Faith, Hope, and Love

One of the funniest websites ever! And so true! You know you're Nigerian when...

Yesterday, I missed a call from what I thought was a friend from college (I recently synced my phone to Facebook, and for some reason this number is connected to her account or something weird like that). Today, "she" calls back and I pick up... except it wasn't my friend, it was the U.S. Immigration and Customs office calling to verify my legal status. Apparently, someone had filed a complaint about me, and they were calling to do a phone interview. The conversation went something like this: Man: Hi, may I speak to ...? Me: This is she.  Man: I'm calling from the U.S. Immigration and Customs office, and we have recieved some information suggests your status has changed. [there's a pause where I think, "OMG... what does unemployment have to do with immigration?!"] Are you here on a visa, or...? Me: No, I'm a citizen.  Man: Were you born here, or you're a naturalized citizen? Me: I was born here...  Man: And do you have a U.S. passport...

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a slight obsession with Disney. Anyone who knows me also knows I have an obsession with fairy tales. My obsession with both is probably what makes "Beauty & the Beast" one of my favorite movies (and definitely my favorite Disney animation). It's being re-released on DVD on October 5th, and I can't wait!!! Won't be buying it, unless I land a second job (then it'll be my celebratory gift to myself), but... in honor of this release, theaters across the U.S. are doing sing-a-longs . A friend and I went to the one yesterday, and on Saturday (Oct 2nd) at noon will be the second day they do this. Can I just saying a sing-a-long in a theater is sooo much fun! I sing a long at home all the time, but something about a group of people watching a movie on the big screen, with the words being highlighted for you, and everyone singing and quoting the lines without anyone shushing... COMPLETE AWESOMENESS!!! I took pictures... and...

I got a call about a technical writing position!!! I missed the lady's call, and then she was out of the office by the time I called back, but I am PRAYING that this turns into a real opportunity for me! It almost seems cruel to get a call and then it not pan out. Especially since I've been waiting for long for something, anything! I've also applied to a lot of tutoring and teaching-type jobs... and I'm considering of doing a teaching practicum (kind of like student teaching) in the Spring so I can officially have my teaching certification. However, I can't decide what grade I should go for if I do go down that route. I've passed the English Language teaching test for grades 4-8 and 8-12; some days I think I'd like the 4th/5th grade range better, and other days I think fondly of my days in Honors and AP English and think I should go the high school route. I'm still planning to take some online classes starting in October to give me some leverage f...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.  My last post sounded unhappy and ungrateful. Too things that I'm not... but I do have moments of despair, and that was one of them. In a much better place today. And decided to re-read this passage, which has been my mantra since the day I lost my job. A great work of God is predicated by a humble attitude. And I have definitely been humbled. All I can do is pray, confess that I can't do it on my own, and completely surrender. So... I guess I just have to wait for that great work of God, huh? Any time, Lord. Any time. :)

Are you there, God? It's me... and I need to talk to You. I'm tired of pretending that I'm okay. Because, honestly, I'm not. I'm far from okay. I want to trust You so much... and I guess, deep down inside, I do. But I'm also scared. And so full of uncertainty. What is going to happen to me? What is this that You're doing to me? When will I find a second part-time job, or find a full-time job, and be able to no longer worry about how rent and other bills will get paid? When will I be able to hold my head up high and proudly tell people what I do, instead of trying to make "Right now, I work part-time at the YMCA" sound like my absolute dream when at times it feels like a nightmare? When will the shame of losing my job be left behind me? And when will I no longer feel this pit of despair inside me? When will my smile be real again? And when will I be able to enjoy life again? Are You there, God? It's me... and I'm so confused. I...

Another v-blog from Ebs. This one I thought was pretty cute! It's Video 5 in her Quest to Meet J-Lo. All I can say is shame on Tiffani for not helping out her cousin! So close, yet so far!

I've been a member of Fictionpress since 2006--I joined shortly after finishing undergrad, when I was trying to figure out "what's next" and was often bored and lonely in Oklahoma. Mostly I spent my time reading and reviewing other people's work (primarily my friend Tatiana Moore ), but occasionally I'd post my own stuff. I haven't updated my FP account since 2008, but today I decided I'd use it to post any vignettes or short stories I end up writing over the next couple of months (or longer). I have so many books that offer writing prompts and exercises and stuff (plus, I often pick up more at the library). My plan has been to do at least one exercise/prompt a day. However, I won't post all of them. I may also re-visit some of the novel-length projects I had been working on all those years ago. At least one of them is very important to me and I actually want to see completed. So we'll see what happens... Today I posted two "chapte...

I am the ultimate slacker. Or at least, I think that I am. I've had so many plans and goals and ideas and projects... and haven't made a move on any of them. My excuse is that after running after a bunch of kids for four hours each day, I'm beyond exhausted to begin evening thinking  about anything besides taking a nap and vegging out in front of the TV. Today, for instance, I came home, watched the end of The Rookie , ate some left over pizza, finished reading "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" (first time, and a very good read!), and then proceeded to take five or six hour nap. Tomorrow was supposed to be my day off, and I envisioned I'd begin on something useful. But then I noticed missed calls on my phone, which turned out to be a co-worker wanting me to work for her tomorrow. So now I'm working form 1-5pm. And since I most likely won't even get out of bed before 9am... my day is shot. (Not really, but if I follow my current trend, nothing useful will...

