J-walking...or something.

As someone who is a lover of fresh kicks, I didn't always have multiple pairs of shoes when growing up. I would get one pair of gym shoes every school year. I never asked my mom for a pair of Air Jordans because I knew damn well she wasn't paying more than $100 for some gym shoes. Plus, they didn't look all that great to me. 

Back in '98, during my sophomore year of high school, our boys' basketball team was the shiznit, mmkay? I remember Quentin Richardson being the first person I saw rocking these particular Js. Like I said before, Js weren't appealing to me...but these young ya digs were the flyest I had seen thus far! And they were in my favorite colors. Seeing those shoes everyday was like being around a married man. I could look...but I damn sure couldn't touch because I knew mom wasn't buying them for me. After a while, I stopped lusting for those shoes.

Fast forward to 2005. Those shoes I loved were retro'ed!

And I HAD to have them.

So at the age of 22, I bought my first pair of Jordans for $100. One of my buddies who worked at a Finishline in Texas shipped them to me.

Damn right, I still got them.

I love the shoes so much, that I got another pair as a gift when they were retro'ed again in 2010. Same style and color. I may have worn them less than 10 times. I'm not ashamed, either.

As of today, I now have 5 pairs of Js. The latest pair are all black Jordan 1s. I searched high and low for some all black kicks (because none of my gyms shoes are in solid colors) and finally found some...and they were only $60. 

*fist pump*

Moral of the story?

There is none.

Happy Monday.

K to the...

10 months...

Tuesday, the 21st, marked 10 months since I start my loc journey. The onliest downside of my hair growing has been my face breaking out. So, I change my pillow case more often, use less oil in my hair and went back to using good ole Dr. Earles cleansing system. I'm too light (in the winter) to have acne scars, son. This had to be handled.

The upside is still and will always be being able to wear hats. Yes, I put satin scarf on before putting on the winter hat to protect my edges.

What?

Ain't I a (black) woman?

Look at those two locs unraveled.
We baby drapin in these streets!

Happy 10 months to my babies.

K to the...

Yogi chronicles: The divine in me smells the funk in you

My Saturdays start with an 8:30am hatha yoga class. We warm up, on our own, then get into the practice...focusing on our breathing and intention. While we are getting to our "quiet place", our eyes are closed. Because I have a strong nose, I can smell what The Rock is cooking when someone is coming in after we start. The smells are usually pleasant...like fresh out of a dryer full of Bounty sheets.

But, there is one woman who is always late, coming in smelling like moth balls. I never smelled a dead body before. But I'm pretty sure the smell of moth balls is up there as one of the worst smells on earth. When she walks in, I have to refrain from saying "GAT DAMN!" and remained focused on my breathing and intention.

She needs to start showing up on time, dag nabbit!

K to the...

"Woke up this morning feeling fresh to def..."

Last Sunday, Jill Scott was in heavy rotation while on the road to take my lil sis back to school. My mom played her first album and while I was singing she was like "This came out during your freshman year at Bradley, right?" It was then that I realized that Jill Scott has been "with me" since I was 17 years old.

"Who is Jill Scott?" dropped on July 18, 2000. I played the hell outta that CD. I mean, hella scratches was on that joint. I remember when I first heard "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)". I though it was one of the most beautiful songs. That was a love I wanted to (and did, at some point) experience.

Every one of Jill's albums has a song that speaks on what I'm going through at the time the album was released. From "There's Just Me" to "Golden" to "Celibacy Blues" to "Blessed"...Jill be singing my life with her words.

So, here is my personal ranking of Jill's studio albums:

1. Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1
2. Light of the Sun
3. The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3
4. Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2

Happy Friday!

K to the...

So... 1.15.14

There have been two instances in the past month in which men have tried to imply that I like girls because one of my closest friends is bisexual. One was so blatant and loud with it while I conversed with a dude trying to get my number.

"Oh, she's confused...she likes pussy." O_o

I was going to write in detail about the situations, but the "f*** it" that has been ever-so-present in my soul during this 4th decade of my life says otherwise. I used to get perturbed about folk inquiring about my sexuality. Now, I just laugh. I really don't have to prove shit to anyone. Again, that "f*** it" in my system...

So, let me say this. If you feel like a woman being friends with a bi/homosexual woman makes that woman "like pussy"...

GROW UP!

K to the...

Yogi Chronicles

I've noticed that I don't write much about this "yogi" life of which I am 'bout! Well, let me sauté ON today.

I attended my first hatha yoga class in November 2011. Pure. Struggle. After the first downward dog, I thought "What did I sign up for?" I hated that pose. My instructor, Joanna, said the poses that you hate the most are usually the ones you need. And that pose was the one I needed. My strength has always been, mainly, in my legs. But, now...

*kisses guns*

In September 2012, thanks to a suggestion from a classmate, I signed up for the power yoga (advanced) class. I was skeptical because I didn't want to feel as if I was getting ahead of myself. She saw how I was progressing in hatha and figured I could do it. Though my arms felt like noodles the first 3 weeks of the class, I was glad that I did sign up. 

As of today, I still attend those two classes...err week. In addition to feeling the results of the practice (better breathing, better posture, listening to the body, etc.) I've seen the results. 

Also, being able to hold poses I never thought I'd be able to do is dope, as well.

Not even a horrid Bears game in the background could break my concentration. Swank!

So yeah. My name is K.D.. I am a yogi. I'm 'bout dat life. And hope to be 'bout dat life until I'm 86 like one of my Saturday morning classmates.

Namaste.

K to the...

Music Monday - 12.16.13

You already know what happened at 12:00am EST on December 13, 2013. And if you don’t know…sorry for ya!

Let me say that I am a big fan of Beyoncé. I’ve seen her in concert the last three times she was in Chicago. After she did what she did at 12:00am EST on December 13, 2013, I went to Stubhub to see if there was a way for me to see her again when she was in Chicago on the same date. Yes, I saw her in July, and there was a good chance the show was the same (she only did one new song)…but she puts on a great show!

But I wasn’t paying more than $100 for nosebleed seats.

So, anywho…here is my current ranking of Beyoncé albums.

1. B’Day/4
2. BEYONCÉ
3. Dangerously in Love
4. I Am…Sasha Fierce

Any of my 5 readers fans? What's your ranking?

Happy Monday.

K to the…