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

January: Hobbiton & New Zealand February: Marie Antoinette 💓 🍰🇫🇷 March: Spring Break family time feat. Football April: Favorite place with some of my favorite people May: A couple of seniors out for a walk June: Halfway through. What an adventure thus far July: National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation  August: Convergence of worlds 🌎  September: Shaky Baby October: Happy Pride, ATL style November: Barça Birthday Bacchanalia  December: FWC26 Prep #BeatAsOne  Looking forward to closing out this banner year with even more memories made. Until next post.....laters

Just wanted to say that this birthday has been a beautiful one full of firsts: Lake Tahoe  Spain Seeing a Black Bear FC Barcelona  Vegetarian Paella Cirque du Soleil Luzia  I've enjoyed everything thus far and can't wait to end the celebrating with a bang...until next post....laters

Currently dealing with rehoming my parents.  It's a tough situation that could be worse but is not great.  Honestly this situation fully reaffirms my belief that you have to take care of and rely on yourself first. Others may not impede you but they won't help you either. Also shows how quickly your perceived support structures can crumble. Anyways I think we've found the best solution and hopefully it's a long-term one. Until next post......laters 

Even when you know the source and cause some times the emotional exhaustion just wins. No matter what you try to do to combat it...it's just a lot to keep going.  The world feels dangerous and uncertain and scary and sad and I am trying to not succumb to the weight but dang is it hard.  Saying it out loud helps. Until next post.....laters

Atlanta is not a real place..this is a common saying for those (especially the Black ones) who have lived here for any length of time. The reasoning behind this is because the type of stuff that happens often stretches the realm of possibility.  Things like a panhandler dressed as Batman at the intersection of very busy road. I recently experienced one such incident and it also yielded a celebrity sighting.  I stopped posting about celeb sightings a while ago because honestly a lot of them live in and around Atlanta 😅. Elton John had a home here. T-Pain lives in Smyrna. Of course, Usher, TLC, Ludacris etc. Along those same veins, I was driving by my local car wash and who do I see? Ceelo Green (Goodie Mob). Mind you it's less that I SAW Ceelo and moreso WHERE I saw him. I take my car to SOAP. So, you mean to tell me that celebs are just like us? Yeah, Atlanta is not a real place. In any case, it's my favorite fictional place and I wouldn't change a thing (except the public...

This has been a month of refilling my cup. The state of the US has left much to be desired and I have been especially intentional about spending time with loved ones, going out to do the things I love and expressing joy whenever I can. I recently saw Beyoncé on her COWBOY CARTER TOUR and even though I saw it 4x each was a different and transcendent experience.  I sang. I cried.  I sat in my feelings.  Every moment meant something. The opening sequence of the first 5 songs alone was enough to make me so appreciative. I also took the time to see family and J and I went to Vegas together to celebrate 13 years. Felt appropriate 😅. All in all the world is still really heavy, but I am navigating it lighter. Until next post....laters

It's been a busy soccer summer. This year the US is hosting the FIFA Club World Cup with 5 games taking place in the A. I applied for and got accepted to volunteer, which has been pretty cool. In addition to the sponsored Addias gear, we got volunteer swag for the number of shifts we participated in, free parking,  discounts to matches, and the chance to meet folx from all over the city, state, country and world. I've been thinking of it as a trial run for the World Cup next year. We haven't hosted since I believe '93, so it should be a whole new ball game. In any case, I had a lovely time, got to watch a few games and as an accreditation volunteer got to make sure folx were ready for the action. I've really grown to love football (soccer, fútbol) and have really enjoyed bringing that love to more people in this way. Until next post, latera

I'm going to spend the weekend visiting family. I haven't gone solo to see them since November so it will be a good trip. One of the things we've planned is a trip to Six Flags. Growing up we went whenever we could. In fact, one summer my sister/cousin and I got season passes and would catch public transport out for the day. It was an arduous trek but worth it. Now that it's going away, I'm taking my niece to have one more good day. Make fresh memories. What are the kids supposed to do in the summer time? Where is the hang out place with your friends where you're not bored, not spending a ton of money you don't have and still get a taste of independence? Do kids have those places still? So many friendships were solidified at that amusement park. Had my first real crush there too. My middle school "graduation" trip. The list goes on. Thnks fr th mmrs Six Flags America.  Until next post....laters

Today the approval rating review of Tr**p's 2.0 first 100 days came through.  The lowest since they started tracking post WWII. Like barely 44%. Granted it's higher in "red" states but still, not great.  I am having a REALLY hard time having empathy for people who seem to be "drinking the kool-aid,". That phrase came about from a cult related tragedy, and honestly it's fitting for today as well. MAGA is a cult, the people who are associated parrot bullshit that doesn't hold water and have no true identity outside of the MAGA Masse. So what's next? Where do we go from here? Where do I go from here? I'm not sure but one thing is for certain, I will not go silent into the night. Until next post.....laters

 So for spring break my nephew decided to come visit me. Mind you we're close but there's always room for growth and improvement. Spending a week together is definitely one way to get those results. In true impulsive nature though my nibling called me a week & a half before said intended visit to let me know.  Well crap, as much as I love having him...it is also one of my peak seasons at work. So we've had to work around, well, work. I shifted my WFH day so as to pick him up from the airport, took him grocery shopping (got to feed the child), and came up with several things to do while also leaving room for him to do whatever. I offered him transportation and a list of places to check during the day but he seems to just enjoy vibing with the dog and practicing his music. That works for me.  I've been resisting the urge to check in with him every couple of hours...are you having fun? do you need to eat? what are you interested in now? am I still cool? It's been a...

