The Malleability of Fashion.

Things that were cool, but aren’t cool anymore.
- Baggy jeans
- Velour jumpsuits
- Fohawks -->
(See excessive hair gel for a similar explanation)
- Colored contact lenses -->
I will admit, when I was going through one of my 202130938 identity crises, I fell into this one. I was thinking, “why do all my white friends have cool colored eyes!?” And then I probably listened to a Sum41 song and wrote an angry poem. All that to say, just be satisfied with your eye color.
- Acid washed jeans

Things that were cool, became not cool, and are now cool again.
- Jorts
Skinny jeans
- Film cameras
- Polaroid cameras
- Ray-bans
- Your grandmother’s glasses
-Getting preggo at age 12 -->
From my understanding, getting married and then having children at an extremely young age was the norm (my grandmother had my uncle at age 14 – she was married). Then came the women’s rights movement and the advocacy of “the pill” and other forms of birth control. But now, the general mindset is, “Morals? Condoms? What are you talking about? I’m 12 and I am more than ready to have my own tv sho… baby.” Idiots. Hopefully we can move this one into the “not cool” category soon.
- Being black -->
I’ll keep this one short: Africa was chill, then slavery wasn’t, and now that it’s cool to be tan, “have black friends,” adopt little black babies (just wait until Brangelina has to fix that girl’s nappy head of hair), and support Obama… boom. Black people, we have arrived. Soak it in, because it’s back to the soul food kitchen for you as soon as soon as Obama does something to piss everyone off.
- 90s Fashion
- Being Jewish

Things that were never cool, and thank God, will never be cool.
- Socks with sandals
- Tramp stamps (or the male counterpart, champ stamps)
- Fanny packs
- ED HARDY -->
If I wanted to wear to have skulls, roses, and thorns all intertwined with glitter and sequins on my t-shirt, I would drive to Myrtle Beach and buy a trashy “Biker Week” commemorative t-shirt. I don’t understand how/why this crap ever became popular. I mean, do you really want to wear a brand supported by Jon Gosselin? He’s got 8 kids and baby-mama addicted to fame and botox. AWESOME ROLE MODEL.

Things that most of us thought were cool, but understand to never be cool. Ever.
-Excessive hair gel -->
I recently witnessed a young, gangly teenage boy with gelled spikes all over his head. Needless to say, I would love to be there 10 years down the road when he sees pictures of his poor, teenage angst ridden decision. Growing up is tragically beautiful.
- Hot Topic
- Milli Vanilli

I know I can’t speak for everyone, but I was in the airport earlier today and I saw someone with jorts and I decided to write about it. And it all developed into this blog post.

Ciao for now.

"Coffee is the medium by which all things good are cultivated."

Ok. Maybe that's not the exact quote. But it got your attention, right?

But let's be honest. Coffee is like sweet elixer to my mind, body, and soul. I love everything about it... the smell, the taste, the warmth, sometimes the coldness... ahh... (As I thought about what to say in this next sentence, I was going to place my rankings of priorities in life, but I think that a number of people would be appalled by how high up coffee ranks. So, I'll keep that to myself.)

Yes, I admit I have a problem... blah, blah, blah. Whatever. People don't realize that one of the most important things about doing something about a problem you have is that you have to care that you have a problem. I have a problem (chemical dependency) and I don't care. In my opinion, things could be worse. Everyone has a vice. Some people are addicted to crack cocaine (similar "peppy" effects). I've just chosen an addiction that is common and in high demand EVERYWHERE.

I could talk about coffee for days (I'm at a coffee shop right now)... but I'll close with this: Morning people wake up ready to start the day with a good breakfast, Ke$ha wakes up in the morning feelin' like P. Diddy, and I wake up in the morning only craving a Venti Starbucks Double Shot on ice. It's all relatively the same.

Anyway, since this is my personal blog, I should talk about my life. In short: it's awesome and I can't complain. I'm sure I have related this before, but I am so thankful to God for this summer. It has been absolutely incredible and I am blessed beyond belief. It's come with it's fair share of struggles (mainly bouts with loneliness and a ton of intellectual/philosophical mind-debates), but I feel that every moment of my life up to this point has been preparing me for everything I am encountering this summer (specifically in St. Louis).

Last weekend I was a groomsman in the wedding of two of my oldest and closest friends. It was incredible. I cannot explain how much I was blessed by that weekend. You could just feel the Holy Spirit moving as two Godly families came together with loving friends and other loved ones to get Tim & Katie hitched :) Also, if you're wondering: Yes, I cried. Tears typically don't come out of my face like that because I lack a proper outlet for emotions (different day, different blog), but I was just overtaken by the emphasis of the covenant of marriage. It's just too beautiful for words. It also meant even more to me because I've known these people for 6+ years. I have literally been able to witness God work in their lives in the past to bring to them to the present. So yes, I cried. I cried tears of joy.

But, I will admit. I am not a good crier. My nose runs, the tears get in my mouth, which makes my mouth water from the salt content, which makes me self-conscious, etc. It's bad. Let's revisit a moment from after the ceremony, shall we?

Jess: Oh Hope, I heard you crying during the ceremony! :)
Hope: Um no, that was Rashad.
Katherine: Yeah I kept nudging him to SHUT UP!
Rashad: LEAVE ME ALONE I'M JUST REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!!

This is my life ^

Ok this is the last thing I'm going to say about the wedding: it was also a blessing because I was able to get to know a guy I admire and have a ton of respect for. It's weird. We were friends before, but now I feel like we're "legit" friends (if that makes sense), and that's always a blessing.


IN OTHER NEWS... I have exactly one month left until I head back to Covenant for RA training. This means I have even less time in St. Louis :( and that I will be going to Europe with Felton quite soon :). AND next weekend I'm going to another wedding in Florida (flying this time). Wahoooo!!! I'd be even more excited if it wasn't for the bloody oil spill.

Going back to being RA. . . I am SO excited. I miss Sutherland. I can't wait to get back on the hall and live in a community of guys again. There's something about it that's so spiritually unique and fulfilling to my soul.

Speaking of soul, Lauryn Hill is recording new music and everyone should be excited.

I can't wait to get back into taking voice lessons and singing again. And playing piano. I miss making music so much. I need it.

Well, time to leave Coffee Cartel. Ciao.