Moments in Time

I'm so excited for the long, long summer that I have ahead of me. A first year of college completed. Party time, guys! I would like to personally thank everyone, all my readers, for checking this blog out and reading it each week. I do like the interaction that I have with the readers of this blog and among others who own blogs. I think I'm doing a good job since this blog has been started back in January of this year. As I think about it seem that I have piled so crammed many, many posts in one week as if you were on a speeding train to get from point A to point B. Again, I appreciate each one of you for reading the blog. I'm not sure in what direction to go, but I know it is time for a new blog design. However, not sure if I should change the template.

Though I'm not on a full break from blogging, I will post through the week, but not as much as I was in the past during my English class for a grade. One challenge: Finding what to write about without being too personal. I don't want to write from a personal perspective though I will relate to some things in first person. I did a guest post for another blogger and in return I had a post written that was posted here last month. I've been reading about guest bloggers and the pros and cons of having them. Those thoughts have stumbled upon my mind here and there.

Is it time for a change? I remember reading the different comments on yesterday's post about a time for a change. For a fact, I read some good thoughts from people and a bit of "debate" from people talking about the past and the present and how we can now put them into a connecting relationship. That alone is something to think about. To get the connection of yesterday's post, I think it may be helpful to read two past posts entitled Our Perspective and Understanding Another View. Maybe you will find a connection or some type of meaning. At the beginning of the spring semester in English we had to write our own manifesto. I tried my best to not write too much if there is such a thing as writing too much. I'm satisfied with what I have written and by reading it you can better understand me a person and my mission in life.

As I enjoy my night, I hope you enjoy yours.

When it comes to blogging, new, fresh ideas are flaring everywhere to make this blog better. I'm not truly a big technician or template designer or savvy programmer, but I do the best I can with the knowledge that I do have. Sometimes it is challenging to come up with ideas and something to write about; especially when the mind is drained. This what makes a blogger slack the strength to post something new each day, weekly, or whatever the posting schedule may be. I might as well say that I am talking about myself.  Those who are bloggers that have gone or are going through this ordeal may know what I'm talking about.

The month of May is approaching quickly around the corner.  Time is going by fast. Hopefully we can get some nice, beautiful weather in the city. This weekend it has been slightly cooler than the last few weeks. Therefore, it felt cold outside. I believe the farmers called this effect "Blackberry Winter." I'm not quite sure why they call it this special name, but I think it is to help distinguish the way the weather changes rapidly. We all can feel the difference from a slightly drop in temperatures to a dramatic decrease. In a sense that can be either good or bad.

May is opened for graduations for the class of 2008. I graduated last year from a challenging school of different problems and shortage of teachers and an increase of students. However, I get the reaction of how could I have graduated from that school. Everyone has their own opinions. Let me ask you this: What makes a school good or bad? Does anyone have a say in what exactly defines a school  good or bad? How about the term failing? The school officials probably would not call a school failing, but if they are meeting the standards they will be "below average" or "proficient."

Bloggers often change the way they are  posting on their blogs. They may change their format to increase the readership. They may change their writing style or grab a template for a new look. Blackberry Winter may change the temperature and the way it feels outside. Could the month of May help us get the self driven willingness to start off the month with a fresh start? It may or may not help the farmers in one way or  another, but it could help us realize that the environment is changing each and every day. Graduations are coming up soon. Seniors will be getting a break from school during the summer. In the fall may be get shipped to college and keeping studying for a higher education degree. It also will open up their eyes and create new experiences for them. Schools are doing poorly. Schools are excelling. Schools are corrupted. Education is the future of everything.

As a new month approaches go out and try something new. Do something difference. We all have these fixed schedules where we do the same routine over and over each day. A friend once told me that she does not use a schedule, but rather she just gets up and go. She tells her children to put their shoes on and let's go do this or we are going to to XYZ. Since there is a change in the season, let's make a change in ourselves personal and environmental.  Could you be dared to go beyond the fixed schedule or step outside the box to be in a different situation?  Will you be able to deal with change? Is change good or bad in your viewpoint?

I will probably guess or make a quick assumption that you may think I'm rambling on from one thing to the next. That may be the case, but sometimes we have to just throw different  ideas and concepts up in the air to make a point or purpose. With this said, I think we all should take the next month to go about a change. Do something you normal would not do on a daily basis. Try eating something new. Try taking action into building up your community. If you think you alone can't do anything, brainstorm with your neighbors and go for a "call for action."  This is a moment in time where you can be a better you. This is a moment in time where you can help better your family, friends, or anyone else you come contact with; furthermore, they will see something new. Something different.

Playing the game freeze tag was fun as a child. I think every elementary student should have played that game.  All that running and playing was good for us in those days. Now it is hard to get ourselves out to get some exercise each week. Besides freeze tag, everyone enjoyed a good game of dodge ball and kick ball during free time after a good lunch meal.  With this said, I've been tagged! Not physically tagged, but by another blogger.

