A Grave Mistake

I am not sure that if I was walking past a cemetary & I heard someone screaming for help that I would even stop. I'd probably run faster than I ever had in my life. LOL

I also can not understand why someone would want to knock over grave markers. But this guy got at least some of what he deserved. Here is the story.

Twenty-One Years Eight Months

Do you think that is a long time? Yes? No?

If I said that was the age of a soldier that died in war. "He died too young." Not a very long time on earth. So it seems like a short time, especially to me a 43 year old.

But when I say that was how long a man was in jail, and for a rape that he did not commit. OMG! That is a very, very long time. Here is a link to the story.
He is now 44 years old, and he was in jail for half his life. Fortunately, there was DNA from the crime, and the DNA tests were done to free him.

Doing the happy dance!

It's Friday! Not much going on here, not sure why Friday made me do the happy dance. It's not like I have a long work week anymore. I have quite a bit of homework I need to finish this weekend. I guess it comes from years of working Mon-Fri, so it's habit. LOL

I do start a part-time job next week. It has been ages since I was paid an hourly wage, and my hours ain't paying much. But I am excited, and I will have to manage my time better.

I did make it to the Aquarium for a short visit, and I must go back. I can because I have season ticket. I had to take my picture and meet a friend for lunch, so I was probably only there for an hour. I must say that standing under the walkway that had the whale sharks swimming over was pretty exciting. As I looked up the theme from jaws kept running through my head. Maybe I am a little strange.

Have a great weekend!

I'm just not in the mood!

Ok, maybe I am a witch...It's been a 12 hour day.

I was playing voicemail tag with a friend of mine. (We've known each other since, jr. high.) I knew that when I heard the message, and her grandbaby was saying call us, that I would wait until I thought grandbaby was in bed. Damn! I forgot they are in a different time zone.

I had the pleasure of starting the phone call talking to the 2 year old.

Me: Hello!

2 yr. old: Hello!

Me: How are you?

2 yr. old: lkj aig veb ub ub.

Me: Saying "Hey there Where is grandmom? " Me Thinking "Why aren't you in bed?"

2yr old: more unintelligible baby talk.

Ok, I won't take you through anymore of my painful phone call. Oh, except when she finally got on the phone she said (in her most proud grandmom voice) You got to take to "grandbaby"

Me: Saying "Yes, I guess he is getting to be a big boy." Me thinking "Yip(frikin)ee! Shouldn't he be in bed? Dammit!"

OK, I love them both...but I just wasn't in the mood.

Yes, I know you are thinking, "Shouldn't YOU be in bed?"

Thanks, I am going now. Sleep tight!

What are you doing to live the dream?

That was the question asked today by Atlanta's mayor. I feel like I should have done more than sit home and watch the celebration of Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Day on T.V.

I had planned to volunteer, but didn't take the time to register last week. I could have at least gone to the parade.

I know that there are many things that need to change, especially living here in the south. Although, Atlanta is different than some of the Georgia towns that aren't many miles away.

However, I must say that as a child growing up in the south (Texas) in the 70's, I benefited greatly from the sacrifices made by Dr. King and the many others that endured water hoses, and hate filled crowds to just do go to school, or to be able to sit where ever they wanted.

I have been on buses, trains & airplanes. Why is it that as children the seats on the back of the bus were the most coveted? LOL I have witnessed black men keeping their seat as white women had to stand; and then he gave his seat to a black woman. That tends to bring a smile to my face...am I wrong for that? I have even had the pleasure of sitting in 1st class on an airplane. Don't hate both times were for 45 minute flights, but it sure was nice. ;-)

And those are just the minor things. I do have to make it a point to volunteer more this year, especially since I didn't on this a "Day on, not a day off."

4 Bucks

I went to a matinee today, and I only paid...well you can figure that out. But I had to go at 10am, OK, so maybe I am crazy.