You've braved so much and you aren't alone is your sadness, anger & fear. May tomorrow bring clarity and hopefully peace. You'll get through this with the support of the people who love you...like me.  Until next post...laters

We've officially started round 2 of political chaos. And whew it has been a wild one, from pausing all Federal grants & funding (like WIC & Veterans Aid) to having Federal workers resign or quit to ICE literally rounding people up. There's a lot of noise right now and fear and hurt and sadness. I am trying to hold on to joy. Like the joys of traveling, spending time with loved ones, resting. With that in mind,  here are some photos from my recent trip to Auckland, NZ.  Until next post...laters

Last mirror selfie of 2024. There's something about looking so dang adorable in a dirty bathroom mirror that sort of sums up my year to be honest. Finding the beauty in the situation. Honestly, I've had such a year of adventures,  growth, some of the lowest lows, and highest highs. This was a year of gratitude & pain truly. Thank you all for being a part of my 2024 story. Let's see what 2025 has to offer, together. Until next post (year), laters #HappyNewYear #2024 #2025

Moe-vember was one for the books. First I celebrated with a RenFest celebration at the first ever Fall Fling.  The weather was beautiful,  the mead was flowing and the vibes were immaculate. Birthday/Black Friday treat to myself? Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. Then we went on a Bahamian cruise (Celebrity Silhouette). Then we spent a few days with J's family and spent more time at the beach. And then we went to my favorite park and just hung out and caught up with friends. This year has been full of new adventures, old favorites, lessons learned and lots of laughs. Thank you to everyone who celebrated Moe-vember (extended til December 7th 😅) with me and followed along. I'm a lucky girlie to be surrounded by so many folks who love and care about lil ol' me. Until next post...laters

I wanna remember this so I'm writing it down. On Saturday I celebrated my RenFest birthday and it was awesome. I ate, drank, laughed and danced. Afterwards,  I went to see Leafblower ATL play a show.  At this point I've now been shenaniganing since 2pm and it's now 1:30a. I head home to shower/nap because I have to be at MBS by 3am (that turned out to be a lie 🙃) to ride a bus to Orlando for the MLS Conference Semifinal.  The bus broke down (after issues with the heat & A/C, multiple stops, skipping the Cracker Barrel food stop, in addition to being over an hour late to pick us up at MBS) about 15 minutes away from the tailgate. We had to send the other bus ahead, wait for it to come back, and load up everything onto one bus. Then, of course, the Fox Bros boxed lunch food never arrived & we had to shuttle to/from the stadium. After the game, we had our customary 30 mins hold (that was actually 45 minutes). They still hadn't sorted out the bus situation fully,...

I am a ball of so many things but mostly grief. There is less fear than 2016 but only because I was less hopeful. I will continue to show up for people no matter what and pour into them. I know there are those that will pour into me in return.  See you on the other side. Until next post.....laters 

 Welp it was such a busy month that I missed a post! To be fair to myself, I did think about posting and how I was running out of to days to get one in for October...but I just didn't post 😅.  Part of the reason I was so busy was prepping to the upcoming general election. I have really gotten passionate about getting and supporting the election process (especially in Georgia). This has taken several forms but most recently & consistently it's been through working the polls. I've done just about every job except Manager & Assistant Manager (though I have been asked).  While I truly do enjoy the job this particular election has felt...scary and off putting. It's become the norm to be mean and rude to those who may not share your views. Also, while I am favoring one candidate over another I'm seeing friends disintegrate relationships and dive deeper into divide this election.  It's scary stuff. Whatever the world we have on November 11th (once all the vote...

Without fail just about everyone time I visit my mom she finds a way to infantize me, speak to me like I am a child in need of direction and then victimize herself when I address it.  It seems near impossible to have a pleasant time with family members because at every moment she is calling, texting,  commenting on every aspect of my being. Why is you hair like that, don't stay out past 10pm, you have gained weight, remember that you owe me something, every single time. I am constantly working on giving grace & having patience & empathy to no avail. If I attempt to course correct or say what I am feeling, then I am in the wrong. It's not a contest but I literally feel like I cannot win or catch a break. Hours later and I am still frustrated. Until next post.

 I had the incredible opportunity to go to the Paris 2024 Olympics. I love the Olympics. It's the one time every four years that the individuals put aside our individual differences and cheer on not only the folx from our countries but also the triumphs of the human mind, body & spirit. Truly the Olympics is a time when the best of us can shine and I'm not referring to just the athletes. Paris is also one of my favorite places in the world so having the opportunity to combine things I love in one fantastic trip was LITERALLY a dream come true. I was recently visiting my folx and found a childhood journal in which I wrote a Bucket List. The movie starring Morgan Freeman had been released recently and so it was fresh on my 13/14 year old brain even though the characters are nearing the end of the journey on the earth. In any case created my own bucket list. Alongside the ones I grew out of (get married, have a kid) were ones I still haven't achieved (learn to swim & f...

No, this is not the beginning of a bad joke. It's actually the beginning of a cool trip. I had a conference in Boston a couple of weeks ago. That was my first time in MA, while there I took the opportunity to check off a couple of additional NE states that I'd never been too. Depending on who you ask NY may or may not be considered NE but in any case previously I'd only been as far north as CT. With this trip I also saw NH & ME. I actually had to look up the abbreviation for Maine because I'd never been and couldn't remember what it was 😅.  Coastal Maine was beautiful. I've obviously been on the east coast waters before but seeing it as a lush green forestscape was another thing entirely. I definitely see why it's the setting of so many Stephen King stories, it's hauntingly beautiful. New Hampshire was a bit more rustic than I expected in the most delightful way. Massachusetts (Boston) was fun to explore and I spent so much time doing something I ne...