A Day in the Life of a Master(s) of Education

This has been one of the most challenging times I have faced. Everything just feels heavy and weighing and moments away from destruction. Spring is normally a time I thrive while being tremendously busy with new life, hope, renewal. This year though there's been a noted shift. Maybe it has to do with the move. Maybe it's because the US is one bad mood away from irreparable destruction. Maybe it's the pollen count.  Whatever it is, I pray for relief soon.  Until next post....laters 

This has been one of the most stressful months I've had in some years. Work is fine, it's the family life that's insane. The parents are downsizing and they are not making it the easiest thing. The only good thing that's come from it has been reflecting on my childhood. I had a pretty decent one. I'm what some refer to as a "third culture kid". A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is an individual raised outside their parents' culture for a significant part of their development, blending their birth culture with new ones. TCKs often develop high adaptability, multilingualism, and a global, "relational" identity, though they may face challenges with rootlessness and defining their sense of "home". I never really had issues defining home though, I had my family. Though sometimes my parents would tease me about my accent during visits back or the like I always had my grandma and cousins to root me.  I think because of my TCK lifestyle, I've b...

So the calendar that most Americans (like me) go by says it's a new year. Generally that also means folx make resolutions that they don't keep or changes that are superficial to themselves just to say "I did it". Welp, this post isn't that but I'd be lying if I didn't say it's in the same family 😉. This month I am reducing my alcohol intake. I don't really want to call it a "dry January" per se but more a decision to not consume alcohol. Several years ago after a very traumatic event,  I stopped drinking. I didn't tell anyone except VERY close friends why I wasn't drinking and I sometimes think about how I approached that. Instead of dealing with the event and how it affected me, I latched on to a superficial cause. In my mind, what happened to me, happened because of alcohol. Which wasn't the case. Was alcohol involved? Yes. Was it the sole reason this thing happened to me? ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT. So with that in mind, not d...

I told myself I wasn't going to make one of those "goals for next year" post but here I am making a goals for next year post 🤣. In my own defense, no one reads this blog and yet again it's for MY own reflections, experiences and memories.  So past Moe can shut it because present & future Moe WILL appreciate it. Without further ado: Take a boxing/kickboxing/self defense class Learn gun safety & how to use it Attend Dapper Day (any Disney Park) Go back to Disneyland California  Travel to the UK Travel internationally (yes, Canada, Mexico AND Jamaica count) & intentionally  Get back to therapy regularly (you've been slipping into some VERY unhealthy habits 🙃) Get ahold of your retirement finances & work with a financial advisor  Rollerskate & Cycle more...even if it's just a little bit more Randomly message/write/call friends (all relationships take WORK...so do it) Say yes every chance you get Say no to protect your peace 2023 is just over ...

Welp another trip around the sun done! This year was a bit lower key but I did do a beer bus with a few friends. It featured 8 local breweries(& a cidery). It was a hop on hop off situation so friends could come and go as they pleased. I've officially moved into the next age range tier for surveys so finding a way to make peace with that. This past year wasn't my best but it also wasn't the worst so that will do. My Spotify Wrapped came out the day after my birthday so I feel it's worth sharing the soundtrack to my year. Until next post....laters 

It's August and I haven't been on my bike much. I haven't been to the gym since my vacation. My parents popped up for a short time. I barely get to sleep at a decent time. I haven't roller skated in months.  All of this to say....I want to more. But how? Until next post..laters

I was thinking about this the other day. It's been almost a year since we've been dealing with the global pandemic that is Covid-19 aka Coronavirus bka "The Rona". 12 months!! 12 months of no hugging,  wearing masks, washing your hands for at least 20s multiple times a day, closed businesses, an ever rising death toll etc.  This past weekend I got the opportunity to do something normalish. I went to a wedding. I thought about this wedding a lot. It was originally in November 2020, but was rescheduled. In 2020, I was to attend 5 weddings and participate in 1. All were postponed, some for a few months, others for a year and even one indefinitely until the pandemic is fully over and covid is under a semblance of control.  This one was the first. An exercise in what could be done to make those in attendance feel "safe", while still allowing those who couldn't make in person to be able to participate. The entire wedding (ceremony, cocktail hour & receptio...

