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

It's almost time for the 26 World Cup.  1 Continent. 3 Countries. 16 Cities.  48 Teams. 1 Winner. Atlanta is not ready but I sure am. I'll have the opportunity to volunteer and I am stoked. I picked up my uniform today and it really solidified that this is happening.  And I get to be in the room where it happens. I look forward to a summer of soccer, fun and adventure.  Until next post.....laters

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...

It's my favorite holiday! Or at least one of them. For years I have sent hundreds of cards,  bought gifts and J and I have made an effort to travel together ❤️. This year we went to Sedona and used the opportunity to go see the Grand Canyon.  I've never been and figured there's no time like the present. What an adventure it turned out to be. While I had a general understanding that it does in fact snow in the desert I was still mentally unprepared to see it hahaha. Nieve I know, still true. It also meant the weather was misty and foggy.  While it wasn't what we'd thought we would get to see on this trip when we planned it back in December in the words of AJR "100 bad days, make a 100 good stories ". And in all honesty,  it wasn't even a bad day....definitely just another adventure celebrating love with my love. Until next post.....laters 

With a new month & new year & new day, life feels ripe with possibilities.  At least that's the approach I'm currently taking with my latest break from social media.  I realized I was lifeless and literally losing hours of my day just scrolling. It wasn't necessarily doom scrolling all the time.  Often it was just to catch up on the latest sports or world affairs.  Then I realized that I wasn't actually gaining anything of value from the action.  So I've deactivated the accounts and deleted the apps.  The first few days I would find myself opening the apps on habit whenever I had a few minutes strung together.  I want really ever DOING anything,  just scrolling for something to do. This far into the year and I can't say I miss it, but I'm not sure if it's because it's inherently a quieter time of year or something else. In any case, here's to holding out for as long as I need. Until next post......laters 

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,...