Missing Laneeka

Please keep my cousin Laneeka in your thoughts. She's been missing since the night of Monday, November 24. She's a really special lady and we want her back.

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=124074&catid=40

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7952403&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Research Methodology

After going to Dr. Carr's lecture on research methodology, I can see why he's such a hot commodity and everyone wants to take his classes. Dr. Carr obviously knows his stuff. you can see that through the way he presents the material, he's very passionate about Africana Studies. Like Professor Long-White, he's very down to earth. From beginning to end he proceded to throw it down, answering questions such as what is methodology and who are Africans to each other. It was interesting to here Dr. Carr's thoughts on the election that occurred two nights before. He related a majority of the presentation to the election and Barack Obama. This allowed the audience to make their own connections from his lecture on a process to what's going on in the world today.

Another thing Dr. Carr touched on was multi-, intra-, and interdisciplinary research. This is a topic I am very interested in as I am trying to combine my studies in the fine arts with philosophy. These types of research allow you to make connections in different disciplines and give you a broader range in thinking. Also, different disciplines have different methods and methodology so you can approach issues from all different angles through multi-, intra-, and interdisciplinary research.

At the end of Dr. Carr's outstanding lecture, the spoken word artist Anna Mwalagho performed two of her poems. They were very entertaining. Her poem where she referred to her accent and the problems she encounters really touched me. I enjoyed all parts of the show.

The Black House

Wow!!!!! We're going to have a black president. I woke up this morning and it was still true. Watching the results trickle in on four different networks last night was surreal. When Barack Obama, 44th President flashed across the screen, I couldn't believe it. I was hoping they didn't pull another 2000. But with the numbers he had, that would have been impossible. Obama truly does represent the change we need in this country. And just like he said, for those people who didn't vote for him, he's your president too (just like Bush was ours for 8 terrifying years). If we can disregard race to come together and elect a black man as President,then we can come together on so much more and make this country achieve its true potential and make it as great as it can be.

Oh yeah...GOBAMA 08!!!!!!!! Yes We Can!!!!!!

Sister Stars

Last night, I went to a Sister Stars empowerment session where Dr. Debyii Sababu Thomas presented to the “sisters” some encouraging advice on overcoming obstacles. Dr. Thomas presented to us the guidelines for dealing with obstacles. What makes a woman a woman, she noted, is the way that they handle obstacles. But before we began, we were asked to write down obstacles that we have had in our life. My obstacles ranged from physical attributes to academic struggles. Being able to write down my obstacles allowed me to analyze how what I’ve gone through has helped define me as a person. We then defined the word obstacle and came up with this definition: an obstacle is something that gets in front of you that takes time to deal with it; it’s a barrier, it’s something that stands between you and a goal, and its nebulous – something that you can’t always see.

Furthermore, she gave us 4 words to describe what obstacles do: disappoint, distract, deform, and discourage. These four words perfectly paint a picture of how obstacles get in the way. She then said that obstacles come at different angles and she gave us the 5 ways to deal with obstacles. First we regroup, then reexamine, redirect, rethink, and then recommunicate. In the regrouping process, you must collect yourself. Moreover, in the reexamining process, one should distinguish between an internal or external obstacle. Rethinking involves finding another way. And finally you recommunicate by speaking to the obstacle and preventing it from standing between you and your goal again.

Dr. Thomas gave some very helpful advice. She communicated to the sisters about obstacles – something we deal with every day – and how to properly handle them. Many times, we are faced with obstacles and are confused about how to handle them. This session was very empowering and enlightening.

STI Panel

On Wednesday night, I went to an STI panel presented by the ladies of NCNW where health science Professor Deneen Long-White was the lead panelist. The panel was very informative and even had free HIV testing at the end.

The ladies of NCNW opened with a few handouts on STIs, contraceptives, common lines people use to have unprotected sex. Most people could relate to the information. It wasn't too stiff, nor was it too comical in trying to be colloquial.

When Professor Long-White took the floor, that's when the program really started. She has a way of dispersing information that makes it easily accessible to the students. She's very down to earth and had a way of telling the students like it is. The first thing she talked about was STIs and their prevalence among college students. She also passed around a poster with pictures of also the infection looked so we as students know what to look for and when to get help. Some of the pictures were a little graphic, but they had flaps to cover them and it was nothing that we as young adults couldn't handle.

