UPDATE || christmas.

Merry Christmas to all
and to all a good night.

I hope and pray that everyone is enjoying this holiday season.
I had one of the best Christmases ever.

UPDATE || back again.

I am finally done with finals. I've designed and constructed a cute 40's-inspired (but maybe not as much now) dress; I've adapted a novel and directed it (it was fabulous); I've written a literature review; and wrote a business plan (which was well-received).

I am proud of myself for accomplishing this and more as there are little niggly things that go along with all of those assignments.

I am also very tired. Very tired. And my house is a mess.

Besides that, I am glad to have a bit more time to blog. Although I've had lots of schoolwork to do, I spent a lot of time thinking about stuff. Because thinking is what I do. So sometime between now and . . . I don't know, you'll be able to read my ramblings about love, marriage, growing up, body issues and stuff like that. That's all been on my mind. And I like to say what's on my mind, or at least I am starting to begin to say what is on my mind. Ha. How do you like that?

Anywho, I am excited to be done with the semester. I've met some really great people. I've learned a lot about theatre and myself. I'm figuring out where and how I fit into the scheme of things. I even have a chance to feel giddy once in a while (or more than once in a while). Life is good. I think that's the gist of it. Life is just good. It may not be terribly adventurous or even the exact way I want it to be. But it's good.

Yeah.



now playing: the entire christmas musiq album.

IRL || things that made me happy this week. with exposition.

It's the time where all of the final projects are due. I've been holed up in my room or the library or some computer lab every spare minute I've been getting. Kind of. Anyway, the fast-approaching finals can be cause for sadness at times, and certainly stress. Luckily, I've been afforded a few smiles here and there:

one:
I got paid.
Therefore I bought new earrings and some warm boots.
The earrings have Africa cut outs. Really cute.

two.
I got told "I like your look."
It's nice to get complimented on your style. I've been doing new things with how I've been dressing.

three.
I saw my sorors.
They're cool. I love them. Lots of hugs were involved.

four.
Work hasn't been super boring.
That's good, right?

five.
I get to chat and talk and now, tweet with someone special when I get breaks and/or bored.
And so I get laughs and warm-fuzzies from far away.

six.
I chatted with my sands for sands chat.
It's always lovely.

seven.
I'm busy.
And even though it's a little stressful, life is still good, in general. And I can focus. Mostly. Heh.

IRL || finally.

I am nearing the end of my 3rd semester in grad school and I must say, that this semester has been the most intense semester I've ever had in my entire educational career. I've been a researching, costuming, surveying, business planning, adapting and directing madwoman.
It will not end until the 17th.

I'm glad I have supportive and understanding people in my corner because I cannot stop until the last project is done. I'm also thankful for the emotional stability I've had lately in my life. I'm so thankful for where I am right now.

IRL || how it feels to be fat me. . .

The answer to much this Thanksgiving holiday:

"Sometimes I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company?
It's beyond me."

- Zora Neale Hurston
from "How It Feels to be Colored Me"

UPDATE || on the topic of being thankful:

I am thankful that I was able to be a part of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. I was a singer and my life was greatly enriched by being a part of this organization. I knew once I graduated from the program, I wanted my career to be in the arts.

Take time to vote so that they can have more funding to continue to allow young people express themselves and get quality training in the performing arts! (You have to fan Chase Community Giving in order to vote.)

LIFE || thankful.

It's a good thing to reflect and see how many reasons there are to be thankful. I've been doing that a lot lately. Maybe because it's because of the approaching holiday season or maybe it's something else--I don't really know. What I do know is I have lots of reasons to be thankful right now, at this time in my life.

• I am thankful that I am here at this time. I feel like this is a time for me to learn and grow.
• I am thankful for a wonderful family.
• I am thankful for a mother who raised us, kept us safe, taught us well, covered us with love, made us her priorities, and even spoiled us a bit.
• I am thankful for my friends, near and far, who still talk to me even with my problems and lapses in communication.
• I'm thankful for my sisters. We're growing closer everyday and I love it.

• I'm thankful that I have my own place and can get the things I need.
• I'm thankful to be able to be an artist.
• I'm thankful that I had an opportunity to go to college and grad school.

• I am thankful that there is love, of all kinds, in my life.
  
• I am thankful that I am not where I was emotionally or mentally six months ago.
• I am thankful that I started caring about me.
• I am thankful for the tough lessons. They are not always pretty or packaged neatly, but at least I'm learning.
  
• I am thankful for realization. When you open your eyes you can't close them to hide mess anymore.