Phoenix Rising

Thankful...

- That I know God.

- That he knows ME.

- Life, health, and strength.

- For my child (a lil cheryl pepsii riley for y'all new jacks)

- The love in my life.

- That I say what I mean and mean what I say.

- My actions match my words.

- Beauty and brains can exist peacefully!

- That I raised my child, finished schooling, and launched a career...without sacrificing the child.

- My youngest brother is college-bound in the fall. One more girl to go.

- For ANTM, Charm School, and Flava Flav

- Reaching 30 with a peace that truly surpasses all understanding.

- Jennifer Hudson on Vogue

- Oprah

- Harry Potter in less that 4 months

- A real circle of friends, so that if my car dies on the highway I actually have someone to call that will get there before Triple A.

- Obtaining my piece of the American Dream

- Occassionally blurting my thoughts on my blog...

Beware the Ides of March

I really do get a kick out of the kids. So, I introduced each class with a classic line from Julius Caesar. Although my ninth graders don't read the play, I do like to give them little tidbits to go on with. When I asked if anyone was familiar with the line one darling child said "Yeah, that's when Caesar got shanked MAD times!" Ummm, something like that. Anyway... I should have been aware of my own ides of March...

Bosom Buddies, Odd Couple, Three's Company, etc. so on and so forth. All shows with grown ass people living with other grown ass people. I don't know about you but i come from the school of get your own damn apartment, house whatever. If you aren't in college, grown ass folks living together is trifling. Anyway, this falls under my ides of March because my good girlfriend is ready to make the leap from MD back to MA and she wants to bunk with a sista for a few. Ummm, so not a good idea. I'm territorial about my space. It's better for the friendship for me to be really honest rather than have her come here and we fall out.  So I'll take a pass...

Here I Come VA?...I may be making Arlington, VA my home but it's all very much up in the air. You'll know when I do.

It's All Because of You: So we're in the house because of a stinky snowstorm blowing the house down by the sounds of it. I'm channel surfing and come across Ne-Yo's video for Because of You. The song is OK, Michael Jackson Off the Wall OK, if you get my drift. Apparently Ne-Yo gets it too because he was inspired MJ in the video. All was well until i noticed neither video hoe was Black. And that negro got a lot of nerve with his back to Africa nose and lips. But hey, I guess we can just chalk that up to him being the boy that got no pussy in high school so it's Revenge of the Awkward Looking all the way.

On another note: You must be 5 foot 0 to be a video hoe in Musiq's joints. That brother is petite. I saw him in concert a few times and he wore this coverall circa '87. I told my sister she used to have one just like it when she was 5. She wore it every day.  The shit had forefather of NASCAR decals all on it. Anyway, I do like his single BUDDY and the CD. I was minding my business and the cuddlebunny dropped it off to school for me.

Negro Geography: Why Jesus Why must Black folks play the Negro geography game when they see other Black folks? I was in the middle of a class when a gentleman knocked on the door wanting to speak with me about a student.  After I gave this brother the PROPER time to come back, we spoke aboke the student and I assumed our business was concluded. NOPE.  he then wanted to play the where you go to college, what you pledge, where you from, who you know game. #1 cuz, that is highly inappropriate in our setting #2 i let you know if you are a candidate #3 back the fuck UP. Figured he'd be one of those prissy Northeastern kids. Dude I don't care where you got your master's.

Upgrade U: It's no secret. I love a well turned out man. One that looks like he's acquainted with an iron, dry cleaner and a tailor. But he has to stop one short of being a complete metrosexual. Not a damn thing wrong with sweats and crisp air force ones. Fresh line ups and a nice scent. And take care of yourself. Adult onset acne is nothing a little pro-activ won't knock out. Sorry, I just saw Young Jeezy. damn his face is a mess.

T 13 days and counting til the big 30.....

Christ on a Bicycle...

Ricky Lackey has six children on the way.

Don't call them sextuplets - they're each with different women.

When Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Melba Marsh asked Lackey during sentencing Friday on a charge of attempted theft how many children he had, the 25-year-old said, "None, but I have six on the way."
A stunned Marsh tried to clarify. "Are you marrying a woman with six children?" she asked.

"No, I be concubining," he said. **(jesus, mary AND joseph!!!)

Prosecutors said Lackey is the expectant father of six children with six different women. The women all are expected to deliver in August, September and October.

Lackey's lawyer, Stephen Wenke, stopped his client from saying more.

Marsh said she wasn't sure how to respond, so she let the issue drop since it wasn't relevant to the proceedings.

Lackey, a music producer who told Marsh he was on the cusp of a $2 million deal that would net him $300,000 upfront, was convicted Friday on a reduced charge of attempted theft.

Prosecutors say the Avondale man defrauded U.S. Bank out of $3,975 by depositing empty envelopes into ATM machines, claiming they contained cash, and depositing bad checks before withdrawing cash on the falsely inflated balances.

Lackey has repaid the money, according to court records.

Marsh ordered no other sentence, because restitution had been paid.

As Lackey left the courtroom, a group of teenage girls there for another case appeared to know Lackey.

"Oh, there's Ricky Lackey!" one swooned.

Lackey shrugged the attention off with one word and a wave of his hand.

"Fans," he said.

I Know...

I know.

But I have an excuse. Serious. Post-Vacation. Stress. Disorder. It's some new shit, I'm still trying to copyright it. But for real, when I got back to town last Monday, I was bummed. The snow and ice was still on the ground and I could still feel the sandy warm white sand between my toes. Sigh.

The cruise was AWESOME. The experience was fantastic. Seven whole days of just relaxing. I have no idea how people can do a 3 day or less. Hell, I didn't get my sea legs til the third day! I do have to say this. I will never roll on Carnival again. The ship was great.  It was new, only in service since 2004, not like some of their older piece of shit ships. There were just too many damn kids. And if you know me, you know how I like my kids. Seen and not heard. There are some people that should not be able to reproduce. Letting the kids run wild and shit. Please tell me why all your damn kids are in the hot tub...when they should be at camp carnival, where my kid was!! I hate people and their misbehaved trifling ass kids. Anywho...

We visited Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. I was like 5 shades darker when I returned. All folks could say was GOT damn! And I loved every minute of it. So sad that my tan is fading now. I had some tan lines that would make a porn star proud! The beaches at Roatan and Grand Cayman were so dadmn picturesque. I mean fish nibbling at your toes, clear turquoise water clear. And the ship... i swear i can see how  person could come back knocked up from a vacation like this. There were so many romantic spots and walkways. Being on deck at night, looking at the stars and the water rushing below just inspires closeness. It was great. Really. I'm trying to go back again for April. I can't even lie. This time, it will be on Celebrity or Royal Caribbean. Carnival is for kids.

But I'm back to reality. I came back to finals and deadlines and cold weather and lazy ass students. It's all cool to do some after school shit and call yourself an educator, but ummm, errr, yeah, until you're in the trenches from 7:10 - 1:45 and beyond...trying to have some lunch while standing, grading 120 essays in 5 days, advising a dance team and a literary magazine, and buying your own copy paper because the school is over their paper budget...then come talk to me. 

Oh yeah... and my son is on the Honor Roll. Holla! Matter of fact, the reason I can sit down and blog is cuz he and the cuddlebunny are at a Celtics game celebrating.

As always there is more stuff i want to talk about namely ANTM, I love New York (and I really do) and the search for the 15th pussycat doll. Ummm, it's already a gajillion of you? why another member? But i have a hot date with a bubblebath, The Queen's Fool, and clean 400 tc sheets. (and those damn girlscout cookies!!!)

To My Valentine...

**NOTE: I tried to post this yesterday, but TypePad was menstruating. Cheers.**

Happy Valentine's Day! Not that love should be regulated to one commercial holiday, but I hope there is lots of love in your lives and you have someone cozy to snuggle up to tonight. I'm getting ready for my date, but i wanted to spread some love in the blogosphere. My valentine's day has a theme courtesy of Corinne Bailey Rae. When a man takes your work out of your lap, pulls you up to dance in the middle of the bedroom, while kissing your face AND singing to you...well use your damn imagination.

