Norway Updates

...by the way...

You can see the article I wrote about my summer in Oslo here

Back to School

Ugh! That is a picture from the first day of school! I look tired, but that is how I felt: excited and tired about the beginning of the school year! Life on fellowship was amazing, but alas, all good things must come to an end. This photo was taken (by me) back in September right before my first 9am lecture as a tenure track professor! Pretty cool. My new office is coming along; so nice not to share my creative space anymore. Remember how I looked when I first got here? The class? Af-Am literature from migration to Black power... I think it's going pretty well...




The next photo (above) is from a conference in St. Louis, one of the coolest (maybe most underrated?) cities around. Always have a blast working and collaborating with my fellow scholars who join me (well, I really join them) for our annual meeting at Wash U. Had to cut my colleague out, but her locks are always fabulous!



Finally, a photo from a more recent conference in B'More. I am smiling way too hard, but I thought that this photo shows the progress of my horrible reddish tint, ugh! I related my hair coloring gone wrong stories about a year ago. Oh, well. I am really digging the green dress...but next time, I will try not to be the scholar having the most fun at the afterparty...! (check May 17, 2009).

Oslo, July 2011

Thankful that my closest friends and family are safe. Praying for all who have lost loved ones. Hopeful for the beautiful country of Norway and its commitment to pursuing democracy.

5 Years

(excuse the curler :-D)

(this one is for the good eye makeup!)


It's that time of year again - the moment to celebrate another year with locks! As usual, I am abroad wishing for sunnier weather... but I did want to post a few pictures of the end of year 5 and the beginning of year 6.

Not sure what the protocol is, but I can say a few things about the hair:
1. I have been maintaining my locks for the last three years. A loctician has not touched my hair during this time. I can't say that is entirely positive; I am not good at establishing new locks, getting all the loose little hairs into the lock, or sustaining nice parts. That said, I do enjoy the freedom of not having to travel to get my hair did!

2. I stopped braiding and banding as soon as possible (that means about 6 months in)!

3. I have no commitment to any shampoo or nighttime headwrap. I have only used one shampoo that didn't work for me (it smelled great but made my hair feel like gum; and I am too lazy to tie on a headscarf at night....I used to spread a silk scarf over my pillow...that is lazy)!

4. I dealt with a lice scare last summer. Some of the dramatic color difference you can see in the pictures is due to the lice treatments (both store-bought and homemade...).

5. I have colored my locks twice: once 'black leather' and once 'darkest brown with golden highlights'. Both attempts were a mistake (from my perspective). The dye left my hair feeling drier and much harder to curl, but I did discover Feria's conditioner in the process. I now use that conditioner regularly for moisture just because it is really amazing for locks (my opinion).

6. Yes, I have had more attention from men the further along I go in the journey...

7. I am somewhat disappointed by the slow growth process that is the reality of my hair. Nothing to do about that. I am really happy with its appearance at year 5.

8. When I started the blog, I had concerns about the thinness of my hair. In the last few years people have asked me if I have extensions! Me?! Really?! So, although I wouldn't reject more density, I am very pleased with how much fuller my hair is now.

9. I use perm rods to curl my hair. I stopped with those twisty things long ago! I have also begun curling the top of my head and using large twists in the back (easier to sleep or nap)!

10. My next goal is to invent running and swimming head gear that accommodates locks!!

Stylish Blogger Award!

I've been nominated for a stylish blogger award by a fabulous napptural, and I would like to thank her for this award. Thank you, thank you Kalia-Dewdrop!

1. Thank and link back to the person that awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

So, wanna know 7 things about me??

1. I am an assistant professor in a fabulous UC!

2. I have an amazing daughter who inspires me and teaches me humility everyday.

3. I have a newly developed passion for long-distance running. I started only 1.5 years ago, but I have now run four 1/2 marathons, two 10-milers, and one 5k. I am registered for two more! I never thought I could do it, but I am proud that I am!!

4. I don't like raisins or bananas!

5. I am deeply phobic of snakes and frogs...don't tease me...

6. I have 8 siblings (no joke)!

7. For the last one I was going to say either that I have a motorcycle (Ninja 250) or that I have struggled with panic and anxiety.

Sadly, I don't know 15 new bloggers, but I would love to nominate Meikmeika whose blog and recipes I adore!

Paris!

I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Paris, France for the Collegium for African American Research (CAAR) conference. My daughter's spring break coincided with the conference, so we had made a nice little vacation of it!


The photo below is from the gardens of Versailles.


...and one gratuitous 'hair' photo from the gardens of the Rodin Museum! (Still dealing with the color issue! Ugh!!).

Happy 2011!

Here's to all kind of growth in 2011!

Happy Holidays!