Seven days later and the words are finally starting to flow. Geez, me and deadlines, its an evil match. Me and my brain are sooo not friends right now, but don't tell it I said that, I woudn't want it to take these so needed thoughts on analyzing the work of Jennie Livingston and Marlon Riggs away from me. Not at this vital hour! Not when the end of this God awful semester is so near.

Next up: The gendered toys of Macdonald's Happy Meals, some words on street kids in India and little black boys in inner city public schools, and the ways in which black erotica works against the silencing of black female sexuality... oh, and 2.5 weeks to be fruitful. Let the games begin!

I am really gonna have to stop putting off getting an eye exam. I haven't made the time for one and my eyes are not happy with me at all. My vision is blurred right now, and I am creeping into that group of people who shouldn't be doing any night driving. I think its all the result of how much time I have been spending with my computer. Since getting the Mac, it goes with me everywhere and its not uncommon for me to be peering into it all day long. Its 2:35am and here I am, peering into it, having to look away ever so often to let me eyes readjust before looking back at the screen. Just pitiful.

In the age of contacts, I am actually looking forward to wearing glasses. I used to wear glasses when I was younger, or should I say, I was prescribed glasses when I was younger. I would never wear them in public because I always had to settle for the "poor people frames". In case you are not familiar, they are the ones that are designated for people who have vision coverage through state programs, such as Medi-cal. They are not cute at all! I had enough markers of my socioeconomic status growing up, I didn't need those frames to be the icing on the cake. By the time I could afford frames that I preferred, I no longer considered myself someone who needed to wear glasses. But now, there is no denying it.

Now I have my heart set on some readers. I think they look hot with all stages and styles of natural hair.

I've been in my own little world lately. Busy trying to organize these last papers in my head, while simultaneously trying to keep my sanity. These last couple of weeks, I've kinda been at a disconnect with school stuff, as the "real world" and life's challenges are a lot more important. I'm on a quest for clarity. Over the holidays, I took some time to finish a blanket that I had been working on for a while for Miss J. She was very pleased with the final result.


I started a new blanket last night. A little yellow and white number that hopefully will make a mother and her baby very happy. I have plans on finishing it this weekend. Crocheting brings such a tranquil feeling, and with 43 more pages of writing to do, I need all the tranquility that I can get.

That's what students were met with, and felt, as they stood up for public education.

As the occupation of Wheeler Hall took place, the Chancellor not only called in the UCPD, but he also felt the need to call in city law enforcement, who arrived in riot gear, obviously ready to do battle. They agitated the hundreds of supporters outside the building, and began pushing them, poking them, and beating them with their batons, all while our Chancellor sent out emails throughout the day saying how the safety of the students was a priority. There are reports that a woman's hand was broken by a police baton, and there are others with bruises from the rubber bullets. The ecalation was a real surprise and shock. We had already had two days of peaceful protest and were rounding up the campaign against the fee hike with a third. We had seen the beatings and pepper spraying of UCLA students and were happy that it wasn't happening on our campus... and then suddenly, it was.

Thankfully, none of our moms or babies were hurt, as we had received word of the police presence and planned accordingly. But, we were still there!


On the front lines! Arms linked, and not taking no shit, because, we don't set foot on campus everyday just for ourselves, but for our children and families. They can't just request $2,500 more from us and expect us to hand it over willingly. I can happy that I will not be returning next semester for various reasons, however, saddened for what this means for those who will be returning or just entering (and those "just entering" will be few).

Take a look at the short videos below to have a first hand look at just how much of a priority the safety of UC Berkeley's students were on Friday.

We stood in solidarity this week, and were semi-defeated with the approval of the proposed 32% fee hike to tuition within the UC system. So, that means that $2,500 will be tacked onto the already $4,176 - $4, 874 (depending if you have opted to be covered under the University's health insurance plan) next semester, bringing tuition costs to $6,676 - $7,374 for Spring 2010. This is detrimental to students who are already struggling to pay for their education, and it is devastating for certain campus communities, such as students of color and student-parents. Although the Regents say that low-income students will be shielded from this hike, we are having a hard time trusting that. The fact that the University is laying workers and faculty off left and right, closing child care centers, imposing new regulations and eliminating vital resources, DOES NOT provide any ease. We all fear that this is the beginning of the "death of public education".