Just like a star across my sky,
Just like an angel off the page,
You have appeared to my life,
Feel like I'll never be the same,
Just like a song in my heart,
Just like oil on my hands,
Oh.. I do love you,

Still I wonder why it is,
I don't argue like this,
With anyone but you,
We do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind,

You've got this look I can't describe,
You make me feel like I'm alive,
When everything else is a fade,
Without a doubt you're on my side,
Heaven has been away too long,
Can't find the words to write this song,
Oh.,..
Your love,

Still I wonder why it is,
I don't argue like this,
With anyone but you,
We do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind,

I have come to understand,
The way it is,
It's not a secret anymore,
'cause we've been through that before,
From tonight I know that you're the only one,
I've been confused and in the dark,
Now I understand,

I wonder why it is,
I don't argue like this,
With anyone but you,
I wonder why it is,
I wont let my guard down,
For anyone but you
We do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind,

Just like a star across my sky,
Just like an angel off the page,
You have appeared to my life,
Feel like I'll never be the same,
Just like a song in my heart,
Just like oil on my hands

Oh My Wandering Thoughts...

I Love It When We're Cruising Together...11 days and counting til the peace and quiet of the open seas! I am looking forward to not doing anything but eating, sleeping, loving, sunbathing and reading trashy novels.Our ports of call are Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman and  Cozumel.  GABUNNY!! Can you suggest some great beach reading for me? Nothing taxing. I don't want to think about theme, characterization, the elements of fiction and any of the other shit they pay me to teach the kids.

"The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous." -Carrie, SATC... this is one of my favorite quotes from a show or movie. I'm well aware that I am staring 30 in the eye.  At this point of my life I am so THRILLED to be at a point where I am satisfied with my career, my house, myself, my life, and my relationship. It's almost Valentine's Day and for once I am looking forward to the simple holiday and I am in a way better situation than a year ago.

My favorite white boy pulled it off...While I was a smile turned upside down when the beloved Pats lost the AFC game, I was thrilled that Peyton Manning finally made it to the SuperBowl. My favorite white boy, two Black coaches and Black History month? Well hell... color me PURPLE...so I have been in a Prince redux lately. Diddy and Keyshia Cole's "Last Night" has been setting me off. The beat is so reminiscent of Prince, you know the song "Wendy is the water warm enough? Yes, Lisa." Anyway, so I have been annoying the cuddlebunny by calling randomly and singing snatches to him. He's learned enough to just sing along with me. So we had a Superbowl gathering and the cuddlebunny and I brucked out our Manning jerseys. I sang and danced to Prince. He encouraged me. A match made in heaven, i tell ya.

And February...can i just say that 21 days to go and we can stop faking the funk with Black History Month?! I am so sick of advertisers thinking they can reach the coloreds by having some slam poets in a commercial. I HATE SLAM POETRY and SLAM POETS...NEWSFLASH...YOU ARE NOT THAT DEEP! All that snapping and incense-burning, and half said phrases, shit just because you are being obtuse doesn't mean you are smarter than the average bear. JEESH.

I am 100 percent certain that I am forgetting something that I wanted to talk about, but I'll have to talk about it after the cruise. Ta-ta.

In the Meanwhile...

The day started off in an interesting fashion. The Boston Teacher's Union is in stalled negotiations with the school committee, so we did an informational picket outside of school before sign in time. It was heartening to see the members out in force with blue signs, just asking for some basic rights. How about you NOT increase class size to 33 kids? And umm, let's not increase employee contribution to healthcare by 20 damn percent. Jeesh. It's amazing how some think it is OK to treat teachers. It is HARD work people and the work is not constrained to the school building. It is not constrained to simply teaching these kids their AB3's. One of my students gave birth in November and came to school the first time in January. She has no support, so I pick her and her son up in the mornings so she can come to school and hopefully pass the ninth grade. And there are teachers that do amazing things like this daily, but the respect for the profession is lacking.

