Counting down....

There are very few BIG events Americans look forward to each year. The Superbowl is one of them. In honor of this special occassion we celebrate, here's....

36 Reasons why the Steelers WILL win The Big Game. (Other than because I said so....)

36. Because of The Bus.
35. Because of The Terrible Towel.
34. Because of Troy Polamalu.
33. Because it's one of the few franchises in history that hasn't sold its team to another city.
32. Because of Superbowl IX.
31. Because of Superbowl X.
30. Because of Superbowl XIII.
29. Because of Superbowl XIV.
28. Because of Terry Bradshaw.
27. Because the Seahawks only beat the Panthers' practice squad.
26. Because I love Heinz ketchup.
25. Because Bettis' parents go to every game.
24. Because the Seahawks only have one weapon.
23. Because only one other thing comes out of Seattle and that's coffee.
22. Because steel comes out of Pittsburgh and the defensive line eats that for breakfast.
21. Because every other city that does the waving of the towels thing pre-kick off looks lame in comparison to the sea of yellow Terrible Towels at Heinz Field.
20. Because they hushed all that "great hope" Indy mumbo jumbo.
19. Because of Peyton who?
18. Because they stayed true to the original logo.
17. Because they get away with rocking it on only one side of the helmet.
16. Because of their fan's devout dedication.
15. Because of the Blitzburgh D.
14. Because of one of the only GMs that wasn't quick to fire his head coach after a couple bad seasons.
13. Because of Cower's 13 year dedication to this league.
12. Because my uncle IS the 12th man.
11. Because of Hines Ward's smile.
10. Because noone else thought they could do it.
9. Because Washington, PA changed their name to Steeler, PA.
8. Because of Cower's spit that flies every where when he's pissed.
7. Because of Big Ben.
6. Because they're the first 6th seed to get to The Big Game.
5. Because of Cower's facial expressions.
4. Because of Polamalu's hair.
3. Because of Hines Ward.
2. Because of the Deuce. Because when he's healthy he's still a bad mofo.
1. Because one of the greatest running backs in the past 13 years hasn't gone to Disney World yet.

Do this...

Google the phrase "(Your name) looks like" and find the best one from the first page of results. Don't forget to put it in quotes, otherwise it won't work. Here's mine:

"Dayna looks like poppy montgomery shes hot I mostly hear sarah michelle gellar, especialy in this..."

Alert the press, alert the press!!!

I came to work today and thought something was a little strange. My inbox was overflowing with a whopping 32 emails (8 of which were really important). So immediately I was like, "Oh no, what's gone down?". This. Jaime Foxx is apparently having some sort of music special airing on NBC in the coming days, but has received no public recognition or publicity for it. I guess since he's "come up" in this world and has received "the nod" it's not okay for him to be B-list, like the good ol days when he was Wanda in "In Living Color". He's "accepted" now, and mediocre credit just won't do anymore. I personally don't look at it as a conspiracy, HE'S NO MUSICAL GENIUS PEOPLE. So apparently, I'm the one that doesn't get it, since I didn't forward it to the 30 million people I have in my email address book. If someone does however, please let me know what the real deal is. No more forwards please, my finger is tired of hitting delete.

So I have a friend....

that seems to be going through a hard time in her life. (I hope shes reading ;)). I feel your pain girl. It's my belief that you are one of the rare jewels in life. Because you actually CARE about other people. Openly and privately. For so many years I thought....what a fucked up way to be (cause I feel I'm the same way). Why is it, that the nicest people in the world, seem to be the first to get fucked over? Why do I always care and give and give some more, and people that say they feel the same about you, keep taking and taking and taking? Why is it so hard to be strong all the time? To brush off hurt and pain-just to say to people when they ask you what's wrong "Nothing, I'm fine". Sometimes you just want someone to fight off all the demons in life-to stand for you when you're too weak to stand on your own. Yes it is fucked up. But, I've learned that if you first can't stand for yourself, then you can't stand for the people God puts in your life that really love you. All of us fall short of our own expectations of ourselves-it's natural. It's all just one big test. It determines the weak from the strong. The weak just fall and stay down. They keep letting life beat up on them. Those of us that fall and get right back up are the ones that make it. It's hard and I do know that "when it rains, it pours", but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Cliche, I know-but it works, just give it a try. You can do it! (I sound all motivational, maybe I should switch careers). Anyway, I decided to dedicate this post to you today-I felt you needed to know "someone out there, beneath the pale blue sky" was thinking of you. And because it's more important than me babbling on and on about some London bolucks! Have a good one and love you lots!

Who knew....

