Monday Ramblings...

1. I've been working on a school group project for the last couple of weeks. We were asked to choose a psychological theory and present it. Well, to make a long story short, my group and I ROCKED IT!!! We had a Powerpoint presentation and we actually demonstrated that we knew what we were talking about rather than just reading from the slides. Our professor said that she was extremely impressed with our proficiency and gave us a 98%!!! Woo-hoo!!! (Sidenote: every group didn't do as well as we did, I saw another group's score was 85%) If I keep getting grades like that, I might actually like this whole grad school thing... lol





2. Since we're on the subject of grad school, mid-terms are coming up and I need to study. However, I feel like I have so much on my plate and feel like I don't know where to start. I've been severely neglecting my duties of my regular job and my consumers probably think that I'm the absolute WORST case manager they've ever had :( I've got to do better. So, anyway, I'm thinking that I probably wouldn't have as much of a problem focusing on what I need to do if I started working out; I hear that a vigorous workout can bring about clarity in one's life.





So, I brought some clothes to workout in during lunch. I'm thinking positively about this one... Trying not to think of it so much as a task, but rather a chance to release... woo-saaaa





3. This morning while on FaceBook, I see that Takara (our senior class prez) has posted that it's looking like our class reunion will probably be during Memorial Day weekend next year! I must say that I'm looking forward to see everyone. I mean, you get to "see" lots of people via facebook; but to actually see them in person after not seeing some people for almost 10 years will be super cool.

However, I keep wondering if it will be like "Romy and Michelle's Class Reunion"... lol. I mean, seriously, as I just stated, I'm planning on starting to work out so in my "delusions of granduer" I keep allowing myself to think that I'm going to show up really hot and lots of guys will profess their undying love for me and I'll get the award for most changed, most beautiful, etc -- much like Romy and Michelle. Lol!!!

I mean, hey, I can dream, right??

Time to party!!!

Okay, so I'm at work yet again and not able to concentrate. HOWEVER, I feel like I have a pretty good excuse...I, Maya Dionne, am planning a birthday party!!!! Yay!!!!! Words cannot describe how super excited I am about it!! But, at the same time, I have reoccuring thoughts that it might not go as expected :(

But, anyway, here are the details...It's going to be on July 26 and we're going to go with a theme which celebrates the late 80's early 90's... Hence the birthday invite. Click on the link and take a look :)
Dionne's Birthday invite

So, in my mind, I'm having that delusions of grandeur where the house is full and everyone is dancing to the "grooves" of that period like "Poison" by BellBivDevoe and having a FABULOUS time...and which they should seeing as how we're having an actual dj, lots of food, pleeeenty of libations! So, that should make for a good time, right?????

Well, as soon as I start thinking about it too hard, my mind decides to do a 180 and allow me to think about the flip side of it... Like no one will be dancing, the food will suck, and the dj will suck even more; and I start to panic!!!

I mean, seriously, what if no one shows up or better yet a few people show up and they decide that the party is EXTRA lame...AND those aforementioned people not only LEAVE the party but also proceed to drag my name through the mud by saying how I don't know how to throw a party!!!

I keep on telling myself that I'm serioulsy overracting. Rather than thinking about how great or terrible the party should be, I should only concern myself with the day at hand, correct? But, you know how it is when you're anticipating something and the harder you try not to think about it, the more time you actually spend thinking about it???

I mean, I seriously have much bigger fish to fry other than who's gonna show up to my party (i.e. these 2 papers that I have due within the next weeks) but I just can't stop! HELP!!!!!

But, you know what makes it worse?? The website that I used to distribute the invites gives you a minute-by-minute, person-by-person rundown of things like, "how many people were invited"..."out of the invitees, how many of them openned the email"... and THEN it tells you "how many of the invitees actually viewed the web invitation"!!! So, every since I've started sending the invitations, I've been viewing the aforementioned stats AT LEAST 6 times a day!!! UGH!!

