Be a Spark!

"At times, our own light goes out & is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lit the flame within us."~Albert Einstein.

WHO'S YOUR SPARK?
--> taken from my Soror Traci's fb page.
I like it.

FIND YOUR SPARK. BE A SPARK.

Middle School Mania

Middle schoolers are so hilarious.
They want to be grown, act grown, talk grown (whatever that sounds like), and dress grown (i'm still not sure what this means).
But...
THEY CAN'T.

Deep down inside they're still basically those little kids I love so much.
So even though it frustrates me when they don't want to participate,
and then get mad that I called them out.

I really can't stay mad. I just dislike confrontation in general.

So. Middle school kids.

They're just.

Funny.

In case you're wondering, today we took the kids to FPCC, and it can only be described as Middle School Mania.
The day started off with them trying to hide. DIDN'T WORK. Then I had to enter stl mean girls territory and retrieve the "glamour girls" from the bathroom. THEY WERE SHOCKED. That's just a glimpse of how the day started...so imagine the rest!

Yesterday

Yesterday was a good day. Not amazing. Not horrible but a really good day.
I turned a disaster into a positive this morning by coming up with an activity for my kids on the spot and it probably turned out way better than what they would have done anyway. Another one of my students really opened up to me, and now I know a lot more about where she's coming from (probably not so wonderful since she's only mine for 3 more days and now I'm kind of attached). To top things off it was gorgeous outside today and after my GRE class I just hung out on the loop with my friends.
Yeah. It was a good. day.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I like you.
Sometimes I like you a lot.
But usually I can't stand you.
I can't stand that I like you and you don't know it.
I can't stand that everyone else knows I like you, and you can't see it.
I can't standing being your friend.
I can't stand talking to you.
I can't stand when you talk to anyone that's not me.
But I REALLY can't standing being mad at you.
Because I'm usually just mad at you...
because I like you.
And I can't stop.
So I guess sometimes I'm just made at me.

So for now, I like you.
But I make no promises about tomorrow.

Sometimes I wish...
Sometimes...
Yeah...

My Safety Whistle

So, while going through the mounds of items I've acqired in my time living on campus I came across my unopened safety whistle. It is now secure with the rest of my keys on my wristlet. I found the little instruction booklet entertaining so I thought I'd share.

Ratchet vs. Getting Yours

It's no secret I'm usually the "mom" of my friends. I'm am by no means a prude or naive. I'm legit fun and about as open as they come, and I'm not just saying that. However, I do believe in public appearances because regardless of what you do and who you are SOMEONE is going to talk about you.

I wholeheartedly believe that the opinions of insignificant trifes have about your life do not matter and should not be used against you in anyway, nor should you feel bad about what anyone thinks about you. If you like you then keep doing you. Point. Blank. Period. End of story.

However, unfortunately the things people say and do in response to how the view you can and will affect the opportunities you're given each day and the days that follow.

As such, yes, I do believe you should carry yourself in a respectable manner at all times.
Yes, I do only want to be associated with people who carry themselves in a manner that I find becoming.
Yes, I will get upset and call you out on your actions or lack thereof if I consider you a true friend.
Yes.

So here's my PSA for the day "I do not associate with ratchets."
You can get yours.
You can have fun.
Do you boo. I encourage you too.
But once you cross that line...I do not want to be associated with that side of you.
Like real talk.

That's me. If you didn't know this now you do. If you don't respect this then maybe we shouldn't be friends.
I like friends. I don't need them.
Harsh but true.
Yep .

The end.

Glycerin

What is that stuff?

Kidz. Attitudez. And Me.

I love my job.
I love working with kids.
Even the kids that give me 'tude.
Because...
I feel like they need me.

When a kid gives me 'tude I try earnestly not to respond in the typical manner.
I don't get upset until pushed VERY far when it comes to kids.

Instead...
I mirror them.

It's quite hilarious.

You experience someone with a hideous attitude trying to argue with someone acting just like them.

It's comical.

Makes me laugh hysterically.

Generally pisses the kid off.

However,
you best believe 9.5 times out of 10, they never give me the same level of attitude again.

Fun fact about people: If they aren't nice people, they hate seeing their true selves.

Daddy's Day and Am I Closed Off?

After class tonight I went to go spend some much needed bonded time with my sissy. Ya know, it amazes me how many people don't know what play sisters and play moms are. One of my co-workers asked me what I meant when I was talking about my play mom this morning. I think people who don't have play families miss out on something...It Takes A Village, right? I think so.