So, clearly we were beat fair and square. I think even in a head-to-head rematch versus ourselves, we STILL would have lost. Oh well, at least we proved to some haters out there that we do deserve some of the credit we've earned in our short franchise history. Until then, I'll be riding the Steel Curtain all the way to Detroit and then back to Heinz, "Terrible Towel" in hand. I'm happy for my uncle. Since he was a mere 5 years old, my uncle has been a die hard Steelers fan-even through the Stewart years. A fan that calls in sick on Sundays to support....during pre-season. There are incrementing pictures at my Grandma's house of a little boy about 8 years old wearing Steelers whitey tighties, a Batman cape and mask, and cowboy boots, asleep on a Steelers bean bag. With that I think he deserves the "#1 fan" title. I'm one to support good football clubs, Canton bound coaches and players (#36 The Bus), and one of the best defensive players I've seen (Polamalu) so Go STEELERS!

6:30 ET, 11:30 LT....

the Carolina Panthers will advance to Superbowl XL.

Just when I thought....

London was finished beating up on me, it found another way to throw me a one-two punch. Last night, "Mickey Mouse" decided to come by Kensington Square Gardens and pay me a little visit....unannounced. I didn't sleep at all because I have a little rodent living with me. After being scared shitless, I decided to get up (it was 5 AM by then) and seek out a 24-hour Walmart/Grocery store of some sort. Only I remembered I'm no longer in the states and everything here closes at 7 PM!! So I used my God-given right brained talents to "trap" that mothafucker. I pushed all my suitcases up against the places I last saw him, then stuffed blankets and towels into the holes, hoping and praying his little ass couldn't get through it. I decided that after all of that if he did twist and weave his way through my "trap", then he deserved to get me. I sat there for 45 more mins, going back and forth in my mind whether or not mice could jump and if they could, did they get a kick out of jumping on humans. Finally, I went to sleep. My conscience wouldn't let me sleep long, so I woke up extra early to catch my landlord, Alex to let him know I had a little problem. And that if he didn't fix it ASAP, I'd be bunking in his room the next night. He informed me that London was an old town and that "here, we sleep amongst mice". "SAY WHAT!, Um, well Mister, I'm from the states and we don't! Can you please get it out?" He put out another little box trap thingy, that the mouse is supposed to walk/run into and die. Yeah right. Mice aren't stoopid. So yeah, I'm about to call pest control.

Modern Day Warrior....

10 things Martin Luther King Jr. would have done about the war in Iraq.

Forgive me....

for forgetting one of the most important holidays of the year-I get a little detached here. MLK's birthday. A moment of silence for Dr. King and all the other great leaders of our time.

Wiping the sweat from my brow....

Sheesh....that was close.



My prediction....

WTF!

This wasn't supposed to happen....











.
Nor was this...



:( oh well....

Get ready for some real football!!

The power of pictures....

One of my favorite commercials of all time is the Kodak "Keep Me, Share Me" campaign. Watch the entire video, its breathtaking. Take the tour. Which brought me to this other site a couple of days ago. Change me. Pictures really are worth a thousand words. Enjoy.

How to pick out Americans in England....

3rd posting today. Gotta be bored.

I'm a big fan of people watching. Over the years I've actually become quite good at it. I noticed without really noticing (confusing I know) that I could spot out Americans in this big ass city as if a marching band playing "The National Anthem" was marching behind them.

1-The Northface.
2-Girl's with the half done, half messy pony tail. I've yet to figure this one out.
3-Monogram purses, specifically Coach and Dooney & Burke. As if this tacky design/pattern proves their economic status.
4-Standing behind someone that is fumbling with the change monies. Trying to figure out which coins represent a pound or 20 pences.
5-Baseball hat brims that are frayed. And worn backwards.
6-Extra-small polo shirts tucked in only in the front of pants.
7-Taking advantage of the open bottle policy on the Tube.
8-A walking Abercrombie & Fitch ad. A light blue short jean skirt worn over leggings with flip flops in winter time. Don't forget to pair it with a sweat shirt or jacket, as if upper body warmth heats our entire body.
9-Polo Sport.
10-College or Greek nalia.

Catting pleasures....

Sooooo a few of my mates have an on going section on their blogs.....their guilty pleasures. And since I'm all for not keeping my eyes on my own paper in school....here's mine.

My pleasures.....

1-Gummy bears.
2-Hearing the man sitting inside my computer say "You've got mail".
3-Fosse inspired commercials.
4-Cheese toast and warm apple sauce.
5-Milk with anything.
6-Entertainment from my childhood ("Willow", "Teen Witch", "The Goonies", "David the Gnome", "Captain Planet", "Care Bears", "Contra", you get the point).
7-Reading people's blogs.
8-Black boxer briefs.
9-Being Minneapolis cold and then coming home and pissing Miami warm pee.
10-Chicken fingers, fries, ketchup and ranch dressing mixed together, and a beer, all while watching the game.
11-High heel shoe shopping.
12-Kettle One and Hypnotiq Martinis.....with a twist damnit.
13-Showers with Dove body wash.
14-My "Favorite of All Time" iTunes playlist.
15-Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy.
16-Spelhouse events/HBCU experiences.
17-Janet Jackson

Go Skins/Cats....

