tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61744521513593065782012-02-16T07:07:57.949-08:00Just trying to figure this life out.shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.comBlogger1581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-6679463030771415982012-01-17T16:49:00.000-08:002012-01-17T16:49:42.304-08:00

I could wax rhapsodic about the paternalism of White liberalism. In many ways the party that boasts a high percentage of Black support can often be a place where actual Black people are treated like creatures too childlike and ignorant to help themselves. But despite the right's best attempts, they are not shifting this paradigm and helping Blacks get off the "liberal plantation" but rather

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-72537455326124162842012-01-17T08:49:00.000-08:002012-01-17T08:51:25.579-08:00

*Yesterday I began and finished Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares. It's the follow-up to her best-selling series Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and fast-forwards to these girls (now women) at the age of 29 as they deal with where their lives have taken them as well as *spoiler* the death of one of their sisters. If you, like myself, grow attached to fictional characters let's just say

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-49750504620727175912012-01-12T14:06:00.000-08:002012-01-12T14:07:53.157-08:00

I know this isn't a new trend by any stretch of the imagination. Terms like bromance have long since entered our lexicon but I ask you: does everything that guys like to do have to be "bro"-ed out? Because of our strictly defined gender roles, whenever men get interested in something that isn't deemed "masculine" we have to give it special name. It started out innocently enough with words like

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-89615064481496334462011-12-06T14:40:00.001-08:002011-12-06T15:19:25.801-08:00

 It's time for me to make some serious moves with my professional life. At work, I've become little more than a glorified baby-sitter who gets blamed when things aren't perfect (also known as: a convenient scapegoat).  So here's my pre-New Year's resolution:*  31 by the 31st. I'm going to try to apply to 31 jobs, fellowships, volunteer opportunities, basically any and everything that might

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-79727152202614192112011-11-23T10:17:00.001-08:002011-11-23T11:03:10.584-08:00

Yesterday I saw the show Fela! for the second time. The first time was last Christmas before the Occupy Movement had started. Needless to say, seeing it in this context made the show even more powerful. What is Fela Kuti if not the voice of resistance? What is the Kalakuta Republic if not the occupation of space in defiance of an unjust government? But the portion of the performance that

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-89031908025105737532011-11-03T13:17:00.000-07:002011-11-03T13:17:49.593-07:00

Usually I spend the beginning of the television season writing about all the shows I'm excited to see both returning and new. This season there was definitely lots to be excited for but given my already full television schedule, I was hesitant to commit to any particular show before viewing it. The first night that How I Met Your Mother returned 2 Broke Girls came on as well and I just kind

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-46065069180156042552011-08-17T10:11:00.000-07:002011-08-17T11:12:35.063-07:00

Long overdue, I know but I wanted to continue my Montreal fangirl crush. What I loved most about Montreal was that it's a city that accessible. You can walk, take the Metro, the bus or ride a bike. As a non-driver, it's a quality I always look for in a city. In addition to all the ways to get around there's so much to see as you travel. Most of the buildings have winding staircases and

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-2659538338550822532011-07-30T05:12:00.000-07:002011-07-30T08:01:51.106-07:00

For some reason, I didn't do a lot of my traveling when I was in my early 20s. I didn't go to Vegas until I was 25. I first went to Miami at 24. I haven't done alot of trips with the girls etc. So now at 28, I'm doing a lot of these things and what I've realized is I'm an Old Tourist™.Don't get me wrong, I haven't reached fanny-pack status yet, but there's definitely the occasional need to take

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-35254348219985509802011-07-29T05:39:00.000-07:002011-07-29T07:28:18.315-07:00

I arrived in Montreal around 8:30 p.m. yesterday and after getting acclimated to the area where I'm staying (downtown near the beautiful Parc du Mont Royal), my friend and I headed towards Boulevard Saint Laurent to check out the club scene. And all I have to say is: Why the HELL is this my first time in Montreal?First off, it is a straight shot up the interstate to get here. A few tolls, pass a

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-51560003593406137122011-07-26T20:30:00.000-07:002011-07-26T21:12:50.694-07:00

Today NY returned to "normal" summer i.e. hot but not sweltering and perfect weather for the beach. I went to Riis Beach to catch up with some of my brown Brown friends. Every time I go to the beach it only reinforces that my life would be so much better if I could live it in a bikini. Also the section of the beach that I was in is pretty much nudity accepted so question: what is proper nude

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-83418482137412019482011-07-25T18:41:00.000-07:002011-07-25T20:30:02.669-07:00

Day wasted. Or not really. I actually finished reading book 5 of the Song of Ice and Fire series A Dance With Dragons. It was a-mah-zing. (That's funnier if you watch Happy Endings by the way. No really go check out Hulu I'll wait)Yesterday was also great. Sometimes the stars align and you really get to see who cares. I got lots of sweet birthday wishes and love. Way more than I expected. I got

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-71076162336581715572011-07-22T04:17:00.000-07:002011-07-29T07:23:49.204-07:00

Rarely do I use the word success in relation to the hare-brained schemes I cook up but I have to say my trip to San Diego was a rousing success!After a few hiccups, I managed to get into the Con by 12 p.m. I headed straight to Ballroom 20 (sure that I'd never get in) and got in the back to catch the tail end of the Psych panel, which Dule Hill Tweeted his way through. After that, I managed to

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-73497440907158873682011-07-20T19:57:00.000-07:002011-07-21T20:11:01.418-07:00