For my 25th birthday, I decided I wanted to take some pictures. Like professional-quality pictures. The kind people take during senior year, or engagements, or when they are pregnant. I've never had pictures like that before. I even worked for a photography studio for about six months and never took advantage of my discount to pose in front of cool backgrounds, jump up in the air, change outfits... express myself. I figured turning 25 was just as good of an occasion as being a senior in high school, getting proposed to, or carrying a bundle of joy. Especially seeing as my 25th year looked like it was probably going to rocky. I mean, who doesn't need to feel like a model after losing their job and just feeling down on luck in general? So, I asked my friend and budding photographer Precious to be my photographer and help capture me at 25. Here's the first picture I've been allowed to see. And I'm in love. Can't wait to see more (and don't worry, I'...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love kids. They are such a joy to be around. And everything in their world is so cute and whimsical! And anyone who knows me also knows that I love whimsical. :) I'm quite a ways away from being a mom myself, but I think about it all the time. Not in a weird "my eggs are rotting" way, but just in a blithesome anticipation of how much fun it'll be. Or at least how much fun I can have being a mom (don't worry, I'm under no delusions that it's easy). Occasionally I've come across some extremely cute "Mommy Blogs" that have made me go... "I want to do something like that..." Here are two of my most recent findings. (And even if you're not interested, I'm posting them here so I can always come back to this post when I do have kids one day.) 1. Another Lunch: This mom has a blast making her kids lunches as fun as possible. Some of them just look too cute to even eat! She also offers how-to...

I've made a pact to myself to have at least one moment of creativity each day. I generally equated creativity with writing... just because that's what I assume I'm good at. And I guess it's also what I've been struggling with lately. But I've also begun dabbling in photography, and I've been trying to improve my skills on the piano and vocally, and learn the guitar. But mainly, my focus has been writing.  Keeping this blog was supposed to be a way to force myself to write as much as possible. But today, while volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, a group called Sip 'n' Doodle came out, and I got to paint. And it was sooo much fun! And kind of relaxing. My friend Abbe has told me about Pinot and Picasso in Houston, and I thought it was a cool concept. So I was kind of glad to test it out .. for free, too! :) I will say that I discovered that I'm highly critical of myself. And while everyone else raved about my creation and thought it wa...

I've known Ebonii ever since we both ended up in Mr. Roberts' high school World History class together. We probably both should have been in the Honors version or something, because we were bored out of our mind and spent most of the hour and thirty minutes playing card games. Egyptian Rat Screw, Speed, Double Solitaire (which I've forgotten how to play! You'll have to re-teach me, Ebs!). One thing about Ebonii that makes her Ebonii is her obsession with Jennifer Lopez. And I seriously do mean  obsession . She owns (and has liked) every JLo movie (I believe the exception is  Gigli , which I don't think  anyone  liked). She has purchased every JLo CD. Been to as many concerts as she can afford (I think she spent like $200 on tickets once). Likes her clothes, perfumes... you get the picture. It's been Ebonii's dream to meet her "idol" at some point in life. And she's hoping this year, will be the year. Why? Because this is the year Ebonii tur...

In 2006, I got my bachelor's degree. In 2008, I finished my master's. Two-thousand and nine? Spent three months in an alternative teaching certification course. And now in 2010, I'm thinking I went about this whole education thing the wrong way and need even more  school. To be fair, I don't think any of my degrees, or classes, have been useless. I believe ultimately they will all play a role in what I do long-term in life and each class was training to help me succeed. But I also feel like none of it has geared me for what I really want to do... especially since I'm feeling a little confused on that myself. Right now I'm on the fence about going after my MFA in Creative Writing or not. If you asked me what I wanted to be when I was five-year-old, I probably would have said Anne of Green Gables. Something about red hair, green-grey eyes, and being a quirky Canadian sounded ideal to me. I no longer want to be Anne--or at least not literally. I've always...

Earlier today I decided to be a bit more productive than I usually am after my 4-hour stint at my part-time job and made my way to the bookstore hoping to find some "direction." Ever since I lost my magazine job (and to be honest, even a few months before then), I've been feeling a bit jaded and confused. I'm suddenly wondering if what I always wanted to do with my life is what I'm supposed  to be doing, and asking myself if the profession I've always dreamed of pursing since I was about five-years-old is really for me. What if I'm honestly just no good at it? What if I just thought  I was? I had one day left on my "birthday gift" from Borders (I got a free raspberry-lemony iced tea!), so it seemed like the place to be. In the reference section, I grabbed a Writer's Market hoping to discover a few new avenues and alleys I never thought to walk down before. In the job section, I found "Fired to Hired," which I embarrassingly picked ...

We've all heard tales of people claiming to have new talents, new tastes, new skills, and new memories after receiving a transplant. Almost as if by giving a piece of yourself to another, they really do gain a part of ... you. But what if this exchange could take place with something as simple as a blood transfusion? I donate blood today, and tomorrow some person in dire need receives it and poof! Suddenly they have vivid memories of me and my life. Sounds crazy, right? When I first picked up Cecelia Ahern 's "Thanks for the Memories," that's exactly what I thought. But the idea intrigued me--to be connected to someone through blood. And as I've read all of her books and loved them all, I'd grown accustomed to being led through a story where extraordinary things happen to ordinary people living ordinary lives. It's probably what's best about Ahern's writing, especially in this book. Here lies a story of a thirty-something-year-old Irish w...

Two weeks ago, I turned 25. It should have been a fabulous day, but turning a quarter of a century was far from what I had imagined it'd be. Ten years ago, I thought by 25 I'd be married to a tall, dark and handsome man; living in a cute town home or flat in a cool, hip city; navigating my way through an amazing career as an author, or at least an assistant editor... Basically I didn't think I'd be a loser. And let's face it... currently that's kind of what I am. I have my masters, and I work part-time taking care of other people's children, who can be very precious, but also very snotty. I am very, very single--the guys I want to be interested in me don't even want to be friends, and the ones I don't are borderline stalking me through Skype, Facebook, Twitter and/or MySpace. I do  live in a pretty cute and cozy apartment in a somewhat hip part of the city... except without a full-time job, I really can't afford it anymore and could easily ...