Monday, December 14, 2015

Hoopin Chronicles: Petty LaBelle

As the Sunday morning hoop session was winding down, I end up on a team with some young dude who isn't part of the usual Sunday morning crew. The first game, we won mainly off his 2-pointers that he was launching and another guy. Yep...he only passed to one other person on the team. Me trying to get open was basically pointless. I didn't touch the ball at all during the game.

So, the 2nd game starts. I don't even bother trying to get free; I'm just an on-court spectator. He dribbles towards me and gets trapped. There are two guys on him, and my man is on me. He makes the dumb pass and the ball is turned over. He says "You gotta keep going" or some ish. I'm like "I've been moving around all game (referring to the first one). Why don't you pass the ball? You have 4 other teammates."

Then he goes "This is why I don't play with girls." And repeated it!

Oh, nigga.

NIGGA!

I said "I'm no girl. I'm a grown woman. Watch your mouth."

For the rest of the game, he didn't say shit else to me. He was actually passing the ball to me. I hit a two and someone yelled "That's a grown woman right there!" Every time he made a dumb mistake I would yell "Damn, I hate playing with girls."

We lost the game.

But, I won.

Petty LaBelle
bka
K to the...


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Tre'd up.

The day before my birthday, I received a call from my doctor's office with lab results. A week prior, I went in for my annual physical. I learned that I have a Vitamin D deficiency, which can be remedied by simply taking vitamins. I hate taking pills...seriously. But, it's something that has to be done. I also learned that my mom does the same, so it's hereditary. Yay, genes! 

While reading up on symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency, I began to figure out what was going on with me in the past few months. Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include aching joints and feeling "blue." For the past 3-4 months, this is what I had been experiencing. 

My right knee was bothering me in ways it's never bothered me before. I've been playing since I was 8, and the only knee problems I've ever had was "jumpers' knee." But, yoga wasn't helping with the aches I had in my knee. I initially thought my body was in shock after picking up this new hobby of running. So after the Hot Chocolate 5K, I went from running 3x a week to only once a week.

Also, I felt like I hadn't been myself the past few months. I initially thought I was suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. When the sun was out, I was fine. But, it just seemed like there were more cloudy days than sunny days. It was like I was in a constant state of "blah".

When something makes me upset, I acknowledge that I'm upset, and then say to myself "OK, what are you going to do about it? Dwell on it, or change your mood?" It seemed like the pep talk wasn't working for me. Was I depressed? It's possible. But I do know ever since I've returned from vacation, my mood has gotten so much better. I started taking the Vitamin D supplement while on vacay. Monday, I came home and practiced yoga for an hour after work. I hadn't done that since July or August. And I slept peacefully, like I've always done after an evening yoga practice.

My vacation in New Orleans, along with my doctor letting me know what was going on with me was right on time. I feel like I'm getting back to myself. I really enjoyed my trip and really appreciate my peoples for hanging with me. 
The homies after dinner at Superior Seafood
Chillin' on Bourbon Street
Good times as the clock struck midnight on 12/4
 
Self-explanatory
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