Post # Five Hundred and One

I didn't mark the milestone, which was my 500th post. This is post 501, and I'm sorry it's not more substantive like a reflection on some of the thought provoking discussions I had while in Boston. Being amongst like minded intellectuals who were thankfully unafraid to challenge themselves, unafraid to challenge their thinking, was a welcome distraction from my world at home. So I'm coming off a little bit of a happy high! Sadly I seem to be coming down with something. Throat hurts, head hurts, and I refuse to go to the wack Health Center.

Tonight it's drinking tea listening to Jill Scott while preparing to work on a paper due tomorrow at 1pm. And you guessed it the travel schedule is the excuse I'll use for not having started!

Also, check this out:

"Hair Locks Force Student from School"
Category: News and Politics

Read about it here

http://somdnews.com/stories/100507/indymor101644_32114.shtml

Watch the story here:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1007/466626.html

I hope to be back in true form soon.

-CNEL

Throwback

Little CNEL

This past weekend was one of reflection where I was made to reflect mightily on what it means to be my mother's son, and my sister's brother!

Words of the Week

Sunday- “Attachment is fear. Go for what you want, but you must relax and leave anxiety behind”- Rev. Run

Monday- “Love affords wonder.” - Maya Angelou

Tuesday- “Be a rebellious individualist.”-Unknown

Wednesday- “You see the same people going up as you do going down.” -Taryn Manning

Thursday- “Do one thing that scares you every day.” -Cicely Tyson

Friday- “Don’t be incidental or accidental.” -Ossie Davis

Saturday- “I needed a lot of time and work to change my expectations of myself. I had to learn to believe that I could do anything I really wanted to do.” -Wally “Famous” Amos

Up, Up, and Away

Ya'll want to know something which is so very sad?

I have so needed every meeting, conference, retreat I've been called off to since August.

Any excuse to hop a plane, train, or automobile.

It has become my escape.

I don't even have time to talk right now.

I'm throwing clothes in my to go bag so I can go to class, hop out of class, get a ride home, through some more clothes in a bag, and head to the airport.

I'm trying to get to the airport early enough to grab a drink.

Why?

Because I deserve it

Loyola assignment goes awry as cops descend on campus

Let's talk about how they had me acting like a Robo Rent-a-cop.

Then making sure that there was no backlash in this already not so informed environment. That article I don't believe mentions that the person involved was a person of color. I saw the potential for racial profiling miles away.

But hey I get to escape it.

As J tells me I won't save everybody. From now to Sunday I won't even be trying.

Off to Boston for a retreat. Sitting here ya'll know what I just realized. Where is Cambridge across the river? Whose in Cambridge? Harvard Girls (go to the archives starting with June 28, 2007 to find the backstory)

But I'm off anywho.

Hope it's a great weekend for ya'll!

Schooled

So I'm so out of the loop with regards to stereotypical college life. Cause unlike some people, "I don't want to be a cliché".

So my residents schooled me as to the college social calendar.

Messed-up Monday
Trashed Tuesday
Wasted Wednesday
F'ed-up Friday
S-faced Satuday
Sober Sunday

Now I feel so enlightened, so much more educated.

G'nite

Life in a Nutshell

Note: Now four posts away from my 500th post. Wow. I cannot believe that I've been blogging that long. Of course some posts have been better than others! LoL

The last week has been crazy.

On the school front I had a few midterms the last of which I completed last night.

As far as classes go I have two Comm courses : Copy Editing and Journalism in Film; I have two Sociology courses: Crime and Crimonology and Sociological Theory, and one elective American Politics. All of my teachers are actually good teachers, but that says nothing about their ability to motivate me. HaHa. Just not feeling school right now in all honesty.

On the R.A. front these kids aren't driving me as nuts. I think they know not to mess with me. Now it's a question of motivating them to participate in activities I plan.

On the extracurricular front aside from the Association of Black Journos and my diversity work I'm not particularly motivated to do much. I may try to help out with restarting the campus T.V. station.

On to socializing. I am a little upset I got invited to a costume party on Saturday and I can't be there because I have to go to Boston for work. I so look forward to any opportunity to party with grown ups. Kid gatherings are no fun, trust me cause I've been part of one.