Tomorrow I will attempt what I am deeming a Comic-Con drive-by. After years of the evnt falling on my birthday weekend and me being unable to attend, this year I said, "Fuck it". In the past ny major impetus for going was the show Lost. Although I can geek out with the best of them on comics, I'm more of a quiet browser in the back of the store. I know what I like(X-Men, Buffy) and other than the

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-81363957333841201052011-04-21T18:22:00.000-07:002011-04-21T18:39:30.079-07:00

This week Jezebel (After Dark) did a great article about crushing on male porn star Keni Styles. After reading that article, I have to come clean about my porn star crush, James Deen.I first came across James when watching the Scrubs XXX porn parody. He played the starring role of DJ, the parody's take on Zach Braff's character on Scrubs. There was just something about him that I liked right off

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-8242648393761432212010-11-03T20:19:00.000-07:002010-11-03T20:19:44.201-07:00

My friend Katie, the most pushy and probably most successful person I know, has encouraged me to put myself out there romantically. I don't internet date because I think getting to know someone you've never met before during dinner is a little weird. I prefer meeting people through friends or at events or parties. Katie's suggested that if I wasn't going to try the internet than I have to let my

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-6736657567737702342010-09-18T11:45:00.000-07:002010-09-24T10:10:07.476-07:00

I've been doing some creative writing. The current state of my apartment causes a serious need for a creative outlet. So I thought I'd put a sampling: Sonhos é Vida (Dreams & Life)They walk towards me lentamenteAs if movingThrough sticky sweet airOr swimming through a dulce de leche haze Cansado. The days are long and hotLazy like a cat, I stretch out andDig my fingernails into fleshAbracões. I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-58430168267791644922010-07-16T16:50:00.000-07:002010-09-24T09:45:42.513-07:00

My apartment has become a metaphor for my life. About a week ago I discovered that I have bedbugs. This discovery led to a a flurry of deep cleaning (washing ALL my clothes, steaming my carpets, pulling up my carpets, moving all my furniture and dusting, etc.) and a lot of stress. The upside of this is that I'm really assessing what I have, what I need and what I want.Consequently, having a

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-79366818922991182082010-07-04T01:23:00.001-07:002010-09-24T09:46:02.434-07:00

Even though the World Cup is over I wanted to talk about my new favorite thing ... soccer (or futbol) players. Seriously, next to Argentinian polo players and surfers (what it could happen), they are officially the hottest men on the planet. And now that I know that every four years there will be an entire month donated to watching them come together and sweat, I've found my calling. Originally

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-77426616989070889232010-06-06T22:28:00.000-07:002010-09-24T09:48:13.144-07:00

Memorial Day weekend and the weekend before marked two big events in my life. The first was the series finale of LOST. For most not exactly a milestone but for this viewer it was the culmination of six years of watching, reading, listening, philosophizing and mostly importantly, it was a moment where I fully immersed myself in a community I hadn't even realized I was a part of. I was lucky enough

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-44988121978953207872010-04-26T07:47:00.001-07:002010-09-24T09:50:17.221-07:00

Saturday night I spent an hour in the presence of a living legend. Since then I've probably recounted the story a million times so I won't do that here. Here is the place where I want to meditate on what the experience meant. I've met plenty of "famous" people and definitely some wealthy ones. In a way, it's always been part of the

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-32306146471918466652010-02-13T21:12:00.000-08:002010-09-24T09:51:35.478-07:00

I actually had a great day today. I got up early, went out to Half Moon Bay for Mavericks and generally enjoyed myself in that typical California way.I'm prefacing this post with that because I don't want anyone to think this place is a repository for my ill thoughts. I did not intend on ending up in this place when I started out (or thought I'd ended) this day. But as usual, I got home and I got

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-92099045743789140272010-01-22T21:06:00.000-08:002010-01-22T21:35:50.495-08:00

Tonight is the Hope for Haiti telethon. Although I have given money, I have to say I hesitated to follow the coverage of this event. There were many reasons. In some instances I just didn't like how this was being covered with politicos and crazy right wingers spinning this into some sort of boon or folly for the Obama administration. And there was also my fear that this would be another

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-5378101946397436142010-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:002010-01-20T09:12:05.365-08:00

I hate to fall into beginning of the year tropes but I find myself doing it more and more. I wonder if it's the new year or just the natural rush that comes with having some down time. You feel a need to start anew. So what do I do?I don't like that Cathy-esque feeling I get, like I'm putting undue, stereotypically female insecurities on the table. Frankly, there are positive changes I could make

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-28115780121135928412010-01-06T12:30:00.000-08:002010-01-20T09:11:49.949-08:00

One of my absolute favorite phrases. And in it you can hear the spirit of NY. That indignant anger. That need to spit. To let people know just how you're feeling. That inability to hold back.I'm sitting in a restaurant at JFK downing Bellinis and already missing NY. Despite what some might consider a frantic pace, there's something about this city that rejuvenates me. When I'm here I feel bad if

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-8342310009544035332009-12-30T20:28:00.000-08:002009-12-30T20:52:48.628-08:00

Not to make it sound so depressing but I can't stand the whole top ten list, countdown of the moments, etc. that plagues the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve. I don't like New Year's resolutions. As someone who's spent most of my life on an academic schedule, the new year is usually September, when a school year begins.But I understand the appeal of New Year's. The feeling that once the

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-69073132060492748652009-12-28T07:35:00.000-08:002009-12-28T07:42:36.560-08:00

