"The Boy Crisis"

I decided to check out the latest videos from TedTalk... The first video that I saw was quite intriguing it was only 4 minutes, and it was called, "The Demise of Guys." It addressed how men are lagging behind their women counterparts in educational arenas. In addition, he humorously addresses how men are being subjected to unlimited amounts of arousal and how they actually seem to be perferring that than the company of the opposite sex. Very interesting!





This second video is even more intriguing it is much longer, but it is truly eye opening. It is titled, "New Data on the Rise of Women." Hanna Rosin made a good point and said "Thousands of history don't reverse themselves without pain." She said "men are losing their identities and are having a hard time finding themselves"



Sometimes it makes me wonder is this why men for hundreds of years subconsciously and consciously "oppressed" and denied women true access to the work force?

I think this is definitely a phenomenon that is happening everywhere. I saw it at Emory, there were at least 3 times more women in the black community. I see it in Optometry school, there is more women in each class. Even with Optometry in general, it used to be a completely male dominated profession, but now it is mostly women that are graduating from optometry schools.

Just the other day I was talking to one of my friends about how I'm so proud of all my friends. Just this year, I have friends who started a PhD program, Med school, Pharm school, and Law school. And then we started discussing how our male counterparts don't seem to be as "motivated"... and I put motivated in quotes, just because I mean that on a surface level in terms of those seeking professional school degrees. And yes my opinion is biased of course... but it is something that I've been noticing..

How do I feel about it? Hmm... well I do think it is a backlash to many years in which women were put into a box and expected to do only, "XYZ."

 ::sidenote:: I dated this guy who was adamant that women should still "solely" fulfill traditional household duties, ie cooking and cleaning... as you can tell that didn't go over very well. I just didn't understand what is the point of me getting a doctoral degree, and my 'partner' expects me to still essentially be a housewife AND work a full job...umm no thanks.. ::sidenote over::

But the fact that Rosin says it is not just happening in the US, but countries all over the world, I wonder how this is going to pan out..hmm...

These two videos are in fact intriguing, check them out!

Until Next Time...

It Must Suck to Be a Black Woman | Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the Young, Contemporary Woman of Color

It Must Suck to Be a Black Woman | Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the Young, Contemporary Woman of Color

OMG...this is exactly how I feel. Thank you Clarissa Matthews...I am tired of hearing all the news specials, magazine articles, radio interviews, talk shows, research studies, etc.. About how black women will pretty much be single forever because of the shortage of black men and how they are mostly in jail, gay, or underqualified...ugh. So tired of it... Oh yeah and then if they do find someone they are going to end up being a single mother on welfare...what the heck is that about. I'm over it...

If you have a spare minute, just browse through the article...quick read. Interesting..

Until Next Time...

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

So I am "packing" to go back to Saint Louis.I really hate packing and I have been taking "breaks" all day long. So I have had quite a few things on my mind, especially since I am about to leave home. I had a WONDERFUL winter break! I got to spend a lot of time with family and friends. I went to a great concert, DC, New York, and just basically relaxed. It was completely opposite from last semester. I think I am going to try and incorporate more "fun" activities into Spring semester because I truly was miserable fall semester.

Anyways...what has been on my mind on and off this break is the idea of memories... So in the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (which I really loved), "Clementine" undergoes a procedure in which all of the memories of her last relationship was removed...and the rest of the movie has to do with what her ex-boyfriend "Joel" decides to do...I go through all of that to say, that I have been wondering if I had the opportunity to erase all of the memories from my last on/off relationship..would I? Honestly I think I would...the weird part is that I am usually ok with most things that happen because I justify it by saying that "everything happens for a reason" or that I somehow gained and learned something from the situation. But honestly I am having a difficult time making sense of it all.

When I look back on all of the on and off mess...I think the only thing that I took from the situation is if things aren't working out in the first few weeks...just move on..It's not going to get any better. You are going to get attached and have this false sense of hope for something that was doomed from the beginning...

