I Can't Breathe

I, like everyone else that has watched the news, has feelings and opinions about what is going in this country. It baffles me that people don't understand why African-Americans distrust the police so much.

A white man commented yesterday on Facebook that black people should get over it. I urge all people, no matter your race or ethnicity, to please remember some important U.S. History. It was only 149 years ago that slavery was abolished It was only 59 years ago that Rosa Parks was arrested for just sitting on a bus. Only 46 years ago that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated after years of being threatened, harassed and stalked by the police. Let’s not forget, Jim Crow Laws lasted from approximately 1890-1970. This dictated where you could eat, shop, walk and live if you had the mere appearance of being “black”. African Americans were being "red-lined" when getting mortgages on homes in the 1970's and 1980s and it was allowed. It was only 22 years ago that people rioted in L.A. due to police brutality.

2 years ago Trayvon Martin was shot by George Zimmerman for wearing a hoodie. Michael Brown is killed by a police officer while having no weapon at all. Eric Garner is choked to death, on camera, while posing no threat or harm to the police officers at all. So I ask all of you who don’t understand our anger and outrage; How can African Americans "get over" our unjust, unfair, animalistic treatment in this country when we never got a break from it?

Booked To Capacity

Any woman who is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, working woman deserves to be called a Superwoman.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it!  I know I am not the only woman in America, or the world for that matter, that has the frustrations (blessings) and trials (blessings) that I have.  I consider myself a strange enigma.  An eclectic mix of many influences and thoughts, rolled into one thirtysomething woman.  Oh, and I'm African-American which will be irrelevant to some but important to others, especially when it comes to hair.  This first post is an introduction of sorts to what my blogs will consist of:  Me ranting, me complaining, just kidding.  lol.  Me discussing what my life is like as all of the roles I mentioned above plus some other ambitions and goals that I have.  I am hoping I am not the only woman living this life and I won't be completely embarrased by telling my stories and having you laugh at me.  So here goes nothing:

You know what really grinds my gears?  People who have no idea what I really do.  My frustrations today have to do with feeling completely misunderstood by people

who should know me better than they know the names of the last 10 presidents.  That could be saying a lot or that could be saying nothing at all.  You be the judge, if you're reading.....If someone is considered a sister, friend, close relative; You expect that they know if you're busy or not and what you're busy doing.....That is absolutely not the case!

I found out that you can be as close to me as a bed bug, and still not know what I do for a living or what I do when I get home from work.  I think this is sad.  Maybe it's their fault for not asking.  Maybe it's my fault for not disclosing enough.  I am not entirely sure.  I know that I have mentioned all of the things I do in conversation before but then again, we are Americans, and we have short attention spans.  I am an accounting clerk.  I work with numbers/formulas/money, all day....All Day....No really, All day....So therefore, my brain is fried by 5.  From 5-6pm, I like to decompress and get my mind right for my other 2 careers: Wife and Mother.....I have to prepare to pay attention and have important conversations, quality time with the hubby.  That is a must.  I also have to attend to my super intelligent 7 year old daughter.  Be careful what you pray for. I prayed for a child that would be beautiful, healthy, and smart.  I got all of these things magnified.  Which is a blessing.  However, nobody told me it was so much work to raise a child so smart!  I literally have to do homework with her and then homeschool her, just to keep up with HER pace of learning.  Just to clarify:  My husband and I have been homeschooling my daughter since she showed signs of learning, around 6 months old.  We now have an intricate at-home curriculum which consists of book reviews, science projects, foreign language development, etc.  That is hardwork people!  I am not just sitting around watching the news when I get home from work.  I am working my 2nd and 3rd job.

 On top of that, we are committed to living a clean, organic, toxic free lifestyle.  I know this sounds very Erykah Baduish, but it is what it is.  We save seeds, we are anti-Monsanto, we shop at places like Earth Fare and Whole Foods, Farmer's Markets.  Organic, Free Range, blah blah blah, you get it.  We also believe in being non toxic, which means no Glade, no Tide, no Windex.  We make our own cleaning products and we only buy natural products.  We slip every now and then but we are about 90% toxic free.  (My hubby can jump in and correct me)  And no, we don't smell or walk around barefoot...I say all of this to say, this takes a lot of work, time, energy and dedication.  Therefore, it is completely disturbing to my sensibilities (As Dr. Phil would say...Wow...I am such a suburban soccer mom for saying that by the way)  that people act like they don't understand me saying I'm busy or tired.  On top of all of that, I am a big pregnant lady!  That is another blog altogether!

And it is also disturbing to think that just because I do all of these things, that you shouldn't call, email or text me to find out when I'm available because you assume I have no fun and I don't make time for fun.  It is called checking your sources.  I am extremely busy BUT if you leave me a message, I will get back to you :)

Moral of the story is, for every important woman in your life that you believe or think is booked to capacity; Make sure you actually check and verify what she's doing to be so busy.  Don't assume you know and don't assume she doesn't want a break from it all.  And most of all, don't take it personal when she says she's busy and can't talk or go out.  I know it sounds bi-polar but it's reality.

Hope you enjoyed my lengthy rant :)

And Have a blessed day!
Kia