The Shrinkage!

So, apart from trying to watch my hair grow, the other activity me and my locs are actively involved in is a fight against SHRINKAGE! In some ways, it doesn't bother me. In fact, it gives me a sort of 'boyish' hairstyle that I don't mind at all. It becomes problematic for me when the front and sides begin to resemble that lopsided JJ Fadd haircut from back in the day.




The new strategy in the fight against shrinkage is... curlers! When I curl my hair after a wash (and although the 'look' in these pictures was achieved with about three different curler types, due to my uneven lengths) I find that I don't have to battle the shrinkage for most of the week (the fight is on again after about 4 days). Because I don't like to mess wtih my hair so much (I can't wait to 'freestyle' properly) curling once a week is reasonable, and the outcome is fairly cute! These photos are from the fourth month.

California Dreamin'

Yes, I too dream of owning a beautiful home in California (I love all the pictures that give me a glimpse of Brunsli's cool Bay area crib!). I am from a small town close to an up and coming part of the coast. It is so up and coming that I am already priced out of the market (well, anything over $29.99 puts me out of the market! I'll get a full time job soon).

So, I took my daughter and niece to have a look-see, and I was so happy to find this beautiful lot for sale!



I am only 2.25 million short, but this, the view, is truly amazing.


Reading Brunsli's blogs about the job search/interview/negotiation process has got me thinking about the 'quality' of pay I should receive as a professor (PhD in hand) at some entry level position.

Mostly I've just been thinking and daydreaming about it (hence the photos of these beautiful coastal homes), and imagining how nice it would be to have a retreat.


Well, I have heard stories of people starting off with a low salary, but with a research fund, and sometimes even funding for housing (think a small downpayment).


As I am planning to come out next year (it's kind of like going into the NFL draft!), I should begin researching more seriously. (Wow, my locs will also be past the one year mark then, that's gotta help with landing a good job!).

Christmas in November

My mother is the type of person who would get ready for Christmas in the summer! (One of the trees comes in pieces and in a bag!). When I lived in Europe, people thought that it was so strange that people would put up a Christmas tree before December 20th. At any rate, I love the fact that my mom prepares early, because that means that I get to start eating Chex Mix around Halloween!

Me and Mom got started cooking while I was home over the Veteran's Day holiday.


The other thing that mom likes a lot, and that I am very proud of, is her collection of Black Christmas decorations (I am still planning to get her the Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth ornaments from the Museum of the African Diaspora). My mom began searching for these things long before it became popular to have them.




Of course, we also pulled out decorations for the Thanksgiving table.

Hope you all are having a pleasant holiday!