34 years ago . . .

I was born. It is so hard to believe that this little girl has now become:


I am SO thankful for life. Oftentimes, we sit around and reflect about all the negative aspects of our lives. We need to take more time focusing on the positives and that although we are faced with adversity, we are still HERE. Indeed, that's a positive right there.

This year, I am thankful for:

* My faith in God, my church, and church family
* My PARENTS, Grandmother, and Brother
* My deceased paternal grandparents
* My health
* My G-I-G
* My students
* A place to LIVE that I can AFFORD
* Wonderful perfume
* My camera, scrapbooks, and memories
* Delicious food and SPIRITS
* Music (Go purchase Jennifer Hudson's new album TODAY)
* YOU


Here's to the year that marks the end of my EARLY thirties! This year, I am wishing for:

* Peace
* Good health for me, family, and friends
* A more profound relationship with Christ
* More moments to take capture on Kodak E surface paper
* A mate that God has PERSONALLY selected for me


Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME!

Lord, I thank you for another year of life. I thank you for my parents. I thank you for the "village" that helped raise me. I did not have to wake up this morning, but I did. I ask that you guide me this year to do what YOU would like to accomplish this 34 th year of my life. In your name I do pray,

AMEN.

Here's the onset of the end of my early 30s.

Indeed, I have now seen it all

En route to the university's main library, I saw this young coed on a freakin bike (the cutesy ones that all the college women are riding) in THREE INCH HEELS.

How much you wanna bet that heffa's major is pre-med and that in 7 years or so, she'll be the orthopedic surgeon I'll be paying to assist me with my flat footedness.

DELIVER ME.

Strange FRUIT

What year is this?!?!??!! Will these types of antics EVER end?

This is not my country.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080924/ap_on_re_us/obama_effigy;_ylt=Agl.0U.MgmDaEYiJpjQL3XxH2ocA

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

My Weekend Review and Sunday Singin'

Good morning!!!

Y'all know what today IS - - - SUUUUUUNDAY!!! Did y'all wake up and give God some "Glory, Glory!!!?" I am borrowing that phrase from my boy, CT. Indeed, Jesus is a Friend of MINE. He walks and talks with me ALL THE TIME. The problem is, Do I listen? I'm working on that.

I thought that I would share my weekend activities in photos. Friday - came home and passed OUT after I got home from the gig/cleaners. It's amazing how much $$$ I spend on dry cleaning, and that's WITH a 40% coupon.

Saturday - My girl, a professional photographer, allowed me to be her understudy. Y'all know how much I enjoy photography. I don't have the time/confidence to ever become professional, but I would like to be a "seasoned amateur." I've included a few of them at the end of this message. What do y'all think?

This wedding made me do some soul-searching. Folks, I am ready to fall deeply in love with a man and the feelings are MUTUAL. I am turning THIRTY-FOUR in NINE days! I never thought that I would be single at THIRTY-FOUR. LORD. Are there any good, 100% HETEROSEXUAL, single men left? At times, my situation makes me wanna HOLLA!!!!!!!!!!! I am a good person, and I am ready to love. Please keep me in your prayers.


I'm back with the Sunday Singin' Sensation. It's none other than my man, Marvin Gaye. If you don't know who Marvin is, ask God for repentance and a lobotomy. He's the man singin' the National Anthem in the Nike Basketball commercials. Before there was Whitney's version of the National Anthem, there was Marvin's. Before there was Luther, there was Marvin. Babies were conceived on "Sexual Healing" before "Any Love" and "Here and Now." What happened to Marvin, his strung-out on coke ass got capped by his Daddy (a REVEREND) over some $$$ on April 1, 1984. Marvin - indeed, you are missed.

Off to exercise. I need to shake some of this jiggle out of my wiggle.

Happy Sunday!!!! Remember, give God some GLORY, GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Day, Another DOLLAR

Good evening!

Currently, I am @ the local university typing away. My students are working on editing their peers' drafts. Oh, the joys of Freshmen Composition! I do have two, great groups of students. They have agreed to assist my high schoolers with preparing for the AIMS Writing Exam. Now, you know that I had t offer extra credit; however, most of the students immediately agreed to help our "children of the future."

I know that I am behind on blogging; kill me. I've got too much going on right now. The main job is keeping me busy. Good LAWD, I cannot believe that it's already Wednesday night. Indeed, I am looking forward to Friday @ 3:30pm (quittin' time).

Any weekend plans? I am scheduled to assist a photographer with shooting pictures for a wedding at one of Phoenix's most spectacular sites. I am praying that I end up with at least ONE beautiful picture. I am not as good as my girl, Miz Christina, but I do try. She claims that I am the B&W photo goddess; indeed, she provides true meaning to the phrase, classic photography. You'll have to check out the wedding pics of her cousin, Johnny:

www.soulaperture.typepad.com

One word: BREATHTAKING

I must share the latest crazy-a$$ bust story with you - last week, a passenger got smart with the driver and called him Sherlock. The driver would not allow him on the bus. The man said, "F***k you!" Then, he proceeded to extend his middle finger to the driver and asked him if he understood that symbol. The driver said that he did. Then, the man said "I ought to f***ing stab your a** before I get off this bus." I immediately got up and moved to another seat. A man said, "Don't do it, man. Don't go there." The man got off the bus. I said, "Don't do it, Miss Celie. Don't do it! Don't switch places with me!"

PEOPLE IS CRRRRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!! Indeed, they need the LAWD!!!

Today, I received an extremely nice compliment. I saw one of the photography teachers at my gig. She said, "Hey, the kids told me that you have some great photos on your walls. They said, "Miss, you've got to visit her room. You should see the 11x14 photos that she has posted on the classroom walls. She's really col, and her photography is great."

I was speechless. Mind you, most of the kids at the gig last year HATED me.

Word.