A bad beginning makes for a bad ending.

I usually believe that, but I don't know why in this situation, I thought it would turn out any different. I think I am just annoyed by all of the stupid things that he continues to do, while inadvertently (yeah right..) putting my business on front street. It's frustrating and I wish anything dealing with me, he would just be smart and have an ounce of self respect and not do it. I know I'm not a celebrity, but I really like to keep my "personal life" a private manner.

Sorry for the vague post, but I just needed to write that..It's 1:30 and I have way too much to do..Aaah Until Next Time...

Scope- 12/21 to 12/27

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)

It's not what that someone says that will matter now. It'll be his actions that will give you all the information you need to know. Yes, as it goes, the pressure of the holidays makes people dumb and words sometimes can escape. But oh well, not all that you desire can come to you on a silver platter, so be thankful for the little things -- they'll be far more powerful than talk. 

Until Next Time...

A little bit of everything...(Buffet Style)

Hello There! So much has been going on this week... First, classes have officially started, and tomorrow it will be a week. woohoo! Hmm...what can I say about it. It's school, I just have a lot more classes and they are mostly science and so far we have covered a lot of information. Unlike undergrad, I have been studying EVERY single day for about ~4-5 hours...yeah.. I'm still trying to feel everything out, but it's definitely doable, I just have to keep my "Eyes on the Prize" (pun intended..lol.) So my first semester classes are as follows:

- Anatomy and Physiology of Disease Processes I w/ Lab
- Human Neuroanatomy w/ Lab
- Geometric Optics w/ Lab
- Biochemistry
- Epidemiology
- Intro to Optometry
- Scenario Based Discovery/Problem Based Learning

Honestly, I plan on making mostly A's...that might seem overly ambitious, but oh well...So far everything has been cool, my classmates are extra cool (much cooler than I expected)... :) Oh and STL isn't bad at all...I pretty much know where I want to live next year. Of course I haven't gone out as much as I would like, but I will in due time...

Right now I am having a feast for dinner (all left overs)...shrimp from my "all you can eat shrimp" at Red Lobster yesterday...lol, (I ate so much shrimp it was ridiculous), two bbq chicken wings from earlier in the week, some corn, spinach souffle, and a cheddar biscuit from Red Lobster...yumm...I have been on this pseudo diet for lunch which just comprises of salad and/or a sandwich... I'm trying not to eat too heavy for lunch so I don't get the -itis, when it is time to go back to class or study.

I'm not really missing home much, there are a few things here and there but nothing substantial. It doesn't help that my family calls me whenever they are hanging out...lol. But I'm fine..

I've been doing pretty good in terms of going to the gym on a regular basis, I'm proud of myself...I actually just got back not too long ago :) Even though the gym here really sucks and the machines seem like they are from the 70's...I seriously thought the ellipitical was going to break while I was on it...

Oh yeah this is random, but I was reading in the newspaper today that STL has the highest rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia per square mile (or something like that)...that was a little scary, but also funny. I thought of that today when I exchanged numbers with this random guy at the gym...he asked me why I was laughing and I just told him don't worry about it.

Hmm...speaking of that...It's weird that half of my classmates are married/engaged and the other half is in a serious relationship...so where does that leave me? Anyways...first a small disclaimer, and I guess this is a tad bit monumental for me, because I usually don't share my "personal" life with hardly anyone but I just wanted to share that I feel liberated about a certain situation. I decided to end this cat and mouse game that I have had with someone in particular. It was causing me more stress than it should have been, and I figured it's dragged on long enough and it doesn't help that I am all the way in STL...:sigh: New Beginnings... I was really vague about that whole thing, but oh well...I doubt if he will ever read it, cause ya know what...he never did read my blog even though I asked him to all the time. Just like my tattoo reminds me of everyday, "Take from the past what is good and bring it into the present in order to make a positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge." It's only fitting that I leave with some lyrics from DC3 ...lol. "Free"

Ain't no feeling like being free
When your mind's made up
And your hearts in the right place, yeah
Ain't no feeling like being free
When you've done all you could
But what's misunderstood
(It's all good, it's all good)
Ain't no feeling like being free
I'm like an eagle set free
And finally I'm looking out for me
Ain't no feeling like being free
Cause my mind's made up
And my heart is in the right place, yeah

Until Next Time...