I've been really tired lately, so I am counting down the days until vacation. I simply cannot wait to be unplugged and have nothing to do but eat, sleep, drink, read and sunbathe myself black...er. Packing is always a conundrum for me. I like to be prepared for all situations, not to mention the shopping I will do at the ports of call. I like to be turned out. The girls at school have adopted a "fierce like Ms. Phoenix day". That day they wear the fashion jewelry, slacks and heels. It's cute, but I tell them it is an everyday thing. No slacking allowed. Looking less than your best or rough-dried may be an affectation for some folks, but it is not acceptable. Especially for grown folks.

Off topic - Why do i want to see that Eddie Murphy movie Norbit? I laughed out loud at the commercial.

On the Beauty Beat: On these cold, dark winter mornings, it takes a little oomph to get me on and poppin' in the mornings. What helps me? PEPPERMINT!!! I am addicted to Bliss' Shock Therapy super concentrated minty body wash. Jeepers Creepers! This is such an intense feeling in the morning, you have no choice but to wake up and shout a little. Take care when washing the privates, though! A quick wash and rinse works for the delicate areas. I enticed the cuddlebunny to take a shower and use it and I got cussed out a lil because he told me I should have warned him to rinse his balls. His discomfiture was too funny to take serious though. He's addicted to it now.

If the Shock Therapy is too much for your pockets, there is an alternative...When my pockets are a bit overextended, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in Peppermint is an invigorating experience as well. The large size is about $7 (shock therapy is $23).

I have to admit the Bliss products are all that. Their Plum Plum Soap in a Jar and Body Butter...wow, all I can say is when I showered with the soap and then used the body butter, I climbed into bed and was eaten alive. LOL! The cuddlebunny just kept sniffing and touching and rubbing. It is NOT a scent to wear if you want to get some sleep! The body butter is so thick and rich, your skin literally is soft as silk. You'll drift off to sleep and have deliciously scented, plummy dreams!

Well all this talk about bath and body is making me long for a tub of hot water...so one last beauty tip for the soul... when you are feeling blue and not up to snuff... Ginger Root Tea. Purchase whole ginger root, cut up and boil in a pot for about an hour and a half on a slow, rolling boiling. Add lemon and honey and blast off.

Cheers!

Wrap Up

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving dinner party was an absoulte blast. So many friends and family...so much yummy food and so many laughable moments. It was a definite highlight of the holiday season. I went all out with the food. Turkey and ham, greens, stuffing, candied yams, quiche, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, ribs. We played taboo and scrabble.  But the fun all came in the shit talking.

Merry Christmas!

Minor annoyances around the holiday season. I have to admit that I was super hyped about having the vacation time. I was minding my business, in MY place of employment when a blast from the past came through on two consecutive days. instead of being mature and about business, as i would be if i happened to cross him professionally, some childish shit went down. but the question of the day remains... how are YOU not talking to ME, when I am not talking to YOU?! LOL.

our staff holiday party was wack. the best part comedy wise was when two of the staff decided to grab the mic and sing "silent night". the looked and sounded like the reephus and ceephus skit from in living color. i laughed til i cried...literally.

christmas was FABULOUS. my son is a spoiled little boy. but i delight in seeing him happy and well provided for. the cuddlebunny got a psp fopr the long nights at work and i got a camcorder. i love men that are NOT CHEAP!

my son turned 9 over the break and had a party at Good Times. Things were going well til a bunch of my students walked up in the joint. they were calling my name and i had to tell them..."i don't see you and you don't see me. i'll talk to you on WEDNESDAY!" i was happy to see a bunch of friends that i hadn't seen in a while and my son had a GREAT time. that is what it is about...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My girlfriend had a fabulous, kid friendly new year's gathering. it was lovely to bring in 2007 in such a positive way, surrounded by family and friends.

HAPPY MLK DAY!