I soooo need a night out on the town. I'm hoping the two besties will be in town around Thanksgiving so maybe we can hit up these spots I keep hearing about for the 21 and over crew X's or E's.

Now it's typing up this paper proposal and going to class, then work, then a lecture, then a workshop, then a meeting. Good thing is I get to sleep in tomorrow until like 10ish.

Until next time,
Peace

Words of the Week

Sunday- “Dig into your heart to understand more compassionately.” -Tavis Smiley Empowerment Cards

Monday- “On your worst day help somebody else.” -Marty Kroft

Tuesday- “Know the difference between saying you can’t do something and realizing that maybe it’s just something you haven’t done yet.” -Michael McDonald

Wednesday -“Observe. And from your own observations, draw your own conclusions.” -Erika Christensen

Thursday -“Inspect what you expect.” -Unknown

Friday- “Never take no from anyone who doesn’t have the power to tell you yes.” -Alpha Blackburn

Saturday- “You have to eat, rest, and figure out a way to handle your fear.” -Morgan Freeman

A Lesson in Gratitude

So working with the little rugrats a few times a week, makes me thankful I don't have any kids. HaHa. I also see it as part of my job to help provide little life's lessons. So on occassion I am responsible for taking kids to their lessons and picking them up from their lessons. Since I believe in punctuality (99.5 percent of the time) I make sure to call them in from the playground to gather their things for their lessons. Often I hear "Mr. N" why do I have to come in early? I tell them so they can be on time. It's a gift to be able to take music lessons. One day I'm sure they'll be grateful for the opportunity. Maybe one day I will have helped inspire some little musician to be the best like this musician:

It's About More Than Just Words

"I hear you talking but you ain't saying nothing..."

Imagine for a moment you spot that person who for you epitomizes quite simply "possibility." In their essence you find rejuvenation, salvation, and redemption. You find something which quite frankly is unspeakable.

Here's the simplest of formulas:
His car breaks down + he finds a motel + she's already at the motel + he speaks English, she speaks French + but there's still an attraction.

That simple formula may not even do it justice...



"when you're on the outside baby and you can`t get in
i will show you you're so much better than you know
when you're lost and you're alone and you cant get back again
i will find you darling and i will bring you home"

Sidenote: I like really need to see the entire film, if I can find it on DVD.

Words of the Week

Sunday-“Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.”-Kahlil Gibran
Monday- “Establish high standards, principles, and values for yourself, then kick it up a level.” -Tavis Smiley Empower Cards
Tuesday- “Meditate on your mission, then use your gifts and talents to live your life on purpose. In doing so you will become an unending magnet for miracles”- Tavis Smiley Empower Cards
Wednesday - “Only when you have crossed the river can you say the crocodile has a lump on its snout.” -Ashanti Proverb
Thursday- “Some people judge the present and cancel out the future on the basis of their negative assessment of the past.” -Jeremiah Wright
Friday- “Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.” -Proverb
Saturday- “If you want a place in the sun, you must leave the shade of the family tree.” -Osage saying

"My So-Called Break"

So today was fall break which meant no classes. Instead of studying or doing anything academic (cause frankly I didn't want to) I hopped the train to one of my favorite cities D.C. Already I'm sooooo mad I can't make my third consecutive weekend next weekend because of R.A. duties. And it's Howard's homecoming weekend now you know people are about to show up and show out. I hope to live vicariously through someone.

Anywho here's some of my day





Solar Decathlon: competition featuring solar powered houses

It was interesting to hear about how houses that are valued at $600,000 would be marketed for $250,000. Umm in what world? I'm all for a green planet, solar powered houses would be fine by me. They just have to make the technology more affordable, and cost-efficient first.



I remarked that my pose made me look like Superman

My friend Erika then suggested I pretend to be flying like Superman, yeah if you think I look dumb imagine the people walking by me on the mall


We stopped by George's house to see what is up, my homegirl Erika is a native Texan







After we dropped by the White House, we went to visit my "sister" at Georgetown

La (real name Lauren) and I went to high school together, she was a freshman when I was I a senior. She's one of the two sisters I never had.




After visiting La, we had to head back to Bmore.