Man I got that swag...

I'm sitting here watching the Magic/Lakers game on my couch. I couldn't bring myself to go out to a sports grill, bar, etc. and get all passionate only for Magic to lose...Anyways...so I got to thinking about this term "swag" which is no longer new, and often abused. So what is swag? Last semester, I found myself trying to explain the term "swag" to some of my white and asian coworkers. The girls were trying to describe this guy that had something that was "intriguing" and "sexy" about him, but they couldn't tell what it was that was so different about him...So I introduced them to the term "swag"...lol.

The reason I brought up swag and the NBA game is because I am not usually a celebrity crazed kind of person. Actually I never really am, except for my temporary delight in seeing D. Howard. Yeah I think he has swag, but actually I think Rashard Lewis has beaucoup swag. Lewis seems like an ordinary dude that would be trying to get your number at the club, but instead he is playing bball with all of his swag. Ok enough about D. Howard and R. Lewis.

But yes..."swag" is essential. Either you have it or you dont...I was trying to remember how we described guys before the term "swag" came along. Also it annoys me when folks say "swagger.."
ugh anyways... Something else that is random is in the song Swag Surfin, which I absolutely love, but is getting kind of old now... When they say Man I got that swag, my hat matching my bag....err what did you say? Hat matching your bag? What bag are you talking about? Your man bag? Your gucci bag? What baggg??? lol.

I love swag surfin..its so random and fun. Especially when guys are really getting into it...Depending on where you go, you might see some hood guys "swag surfin" and it is funny. What's even funnier is the low budget video they got for this song...I just have to post it. Oh yeah this is the extended version, hilarious. Watch the whole thing...the actual song starts 2 mins in. lol. That's all my random thoughts for today. Until Next Time...

Can I get your #?

Yesterday, I decided to detox and get a little walking in so I headed to the mall. I made it through my whole shopping excursion, and I decided to get some "chinese food" from the food court before I left. While I was standing in line, the guy in front of me kept asking me all these questions, I didn't think anything of it. He mumbled something and I just did a smile and chuckle (which is what I do when I don't hear what someone says). AfterI paid for food, and he like jumped out from behind the mall shrubbery and was like "HEEYYY." Startled, I just did a small smile again. So after a little small talk (which I hate), he very smoothly asked for my number. I knew it was coming, and I tried to get out of it, but I figured why not...he seems kind of nice, he is dressed kind of nice, and my creep radar wasn't going off. And plus if he was some crazy psycho killer I didn't want him to get mad if I said no thanks. I mean I was at the mall by myself and all.. So I gave it to him, forgot about it and left the mall.

Probably 25 minutes after I got home, my phone rang. It was the random guy from the mall, I didn't answer cause I was surprised he would call so soon. So he called 3 more times before the end of the day. I was like dang. Oh and get this he left a voicemail one of the times saying ,"Hey what's up Vanessa...this is ____ from the mall, I just met you a COUPLE MINUTES AGO, just calling to see whats up." So he knows that he just met me soooo soon. So I woke up this morning to a text message, saying "whats up?" from the MALL GUY. I was like geesh...he needs to calm down.

So I started thinking...when and how soon is it appropriate for someone to call you once they have your number?

Honestly, I don't really give out my number, and I never expect anyone to call, but I figured a day or two is alright...but not a couple of minutes...And if they don't answer, don't keep calling, at least not the same day. Ugh the whole thing is ridiculous...all I wanted to do is detox in the mall...oh well. Until Next Time...