's Day and Halloween), companies simply make smaller versions of the their everyday favorites. With the exception of candy corn, you can basically buy holiday candy 365 days a year.

But not Easter candy. Easter candy is only available in the 4 weeks leading up to Easter. Then it's gone for another 48 weeks.

Peeps.

Jelly Beans.

Cadbury Cream Eggs.

Cadbury Cream Eggs are the best candy on the planet. An egg like a truffle, only with a sugary filling that sort of looks like yolk. The chocolate is rich without being too much for your palate. Cadbury Cream Eggs make all other holiday candy worthless. Think candy canes compare? No way.

For some reason this year there was a shortage of cream eggs. I could only find them in a few stores. It was heartbreaking. But the Easter Bunny left me 2 in my basket. Thanks East' Bunny!

White House Easter Egg Roll 2009

So yesterday (this morning), I railed on tourists. And my opinion hasn't changed. In fact, I've added a new gripe:

Don't wear high heels to walk around the city or to the White House or to the Capitol. Don't tell me you're comfortable because you're not. And you're not fooling anyone. We still know you're a tourist.

Anyway, today was the ultimate tourist trap: The White House Easter Egg Roll.

30,000 people received tickets (and that probably doesn't include staffers' kids). And I was there as a volunteer. I braced myself for stinky eggs, whiny kids, and a bunch of tourists thinking they were going to walk right into the West Wing just because they got a ticket to the backyard (so the South Lawn totally feels like a backyard--a giant one nonetheless--but an awesome backyard).

But it was so much fun. The kids were so, so cute. We only had a few criers and even fewer temper tantrums over at the West Egg Roll (my station) and only one or two pushy parents. I think they were more excited than the kids. One cutie pie called it Obamaland. I love that child. It's so true. It was totally Obamaland. A few celebs came by too (Tom Joyner, Chuck Todd, and the farmer from the movie Babe). Unfortunately, I missed the POTUS and FLOTUS. They came in the morning, but I had the afternoon shift. Still, it was so worth it. And now I'm feeling extra maternal and can't wait to dress up my little babies in gingham and argyle and seersucker on the Monday after Easter!

(P.S. Papa Smurf is still the greatest grandpa ever [no offense, Granddaddy]).

Tourists

I have a special relationship with Metro, the subway system in Washington, DC. I even call myself Metro Royalty (explanation at a later date). And even though it's going through a rough patch right now (bad economy, old rails and cars, etc), and I complain about it often, I still love it.

What I don't love, though, is the Metro in the springtime. And it's not Metro's fault. It's the tourists.

I.

Hate.

Tourists.

I'm not exaggerating. I hate them. They're good for the economy and I totally understand why they want to visit in the spring (cherry blossoms & low humidity) especially with the new First Family, now plus dog.

But I still hate them.

Tourists, please don't stand in front of the Metro map studying it for 5 stops only to realize you're going in the wrong direction (you're heading into the Hood!). On the escalator, please walk on the left and stand on the right. This is America. That's how we drive, it's how we ride our bikes, and walk down the sidewalk. Why, when you get on a Metro escalator, do you suddenly think you're in Paris and that everything is opposite? I mean come on.

Please stop wearing your Washington, DC, sweatshirts all around town with your fanny packs and cameras and maps and sunscreen. Don't ask me where is the Mall. Figure it out. It's only the HUGE swath of land in the middle of the city. Plus, you don't go anywhere else but the Mall. Use the Smithsonian stop. Pretty easy, because you know you're going to go to a Smithsonian museum. You don't go anywhere else. Just use some sense!

Recognize that people actually work in this town. It's more than the Capitol (actually a place of business, though) and the White House (again, another office building really), but lots of buildings in between where people work. And when you stand in the middle of the street with your class of 8th graders from Cedar Rapids (let's hear it for gay marriage in the prairies), that lady with the crocs on and carrying a tote bag, checking her blackberry is not a chaperone missing her flock. She's actually an underpaid worker, probably trying to desperately get to her office to make sure that your tax dollars are spent wisely.

I'm being harsh. But really, just move to the right. We'll pass on the left. It can be a match made in heaven. Stimulate the economy and we'll get a few good laughs. We like it when you visit our town. But really we can't wait for you to leave. I'll take a humid July over a mild April any day. When I walk out into the sauna like atmosphere, I at least know I can get a seat on the Red Line. And no one will ask me if they're heading towards Virginia. Trust me. I'm not heading to Virginia.


(OMG, They're EVERYWHERE!!!!)

Hiatus Over

Sorry about the delay. I've been busy. I finally got a job (yay health care). It's with the government, so you know that means most websites that are the least bit interesting are blocked by Big Brother (booo). So no blogging at work. But I figured a way around it. So when I can get a minute away from the piles of work I have trying to aid democracy, I'll update.

Moving on...

I hear my entries are too long. I'll work on it (but you know this is me we're talking about. brevity has never been my strong suit).

Anyway, the president was right (to my hidden chagrin). Oh UNC. Well congrats, I guess. Luckily, I love my president. Is this how the Repubs felt about Bush? Whoa. Scary. Maybe this is how they felt aboutReagon. Still...whoa. Scary. (note: "Ronald Reagan" is a bad word in my house. Pretty much up there with the F-word. You don't say it.)