Sometimes I just feel overwhelmed about the vast amount of uncaring people in the world. It can feel like folx just don't have empathy for each other. We spend so much time condemning one another for things we disagree on.  Sometimes I can let these thing not phase me, other times it keeps me up at night.  As I spiral in sleeplessness, I become less and less hopeful about where we will go as a city, country and civilization.  I've tried to be more reflective about my part in all this but it also feels like I'm spiraling. 

On Wednesday January 6th after working 10 hours on the Georgia Senate Run offs...I watched in horror and anger as folx from a pro-45 rally marched to the U.S. Capitol to "protest" the election. I made the following post: The police and military responded to peaceful protests with gas grenades, rubber bullets, and helicopters flying low enough to blow out the windows in buildings. I was gassed in Atlanta, multiple times. When people say they don't understand  "white privilege", what's happening today in my hometown of Washington, DC is a GLARING example.  Today, we have a violent protest where they are literally storming the Capitol building and shoving police out of their way, and the cops are are just forming a line to push them back, then retreating when they push through that line.  You're waving the "thin blue line" flag while assaulting the police. I never thought I'd be watching an actual coup attempt in real time in America. This is ...

This year has been HARD. For everyone.  I said that in light of me being separated from my job at WDW and the like I'd make a post reflecting on all the great times and fun adventures I had. But I can't right now. I'm still really sad. The memories still hurt. For the first time in years I will not be spending the holidays at WDW. Even when I was in the UK and living abroad I still made it back to my happy place and rang in Christmas or the New Year with my favorites. But not this year...and not by choice. I knew I wasn't going to do it forever. It was honestly getting harder and harder but I worked my butt off to make my swan song a beautiful one. And it was all taken away from me. I know others have had a harder year and I don't want to trivialize that in any way but talking with my therapist also helps me remember, it's ok to grieve. I am grieving. So I can't reflect yet. I can't handle the memories yet. Maybe one day soon I will.  Just not yet. Until...

This year has been at the least an  opportunity to learn more about myself,  the world and how those things correlate. This year I have been more civically aware and engaged than I have ever been. I will say my upbringing had a lot to do with my previously hands off approach. However, it dawned on me that if I have embraced other aspects of life that I once shunned, why not have my voice heard?  This year, I protested racial discrimination and bias and it's constant displays in politics and policing.  This year, I wrote hundreds of letters to registered voters encouraging them to show up to the polls. This year, I emailed and called my representatives and senators. I let them know what issues are important to me. This year, I worked at polling precincts.  This year, I made it a priority to turn voting into a fun date activity. I'm tired. I'm emotionally drained. But also I am encouraged. Encouraged by others doing the same. Encouraged by friends with opposite vo...

These last 6 months have been.....well you know. However, in the last month or so I have actively been trying to do more and be better. Though I fully disagreed with reopening when we did (late May/Early June), I've waited until now to start doing things with people again. Covid-19 is still a thing and recently GA has taken over the distinction of having the most new cases. Literally haven't been going down, couple that with the Governor suing the Mayor, schools restarting (with most having some form of in person education) and of course the "Great Mask Debate" I'm not at all surprised.  All that to say, I am an extroverted person and I haven't been the same since not seeing people and doing things regularly. There have been days where I just...couldn't. So I've taken my mental and physical health by the reins. I found a gym where I loved the safety measures they put in place and challenged myself to work out at least 2x. I also attend a class in the m...

Often times I struggle with my immigrant identity. I'm proud of my heritage but growing up there were plenty of instances both externally and internally (family members) in which my Jamaicaness was questioned or attacked. That struggle has carried on even today and gets riled up just about every February. In the US, February is Black History Month where we as a nation are supposed to celebrate and laud the accomplishments & contributions of Black folx. Growing up here though, it was always the same sort of narrative...Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass,  Martin Luther King Jr., and so forth. As a Jamaican American I always felt detached from those heroes...they are tied to my history but really still felt foreign. When a Jamaican was mentioned in class or otherwise, it tended to be Marcus Garvey who though being Jamaican represented such perceived "radical" ideals that he was regulated to the footnote category of Black History. As in he existed,  he had some ideas, th...

