"so i went hard, like Medusa staring at me..." --Andre 3000

aight. so it has taken me forever to post this blog, i know. but it is because i've had so much to talk about... i actually had to write down some stuff. "i wrote a list, here's the order of my list that it's in..." --Eminem
1. shout out to my Mama! she has been awarded a NASA **somethin, somethin** Award (i don't really remember the name, but what is important is the fact that my Mama was selected) She is supposed to be flying out to Orlando, some time in early February (all expenses paid), to see the space shuttle launch for the last time before it is retired. she has never been on a plane before, "but I ain't scurrred!" --Mama. lol Word up on that!
2. OBAMA! i know i keep writing about it, but it's still amazing... and i know people who were there in person: shout out to my Aunt Sandra, Mom (my grandmother), Tsai-Yen Lin, and D.P. (i appreciate the pics, homie. keep it on track)
3. my day was as good as it's been in Turkey. 1-20-2009. got up in the morning, Adderly and i went to Yerebatan Sarnici, an ancient cistern under an old basilica (right next to Haggia Sophia/ Ayosofia) **look them up on google images** the cistern was cool and i got some good pics which i will continue to try and upload. two of the columns had intricate carvings of Medusa at the base with her head upside-down.
hold up, hold up, hold up.... i have to back up. let me mention that we had to walk to get there (and i mean walk!) to a completely different side of the city, across a bridge and all. and speaking of the bridge, there are restaurants directly under the bridge that sell: well fish of course. so i had to buy a fish sandwich... they catch the fish, filet the fish, grill the fish, and put it on a sandwich with lettuce and tomato. it was good, though it could have used a little more seasoning...
aight, so then we walked all the way back home. there i had to go apologize to Mandy for sort of leaving her behind. **aight, so i thought i told her that we were leaving before noon, but apparently i said after noon, and i felt horrible about it. it's only her, me, and adderly here right now** she was obviously upset, and made plans to eat with our professor so she straight now i hope.
while we were at the apartment, Adderly and I watched Chris Rock's new comedy special and laughed for days. after which, we met up with our new friend from Turkcell and had another adventure of sorts... (all this is the same day) i'll shorten this part up by saying: we went to an open mic bar and chilled and talked to her friends; they were coo: one of them looked like the father on "American Chopper" the tv show about custom motorcycles, he doesn't speak any english and we found out that he is a bodyguard for some famous Turks. his job is fight club! word up, he gets paid to fight people. after sitting for a while hearing them talk amongst themselves (since we don't know much Turkish) he showed us that he has a Bob Marley tattoo on his shoulder, and told us that his entire back is an Africa tattoo and he loves reggae music!
we then left that club and went to a restaurant that was on the seventh floor of a building and u had to walk through a clothing store and go to an elevator in the back. and it was cheap. left there and went on a tour of the city, and ate some famous Turkish foods at another restaurant. (shout out Arzu, Peace, and Olhan)
got back home. tried to make amends with Mandy, and after i cooked for us all tonight (some crazy-delicious pasta with red sauce and all kinds of spices and peppers and grilled chicken smothered with mozzarella and galic bread... i'd forgive me) lol

yo, with all these shout outs, i should have started this blog like Braxton from Jamie Foxx show: "I'd like to give a couple Yoo-Hoo's to the Bro-hams... and Hammettes, AH!" lol

there is more, but i can't remember it all (i should have written it all down). i'll holla next time and it should be a lot shorter. supposed to be going back to the cistern for Mandy and to the Grand Bazaar, or spice bazaar, or some bazaar...