So, we put the house up for sale with the bad floors. No dice. Then my Daddy told me that the insurance would pay for that. For real, yo? By that time, it had been like a year, so I was skeptical. But, after his continued pushing, I called my insurance company. Within 3 days, I had enough to pay for a whole downstairs full of new flooring. Favor.

So, instead of getting new floors throughout, I figured I’d be economical and just get the ones I had replaced. New floors and installation would certainly eat through that whole check. I had no clue who to get to do it, so I happened to mention it to my coworker. He laid my tile, so he said he’d just take a weekend and do the floors for me, even though he really didn’t care to work with wood. Favor.

A week later, all new floors were down and I had enough to spare! I decided I’d replace the carpet upstairs, but the Lowes price was $1000. For one room. Naw. But my coworker knew somebody who could come take a look at my carpet and tell me if he could fix it. Next day, he was there looking at the carpet. He fixed the visible parts for what I was sure would take at least half of the rest of my money. But he did it as favor to my coworker. Favor.

Well, the MOST embarrassing thing happened to me at Walmart when I pulled out my little blue bag to use instead of plastic. Let’s just say it resulted in a shrieking cashier. Right then and there, I decided I definitely needed an exterminator. Pronto. I called Orkin. $250. Sheesh. Inlet my fingers do the walking, and by the next day, my house had been exterminated inside and out for $90. Favor.

The last thing I needed to do was get my creme micro suede couch and chair cleaned. So, I called up the old reliable cleaners and scheduled them to clean the couch, chair, and all the rugs in the house. She told me it would be about $180. Cool. They got there this morning, and i figured I’d save a little by telling him not to worry about one of the rugs. He says that’s cool, it’ll cost you too much for me to take this other one in, so I’ll just clean it outside for you for free. Your bill will be $125. Favor.

My house is ready to go back on the market now, and I still have insurance money left.

I’m getting sworn into the Tennessee Bar Monday. Because my friend has a friend who just happens to work at the youth court (Let that marinate. Dood works at the youth court. Do yall know how much I loved working at youth court??? This guy just happens to work there. Just happens) and who said he would find a judge to swear me in and that he’d find another lawyer to stand up for me. A guy I’ve never seen in my life. Favor.

I’m going to try to make some connections while I’m there, and I would say wish me luck. But I don’t need it. God favors me.

If you need a verse to stand on regarding favor, this is mine: I am growing in the Lord, and I, too, am in favor with the Lord, and with men. 1 Samuel 2:26 (loosely translated by me.)

Have a great weekend. See you guys Tuesday!

No book: Hi professor. I haven’t gotten my book yet. Is there any other way that I can complete the assignment? I won’t receive the book until next Thursday, so please bear with me.
Me: You’ll definitely need the book to complete this assignment. What would you like to do about your assignment? <–(this is me, setting her up to ask for an extension.)

Round 2
No book: Is there any way you can post the pages to doc sharing and I can do it that way?
Me: The text book is not online, so I can't post the chapters. *but yeah…I prolly coulda done that in hindsight.*

Round 3
No book: I don't know what to do because I won't have the book until Thursday!
Me: Crickets. *You are not going to get me to offer you and extension by whining.*

Round 4
No book: I was able to view the PowerPoint of the chapters on my phone. Can you send me the questions so I can have my work turned in on time?
Me: *Are there no students that she can call to ask this?* The case that you need to read isn't in the presentation, so the questions won't help you. I understand that you don't have the book and that isn't your fault. What I'm confused about is why you won't just ask if you can turn in your assignment when you get the book?

Round 5:
No book: I won't get full credit if I turn it in late.
Me: You won't get full credit if you answer questions about a case you've never read, either.

Round 6
No book: So, can I turn in my work when I get my book?
Me: No.

LOL! I was just kidding on the last part. Of course I told her yes she could turn it in. But for real, alladat because you didn't want to ask for what you really wanted. Okay, I get it , I see you being conscientious about your work ethic. You convinced me that you care about your work, but enough was enough in Round 4. Students always try to get you to offer them something they don't think they'll get if they ask. Then when you offer it, they ask for more. Been there, done that.

Or, was I wrong? Was no book really just that into turning in her assignment on time, and I misjudged? What would you have done?

Weigh in!

Jan, 2009

Jan, 2012

My version of hip hop Saturday hair. You know I look like I can bust a move.

The fam on the night we integrated ice hockey in Mississippi. We were the ONLY black people in the coliseum. We ain’t neva scared!

The one that got away.

Aidan and O playing on Saturday. So silly together. They’d kill with the 6/7 year old crowd.

I met thoughtsofasoutherngirl! Good times!

My uncle has learned to text. This made me smile.

Look what law school (the blogger formerly known as Kelly) sent me! I mentioned on the blog one day I wanted a good base coat, and this turned up in the mail. Love her!

I’m an official Navy wife now. Able to enter installations everywhere. Watch out world!!

No, I’m not ashamed that this is hanging in my car. It smells good, and I want more! Get like law school and mail me some. They’re free!

We were supposed to be sending Daaaddy a good night picture. It took a wrong turn somewhere in toothlessville.

In orher news, I guess the answer to the question is: to blog! Have a great weekend! See ya next week!

I’m thinking of purchasing a premium channel, but I don’t wanna get all three. So, would you recommend Showtime or HBO?

I’m thinking I really wanna see Treme, but I don’t know what else comes on HBO. And I’ve heard Showtime has better series. So…weigh in, my dears!

I was reading over some of my old posts, and some of them made me laugh out loud just remembering things that happened, things Aidan said, things about the family, good times, man!  I remember when I would look forward to posting something, or when something would happen and I’d think “I definitely have to put that on the blog.”  Most of all, I loved blogging about my family.

