My Grandma HATES Collards. Wait, is that Racist?

I've noticed something about my blogs.  They are becoming more and more narrative in nature.  I guess that's a good thing.  I always have a story to tell.  Our lives are full of short stories that make up a huge book based on ourselves.  Lots of reoccurring themes. I think providing a narrative helps you, the reader, really feel what I've experienced and maybe reflect on a similar experience you may have had.

1. I love a good laugh and certainly had one by watching, "Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls".  I do understand that it's only a matter of time before there's one called, "Shit Black Men Say to White Girls" or any other variation.  It's all in fun though (and based in some truths).  It most definitely cracks me up.
2. Ooh, this Load Potato Soup by Progesso = tasty, great, delicious, scrumdiliumptious! I have a new soup to love!
3. My friend, Dian got us tickets to see comedian Sheryl Underwood at the DC Impov.  I'm excited to see her.  She is TOO FUNNY. I love her!
4. Speaking of Sheryl Underwood, I have never been mentioned so many times by a celebrity on Twitter. @sherylunderwood was blowing up my Twitter account and I loved every minute of it!
5. I do love that Michelle Bachmann has suspended her bid for President of the United States.  One of the smartest choices she's made. Michelle Bachmann, this one is for you: Mommy Doesn't Need Fixing.

All I Got Rid of Were Some Lousy T-Shirts

Wow.  The day got away from me.  Between my workout, purging things from my house and phone conversations I went to bed without posting to the blog.  I haven't missed an entire day yet and I don't plan on it.. so here we go!

1. Working at a university (especially in the department I work in) you collect plenty of t-shirts. I bagged up 5 garbage bags of mostly t-shirts. RIDICULOUS!  I started thinking about how much cotton that was and what it could potentially be made into by recycling. I also donated lots of pants and a few coats that were all now too big for me to wear (yay me!) Hopefully some folks who shop at the Salvation Army will get some use out of my donated items.
2. Running every couple of days is showing its benefits.  As I was stretching before my run I noticed two things.  1 - I can touch my toes without too much effort now. 2 - My legs are looking so tone!  hahaha I love it.  I began adding weight training after my runs now, too. I can't wait for the results of this training to show itself. 
3. The cleaning process of my home continues.  I have all of this artwork and I haven't done a damn thing with it.  That's changing. I'm loving how it's all coming together.  After a trip to Ikea, it'll be near completion.
4. Hahahaha I LOVE this video.  MakeHomosexualsMarry. So clever.
5. I loved the response a couple of my posts on Facebook got.  It brought back a lot of memories.

Girl, Listen to this Text Message

What's better than waking up and realizing that you don't have to go to work today?  Well, actually LOTS of things.  For instance, winning the lottery (which would come as a major benefit at this point in my life).  Since that won't likely happen - mostly because I don't play the lottery. This morning I got a text message from my supervisor to inform me that the office would be closed because of a power outage. I guess that leaves me with more time to reflect on the day's events.

1. I know some people think they're gross, but I LOVE pork cracklin's. I bought a bag of them today. If you love bacon, you will probably love these. 
2. I'm trying out a new project today. A photo transfer onto canvas.  I'm pretty sure it's going to work. It was way too simple!  I love easy craft projects. Here's directions on how you can make your own - Photo Canvas.
3. The woman at Home Depot was so nice and cordial. She has a nice Caribbean accent, too.  I felt bad because I didn't always understand what she was asking the first time she would speak. I would ask her to repeat it and she did without getting an attitude. That's how it's done, folks.  Just be nice.
4. Pier One always has some cool stuff. I went in the store tonight and found some cool items on clearance. 
5. A friend of mine posted a clip on Facebook that made me laugh.  "Shit Black Girls Say" is hilarious. I guess you gotta know black girls and grow up around them (as I did) to truly get each joke. "Girl, listen to this text message."  LOLOLOL

Rock the Mic!

When I rock the mic, I rock the mic right! HAHAHAHA  I really enjoy performing. Imagine that.  I don't care if it's karaoke, hamming it up for a crowd, telling stories, etc.  If it's a fun presentation/performance, I thoroughly enjoy it. 