I'm convinced that by the time the party does actually take place, I will be even crazier than I am now...and I'm probably ALREADY one step away from being declared "certifiable" and able to collect a check so that the only thing that I'll have to worry about is how many graham crackers I can consume while standing in the front door in my underwear!!!! (lol)

But, seriously, I've started texting and calling people saying things like, "soooooo...I see that you have yet to openthe email that I've sent you about my party... When are you gonna look at it?" Lol! OR, after seeing that some people have just openned the email and haven't actually been to the website just obsolutely drives me up a wall!!! Because I reason, "hey you've already openned the email, why not just go ahead and click on the link to see the actual invitation"!!!! I swear, this is party is going to be the death of me... But, maybe I should stop with the "big brother is watching you" tactics regarding the party invites and just let the party turn out the way it is destined to...but I just really do not know how feasible that will be for me to leave that alone; however, I'm gonna try!!!

Did he really just slap his mother?!?!

Ok, so if you watched the video then you might be able to understand my confusion... I mean, I keep thinking that my eyes must have been fooling me or that HAD to have been a joke... because that really doesn't happen in real life, right??

Ok, seriously...who slaps their mother and what type of mother allows their own child to talk to them like that OR slap her in the face?!?!

But, thinking about it deeper, I also have to ask what happened in that family's household to make a mother and son react to each other like that?? I mean, sure, it would be easy to say that he needs one of those "throwback" whoopings where a child would have to tear a switch of the tree and bring into the house and face the wrath of an angry parent of grandparent whose perverbial toes have stepped on one too many times. But, at the same time, does one's own family's version of WWF's "Raw is War" really tend to cultivate good family values and discipline?

I don't know; but what I do know that I'm still confused. But, what I know EVEN more is that would not have been Patricia Evans and myself; because, if it were, that video would've DEFINITELY ended differently... there probably would've been a little blurb scrolling across the screen saying something like "R.I.P. Dionne...I brought you into this world and I'll take you out -- I guess you forgot that. Love, Mommy"

Thursday Randoms....

Ok, so I'm at work and trying to stall on doing these month-end reports that I have to do for the people on my caseload and I figured that I'd blog :)

1) I really need to get better with not procrastinating!!! I mean those aforementioned reports that I'm trying to put off are due the 1st day of every month WITHOUT FAIL! However, I manage to wait until the VERY last minute to start trying to do them and end up stressing myself out during my feeble attempt to get them done!!! UGHHH!!! I guess it's too much like right to actually start this effort earlier, huh?? Geesh!!!

2) So, I finally found out that I got accepted to grad school and I'm super excited about it....HOWEVER, I have orientation on tomorrow and I have to "find" an excuse regarding why I can't come to work. I'm sure you're asking, "why would she have to find an excuse for not coming to work in order to go to orientation?" Well, I'm glad you asked ;-) The reason for my "excuse finding" is because my job does not look fondly upon employees increasing their education!!!! Personally, I think that it's a weird and sadistic practice. I mean, seriously, who wouldn't want their employees to not better their education?!?! Again, that practice is extremely strange to me ESPECIALLY since that is one of the criterion used on our semi-annual and annual evaluations!!!! But, I've been told that when management sees that an employee is going to grad school, then they essentially see that as a measure that the said employee is using to improve themselves to leave and get another job!! I mean I can see why they might be a little worried about the latter, but at the same time, why would you want to hold someone back for your own selfish purposes?!?! Or, hey, maybe I'm just crazy for thinking that...**shrugging my shoulders**