I'm a simple person for the most part and I try to take pleasure in life's simple offerings. Here's a few things that are currently making me happy.This video:For some reason I start to tear up at the "Somebody to Love" section.My godsister:Just about the cutest thing ever. And she's planned a whole evening of us playing with her toys. She cracks me up.My iPod Touch:My mom spent way too much on

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-65918578866819587232009-12-26T21:43:00.000-08:002009-12-26T22:11:09.156-08:00

I am a huge fan of the Shopaholic novels. I completely agree with Rebecca Bloomwood when she talks about the feeling you get "when your fingers first grasp those shiny, new bags"; I can totally relate. But unlike Becky Bloomwood, I do not have lovely parents to bail me out or a financier for a boyfriend.So it's hard to come to NY. First off, there's all these fab shops that you cannot find on the

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-67092809762083781432009-12-17T01:52:00.000-08:002009-12-17T02:09:05.110-08:00

Here it is 2 a.m. and I can't go to sleep until I'm done packing. Tomorrow evening, I head straight from work to a 6:30 flight out of SFO. I've worked really hard since September and I'm about to go on a well-deserved Christmas vacation.Everyone always says there's nothing like New York at Christmastime and they're right. Last year, I spent the holidays in Oakland and it wasn't miserable but it

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-21829925354935952832009-12-01T09:10:00.000-08:002009-12-01T09:38:32.357-08:00

I think it's been pretty well established that although I enjoy California, in my heart, I'll always be a New Yorker. In particular, there is one thing about California that really gets my goat, Prop 8.Proposition 8 managed to tear down a law that allowed for gay marriage in the state of California under the guise of "protecting traditional marriage". Now there's a lot of things wrong with that

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-17613193360523083312009-11-28T21:39:00.000-08:002009-11-28T21:57:32.384-08:00

Earlier this year I heard about Being Erica this show on SOAPNet. It's about a woman in her early 30s who gets the chance to go back in time to relive and change the moments she regrets. Many times, she learns that even if she changes her actions, ultimately the decisions she made were the right ones. Other times, the experiences help her with what is happening currently in her life. But in one

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-35664529948873110702009-11-25T11:12:00.000-08:002009-11-25T11:43:29.359-08:00

#100: Celebration! I can't believe this but here it is. Not only did I reach 100 posts but I also reached a much deserved break. And the reason I'm getting to this post the day after my deadline is because I spent last night drinking margaritas and eating tacos at Lake Chalet (Taco Tuesdays!).I've thought a bit about finishing this goal and what's next. I considered setting a new goal, but I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-84949814525259510952009-11-23T20:05:00.000-08:002009-11-23T20:35:03.853-08:00

#99: 99 Problems (The Penultimate Post)Today is it. It's the day before the day. The moment before the moment. To be honest, I never thought I'd get here. And I know I've spent at least 40 of these posts whining about my day (either for a lack of something to write or because I was so tired and frustrated it was all I could write about). But I don't want to get into reflecting on this experience

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-59431566679319624732009-11-22T19:25:00.000-08:002009-11-22T21:33:50.153-08:00

#98: Inspirations“If you become frightened, instead become inspired."I've always looked for inspiration in the world. And I have lots of ambition. I also have lots of interests. And I think I sometimes let my interests and ambitions overwhelm me until I become static.So I'm going to look at it a different way. I'm going to think of what frightens me the most and use that to inspire me. Instead of

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-69368402242772603312009-11-22T19:01:00.000-08:002009-11-22T19:24:08.967-08:00

#97: Woke Up. Still Tired. Real sleep is an elusive lover. Some days I wake up refreshed and wonderful, other days I might as well have stayed up. The next month is going to be hellish. I have meetings, events, fundraisers and who knows what else will crop up (illnesses, etc.), so I'm trying to figure out now, what I can do to make my sleep more fulfilling.I think one thing that might help is

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-76192440904298238702009-11-20T23:32:00.000-08:002009-11-25T12:09:29.469-08:00

#96: Dog DaysToday work was the opposite of work. First of all, there was food. A wonderful twist of fate had multiple events going on that involved people bringing full on pans of food to school today. Then there was the calm that descends due to a gray day and groups of students being off-campus. And finally, there were dogs.My supervisor brought in his sweetheart of a chocolate Lab who I swear

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-283244566219294582009-11-19T19:44:00.000-08:002009-11-19T20:19:00.121-08:00

#95: Emotional RollercoasterAnd I'm back on that whining shitSeriously am I 16 again?I get upset when the kids tell meYou just don't like meThey hate me, they hate meWhy you always pickin' on me?But the truth is I understandThe truth of what they sayCause sometimes the only greeting I getIs what I did wrongAnd I feel like I'm on a loop-di-loopUp and down, undulatingFrom highs to lowsI wanna be

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-50450491893928794682009-11-18T21:20:00.000-08:002009-11-18T21:34:29.763-08:00

#94: One Missed CallToday I left my cell phone at home. Though it's annoying (no timekeeper, no way to reach people when I need to tell them something quickly, etc.), the best thing about not having my phone is that I don't feel bothered. I don't feel tied to what I should be doing because there's no one to remind me if I'm not.After work I went out to dinner without regard to the time or what

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-42365213632935061202009-11-17T19:47:00.000-08:002009-11-17T20:47:28.419-08:00

#93: Running on EmptyToday was one of those days when I thought I started out with the energy to make it through the day but midway through I just crashed. Lately, I feel like when I make it to work it's one of the last places I want to be.And that's not to say it's all bad. I'm having wonderful, fulfilling moments with my students and with friends but I still balk at entering the building. I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-58741437345690577102009-11-16T20:39:00.000-08:002009-11-16T21:03:08.398-08:00