After talking about STIs, Professor Long-White went on to discuss methods of contraception such as condoms and oral contraceptives. She talked about the pros and cons of each and the proper way to use them. For example, there's no point in taking birth control if you don't follow the dosage schedule. That makes it ineffective. With condoms, both male and female, she demonstrated the proper way to use them. She had a few props which garnered more than a few giggles from the crowd. The female condom was a new sight to many people. They had heard of it but never seen it. So it caused a lot of reactions among the crowd, even more so than the finger condoms she pulled out. Although some of the information wasn't new, a lot of it was. The session was very informative. All in all, it was a great presentation.

Opening Convocation 2008

Being that this is my junior year at Howard and I attended the Opening Convocation my freshman year in 2006, I decided to sit this one out and let the newly enrolled freshies enjoy this significant experience. I planned to watch it on WHUT at 11:00 but was unaware of the scheduling changes. So I caught it online. I felt that the way President Ribeau addressed the audience in a casual way was fitting for the wide range in audience. One of his first statements was an acknowledgement of the young audience (some elementary schoolers) and the diversity in the audience. His theme was "Now is the Time." He was very down to earth. He made jokes about his family and preparing his speech. He claimed he was part of the class of 2012, "these are my classmates." In saying that he made himself very accessible to the students. He attempted to give the audience a sense of who his was beyond what's written in his bio and on his resume. I felt he accomplished that by letting the audience in with his personality. He also wanted to talk about the spirit of Howard, what intangibles Howard is driven by. What makes it significant to society. He also wanted to talk about how to make Howard the university of the 21st century. I felt that the topics he addressed and the way in which he addressed them resonated with the students and he was able to connect with us in a way that President Swygert didn’t. His speech was excellent. My grade: A.

The Howard Legacy

You know... I been thinking a lot lately. When I decided to come to Howard, it was a purely monetary decision. Howard covered all of my expenses; tuition, room & board, fees, meals, and even books. Howard wasn't even one of my top choices before I got my award letter. I had heard about its reputation of being the "black Harvard," the number one HBCU, the birthplace of most of the Divine Nine, and so many other things. Initially to me, it was like "Oh, that's nice, but that's not why I'm coming here." But now, when I sit back and think about it, so many brilliant minds have matriculated here and are currently professors here. We've had visitors from all walks of life. Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, John Kerry, Nikki Giovanni to name a few that's been here in the 2+ years that I have. I'm privileged to be in this environment. That's inspiring to me. But I haven't been taking advantage of that. I haven't picked the minds of some of the world's foremost African-American scholars and artists. Scholars and artists who share their classrooms with me, many of whom have open-door office policies. Most of them hare their stories and are waiting for an eager student who wants to learn about their experiences. I'm not saying I totally disregard my professors and their views. Quite the opposite actually. When they speak, I'm intrigued. I just haven't developed those personal relationships that I would be able to continue long after graduation. Why? I don't know. Maybe it's because I don't ask questions unless I have a problem that I can't solve on my own or am just completely lost. That's hardly ever. Well, I think I would like to make a resolution to get to know at least one of my professors outside of class.

I'll let you know who I meet. Don't be jealous. Peace.

Cultural Heritage Tour

This is my junior year at Howard. I’ve been in DC for three years and haven’t seen even half of all DC has to offer. Over the summer, my best friend and I decided to do more cultural activities this year. Not to say I haven’t done anything, but that I would like to do more. I’ve been to plays and musicals, art galleries, many museums, and restaurants with live music. These kinds of things excite me and I was excited by the Heritage tour. It allowed me to become more aware of the historical resonance of the grounds that I walk on. I’ve passed by some of these buildings and landmarks multiple times over the 2+ years that I’ve been a student at Howard, without really knowing their history and significance outside of general knowledge. For example, take the Minor building; I pass it on my way down the hill to A-Building and up the hill on my way to Burr Gymnasium. I knew it was old, but I didn’t know it was a teacher’s college. Nor did I know where the Howard Hospital stands was once Griffith Stadium. Howard Hall is the oldest building on Howard's campus and it was the home of Gen. Oliver Otis Howard, one of the founders of Howard. (Lol, he stayed on campus just like me.) I liked learning these little not well-known tidbits about my school. I feel enlightened. Howard has such a rich history and when I think about it, I feel inspired to be here because of that history.