3) Don't know if anyone's been paying attention, but we're in midst of a pretty heated political season and while it's ABSOULUTELY FABULOUS and I could talk about it for days...but also I think it's also becoming a little ridiculous... But, I'll talk about the fabulous part about it first...excuse me while I get on my soapbox :) Ok, so we've pretty much gotten the Republican side of the nomination wrapped up and it's been wrapped up for a while now -- and that's great for them.... or atleast it SHOULD be great for them. BUT, in the past few days, I've been seeing how former top Republicans such as Pat Buchanan and Scott McClellan (former press sec'y for George "Dubya" Bush) are coming out with these books which pretty much blast the Iraq War policies that have been such a stronghold for the the current administration!!! I mean, most people could care less about that, but to me it says what the people on the "right side of the aisle" have not wanted to admit for a loooonng time...BUSH'S WAR IS NOT CRACKED UP TO WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE! Now, please understand, I try hard not to necessarily affiliate myself to a specific political party (I mean I voted for Gov. Riley in the past Alabama gubernatorial race), but I've found myself leaning more to the left during 2008 presidential race. Anywhoo, the reason why I think the fact that Buchanan's and McClellan's books are great and right on time is because, hopefully, it will force McCain to take a stance that might be somewhat different from President Bush's. I mean, don't get me wrong, I KNOW that there's no possible way that our troops will be fully removed from the Middle East for years and years to come. HOWEVER, in my opinion, there needs to be a more progressive strategy for the war, rather just staying over there while there are still suicide bombers feverently bombing the streets of Iraq everyday meanwhile the American public is being led to believe that there's progress being made in the path of democracy for the Middle East. While I would like to believe that TRUE democracy could be achieved in countries of the world, I'm also not naive enough to believe that we're gonna achieve this anytime soon ESPECIALLY going on the present path that we're on today. So, if McCain is president, then it is my hope that he revamps this whole Iraq War idea... Anywhoo, let me switch soapboxes and talk about the ridiculousness that's happening on the Democratic side for a hot minute...

3a) In my humble opinion, Hillary needs to close up shop. It's time for her to go. She has "fought the good fight" and she needs to be the lady that claims to be. I mean, seriously, she loves to talk about how this race is sexist and she's not going to quit but she owes it the women to look up to her. No, Hillary, what you owe is that $6 million dollars plus some that you've had to loan to your campaign because you're getting a many contributors as you would like. Also, Hillary, you owe yourself the dignity of stopping the spectacle that you and your husband have carrying on the the past couple of months when your advisors started telling you that it might be time to exit. Now, I will say this and I don't mind telling anyone who asks... If by chance Hillary does end up getting the Democratic nomination, I will glady cast my vote for Sen. John McCain. As much as I would love to see a woman as the head of our country, in my opinion, Hillary is not that woman -- or atleast not in 2008. I feel that she has good intentions, but she also displays that her emotions too often get the best of her and I don't think that would be good living in the world that we live in. I mean, we're constantly in conflict with the Middle East and given the fact that a large majority of Middle Eastern countries do not even allow women to look men in the eyes, I don't think Hillary would be a woman that could stand up to that challenge. Look at Condie Rice...she can go over there and present herself in manner that is not disrespectful but can also effectively convey her message without making herself look so stupid that news outlets constantly replay her blunders like they do for Hillary. She has had to stick her foot in her mouth too many times for my taste. Maybe in 2012, after she's gotten a psychiatric evaluation, she should try to gain the nomination...but, as for now? Yeah, Hillary, not so much...

4)Ok, one more thing...I promise :) Did I happen to mention that I'm somewhat nervous about this whole school thing? I mean, I've found myself seriously contemplating what my orientation outfit as well as my first day of school outfit should be. I've wondered if I should be casual and wear jeans and a shirt so that I'll be seen as "friendly and approachable". However, I've also thought about possibly throwing on a pair of slacks and pearls so that I can show that I'm "professional and up for the challenge". Lol!!! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Ok, I'm done with my randomness...Hopefully, I can now get some work done; or at least be able to do a little work until another idea floats into my head... I don't think I've ever told anyone, but I think that I might have a touch a A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder)... can you tell? lol!! Happy Thursday!!!!

OK....so what now?