#92: Thank You For Being a FriendI know I bitch and I whine. I have issues. But I also have great friends. These past few weeks I've had the opportunity to really appreciate what that means. Sometimes that just means a phone call or a good hearty laugh. Other times it's just someone who understands your frustrations.It's been hard moving to a new place but I definitely feel like I have the people

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-33660009251329865422009-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:002009-11-15T22:34:01.350-08:00

#91: FearlessThis weekend I was watching Ugly Betty and besides having fine ass Adam Rodriguez on the show, they had a great message. The theme of the show was about being fearless. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm not as bold as I used to be. I know that one of the by-products of getting older is that you learn to hold back and assess before acting but the best thing about youth is that you

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-85031483078626514432009-11-15T18:26:00.000-08:002009-11-15T19:18:19.860-08:00

#90: Double FeatureToday I went to see Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and Precious.After reading a lot about Precious and hearing everyone's viewpoint on the film, I was eager to see it myself. I was surprised by how many people were in the theater. Almost every seat was taken. The reactions were varied and there were definitely moments when people laughed due to the uncomfortable things that

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-30207426925367594702009-11-13T21:15:00.000-08:002009-11-15T18:26:50.227-08:00

#89: Steak and EggsThis has been a rough week. Despite a perfectly timed break mid-week, Thursday made me want to punch someone soundly in the face and although today didn't drive me to assault, it was still hectic. I only got home about a half-hour ago (it's almost 9:30). So I decided to make myself some steak and eggs.Sometimes you just need a hearty breakfast at the end of the day to top off

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-57182336814968073882009-11-12T21:13:00.000-08:002009-11-15T18:25:43.535-08:00

#88: Soothing Psychosis**dedicated to Christopher Sean Whitman**I need your soothing psychosisThe obsession that sets me freeYour eyes burn with intensity thenBurnout, flat, empty and deadBecause you don't want to show your painI touch you and you flinchWhile I smolderGod help meTeresa falls up the stairsAnd I tumble down into loveA nice, shy boyTrapped in the mind of a killerPulsing, red

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-42033329968201079842009-11-11T20:50:00.000-08:002009-11-15T18:26:25.725-08:00

#87: Never Say DieToday on my day off I watch A LOT of television. Most of it was stuff that's been languishing on my DVR for weeks so I'm happy to get through it all but one was something that I've been saving for just this situation: The Goonies.For some reason, this movie (along with some others) continues to touch me. I find myself mouthing words and shedding a tear every time Sean Astin says

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-11922918308206142602009-11-10T16:11:00.001-08:002009-11-10T21:59:30.836-08:00

#86: On the Eve of ... Tomorrow is a random day off in the middle of the week and all I can say is: THANK GOD! I've already talked about my recent indifference towards work and my iPod still hasn't turned up so that is only growing. Then today a co-worker tried to tell me I'm not nice enough to her (even though she's a bitch most of the time). Frankly, I'm done with people pushing a lot of shit

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-74171593211047148322009-11-09T20:15:00.000-08:002009-11-09T20:35:18.338-08:00

#85: Word of the Day ...Indifference. On Friday, my iPod was taken from work. It was a red iPod nano (1st generation) and it was the first major purchase I made after moving to Oakland. It was my first "big girl" gift to myself.Ever since my iPod was taken I've felt an overwhelming feeling of indifference towards my students. I'm not really mad, I've just shut down. After weeks of busting my ass

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-92159511633958174022009-11-08T22:38:00.000-08:002009-11-08T23:19:37.136-08:00

#84: Smooth Like ChocolateRounding out my weekend of concerts was the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a Black bluegrass band. Much like Halloween, the image of bluegrass music has strayed far from its roots. Although most people think of rednecks and backwoods when they hear the banjo play, the truth is that the banjo is an African-American instrument that has many names across the African

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-291596011737025272009-11-08T13:58:00.000-08:002009-11-08T14:12:02.208-08:00

#83: Savion and PatienceLast night I got to see the wonderful and dynamic Savion Glover perform. I have to tip my hat to this man because he did two back-to-back shows (90 minutes each) and I don't think he paused more than five minutes the entire time. The show was all improvisation with him tapping along with a jazz quartet. The other thing i loved about the show was Patience Higgins, the horn

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-45070276238409442442009-11-07T13:23:00.000-08:002009-11-12T21:36:12.379-08:00

#82: PreciousUPDATED: Way more interesting analysis here.The movie Precious opened in theaters yesterday. I've seen a lot of articles discussing the film and the book Push that it's based on. There are interviews with the author of the book as well as the director of the film Lee Daniels and his backers, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. There's also a lot of criticism about colorism in the casting

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-31657327076433479542009-11-05T23:14:00.000-08:002009-11-05T23:40:50.585-08:00

#81: EsperanzaTonight I went to an SFJazz show. The artist was Esperanza Spalding, who is a wonderfully beautiful and talented bassist. The 23-year old is wildly entertaining and her performance was the epitome of casual and relatable even in a 1,000 seat venue. But mostly, she's just chill in that, I-wanna-hang-with-you way.She has this song Precious which I love (also check out Cuerpo y Alma).

