I LURVE

me some HOLIDAY SHIRTS!!! I am already ready for St. Patty's Day - shirt, buttons, and beads! Indeed, I am such a kid @ heart.

Whew!

Monday Musings:

* God is good
* The heffa that tried to bring me down - - - she is realizing that karma is truly something else.
* I am reading The Blue Orchard; it started out slow, but it's starting to get really good. Deep book.
* My students keep me ROLLIN'.
* I so lurve me some photography
* My folks made me tell them the same story FIVE times becuz it was absolutely hysterical.


Peace.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN???

Good morning!

Readers, I have been so busy that I have barely seen MYSELF!!! LORDY!

I am alive, and I am doing quite fine. Here's a recap of what's been going on:

* Work is keeping me ever so busy; however, I am thankful to be EMPLOYED
* People aren't what you think they are
* There are some friends that you simply do NOT need
* We are under a lot of pressure @ work due to the need to improve our students' standardized test scores
* I need to learn how to sit my booty down still so that I can hear God as He tries and talks to moi

What are your weekend plans?

Tomorrow, I am attending a trunk or treat. If y'all don't know what one is, here's the 411 - - - you open your trunk and you pass out candy to chirren from it. Mind you, I never heard of this concept until I moved to Phoenix. Then, there are a lot of things that I've learned about upon my arrival to the Sun State.

Nite and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

I'm alive

BARELY.

I so need a vacation from reality.

The week has been good; however, I have barely seen myself.

This week, I had to teach my high school students how to write in cursive; what is going on with the elementary schools in our country?!?!?! Is cursive writing a dying art?

I will post pics this weekend of my 1st day.

Love y'all!

Sunday Singin' Sensation: MAXWELL!!!!!

Good morning!

Y'all give God some extra praise TODAY! You KNOW how I feel about the leaf.

I am back with SSS. It's been AWHILE. See my 5.9.09 post. That should explain why I have been MIA as well as why SSS has been "ghost." I had a deep discussion with someone at work on Friday. The person said, "Dr. C., you should have come to me a long time ago." I said,"Why?" These folks here have done a good job convincing you that I am incompetent (as an instructor), and now, due to events that occurred today, you see for yourself that I am excellent." The "light" is finally starting to "shine through."

Deliver me.




Maxwell is BACK! His new album drops in July. This man is just so sexylicious. "This Woman's Work;" "Lifetime" - - - classics right up there with Sade's "Smooth Operator."

Now, if D'Angelo would only get his behind in CHECK and leave the reefer alone.

If you don't know who Maxwell is, you need Jesus fo' sho.

Go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIU2_y5D__I


Yesterday, I attended a Mocha Moms scrapbooking event. Indeed, I needed to play. I completed an album to commemorate my 60 plus students who are graduating. They should hope that they are graduating. 3/4 of them failed to turn in their final essay, and they could have failed on that alone. I asked administration to grant them an extension (Monday). They have until 7:15am to get that essay to me. I was told the following, "Dr. C., folks are SKEERED on this campus. You have a way of putting fear into them." I made these students call their parents on their cell phone (while in class) and tell them that they may not graduate due to their failure last quarter, and failure this quarter if they do not submit their final essay."

Parents were LIVID.

I used Creative Imaginations graduation line (cream and black). The women throughly loved my layouts. I just need to put them into a Creative Memories black album (which I have) call it a day. I will probably send the album off and have CM engrave it.

I am in the process of ordering my doctoral gown. It's not the Deluxe one that I want, but I will wait until next year to invest that kind of $$$ into the gown and tam. This one will "do" for Thursday's graduation.

This school year is ALMOST over - - - THANK GOD!

Women, get the latest Essence magazine. The article on domestic violence is chilling. This mess has GOT to end. It is Essence's best issue in a LONG time.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Sunday Singin' Sensation: BARRY WHITE!!!!

Greetings!

I hope that you are enjoying your weekend/remembered to give God some PRAISE this AM!!!