I thought it would be damned near impossible to follow the play-offs across the pond. Thought I'd have to settle on "watching" the game on the little computer generated football field, that has about a 10 minute delay on NFL.com. However, I was wrong. A few of my fellow Lundoners and I wandered over to "Times Square" aka Picadilly Circus last night to this Sports Bar/Cafe that advertises how American it is.....pulling tourists with signs that say "American Pool" or "American food". I must admit though it felt good, to order a burger, taste it, and then secretly rejoice at how the meat really tasted like meat were accustomed to in the states, have a bun instead of gourmet ciabatta bread, and other garnishments the English enjoy on damned near everything (potatoes and fuckin beans). Anyway, I proudly walked in wearing my NC shirt, amidst a sea of Giants fans. As usual, the crowd was deep, the Carolina fans were few and far between, but when the Manning fans (who hype him up wayyyy too much) started to realize there was no hope for NY, the crowd thinned and out of nowhere I was surrounded by Carolinians. Carolinians, Carolinians EVERYWHERE! :) Art thou Superbowlith bound? We'll see.

Anyway, congrats to DC natives too. GO SKINS! ;) I agreed that if the Skins beat my former team, I'd pull for the Skins for the rest of the season. Even if they played the Cats. :/ Will they pull it off this year when for the past 15 odd years predictions have had them going far? We'llllllll see!

Cool shit....

Check this out. Sand Painter.

Lundon from a black's perspective....

Sooooooo while in my hotel room, (that only has 5 channels one of which plays "Simpsons" episodes on repeat and acts as if "The Simple Life" season one is quality American TV) I had a conversation with myself. Went like this....

Dayna: If in America, I'm known as an "African-American". What are these folks here called?

Self: Afro-Euros? Euro-Afros?

Dayna: No....it has to be "African-Europeans".

Self: What about Afro-Lundoners? No? Afro......Euro.....Americans?

Dayna: Hmmmm?

Self: But they're....not....A....mer....i....can.

Dayna: Yeah but, but...shit.

Self: Semi-Africans? The colonized?

Dayna: WTF?!

Self: Eh...

(TV in the background: "BLACKS in America still upset about President Bush's rebuilding "efforts" in the Ninth Ward")

Dayna: "BLACKS!"

Self: That's what the man said....blacks.

Dayna: Something about that just doesn't sit easy with me.

Self: I agree.

Dayna: I think they should be called "Afro-Europeans". That's PC, right?

Self: Yeah, I like that too.

Dayna: Shit, why not bring back "coloreds".

Self: There's a thought.

Dayna: Race relations in the UK is a bitch.

Self: You should have realized that in the airport.


I'm not the only one to be confused about this either. While having a conversation with a fellow Lundoner last night, Stef was scolded about her "lack of knowledge" on this matter last quarter. Apparently, he was offended...being referred to as an African-American. And made it a point to let her know this. Not only that....per conversation with another BLACK here, my fellow lunoner discovered that is not customary for blacks to date blacks here. It's frowned upon (according to him). They just don't get down like that.

Am I starting to have a lot more pride for the U-S-of A? And growing up in the South? Hell Yeah!

My first Lundon post....

So after much turmoil and frustration I am finally across the pond. It seemed that everything that could go wrong, went wrong the past couple of weeks. From almost spending a bill for the ticket, to almost being forced to cancel the ticket I did buy, to having no housing, to spending a fortune staying in a hotel, to being INTEROGATED at the airport for more than 6 hours (see story below), to getting lost, on top of having the worst jet lag ever, to not being able to call home, because I apparently looked "suspicious", to having a phone card that didnt work, to having an emotional break down for almost 45 mins from being so stressed, tired, frustrated, and scared, to finally getting some sleep! So thats what the past two days have looked like for me. I'm just happy I'm here and safe and ready to start my 3 month stay in LUNdon (as some people like to say :))

....

Now I'm not one to pull the "conspiracy" card and wave it about. But, lets just say that out of 7 roommates so far, myself and one other girl got harassed. And we both arrived via ship. My stuff was searched through thoroughly. I mean all my business including undies were out on the table for all of Heathrow to see. I was asked very personal questions, probing questions, what my parents did, what their paycheck looked like, what I had in my banking account, credit history, what medications I take and why, if they really were the medications I was saying they were, and if they were still in the original package, if I had a boyfriend, numbers of people that would be able to "verify" my story, and so on and so on for 6 hours. I felt like I was a suspect on NYPD Blue and I was the one that did it. Humiliating on so many levels and totally unnecessary. So shit hasn't changed, shit hasn't changed.