Project Kengikat

90 Day Challenge…Awesome Weekend

// September 14th, 2009 // Uncategorized

This past weekend was all about me and man did I have a great time. Last week I started 90 days of loving myself or the 90 day challenge. Now for those of you who have questions and it;s clear from many emails and comments that many of you do, let me just be very clear, no one loves me more then me and just because I dont show it or talk about it in my blogs or vlogs does not mean that it does not take place. Now having said that let me also say that there are times when my community work takes much of time and some days I spend doing for others and I dont take time out for me, that does not mean that it doesnt happen. The 90 day challenge is to make sure I take time out of everyday for the next 90 days for me. Let me just say that after this challenge I will continue to make sure I am taking time out for me each and every day.

Not long ago I started a group on my Project KengKat Community Network called Restoring the Temple and this was my attempt at making sure I am taking care of me mind body and soul and I am the first time say that some of the goals I have set for myself have not been met, while others I am having no problems with, so it’s really exciting to be part of the 90 day challenge that my friend started as a way to encourage and empower me to meet the goals I set for myself and do it with some pretty cool people.

My weekend started with a cool Friday night at home doing some reading and I cooked a sweet dinner for myself. I talked to some friends and then read a few blogs. After this I made sure my bike was read to go out first thing in the AM for a bike ride. It’s been a while since I have been on my bike for me, so I wanted to make sure it was fully ready for the ride for the next day. I put on some awesome jazz music through Pandora Internet Radio and I just chilled out until I went to bed.

Saturday morning I got up took a shower and then I was on my bike at 7:45AM. I went for a 40 minutes bike ride and when I got home I jumped into a hot bubble bath and then cleaned my place. I had a big bowl of Oatmeal and talked on the phone with my good and crazy friend Christina who is now living the life in Atlanta. She and I laughed for such a long time before we agreed to call each other later. I chilled on the sofa and looked at TV, what was on I dont recall because I was on FACEBOOK and TWITTER, I then got a call from my friend Angela ans she and I talked and laughed for a good long time. By then it was time to get dressed and call my friend Natles to see what time she would get to my place. I had talked to her the day before but I was in the middle of a SKYPE call with Robert and really didnt pay close attention.

For some reason I got side tracked by my bed and I never called and before I knew it I was back in bed fast asleep. I slept another three hours. Last week was such a busy week for me with outreaches to Common Ground and the Jeff Griffith You Center, plus I went on a bike ride as well in addition to the two outreaches to the youth center that were done on my bike pulling my Croozer trailer. So I was a bit tired and really enjoyed going back to bed and getting some sleep. Something I really never do. Once I am up I am up and there is no time for naps. Since Saturday was a ME day there was plenty of time for naps, plenty of time.

I got up and watched more TV and then did another SKPE call with Robert before giggling my ass off with my niece who is just so much fun and I am so happy that she is back in my life. I cant tell you how good it feels to have family back in my life again. It was after 1:30PM when I left a message for Natles  to get an idea of where she was, when she called back she reminded me that she had a hair appointment and the person was fitting her in. I had forgot she told me this. When she called she was very close to my place and I was not even close to being ready, so I jumped into the shower really quick and got ready.

The funny thing about Naltes is that we both never know where we want to go, it always tarts out “are you hungry? Where do you want to go?” “I dont know where do you want to go?” Funny right. Well this time I think was the shortest time because we both wanted Mexican food, so since I had never been to El Chavo this in Los Felis this is where we went. The funny thing is that when we got there they were closed, but I was set on eating there and she was set to share it with me, so we got gas and then went to have our dessert first. We went tot he House of Pies also in Los Felis, however this was in the heart of it. She had peach pie and I had cherry pie with ice cream and we both had a afternoon of laughter and fun while sitting at the counter eating pie at the House of Pies. To my surprise my friend Brian walks up and says hello and that too was an awesome surprise. I have not seen him in a while so it was cool to see him as well.

From the House of Pies we went to the 99 cent store to get some things for her place and for mine and she even surprised me when she asked what I needed for the Unpluggin HIV outreach that is set for this Saturday for 40 residents battling HIV and AIDS down on Downtown LA’s Skid Row. She purchased some Dove Body Wash for the event. After getting a few more items and cracking up at all the goof balls in the store we headed out tot he parking lot where once again I got a call from my friend Christina who was well into her house warming party and she wanted to call me to let me know that USC would not win their game with against OSU and she was almost right, but the mighty men of TROY pulled it out in the 4th quarter with a stunning 86 yard drive to win the game 18-15. FIGHT ON!!!

We finally made it it El Chavo and man was this place cool. The restaurant looks like it use to be a house that has been converted into this awesome place that is filled with so many bright and vivid colors, so rich with cultural history and the food was awesome. While they did not have Carnitas they way I liked them I was happy that I got the Chicken Enchiladas. Every meal comes with soup and today it was Lentils and I love Lentil soup and this did not disappoint, it was awesome. The overall experience here was very cool and I would recommend El Chavo to anyone who loves awesome Mexican food.

From there we headed to the El Rey to get our tickets for the Ledisi concert next month. If you guys dont know who Ledisi is you really need to check her out. She has this powerful voice with songs that truly have meaning. Not at all like what it out there now. She really brings a great show. She also just released her second CD that is already getting awesome reviews.

Sunday was once again all about ME. I got my laundry ready, went for a bike ride and also went to the gym. I spent time talking with friends including my awesome friend Bart. I am so glad I had the chance to speak with him. He is so cool and I am so blessed to have this awesome man in my life. When I interviewed Bart for my Conversations with Kengi I gave him Life Kits, those are the hygiene kits that I give away to people who are either homeless or low income battling HIV or AIDS, they are the sister kit to the Do Something Kit. Bart called me to share with me that he had passed some Life Kits out and was asking if he could get more. This really made me feel so good and I was so excited to he had called to ask for more. Plus we got to spend some time having an awesome conversation.

I went for a bike ride late in the afternoon and then while out riding I decided to make myself a big pot of chicken soup filled with awesome vegetables and bow tie pasta. I also made a Cooking with Kengi video so please take the time to check it out when you have a chance. I spoke with my niece again and then I got a awesome and surprised phone call from my new friend Michael who once again had my laughing and feeling really good about the people who are in my life.

The highlight of my Sunday afternoon was the three hours. I went to the gym, came home put on some Mozart and took a long hot bubble bath complete with bath salts and candles. This was awesome because I just got some new speakers for my laptop so the music was all over the apartment and just sat back and relaxed in the hot water and took it all in.

It’s Monday morning at 10:24AM right now and I am about to make some oatmeal while I do my laundry and watch the view. I also had a telephone interview with this family who might want to hire me to cook for them twice a week. This is so cool because they found out about me through my Cooking with Kengi videos on my YOUTUBE Channel. Later today I will take some time out to go do ceramics at Being Alive, so be sure to check in later for the blog on that.

My 90 day challenge is going well, just as I knew it would be and failing at loving me is not something I am able to do because I love me far too much.