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

I am really at a lost for words as the world watched another person of color in the US become a trending "hashtag". I’m trying to calm down but nothing is working. I called my dad and ranted and that helped a bit but I feel incredibly emotional. Switching between anger and overwhelming sadness. I'm going to add photos I snagged from Instagram that I felt has started to help put my feelings into words. This is so that I don't forget,  that I feel everything, I don't become numb.

So I have been on WFH/ Social Distancing guidelines since March 14th. I've been able to work at a Farm 3 days a week, help do grocery deliveries and do other things to help create a schedule and keep busy.  I've been thinking though of all the things I want to do when the world feels manageable and safe again. I'm going to list them here for reasons: Get a new tattoo   (got one! It's a rose by Bree at City of Ink. Made an appointment for another in Feb, wore a mask) Get a new bike (got one! Her name is Shuri and I love her) See a live musical/concert (I should have said "in person", virtual concerts have been a staple) Get my hair braided or start dreadlocks ( got faux locs...seriously thinking about locing my hair, wore a mask) Dye my hair (I did a home dye job which turned out fine but I am aching for a real drastic change) Get a new ear piercing...maybe another nose piercing  Get a massage  (After several months got one in Oct to celebrat...

I just wanted a place to put this Atlanta Journal Constitution article in regards to Govenor Kemps decision on the shelter-in-place and to slowly start to open up GA. This is purly for my future referecne. I am hopeful that people will make the right decisons for their familes and situations, empathically.  Here are the highlights I especially want to remember and want others (no one else reads this but...okay) to as well: Q: The governor just last week said it was too early to talk about reopening the economy. What changed? A: Kemp cited reports of declining emergency room visits for flu-like illnesses, expanded hospital bed capacity and projections that show Georgia’s peak may be in the rear-view mirror. He also said documented COVID-19 cases have “flattened and appear to be declining.” There are other factors, too. President Donald Trump has pushed states to begin easing the restrictions, and Kemp has faced urgent calls from some of his conservative allies to start rolling ...

A few posts ago I talked about the ongoing pandemic coronavirus/COVID-19.  Since then not only has the city been on lockdown, the Governor went ahead and issued a shelter-in-place decree. This whole situation has been a mess to watch. On the one hand, there's the part of me that worries for those I may encounter who may be more susceptible to the effects of COVID. On the other hand, there's the part of me who worries for the financial and mental health of others who are losing jobs, healthcare, homes, food businesses and more due to things like the shelter-in-place. My brain is swirling and so am I. I am not generally an anxious person but I can't tell which way is up right now and I can't help but wonder if my actions have or will lead to the ill health of another. Have I been outraged enough? Have I helped enough? Am I being thoughtful? Empathic? Selfish? Today during a briefing , the Governor claiming to rely on a team of medical and other experts has decided that ...

In 2007 while I was in undergrad a terrible tragedy happened. In 2020, the world is currently dealing with another tragedy.  Thousands are dying from Coronavirus. The US & world governments are all over the place with their efforts to contain the virus and slow its spread. However, there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel. Much like to Hokie community coming together for that tragedy,  I am seeing friends and strangers alike joining together to support those who have lost their jobs, have limited resources towards food and shelter, sharing and caring for each other. I am heartened to see this, much like 9/11 & April 16th, we will prevail. Until next post laters 

Wow-what a month it has been. I am going to try and catch you up but it is A LOT. So the entire world is currently dealing with a pandemic named Covid-19 better known as Coronavirus. Here is a link to some information but for record-keeping sake highlights: What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause disease in animals. Seven, including the new virus, have made the jump to humans, but most just cause cold-like symptoms. Two other coronaviruses – Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) – are much more severe, having killed more than 1,500 people between them since 2002. The new virus, officially called Covid-19, is also dangerous - so far, around 20 per cent of confirmed cases have been classed as severe or critical. So far, around 15 to 20 per cent of hospital cases have been classed as "severe" and the current death rate varies between 0.7 per cent and 3.4 per cent depending on the locatio...

