‘My Current Play List’

Sunday, March 22, 2015

People are always interested in the type of music that I listen to. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I have my headphones on 90% of the day and my CD player on my hip. (There are no MP3’s here…) Still, I realize that music is a way of telling a lot about a person. 

My current CD collection stretches pretty far in terms of decade and genre, so I have no idea what you might ascertain from it, but here it is nonetheless. 

 

Beyonce

Jay-Z

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

*Alice Smith

Katy Perry

Deadmau5

Robin Thicke

Myley Cyrus

*Calvin Harris

Jennifer Lopez

Shakira

Claudia Lette (Brazilian Beyonce')

Nick Jonas

Sam Smith

Ariana Grande

Chris Brown

*Jessie J

Nicky Minaj

Tamar Braxton

*Toni Braxton

Kesha Cole

*Sade

Selena Gomez

Maxwell

Donnel James

Mark Ronson

Pharrel

Izzy Azalea

Azealia Banks

Tyga

*Sia

*Clean Bandit

Ricky Martin

Trey Sangz

Tamia

Deborah Cox

Nina Simone

Patti Smith

Janis Joplin

Etta James

Kelly Price

The Gap Band

The Commodores

Earth Wind & Fire

*Patti Labelle

Anita Baker

Luther Vandross

*Deneice Williams

Sylvester

*Mumford & Sons

Fun

*Morcheeba

Lilly Allen

Adele

Luke Bryan

Little Big Town

*Florida/Georgia State Line

Swing Out Sister

Romeo Santos

Jenni Rivera

Lorde

Icona Pop

Scissor Sisters

Michael Buble

Lady Gaga

*Kings of Leon

There you have it: My incredibly diverse taste in music. I have placed an * by those artists that have become my favorites. I am always open to new recommendations though so feel free to let me know if you have some suggestions!

‘Just another food visit’

Sunday, February 22, 2015

It is 4:00 AM here in Florence and I’m awake, coffee by my side. My goal was to slowly go through some questions that I have received by readers but instead, I have gotten distracted in thinking about the enormous amount of food mom will be bringing me today during our “food visit”. (For those unfamiliar, the prison facility designates certain days of the year where visitors are allowed to bring in more healthy, and tasty – food offerings.)

Since a lot of people are curious as to what she brings… The menu for today’s food visit is below:

BREAKFAST

Starbucks coffee

Whipped cream coffee topping with Grand Marnier flavoring

Homemade banana pancakes with Nutella

Homemade Pan Perdu (Stuffed French toast with marmalade and cream cheese)

Sausage Links & Bacon

LUNCH

Spinach salad with fried calamari, red onion and cherry tomatoes

Cheesy garlic bread

Homemade meat lasagna

Bacon wrapped scallops

Homemade lobster macaroni n’ cheese

DESERT

Lemoncello cake stuffed with mascarpone and raspberries

Homemade cream cheese brownies

 

THANKS MOM!

‘The reality of closing doors’

Saturday, February 21, 2015

I have only loved one man romantically in my life, Mark. I loved him then and I love him now – only in a different way. (At least I tell myself that) I mean, a man in my position cannot maintain a healthy relationship from here – even if I tried. Being with Mark – again – was a possibility a few years back, but I thought it best not to let history repeat itself. He may be the same Mark that I fell in love with all those years ago, but today, I am a very different David.

No matter how many times I have contemplated it, Mark + David simply doesn’t add up.

In acknowledging that, our friendship grew exponentially with me as an adult. What we have now, is healthy, rewarding and ‘safe’. When he visits, the energy is positive. Yes, I still find him attractive but that is not generated from my loins, but rather, an ephemeral place. When we speak on the phone, the conversation is interesting, educating and jovial. I look forward to the sound of his voice and the way he makes me focus on the bigger picture of life.

This past week, I learned that his boyfriend will be moving into his home. I was congratulatory, excited even, because Mark deserves to be loved, and well, ‘happy’. It’s something that I want for him and yet later on that evening, I cried for over 30 minutes in the shower.

Reigning in my emotions was difficult because I couldn’t assess the situation clearly. Was I jealous? Angry? Sad? If I was… then why? It made me feel incredibly selfish and immature. Then I realized why I was having these emotions: a door was closing.

Life is continuing and people are growing and evolving. I am doing the same, but – in here. I’m in here, in this place and I subconsciously do not want any doors to close. My heart and soul are simply not ready for that. 

Unfortunately, life doesn’t much care about any of that.