So...as I mentioned in my last post, my dad needs a kidney. Out of my dad's family, only myself and my aunt (my dad's sister) stepped up to get tested to see if we matched.

Initially, the nurses told my aunt and I that she would most likely be the best kidney match from my dad since they're biological siblings. Right??? Well, that didn't turn out to be the case... I actually came up to be the better match; more specifically, I was a 5 out of 6 match whereas my aunt didn't have the same blood type.

So, anyway, I went for a glucose tolerance test on this past Monday. It was tiring and my arm was bruised from being stuck so many times...not to mention the fact that I had not eaten since previous evening!!!

Well... I got my results and they won't let me go any further but the test showed that my glucose level was too low during the fasting period... So, not is this the end of the road in terms my giving my dad a kidney but it also means that I need to keep a close eye being a diabetic...

I just called my dad but there was no answer. I feel bad because I was pretty much his only known match so far and he was really counting on having this transplant by the summer... I know that God is in control and has His hand over this whole situation but I still can't help but to wonder "what now?"...I'm thanking God in advance for what's going to happen because I know that whatever His will may be, He is in control. Pray for me and my family :)

Feliz Seis de Mayo :-)

Happy day after "Cinco de Mayo"!!!! Lol!! Ok, so I'm sitting here at work and letting my mind wander as usual... (sidenote: I think that I seriously have a problem with my attention span) But, anywhoo, I'm thinking about the past couple of days.

Yesterday, I went and spent about 5 hours at Kirklin Clinic to have a glucose tolerance test. I underwent that because I might be giving my dad a kidney... Anywhoo, I had to begin fasting on Sunday (5/4/08) in order to be "test-ready" on the next day (5/5/08). So.... as with fasting, in order to keep your mind off of eating, a lot of people meditate and/or become EXTRA introspective so that the thoughts of cheeseburgers and koolaid don't dance through your head like a semi-finalist on the show "So You Think You Can Dance"!

Well, thoughts raced through my head about what has happened over the previous year. I thought about how my dad was in a coma last year beginning on Mother's Day of last year. They said he wouldn't make it or if he did, he might have serious brain damage. Well, he's still here and I thank God for that!!!

Then, I thought about how I was in a job last year that was AT BEST okay, but it wasn't really something that I wanted to do. Or better yet, I didn't see myself doing for it more than a couple of years. But, in order to keep gas in my car, I would drag myself to work everyday. BUT, God stepped in, and even though I didn't know it at the time, made it possible for me to go back to working in a field that I feel passionately about -- social work.

I also thought about how I was glad that I finally followed that little voice in my head to go ahead and apply for grad school...despite my DEPLORABLE undergraduate GPA!! I mean, the worst they can say is "no", right? I'll still live, I'll still survive. But, to know that I finally got over that fear of being rejected was TOTALLY good for me because I let go of a huge burden!!

Continuing in that path, I thought about how I really just barely scraped by in college. I was much more involved in where the next party or set would be to even give my actual school assignments a second thought! However, I finished and I know that it could've ONLY been a higher power at work for that to have happened!!! But, to know that out of my maternal grandmother's 7 children and 13 grandchildren, I was the first to finish college is a humbling fact because I know that I didn't do it by myself!!! (BTW, this is a pic of the cousins who followed me as graduates of UAB)



Still, while sitting in the doctor's office and following a routine of having blood drawn for 4 hours and gulping down cups upon cups of water so that they could test my urine, still made me thankful...

To know that I can even be considered a good match and a potential kidney donor to my dad so that his life may possibly be prolonged is wonderful!! To know that I'm still here despite many times feeling as if I didn't... or to know that I've found a purpose and a destination in life when I didn't know what I what I should do the next day or even the next hour made me sooooo THANKFUL!!

So, in closing, I'd like to say that I thank God for the days with the sunshine as well as the days filled with clouds... Things could've been a lot worse and He has seen me through my share of pain, but I'm glad for them because it's a been a lesson learned.

