A love letter to Howard University...

So I have visited HOWARD University three times in one week to get a transcript.  Now one would think you could just visit campus one time to retrieve a transcript...but HOWARD being HOWARD closed the transcript office at 3:00 the first day I tried.  The second day I was able to pay for the transcript but had to give them 24 hours to print it.  So finally it was ready.  While I was inconvenienced by the process, I was completely left with a sense of pride that I have never felt any place else.  There is truly just something about HOWARD..

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVED Maryland. It was a great place to attend undergrad!  I met wonderful people there! SHOOT, I met my husband there AND got married there but HOWARD definitely holds a special place in my heart.

Let me go back to my recent visit and explain why......

So I get out of my car and head across campus to the "A" building and I found myself reminiscing about my many experiences there.  While the law school is at a different campus, I remember the many hours I spent in line at the "A" building trying to cash the financial aid checks.

Then I remembered my first summer dating my husband and him taking me to see "Once on this Island" at the Ira Aldridge theater (he swept me off my feet early).

Then I passed by Slowe Hall named for one of my sororities founders...

Then I passed by a group of black guys and most people (myself included) would expect them to shooting the breeze about the latest hip hop song but I was pleasantly surprised to overhear them discussing Psychology issues from case study book from class...

A distinguished recruiter friend told me that even though HOWARD produces top notch performers, most companies do not give Howard graduates a second look because they assume us to be somehow sub-standard. This left me furious and angry.  Some of the greatest minds have been graduates of this institution!!!!  While disappointed with the general state of the world, one thing holds true.... there is still just something about HOWARD.

There is just a history that surrounds you when you are there whether it be Thurgood Marshall's ghost tapping you on your shoulder or Roberta Flack singing in your ear...there is just something. Even my husband's family, who are from another country call Howard home and HOWARD helped them produce successful doctors.

Everything is special at HOWARD.....even down to the vendors. They have a special flavor, too...stuff you can't buy from any old run of the mill vendors.

So I left the campus after the expected hiccups still feeling inspired.  I am grateful for all those that came before me who are now cheering for ME.

All I could say is AMEN and AMEN!

Soror, Sister, Friends! :)

Today I had brunch with two of my linesisters.  Together, we made up the caboose of the line...12, 13 and 14.  For me, I was reminded just how little time I spend with friends and how I need to make more time with them.

We  didn't do anything special but it was just really great to reminisce and just laugh.  I think we all get so caught up in our own lives and what we deem "problems" that we just miss out on the good things in life.  Today was one linesister's 40th and the other turns 40 on the 30th.  Shoot, these bitties look great!  You 20 year-olds work up to that!

Somehow I left the brunch energized and hopeful about all the possibilities in life and and joyful.  Thanksgiving was a wonderful reminder of just how fortunate I am and this brunch was a great way to top it all off.

Thankful for my family, friends and sorors!

- Sherri

To Tweet or Not to Tweet..That is the Question

So I consider myself pretty savvy when comes to most technology.  I have sipped the "apple" Kool Aid so I have almost every apple product and have a Facebook account and a pitiful little blog AND... I kind understand the purposefulness of Facebook as it is a useful catching up mechanism but I am still struggling to understand the purpose of twitter.  It feels like it is nothing more than a whole bunch of status updates but nothing else.  Now I must admit that I often have random thoughts that I would like to share but most of the time left thinking that nobody really cares!

I am really more of a nosy twitter stalker...I just read other people's posts.  Sad, right...but yet I stay...

Oh, well.  Until I figure it out...more of a twitter stalker I will remain.

- Sherri

Not an "After School Special"

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and you generally see everyone showing their support by sporting pink in there attire and supporting this worthy cause.  I have been very fortunate since only one person in my family has been struck by this deadly disease.  My grandmother's sister died of the disease in the 1940's mostly due to limited access and resources in Alabama.  Unfortunately, ALL of the  children born from that mother have suffered with some sort of cancer moment and most have passed.  While that seems pretty close in relation to me, most doctor's don't consider these occurrences as a risk factor.  So based on that, I scheduled my first mammogram this year since I just reached the tender age of 40!

I went into my mammogram with severe trepidation.  Now, no lumps had ever been found in my breasts but it was rather surreal walking into Washington Radiology Center in Chevy Chase.  It felt a little like a really bad "after school special".  Of course, the ramifications were far more serious then a broken heart or a bad case of acne should the films come back poorly.  I found myself looking around the room at the other patients thinking is this routine for them or are there more serious problems like a lump or shadow showing up on the films.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with this deadly disease this year? Additionally, women of color tend to contract certain forms breast cancer that are resistant to many courses of cancer treatment.  Knowing this, many women still fail to take measures to protect themselves my getting mammograms or doing monthly self exams.

Lord knows, I really don't want to hear anymore bad news but how dare I even consider not taking care of myself when my kids need a mama!

So I walk in and nurse squeezes my breast down to about two inches tall and tells me to hold still and not breath.  (To be honest, it felt like the Jolly Green Giant was stepping on my boob) Trust me, I wasn't breathing.  Then the nurse says, "well you may have to come back because there is some scar tissue and doctors will have to review that".  Well, I am like OMG she must have seen a lump and doesn't  want to tell me... So I left the appointment nervous and paranoid.

As it turns out, my film was clean with no signs of cancer and I did a little dance not just because it was clean but because I felt like I was in charge of my own health and I had done something for my family.

So next year, when it becomes time for my yearly exam, I will gladly welcome "the giant to step on my boob" and keep it moving!

I'm a HO!

Yes, I said it...I'm a HO! A sales whore!  I have some really great things and almost everything was bought at a significant discount.  Now some things will never go on sale (red bottoms, LV etc) so I have a few designer labels that don't fall into this category...but almost everything I own was purchased at a discount.  In most cases, the discount is close to 40%...how do I do that you might ask?  Your email address is your friend.  Throughout the week I receive tons of special members only sales and discounts that multiply current savings from store like Bloomingdales, Ann Taylor and Neiman Marcus.  These discounts are not advertised to the general public and they typically multiply current savings.  I almost never make a purchase without a coupon.

Some stores have great incentive programs.  Banana Republic has a great card the BR LUXE card that send you a percentage of purchase back to you but that is not unusual... but they also provide free alterations, free shipping at the GAP, OLD NAVY and Banana Republic along with personal styling.  This is great for my kids and helpful for alterations. FOR FREE!  I don't have a ton of credit cards but a few will pay off as long as you pay them off at the end of the month.

I extreme coupon...but with fashion.  So I suggest you create an email account devoted to coupons and sales.  There also come great sites that will allow you to just search for your designer favorites and they will email you when your favs go on sale.  Try www.shopstyle.com and www.shopittome.com.

I also live on Living Social and Groupon.  We are in the throws of a recession so saving money is key.  Why not get your purchases at a discount...typically 50%!  Sign me up!

Happy Monday,

Sherri

MBA Diva!

OK so my MBA kicked my ass because my blog fell off severely during the past two years.  I wrote religiously in my journal but the posts never quite made it to the computer screen.  Praise God that is over!  I mean who's dumb idea was that!  Just kidding.  My cohort was great but the workload was over the top...on top of being somebody's mama, wife, daughter, friend and soror. But I made it!  Fall back haters! HA!  Errol commented that he felt like I was coming back from a tour of duty with fatigues on and all!  It is so funny, so many people thought it was a mistake. Sigh...gotta love haters.  My MBA took me to London, Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam and Armenia.  So...I'll take it.

Check us out at the EU in Belgium.  Love you EMBA 20!