We have been reminded by fellow students that this decision to approve the fee hike was not solely the decision of the UC Regents, but more of a snowball effect of our dry state. California's budget crisis has not improved and people are still feeling the sting of frigged air from being left out in the cold for what is starting to feel like forever. Whatever the reasons, we simply CAN NOT afford to dish out more money, and we are being told that neither can the financial systems that have been in place to aid us. So, then what? What happens to the student who has invested so much, but can not afford to continue on the journey? What happens to high schoolers who may not be able to get fully funded? How will the University, particularly, UC Berkeley, maintain its status as one of the most prestigious schools in the country if it has to shut out thousands of hopeful applicants? There will surely be some interesting times ahead as things continue to unfold.


The movement to stand up, fight for what is right, and be heard, will press on today, as students have organized themselves for another day of protesting. There is still a great belief in the power of a mass and collectivity. The hope is that the University will see that the students they serve "ARE the University and they have the power to shut it down". No business as usual for many, even as the semester is ending and finals are being thought up, students still have justice on the brain. I can't predict an outcome, but I can show my support by participating in the movement as I have been while I am still officially on campus, and show my solidarity to my UC Berkeley community once I move on.

Click here to read the story of my friend, and UC Berkeley single dad, Ramon Quintero, as he bussed down to LA with other UCB students for the UC Regents meeting. He is an inspiration and he couldn't have made his Cal student-parent community more proud!

(Note: "We are the University and we have the power to shut it down"... its ringing true, if only for today, as UCB strikers have succeeded in shutting down one of the buildings on campus in massive protest. The same is in progress at UC Davis.)

Ya know, its really hard to blog about being bored out of your mind.

Boredom is at an all time high today. I don't even think its because I don't have things to do, but because I don't have any immediate things to do. No articles to read for class, no conversations to engage in at the moment, and no papers to write... well, none were on today's to-do list. Today's paper deadline was extended to next Tuesday, so now there is a little bit of freedom to take more time with it instead of doing the rush job I had planned on doing yesterday.

This NaBloPoMo is no joke. I might not make it, hehe.

The start of a brand new week brings with it memories of a full weekend, and consequences of letting loose and having a little too much fun. In my world, the concept of "too much fun" rarely exists, but considering the fact that I have a paper due tomorrow, that I have yet to start... yes, too much fun over the weekend. But then again, when you are a student, any time that you aren't reading or writing something you're having too much fun, so...

Anyway... today, I will be buckling down into some analysis and churning out a 5 page paper. I also have my first parent/teacher conference with Miss J's teacher this school year. I don't really know what to expect during this visit. I would like to hear all good things, but its been a semi-rough half of 1st grade. I've gotten a couple of notes sent home that have resulted in some lengthy emails between her teacher and I. One of which, I had to explain to her teacher why its not a good idea to refer to my kid as "violent" just because she and a classmate had a physical altercation. Miss J is no angel, but she's not intentionally hateful to other children either. For me, "violence" not only implies intent, but it also implies that physical altercations have been a regular occurrence, which hasn't been the case. She actually tried to psychoanalyze Miss J because she told her that she plays video games with a friend. I proudly wrote her ass an essay with a counter argument and she realized that perhaps "violent" really wasn't an appropriate term, and that perhaps she did jump to conclusions about Miss J being corrupted by "violent" video games. Sigh... the joys of making sure that your children don't fall victim to being tracked in a bad way during those vital years in school.

Geez, the day is cut out for me, and its only Monday. What's on your agenda?

So, I know I said that I wanted to try out some baby locs on my hair. Since then, I've gotten a haircut, and let it grow again. I'm so indecisive when it comes to hair. Its hard not to be when there are so many fun things that can be done with it. Today, I stood in front of the mirror running my fingers through my curls, trying to decide if I wanted to part with them once again. Wildboy and I had talked about doing a mohawk the next time I came to see him and I was a little apprehensive. Again, this is the usual. I always am when considering something new. I pushed all of that to the side this morning and just let Wildboy do his thang.


What do you think of my frohawk? You know we always have to put a spin on things. I'm glad I wasn't too chicken to try it out because I'm completely in love. Its fun, its funky, and its wearable. And I will be wearing out tonight when I hit the country bar with the Cal mommies. Yes, I am going to get my line dance on, punk rock style.

1. The last band I saw live was the one providing the sounds for Jamie Foxx as he rocked the stage.

2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is spending time with my grandparents and the sweet smells of potato pie.

3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is going to be very light this year.

4. Thoughts of where in life I would like to be fill my head.

5. I wish I could wear my size 9 jeans again.

6. Bagpipes are interesting and powerful.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to joining a few friends for some drinks and some line dancing, tomorrow my plans include getting a start on a paper I have due next week and Sunday, I want to hopefully enjoy a movie date with my Kipenzi!

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