#7: 30 Day Blog Challenge- Five Pet Peeves

1. Misspelled or incorrectly used words (their/they're/there, its/it's, 's/es/s).  What can I say, I'm a nerd. 
2. Bullies.  I try not to beat folks over the head with my opinions .
3. Natural Natzis, Permed Protesters/Relaxed Rebels, or Weaved Wackos.  Your hair is your business just like mine is my business.  I try not to give unsolicited natural hair advice, but nobody with a bad weave or stringy relaxed hair can tell me anything about my natural hair!
4. People who pre-judge people, places, or things before they know anything about them.
5. When I forget who I loaned something to!  

#6: 30 Day Blog Challenge-Your Views of Mainstream Music

I am disappointed in a lot of today's music.  I love old school R&B, hip-hop, and soul music.  I even love alternative music, 80's pop, country, jazz, etc.  I pretty much like everything except the O music: gO-gO,  emO, and technO.  That being said, I'm tired of music that isn't remotely artistic and is hyper-sexualized.  It's a struggle to find a song that doesn't refer to women as property or having the sole purpose of sexually satisfying or otherwise validating a man (whether it's a female artist making this assertion about herself or a male artist declaring this).  There's a big difference between Salt and Pepa's "I'll Take Your Man" and "Bottoms Up".  These days I listen to a lot of oldies because at least I won't need a shower after listening.

#5: 30 Day Challenge-Things You Want to Say to An Ex

1. I wish it had worked out, but apparently, it wasn't meant to be.  
2. It really was you, not me.
3. Your mother is so sweet, but she scared me when she thought that someone shot down the space shuttle.  And said so out loud.  As we drove past the Kennedy Space Center.  Bless her heart.
4. Marrying you would be akin to slavery.  No thanks.
5. I miss your cooking.  A lot.
6. You are probably too smart for your own good.  It is not all the Black women in the world who are the problem.  God bless you and your giant brain.  I sincerely hope you find someone who "gets" you.
7. I lied.  It was absolutely terrible and you knew it!
8. I'm sorry that you're gone.  The good really do die young.  You're my favorite ex.
9. FYI: I was totally prepared to beat your ass to a pulp if your frat brother hadn't shown up.
10. Thank you, for helping me to be who I am today!  

#4: 30 Day Challenge-Bullet Your Whole Day

• Woke up around 10a (aunt was texting/calling)
• Texted aunt, then called her
• Talked to her for 53 mins (according to my cell history)
• Fell back asleep for another 30 minutes or so
• Got up and fed my doggie and myself
• Let the doggie out
• Read the newspaper
• Prepared to go out w/a friend to the movies
• Was late to the movie so we skipped it and went shopping
• Picked up a gift for a friend 
• Talked w/my favorite old client who is now like a member of my family
• Walked around the Towne Center looking for  Charming Charlie's (couldn't find it!)
• Avoided being solicited by a local rap artist pushing his CD (Love to support the arts, but I have SAD)
• Went to Red Lobster and enjoyed daiquiris, fried shrimp, baked potatoes, and Caesar salad w/Nikeia)
• Checked out the waiter and the bartender (cute!)
• Came home and fed the dog and let her out
• Cut coupons
• Talked w/my 19 year old cousin
• Talked w/my mom
• Wrote this post!

Later tonight, I'll:

• Watch "Army Wives" and discuss it via text w/Nikeia
•  Let the dog out twice more before I go to bed
• Pick out an outfit for tomorrow
• Take a shower
• Snore!

#3: 30 Day Challenge-A Book You Love

A book I love...Hmmm...This is such a toughie because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read!  I could be a good Southern girl and say the Bible, but I honestly enjoy listening to the Bible more than I do reading it, except for the book of Proverbs.  As for non-biblical books, my favorite book as a kid was Bridge to Terebithia, which is a great coming-of-age story about friendship and challenges.  I've read it often since I was about 11-12 and it still gets me.  Another favorite book is The Autobiography of Malcolm X w/Alex Haley.  I've read that book a million times, too.  I have always found this book to be inspiring, as both authors had humble beginnings and went on to greatness.  I wish this was on the required reading list in schools.  Finally, I love The Gift of Fear.    I don't know if it's because I was a Psych major or what, but I love this book and I find it very empowering and dead-on.

#2: 30 Day Challenge-Something You Feel Strongly About

Something I Feel Strongly About:

Hmmm...this is a tough one.  I feel strongly about a lot of things.  Our education system needs an overhaul.  I've seen glimpses of hope (service learning in college, brain-based strategies when I taught elementary school, and language application at the pre-school level), but I really think there needs to be some sort of comprehensive, multi-organizational panel that can compile every region's best practices to actually TEACH our children.  Also, parents have got to accept the reality that teachers can't do it all and need their support.  (A childhood friend is a PTA president at her kids' school and she and her husband are extremely active at their four kids' school and have developed positive relationships with all of the teachers at the school).

Bonus:  I think that childhood obesity should be considered child abuse (barring a medical diagnosis). When I taught 3rd grade, I had a student who was 8 years old and weighed 254 pounds!  He was about 5 feet tall, but he weighed more than 3 of his male classmates, combined.  His dream is to become an NFL player, but I worry that he won't be healthy enough or live long enough to play HIGH SCHOOL ball, much less make it through college and on to the NFL.  I want his dream true (and I want him to achieve academically, too), but unfortunately, his mother is sabotaging him by feeding him high calorie, preservative laden food (I've attended parent-teacher conferences with her and seen the lunches he brought to school).  His mother is obese as well, but I don't feel that's a good enough excuse for subjecting your child to a shortened life without the joys of childhood and the opportunity to fulfill his/her dreams.

#1: 30 Day Blog Challenge-Five Ways to Win My Heart

1. Showing kindness toward someone else without expecting anything in return.  True altrusim.
2. Telling someone what's what in a nice way.  Sometimes you have to let someone know, but it's always best to do this as nicely as possible, unless someone has truly earned a fuss/cuss out!
3. Teaching me or telling me about something I didn't know.  Anyone know how to sew or play the piano?
4. Making me laugh.  I mean, a really good, deep down, belly laugh to the point where I can no longer produce sound.  (I usually start to kick my feet at that point).
5. Being either very old or very young.  I love my friends' little people and I love me some raisins (my mama's slang for old people).