Four Things

Just in time for a much needed break on HumpDayWednesday, I've been tagged by Ragey to tell you all four things!

4 jobs I've had in my life
-file clerk
-candy striper
-teacher
-retail sales

4 place I've lived
-Capital City, V A
-Middle of Nowhere, P A
-Hometown
-Gorgeous City

4 favorite foods
-shrimp
-sweet potatoes
-chocolate anything
-turkey wings

4 places I'd rather be
-in River City with Dr. J
-cruising along the Mediterranean
-San Diego
-on my honeymoon with Dr. J

4 movies I can watch over and over
This changes for me every month--right now I'm stuck on:
-Bewitched
-Monster-in-Law
-Cars
-Superman Returns

4 TV shows I like to watch
-The Closer
-Big Love
-Making the Band
-Flip this House

4 websites I view daily
-Gmail/Google Reader
-Chronicle Jobs
-MSNBC.com--2008 Candidates section
-WebCT

4 computers I have owned
-Apple IIe
-Acer
-Dell Latitude
-Dell Inspiron

4 people to tag
-phd me
-Tamika
-melyssa
-stewgad

"Professional" Hair

The best thing about summer for me has been the freedom to do whatever I wanted with my hair. I've stayed true to my goal of learning to work with my natural hair and this summer has truly put that goal to the test. My hair is really growing and the new growth is tight and THICK. I find it impossible at times to keep it moisturized because it just sucks in everything like a sponge. Some days it totally annoys me--it is thick and unruly and hopelessly unstyled. Other days I feel completely liberated--I comb it out into a big puff and just let it go wherever it feels like going that day. Dr. J has been wonderfully supportive during this process--he really doesn't care how I wear my hair as long as I'm comfortable and happy with it. But there were even a few days this summer I felt bad--wishing it could be "prettier" for him.

I've been making more frequent trips to the Afrocentric salon here in Gorgeous City and I've established a good relationship with one of the stylists. She is helping me think about ways to wear my hair for the wedding as well as teaching me about my hair. One of the problems I have with my hair is that I have a very itchy and flaky scalp. Through conversations with her and my cousin and aunt who are both physicians, I think we are learning that I may actually have a food allergy and that some of my issues with my hair and my skin--and even my bad cramps and stomach issues--may be connected to my diet (that's another post). So my stylist has introduced me to tea tree shampoo which works really well with my scalp and keeps in line with my natural goals.

My stylist braided my hair this summer (I can't believe it is thick enough to braid already!) and even gave me a little girly do for the week of John's graduation.

It was really cute and feminine but not really practical for everyday wear. Plus it required that she blow dry my hair straight and use a hot iron to curl it. That's okay for special occasions, but my very fine hair does not hold up well to a lot of blow drying and heat.

Now that school is starting back, I'm still looking for ways to manage my hair that are both practical and professional. I tend to wear more "business" style attire when I teach, so some of the unruliness my hair experienced this summer would just make me feel uncomfortable in front of a class. But of course, as I experiment with new styles, the idea of what is considered acceptable for business is in the back of my mind. I'm fortunate to be in a racially diverse environment, but that doesn't mean everyone is culturally sensitive. The 1980s and 1990s were filled with stories of business men and women being sent home for wearing braids or cornrows. And unfortunately, the incidents of brothers and sisters encountering "issues" at the workplace or at school because of their hair still go on today.

Take Six Flags:

No Cornrows, Long Hair At Six Flags

Eighteen-year-old Antonio Rowland lives in Bowie, Md., less than a mile from the Six Flags America amusement park. He's worked there every summer for the past three years. On Tuesday, Antonio was sent home. He says a supervisor complained his hair was too long.

Antonio lives with his grandparents, Carleta Roland a retired federal worker and John a retired DC police sergeant. They take pride in their grandson’s appearance and they feel managers at Six Flags have overstepped their authority with the grooming guidelines.

Some believe the park policy targets African Americans. At least twelve workers have asked the ACLU to get involved, after they were sent home with orders to cut their braids or cornrows.

Or the Baltimore City Police Department:

BALTIMORE -- The WBAL TV 11 News I-Team has obtained a new professional appearance policy for the Baltimore Police Department intended to promote a professional image, but it's also raising questions of racial insensitivity. The new policy is more specific than the old one. For example, tattoos must now be kept covered. However, the questions surround an issue that's been batted around the courts and company workplace policies for several years -- hairstyle."We just felt that over the years, some officers have taken advantage of the old general order and are not presenting themselves, while in uniform to the public, in the most professional manner possible," said Matt Jablow, spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department.