SSS is back. Barry White - this one is for you. The BEST instrumental of ALL time was composed by none other than THE Barry White. Mr. White should still be with us. If you don't know who Barry is, SHAME ON YOU!! If you were born in the 1970s, you may have been conceived while one of his songs was playing in the background. "Love's Theme" - - - -one of my favorite songs of time. This song is over in the Juke Joint. Play it!

R.I.P., Mr. White.


Here are some more photos of my home:



The kitchen:


The guest bathroom. I so *heart* this shower curtain and matching accessories.


I have the backyard photos to share. I have a 3rd bedroom; however, it is not finished, and I won't be sharing a pic of it.

Yesterday, I hosted a bbq for my "menfolk" (Mr. A. and T.). We had:

* Grilled chicken
* Spaghetti
* Burgers
*Tilapia
*Grilled veggies
* Yellow cake with a lemon curd/fresh raspberry filling (topped with cool whip icing) - I made it. Can you BELIEVE it?!?!?

Those pics are forthcoming. We had a BLAST! Mr. A. was in charge of the grill; T. and I did the side dishes. We GRUBBED and laughed our BOOTIES off!!! Both of my men are SIK. Do you hear me?!

I am still chuckling over what a student of mine did the other day. Some girl kept calling his name and he said (theatrically) - SHET UP HEFFA! SHET UP!!!!!!!!! She said, "What is a heffa?" Someone said, "He called you a cow." She said, "I ain't fat. (Mind you, she weights 50 lbs on a good day). Here's my response to you - :stuck out her middle finger:

I told those kids that they were CRAZY. I tried to be a professional and not laugh; however, the heffa remark and his antics were too much.

WTFism - 14 kids, no job, no man, no $$$

I am getting old. I really am. I am so drained, and I hve to teach in about 15 minutes (at the college). I am here in the library, and I want to scream, "TAKE ME HOME!!!"

Today, I had to proctor the AIMS examination. I pray that these kids pass. We ahd some juniors present trying to exceed. Why, I don't know. ASU is contemplating ending the exceeding AIMS 4 year scholarship. This is sick. I understand that money is tight; however, this is the only "hope" that these children have for attending a 4 year institution. Yes, ASU would save $12.9 million dollars, but there has to be another way to curtail costs than to cost children a chance to receive a quality, all-expenses paid education.

Obama, our Black Moses (Note: He's not GOD, and folks need to quit getting it twisted), please help us out of the Wilderness.

Are y'all giving anything up for Lent? I don't even try. I used to give up sweets and cursing; I about lost my mind giving up the latter. I think that I ended up cursing worse after Lent was over. Never again. I'm trying to do better, but when you teach kids all day long, and you deal with idiotic adults, sometimes, a "Damn" is justified.

Now, speaking of kids, did y'all hear about the woman with the octotuplets possibly not having the opportunity to take the babies home (until she proves that she can truly provide for them)? My grandmother heard about about how the chick wants folks to donate $$ to her. Grandma said, "I would like to donate my foot up her ass." After laughing hysterically I understood her point. There's something "off" with the chick. She has 2 babies with autism. Therefore, why would she want to go and have 8 more babies that are also going to be special needs? This is selfish. She cannot truly provide for the babies that she already has.


Who is to blame - the obstetricians or the woman?

HUMP DAY!/ANGIE DIXON

It's been awhile since I posted a picture; KILL ME! I am up to my eyeballs in grading. Spring Break begins on Friday, March 6th. That is the day that my grades need to be posted. My aim is to close my gradebook next Friday.

I am tired. The kids keep confusing me with a Catholic priest. I feel as if I do more confessionals than actual teaching.

LORD.

Tonight is my evening class with the adults; I hope that I can get my 2nd wind.

On Sunday, over dinner @ The Olive G., T. diagnosed me with Adult ADD. My brother has been telling me that I have it for quite some time. T. does have a Master's Degree in Special Education. Therefore, he is probably right. Heck, my attention span is two snaps long. Then again, if you had to deal with teenagers all day long, wouldn't you be frazzled?

LORD.