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-31895548868915909352009-11-05T07:27:00.000-08:002009-11-05T07:38:03.179-08:00

#80: Sore throatMy throat has been feeling a bit sore this week. It's perpetually dry which ironically enough is how my life feels: dry.My weekend in LA that was supposed to be lots of fun was ... not so much. I enjoyed myself but it was definitely not the weekend of wild debauchery I'd envisioned.Since returning it's been "crazy in the streets" as I used to say in high school. Literally, I had

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-85273334639086820022009-11-03T22:13:00.001-08:002009-11-03T22:25:51.824-08:00

#79: Hanging On for Dear LifeThings come undoneLike silken strands sliding through waiting fingersEach day unraveling, pastGoneRunning without a chance to take a breathChest heavy with coldBurning through a bodyWasteHours upon hours, strike downGrasping and claspingHolding on to the presentNo idea of the futurePainDoubled over, dry heavingOut my spiritAll that's left to cling toHopeThe season

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-24913903713285356382009-11-03T13:41:00.000-08:002009-11-03T13:53:35.626-08:00

#78: Ms. StressWhen it rains it pours. Despite all the planning and prepping that I did before leaving to "rest", I've come back and it's chaos. There's a million things going on, everyone is calling in sick, I'm sick too, and although it is November, it's blazing hot and the heat is making me more irritated. I'm working all through the weekend and basically I'm living for Veteran's Day. If I can

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-63304722323741131212009-11-02T11:04:00.000-08:002009-11-02T11:25:36.892-08:00

#77: Late NightLast night I got home around 3 a.m. so although I had a post planned, I was far too tired to delve into the deep thoughts I had planned on sharing. But in the light of day I have some new thoughts/questions that this weekend away left me with:1. I'm so glad my mom is my momI talk to my mom on the phone about every weekend. And if I miss a weekend she notices. We have a complicated

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-60209498924361900792009-10-31T07:43:00.000-07:002009-10-31T09:00:18.510-07:00

#76: All Hallow's EveHalloween is probably my favorite holiday next to Christmas and my birthday (which I consider to be a holiday). As someone who's always loved stories, fantasy and theatre, the idea of an entire day dedicated to dressing in costume ... right up my alley.But lately, as I've been talking to people I realize how maligned the holiday is. I will admit that Halloween is a far cry

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-43260018412234702842009-10-31T07:25:00.000-07:002009-10-31T07:43:33.491-07:00

#75: A Day Late and a Dollar ShortWith the economic crisis that we're all facing, the end of the month has come to be the time that most people dread and yet wait for with bated breath. It's the time when the amount of money in your pockets is ebbing like the tide at it's lowest point. But you know that if you can hold on long enough, the money will flow back in. Then the cycle begins all over

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-27174254513925913112009-10-30T08:32:00.000-07:002009-10-30T09:26:03.200-07:00

#74: Traveling ManSometimes the only way for me to think is to get away from home. I've always been a traveler. In the summer, my mom would send me down to North Carolina to stay with my great-grandparents. While I know now that it was her way of taking a break from me, I thank her immensely because those summers were the best of my life. I got to spend time with my wonderful great-grandfather,

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-90675213034962644832009-10-28T18:47:00.000-07:002009-10-28T19:01:54.829-07:00

#73: The Power of PlayToday I had to attend a workshop on the "power of play" for my professional development. The workshop was definitely informative and there were some important techniques that I took away from it, but I had two major qualms about it:1) although the recess and afterschool (read: ancillary) staff were required to attend teachers were not.2) part of the reason we were required

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-78284242625447159292009-10-27T17:30:00.000-07:002009-10-28T18:47:24.355-07:00

#72: If I Was A BirdI've been reading a lot of fan-fiction; some that I've written and others that I just enjoy. In some ways, it helps me gauge when I had time on my hands (or made time) and how my writing has changed or improved over time. But most of all, it notes times when I was inspired.When I'm inspired by something, I start to write. Poetry, fan fiction, original stories, plays, pretty

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-12903952824407609572009-10-26T18:54:00.000-07:002009-10-26T20:21:11.574-07:00

#71: Catch-UpLately I feel like I'm playing a bit of catch up. There's a million shows on my DVR that I haven't got a chance to watch. There's packages I've been meaning to mail out. Clothes I meant to put away and tiny tasks that have been looming over my head like boulders.The good thing is that I've been getting a lot accomplished and working hard but all of my personal goals have once again

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-41361553700854484662009-10-25T20:58:00.002-07:002009-10-25T21:19:07.580-07:00

#70: The Best Laid PlansEvery weekend I start with a plan. Not a lot but just a few simple tasks I want to accomplish before the weekend is over. And every Sunday around 9 p.m. I realize just how little I've managed to complete.Sometimes I just get sentimental over the weekend. I start to get lost in reminiscences. Last night I was up until about 4 in the morning looking up old R&B music videos

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-44006391914240455122009-10-25T20:58:00.001-07:002009-10-25T20:58:31.540-07:00

#69: Lay In Bed MixThe best thing about Sunday is that (if you can) you get to lay in bed all day. Often in movies and television this is depicted as the girl rolling around in her huge bed in gorgeous lingerie or sexy, casual underwear while an enticing soundtrack plays and she contemplates the next act to come. Even though I don't know too much about the rolling around in lingerie part, I can

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-17650155410210770272009-10-24T17:51:00.000-07:002009-10-25T01:28:02.133-07:00

#68: Can't ThinkToday has been one of those days when my thoughts don't seem to coalesce. My mind has been flitting from one thing to another. Sometimes I can't think of one thing to write on this blog and today I must have thought of a million but nothing seemed quite right. Or it was as if the thought hovered there like a hummingbird. Waiting to be realized but elusive.My entire day has been