Honestly, there are certain of my family members that don’t care to be referenced on here, which kinda hurts my feelings, which kinda makes me have to think too hard about what to say and what not to say so as not to step on any toes, so it’s kinda no longer fun for me.  I loved telling those stories about us, it’s always been how I show love.  You know I’m not a hugger, so blogging was the way I shared my love.  When that became “an issue” and people took offense, it took a bit of a toll on me.

And Aidan has gotten bigger now.  How much soccer and school projects can one blog about? And I can no longer blog from work (bummer), and there’s Facebook, and there’s twitter, and there’s life, and by the time I sit down at night it’s just too late — like right now.  And I’m not really doing anything new or exciting that I think you guys would want to hear about.  I think I’ve become boring.

So, what does that leave me to say?  Eh…I don’t know.  I guess this is that classic crossroads.  To blog or not to blog. That is, indeed, the question.

This Christmas, we went down to Mom & Dad’s. On Christmas morning, the kids woke us up to open gifts, but Aidan was a little less than enthusiastic. He had PSP on the brain, but since his Christmas cash hadn’t come in yet, he only had about $70.00. I know he expected to open up his PSP, but Daddy and I stood firm. Okay, Daddy did, ya girl almost broke.

Anyway, at our big family dinner, aunts and uncles started handing out cash, and everybody knew that Aidan needed to get to $128. He brought me his new cash and his wallet, and sweated bullets while we did the final count. Of course you all know that if he hadn’t have had the money then, my Dad would have probably strangled the rest of it out of me, but he did! And, here you have the results of weekly dollars, chores for quarters, and Christmas cash:

One happy Aidan! I was so proud of him, even though a week before Christmas he gave up and decided he’d just spend $70 on NinjaGo men and Daaaaddy had to make him keep saving. In the end, he was very proud of himself, and now he’s decided he’s going to save up for a camera. We’re only $37 in, folks, it’s gonna be a long haul.

Now, let’s talk about ME, shall we? I never told you guys that a while ago, I had the pleasure of meeting MissMileHigh! Lemme tell you, it was like talking to an old friend. We sat there for hours and laughed and talked, and her cupcakes are, indeed, delicious!! While we were there, we noticed that we had the same Coach handbag, but in different colors. I mentioned that I was going to get the matching wallet, but I was being cheap and I didn’t. Turns out, we both like Coach, and we both don’t like hugging. Thought nothing else of it.

Until….I arrived home from Memphis after the New Year all sad and lonely and there was a box. Finally! My Secret Santa gift!! By this time, I’d figured out that my earlier guess of NerdGirl was dead wrong (which one of you could have told me. Losers.) so I couldn’t wait to see what goodies MissMileHigh had put in my box.

It was very light, and I was very curious. Wrapped in pink paper, wrapped in more plastic. Then I saw the brown C. I know it anywhere. “No she didn’t try to trick me with something wrapped up in Coach plastic. O_o Wait..is that the…no she didn’t!!!” And then picture me holding this like Aidan above:

That’s right! A Coach bag. BAM!! My secret Santa came through like a MACK TRUCK baby!!!

I was very pleased, and I’m very thankful to my Secret Santa. I could hug you, but even better, I totally won’t. .

At the time of year when people are planning life, I have but one plan for 2012: to go home to where my husband is.

Now, this isn’t a sad post, so don’t go there with the awwws and the it’s gonna work outs, because in all honesty, I know that it’s going to work out. I have a peace about the current situation because I have faith that God is perfecting those things which concern me. There are things happening for me that I can’t see, and I’m excited about what’s going to happen this year.

Since this time last year, some things have changed and I’ve gotten some momentum. At the end of last year, I was hired at 2 more online schools, increasing my total to 4 (and doubling my already heaping helping of unsmartables). One of the options that I’m working to create is to be able to teach full time, or do something academic, rather than practice law. To me, that’s the most appealing option. I really do love teaching, and it will give me more time at home so that I can be a wife and a mom. Anyway, my goal is to get at least two more schools.

And, if that doesn’t work out, just last Friday, I was admitted to the Tennessee Bar! That opened up some possibilities. Wonder where they’ll take me?

So, I’m feeling good, feeling great about being able to leave Jackson behind in 2012. I’ll really try to document the Memphis: 2012 journey on the blog more. In the meantime and in between time, I’m keeping the faith and getting prepared.

This is gonna be a great year.

Blogging Resumes.

See you then!

It goes from-> to

Mrs. TDJ to Coco
Coco to Adrienne
Adrienne to Mrs. Count
Mrs. Count to NYSLE
NYSLE to Krissy
Krissy to MissMileHigh
MissMileHigh to Alia
Alia to NerdGirl
NerdGirl to Pserendipity
Pserendipity to 1969
1969 to SayItLikeThis
SayItLikeThis to BK
BK to Sheena/SheNeeds
Sheena to Mrs.TDJ
Mommy & Me to Babs
Babs to Mz.InspiredMind
MzInspiredMind to InnerDiva
InnerDiva to Beautifully Complex
Beautifully Complex to Gorgeous Puddin’
Gorgeous Puddin’ to Sun Child
Sun Child to Kaylyn
Kaylyn to TravelDiva
TravelDiva to CityofCyn
City of Cyn to TIH
TIH to Mommy & Me

Aaaaaaand, there you have it! Did you guess who your Secret Santa was? I know that all of the gifts have been mailed, but perhaps not received yet. I hope you guys had a load of fun this year, and thanks to everyone for participating! Merry Chirstmas to you all, and I’ll see you next year for Secret Santa 2012!!