Like the old policy, the new one governs hair length, jewelry, mustaches and beards, but it also added a new standard -- extreme, or "fad," hairstyles are prohibited, including cornrows, mohawks, dreadlocks, and twists.

Three of the four hairstyles banned are almost exclusively used by blacks.

"I think it's incredibly insensitive," said Taunya Banks, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law. "I'm really kind of concerned about labeling as faddish a practice that's not faddish at all, and what appears to be a targeting of black officers."

I hate that I even think about these things. I hate that I might avoid some styles more than other because of the hassles that might come. But I guess at the end of the day I already stick out like a sore thumb in my department, why not have some fun with my hair!

So here is where I am at the moment for the start of classes:

I'm looking forward to trying some more new styles. (And I'm open to suggestions!)

I Heart Obama's Campaign Staff

Ok, it is time to confess. Plenty of people have confessed their crushes on Senator Obama. He's a nice enough looking brother, but I haven't caught on with the crush movement.

But today, I realize that I have a serious love for his local campaign staff. They are just the coolest campaign people I've talked to this year. [And I've talked to quite a bit preparing for my new class this fall.] They really are.

Just had to be honest about that. Back to work now.

The Summer That Was...

I decided to use my last long weekend before school starts to spend some time in Hometown with Mom and to wrap up some more wedding business. Looking back over the summer, it seems that the wedding fared the best of all the things I needed to do. This weekend I booked our videographer, met another potential florist (waiting on a price estimate), and met with a wonderful woman who sells and creates invitations and programs. I'm really proud of the work that I've gotten done on the wedding and it feels good to know that by September, most of the big stuff is taken care of.

School work is a not-so-bad story. Today is really the first FULL day I've spent just grinding out work for my classes. I feel good about the work I've done today. I'm definitely going to be on autopilot with my Major Course--I've only made one change in the reading and jazzed up my WebCT layout a bit with my new technology skills. My new Speciality Course is organized--I worked on a lot of that through the technology seminar--but I still need to spend some time getting the content down in my head and preparing lesson plans. If I can get the first unit (four weeks) laid out before class next Wednesday, I'll be satisfied.

Writing, scholarly or otherwise, has suffered this summer. I could go on, but the thought of it depresses me. If I can get at least one of these articles off of my desk before I send off my first job application....

Speaking of which, the job search has been slow to start. I've been relentless searching the job ads again, but I haven't found one position to motivate me to begin the cover letter writing process. I know which schools I'm interested in, I just don't know if they are going to be hiring this year. Is it acceptable to send an email or letter expressing interest in a position that doesn't exist yet? I'm really interesting in a school that is just outside of the city where Dr. J is teaching--would it be a good move or a bad move to just send them a letter and CV??

I feel so confused about what to do next professionally. I even had the thought of going back to school. Imagine that. I'm definitely not looking forward to our first faculty meeting of the semester tomorrow where we resume our discussion of a very messy issue. Given that I'm going back on the market, I feel even less inclined to get involved in this debate and don't know how I'm going to negotiate this meeting. It should be interesting though, to say the least--interesting and LONG.

Goodbye summer--helllloooo school year!

Barry Barry Oh So Very

Golden! I'm so excited that I can't make one coherent thought--but here are a few on tonight's historical 765!!

It feels good to be a part of sports history and watch Aaron's 755 fall to my man Barry Bonds. As soon as the bat cracked, he knew, and we knew, it was G-O-N-E! And it was deep--435 feet! It was a beauty to watch and I'm glad Dr. J had the game on while we were talking so I could flip over each time Bonds went to bat. We all knew it was coming soon--and what a wonderful moment for Barry and his family and his fans.

No one has dealt with more persecution, more media bashing, more "guilty without being proven guilty" thrashings. I mean my goodness--how many times does a man have to test negative??? And one simple fact can't be stated enough--no one has been able to consistently hit home runs like Barry while being WALKED more than anyone else. His opportunities to even get good pitches are so limited, making this feat even more amazing.

I am proud of this brother for doing what he loves--playing baseball. He could have given up a million times--he could have shrunk back into the shadows. But he held his head high and kept going--regardless of the critics. His longevity is unparalleled. At 43, he is still the most feared player at bat (as his walks this season alone reaffirms). Imagine at 43, being able to play a professional sport better than people half your age. Amazing.

And let me add this on an extremely personal note--in an age where Black homegrown players are being phased out for more affordable international imports (not just in baseball, but also in basketball), it feels good to see the record go to Bonds. I hope this will continue to inspire young Black boys to pick up a baseball and learn the game. Baseball has so much more long term potential than football, which a lot of Black men migrate towards (especially here in the South) and it would be lovely to see a resurgence of Black baseball players. [Dr. J has really got me thinking about the way the NFL loves to run Black bodies through the ringer for next to nothing when compared to other professional sports and the toll that the sport plays on their bodies without any sort of reasonable health plan. I digress.] I hope that despite the overly negative commentary on Bonds there will be some new faces in baseball soon.