1. As I was walking toward a building a student who was on her cell phone and entering the building. She saw me in the corner of her eye and even though I was more than 5 steps away, she held the door for me.  I should do a study on students and how many extend that care to others. By her holding the door for me caused me to pause and consider her thoughtfulness.
2. While this may serve the ego, as many things in life do, I love how people enjoy my MC-ing the university's holiday party. This was the third year that I've done it.  All I really do is announce the different dances and make a few announcements - however, people seem to love it AND remember me from past years. That makes me feel good.
3. Bowling was fun tonight. It was made even more exciting when a girl bowling next to me bowled 7 strikes in a row!  Her score was 218, her highest score ever.  It was so cool to see the shock and joy on her face after her accomplishment. 
4. At the university holiday party, the committee tried something new.  We did sign-ups for the Homecoming Decorating Contest and had a game they could play to win some homecoming swag.  It went well and we have gotten more sign-ups than ever before.  I love it when an idea proves to be successful. Way to go team!
5. Mmm. At the holiday party I tried Baked Potato Soup for the first time in my life. WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS I WAITING FOR? That soup is delicious! I can't wait to eat it again. Oh, it was so good that I even had to give it a shout out to the crowd about how delicious it is.

Hump Day Happenings

All this rain makes Virginia seem like Washington State! I'm not gonna let it dampen my mood though. It's all about how you choose to react. 

1. I stopped by Ikea today.  The As-is Section was on POINT!  I might have to make visits to the store more frequently during the week. :0)
2. Bowling went really well tonight. I bowled two games in the mid to high 160s.  We won't discuss the last game though. hahahaha
3. I love that I had a pretty easy day at work. Aside from waking up early to get there - it was pretty light work. Just trying to tie up loose ends with regards to an event.
4. I just LOVE the show Modern Family! It made me laugh out loud tonight! "Look, Looook".... lol  "It's my Christmas sweater" LOL
5. I got a very nice message in my inbox.  :0)

Brr, Stick 'em Ha Ha Ha, Stick 'em

Today was like one of those old school hip hop days... and appropriately so (you'll see why). Things just felt so carefree today. Not a worry in the air and very social. I probably spent 3 hours in other folks' offices chillin' and chattin'. Similar to what I would have done on my dirt bike in the summer time - just rollin' up somewhere and hangin' out.

1. I realized that the shirt I had on was from 1999 today.  Someone complimented it and I thought, "Well damn, I bought this shirt my first year of graduate school."  Then I thought about why I kept it - the shirt is made of wool; it's gray; it has padded elbows; and when I gained so much weight that it didn't fit anymore, I vowed to make sure it would fit again.  It fits again and with ample room. I love that feeling.
2. I spoke about serendipity yesterday.  Today it's still in my head.  While there were no happy mistakes today, I certainly connected the concept to my life. I feel good about that.
3. I sat down in a friend's office today and she mentioned another office which caused me to sit down and ask her some questions about careers.  Needless to say, an hour later I left with "homework" to make progress on my endeavors.  I love getting a new perspectives.
4. Sitting in the same friend's office I saw this wall art application tool on her desk that had the rap lyrics, "Brr stick'em! ha ha ha, stick'em". How funny is that?!?  Does anyone recall this song? I know I did.  It's REALLY old school. Check out the song here.
5. Tonight my bowling was great!  I bowled over average in every game - with one game being int eh 170s.  Good stuff!

Big Apple Bonanza of a Day

I'm super excited to be in NYC!  So much so that I've walked a lot of miles already and I've only been in the city since about 2PM.  There was once a time where arriving in NYC made me nervous.  These days I don't even bat an eye.  Stepping out into the Big Apple and taking in everything.

