Ahi tuna and dark brown skin

The burger restaurant I'm in caught my eye yesterday. I know I'm not eating beef but come on, a salmon burger, or in my case today an ahi tuna burger and fries is going to hit the spot. "Into You" by Tamia and Fabolous is playing right now. Turns out I came for the food and am staying for the music. This is my jam! The last little line at the end of the song is my favorite part to sing: "Into you, I really like what you've done to meee, can'tttt explain it!" I need to know whose playlist this is because the hits keep going.

I'm feeling good today. I'm a bit at the point where I'm vacationed out but not quite. I can't say I'm missing my bed because the hotel bed is so comfortable and I now know I need new pillows but I do miss my apartment. I don't want that to sound ungrateful because that isn't how I feel at all. I think it's finally becoming real that I am where I am. It only took a few days for it to happen. Also, turns out because of my flight, I have been dealing with motion sickness. I don't remember ever feeling it before, maybe when I went on a cruise with my family years ago, but I guess 12-hours of flying will do that to you.

"She rockin' that shit like!" "You should let me love you!" Dude, my highschool playlist is playing right now, which is just actually all the stuff I still listen to as an adult with more understanding. I love it here! I can't stay much longer, this whole post would be song lyrics. I will say this though, I will never not give Mario his flowers are you kidding me? Crying Out for Me, Just Friends, Directions, Like Me Real Hard, Music for Love and I'm sure I can go on and on. Him and Bow Wow, because you know what Outta My System has been heavily on my mind lately.

I woke up at 6:30AM, ready to head to the beach. Wait, you know why I'm so hype about this music? It's just been me and my thoughts for a while, I needed another outlet. Which is why I walked to Barnes & Noble after breakfast. What was suppose to be a pitstop before the beach turned into a 1.5 mile walk. I wasn't waking back either and I wasn't leaving until I found a romance novel with real characters that made me kick my feet up, blush and giggle like the love interest is talking to me.

And the tropes really do matter! I'm not saying the man has to be rich but I just cannot read about financial burdens. I'm reading to escape reality, baby, not lean into. A "if money was not a factor," romance, if you will. Friends to lovers is good, enemies to lovers is better. I love an inter-cultural romance, you know, how can we despite our differences, still connect with each other. How can love transcend all societal labels and programming? The one I chose is two Black college students faking a relationship to get people off their backs which I only picked up because I'm more interested in the third book in the series. I'm all for a second chance romance and am learning the importance of forgiveness in all relationships. I have to read the first book to get to the third chile, how did they fall in-love the first time? So far the girl is focused on her studies and against letting people in due to a sexual assault and the guy is dealing with the death of his mother and trying to rebel against the expectations of his father and live his own life. Where the fake-relationship comes in is beyond me but I'm along for the ride. And the smut.

At the bus stop I met a woman from Houston visiting her son who had just moved here. I asked her would she move here and she said no way! While gas is a decent price, cilantro where she lives is 40 cents a bunch and here it's almost 3 dollars. The priciness of everything does give me pause be part of me is also like, if I took the leap I would have all that I needed to make it happen. Would that be blind Faith? I do so enjoy those moments to connect with people. I love to travel solo but sheesh I do be hoping to chat with people. Do a little laughing! I do get shy sometimes but overrall, I'm here for the chit chat. She told me she was thinking about moving to California and hoped her son who lived in D.C. would move there too. She helped me catch the right bus and though we parted ways, I appreciate the kindness that she and others have been showing me.

One thing I'm having trouble with is the fact that I didn't get the obligatory braids for a vacation, and cannot find the right hair products for my natural hair. I'm actually staying away from adding any extensions to my hair. I've been exclusively wearing it straight for the last couple of months and you know what I really like it! At first, I looked like a version of myself in high school but after flipping the ends instead of bumping them in tight, I feel so freaking cute! Maybe a bit like Money Mike from Friday After Next but hey! I'm keeping it pimpin', pimpin'. I love changing my look up more frequently and also I've been feeling a bit more mature. I never want to stay the exact same person. Maybe that isn't the right way to say that. I want to welcome the changes in my life and though somethings will remain the same, I'm all for changing my physical look to reflect my inner light. After I washed my hair yesterday, I am feeling rather dry and just not at my best but also how much upkeep do you need when you're in the ocean everyday?

Speaking of dry...I'm still looking like an ashy ghost. Not only that but I'm seeing the beginnings of a sun rash starting. It feels like it doesn't matter how much sunscreen I put on, the sun'll be that much stronger. The ocean is calling me, like the siren she is. And even though I haven't gotten back onto the beach, I did have to get closer. I'm in an open coffee shop, watching the swimmers and the surfers. This is actually one of my favorite writing spots. There are so many surfers out today. I wonder how they battle sun burn. I really like this little life. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

As tan as I wanna be,

xoxo,

Ashanti

P.S. the burger was bomb!

P.P.S. Outta My System just starting playing at this shop. What are the chances? I'm finna put on a show for these folks.