[Dr. J keeps promising to start a blog to talk about these issues--I hope he will soon because he is right on when it comes to analyzing issues of race, class, and gender in sports.]

Also, I was hoping that Aaron would not buy into this media hype (because that's all this "we hate Barry" stuff is) and support Bonds. It was good to see his recorded message tonight passing the torch to Bonds--good move Aaron. But tonight is Barry's night.

Congratulations Barry Bonds--man--you did it!!

You are now the authentic record holder.

And I for one am very very proud of you!!

Is This Me?

Hot and Soakin Wet!

I know I'm not the only one saying this today, but man it is hot outside.

I went outside to vote in a local special election and was assaulted by the heat the moment I opened the door. The school where I vote is right next door so I was surprised, but not discouraged as a few rain drops started falling as I turned the corner to go across the street. I was going to walk, but decided I'd go to the grocery store after I voted. I was glad I had my car because when I walked back outside, there was a serious summer thunderstorm going on. Sheets of rain, just hammering the ground. I had to make a run for it. I got soaked. Now normally, I'd be pissed. But it was so hot that the rain was just the right temperature. I'm back at home waiting for the rain to pass and drying out. I just checked the local station, hoping to see that the temperature had dropped outside with the rain. But of course, it is still blazing hot. A sizzling 99 degrees--heat index of 111. I hate the thought of going back to school in this kind of weather. Or trying to drive my car back to Hometown this weekend in the heat. Hopefully this wave of weather won't last too long.

Aimless

It is hard to be at all focused with Dr. J so far away. I woke up much later than I wanted to today and have just been floating around the house rather aimlessly. Except for the moments I've been on the phone with my honey, I really haven't gotten much accomplished.

Dr. J has had all kinds of relocation hassles today.

1) Of course, the movers aren't there today.
2) Since I did most of the driving when we were in River City last month, he got turned around pretty easily and lost his way to his new place. Fortunately, I was able to help him find his way via phone.
3) The person working in the leasing office today was a ditz--she gave him the wrong keys to move in.
4) After he finally got the correct key, he walked into a FILTHY, unfinished unit. (Keep in mind that this was already the third unit he'd been assigned. The one we'd originally picked out on our visit was suddenly unavailable after we left. The second unit he was assigned was changed just last week when the manager did a walk through and decided it smelled too bad with cat pee. So imagine our disgust to learn that this third unit was a mess!)
5) He had to wait an hour for the manager to show up and work to resolve the situation.
6) The manager showed him another unit in a better location that was brand new, but of course they haven't finished painting it yet. So Dr. J won't be in his apartment until Tuesday. Fortunately, the corporate office was able to put him up in one of their furnished executive units at another complex for the weekend.

Hopefully the movers will arrive just in time for his return to his unit on Tuesday.

Now that I'm done worrying about him, the day is just about over here! I'm going to try to be a little less aimless. I have some work to finish for a magazine and I need to clean up because Mother is coming down tomorrow to help my cousin relocate. But goodness I miss Dr. J and could use a few more days to just mope and wander around my place.

Just Like That

He's gone.

Dr. J is on his way to River City--a whole day's drive away.

I put on my big girl face to see him off, but now I'm falling apart. I miss him already.

We Have Music!

It pays to have a Mom who knows everyone. Thanks to a friend of Mother, we have a band for our reception!! We definitely were planning to go the DJ route (preferably a young, friend of a friend type DJ) to help shave some expenses on the big day. A band just seem to be way to expensive. But Mother came through and got us information on a group she heard perform at a friend's church. Dr. J and I listened to a sample CD last Saturday when we were in Hometown and fell in love. The music was a mix of gospel and R&B/Soul with a wonderful range of instruments--keyboard, sax, flute, bass, drums--and a beautiful vocalist. We were hooked on the music, but Mother's memory of the price to book the group discouraged us. We almost didn't call at all, because they seemed way out of our range. But we are soooo glad we did call. We talked to the group's leader and he quoted us an AMAZING price for live music during the cocktail hour and reception dinner as well as DJ services for dancing and partying after we eat!! This price is incredibly sweet--even lower than quotes we've gotten for video, other DJs, heck, even for cake!! I had to ask him twice if I heard him correctly! So it was a wonderful confirmation to see everything in writing today and I'm excited that we are going to have real music for our wedding!!