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

This past weekend was pretty exciting for me I must say. I have lived in this city for over 2 years (wow! Where did the time go?) and had not done a few things on my ATL bucket list. So I took it upon myself to check off a few. I attended Rainbow Days @ Six Flags Over Georgia!! (check) It was pretty empty for some odd reason so I was able to ride every coaster (check) and I got to see another celeb(check). This time it was Evander Holifield, former heavy weight boxer best known for being the guy who got his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson (cocaine is one hell of a drug). He looked pretty good and very nonchalant. In fact the only reason I recognized him readily was because there was a recent post about him on my fave ATL blog/gossip/info page Straight from the A . I also got to check out some Looney Tunes characters which was pretty cool seeing as I kinda have an intimate connection with that kind of thing...wink wink. I've added some photos for your viewing pleasure and that's al...

Waddup Blogger World! So as many of you know, my parents have come to Atlanta for a visit to which I have been affectionately refering to as "Hurricane Hemmings". I love my parents dearly but they are stressful and tiring. The other night at dinner I had a revelation as to why that is. One parent can't hear and the other parent just doesn't listen. It was an eye opening experience and ever since then I have been much more relaxed on this visit. So what's on the agenda you ask...I'm glad you did! If I keep them busy they are less likely to annoy the ever loving life out of me. We will be going to The World Of Coca-Cola , Centennial Olympic Park , Mary Mac's Tea Room , The Atlanta Botanical Garden , Stone Mountain Park, Atlantic Station and a few other stops here and there. I'm cramming a lot into a 4 day visit but again I cannot stress enough how this is my version of "batting down the hatches" for this hurricane. Hopefully I will survive, bu...

What takes over my life for two weeks every four years? The Summer Olympics of course! I love the Olympics b/c of the spirit behind it. To me (and I think the rest of the world too) the olympics are about being on an even playing field and universal commadarie. For two weeks every four years we set aside our wars and our differences and just try make our countrymen proud. In addition most of the athletes are amped to meet and compete against their idols or people who are generally important to their respective sport. This year was especially awesome for me because this is the first Olympics in history (thirty games thus far) where every country has sent a woman delegate. Keep making strides world!!!! So being Jamaican I generally always watch the track and field events if nothing elses,this year I decided I was going to watch as much of the televised events as I possibly could. Its been pretty cool because I think I have seen just about every event from Judo to Shooting to Archery to ...

So I just came from a trip home to DC which turned out to be a working vacation. I spent 3 of my 5 days there attending the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium which is all about getting kids interested and active with the outdoor environment. Works out pretty well when you are the Horticulturist of a Children's Garden (i.e. me). It was fun, informative and interesting but not my reason for blogging today. I was talking to a friend who lives in DC about what's been going on in my life and they were saying that they use my blog (since I don't do any other form of social media) as a way to keep update on my goings on. During the course of the conversation she asked "What ever happened to the photo of the beer drinking dog?", to which I responded "oops". Turns out I never did post that photo from my Cali trip about 2 summers ago. All together now...say it with me...FAIL!! I have no real reason as to why it has taken me so long other than the fa...

So as you know blogger world, I have been traveling to Orlando a lot recently. Usually when I head down there it's mostly Disney business mixed with Orlando pleasure. My former roommate Amanda had the same realization about Orlando I had about Atlanta....if you are going to make this new city your home, explore it and give it a fair chance. So she made an "Orlando Bucket List" and you guys know how I love bucket list. I've got about 4 going right now! Anyhow she shared one thing on her list with me this past weekend and in doing so made me realize I never really gave Otown a fighting chance. As far as I was concerned if it wasn't Disney or DC it wasn't worth it. I say all of this to say....Orlando is not that bad. It's still a tourist trap and it's still a city lacking a definitive identity outside of the theme parks but it's trying to be more. Since Orlando is trying so will I....even though I no longer live there. For Amanda and myself I ...

So yesterday at ABG we had a film shoot that I actually cared about. In the last couple of months we've had a reality show, independent movies and a couple of dramas all film at the garden. I've never really been all that interested...until yesterday. I religously watch Drop Dead Diva on Sunday nights except when I'm on the road, then I watch it Monday night On Demand. So you've probably guessed by now, that's who was filming yesterday in the Garden. Since I'm pretty much the only person at the Garden that watches no one else really cared but they all made allowances so I could be near the crew whilst still being professional. I mean they do not pay me to gawk they pay me to keep the plants alive...which I did....as I watched the crew and the actors. My team helped me out too by pretty much delgating anything that the crew need outside to me. If they needed a water key, I was on it. If they needed a tree trimmed, I pulled out my pruners. If they needed some plan...

