On the 3 downtown to work, a boy, I'd guess between 4-6 years old, is working through a math workbook with his mom.
"Cuando cuestas?" Says mom.
"Tu sabes?" Asks her son.
"No I don't know let's count together..."
In unison they count "one, two, three..." As the boy speaks aloud he counts on his fingers to keep up.
By now he's completed 3 pages of work, counting different colored kitties, balls of yarn and connecting the dots to create stop signs and fire hydrants. As they pack up to exit the train at 96th st, the mother hugs and kisses her son, tells his they'll do more on the way home. he reluctantly hands over the workbook but eagerly grabs his mom's hand onto the next leg of their journey.
I actually wanted to take this post in a different direction, but ill leave this story as is. It's just a nice way to start the day.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Working out
I've felt a little left out of the work out club lately.
Three of my coworkers do yoga-2, hot yoga, together (the room is 107 degress, they say), one does a class for moms-to-be. Most of my friends hit the gym and take classes. Ellipticals, ab blasts, spinning, everyone has their something.
Or someone, if you have a trainer, or workout buddy.
I've mentioned my past re: gyms and working out (the short of it: 3 gym memberships, 1 trainer, gym classes ranging from aerobics to pole dancing over the past 10 years). I haven't been to the gym since an unfortunate incident with an urban rebounding class (suffered from a case of sweaty fat girl syndrome midway through and ran out). I suppose to stop being the token sweaty fat girl, you need to keep working out so you can be (cute) sweaty skinny girl.
So while I'm not considering joining a gym anytime soon (can't afford it) I am considering trying yoga. I'm really apprehensive, but I'm going to try it in the privacy in my own home first. I did find it a little silly holding a "yoga for beginners" box set in Barnes and Noble, but gotta start somewhere, right?
Just know that any moves I make on this is primarily superficial-im just in it to say "oh I'm off to my yoga class" as I grab my lavendar mat and cute water bottle.
Three of my coworkers do yoga-2, hot yoga, together (the room is 107 degress, they say), one does a class for moms-to-be. Most of my friends hit the gym and take classes. Ellipticals, ab blasts, spinning, everyone has their something.
Or someone, if you have a trainer, or workout buddy.
I've mentioned my past re: gyms and working out (the short of it: 3 gym memberships, 1 trainer, gym classes ranging from aerobics to pole dancing over the past 10 years). I haven't been to the gym since an unfortunate incident with an urban rebounding class (suffered from a case of sweaty fat girl syndrome midway through and ran out). I suppose to stop being the token sweaty fat girl, you need to keep working out so you can be (cute) sweaty skinny girl.
So while I'm not considering joining a gym anytime soon (can't afford it) I am considering trying yoga. I'm really apprehensive, but I'm going to try it in the privacy in my own home first. I did find it a little silly holding a "yoga for beginners" box set in Barnes and Noble, but gotta start somewhere, right?
Just know that any moves I make on this is primarily superficial-im just in it to say "oh I'm off to my yoga class" as I grab my lavendar mat and cute water bottle.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
What About Your Friends?
My soror and ePal (another shameless plug, find her at http://blackgirlunlost.blogspot.com) recently posted on making friends as adults (go read it) and as always, great minds think alike. Once you get out of a self-contained environment (for many of us, college) that has social groups already created, where does one turn to "make friends?"
Actually, a short sidenote: this isn't to be read as if I'm a socially awkward loner. However, friends, especially in these hard times of bitchass, triflinass people, some can't be trusted and get cut off quick. Others aren't in it for the long haul (those "let's do lunch real soon" kinda folks, or are situational, like at work) and well, life happens: we go back to school, we move away, get married, our tastes change, etc.
I like to think I have a lot of friends, but really, I just know a lot of people. When I actually narrow it down, I find that a. I can count them on one hand, and b. that handful tends to shift every couple of years. And like myFaves, I always keep a couple of slots freed up.
To fill those slots, I've decided to open the pool once again. I'm keeping myself busy in a different way. Love my sorors, but I gotta see them less. Love my gays, but I can't always be fabulous. I've started to call myself out and actually am going to all those events I said I'd check out.
(Another sidenote: it seems I have a rep for always knowing about events. I went through my email and found enough stuff to attend at least one event a week for a good couple of months. The benefits of staying on listservs from many moons ago)
The other part of opening the pool is by referral. We'll hire our friends for jobs, recommend restaurants, movies, and potential mates to our pals-and I figure, for the most part, your friend's friends should be as awesome as they are, plus or minus a few points to make room for error. So as you hang out with your people, start checking for what they're getting into. Shaquan may not want to hit up that poetry spot next week but what if I want to? Make a mental note and do it to it. Don't go all Single White Female but like Facebook, lurk a little bit and friend somebody else's friend.
I guess the harder part is keeping the friends you make. For that, I have no advice. I don't have any "best friends," and many have come and gone. Everyone is in your life for a reason and a season. I hope some are here to stay, and I hope I'm a friend to many people for the long haul.
Actually, a short sidenote: this isn't to be read as if I'm a socially awkward loner. However, friends, especially in these hard times of bitchass, triflinass people, some can't be trusted and get cut off quick. Others aren't in it for the long haul (those "let's do lunch real soon" kinda folks, or are situational, like at work) and well, life happens: we go back to school, we move away, get married, our tastes change, etc.
I like to think I have a lot of friends, but really, I just know a lot of people. When I actually narrow it down, I find that a. I can count them on one hand, and b. that handful tends to shift every couple of years. And like myFaves, I always keep a couple of slots freed up.
To fill those slots, I've decided to open the pool once again. I'm keeping myself busy in a different way. Love my sorors, but I gotta see them less. Love my gays, but I can't always be fabulous. I've started to call myself out and actually am going to all those events I said I'd check out.
(Another sidenote: it seems I have a rep for always knowing about events. I went through my email and found enough stuff to attend at least one event a week for a good couple of months. The benefits of staying on listservs from many moons ago)
The other part of opening the pool is by referral. We'll hire our friends for jobs, recommend restaurants, movies, and potential mates to our pals-and I figure, for the most part, your friend's friends should be as awesome as they are, plus or minus a few points to make room for error. So as you hang out with your people, start checking for what they're getting into. Shaquan may not want to hit up that poetry spot next week but what if I want to? Make a mental note and do it to it. Don't go all Single White Female but like Facebook, lurk a little bit and friend somebody else's friend.
I guess the harder part is keeping the friends you make. For that, I have no advice. I don't have any "best friends," and many have come and gone. Everyone is in your life for a reason and a season. I hope some are here to stay, and I hope I'm a friend to many people for the long haul.
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