So many books, so little time…

…and what happened to the bookstore? In a metropolis like Chicago, you’d think a girl would be able to get lost in many a bookstore. There are only like 2 B&N in the entire city, not to mention small bookstores. And don’t get me started on the quality of the libraries here; it’s clear to me that Chicago is not an intellectual city. They just pretend to be…damn hipsters.

Rant aside, “The House Girl” was my reintroduction to leisure reading, and I yearn to continue. My problem is that I want t read every book simultaneously. I don’t know how to take my time. The next two books on my chopping block are: “Americanah” and “The Other Typist”. I just need to decide which will come first.

Btw, where can I get the shirt that says, “bookworms never go to bed alone”? I saw it on Scandal, and I’d like one very much…please and thank you.

1 note

#Books

#bibliophilic
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3 days ago

Interesting…

I’m currently pursuing a graduate degree, and am on the PhD track, so that I can achieve my goal of being a college professor.  I find it interesting that I’ve been encouraged by friends and family to go part-time so that I can have full-time employment.  It makes me wonder, would they say the same to someone in medical school or law school? 

#grad school

#sociology

#questions
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7 months ago

I lauged yesterday…

When I asked my male professor if I could redefine the feminist theory and he smiled and said, “You’re askingmypermission?  That’s interesting.”

He’s such a jerk.

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7 months ago

Guess I should start this back up again. It sure will help with maintaining sanity during grad school.

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7 months ago

This morning I found myself apologizing to my curls for straightening them last week. It’s official, I’ve gulped the natural hair kool-aid. Natural products beware.

2 notes

#natural hair

#nappy

#happy

#curly

#beauty

#hair
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9 months ago

This is a difficult post, but here goes nothing

This is my new motivation.  Yes, this woman, this gorgeous plus-sized woman, standing proudly in her bikini. 

Boy, gaining weight sure can shake your confidence.  Especially when you’re used to being teeny tiny.  Sure, at 126 pounds no one would look at me and think, “Wow, she’s fat”, but to be honest, that’s what I see.  I look in the mirror and see a tummy that’s a bit more flabby than it used to be.  Yes, I’ve always had a pooch, even when I was only 94 pounds, but now it’s my entire mid-section that is “big”.  I see a fuller face, I see what was once a cute little butt being replaced by something beginning to rival Kim, Jennifer and Bey, and it makes me feel unattractive. 

Gaining weight sure does shake your confidence, or should I say “my”.  Especially when I’m used to being the same size for years on end.  This year, I’m finding myself replacing clothing I just purchased a year before.  I see the 0s becoming non-existent and the 2s waving goodbye.  This is getting expensive.

It’s easy to say, “This is an easy fix, just go to the gym”, but I’ve realized that simply losing the weight is not the problem.  My confidence has been shattered, and before muscles and outfits can be restored, I need to first restore my confidence.  I need to be able to look at myself in the mirror and either say, “Curves, I welcome you with open arms!” or “curves, you sure are beautiful and I’m glad you visited, but you’ve overstayed your welcome.”  I need to fix my attitude about myself before I fix anything else. 

The woman in the picture above, she is my motivation, and she doesn’t even know it.  Thank you.

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11 months ago

Via

via xojane.com

Tomorrow, I officially complete my year (or half year) of service with City Year.  Through all the issues, trials and stresses, of which there are a lot, I do not regret my decision.  I left a job that paid me 3X what I made with City Year, but I touched more lives, and feel more fulfilled than I ever would have at that higher paying job.  In my life, I’d rather make a difference.  Thank you City Year for that opportunity.

Potential (by cityyear)

#education

#education reform

#City Year
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12 months ago

Via

via youtube.com

Excuse me, and don’t take this the wrong way because I mean it as a compliment, but you look like…what’s her name?  The first Black woman in space? Mae Jemison? Yeah, her!   Mae Jemison… I’ve been told that I favor many celebrities:  Aaliyah, Ashanti (both when my hair was long), Nia Long, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Halle Berry, and even Wanda Sykes, but this was the one that blew my mind. It’s not that I believe she’s unattractive, because she’s very attractive, but this threw me for one reason.  This statement came from one of my students.  The same student who hails from a school district where it’s a common belief that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. freed the slaves.  He really blew my mind!  Not only did he know who she was, but he knew why she was famous.   Mae…excuse me, Dr. Mae Jemison, I will accept this honor.

Excuse me, and don’t take this the wrong way because I mean it as a compliment, but you look like…what’s her name?  The first Black woman in space?

Mae Jemison?

Yeah, her!  

Mae Jemison…

I’ve been told that I favor many celebrities:  Aaliyah, Ashanti (both when my hair was long), Nia Long, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Halle Berry, and even Wanda Sykes, but this was the one that blew my mind.

It’s not that I believe she’s unattractive, because she’s very attractive, but this threw me for one reason.  This statement came from one of my students.  The same student who hails from a school district where it’s a common belief that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. freed the slaves.  He really blew my mind!  Not only did he know who she was, but he knew why she was famous.  

Mae…excuse me, Dr. Mae Jemison, I will accept this honor.

1 note

#beauty

#history

#Black history

#glamour

#education
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1 year ago

Excuse me, and don’t take this the wrong way because I mean it as a compliment, but you look like…what’s her name?  The first Black woman in space? Mae Jemison? Yeah, her!   Mae Jemison… I’ve been told that I favor many celebrities:  Aaliyah, Ashanti (both when my hair was long), Nia Long, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Halle Berry, and even Wanda Sykes, but this was the one that blew my mind. It’s not that I believe she’s unattractive, because she’s very attractive, but this threw me for one reason.  This statement came from one of my students.  The same student who hails from a school district where it’s a common belief that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. freed the slaves.  He really blew my mind!  Not only did he know who she was, but he knew why she was famous.   Mae…excuse me, Dr. Mae Jemison, I will accept this honor.

Excuse me, and don’t take this the wrong way because I mean it as a compliment, but you look like…what’s her name?  The first Black woman in space?

Mae Jemison?

Yeah, her!  

Mae Jemison…

I’ve been told that I favor many celebrities:  Aaliyah, Ashanti (both when my hair was long), Nia Long, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Halle Berry, and even Wanda Sykes, but this was the one that blew my mind.

It’s not that I believe she’s unattractive, because she’s very attractive, but this threw me for one reason.  This statement came from one of my students.  The same student who hails from a school district where it’s a common belief that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. freed the slaves.  He really blew my mind!  Not only did he know who she was, but he knew why she was famous.  

Mae…excuse me, Dr. Mae Jemison, I will accept this honor.

#beauty

#history

#Black history

#glamour

#education
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Date

1 year ago

March has been a very selfless month

From March 1, everything I’ve done has been for the benefit of someone else.    I pride myself on being selfless, but it is important that I remember to be a bit selfish in order to retain my mental health.  I have lost myself in my work for others, and not been able to make time for Monica.  That has to change. 

This tumblr post is my first step.  Meditation is next.  Does anyone have any methods for relieving stress?

#stress

#identity

#self-appreciation
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1 year ago