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-75908659208908737962009-10-23T23:29:00.000-07:002009-10-23T23:56:32.339-07:00

#67: Joy RisingI'm not an Oprah fan. If I watch an episode of Oprah it's usually because she has a guest that I enjoy or because I stumble into it. Last night, I stumbled into an episode about "bests". There was a segment about the "best jeans" for curvy bottoms (CJ by Cookie Johnson). And even one about the "best job" (a travel writer). But the one that stuck with me was about a "flash mob" that

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-19319394519698753712009-10-23T09:03:00.001-07:002009-10-23T09:04:01.802-07:00

#66: RemissI have been so remiss. Obviously, trying to update every day is harder than I thought it was going to be. Especially on those days when I come home and all I want to do is soak my feet and sleep. But I'm working towards getting back on track. I have a week of parent meetings (and also catching up on laundry, cleaning and rest). And then a short jaunt down to LA for Halloween. So I'm

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-13807692427787322482009-10-21T20:45:00.001-07:002009-10-21T21:36:57.832-07:00

#65: It Ain't Over Til It's OverRundown of my day:5:00 AM: Wake-up, begin washing dishes and getting together ingredients to cook treats for school event.6:00 AM: Get off computer after looking up conversion from ounces to cups.6:15 AM: Get the popcorn started, begin mixing the caramel sauce.6:30 AM: Trying to figure out where to store the popcorn. Don't have anything big enough to hold all the

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-91663859513960165612009-10-20T21:07:00.000-07:002009-10-20T21:25:52.722-07:00

#64: Much Ado About ... EverythingSometimes I want to slap myself. I don't think it's conceited to say that I have great ideas. And I have the ability to execute them. The problem is my perfectionism.I want to see things done right. I want large scale. I want fog rolling in, bright lights and lots and lots of pizazz. So tomorrow I have a huge work event that I am FREAKING OUT about.I'm cooking a

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-8151800758714390912009-10-19T13:37:00.000-07:002009-10-20T21:13:37.402-07:00

#63: Facebook "Friends"In this day and age, technology has led to a whole slew of idiosyncrasies and awkward moments. I find that I'm reading a lot of "What to do when (Blank) Friends You" or "How to Defriend a Friend" articles.I would classify myself as a Facebook snob. I'm very choosy about who I friend, usually reserving the honor for close friends or those who are farther away who I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-13908336975591478212009-10-18T11:13:00.000-07:002009-10-19T00:04:39.223-07:00

#62: KarmaI've been thinking about karma. If what you put out is really what you get back. Recently, Barbra Ehrenreich published a book titled Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. The book discusses how the American culture of positive thinking can create a backlash and a complacency that is more harmful than good.One of the blurbs about the book

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-12876683877848531272009-10-17T20:48:00.000-07:002009-10-17T21:06:22.432-07:00

#61: Perfect DayAs I've said before, I don't get a lot of perfect days anymore. Working with students sometimes leaves me over-emotional and temperamental. But today I had a perfect day. I washed and conditioned my hair. I laid in bed and (re)read some of my favorite books. I ate splendidly. I later styled my hair while watching Lifetime movies and I even managed to do two loads of direly needed

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-87673955032666110622009-10-15T22:41:00.000-07:002009-10-16T08:05:55.484-07:00

#60: No AirBreathe easyTake it slowDon't let the frenzied movement guide your stepsThinkNothing was ever achieved without thoughtLet your limbs take overLet them ease into the softness of the worldIgnoring the rough places.Push towards the skyGrab hold and let your calm take youTo heights you never daredNever toss nor turnOr let the bracken take holdOf your heartI hear it allFrom far away like

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-38713750736206194842009-10-14T21:10:00.000-07:002009-10-14T21:25:42.869-07:00

#59: HappenstanceToday when I was waiting for the bus a woman came up to me and asked me for a cigarette. She looked a bit degenerate but I pulled out my iPod headphones and informed her that I didn't smoke. She then asked me if I had prayed to Jesus Christ and confessed my sins. I told her I hadn't. She asked me if I read the Bible. At this point I was amused. I said no (even though I have). She

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-16277642861282427612009-10-13T21:04:00.000-07:002009-10-13T22:02:24.860-07:00

#58: Packed HouseNow that we've had a few weeks of new television, I thought I'd give my list of shows I'm loving, shows that are languishing on the DVR and others that have been deleted altogether.My two busiest nights are Sundays and Thursdays. Sundays are comedy and drama. Animation Domination on FOX (Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and American Dad) brings the funny as well as

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-25699752904551560922009-10-12T22:01:00.000-07:002009-10-12T22:42:04.376-07:00

#57: Good HairIf you haven't heard, hair is a big thing in the Black community. When I graduated college, I was going coming off of a spring that included at least 3 major papers, an important family death and a belabored illness. Needless to say, I cut off all my hair.I still refer to that as my Grown & Sexy summer. At first, I thought I'd lost my mind and I looked like a boy. But that was far

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-59341425189622275742009-10-11T23:34:00.000-07:002009-10-11T23:54:25.829-07:00

#56: A Post Before MidnightTrying to stay on task and sneak this one in under the wire. Weekends are always the hardest for me because it's the time when I tell myself I'm going to do a bunch of stuff but mostly I like to veg out and figure out what I can make out of the scraps in my fridge.Mentally, I try to prepare for the upcoming week but that's overshadowed by the fact that physically I do

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-60512403154914791242009-10-11T10:07:00.000-07:002009-10-11T23:46:03.933-07:00