But the theater was nice & empty. There were a few other people, and a nice looking couple that was probably in their 60's. Which was good for me, because I was feeling a little silly about rushing to a movie about..."stepping". So I wasn't the oldest one there. LOL

I went to see "St.o.mp the Ya.rd." Hmm, let me see if I can tell you about it without giving telling too much.

I enjoyed it. Of course, it had the "love" story, and the "hard/bad luck" component to it as well. The main character DJ comes to Atlanta to attend Truth University after his brother was murdered. It centers around him and the 2 fraternities that compete for him, and always compete against each other in a major step show.

I think the love story between DJ & April is sweet as well as the one between DJ's Aunt & Uncle.

There are many underlying conflicts in the story. Educated vs. Blue collar; ghetto vs. non-ghetto (sorry I couldn't think of an appropriate antonym); old-school vs. new school. But I don't think that distracted me from the main story-line. I was a little annoyed with some of the close-ups during the step/dance competitions. There were a few great shirtless scenes for the ladies :-).

If you are interested in step shows, dancing and fraternity life, this might be the movie for you.

Shhh! I have to be discrete

And I absolutely hate it.

Is there logic to this union?
I am searching and sorting out the ways
to make this relation function.
It shouldn't be a conditional probability,
it must be a finite probability and have an expected value.
I'll be counting the principles;
I have to be discrete and I hate it!
But I'll be discreet,
I won't tell my professor that I hate math.

Wish me luck, I have to pass my
Discrete Math class.

Disturbing trend

Well, it disturbs me anyway. During my holiday time off, I have caught quite a few movies. I may do some reviews here. However, I never feel like I can do them very well without giving away some of the plot. But I guess I could work on that here.

Since I like going to movies so much, I tend to go during the day when it isn't as crowded, and supposedly when it is cheaper. But it seems that they are doing away with the matinee's. I am hoping that maybe I am wrong, and after the holiday season it will return.

Last year I went on a Saturday, expecting a matinee price at an "_ M _" theater, and was told that only the 1st movie of the day on the weekends had the cheaper price, so I paid the high price, and started going to their competitor. Then it appeared that only the movies that started before noon were given the cheaper price. Now, it looks like they are doing away with matinee prices all together. Maybe it will only be the weekend movies, and possibly only here in the Atlanta market. I will have to research it and see.

But it just seems to me that the way the industry calculates box office sales and the fact that they have made it too expensive for movie going to be a family outing that movie going may be a thing of the past soon. I know many people prefer to wait for video and watch at home, but I like seeing movies when they first come out. There is something about the big screen, and the smell of popcorn that makes that one of my favorite things to do. I know there are ways around the high prices of the snacks & the movies...and I will admit to nothing here. :-)

But I may spend less money if I invest in a big screen & popcorn maker at home. The prices are on the way done on the TV's.

I stole a New Year's MeMe

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? I went to the Bahamas.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions? I don’t make them.

3. Did anyone you know give birth? One of my former co-workers did, it was baby #4 for them.

4. Did anyone you know die? No one personally, and I didn’t attend any funerals.

5. What countries did you visit? See # 1.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? More travel to other countries.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory? My son’s high school & basic training graduations, and the day I quit my job of 13+years.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Returning to college

9. What was your biggest failure? There were a few tests. J

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a hysterectomy that ended an illness, and I am happy about it.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My car & my laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My son’s

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I can’t think of any

14. Where did most of your money go? School

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Well, if having an orgasm is really, really, really excited…then I would have to say sex. J

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2006? Anything by Gerald LeVert

17. What do you wish you’d done more of? Traveled

18. What do you wish you’d done less of? Watched TV

19. Did you fall in love in 2006? No

20. How many one night stands in this last year? one

21. What was your favorite TV program? Grey’s Anatomy

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Spending time with my mother.

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. Having a laundry room upstairs is not as great as I thought before

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year? EWF’s “On Your Face” it is really my theme song.