I thank HIM for what's he has done in my life, what HE is doing, and what HE will do in the future...I'd like to think that I'm living a life of expectancy!! I expect great things to happen for me as well as everyone who reads this blog!! So, good day and FELIZ SEIS DE MAYO!!!!!

A Reason Not to Facebook at Work...A LOOOONG Thursday Afternoon Rant

Ok, I'm venting... You know how you have certain people that you try at ALL costs to avoid??? You know the type...ex-significant others, negative people, maybe even people whose body odor not only singes your nose hairs but will also prompt a certain amount of bile to come up without fail??? Ummm...ok, that last example might be a little extreme. But, NONETHELESS, I'm sure that we all have them.

Well, anyway, my #1 person that I try to avoid is none other than my EX-boyfriend and I had the oh-so delightful experience of running into him on Facebook. You see, the "geniuses" at FB decided that implementing a nice, little instant messenger apparatus would be the icing on the cake for an already extremely intrusive webpage. I mean, GEESH...people can log-in and automatically see what you've written on someone else's wall in addition to the pictures of you that your friend might have posted that are less than flattering! Well, anyway....

I was online engaging in my own little "Nosy Rosie" activities and noticed that my ex IM'ed me...Now, that should've been clue #1 to get off especially since I have better things to do while I'm on the clock ;-) But, you know how it is...your mind wanders and you get a lightbulb in your head and it prompts you to surf the web. I digress...

When he first IM'ed me, he asked me something like "hey can we talk about somethings". Well, I promptly replied by saying, "no". Following my reply, I began getting a barrage of messages from him where he initially said that he "understood that I was going thru something and that I needed to pray about it"...blah, blah, blah. After like the second or third message, I finally broke down and basically said, "look, I'm not going thru anything...I just don't feel like talking about anything that isn't relevant to me...." Now, I felt like I was being nice by saying that rather that "please don't talk to me". I guess that was clue #2 to get my butt of Facebook, however, I stayed on Facebook ANYWAY!!!!

Well, once I sent that....all hell broke loose!!! He started off by saying that he noticed that I had been conversing with one our mutual friends and that it was obvious I just didn't want to talk to him... Now, stop...anyone else would've made that last statement and left it alone, right??? Well, needless to say, I finally let him go on with his rants and raves about how I never call and him yada, yada, yada...and just when I couldn't take it anymore, I responded!!!!!!

I told him that I didn't want to talk to him he's so negative to the point that once I finished talking to him, I'm not only completely drained but also utterly ticked off because he's C R A Z Y!!!! He's one of those people who has the "woe is me" attitude and constantly thinks that the world owes him something... Dude, you're almost 26 years old!!! Life is not fair, and whoever told you that it was has done a serious disservice to you!!!!

Anywhoo, the convo went on far longer than it should have and I could kick myself for entertaining such fooliness because put me in a terrible mood!!! Argh!!!

But, after going to lunch and having had time to think about it, I just decided that I'm gonna just gonna delete him as a friend on Facebook. After all, I don't communicate with him via phone calls or texts; so it's kinda pointless to allow a person like him the opportunity to use Facebook instant messenger to invade my life... So, I'm gonna go about the business of deleting him as soon as I can find out how to do it...lol

HOWEVER....I don't feel like deleting him as a friend is enough I much rather prefer tying him in a chair and giving him lashes with a wet towel... But, you know what would be even better?? If we were in medieval times, I could possibly get away with going to the village leaders and demanding that his tongue be cut out for various unfavorable infractions like lying and being a big, wimpy baby!!!! Oh, no I an even better one...a scarlett letter "J" on his chest for the word "jerk"!!!! YES!! Ok on second thought, I might have taken that too far as well :-)

But... just know, if you hear of a guy in the Birmingham metropolitan area who has mysteriously gotten branded the letter "J" on his forehead...then just pretend like you never read this, ok? Lol!