#55: Black and WhiteLast night, I attended our school's gala event. It was a nice night, even though I spent a good amount of it running up and down the stairs helping out and even helping a woman who passed out.Given the theme of the night (black & white) and the nature of the event (very rich people spending obscene amounts of money), I found myself pondering dichotomies.Rich vs. Poor: One of

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-43493265698831680772009-10-10T17:50:00.001-07:002009-10-30T09:29:14.833-07:00

#54: M is for MargaritaDue to a pitcher of margaritas I didn't get the opportunity to update last night. But I did walk away with some insight. I've been talking a lot about how I'm in a rut. And it's true.But it's not a bad thing. I like that the people in my life can maneuver seamlessly between Project Runway and Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. I enjoy my crazy students. I like how I can manipulate

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-82968587295129067442009-10-08T22:39:00.000-07:002009-10-08T22:54:18.869-07:00

#53: And So It Goes ...Yesterday I was writing about apathy and today my faith is (somewhat) restored. But that just goes to illustrate one of the problems with being a teacher. When you work with a bunch of hormone-loaded teens, you start to act like them.It's not like I'm going around being mercurial with people but I definitely experience the daily ups and downs that I remember from high

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-91268552996750489432009-10-07T20:12:00.000-07:002009-10-07T20:44:19.143-07:00

#52: ApathyToday I hosted a fashion show for our Afterschool Program. Originally planned for the high school, it ended up being mostly attended by the middle and some elementary students. In a way it was a success. The high school band played. The models enjoyed themselves and so did the attendees but there were some snafus and a lot of it comes down to apathy.People always ask me is California

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-33694846454324308912009-10-06T19:17:00.000-07:002009-10-06T20:00:36.109-07:00

#51: CloserSome times it feels like I'll never go pass here Some times it feels like I'm stuck forever and ever But, I'm going higher Closer to my dreamsThere's a lot of opportunity out there. Even in this economy there's lots o ways to create opportunity and sometimes I don't feel like I'm living up to my potential. Leaving all my fears to burn down Push them all away so I can move on Closer to

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-11632911511458235342009-10-05T21:12:00.000-07:002009-10-05T21:37:39.602-07:00

#50: Miles To Go Before I SleepThe woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep- Robert FrostI'm halfway there. To be honest, I didn't think that I'd make it this far. The thought of trying to update a blog every single day for a hundred days is pretty daunting. And I know my life is not that interesting. But some good things have come from this.I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-32825041130068321272009-10-04T22:17:00.000-07:002009-10-04T22:39:29.316-07:00

#49: Love UnconditionalOther than my mother and brother, these are the two people I love the most in the world; my great-grandmother and my grandfather. My great-grandmother died about 5 years ago. My grandfather lives in a home in North Carolina now. Ever since I've moved out to Cali, I haven't been able to see him because when I go to the East Coast, I don't have the time or money to go to NC.

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-19377557824514446602009-10-04T11:50:00.000-07:002009-10-04T11:59:48.214-07:00

#48: Dreaming of YouI'm a dreamer. I always have been. I spend a lot of time daydreaming and that's what I spent all day doing.Most often than not, I dream about love. I create stories in my mind. Some times I insert myself into my favorite stories or tv shows or movies. Other times I create stories out of thin air. Occasionally, I write it all down.I wonder if my daydreams are harmful. If living

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-23741331346936752122009-10-02T22:40:00.000-07:002009-10-02T22:55:00.097-07:00

#47: First FridaysFirst Fridays are the night when I get to experience Oakland and it's over-21 denizens for free. Tonight, I hung out at Oakland Art Murmur, a basic free for all of art, booze and crunchy Oakland types.The thing I like about First Fridays, is that it's also the night when I run into people I know. Similar to going to Kings Plaza in Brooklyn, there's no way I can go out on a Frist

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-47973197658230206482009-10-02T08:24:00.000-07:002009-10-02T08:46:28.411-07:00

#46: Hot MessTop 3 Things that are a Hot Mess #3 - My ApartmentEvery single week I tell myself I'm going to clean up and it doesn't happen. I have things I need to mail buried under papers that need to be thrown out and it's officially, a hot mess.#2 - My Love Life (a.k.a. The Lack Thereof) I'm really unexcited about dating right now. I want to but I've found no one even remotely interesting.

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-24946618789069389152009-10-01T00:07:00.000-07:002009-10-01T00:26:50.514-07:00

#45: AtonementI'm searching for atonementI'm looking for someone to tell me it's okTo watch a child being beaten for havingLight-skin and long hairI'm hoping someone will tell meIt's not my fault that I didn't jump inAnd save the dayThat I haven't seen the dayWhen I am afraid of childrenI'm asking for forgivenessFor every time I fell short andLet my short fuse lead a child astrayFor the days I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-36394735436345882172009-09-29T19:50:00.000-07:002009-09-29T20:14:25.141-07:00

#44: Over Troubled WaterWade in the water, wade in the water, children Wade in the water, God's gonna trouble the waterWe toiled in the fieldsNow we toil to pay billsRunning so fast we don't even realize we startedA mile behindEveryday collectors callingWaiting with raised whipsTo slice into that last dollarDo I eat, or accept defeat?Cause it seems like lately the choice is betweenThe twoThe two

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-77585677015637207892009-09-28T20:12:00.000-07:002009-09-28T20:46:43.992-07:00