Blogging for Class

For one of my classes we have to do E-journals and we can do it in blog format. So instead of creating a new blog just for this assignment, I'm going to post the entries on here. I guess I'll change the color of the post or something to distinguish them. Idk, I'll figure somethin out.

Peace out

ya know....

I used to blog a lot more than I have been lately. Why have I been absent? No good reason. Some stuff I just write to myself and don't share with the world on here. I have about 10 drafts of unfinished posts that I've started, left, and came back to but couldn't finish because I wasn't in the same mood. That's been happening a lot lately. I have so much going on in my head, but nothings coming out. I can't even write in my journals like I want to. Maybe it's writer's block. Probably not. I just can't seem to put pen to paper or finger to keyboard to get stuff out. Maybe it's because I'm a bum.

(-_-) peaces

This is for those readers who have been upset by my temporary hiatus, not an excuse but...idk

...maybe I want too much...

Toys R Us

Yeah... I know.... It's been a minute. So sue me. Not really.

Anyway. I like toys. So I wanna talk about toys. I would like to get myself some new toys. I will eventually, soon as I earn some extra money. No these won't be frivolous purchases. (I try to stay away from that kind of stuff.) The toys I want can be very useful. Like a Wacom graphics tablet. I really want a Wacom Cintiq but I'll settle for the more affordable Intuos line. I want a tablet pc most likely from Motion Computing. I also want a customized desktop pc that I'll probably end up building myself with a dual monitor set up. Sounds like just a bunch of fancy computer stuff. Well it is but I'll use it for my art and photography so it's fun and practical. Computers are fun... I'm such a nerd. Oh well.

I guess I used the phrase I want a lot. I probably sound like a spoiled brat. I want! I want! I want! Lol. I have tendency to get an I want attitude. But I'm ok with that because it's not like I'm demanding stuff from somebody. What I want, I get. Ok, that sounded bad. What I want, I get for myself. Much better. If I'm wrong somebody please correct me. Obviously I like toys, my New Year's resolution was a shopping list. What can I say....I like to play.

Peace.

Reflection

My latest project is a self-portrait and I'm scared as hell. Why?

...Because 1) portraits are my favorite subject and 2) I think self-portraits are phenomenal because you can see what the artist thinks of him or herself. So much personality comes out in a self-portrait. I put self-portraits on a pedestal and I don't want to fail trying to climb up there.

But that's not going to keep me from doing one. But I'm wondering if someone will be able to understand one thing about me by looking at this portrait. That's what I'm shooting for. I hope I succeed.

Until next time.... Tuo Ecaep

Addendum to Shopping List 2008

So yeah... I also wanna get a new stereo for my car with the in-dash GPS and iPod control and all that good stuff. $1500.00

I probably need some new beats too but that can wait.

Le Futur

So I realize that I haven't blogged in a while. And it's not because I've been way too busy, but it has been the usual...I've been being me, a lazy bum. Ah well...it's not like I can turn back the hands of time and post more.

I've had a lot of stuff on my mind lately. I've mostly been thinking about my future, and I've found out that I'm slightly worried about it. Only slightly (^_^). I'll be a junior in the fall. Then there's graduation a year after that. Although, I might have to be here an extra semester or two since I changed my major.

Anyway, I've been trying to figure out what I want do as far as a career. I always say I don't want a 9 to 5 or a regular job, and that still holds. While I feel the need for freedom, I also feel the pull of practicality. So, lately I've been leaning (at a very sharp angle I might add) towards becoming an art teacher. I've been trying to find ways to go from a philosophy degree to art to education as a master's. Should I get a graduate degree in art history or studio art and then get teacher certification? Or should I go to a program that has art education as a graduate degree (those are few and far between) and take the extra year of foundation courses in art history and studio art? I know I need formal training in art to teach it. Just having a smidgen of talent isn't enough. Anyway, I want formal training. Actually, I've been craving it and trying to figure out how to work it into my schedule.