1. To explore NYC with friends is something I love to do.  We visited quite a few places in the short time I've been here (They arrived yesterday). One of those places is Gaga's Workshop at Barney's.
2. I REALLY love the apartment I'm staying in.  It's like the coolest place.  Very cute and modern.  If it were possible, I'd have my place look a lot like this.
3. I loved that Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf were giving out free hot cocoa.  What made me love it more was that the hot cocoa was red velvet flavored! It was by FAR the best hot cocoa I've ever had. NO LIE!
4. Walking through Central Park at night with the road closed off was pretty damn cool.  There's not many times when a person would get to do that.  And probably not many times you'd feel safe doing it either. Luckily the police had everything blocked for the parade!
5. Foursquare is cool when you check-in at new places and you get badges. Tonight I unlocked 3 badges.  What I really loved about the check-in at The Dead Poets bar was that it unlocked a special - one free shot of Wild Turkey!

Small Things Add Up to Big Things

Today I'm keeping it simple.  Actually I have to because I can't think of any major things.  Strike that - I can come up with some things to list on this blog tonight. I have to change my view of this because no matter how insignificant something may seem, each thing that happens to a person feeds into more significant matters.  It's kind of like when you keep collecting change.  It's not significant until you add it all up. Having an understanding that it is all connected is the lesson here.

1. Today I went to work with a plan of action and accomplished 90% of it all.  The 10% that I didn't complete - I at least got the ball rolling.  Now that's action!
2. At the bowling alley, everyone was in good spirits.  At the end of the night everyone hugged and wished each other a Happy Thanksgiving.  That was a really nice thing to see and participate in.
3. I got a good bit of news today at work regarding an overspent budget.  It's NOT as overspent as I thought.  WHEW!!!
4. I read a comment on a photo I posted on Facebook and it garnered a "Woof!" That's a good thing. 
5. Peanut Butter M&Ms.  YUM!

Wondrous Wednesday!

Cornelius - G-Man

1. Today I only had one meeting and I am thankful for that because I have been UBER tired lately.   
2. I loved today's lesson on Lifeclass.  Slow down and be present in the moment.  I was thinkin' about this and how we don't practice that often enough.  We should all take a moment and pause - think about what we're really doing and not what we are going to be doing or should be doing. "The only time you live your life is in the present moment."
3. Seeing the G-Men (George Mason's Official Hype Squad) in full gear was really awesome!  I'm proud to be working with them! They will make their "official" debut on Friday.
4. How exciting is it that all the members of my Movember Team have gotten donations?  I know I am excited for our team!
5. The weather has been AMAZING lately.  I love the sun shining each day. I hope it last throughout the weekend!

A-ha Moment #1

1. Tonight's league bowling felt pretty damn awesome.  Everyone in a good mood and two new bowlers this week with two others considering joining and another coming next week.  Reminds me of fraternity recruitment in so many ways. I guess that technically we're rushing new members for the next couple of weeks. Beta Omicron Lambda? hahaha I love that!
2. I had an enlightening conversation tonight. One where I walked away having an "A-ha Moment". How do you contribute to the misunderstandings between someone and yourself? It takes two to have a conversation - otherwise it's just self-reflection. This is the first A-ha Moment that I've documented.  I'm sure I'll have more and plan to document each of them. They are important lessons!
3. The fact that there is chocolate candy still in the office is worth being happy about!  
4. Today I felt like I accomplished a lot of tasks.  There's nothing like having a sense of accomplishment in anything you do.
5. The organization that I advise invited me to dinner. That was really nice.

You Better Believe It!

Integrity.  Now there's a word. I'm not sure if people really understand that integrity is part of your Human Being Score - kind of like a credit score.  The more you exhibit integrity, the more people will place a higher value for your friendship, the work you do in your career, and in your relationships. When people show and/or tell you who they really are, believe them.

1.  A friend of mine showed me a website called Pinterest.  I have to say - it's REALLY cool. 
2. I was able to have a good time at bowling tonight and the support of friends made it exceptional. We all are responsible for the energy we accept into our lives and the energy we put out in the universe.
3. I love Maya and Oprah!
4. My Etsy Shop is on fire! I got another sale today. I love it when the sales roll in.
5. I had a great impromptu brainstorming session with a student about an event.  I got excited about the possibilities and he did, too!

The Bend in the Road is Not the End

Today I really tried to keep my cool.  Between a regular visit to the doctor about blood pressure (which is fine, BTW) and then the events during a night of bowling.  WOW... That was more stress in a matter of two hours than I have experienced in a long time.  Now I know how some politicians feel. The only problem is, they can hold the emotions together and I can't. hahaha Nevertheless, I refuse to linger in negativity so here I am continuing on with 5 things I loved about today.

