Sucks for you . . .But Im ecstatic!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No I am not as callous as that title implies. But I just got back from turning in my application for a scholarship only for Howard students who are print journalism majors. And its worth $10,000!
I have so much work to do that I really am not talking to myself for putting off studying and a final paper that will make or make my grades. So deciding what pile of work I would start with I came across my application for the Grace Halsell Memorial Scholarship, and Im glad I did. I thought it was due Friday but reading that application I saw that it was due today! Scrambling I figure out how am I going to squeeze in the time to get my application together by the 4:30 deadline. I check on reccd and after taking my copy editing final, I go finish my 500 summary of her book Soul Sister. I hustle down stairs, print out my transcript and am happy to just check the application off of my things to do. At 3:40 I turn my application in to Ms.Dudley, who is still a stunner in her middle age, and get the nerve up to ask her what the competition is like. She is all excited as she takes my application and replies, "You're the second one."
I try and play it cool, but I am soooo excited that at that moment I had a 50% chance at getting $10,000.
And in the same breath I am shocked that we had such a great opportunity and only me and this guy from Cali who was getting his stuff together were the only ones.
So this is how is sucks for those who didn't apply, but I am sooo excited.

$10,000 Queen - we'll - see

The Souls of Black Folk

I have Dr.Carr, the most brilliant (and a wee bit scattered brained;) professor, for African American Studies, and sadly today was my last day in the class. But a lot of the things I have learned in his class have really stuck, and have sparked me to dig deeper in my quest for my identity and find those who made me who I am (genetically and culturally) and whose bravery allowed me to not have a clue what it feels like to be accepted as inferior and second-class in every breath I take.
I mean. As the educated ones or that 'talented tenth' DuBois spoke on, it is so easy to separate ourselves from our sisters and brothers by class and forget how recent slavery and jim crow are in history.
His Class opened my mind to not accept the notion that the middle passage and slavery killed my bond to my people, or stopped our culture from growing and living and to dig deeper on why we do some of the things we do:
1) the bums on the corner who we act like we don't see, and cut our eyes as they pour some of the brown bag on the grown for the lost homies. - well, that's just libation and remembering the ancestors, which is a rich history in the African history and the black experience . . . .
I have to run to accounting class, as I type this upstairs in Founders, but I WILL finish the rest later. But till I return.
2) Watch Night Service on New Year's Eve . . .know how it got started?

Queen

Feels Good to Be Loved!

Look how happy my brother was the day I was born.
21 years later, I still matter to people in this world and that's not something to take for granted.
Coming back from the golf range this afternoon after being harassed by old men and realizing how much I suck at the sport, it was good to talk to my mom and be reminded that people out in this world really give a damn about me. Forgetting that I was upset with her, I pick up the phone when she calls and she tells me that my grandma is in town, and TRIED TO COME SEE ME on campus!!
So I call my older cousin who she is staying with, an 'old maid' who lives for Coach, and they quickly tell me of their experience.
In the area, my cousin knew I stayed in the towers (though not which one) and said to my grandma "why don't we try and surprise her?"
So they park and my 80 year old and still kicking (and smoking:( grandma hatch their plan to surprise me. The surprise was on them as they got to the front desk. Though the security guard was nice, the lady behind the desk wasn't so friendly as she quickly said she had to check with her manager in a funky attitude. Well, since they didn't have my room number, didn't have my cell phone number on them, and were in the wrong building, I didn't open my door to my grandma this evening. I will just see her tomorrow after the funeral she is in town for. But hearing her story, made me feel real special, as she always does with her special names for me and she seemed honored when I told her I plan to name my daughter one day her name, Naomi, and I secretly wish I had been named that. FYI: I would have made a great Naomi!
I was already feeling pretty loved after reading a message from one of my good buddies from high school who I have neglected. Like a good friend, instead of giving up on me and our friendship, he called me on my lack of contact (and not shouting him out on his 21st Bday!) and his dedication to remaining my friend made me realize how lazy I can sometimes be in friendship. Always waiting for someone else to call, or make the plan. So as I am feeling extra mushy right now (which is obvious by this post) it is definitely comforting to know that i have so many folks on my team, so that while I try to make them proud, they'll pick me up if I fall on my face.