Why? Because as is the story of my life, I'm on duty LoL.

Young, Black, and Male ...

So three days a week as soon as I finish my last Tuesday, Thursday class I hop a shuttle and head to my part-time job. For the last two and a half years I've been an after school counselor. Often one of my co-workers and I will remark that you can tell where certain children, get "it" whatever "it" is from. It's one or two of their parents.

So you know that just as with any other job working in childcare you can cross all kinds of people. Some momma's get on your damn nerves, some daddies get on your damn nerves. But you know atleast the kid has some kind of foundation.

I'm taking a Sociology course entitled, "Crime and Crimonology". Today we were talking about the demographics of criminals. We know that young, black men are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. So you know that turned to yours truly for my opinion. I said between private school and my mother, particularly the latter I knew I wouldn't a) be a criminal b)not be doing something productive c)be dead prematurely Lord willing*.

My teacher than remarked on what a difference parenting makes. I know it to be true. While some people screw it (parenting) up, atleast it gives kids a fighting chance.

That's why I don't know how I feel about the "Marry Your Baby Daddy" campaign brought to my attention by a friend.

http://www.marryyourbabydaddy.com/index.html

Hmmm.

Things that make you go hmmm.

Sometimes You Just Want To

Sometimes you just want to slap a _______________.

At this point I'm ready to just let the CD play, and ready for a Soco and Lime, a Mojito, or an Amaretto Sour.

Just got done a floor meeting because these kids don't know how to clean up after themselves. It irks me that I sound like a broken record.

One of those crazy nuances that comes with being a leader is no one wants to be led.

It's come to the point where I don't care. I don't care what people's perception of me is any longer, as long as I know I'm doing my job. There's the saying that "perception sometimes equals reality." At this point I'm like, "Oh well."

For so long I've worried about image management. I wanted to be seen as nice. No one wants to be disliked, but even more no one wants to be disrespected. I've always said don't like me, respect me cause I probably don't like you. HaHa. Just kidding.

One of the most difficult things about being a leader, being in a position where you're well-known, is that people take you for granted.

It's crazy that you encourage people to do them, to do what makes them happy. Then they turn around use and abuse you, and don't allow you to do what you need to do.

So from now on I'm going to be the no nonsense hard ass that some people believe me to be. I don't have time to continually address ignorant, or disrespectful people.

I don't have time for people to prevent me from living life, while I try to help them live theirs.

The Future

So here's the news.

I'm so not feeling school right now.

Today it hit me.

Maybe it's because I'm nervous about the future.

Before I know it this page will be turned and it'll be time to write the next chapter.

So talking to the best friend (one of the two besties Happy Belated to the other bestie Eps) about med school makes me kind of sort of want to continue my education. The reality is as I've said many times before I love learning, but I hate school. I hate the hoops you have to jump through to be educated and elevated.

But it was funny to hear about the craziness of med school.

Him: "I was 'bout to get in it with the scrubs people ... cause you know you need to get scrubs to do anatomy. "
Me: "What? Ya'll already cutting on bodies (cadavers) and stuff?"
Him: "Yeah...we got exams next week."

I was so blown by this. UPenn does not play. How are ya'll a good six weeks and already playing coroner? So the bestie Kenny then continues to tell me that the scrubs people started tripping. The supervisor started interrogating the first years about why they were getting scrubs. He told them to show ID or to leave. To them it was not that serious, but they were still a little mad.

Disgruntled Med Student 1: "That's why you the manager of the hospital laundry mat."

Disgruntled Med Student 2 "Don't get sick, I'll see you in the clinic."

Speaking of medicine. Did anyone see "Private Practice". $250,000 for fertility treatment? Woo. But how about switching the security bracelet of a healthy baby with a sick baby? That's kind of sick. Then imagine you have to switch the babies back. Now if that had happened in real life.

Real life.

Speaking of which, so REAL are thoughts of today and tomorrow for those of us who are on the verge of endeavoring to begin life after graduation. People keep asking if I'm enjoying senior year. The reality is I'm too busy. I'm too numb to feel the joy. Ha. Hopefully I'll get to spend some Q.T. with people who've made college worth it.



There's a few decent people in that pic.