Good things:

* It is hump day
* I am nearly caught up with my grading
* T. keeps me ROLLIN' all day long @ the g-i-g
* Two of my students won huge scholarships to college. Indeed, I am PROUD
*Angie keeps me smiling with her every so cute blog (www.angieinpink.blogspot.com)
* Sarah's baby is getting so cute and BIG
* I should be able to catch up with my blog reading this weekend
* I may get a 3rd wind and do some laundry tonight
* God is good ALL day long
* I am able to tithe
* My family loves me
* I love ME

Happy Hump Day!

Photo FIVE - 360 more to go. . . .

Did you think that I forgot? ;)





I took a nap and just woke up. Kill me. ;)


These are the main textbooks that I use to teach the "children of the future."

Nite!

WTFism: BRUSH YOUR TEEF!!!!!

Good morning!

It's been awhile since I've listed a WTFism. Today is your lucky DAY.

Where does your city and state fall? Phoenix is # 52.

Where the Teeth Bite

WORST TEETH

Rank	City	Grade
100	Lubbock, TX	F
99	Philadelphia, PA	F
98	Spokane, WA	F
97	Salt Lake City, UT	F
96	Jackson, MS	F
95	El Paso, TX	F
94	Portland, OR	F
93	Tulsa, OK	D-
92	Tucson, AZ	D-
91	Baton Rouge, LA	D-
90	Los Angeles, CA	D-
89	San Antonio, TX	D-
88	St. Louis, MO	D-
87	Dallas, TX	D-
86	Tampa, FL	D-
85	Jersey City, NJ	D-
84	Denver, CO	D-
83	St. Petersburg, FL	D
82	Oklahoma City, OK	D
81	Billings, MT	D
80	Pittsburgh, PA	D
79	Miami, FL	D
78	Boston, MA	D
77	Kansas City, MO	D+
76	Newark, NJ	D+
75	Austin, TX	D+
74	Fresno, CA	D+
73	Sacramento, CA	D+
72	Birmingham, AL	D+
71	Buffalo, NY	D+
70	Corpus Christi, TX	D+
69	Houston, TX	C-
68	Louisville, KY	C-
67	Rochester, NY	C-
66	Bangor, ME	C-
65	Riverside, CA	C-
64	Burlington, VT	C-
63	Memphis, TN	C-
62	Orlando, FL	C-
61	Baltimore, MD	C-
60	Montgomery, AL	C
59	Milwaukee, WI	C
58	Detroit, MI	C
57	Cincinnati, OH	C
56	Fort Worth, TX	C
55	Oakland, CA	C
54	Albuquerque, NM	C
53	Chicago, IL	C
52	Phoenix, AZ	C
51	Cheyenne, WY	C
50	Columbia, SC	C+
49	Modesto, CA	C+
48	Honolulu, HI	C+
47	Bakersfield, CA	C+
46	Norfolk, VA	C+
45	Las Vegas, NV	C+
44	Fort Wayne, IN	C+
43	Richmond, VA	C+
42	Charleston, WV	C+
41	Lexington, KY	C+
40	Greensboro, NC	C+
39	Indianapolis, IN	B-
38	Hartford, CT	B-
37	Little Rock, AR	B-
36	Anaheim, CA	B-
35	Washington, DC	B-
34	New York, NY	B-
33	Atlanta, GA	B-
32	San Jose, CA	B-
31	Providence, RI	B-
30	Arlington, TX	B-
29	San Diego, CA	B-
28	Wilmington, DE	B
27	Seattle, WA	B
26	Cleveland, OH	B
25	Fremont, CA	B
24	Manchester, NH	B
23	Toledo, OH	B
22	Durham, NC	B
21	Boise, ID	B
20	San Francisco, CA	B
19	Columbus, OH	B
18	Wichita, KS	B+
17	Colorado Springs, CO	B+
16	Omaha, NE	B+
15	Jacksonville, FL	B+
14	Sioux Falls, SD	B+
13	Des Moines, IA	B+
12	Lincoln, NE	B+
11	Anchorage, AK	B+