1. I love my Doctor. Actually, she's a Physicians Assistant. She is so easy to talk to and shows a lot of care.  I told her that if she should ever leave this place, she MUST call and let me know.. 
2. I love that things like the Sustainable Living Roadshow exists.  They bring a great awareness to things and the Chapstick lip balm I bought is the bomb!
3. Stouffer's makes a damn good mac and cheese. If you haven't tried it.. I suggest you do.
4. I appreciate the individuals that volunteered to hold positions on the bowling league and appreciate everyone who exhibited a LOT of patience as we were trying to sort things out.  I can't even fully articulate nor formulate in words what their volunteerism means to me.
5. I'm happy in the way I managed myself through one of the toughest situations I have experienced in the last year. To withstand this is a sign of growth and maturity. Resiliency.
   
   "The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you refuse to take the turn."

I had more to add so I added the additions to the Inspiration page.  Reading inspirational and motivation quotes really help me to get through difficult situations. Check out the other items here.

Tired - Definitely Not Wired.

1. Today I tackled cleaning off my desk and taking care of a few projects that have been lingering. I am certainly excited to have done that and I love that I have cleared off spaces on my desk.
2. Since it was raining, I wasn't sure that I'd run at the gym... then I decided I had better do it.  I'm glad I did. It felt good and who doesn't love feeling good about what they've accomplished?
3. Orders in my Etsy Shop seem to be rolling in regularly. This is a good thing!  I hope it keeps up. 
4. My team bowled against another fun team.  That's always a good thing.  Too bad not all teams are the same. I even got recognized for bowling a 214 in September. Tonight I bowled one great game - a 172.
5. My teammates went to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner. It was Herb's birthday.  I had a delicious Thai Salad. It was 1155 calories though... Not a good look! HAHAHA However, I was still under 2500 calories for the day. That's pretty good.. and running at the gym took off nearly 800 calories.. so I'm in good shape!

Taking a Bite of the Big Apple

Ugh... being sick, SUCKS!  I'm just glad it's not as bad as it could be.  I could be shivering, headache, stomach ache, etc.  Luckily it's just a sore throat and the sniffles for the most part.  I won't let it damper my day!  Now on to my daily 5!

1. I took the Bolt Bus to NYC. It's awesome to be able to sit on the bus that has a power outlet and free internet!  I love that. 
2. Oooh the memories of Tootie, Natalie, Jo, Blair and Mrs. Garrett.  I have been watching The Facts of Life on DVD. Every episode REALLY DID have a life lesson.  At least the early seasons did.  The jokes for today's youth probably wouldn't fly but it's still a great show to me!
3. Tonight as I was waiting on my friend to meet me at Penn Station a guy walked up to me and asked if I were Sinbad, the comedian.  How funny is that??  This is the second time in my life where I've been mistaken for Sinbad. Do I really look like him? It was a cool feeling...
4. I bought a cupcake at a restaurant tonight and the icing was amazing!  Love a good buttercream frosting.
5. There's something to be said about the energy of NYC.  I love the excitement of the city and that there is so much to do.

It Got Better

1. I just watched 30 minutes of rough cuts from the “It Gets Better” videos from our campus. Wow… that was intense in some parts. I love how folks put their feelings out there and really opened up themselves to connect with people they don’t even know. AMAZING. It actually made my eyes tear up. 
2. I absolutely love when something is SO FUNNY that you can’t stop laughing about it. The mere thought of it makes you want to bust out laughing. This is what happened tonight at the bowling alley. 
3. I love that the Facebook page for my office has finally reached 1000 likes and that the students are involved with playing a guessing game to win a prize. 
4. I looked at my bank account today and I’m not as broke as I thought I might be. That’s a good thing to love! 
5. I heard a Stevie Wonder song today and thought, man… they just don’t make music like that anymore. You know, songs that “you could name that tune in 5 notes” type of music. I love that about the classics (i.e. anything pre-90s).
   
   Great song to accompany this post: Tom Baxter’s “Better”