My surprise trip home...What a difference 13 hours makes!

Friday, we went to our friend’s restaurant for a farewell dinner for my homie’s sisters who were visiting from California. Our friend really hooked it up. We had something between Nabe and Sukiyaki, Basashi (yes more raw horse), my fave cabbage wrapped pork dealies, fries…regular and sweet potato, tempura-ed veggies, a sashimi-ed flounder still moving when it got to the table, and some little live fishies that we were supposed to eat before they died in the sauce…sounds cruel huh…mine kept jumping out of my chopsticks. I don’t know if the fact that it was still living or it’s ability out muscle me that freaked me out, but it took me about 45 seconds to pump myself up and pop it into my mouth…ACK! I honestly only did it to be able to say that I ate a whole live fish! YAY!

For all of you who haven’t heard yet, I’m HOME!!! I decided about a month ago that I would fly into town to surprise my parents. So, I packed my stuff, only told the folks who live in my building and two people at home, and hopped on a plane and headed over. Can you believe that on a 12-hour flight from Tokyo to Atlanta my section’s screens were not working? So that means we couldn’t watch TV, play games, control our lights, request an attendant, NOTHING! I hung out in Atlanta for a bit before heading home, any my best friend was so very accommodating and I had a GREAT time!!! Monday, I jumped on the train to go to the airport. At the airport, I caught the limo home. Well, something told me that my mother would be home and looking out of the window….and sure enough a split second after I jumped out the front door flew open and my mother came flying down the yard in her PJs, “MY BABY’S HOME…MY BABY’S HOME!!!” So I ran up and gave her a big hug! The driver was cracking up. It was indeed a classic Color Purple moment! Once inside, my mom called my dad and said, “Come home I don’t feel well.” He asked what’s wrong and she told him to just come home. I sat in the living room with my camera and snapped a picture when he walked in. He stood there for like 5 minutes staring at me then asked, “What are you doing here?”

That day we…
· Shoe shopped: 3
· Dress shopped: 1
· Got manicures
· Got pedicures
· Ate at Red Robin…a grown up burger joint…My mother and I split a Mushroom Burger and fries…I had a mocha smoothie…I already see that I’m not going to be able to eat all my food on this trip! Yes, it was a very eventful day.

On Tuesday, I…
· Rummaged around Old Navy looking for some decent work pants…to no avail
· Crossed the street to TJMaxx…got another pair of shoes
· Went by the daycare to say hey
· Made a hair appointment
· Went by my play Grandma’s house to wish her a surprise Happy Birthday at midnight

On Wednesday, I…
· Went to the salon at 11:30 am…got some teeny lil comb twists…So now my head is covered with millions of lil corkscrews…cute
· Went with my dad and his friend to Atlanta…dropped them of at Philip’s Arena for the Hawks vs. Miami Heat game
· Swung by GSU to pick up my best friend in the Jag (yes another…there are two best friends in Atlanta right now) and we headed to the Cheesecake Factory where we were met by our mothers’ friend’s son…he made it as we were ending our meal and paid…WHAT A GENTLEMAN!!! I had the Jamaican Black Pepper Shrimp and a water because my orders for a Green Tea Latte and a Chai Latte were both DENIED…something about the black tea base being something or another, like not up to par or something ionno…lame manager’s excuse for something being out of stock I’m sure…I figured that because GREEN TEA Lattes should not require BLACK TEA base…DUH…then I ordered a Green Tea Smoothie…YUCK, DON’T EVER GET IT! WHO IN THE WORLD THOUGHT MIXING GREEN TEA AND YOGURT WAS A GOOD IDEA…HUH!?
· Picked up my dad and his friend and we headed back home

On Thursday, I…
· Woke up at 3 pm…What? Jet lag made me go to sleep at 5 am…I thought my mom was doing good until she made a comment about my hair…Can’t please everyone.
· Got dressed and went by my mom friend’s house (the one whose son is a gentleman)…my mom made another comment about my hair…sigh. I got caught up in a movie that I want to rent and watch…Something Like Heaven, I think…
· Talked to my Grandmum
· Went to the daycare…to say hey again I guess
· At dinner at The Market…a quaint seafood spot…DELICIOUS…fried green tomatoes and okra appetizers, I had the house salad, grilled shrimp and cheese grits as an entrée…with Sweet Tea of course!
· Went to Best Buy to figure out why I can’t post pictures on my blog!!!
· Went to Winn Dixie
· Came home to hope on my now [almost fully] functioning computer! YAY!