#43: Mood: ContemplativeClearly this was one of those "in my head" days. Not so much becaue I was at work but I did start to think: when did we stop teaching kids to think? When did we stop teaching them the basic modicums of respect and decency?I've been blaming the kids but lately, I've got to go to the adults. For example, lately when I go out to monitor recess, there are chip packets and

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-46635788057816463472009-09-27T23:53:00.001-07:002009-09-28T00:17:52.993-07:00

#42: Too MuchSundays are jam-packed with television on a variety of networks. There's FOX's Animation Domination, which returned tonight with The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show. Then there's CBS which returned with The Amazing Race and Cold Case and ABC's Brothers & Sisters started it's third season tonight. Finally, two of Showtime's best, Dexter and Californication

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-3063000389041728362009-09-27T12:58:00.000-07:002009-09-27T13:43:36.396-07:00

#42: WILFsI was supposed to make this update last night but clearly I'm a boob. but here's my (very late) Saturday update about WILFs (White Guys I'd Like to F ...). I wouldn't say that I have anything against any race or ethnicity when it comes to men. But when it comes to white guys, there are definitely certain types that I find attractive and everyone else kind of falls to the wayside.First

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-90198410470204232142009-09-26T10:31:00.000-07:002009-09-26T10:58:10.183-07:00

#40: Welcome to the ...Last night marked the return of two of my favorite shows NUMB3RS and Dollhouse. While NUMB3RS was a good episode, it was mainly picking up where last season ended. But Dollhouse is setting us up for a far different ride.With the arrival of Dollhouse on DVD, fans also got an unaired episode, Epitaph One. That episode, set years into the future, showed us where this show is

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-41130472072168720922009-09-24T21:26:00.000-07:002009-09-25T21:58:22.472-07:00

#39: To Be Continued ...Due to illness and the fact that I have to be at work at 8 am, I'll update about Grey's Anatomy tomorrow.UPDATED: There are five stages of grief ...1. DenialI remember when I first began to question Grey's Anatomy. After Denny died, I wailed and cried but I told myself it was in service of the story and after a story like that one, I would follow Shonda Rhimes and the

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-25767390775008733952009-09-23T22:56:00.000-07:002009-09-23T23:18:07.710-07:00

#38: Must-See TVIt looks like Wednesday might be a second night of comedy (which is good because Monday and Wednesdays are shaping up to be some of my most hectic days). Tonight there were no returning shows but I decided to check out ABC's attempts to return to comedy, Modern Family and Cougar Town.Modern Family is a mockumentary-style sitcom about three inter-related families, May-December

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-69792670329705800232009-09-22T20:36:00.000-07:002009-09-22T21:38:37.040-07:00

#37: Music & LyricsToday's a slow day for returning shows so I thought I'd honor all of my favorite television/music moments. Growing up, music was always a part of television. Theme songs and special guest stars always highlighted the musical moments of the shows but it wasn't until my teens when shows started to use television to launch new and emerging artists in a really significant way. So I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-38306703049698132412009-09-21T23:49:00.000-07:002009-09-22T00:10:54.660-07:00

#36: Are You Ready for Some ... Tonight I watched the season premieres of The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Castle. Although many people think the television sitcom is dead, I have to say that both BBT and HIMYM prove them wrong. Both shows consistently make me laugh out loud and tonight was no exception.HIMYM has finally brought together my two favorite characters, Barney and Robin,

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-41395207558568288802009-09-20T15:05:00.000-07:002009-09-21T09:19:46.250-07:00

#35: Glitz and GlamourAlthough fall television has been going on for the past few weeks, this week is when some of my perennial favorites, like Grey's Anatomy, premiere. So all this week I'll be blogging about television exclusively (which is a nice respite after my bit of self-indulgence for the past week). And to kick it off, I'll be offering my thoughts on tonight's Primetime Emmys hosted by

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-58746372796282616802009-09-20T01:02:00.001-07:002009-09-20T01:20:42.473-07:00

#34: InsomniacI've had a difficult time sleeping the past couple of nights. I'm averaging about five hours ofsleep per night. I go through these sleepless periods about once to twice a year. If I was the therapy type, I could probably tell you what triggers it but for the most part it's just happens.It's not necessarily bad. I don't feel extra tired. For example, today I went to see the San

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-423853865606226242009-09-18T23:05:00.000-07:002009-09-19T00:31:22.541-07:00

#34: How Many of Us Have Them?Today I went to a skate-a-thon at Dry Ice roller rink. It was my first attempt to make some friends outside of work. I think it was a rousing success. I enjoyed myself, had some well-priced (read: cheap) beer and met some good people.I think the older you get the harder it is to make friends. By the time you're 20 or so, you've pretty established the group of people

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-71131326773780726662009-09-17T21:51:00.000-07:002009-09-17T22:57:48.696-07:00

#32: Love JonesSince I've been reminiscing all week I would be remiss not to mention Love Jones. Love Jones is one of those movies that I think defined what "love" is supposed to look like for people, as evidenced by the amounts of "Love Jones" blogs I found when searching for this picture.For me, just the words evoke a certain feeling. It reminds me of the feeling of laying on the couch and

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6174452151359306578.post-75319354144771775172009-09-16T21:32:00.000-07:002009-09-16T22:32:50.106-07:00

#31: Bright Days, Stupid NightsBright Days, Stupid Nights was one of my favorite books when I was young. The story is about four young people working at a small-town newspaper during the summer. At the time, I identified with the character Vicki, the hard-working prodigy who tried hard to prove herself while being caught up in the "romance" she hoped would happen. Pretty much me to a tee. But I

shananiganshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10843563348922267317noreply@blogger.com0