The Presidential Slave

Story found on GlobalGrind.com...

A 25-year-old New York City graduate student is threatening to sue a T-Shirt designer after being assaulted for wearing one of his designs.The woman bought a $69 shirt from Apollo Braun's Manhattan boutique that bore the words, "Obama is my slave." When she wore the shirt on Tuesday, four teenage girls accosted her - shoving her, pulling out her earphones, and spitting in her face, according to the New York edition of Metro News.The unnamed woman is reportedly seeking solace by suing Braun - born Doron Braunshtein - for "all he's got," the designer claims. He, of course, is shirking any responsibility for the incident and says that the shirt reflects the views of "ordinary WASPs."“For a lot of people, when they see Obama, they see a slave. People think America is not ready for a black president,” the Israeli-born designer said.
“I can’t stand Obama,” Braun says, but claims that it's not because the candidate is black. “That’s the only thing I like about him. He opens the door for other minorities.”
“He reminds me of Adolf Hitler,” Braun explained, adding he does not like the Illinois senator because “he is a Muslim” — a myth that Obama apparently cannot escape.
The designer has sold several other anti-Obama styles from his boutique, including shirts with slogans such as “Jews Against Obama,” “Obama = Hitler” and “Who Killed Obama?”

Okay...so Dionne's thoughts on this are...

It's not that i'm opposed to anyone saying anything negative about Obama, but this???? Calling him a slave???? Really dude??? Are you SERIOUS???!!!??!! Who thinks to do stuff like this especially in this day and age???? Now keep in mind, I'm not the type person who is all about being poltically correct but regardless of where you loyalties lie, this shirt is beyond offensive!!! I'm telling ya, just as soon as you think that some progress has been made...people have to go and pull this type stuff out of their butt. Maybe if he had said something like, "Obama is my B*tch" that would've been more palatable; but to call that man a slave???? Wowww

Tuesday Topics...

I figured that I might blog for a minute since I'm working from HOME today (lol)...

1) Yesterday, my significant other and I were talking. He "suggested" that once my lease is up, that I needed to move back in with him. ERRR???? The reason, as he stated, was that we could save some money. I collected my thoughts and let him know that my cousin and I were thinking about possibly getting an apartment together for that very some purpose -- to save $$$. Well, then, he goes on to say that he feels left out and would like the opportunity to save money. Additionally, he went on to state that since we have been talking about getting married that it would make more sense to live together. But, that's when I took the opportunity to suggest that he move to a smaller apartment and in response to that, he said that the next time he moved it would be into a house... While I admire his desire to save money, I also KNOW that moving back in with him would be a recipe for disaster!!!

However, I've been trying to practice the art of negotiation as of late...AND DRUMROLL PLEASE....we decided to go to the bank and start a joint savings account!!!! He and I set up an automatic withdrawl that will some money out each time we get paid. Does it seem weird that I feel like this is an extremely grown up decision???

2) Last night, I was talking to one of my former supervisors from the Coach store. She and I have remained close throughout several years; in fact, I actually call her "my 2nd mother". Anyway, she asked me who I was going to vote for. From past experience, I've learned that you have to be careful who you divulge your politcal ideas to and judging from her reaction to my answer, I should've known better. But, I honestly thought that since we're close, that we could have a decent discussion about it...not so much.

As soon as I told her that I was voting for Obama, she immediately started ranting and raving and telling me how she disliked him and HATED his wife... Okay, and??? I don't know if she expected me to change my preference but either way I didn't really appreciate the conversation... I don't have a problem with conversing with people about politics...actually I enjoy it. However, it becomes a problem when you become too pushy about it.

3) Grad school update....got a 101 on my midterm and a 98 on my first paper!!! Go me!!!! :)

4) One last thing, while I was typing I just found out that one of my friends since middle school has given birth to a bouncing little boy!!! Yay!!! It seems like everyone is having getting married and/or having children. That's great but I often wonder when I will feel "ready" for that stage in my life. While I was at home this past Saturday, my parents and I were talking about how one of my best friends is looking for songs for her wedding. Well, my mother tells me that she had compiled a list of potential wedding songs (and I quote) "just IN case I decided to get married". LOL!!! Apparently, my mother thinks that since I haven't jumped the broom at age 26 going on 27, then it probably isn't going to happen any time soon... hahaha

This might just be the life...

Ok, so my agency decided to implement a 4 day office work week plus 1 day working from home in address rising gas costs. Today (Tuesday) is my day. In my previous blog, I talked about going to New Orleans. Well, I just got back yesterday and rather than having to drag myself to work on today, it just so happens that my "work at home day" is today! Yay!!!!!!!!

I must say that this working at home stuff is pretty cool. My supervisor just called me and said that she was trying to find a piece of documentation that had been lost. Well....being that we have all been given laptops, all I had to do was simply email it to her. I didn't have to rush and put on something presentable in order to go to the office. I really like this and could get use to it. Maybe our executive director will implement a policy where we can work at home 3 to 4 days of the week...that would be EXTRA cool.

More Ramblings

1. We got bonuses today. Depending on how long you've been with the agency, your check will reflect that. I had all plans on finishing up my shopping for my vacay to New Orleans AND getting my hair done. Needless to say, looks like I'll be getting a "box perm" from the corner store and making due with what's already in my closet... lol!!!

2. Grad school is starting to become a little overwhelming. I keep on having thoughts about POSSIBLY pursing a Phd in social work once I get my Master's but I don't know...guess the best thing to do would be to turn it right on over to God, huh?

3. Speaking of grad school...during my weekend escape to the Big Easy I'll be doing some a little homework :( On next week, I have a 2 papers due and I have NOT started!!! We had to read Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" and also critique 3 articles which should be directed toward our preferred topic of interest because that it most likely be the topic that we have to research throughout the duration of the program...

I hate asking people for help, so it killed me when I had to email my professor and ask her to give me some direction for the aforementioned task of critiquing journal articles. But, I'm glad I did because she gave me some good pointers... So I think I'm going to look at focusing my research toward school-aged Black males -- most notably the effects of ADHD... Let me just say that I already have my thoughts regarding this and I think that many children get misdiagnosed AND then given a label that will follow them throughout their school years. However, the situation is made even worse when you have parents that aren't really involved in their child's school life.... Anyway, I'm not gonna get on a soapbox, but I am looking forward to my research... :-)

4. A lady that my agency just hired two weeks ago just walked out last week and I absolutely had no idea!!! Lol! The agency that I work for isn't big and everyone is CONSTANTLY in everyone else's business so it's extremely laughable that I had no idea that this lady had been gone for almost a week before I even noticed!!

However, I think that it's a testament that I stay out of everyone's business because I have too much going on in my life to think about another grown woman's whereabouts. Needless to say, when I did finally ask someone where the lady was, that person literally laughed in my face and asked where had I been for the last few days? I replied, "in my own world".... lol

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"