This Is What Makes It Worth While ...

I spent a day with children with Cardio-Facio-Cutaneous and Noonan's Syndromes. We worked in conjunction with dentists and other medical care providers giving eye exams to collect data for these rare conditions. There's only 200-300 individuals with this condition WORLDWIDE! We saw about 75 of them ... Truly an amazing experience ...

Check it out ...
http://www.cfcsyndrome.org/syndrome.shtml

Truth ...

Here ... Educate Yourself ...

Even the King Must Bow To The King of Kings

The last few weeks have been surreal
A legend, the invincible, the un-human ...
Died ...

Reality has set in
Death is real
Someone who was so much a part of your childhood ...

Shoot

Your PARENT'S childhood ...

Is gone ...

But as so many have already said ...
He will live on ...
Through the AMAZING music and works of art he left behind ...

The memorial was in such good taste
Such a graceful family
Such a respectable ceremony
Fitting for a King ...

We'll miss you Michael Joseph Jackson
1958 - 2009

We Had Him
By Maya Angelo

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing
Now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace
Sing our songs among the stars and and walk our dances across the face of the moon
In the instant we learn that Michael is gone we know nothing
No clocks can tell our time and no oceans can rush our tides
With the abrupt absence of our treasure
Though we our many, each of us is achingly alone
Piercingly alone
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him
He came to us from the Creator, trailing creativity in abundance
Despite the anguish of life he was sheathed in mother love and family love and survived and did not more than that
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style
We had him
Whether we knew who he was or did not know, he was our's and we were his
We had him
Beautiful, delighting our eyes
He raked his hat slant over his brow and took a pose on his toes for all of us and we laughed and stomped our feet for him
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing
He gave us all he had been given
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Blackstar Square, in Johannesburg, in Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama and Birmingham England, we are missing Michael Jackson
But we do know that we had him
And we are the world.

I'm An Alpha Kappa Alpha Lady ...

June 21, 2009 ...
The beginning of a new chapter in my life
I've been introduced to an AMAZING sisterhood
A sisterhood I cherish, appreciate, and do not take lightly ...

Because THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER!!

I've always been passionate about giving back to my community ...
But now I am a part of something bigger than me ...

We are the first ...
The finest ...
By merit and by culture ...
Supreme in service to all mankind ...

And I am humbled to be part of such a beautiful legacy ...

Here ... Educate yourself ...
www.aka1908.com

FINALLY!!!

Optometric Oath

With full deliberation, I freely and solemnly pledge that...

I will practice the art and science of optometry faithfully and conscientiously and to the fullest of my competence.

I will uphold and honorably promote by example and action the highest standards, ethics and ideals of my chosen profession and the honor of the degree, Doctor of Optometry, which has been granted me.

I will provide professional care for those who seek my services with concern, with compassion and with due regard for their human rights and dignity.

I will place the treatment of those who seek my care above personal gain and strive to see that none shall lack for proper care.

I will hold as privileged and inviolable all information entrusted to me in confidence by my patients.

I will advise my patients fully and honestly of all which may serve to restore, maintain, or enhance their vision and general health.

I will strive continuously to broaden my knowledge and skills so that my patients may benefit from all new and efficacious means to enhance the care of human vision.

I will share information cordially and unselfishly with my fellow optometrists and other professionals for the benefit of patients and the advancement of human knowledge and welfare.

I will do my utmost to serve my community, my country, and mankind as a citizen as well as an optometrist.

I hereby commit myself to be steadfast in the performance of this solemn oath and obligation.


Me and my rocks!

My Life ...

http://hellofabest45.hyperphp.com/index.htm

BEAUTIFUL ...

Click on the blog title ... then select "Locks" ... I love it! ...

CAN ALMOST REACH ...

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!



http://spectacle.berkeley.edu/opt_txtpp/student_life/students_wcc.html

TOLD YA SO!

I just KNEW I would let this blog slip when midterms/business/LIFE got a hold of me!!

Sooooo ... Let's see ... What do I have to update ...

I'm flippin 25!!!

