I made a friend!

I am supposed to be studying so I will have to make this quick...I just wanted to share:
Tonight I had dinner with Lisl. She is also from South Africa. She is gorgeous and funny too boot! Just thinking about her makes me laugh. Best of all she is a Christian.

As if that wasn't good enough the girl is also a expert bargain shopper. She was wearing these fabulous shoes that she paid SIX DOLLARS for. What more could you possibly ask for in a friend?!

I actually made two friends today...my new friend Joe surprised me by bringing dinner to the hospital. He knows that Masa does not let us stop for lunch during the day so by the time night fall comes I am ravenous. How nice was that?! As far as I am concerned if you bring me food that makes you a friend of mine...period.

God is good!

INTRODUCING....

My brother's new blog:
It's called "Move on Up"

the link is:
http://onmyway21.blogspot.com/

It's quite interesting. He was born in Swaziland but moved to America at age 3. At the age of 21, due to circumstances totally out of his control, he was forced to return to his native land to reunite with a family who he had been out of touch with for 17 years. Read about his adventures. He is funny with a biting sense of humor.

Since I won't have time to blog too much I figured I could redirect you to another blog.

Coming soon: an anonymous blog about my adventures at my job...boy do I have stories to tell...

life since my last blog/ lonely but never alone

Since I last wrote, I graduated from Haaaavaaad...yea me!
I move to the nation's capital
I am in the process of buying my first home
And have had a couple of other major life events (no i am not preggo or getting married)
Ironically, my life has slowed down a lot in many ways.
God is still good.

I had to re-read my blog "Jesus as the back up friend" the other day. Being in a city, without family or friends (at least of the variety that stay in the state) can be tough at times. I trust that even though I feel alone God is always with me.

Instead of having a pity party ie. "woe is me...i ain't got nobody" I can choose to be empowered. Knowing that God is there always provides some level of comfort but sometimes it is nice to have human contact. At times like these I remember two things:

1. There is always somebody out there who needs a friend more than you:
The best way to get a friend is to be a friend. Reach out to the widow from church, go to an nursing home befriend and learn from an old lady who experiences by far outnumber your years. Call up that person who is going through a hard time and let them know you care. Sometimes taking the focus off yourself and your own misery helps.

2. Reach out to people and don't be afraid of rejection (it is usually not personal)
There are always people around you (unless you are bedridden and live alone). If you meet someone who seems half way cool ask them for their phone number, ask them what they are doing this weekend. That is how I learned about some of my co-workers plans to go see exotic male dancers...I was so tempted to go. I mean if nudity was so wrong why didn't God create Adam and Even with clothes on? The idea of having a fuwiine man, shake his booty for me at my command, without the expectation of sex or a kiss...all for the price of a Starbuck's Caramel Macchiato sounds rather appealing to me...sigh. I opted not to go.

I am trying to stay holy y'all. I am trying...

I digress.

The point I am trying to make is that if you seek you will find. I asked my friend Damien and learned about a dinner get together that the Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeons were having on Friday night. I was tired so I decided to skip that too. Sometimes you will call people and they won't call back or will not be available-don't take it personally, it's not. When I moved here I only (thought I) knew three people: Deidra, Dan and Monnie. I called Dan but he was on some top secret FBI mission in some country somewhere like Iraq, Hong Kong, Liberia...sigh. I called Monnie, she was flying here and there working on her first Oscar nomination with some super director/actor in some city like Cannes, NYC, San Fran...sigh. I called Deidra initially she was in Paris. I tried her another week, she called back from Malawi...sigh.

Then I remembered my friend from college sweet Ashaki. The problem is Ashaki is a resident/fellow. Residents are pretty much the worst kind of friend to have because they work too dang much...sigh. When you are also a resident it takes almost an act of God to coordinate two resident schedules (I am not kidding)

Then I remembered I had me. I am a pretty cool person to hang out with. I love my own company. I never bore myself and I always know when to be quite. So during restaurant week I took myself out to the oh-so-chi-chi Vidalia restaurant and enjoyed a scrumptious five-course meal all by myself (I wish I had time to write a review). I also enjoyed brunch at my favorite brunch restaurant in the city, Kramer's Afterwords Cafe. I had a lump crabmeat breakfast quesadilla, home fries, fruit, muffins, fresh squeezed orange juice and a strawberry mimosa for $17. Can't beat it! I have also spent time at my favorite place in the city by the river where I can see the monument, the Thomas Jefferson center and the water--best of all its free. On a different night I downloaded a movie on the computer and watched it in bed. (Yes I sleep with my laptop...she is warm, bright and very smart). I supposed you could say I am dating myself (and having an affair with my laptop...hmm) LOL!

Eventually Dan came back from his top secret mission--we are still playing phone tag. Deidra is also in the city (for now). Hopefully Monnie will take some time off after her oscar win and we can catch up. I will continue to pray for a resident on resident meeting with Ashaki (miracles do happen).

I am also making new friends. Both last night and this morning I was able to talk to my roommate who I NEVER see for a few minutes. She is actually really nice. She has got lots of stories! As I hear her tell them I think back warmly to the days when I had multiple date options and suitors...there is something really nice about being wined, dined and appreciated...

However, I also have a deep appreciation for this dessert period in my life without a home, friends, time and most of the material possesions that I thought I needed so much (I never would have believed that it is possible to live life with only FOUR pairs of shoes--evidently it is...sigh.

I thank God for this period of simplicity, humility and stillness. I thank him for the opportunity to commune with Her without too many distractions. I thank him for the opportunity to get to know him better as my friend, confidant, source of strength, peace, provision and joy. God is good. I may never have this time again in my life. I am comforted by the fact that I know that my time in the wilderness is only for a season.

In the meantime, I plan on catching a movie with my new friend Lisl, sunbathing with Chyree at the pool and...going shoe shopping this weekend (I think DSW is having a sale!)

LOL!

Have a great weekend!