Ah well...Peace

Friendship

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everybody sees it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

-idk

I am...

...who I am

Excitement

I'm getting back my creative juices. Yay! I'm so excited because I haven't been able to produce anything meaningful for quite some time. I was stuck in a rut but I think I might be slowly pulling myself out of it. I want rearrange sometimes in my room (like I don't do that enough) to give me a better feel. This is by no means the best artistic space that I have been in. Actually it kinda sucks out your will to create. But I'm going to have to fight pass that. Maybe I should get a  new journal and sketchbook to celebrate. O how I love to crack open a new one and figure out what kind of story it's going to tell. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I better hop to it.

Peace.

Unfulfilled Promises

What am I talking about. I would say the title speaks for itself. I'm tired hearing the words "...I promise..." and nothing comes to fruition. It's bringing me to a point where if a statement is preceded by, followed by, or includes the words "I promise," I don't believe it. I don't even want to hear it. That's so sad. Promises are sacred. Especially pinky promises. When you pinky promise someone, at that very moment, you're making a lifetime commitment to honor that promise. All you have is your word, when people lose faith in that... You have nothing. No wonder why I don't trust people. They break pinky promises.

Status...

I'm angry.

Coming Soon...

So me and my homie Diana are seriously thinking about forming a start up. I won't go into any details, because it's our newborn baby and I wanna keep it under wraps. We don't want The Man stealing our ideas. Anyway, be expecting something supremely creative, something definitively Joi & Diana.

If anyone would like to invest contact me or Diana for more info.

Random Facts That Belong in the About Me Section

I know I've written about myself in You Think You Know Parts 1 & 2, but that was over a year ago. Some things have changed, some things haven't. So I'm stealing this quote from my bro Beezy "If i was able to let u in my mind at any moment the snapshot you take would be worth a million words..." So here goes...

I'm full of contradictions.

I think I'm most productive and creative at night, well the wee hours of the morning that is. I love the hours between 2 and 5 am when no one else around me is awake. I have room to play, alone time to express myself, time to do whatever I want and not have to worry about what anyone else thinks.

I love to watch the sun rise and set. Usually, when I catch the sun rise, it's because I haven't gone to sleep yet.

I'm nocturnal. My doctor calls it insomnia. Whateve.

The beach is my favorite place. I want to live there. Being there does something to me.

I have a color complex and I'm ashamed of it.

I'm not as tough or uncaring or robotic as I sometimes come off as.

I can't always control my facial expressions. They usually have a story of their own to tell.

I'm afraid of vulnerability.

I fear unconditional trust.

I hate to disappoint people, yet I feel like I do a lot.

Even though I always talk about being a bum and living in a box, I really fear ending up like that. Being in college without a plan is really starting to get to me. I'm jealous of the people who have at least a career path to guide them. Everyday I try to come up with a solution that will make me happy.

I don't like to depend on others. I prefer relying on myself, so when the ball is dropped, there is no one else to blame.

Sometimes I think I'm boring.

Sometimes I scare myself.

Sometimes I think if anyone knew exactly what I was thinking at all times, they would flee in terror and think I was crazy.

I don't say I love you enough, but when I do I mean it.

I'm agnostic.

I love to think. It's one of my favorite pastimes.

I have eclectic taste.

I really enjoy movies. Especially ones that have a good story.

I like to read. Mostly classics. I've read few contemporary novels besides the Bourne series.

Music can change my mood.

I have random mood swings. :-( That's so not cool.

I like to participate in good discussions by listening and absorbing all points of view. I have two ears and one mouth for a reason, right?

Sometimes I think I talk too much. Other times I don't talk enough. I've been told I'm not a very good conversationalist. I can understand that.

I have no idea what my purpose is besides turning oxygen into carbon dioxide.

I can be funny sometimes.

I think I'm unique. (^_^) Some people call it strange. Whateve.

I try not to be one of those Random Normal People. They're so blah.

Sometimes I wish I had more cute moments in my life. You know what I mean.

I get tired of being angry.