And I had THEE best birthday celebration EVER ...

In the history of birthday celebrations!!

How so sure you ask??

Let's see ...

Pink/red color theme ...

Red velvet cake ...

Bottles of champagne ...

VIP ...

Surrounded by the people I LOVE ...

And did I mention the cake already???

See, told ya!

THEE best birthday celebretion EVER ...

In the history of birthday celebrations!!!

Things are moving right along ...

Exed some friends I didn't need

Added some I do 

And regained some after getting a better understanding of our friendship ...

I'm in a pretty happy place ...

Next on the agenda ...

WHITE COAT CEREMONY!!!

It's approaching quicker than I thought it would ...

Also, another little surprise due to be unveiled (hopefully) around May ...

Stay tuned!!

Countdown: T-minus 59 days!!!

... and counting ...

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAREST SISTER STACY*

GONE 14 YEARS ALREADY, BUT IT STILL FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY!

LOVE YOU FOREVER, YOU'RE PART OF EVERYTHING WE CELEBRATE!!!

TIME FLIES WHEN ...

Soooooo ....

If my BABY brother ...

Just turned 21 ....

That means he's no longer a baby =( ...

Yea, sitting here thinking about it ...

I'm a little sad ...

No more talking for him ...

No more knowing he'll be in by a certain time ...

Not to mention I'm now old ...

No more baby brother ...

But at the same time, I'm happy ...

And no words could possibly explain how very proud I am ...

Of him ...

He's smarter than any of his sisters put together ...

He's independent, strong willed, God fearing, and wise ...

He's on the best path any sister could hope ...

For her brother ...

And so, 

Happy Birthday TJ ...

Always and forever ...

My big, little brother ...

YOU . . . WERE . . . GASSED . . .

N.E.R.D. - Sooner Or Later from Kidd Izzo on Vimeo.

YES WE CAN ...

"ON THIS DAY, WE GATHER BECAUSE WE HAVE CHOSEN HOPE OVER FEAR, UNITY OF PURPOSE OVER CONFLICT AND DISCORD"

I ... flippin ... LOVE ... this man named Barack!!!

Such inspiration ...

Not one to sugar coat things, we do have work to do ... ou challenges are real ...

But he ... his very BEING ... proves IT (whatever your it may be) ... CAN be done ...

I couldn't help but notice the nuances he made between our American history

And our history as a people (and I mean African American people)

"IN REAFFIRMING THE GREATNESS OF OUR NATION ... IT HAS NOT BEEN THE PATH FOR THE FAINT HEARTED ... RATHER, IT HAS BEEN THE RISK TAKERS, THE DOERS, THE MAKERS OF THINGS - SOME CELEBRATED, BUT MORE OFTEN MEN AND WOMEN OBSCURE IN THEIR LABOR, WHO HAVE CARRIED US UP THE LONG, RUGGED PATH TOWARDS PROSPERITY AND FREEDOM"

It was at THAT moment ...

Standing in the student lounge at school

One of 3 Black faces, out of nearly 240 students ...

At THAT moment, as a tear welled up in my eye ...

I realized ...

We did it ...

All the people that came before ...

All the people that are bustin their asses to make it ...

Amidst all the insanity in the world ...

Police brutality, profiling, our small numbers in the nation's Universities ...

(While they boast of diversity) ...

We did it ...

I took the time to reflect on his words ...

"THESE MEN AND WOMEN STRUGGLED AND SACRIFICED AND WORKED TILL THEIR HANDS WERE RAW SO WE MIGHT LIVE A BETTER LIFE"

Again ... speaking of America ... those who fought for America ...

But I couldn't help but notice the little twinkle in his eye ...

The private wink ...

He was also referring to OUR ancestors ... and OUR people today ...

Fighting ... dying ... struggling ... 

But we can take a moment from that struggle ... and smile ...

We did it and we can continue to ...

