I came across these notes I took during my trip to Hong Kong. I think I intended to write more, but I only got as far as Chicago. It’s still a pretty interesting read, though, regardless of my original intentions.

8 am at BWI
I am sitting at the gate listening to a guy talk to his girlfriend in (I assume) HK. I’m aggravated even being near him. The conversation is of no importance and he is clearly on the phone just to be on the phone. He is forcing his girlfriend to review video games with him, and they are both reviewing the same websites at the same time and talking about how “this game has a more complex class system than most games I’ve played lately.” He’s one of those arrogant know it all gamers, giving his two cents about where to download the game, who has discounts, and if she needs help downloading it because “he’s not there to walk her through it.” I guess she got a call on the other line, because he said “Who would be calling you at this hour?” (pause) “Well, tell her you are talking to me.” So he’s jealous, too… or controlling. You know the type. I’m embarrassed to be a gamer. If I ever get this irritating, slap me in the face.

8:41 Boarding Plane
Can’t help but watch all of the Asian people. Not trying to be creepy, but I’m fascinated since I’ll be in the minority in about 20 hours. I imagine they’ll be on my flight to HK. Is that a prejudiced assumption? I don’t mean to be.

10 am Chicago
I’m walking concourse c. I figure it’s good exercise before 16 hours on a plane. Sat next to a lovely older couple on the Baltimore/Chicago flight from Annapolis who are headed to Alaska. I asked Helen (and Vaughn) if they were going to say “hi” to Palin while they were there, and she said “no,” and then did something close to rolling her eyes. I liked her immediately. Helen and Vaughn have traveled the world, and they were so polite. Apparently the thing to buy in HK is pearls. Hers cost her $2k but she says it was her best purchase, and I will treasure them forever. We’ll see. She gave me a hug when we said goodbye.

11:05 am Boarding Plane for Hong Kong
You know you rarely see older flight attendants. Why is that? Good pension? Hmm.

When I’m walking in front of a stopped car at an intersection, I always attempt to make eye contact with the driver to make sure they are paying attention as I walk in front of their car. In Baltimore, however, this can easily be misinterpreted. Any hint of a smile as your eyes lock, any nod of your head in recognition of that connection… And you could suddenly appear to be a prostitute looking for a John.

It happened to me, oh yes it did. In Canton on the outskirts of Highlandtown I crossed. Looking cute but still in flip flops, not too dressed up but with a little bling, he nodded then smiled. I smiled back, thanks to a polite Midwestern upbringing, then immediately thought his smile was ever so slightly creepy. I instantly looked forward and felt him watch me as I walked by. I positioned myself on the other side of a sign as I walked away, attempting to block his view if he was watching.

The rattling I had noticed from his car suddenly seemed slightly louder, and I wondered if he’d inched up his car so that he could see me walk away. Alert, I kept walking and listening, and a minute or two later he turned and drove slowly down the street in my direction. I didn’t look, didn’t do anything but look forward and keep walking as his car rattled past and away.

I have high hopes for you, 2011… the last two years have been a struggle at times, what with losing three grandparents and all, but I’m absolutely sure you’re going to pull through for me. Let’s do this!

It’s 12:43 AM on Tuesday, August 31, 2010… and Facebook appears to be down. Yep. I’m getting the following error:

I checked Mashable.com and nothing had been reported, but still the error. The problem is… there’s no one to tell. I mean, who even reads blogs anymore?

Lest I earn too much respect by writing only thought-provoking posts about interesting topics such as toothpaste and toilet paper, I’d like to say that Glee’s season finale hurt my heart. It did.

Overall music and performances – fantastic. The editing of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Quinn’s labor – brilliant! The performance of “To Sir With Love” – just beautiful!!

All that being said, the episode didn’t sit well with me. It just didn’t. I mean seriously, they came in last? What was the point of that? Did I root for them all season just so I could be told that they’re a rag-tag group of misfits? Well, now you’re insulting my obvious good taste – and that just makes me mad!

But beyond the group losing at Regionals, there were other problems that can only be described as sloppy writing. Why was Olivia Newton-John such a b**** when she clearly liked Sue a few episodes back? Uncharacteristic. Quinn’s mom is suddenly back in the picture? “My water broke.” How convenient. Oh, and Shelby adopts baby Beth? C’mon! Everyone knows that white babies are in crazy demand in the US, and a random single nearly 40 year old teacher is lucky enough to adopt her on the spot?? PLEASE.

Like I said… my heart hurts. I’m so disappointed.

Overall, my favorite review came from the LA Times. Thank you Gerrick D. Kennedy. You and I are on the same page, my fellow Glee fan. Same. Page.

Apparently, though, I am in the minority… at least according to a People poll. When I took the poll Wednesday night, 81% of the pollsters claimed to be satisfied with the season finale. Really? What show were you watching? And now we all have to wait until September…

I’ve contemplated 100 different ways to return to blogging, and who’d have thunk that watching ‘Julie & Julia’ would be the inspiration I needed to sit down today and type. 2009 was so difficult in so many ways, with more disappointments, regrets and losses than I think I’ve ever had in any one year. Not that it was a horrible year – I still had a great time with work, friends and family – but 2009 was colored by more sadness than I’d ever care to repeat in a twelve month period.

But enough of that.

My apartment is a mess. A total mess. Papercraft supplies have been moved into storage to make room for crocheting supplies and blankets – a few made by relatives long gone. An accordion sits in my living room, a skateboard is stored under the shelving unit in my kitchen, and oh! My kitchen. My kitchen is full of dishes from my Grandparents’ house – a Fiesta serving dish, PYREX nesting bowls, and a (nearly) full set of pink and blue Fortecrisa glass dishes and bowls. All of my IKEA stuff is headed off to Goodwill soon – there’s simply no room for it next to my Grandmother’s cookware.

In my bedroom, a blanket rack now sits in the corner with one of my own handmade blankets, my Grandmother’s flower blanket (compliments of my Aunt Mary) and my Aunt Dorothy’s crocheted shawl hanging on it. Somewhere underneath those treasures is a blanket made by one of my Great Grandmothers – either Costa or Sinisi. My underwear drawer (!) now is the home for several handkerchiefs with “E” embroidered in them (for Emma Sinisi), a rosary hangs on my lamp (even though I’m not Catholic), and my Grandma Parks’ blanket is on my bed so that I can sleep under it every night.

To many, this may seem like sadness, and I won’t lie – it is to some extent. How can it not be? But it’s also a celebration. Charissa is her own woman with her own likes and dislikes, but she’s also a result of the women who have come before her, and how lucky I am to have these things to hold on to. They defined these women in many ways, and those women define parts of me.

So a lot has changed over 2009, and I don’t have particularly high hopes that 2010 won’t be without it’s difficulty – for Heaven’s sake, I already have a two foot crack across my windshield (thank you, cold weather) – but through it all I continue to grow and change and evolve. Not too far from the Charissa you know, mind you… but these things, these women, my history… it provides ‘seasoning’ on a life already in progress. I only hope to live up to the hard work and loving hearts of those that came before me… wish me luck. And please come back soon…