On Friday, I...
· Picked up my boyfriend's grandmother and her friend (they're in town for a church conference) and took them to the mall.
· BFA came to the house with her lil cousin to visit!
· Went to see one of my other mamas at her job...met my best friend up there (yes, one of the two aforementioned)
· We went to: Publix, her family friend's house, Red Robin, and Wal-Mart...for like 2 hours...WHEW what a wild Friday night!!!

On Saturday, I...
· I went shopping with my dad...bought a Nintendo DS ...he's black...his name is Densel (Justin's in Denise).
· I fixed up a slide show for my 3rd Grandmother's surprise birthday party.
· The birthday party was wonderful!
· Went out with my best friend...downtown, it's the last hope for our city's youth...so, the cops were OUT THERE!!! I forgot what it was like to be surrounded by police...weird.

On Sunday, I...
· ATE!!! Cheeses, fruit, veggies, green salad, potato salad, home smoked Boston butt, bbq ribs, bbq chicken, cabbage, rice, pinto beans seasoned with pork shanks, bbq baked beans, macaroni and cheese, corn bread, corn, rutabagas, pie, banana pudding...and I think I'm still forgetting some things...YUMMMMMMMY!!!
· One of my friends from elementary school came by just in time for my parents and their friends to start doing the Chinese Checkers (dance)...or should I say just in time for them to recruit me to teach them how to...again!

On Monday, I...
· Went to see 300 with my friend from elementary school (see Sunday)...Justin gave it a low grade and thought it was racist...but it was pretty much in line with the history of Sparta...or atleast what they put in the books...sigh

On Tuesday, I...
·Got dressed up and went to the Green Island Hills Country Club for reception for the new Mayor pro tempre, who is also a family friend.
·Did a little more shopping with my mom...Dillards and TJMaxx...SALES SALES SALES!!!

On Wednesday, I...
· Went to Atlanta...surprised my Aunt just as she was about to get in the shower to go to work!
· Ate lunch with one of my former students at Pricci in Buckhead...Yum
· Then headed to Duluth for dinner with my other former students, and had a great time playing on the trampoline with the kids...so now I want to see if I can fit one in my suitcase!
·Searched every Kroger and Wal-mart from Atlanta to my house in search of Arid clear powder scented deodorant...ummm, It no longer exists...WaAaAaAaAa!!!

On Thursday, I...
· Went to the dentist for a cleaning at 7:50 am...which by the way is quite a feat when you don't go to sleep until 5ish am!!!
·Did laundry
· My parents went to a UNFC function and I went to Georges Bizet's opera Carmen with my 3rd Grandma...most of the cast were kinda old (including Carmen...weird)...costumes weren't good...sets weren't either...the acting followed suit...Ate a Bruschetta Burger with garlic fries at Applebee's...surprisingly delish!

On Friday, I...
·Packed up and headed to Atlanta with my parents
·Swung by campus to deliver some gifts to 3 of my professors
·We checked into the hotel and headed to Atlantic Station
·Had dinner at Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro...I couldn't even finish my salad...Japan has shrunken my appetite!!!
·Talked to my aunt who recently chopped of her hair...ah, one of my own heart!
·Went to Shout with my best friend...WHO KNEW IT WOULD BE SALSA NIGHT...YAY

On Saturday, I...
·Woke up at the crack of dawn to go to the airport with my parents. My aunt met us there. I checked in my luggage (one bag was 88 pounds...I don't know how that happened...especially because that's the suitcase that I had intended to bring back empty...hmmm perhaps shoe/grocery shopping had something to do with that???)
·My flights went well...I'm glad that I didn't try to adjust my sleeping to US time b/c I was able to sleep and eat at the appropriate times during the flight...I somehow managed to wake up every time the food made it's way down the aisles. I think I'll start booking my flights with airlines depending on the food they serve...Korean Air = Yummy!

I got to my apartment on Sunday night...drained and hungry...and ready for my next trip!!!