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

So after a failing to go on our planned birthday trip to WDW, we planned a little weekend get away to Helen, GA. J had never been and it's one of my favorite things to do here so we rented a cabin (with a hot tub) and ate/drank our way through the small Bavarian town. We even took the dog (who we learned barks at horses) and though it was pretty hot we had a wonderful time. Loved it so much we've decided to make it a tradition. Until next post...Prost!!!

August is almost over and boy has it been a whirlwind. Between traveling for work (Chicago, Philadephia & Orlando), visiting family (DC) and even a vacation or two (gasp 😜 hello Walt Disney World), it's been hectic. There was even a celeb sighting thrown in there for good measure, Jason Segel from How I Met Your Mother. Here's some photos to prove it: Philadelphia   Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Chicago/Detroit       Washington, DC  

The other day I read a post from someone who I really respect and it talked about how it's ok to have a hobby (you can check it and other posts out here... https://medium.com/@matt.tanner/in-defense-of-just-a-hobby-536c49e7f404) and it got me thinking about how several years ago I struggled with having a "hobby". I felt like all I did was work and the work I did most people have as a hobby. While reading this post I came across a line that said the greatest compliment someone can give you about your hobby is by suggesting ways you can monetize it. That line struck a cord. While I was talking to my partner about his hobbies (playing music, creating and editing videos, beer hunting)  I felt at a lost because I couldn't really narrow down my own. However with thinking about Matt's comment now I definitely have several hobbies.  Event planning, Disney Parks guide, ATL foodie & explorer to name a few. Several times folks have mentioned how I should write and pu...

Second only to Fall, Summer is one of my favorites. Music Festivals, Parties, Pools, Day drinking until 8pm, lazy Sundays and midweek adventures.  Summer time has it all. It helps that my Anniversary is on the first official day of summer. This past month I have had one of the best summer kick offs ever.  This includes my summer trips to Australia & Italy and last year's jumbo European adventure.  I presented at a national conference for the first time and KILLED. Got to spend time with my family, my niece is as tall as I am and amazingly talented. This is the summer before my nephew enters his senior year and I'm also in awe of the AMAZING person he is. I attended my first camping music festival in Dover, DE and danced the night away with Panic! At the Disco, Walk the Moon, AJR,  TLC, Zedd, Dashboard Confessional and so many more. To top it off I hung out with old friends and made new ones...including the 23 year old from Philly who just spent time with me, dan...

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...

It's been two years since my first road dog Lord Jaymeson (LJ) passed away. After this length of time without a furry companion and talking to J...we decided to foster and possibly adopt a new dog. After fostering an older dog with some health issues from PAWS Atlanta (shout out to Mother Gothel aka Mama G) and getting her healthy again we came across another foster named Findlai (pronounce Finley) at an organization named Wunderdogs. Fin's owner sadly had to give up his 9-year-old Jack Russell / Fox Terrier because his neighborhood was being redeveloped and many families were being pushed out and couldn't afford a home with their pets. This is heartbreaking especially when someone as kind and sweet as this gentleman has to give up his friend. We thought we could keep him while he transitioned but at this point he just wants his dog to be safe. So we decided to adopt him. LJ would have be about 11/12 years old right now and there are definitely some similarities between the...

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

Once while on a night out with some friends during grad school, our group got accosted by an intoxicated man. While we tried our best not to engage him too much, eventually we switched strategies from simply ignoring him to curtly yet politely answer questions. That also didn't work. At one point he states to my very prim and proper British friend "off you fuck" to which she gave what has become the most iconic of replies..."you first". I was recently reminded of this event while having a conversation with a friend of mine. I've had this friend since my formative years, in fact they have seen me at some of my worst moments. Not only was I reminded of our years of friendship, I was also reminded of how much I've grown over the years...and how much growth was still left to do. I was literally livid when they made a passive comment about my dating history. Though I am certain that the comment wasn't malicious, I couldn't help but be so angry with t...