BEST TEETH

Rank	City	Grade
10	Minneapolis, MN	B+
9	Fargo, ND	A-
8	Grand Rapids, MI	A-
7	Yonkers, NY	A-
6	Charlotte, NC	A-
5	Aurora, CO	A-
4	St. Paul, MN	A
3	Raleigh, NC	A+
2	Nashville, TN	A+
1	Madison, WI	A+

Seriously, I do not understand this. What is so difficult about brushing your teeth a few times a day. It's not even a $$$ thing. I see children who have NO money who are constantly talking about their teeth and either having gum, or begging me for gum. They are concerned about their grills and "fonky" breath. Now, the adults - that's another situation. If folks are offering you gum, and you know that you have recently eaten something that is "fonky," take it! Hell, suck on a cough drop; cough drops kill any fonk known to man.

QUIT LAUGHING!!!

When was the last time that you visited the dentist? If you have dental insurance, GO. There is no excuse. If you had time to hit X Mall during the holiday season to purchase gifts, you had time to get your teef cleaned. If you don't have dental insurance, yet carry around a $200 purse, get your priorities STRAIGHT and go get your teef cleaned with a $60 coupon (from the newspaper). If you are wearing $150 kicks, but have 3 inch plaque on your teef, GROSS. Better yet, how in the hell do men and and women put their lips on their man's/woman's mouth if they know that the teeth are cruddy; they don't have to be perfect whatsoever, but they should be able to tell that their significant other routinely brushes and flosses.

If you live in Phoenix, Atrium Dental is the BEST.

Folks, you never want to experience a deep clean. I had one tooth cleaned (becuz they thought that something was stuck in it). The tooth had to be numbed, and I still felt them go below the gum line. This was not fun.

Brush your TEEF!!!! FLOSS your TEEF!!! Brush your TONGUE!

On a serious note, Obama is using Lincoln's Bible for the inauguration. Who would have ever thought that the President who freed the slaves would have his inaugural Bible used by an African American?


Word.

On the 11th day of Christmas. . .

I am PMSing. . .

BAH HUMBUG.

S*** that has gotten on my nerves today:

* Laziness
* Kids who cannot get along with each other
* The fact that I have scrapbooking stuff waiting for me @ my leasing office and they are CLOSED due to a Christmas party? Note to self - get a box @ UPS down the street by Sat. I am SIK of this. I rush home and get things. The office closes @ 5:30pm. My cell phone says 5:28pm, and they are halfway to their car. Damn, I wanted to play tonight.
* This cold. It's good thing that Asterick #3 occurred, because I truly need to go to bed.
* Dryers that go on the fritz, which leads to laundry piling up. It's now fixed, and my washer is will be doing OT tonight.

Whew!

On to some positives:

* I had the PLEASURE of taking pics of Sara and her sweet family on Sunday @ The Pointe at South Mountain. Baby Sawyer is just so sweet. Here are a couple of my favorites



* Getting to work with crazy-ass colleagues like Mr. A:

This man is going to make me LOSE my G-I-G at the G-I-G!!! He is hilarious and always keeps me on my toes. I love this picture of him. I said, "Why don't you let me make some Christmas cards of this photo?" His response," Who the hell am I going to send them to? You?"

* Beringer White Zinfandel. I *so* need a glass.
* Kids who keep me ROLLIN'. Yesterday, I was informed that I resemble Bay Bay Bay from Real Chance Love (on Vh1). :Not:
* I am alive

I leave you with a laugh. If you haven't seen this clip, get ret to piss your clothes:

http://www.blackbottom.com/watch.php?v=QSonBANahFN


PEACE!

What's Going ON?

Howdy.

Today, the only title that I could think of is - - - what's going on? As Curtis Mayfield would say, there's just so much going on in our society right now. The issue that I am facing on a daily basis is the growing number of gay children that I am meeting. Please don't think that I am homophobic; I am far from it. I just wish that someone would be a "voice" for these children. I know those who are full-fledge gay/lesbian, bisexual, or those who are just "experimenting." I question if many of these teens are actually gay, or are engaging in these sexual acts (i.e. my female students) because they want to have sex, but a form of sex in which they are no "consequences" (i.e. pregnancy).