This new song by rapper Wiz Khalifa "Work Hard, Play Hard" has a verse that pretty much summarizes my life and related goals. I have liked Wiz for a while but sometimes have a hard time listening to his non-radio cuts. I like his mixtapes but being a girl I got to be in the right mindset otherwise it's a little manly and not enough "poppy". This song is on his latest studio album and I would swaer on the Bible that he wrote it for me. I love the whole song and the hook is nice, but when I heard the last verse I was sold. So what are these lyrics you wonder? Here you go freshly stolen from the internet: Go hard, make sure you do it everyday It's what you gotta do That's your job And n-gga's gone hate, but that's no prob So hey, f-ck 'em, don't need nothing from 'em So n-ggas talking, but the sh-t they claiming Don't mean nothing Now on to the chorus and hook: The bigger the bill The harder you ball Well I'm t...

So a girlfriend of mine who abandoned me and moved to Rhode Island (do black people live there?) came down this weekend for a visit. She had the genius idea to head to a place called "Sips & Strokes". The concept isn't new but I loved it nonetheless. I have never thought that I was the most artistic person but you would have fooled me once you glazed upon the final product. I even think that the painting got better every time I had another glass of wine. I would definately do again...can I get a whoop whoop for pint size picasso!!

Last night I was faced with an issue that I didn't quite know how to handle. You can zip your lips now blogger world...the shock of me not being able handle something will pass. Anyways back to the dilema I faced. On Tuesdays I usually play group trivia with my friends. We don't really have a set team, people float in and float out. Last night a guy floated in.....he was pretty knowledgeable and funny so we had a great time there. I went to the bathroom and when I came back the check had been paid. Hmmmmm I let it go and thus we moved on to the next spot, a local "strip" (I use that term as loosely as the strippers breast hang and morals are) club called The Claremont Lounge. Before we got there I had to get some gas, and while I was digging around for my debit card he paid for my gas. Ok really? Finally we get to the Claremont and while there drinks were flowing and so was the money. The dilema you ask? When do you close a gift horses' mouth? I just met the guy a...

So yesterday Atlanta hosted the Red Bull Soapbox Race for the second time (previously held here in 2009). Oh and what a race it was! Before yesterday my only soapbox "experience" was watching the most recent "The Little Rascals" remake about 15 years ago. Nonetheless that little (pun intended) taste was enough to get me intrigued about yesterdays extravaganza. So at about 10 am yesterday I gathered my Jimmy and some refreshments and headed to Piedmont Park for some suntanning and some man powered fun. Highlights of the day: 1) Picking the winner 2) Eye Candy 3) Seeing my Wesley at Metrofresh 4) Watching a very drunk guy do backflips 5) Cute EMT at the First Aid Tent 6) Meeting some of the racers and the Red Bull Girls 7) Clouds and wind throughout the sunny day 8) My tan that lasted about 5mins after about 6 hours in the sun 9) Chocolate Sea Salt Popsicle courtesy of King of Pops 10) Free event 11) Sexual innuendo at a family event Lowlight...

Many people know about Brazil's Carnivale, a few celebrate Mardi Gras in Nawlins but when it comes to partying till the sun comes up and dancing in the streets? It's a caribbean thing!! Every year in the beginning of summer Jamaica, Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago, Virgin Islands and plenty more celebrate Carnival. Not only that but we bring it to the countries where we live and thus DC, New York, Toronto and Atlanta all have their own Carnivals. There are parades and mountains of food, dancing plus music for days. Even though Soca music rules the roost, there is plenty of dancehall, reggae, reggaeton and more to go around. If you don't like fun and good vibes.....don't come to carnival!!! My favorite part is usually the food...there is always plenty and I get to eat food that is common to most islands like plantains and food that is a little more "Jamaican" like ackee (a fruit that looks like scrammbled eggs when cooked but has a little bit of a blander flavo...

What do you do at night when you are all alone and a bit bored to keep yourself entertained? (Cue lewd and dirty thoughts now). Welp for those of us who occasionally leave their permanent home in the gutter and venture to the "clean" world...its MOVIE NIGHT!!!!!!! And not those kinds....at least not right now (wink). Since it's been one of those weeks where every day you wake up just a bit more exhausted than the last I decided to capitalize on a roomie free weekend. After dressing up just enough to look decent, putting on body spray and sneaking my flask down my skinny jeans I headed to the local movie theater to have my wedding style movie night all by my lonesome. For those of you who don't get the meaning of "wedding style", its just that I see something old (as in leaving the theater tomorrow) and I see something new (Opening night bbbbbbaaaaaabbbbbyyyyyy). Its a good time for me to treat myself the way I like to be treated. Drinks flowing, excellent wi...

