Creole Wisdom

more middle of nowhere ohio part deux

College graduations are always an adventure.  I mean, do you like sitting on bleacher slabs for 2 hours?  I do, because it means I get to see my family/friends pass milestones.  Way to go Dennis!  Let's keep up that Harris motto: do it right, do it right the first time

Go Dennis, go Dennis, go

Now let me get on my little soapbox and say 2 things:
Black men,
You need to rise up.  You don't have excuses.  No, not every girl wants a thug.  Stop that mess.  If you want to quit stereotypes get yourself together and get an education.  Sports stardom and music production are pipe dreams, it's time to get real. 

Society,
Stop putting down black men by expecting them to fit into a box.  They are our brothers, sons, and fathers.  They are capable, and men of integrity.  Don't diss a brother because he's wearing a suit and not Nike's, going to college instead of running the streets.  Just because a man has his act together does not mean he is "bougie." 

Love,
Katie

golden corral et all...

Now, you know I don't really "do" buffets.  Oh well, so we were going.  My cousin Dennis was graduating so the whole dang family (dad's side) flew/drove into Ohio for the ceremony.  Having never been to a place to eat with the name "corral" in it, I knew I needed to get my camera out:

On my plate: corn, biscuit, veggies, and some rando fish with sauce and rice.  Oh, yes and chocolate cake, too (this is summer vacation!)

The wonderful Ohio section of the family: Aunt Barbara, Uncle Norman, Dorothy, Aunt Doris, Dennis, and some of his friends.

Aunt Doris and I- how fun!

Grandma and I : ) Is she not adorable?  It is from her that I gain the culinary strength to create masterpieces such as sweet potato pie and cornbread dressing. 

The verdict: Golden Corral gets 1/2 star, but time with family gets 5+

specula the door

Mom: Here are some boxes for moving out of AOII
Me: You know I cannot use boxes that have the word "vaginal" on them. Guys from church might be helping me!
Mom: Yeah, you're probably right (walks into the office to grab a pen)

...

Me: I can still see it through the sharpie! Can you cover up "specula," too?!?
Mom: The word specula just means that it opens something
Me: Hmm, like specula the door?!?

....

I mean, can you see the faces of guys if they saw this box?!?  Thank goodness no one is coming to help me besides family.

This is the embaressment that you suffer for having a parent in the medical field. 

If you want any vagina boxes or viagra/can't-get-it-up medication pens I'd be happy to send them to you.  And no, these are not going to Utah. 

new goodies

Friday Karen, Brittany, and I headed to MOA.  I made a killing at Forever 21.  I love Forever 21 because it's like the cheap girls Anthropologie.  I can get mostly anything I want, and a ton of it, too.  I am especially partial to their ultra-feminine sun dresses.  I even found a cute cover up for my swim suit. 

Oh, and for fun I tried on shorts.  Now, keep in mind I have not worn shorts since about 2002.  Why?  Well I found out again when I tried some on for fun, there is no need for me to be walking down the street in something that looks like I popped out of playmate of the year.  Not a good look.  It was hilarious to see in the dressing room.  Ya should of been there.  I was laughing my butt off.

Sunday mom wanted to go back to MOA for a mother's day shop.  I had been wanting to go to the new Gilly Hicks store, and I did.  Oh my goodness is that store gorgeous.  You need to come to MN and see it for yourself.  The most feminine, sexy, gorgeous underwear ever in the most fabulous, elegant, yet fun store.  I had to snap a picture of the place, here is the center room where they sell tons of perfume.  Ah, so gorgeous.  It is divided up into about 4 rooms and one of them looks like a massive, dark paneled library... but it's a library of bras.  I wanted to die.  It was so beautiful.

And their products... even more beautiful than the lingerie I remember seeing in France.  So pretty!  The photos do not do them justice. 

Then off to Martin + Osa for new flip flops and a really cute top.  They are another cool, new store.  Very holistic, organic look but well-tailored, feminine, and affordable prices!

Yep.  I'd say I'm ready for my Utah summer!

mom's day

Another good mother's day has come and gone!  I can't believe it.  Planned this one out pretty well, too!  Mom and I started out Sunday with church at Calvary Lutheran.  Quickly after communion we dodged out to make it to our 12pm reservation at Figlio's.  A restaurant to die for.  I was actually worried about getting a good reservation, but I got one with no problem.  They were packed though.  Good thing I plan ahead.

Mom's gift with fun wrapping and our divine eggs benedict.

Mom's gift: picture of us (from mother's day 2007) in cool frame and willow tree figurine.  Plus a "singing" card. 


We finished off the day with a mega shopping trip at MOA (per mom's request) and pedicures oh, and yes ice cream. 

blurb

I had so much fun making my blurb book.  I decided not to include my first year of blogging, and any of the unpleasant Matt stuff, because it is my blurb book!  Haha.  Reminds me of a saying I have tacked up that says: if it's not in the scrapbook, it didn't happen.  Snaps to that!!!


And the spine... one of my favorite features of making this:

Eventually I am planning on making both a book about both my grandmas.  This summer I'm making one for my sorority.  Almost everyone in my house is hooked.  Two girls have already made blurb books for their moms for mother's days, and Kate made one for her boyfriend. 

Turning Away From Hate

Last night, on campus, Hillel (the Jewish student organization) put on a lecture featuring TJ Leyden, an ex-neo nazi.  The first time I saw the poster on campus I knew I had to go, and it was an amazing experience.  Going into the lecture I knew that I would hear things that would disturb, even scare me. 

After this slide came up the room grew quiet.  TJ Introduced himself and began explaining his life in the movement:

TJ grew up in a middle class Irish-Catholic family and got into the movement as a teenager.  He was a leader in it, recruited other kids, and promoted racism and violence-

TJ is an amazing public speaker.  I thought I knew quite a bit about race history in this country and the rising white-nationalist movement.  He taught me things I had never even heard of, things that literally blew my mind. 

For instance.  TJ exposed the fact that seperatists of all races, i.e. Neo-Nazis and the Nation of Islam have been meeting together for years...

A seperatist is just a p.c. word for racist, and a seperatist is a seperatist no matter what color they are.  Here is a plan that the sepeartists hatched for America:

The catalyst for TJ's change of heart came from his two young sons.  He and his wife and children have since been out of the white power movement for years.  Because of who he is TJ is constantly at risk from attack from Neo-Nazis.  His best friend in the movement wrote a hateful song about him, he has been shot at more times than he can count...

It was an amazing experience, I continue to marvel at hatred and am humbled by those who say "no more."