Today's kids need so much guidance regarding intimacy. I don't know how many times I've heard kids who want to "come out," but know that they will be disowned due to being a person of color and/or coming from a religious family. Then, I have female students who I strongly believe are not gay, but are so desiring attention from a female that they can trust. Confusion? Clarity? Which one?

Whew! I just had to get that off my chest.


As if y'all DIDN"T already know, I LOVE me some photography. Today, while my students were supposed to be engaged in group work pertaining to the college admissions statement, I had a student say, "Dr. C., why don't you become a professional photographer? You can take a couple of classes and truly be on your way." Another student said it before I did, "Dr. C. has got BILLS to pay. She can't just quit her job." My response, "You've got THAT right." The young woman said, "But, if it's your passion, you should do it." Again, the student said, "Dr. C. has BILLS to pay." Uh, can I second that emotion, Smokey?

Where do we draw the line between working jobs that we love, but are passionate about because it pays the BILLS and being willing to do something that we are passionate about, but must place on the "back burner" due to BILLS, family, etc. . . ? What does this say about our society?

In short, I am keeping my day job. I do love it, and it allows me to also engage in my passion - photography. My students are some of my favorite models. They do not fully realize the emotions that I capture everytime that I press the shutter button.

Lordy, I am soundin' like my girl, Christina, here. ;)

And, speaking of BILLS, I need to prep for tonight's class. I've got 5 more hours and counting before I can get UP OUT OF THESE CLOTHES AND CRASH!!!!!!


I forgot to share this conversation on Monday night. Are you one of those people who uses the bathroom while on the phone? Well, I am NOT. Here's a recent conversation btwn me and my boy, T.:

Me: I'm going to put you on mute. I need to use the bathroom.

T: Girl, you kill me. Just piss, alright?

Me: No, that's rude. Phone is now on mute.

T: Your ass is crazy. Women so fucking pee weird and shit. . . . I bet you that you're over there laughing like a crazy ass.

Me: laughing too hard to finish peeing. Finally finish, flush, wash hands, and get back on the phone.

Truj: Are you done?

Me: You are a freaking IDIOT.

Is there ANY decency LEFT in the world?


Word.

Monday, Monday

Good evening!

I'm back at the local university teaching English 101 this evening. Oh, I am so glad to be back at this institution. Universities (as well as malls) are my natural habitats. It's a "wonderful thang" to see students becoming active participants in their learning experience.

Speaking of students, if you have the time to be a mentor to a high schooler, DO SO. Our youth go through so much - confusion with sexuality, isolation, problems with their parents, etc. . . If we don't help these kids, they will be come lost, and eventually, we'll end up paying for them - either with welfare or prison.

Mom and I had a conversation prior to my arrival to campus. She informed me that people are admitting (via a CNN report) that they will not vote for Obama because he is African American. Have we truly made any progress in the United States? I often wonder what MLK and Malcolm X are thinking in Heaven. Indeed, we live in a pathetic as all hell country.The sad thing is that these closeminded individuals are procreating.

When will the madness end?

Tonight, I thought that I would share my list of "I Wants". I've been thinking about this list since my THIRTY-FOURTH birthday is less than 7 days away (9/30):

• I want a closer relationship with God
• I want a man who knows and fully accepts Christ and His teachings
• I want a HOUSE that is meant for ME to own
• I want my students to fully understand the steps that I have taken to prepare them for life outside of high school
• I want stupid-ass folks to learn how to leave me the H(ell - Grandfather's saying) alone.
• I want us to truly sing the ole school Coca Cola song ("I Like to Teach the World to SING") and really freakin' MEAN IT
• I want to get better at photography
• I want to take more photos

Have you read any good books lately? I am reading Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. I am going to start teaching this novel to my Seniors on Thursday AM. I cannot put this book down. If I wasn't teaching tonight, I would be @ the crib reading it. Tan is just a lovely writer. If you haven't read this novel, do so. Amy does for the Asian female literautre what Walker and Morrison do for African American female literature.

Peace