Joel, the blogger, maintains So You Want to Teach? has tagged me. I found that out from an email I received this morning. I'll follow the rules and continue the game of blog tag!

The Rules:

1. The rules of this game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them read your blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer.

Now that I understand what to do, I will answer the questions. Now you and others can learn little bit about me on a personal level.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

Back to the past around the year of 1988.  I'm not quite sure what happened during that year. I was in elementary school. During that time I had just moved from St. Louis to where I'm currently at in Memphis. I was busy being a child and making friends and doing my schoolwork. You know what the typical children do around their younger years. There were may be the moments of misbehaving and getting others in trouble. That is just about as much as I can remember for now.

2. What are the 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

• Study for tomorrow's exam - one of three
• Start packing and cleaning up my dorm room to move out
• Finish my English 1020 research paper to turn in Monday morning
• Watch some television and just chill out
• Get stressed out from studying too much and just tired myself out

3. Snacks I enjoy:

I enjoy eating fruit snacks, apples, oranges, blueberry muffins

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

• Save some of the money to buy a customized house (and maybe another house in another city)
• Give some money to my family when they are in need only with the limitation of "two collect this much money" passes
• Buy two cars to park in my garage
• Have some money to put towards my college tuition each year
• A billion dollars is much so, I wouldn't really know what else to do with it besides putting it in the bank for future needs

5. Three of my bad habits

• Being lazy
• Putting things off until the last minute
• Misplacing important items and get angry when I find it

6.  5 Places I Have Lived:

• St. Louis
• Memphis

7. 5 Jobs I Have Had:

Honestly, I have never really had a job. However, I have helped my aunt with her gas station and my aunt here in Memphis at her former job doing office work.

Tag, You're It!
Now it is time for me to name a few people I want to know:

1. Mark writes his blog about anything and everything. He has the mind of just talking about anything from the smallest problem to the daily happenings of his family. I enjoy reading his posts about his life each week.

2. Skwigg is a lady of the fitness. She blogs about her health and staying in shape. She is a person who enjoys eating different types of food. If you want a good work, it will be nice to read the blog about health and fitness.

3. Martin is a voice in the field of higher education. He is proud supporter of the field as well. I enjoy reading this blog and what Martin writes about. I would like to get to know him since he likes to write about the college life and report news about anything that is happening to college students.

4. Max may be a young blogger, but he goes make good points about the world of blogging in his posts. I enjoy reading his weekly tips and blurbs about how to make a better post or how to earn money while you blog.  It's a blog about blogging, so though he is young, he's a cool blogger.

5. Darren is a California teacher expressing everything about the teaching field and politics that deals with teachers. I would like to know little bit about him as a blogger. He talks about how the school system affects him personally outside and inside the classroom.

It's your turn to get tagged!

Summer vacation is soon to be here. That's right, tomorrow is the last day for all University of Memphis students for the Spring Semester. I am glad that this semester is ending. Though the entire year was not so bad as a first year in college. One of the few questions asked among college students or anyone of the general public is "What are you doing to do for the summer?" There is not exact answer to this question. Everyone will have their own answers such as going out away to California or to Florida or New York. They can go on a simple trip of visiting their family and friends that lives in another state. No matter what you do you should go out and have FUN!! Right now I think everyone should be ready for a nice long summer. However, Summer does not officially begin until June 21st. On the other hand it comes early for me and other college students across the country who are ending last days of classes at the end of this month. For background information you can read History of the Summer Vacation.

There are so many events and activities that will be going on during the next few months. In Memphis, there is always some event that is going on whether it is a music festival or a food eating contest, you will enjoy yourself.

The Memphis in May celebration will honor the country of Turkey. The following events will be going on through the month of May:

• May 2-8 - Attend the Beale Street Music Festival and enjoy the wonder music artists that will be in concert in Downtown Memphis.
  
• May 15-17 - Memphis in May World Barbecue Contest should help you want to grill the best food and compete for money.
• 
  May 24 - Sunset Symphony will be held in Tom Lee Park. If you enjoy an orchestra or the classical music genre, you should want to hear them play. The Four Tops will be featured that evening as well.

You can visit the homepage of Memphis in May for more information such as the tickets and the exact day and time of the performances and events in details.

Not is not the only Memphis tradition that is going on, but there are more events for all ages that will be happening throughout the summer months. I only gave a vague calendar of events, but you can always go searching on your own for more information.

What do you plan on doing this summer? Is there a "summer tradition" that you or your family do every year? What's an ideal vacation for you?

This blog as been added to the Student Bloggers directory on yesterday by Alex who maintains a blog director and featured student blogs of the day. Every blog is listed by university. Therefore, this blog would be listed under "U of Memphis."