We had a quasi celebration at school today. I really got upset at some of the students because they are so nonchalant about their history, social justice and activism. Seeing as I only have about 4 white students out of 120, I had to let them know that whatever your race, color or creed, you are directly profiting from the struggles of the Civil Rights moment. So show some damn respect. Sit up, shut up, wake up, and respect AND learn the history.

Anywho...February vacation approacheth, so there will probably be no updates until i return from my cruise.

Better Late Than Never!

1) Was 2006 a good year for you?
Everything was a go after June!

2) What was/were your favorite moment(s) of the year?
Disneyworld!

Passing the English MTEL

Graduating Summa Cum Laude!!

My first day as a teacher.

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Indecision about career choices

4) Where were you when 2006 began?
I think I was at home?

5) Who were you with?
Err, umm, my son? hell i can barely remember last week!

6) Where will you be when 2006 ends?
Feasting with lovers, family and friends.

7) Who will you be with when 2006 ends?
Lovers, family and friends

8) Did you keep your New Years resolution of 2006?
again, another thing I can't remember.

9) Do you have a New Years resolution for 2007?
not going there this year

10) Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fell back in love.

11) If yes, with who?
cuddlebunny

12) If yes, do they know?
of course, cuz he loves me back.

13) Are you still in love with them?
sho nuff... like mary j. says "we ride, we ride!"

14) You regret it?
nope.

15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2006?                                                                                                                            yes

16) Did you make any new friends in 2006?
Yes

17) Who are your favorite new friends?
smart women i work with

18) What was your favorite month of 2006?
march

19) Did you travel outside of the US in 2006?
yes

20) How many different states have you traveled to in 2006?
ohio, new york, new hampshire, florida

21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2006?
no, thank GOD

22) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
yes, but i remedied that

23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2006?
happy feet!

24) What was your favorite song from 2006?
take me as i am - mjb



25) What was your favorite album from 2006?
the breakthrough - mjb

26) How many concerts did you see in 2006?
none

27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2006?
nope

28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2006?
of course

29) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2006?
only the legal ones

30) How many people did you sleep with in 2006?

2

31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
probably

32) What was the biggest lie you told in 2006?
do omissions and white lies count?

33) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2006?
Yes, i like being with you.

34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2006?
No

35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2006?
yup

36) How much money did you spend in 2006?
too damn much

37) What was your proudest moment of 2006?
graduating summa cum laude

38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2006?
none

39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2006 what would it be?
back on vacation; i'd let him in the first time he knocked.

40) What are your plans for 2007?
begin a master's program, upgrade my home, plan my wedding :)

Yeah, I Said It!

I was cruising the web and I found this.  What is most interesting to me is not the article, but the comments.

When will we learn as a people that we can't keep it in the closet? There is a crisis today among black families. There are a ridiculous amount of women raising their children alone. I will go as far to say that there is a ridiculous amount of women of every race, color and creed raising children alone. But I identify as Black first, and a woman second. And I always start in my own backyard when I start cleaning shit. Anyway, I am among those Black women raising a son alone, but i don't have a quarrel with what the blogger wrote. Why? Because it doesn't apply to me. I bust my ass to make sure that my son is well taken care of, respectful, ahead of his class with his schoolwork and generally an asset and not a liability. I'm laying the groundwork now, so that when he gets to middle and high school what i teach him will be so ingrained, that what the other kids are doing won't matter because he knows right from wrong.  Learned at the knee of his mom. I love my son. He's the joy of my life.  I make moves thinking about how they will affect him, first and foremost. If only other parents would do the same!

If I weren't doing that, then I would be a hypocrite in the biggest sense of the world. It would be utter hubris for me to teach the kids of others when I wasn't managing my own business. And unfortunately, I see it often. Men and women, working in the community or with kids, making time for the 'hood kids, when their own children, well, suck. 

I know I can get on the soapbox about this issue, but hell these kids are the future and if you aren't raising your child, then who is? Or will he or she be free to rob me in a couple of years? I'm sorry, the right to "do me" was revoked the moment the two pink lines appeared. My child is not an afterthought, not to be shafted off on others, not to be further down on the list of importance, or any of the other trifling things I know people do.