ah yes, the time had come to once again by reflective. I said I wasn't going to do this, that I would rather not cave into the trend but as I looked at others I realized...this is more than a new year...it's a NEW Decade!!! I should take time to reflect not only on the past year but also on the past 10. So let's try to do that together shall we? 2009: Graduated from VT and started my Disney Career after some time spent abroad, am I ready for this?  2010: Made some personal revelations about life & love and what those meant to me, moved to Atlanta, started my career,  lived completely alone for the first time, really felt like an adult making decisions for myself  2011: Really started exploring my new home, got my first road dog Lord Jaymeson bka LJ, had some friends get married, started working on friendships more 2012: Started traveling domestically more, met J, first (of many) music festival, really started to grow in my career 2013: Promoted!! More live...

I am trying to be more accountable (for real this time...I promise) and thus am making measurable, attainable goals for 2020 & beyond! Here we go: Walk to work 3x a week (no matter the weather!!!) Cut out seafood/shellfish & become completely vegetarian Practice my ASL once a week via YouTube/Classes/In Person Take a day off 1x week to not work ANY job...not even a short shift or to "help out" Attend a concert/play/live show 1x month Drink 32oz water EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!  Save $50 a month (immediately transferred to UK) Cut back on drinking Go to the movies 1x week Also work on cosplay goals: Steven/Connie, Rogue/Gambit  This is a good start I think. I will add to this as more thoughts come along.  I'm getting older and it's getting harder to have balance and fun in life...but alas we all have to start somewhere

Someone said at work yesterday, "my life is like the dumpster fire homeless folks in movies stand around, useful but still tragic" and I felt that to my core. As of late I have been feeling good about some choices and worst about others. In the end I still feel like I am needed in this world, if only for the comfort of others. What a way to look forward to the next chapter, 2020.  Until next post....laters

It's almost that time of year again...my birthday. As a kid that didn't grow up celebrating my birthday, as an adult I went all out for several years celebrating.  Now that I an older and poorer I have seen the error in my ways.  This year my birthday will be celebrated with a short trip to see family and not much else.  I'm working on being ok with that.  I am having a hard time with it though because I wish that friends would take up the mantle I am leaving behind and go all out for my birthday. Alas I guess I should just be happy when folks remember.   Until next post, laters

It's official. I'm a cohabitant. And it's feels weird. I've lived away from home since I was 16 in a variety of common situations. I've lived with roommates in the same room and roommates just sharing the same house. I've lived with men & women. I've lived with babies. I've live with pets. I've lived alone. I've done it all it seems. Now I'm doing this. It has only been a few days but the topic has already come up in conversation a couple of times with the doctor. I'm afraid. No I'm worried. I know I am ready and able to take this leap and grow in my relationship this way but is he? This move is based partially on circumstance and because of that as well as our past I feel justified in my worry. I don't feel as though my worry is enough of a red flag but it does color my view of this "next step". Coupled with that worry is excitement. I'm excited to grow together, to really give this thing we have going...

Today I did something I do frequently...I look at the FB memories for the day. Much like this blog, FB has been a part of my life's journey for some time and I enjoy looking back and seeing what was important enough for me to share 2, 4, or even 10 years ago. Also, it helps me remember birthdays 👌👌. When I looked at today's memories I knew that there would be several posts in relation to that day. For 12 years, today has been burned into my being. I literally have a physical reminder (a tattoo) of that day. I was not prepared for seeing the post that I made on that day.  It reads "fine as of right now, cell phones aren't working right call room 540 232 2097". I used FB to alert friends that I was fine. That resonates with me so much, because at that moment I was anything but fine. I was in the living room of my dorm with a few of my friends listening to sirens, watching TV. I had just run across the Drillfield with a few of my chemistry labmates after hearin...

You know over the past past few years I have looked to the New Year as my time of renewal and fresh starts. Well what a limiting approach! I have been thinking about this more and more...with Spring comes yet another chance to refresh and renew. I've had a tough late winter emotionally. The peaking flowers, warmer temperatures, longer days and yes even the immensely dense pollen all hark that fresh starts are just around the corner. Just a few steps away, within my grasp. This is more refreshed approach. This is the thought I will carry forward. Winter with its cold, bleak challenges have gone away. Spring is for new beginnings....until next post, laters