I strongly believe in self expression.

I question a lot of things, especially traditions.

I have two competing personalities. One dominated when I was younger but now...idk. I think the other is slowly starting to fight its way out. Watch out people.

I stand up for my beliefs.

I can be very stubborn.

I can be vain.

True friends are like family.

I think I'm going to die at a young age.

I think everything happens for a reason.

I like to play in hair. My own when I can.

When I get nervous or am deep in thought or daydreaming I play in the hair behind my ear.

Bring Me to Life the acoustic version by Evanescence is the most played song in my music library.

I can be very particular. Sometimes that inhibits me.

If I met myself we would probably clash at first then develop a love/hate relationship. I'm an acquired taste.

My favorite Whitney Houston song is I'm Your Baby Tonight.

I have conflicting ideas of my future. On one hand, I want to be free, wild, and reckless and go wherever life takes me. On the other, I want to go home every night to someone and be able to say he's still the guy of my dreams after all these years.

I'm a hopeless romantic.

I don't like makeup.

I love to give gifts. It's magical when you see someone's face light up at the thought that you've wrapped and given to them. It makes me feel all bubbly inside. lol

Inside jokes keep me going.

My favorite item of clothing is jackets.

I think Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam should make a come back.

I wish I would get in front of the camera more often. I don't have many pictures with the people I love.

I believe in the necessity of change.

I'm ambidextrous.

I twirl my pens/pencils when I write.

Most people don't understand the flow of my notes.

I doodle.

I don't like to cry but sometimes I wish I did more often.

I could probably be a little more healthy.

I can get confrontational and rude at times.

I'm predictably unpredictable.

A trip to the bookstore, then on to the beach is my idea of a perfect date.

I wouldn't mind owning a bookstore.

I like to go to the public library; although, I haven't been in awhile.

That Gavin DeGraw song I Don't Wanna Be is excellent.

Butterflies scare me.

I usually mean what I say, but sometimes not the way you hear it.

Communication is something I need to work on.

I can lie really well about stupid things. (Like my name being Wendolyn :D)

I occasionally blend honesty and bluntness. I don't intend to be mean. Don't take it the wrong way.

I get bored a lot but can usually find a way to entertain myself while still complaining about being bored.

I'm simplistically complicated.

What else can I say but...

I'm Wendi J.

Yaaaayyyyyy!!!!!!!!

I get to see mi kids tomorrow. Yaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!! :D

But then classes start the next day and I have to work. :(

But I get to see mi kids tomorrow. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!

Possibilities...

O the possibilities.

Just a Thought...

Sometimes... I think I talk too much.

Shopping List for 2008

So... I thought about it and I still have nothing to say about leaving 2007 and going into 2008. All I have is a list of things I would like to get in no particular order.

1. Pay the balance on my room $500.00

2. A new digital camera, you know pocket sized compared to my dSLR, preferably a Sony Cybershot DSC-T100 $300.00

3. A new iPod, well one that holds more music than my Nano, maybe a touch or a classic. It really doesn't matter, probably a classic, I mean I can use the wifi on my phone so... $300.00

4. Another video camera since something unfortunate happened to my other one. I've missed so many recordable moments. I'll probably get a Panasonic PV-GS320 $400.00

5. Polarizing filters for my lenses. $90.00 each

6. Extra memory cards for my cameras and phone.

7. A set of speakers for my up and coming media center lol. Probably the Cyber Acoustics CA-3090RB. $30.00

8. A flat-screen tv that can double as a second monitor for my computer. I planned on buying this last semester or year whatever, but I still haven't decided which one I want. $400.00

I guess 2008 is going to be an expensive year. Not really. Oh well, nobody else is going to buy this stuff for me. I like to know that I can take care of myself. I guess I'll scratch these off as I go.

Tuo Ecaep!

So Yeah... It's 2008

I guess I'm a little late with this one. But I really don't know what to say. I guess Happy New Year is appropriate. Last year I came up with a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish, but this year I don't think I'm gonna do that. I guess I may make goals as the year goes along. I can just feel the excitement seeping out of my pores. :-|

I think I'll come back and do this a little later when I'm not so blah.

Peace. (-_-)