Since I bailed on Otown two weeks ago, I decided to grab Lord Jaymeson and hit the road. On our last roadie LJ spent most of the car ride on his bed...however this time he found my lap much more comfortable. I was alright with it for most of the trip except when he decided to stretch in my lap while I am driving down the highway at 85 mph. Gotta love that doggie. All that matters is that we made it here safely. Gonna enjoy the trip while I can. Until next post laters

So the other day I was so tired from work that I decided to veg out. I sat on the couch and watch essentially 3 hrs worth of Toddlers and Tiaras. Stay with me.....there is a point here. In one episode a judge said that if a little girl is a little bigger she most likely won't win. They are looking for a skinny girl. As soon as I heard this a part of my soul died. Don't we have enough body image issues as girls and women? How are the girls, teens and women who are TLCs main target audience feeling? I am not a skinty biyatch rather I'm at a healthy weight however I felt depressed. Remember the days when you were a little girl,where you wore a two piece swimsuit at the pool and were just excited that you could do a perfect cannon ball? Remember when you loved every dress you wore just because it was in your favorite color and you didn't care how anybody thought you looked? Why has that changed? Screw it! For me it will not change! As long as I feel good in what I am wearin...

Is it possible to have blog envy? I believe so because right now I am greener than Kermit and a Platinum LEED Certification (Hahahaha I made an environmental joke). I know that it is totally irrational but truth moment: I am slightly enraged. I have been blogging for years (about 5 to be exact) before blogging was cool and I have yet to capture the charm, witty commentary or general audience that some of my peers have. Granted this can be attributed to many factors namely my abandon of traditional social media i.e. Facebook, faliure to grasp the technical finess of editing, the journalistic style of my writing, and lack of proper grammatical use (hey I have never pretended I was good at sentence formation...let's just be thankful I am not teaching our youths and move on) being key factors. So what brings this up you wonder? I just recently started following one of my girlfriends blogs ( Atlmegan.blogspot.com , btw this is the only way I know how to "link" to another blog....

Happy birthday Rueben...whoms party I just crashed for 2hrs. I loved dancing with your mom (she's a total hottie) and proving that sometimes you have to make your own fun!! I gathered that you are hispanic due to the Mariachi Band and thus loved the fact that the magaritas where flowing. Thanks for being awesome, having a party a block away from my apartment and being so drunk you didn't realize I crashed it. I hope you has an awesome birthday (which from the looks of it....you did) and may many more years of happiness come to you!!! Until next post....laters

How do you follow one great weekend? With another of course!!! This time I decided to stay home for great festivities. Not only did I have the opportunity to participate in ABG's annual garden tour, I also managed to score a free ticket to the Hogs and Hops Beerfest. What goes better with good beer than good BBQ. Had an excellent time drinking, dancing and eating BBQ with all southern styles represented. It didn't hurt that the event was held just down the street from my apartment and I walked to and fro. Truly encourages my alcoholism but whatevs....See I knew this whole "giving ATL a chance" would work out for the best. Here's to good food, good friends, good times and good beer!!

You ever get the feeling that you are being warned inadvertenly? I think my nightmares are trying to do just that. Ever since I've been back from Memphis I haven't been sleeping well. I either sleep right through the night and wake up tired or when I do sleep I wake with a different version of the same nightmare. This lastest nightmare has me with my parents driving home at night from somewhere. I convince them to stop at a Little Caesar's for food. Even though we get our food I go back inside for something else. And that's when all hell breaks loose. First there is some sort of small laughable disagreement between the clerk and some old lady then next thing you know there's gunshots outside. For whatever reason the doors automatically lock , we can't get out but they can't get in either. They still try even going as far as shooting at the doors and windows. But they're bulletproof. As we hunch down in the store I grab some random little boy and cradle h...

I must say that I had a most excellent tubular weekend! Great company, great food and great music. I'm not sure who I enjoyed the most but being able to see Al Green and Lupe Fiasco in the same weekend is a tough call for anyone. Definate hightlight was also getting the chance to see my globe trotting friend. It's rare that we are in the same time zone let alone the same room so I am glad we made it work (Tim Gunn Style). Overall I would say my first major music festival was a success and I look forward to trying to top it. I've added some more photos from the road and will soon add some to my flikr page for all to view. Until next post...laters

A: Graceland!!!! Hahahaha well at least visiting the gates and driving by the mansion and museum. Also on the agenda for the day is going to Arkansas just for the simple fact to say "I've been to Arkansas". So we have been on the riverside for the last 2 days and still haven't taken time to explore it so today will be the day...if that's not exciting enough we will finish the day with some cool blues tunes and a Pittsburgh native who is dominating the hip-hip and rap arena.......Wiz Khalifa!! Afterwards I have a power drive ahead of me to get home but I can do it!! It's been awesome but now we have hit the hyperdrive into epic. Pics to come! Until next post.....laters