"STARTING TODAY, WE MUST PICK OURSELVES UP, DUST OURSELVES OFF, AND BEGIN AGAIN THE WORK OF REMAKING AMERICA"

But I dare to replace "AMERICA" with "US"

"WE ARE KEEPERS OF THIS LEGACY ... THIS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR CONFIDENCE - THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD CALLS ON US TO SHAPE AN UNCERTAIN DESTINY"

Our destiny is only uncertain to us ...

God has wonderful things in store ...

If we would only stop our doubt, trust, believe, and follow ...

There's many challenges, everyday, ahead ...

Things are hard ...

School, work, preparing for what's to come ... not knowing if we're gonna make it ...

"WITH HOPE AND VIRTUE, LET US BRAVE ONCE MORE THE ICY CURRENTS, AND ENDURE WHAT STORMS MAY COME.  LET IT BE SAID BY OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN THAT WHEN WE WERE TESTED WE REFUSED TO LET THIS JOURNEY END, THAT WE DID NOT TURN BACK NOR DID WE FALTER; AND WITH EYES FIXED ON THE HORIZON AND GOD'S GRACE UPON US, WE CARRIED FORTH ..."

So just remember ...

As 2009 pushes ahead and we're met with new challenges ... 

New hardships and trials ...

We already did it!!

We achieved what most didn't think we would see in our lifetime ...

ANYTHING is possible ...

"DO IT MOVIN"

(OK, that was me, not Barack, lol!!)

BABIES ARE DANGEROUS ...

No, you read it right!

Babies are dangerous!!  I've now been blessed to experience the birth of a second nephew ...

And see others ... cousins, friends, random people ... having or expecting babies ...

And the joy they feel ... and it's dangerous!!!

Because you end up wanting to experience that joy!

But don't worry ...

I was also able to help baby sit nephew number 1 ...

Who is in that infamous "terrible twos" stage ...

You don't see the "matured" cry, the fevers, the "mature" poop ... etc ...

Yea, thee best birth control ever ...



Give me 4 ... maybe 5 years ...

So yea, the New Year is off to a great start!

Victor Alexander is here!  My goals haven't failed just yet, and I am realizing more and more each day how blessed I am with my true friends and family!

09 is gonna be sweet ...

New York was awesome

Spent some time with my friends Nnamdi and Jahdai ...

Spent time with my "New York" fam ...

Saw Cadillac Records with Joy and June ...

Went out to dinner with Engy ...

It was a nice break before getting back into the grind ...

Speaking of getting back ... I'm back in the bay =)

It's good to be home ...

Oh yea!

And I'm about to be 25!! ... 

Ok, I got my heart rate back down to a normal level ... 

It's a New Year ...

But in the words of my best friend, it's not a new me ... Just a better me ...
A me that's always striving to grow, to improve, to succeed ...

So, while most people were ringing in the new year drinking champgne, sparkling cider, kissing loved ones, or just partying through the night, I was balled up under a blanket with a dang sinus infection ... What a way to start the new year huh?

But despite the slow start, I have SO much planned for this year! So many exciting things are coming up and I'll be sure to keep all of you posted as they unfold!

I'll be getting my white coat this semester, start seeing patients on my own, I'll continue in my position as class secretary and hope to move my way up to VP then President (thanks Barack), I'm a tutoring coordinator for the optometric honor society Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK), and I'm hoping to get more involved in community service, different optometric organizations, and to become more politically ... aware ...

A professor of mine this semester said if you want to accomplish something, it is more likely to happen if you write it down ... So I did. You know the usual start of the year promises, better control of finances, improving my spiritual connection with God, more focus on school, treating myself more often, spending more time with family and friends, excercise more often ...

Come December I'll let you know how I did ...

But, more importantly, 2009 will be all about positive energy ... So, unlike my past posts on myspace (yea, tells you alot), there will be no man-bashing, no venting ... just the positive ... The growth, the advancement, the happiness that I will strive for everyday. I'm really excited about this year! And I'm really excited to share it with you all ...

So, from here on out, I'll be trying to get on here to post weekly to let you know what's going on in my life ... and to be honest, it will probably trickle down to bi-weekly as school kicks in. But I hope you guys enjoy it and feel free to chime in with comments!