Waiting for the Other Shoe…

I guess things are possibly starting to look up…I talked to the branch manager at my bank and he very graciously spoke to me at great lengths about employment. He was a very encouraging brother and his kindness will always be appreciated. My cousin also sent me a very encouraging email and I must say that it did lift my spirits. I was able to catch up on some bills (don’t act like you don’t know how it is…lol…), and surprisingly, I was invited to complete a final interview for the NYC Teaching Fellows Program. The day that I got the email regarding my application status, I knew for sure 1000% - yes, ONE THOUSAND PERCENT sure that it was another rejection letter to go into the abysmal pile that is so high I could heat the house for weeks. To my surprise, it was a congratulations letter…OMG!

So the kid is off to NYC come mid January. I’ve never been, and I’m excited, but I must admit that I’m scared as hell. Not of the city itself (I’m always down for traveling), but of the prospect of the change that may be coming. Since I’ve graduated from college, I have gotten myself into quite a comfort zone and it’s a little overwhelming. This is the first time that I am traveling across the country all by myself (I suck, don’t I? hahaha)

With this situation, I find it very parallel to when I was going away to college. I just took off to a school that I never visited, just because I was ready for something new, just because it tickled my fancy. Back then, I didn’t care, I was just “RET TO GO.” I’ve just told a select few and while some of my friends/family that are really encouraging, others aren’t too enthusiastic.

I’m not afraid to fail…I’m just tired of hearing negative people and haters talk that ISH…Or getting that final rejection letter in the mail…That’s when you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop...



Playlist:
Donnie Hathaway – “Giving Up is Hard to Do & I’ll Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know”
The Isley Brothers – “Work to Do & Footsteps in the Dark”
(I’m in an Old School State of Mind right now…lol…)

Get Yours...Just Like I Got Mine!

So...it's known that I don't have a lot of money (which got worse since leaving my job...LOL). But I buy nice things that are representative of my tastes. That being said, I take very good care of my things, and I'm very protective of my stuff because, well hell...it's my stuff and that's all that matters. So imagine my shock when I woke up, looked outside, and my car was GONE! It was parked and locked and some fools stole it the night before. To say I was mad is an UNDERSTATEMENT...I was STEAMING, and looking for blood. I was so upset that I missed a relative's funeral (R.I.P. Uncle Allyn) because I knew that I wouldn't be in the right frame of mind...too many emotions swirling around.

I later received a phone call from my insurance company, who told me that my car was parked outside a fire captain's house in Gary, IN. Yeah...someone took it and drove it about 20 miles away and abandoned it. I was so scared about the damage to the car...I thought that it might be sitting on block (Screaming like Martin Lawrence in "A Thin Line Between Love & Hate"..."Aww damn...she done broke me down to my brake pads!"). I'm so grateful to Captain Lee, who was so kind and gracious to watch my car until I was able to get a ride to come and get it.

My door - damaged, the ignition - damaged, my audio system & music - gone (those who know me know that my music is everything to me), and something under the hood is gone too: so driving my car is out of the question. So now I have to pay for a tow to get my car back home. My estimate is under the deductible, so I have to pay for all the damages out of my pocket...DAMN! Did I also mention that since I'm not working right now, where in the hell is all this cash coming from? I hate borrowing from people. Or how about the fact that I'm interviewing for jobs, and I'm in an industry whose main office are usually at least 25 miles away? How am I supposed to get to my interviews in order to get a job?

I know the country is in a recession, and times are hard...trust me I do know. But hard times aren't exclusive to just you...they're hard for EVERYONE, and that doesn't give you a right to STEAL/VANDALIZE other people's property that they PAID for. Save your money just like I did or get a DAMN job and buy your own stuff.

Oh...and FYI to the car thieves...don't let it happen again. I'll gladly beat you down and go to jail if I find someone messing with my property...you know what? Maybe not. Criminals are suing these days when regular folks fight back.

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My Playlist While Writing This Blog:
1. Hold You Down - The Alchemist ft. Prodigy and Nina Sky
2. Roses - Andre 3000
3. Move Bitch - Ludacris
4. I Got the Hook Up - Master P
5. Slippin - DMX

A Civil Conversation...

Now that the election is over, I have finally exhaled and now it’s back to business…On a day to day basis, I make it a habit of cruising the blogs and checking out people’s opinions about politics and popular culture, etc. One of the central themes that this election has exposed is the infamous topic of race. When I cruise the different sites, I see the most offensive comments about race from both blacks and whites…and we wonder why we can’t get along!

Here’s a sample of what I’ve come across; this is from The Root:

“Blacks are here because of white people. They are where they are because of white people. Stop trying to take credit for this. Obama broke the color barrier...NO white people let him! We gave black people a life, a chance to be here…They still do nothing but blame white people. YOU HAVE AS LIFE AND A FAMILY HISTORY BECAUSE OF WHITE PEOPLE. DON'T FORGET THAT!!! and don't play dumb and ignorant. History is written in fact. You can't change it to suit your fight. Start thanking us for what you have!”

That was one of the tamest comments…from what I assume (I could be wrong) is a white person. Here’s another one; this is from the Chicago Tribune from what I assume is a person of color and equally disturbing as the comment listed above:

“I'm sick of reading racist, JEALOUS, comment's from White People who try to circumvent the truth with their illogical logic. You people are so jealous and hateful and so much like little children. You must share your stolen toys with the REST of the World. So get use to it. All you Hitler Wannabbees.”

Online (believe it or not, on sites like The Chicago Tribune and the Indianapolis Star), people say the most ignorant things and they hide behind them with sterotypes and faulty logic. It seems to me that the most racist people are the ones that smile in your face at work and talk about you behind your back (or post hateful, vile stuff on the internet under a pseudonym). Personally, I'd rather you say what you hav to in front of my face...that way I know how you are from the jump. When I was in college, I participated in a program called Conversations on Race. My class composed of people from many races & backgrounds. Once everyone’s defenses came down, we began to have some very meaningful discussions and we began to have a new appreciation for each other’s race and culture. It amazed me that there are people that STILL have these feelings towards a group of people. Come on people…All black people aren’t lazy & gangbangers…all white people aren’t racists…all Latinos aren’t gardeners, all Middle Eastern people aren’t terrorists, and all Asians don’t own nail shops!

I guess the million dollar question is: Can we EVER move beyond hiding behind the internet and have a civilized discussion about race? Talk to me people…

Shondra :)

The Rules of Engagement...

I read blogs all the time...constantly...I love to chat about just about anything, and I love a good debate/discussion...whatever you'd like to call it. However, I don't want any drama...Here are the rules of engagement:

1. Please be respectful: We can agree to disagree, but please don't try to go under the belt...It annoys me to no end...plus it really doesn't get anything solved.

2. If you want to do all that spamming BS...bypass this site and go to another one...you DON'T want to piss me off...I swear you don't.

3. Don't be afraid to discuss how you really feel about the topics...I want to have good discussions...

4. If you want something covered, let me know and we'll discuss it.

If I think of anything else, this will be updated. Talk to you soon...Shondra :)

Welcome!

Good Morning!

Welcome to my little corner on the Web! This is just a forum to just discuss some interesting topics about the happenings of the world...I'll update later once I get enough time to really sit down and write...I'll chat later! Bear with me...this is my first time blogging...I read so many different blogs and I just decided to try one on my own...I welcome all feedback...negative and positive. Talk to you later!

Shondra :)

P.S. I'm constantly on the lookout for more blogs to read. If you have one...send it to me...