Anyhoo, while we were cooking she asked me about my dad since I never talk about him. I appreciated the fact that she asked and noticed I don't talk about him. I just know people never know what to say and I never know what to say to them so I just leave it alone. It's weird. What's really weird was this weekend I was at my ship's house with her family and I realized that morning it was the first time I was around a family on Father's Day that celebrated it since 9th grade. It was weird, kinda made me sad, but I swear to the big guy up top he alwayz comes at the right time.

On the drive home it was so weird, I just kept seeing things that reminded me of how my family used to be, I was driving like our old family trips, behind a car from Shelby county TN, listening to a classic rock station and every song that came on during a 30 minute period was on one of my dad's old mixed tapes my mom had made him that he used to play all the time. It really cheered me up.

But I digress. So my sissy asked me about my dad and I told her the whole story. She said every time we hang out she learns something new about me. I consider myself pretty open but I'm really not. I wonder how many people notice that. Is that a bad thing? Am I so closed off that my friends really don't know me? I wonder...


It's whatever. Such is life. Happy Daddy's Day Dad. Miss you.

Weekend Recap - Adventures of Panicz and Ceily head to KC

This weekend I took a much need mini-vacation home with my ship/pair/anchor/bestie Panicz. We left Friday after I got my hair done so I wouldn't look a hot mess when I met her parents. I had on wonderful time meeting her family. We're pretty sure her brother thinks i'm a stalker (it's a long story), her papa is hilarious, dad looks just like her, mom acts just like her, and grandma is adorable (btw: fun fact about her grams - she was a regional midwestern director and crossed at Alcorn State in 1948, ZPhiB So Sweet!). So yeah her family is adorable and they all live near each other. Kinda makes me sad my family isn't like that, but then we wouldn't be the Strongs so it's all good.

Anyhoo on Friday night we spent so fun times at this club called Orlando's and watched the ratchets that KC - Kansas has to offer do their think. Then we headed over to UMKC for a house party at some Alpha's house that ended up being really lame so we just hung out at the dorms with some friends. Then sleepy time.

Saturday night we went out to the Power and Light District downtown. It was a definite #win (yes, I also add hashtags in other places besides twitter...so #sueme). We partied at Mosaic and the outdoor place too. It's basically like a bigger, better (more expensive though) Landing, for all my WU and STL folk. The only downside was evading the middle aged man who said he was from Nigeria but lived in Nebraska who kept following Panicz around. (In case you were wondering he was not cute, tucked in his shirt with a belt, and was wearing running shoes with his slacks and dress shirt #ew #doubleew #puke #epicfail)

And then, we drove home today. It was a wonderful adventure. The end.

Current Mood: stressed and blessed

So... I'm really stressed and excited now if the title of this post didn't give that away. I applied to this Diversity Leadership Program which is a free networing conference which also gives out scholarships. But I need to make sure I'm not busy that weekend. Ugh.

Proud of myself...no thanks to the rain

I just thought I should share. Yesterday not only did I wash and comb my hair for the first time in who knows how long. I also blowdried and really combed it out. If you know me, you know that's a big accomplishment. *chuckle* However, sadly, it has been storming all morning ::sad face:: oh well. Such is life.

FPCC

So we took our kids to visit Forest Park Community College. I was trying to be open minded. I know I'm spoiled at WashU...but I happened across their code of conduct and lost it. I was filled with laughter. Below "do not battle rap" there are more great rules which unfortunatley will not fit in the picture such as "do not braid or style hair on campus" "do not participate in sexual or lewd acts" "do not gamble" and "no fighting". Hilarity. Who was doing these things?! These things happen in campus buildings at colleges? That's a problem.

(2/2) often. Ill resend the one I wrote yesterday.

(1/2) Yay! My mobile posting is working. I set it up yesterday but I guess it takes awhile to work. =) I'm elated. Hopefully this will encourage me to post more

Does this work?

This One's For Shay

I was reminded today by one of my daughter's that I haven't posted in awhile. It's hilarious how He treats you're live by sending you messages through different people. I also had to take my kids for my summer job around Forest Park Community College and our host for the day took about 20 minutes to tell our kids the importance of keeping a journal. Also, while cleaning up my room a little today I happened upon a journal I got as a secret snowman (non denominational secret santa lol) gift last CHRISTmas. What's more, this morning my friend Chelsea and I were talking about our language experiences and she shared she keeps a journal all in French.

I don't believe in coincidences. I believe in karma. I believe in fate. I believe in faith...and I'm pretty sure someone's trying to tell me to get back to my journaling so this is my triumphant return.

Thanks, 6lb 8oz baby Jesus. I got the message.

Chapter Retreat

We had our chapters 10 year reunion today. It was lovely.
My advice on my patch "Sisterz don't let go"
Panics advice "Alwayz appear innocent" lol.

MY LIFELINE KEEPS MY HEART BEATING