And I Laugh

I laugh when I feel the stress of family starting to weigh me down.

I laugh when I make the bus to work on time.

I laugh when the kids I work with smile even as they walk to time out.

I laugh when I almost drop the cereal bowl and manage a last-second save.

I can feel my blood pressure drop as each peal passes through my lips. 

I gaze around at this beautiful world coloured so bright, 

so Alive 

and I laugh.

Are You a Drama Qween?

So you think you're a drama qween?  Are you an aspiring drama qween but are lacking that certain over-the-top zing with your quip? Well, lucky you've stumbled upon this post!

I identify as a Drama Qween. I'm Southern, I'm a Gemini, and I am a natural embellisher. Some people call it lying.  Pshaw! It's colourful storytelling!!  It's the difference between 'what happened' and 'my story about what happened'.  And I'll tell you now, ain't nobody interested in 'what actually happened'.  If you have an audience, entertain them! Leave them laughing--it releases endorphins and builds community.

Ready to try your hand at being a Drama Qween? Maybe you need an entry in the wide Drama Qween world that awaits you? An easy first step is dramatic responses to minor disappointments.  We'll start here because one of the secrets to being a successful Drama Qween  is utilising even the smallest ripple of emotion to blow things way out of proportion.  Whereas the average citizen would reply with something standard (read: boring), Drama Qweens of all levels recognise potential for a sassy comeback.

The key to coming up with the perfect dramatic response is to totally submerge yourself in the emotion of the moment.  Imagine that, iterally,your Heart will not go on--sorry Celine Dion--and that you will crumple into a pile of moist, snotty emotion right then and there.  Your vision begins to blur.  Your knees go weak.  You press the back of your hand to your forehead or you make a clutch for the pearls.  You take a shaky breath. You give a deep, Drama Qween sigh*.  And--this is key--you're a little bitter.

It's the bitterness that really drives the drama. Too much, and you come across as spiteful, and thus detract from your drama.  Too little, and your delivery can be lackluster and that simply won't do.  It's a careful balance. Recognise that every situation is different; find the level of bitterness that works for you.

Can you feel the drama yet? Have you captured the mood of disappointment and bitterness and are ready to release your quip? Yes?  Excellent!

It was in a moment like this that I managed to come up with this gem of a response when so-n-so told me that our date had to be rescheduled because they 'had class':

"Gawd, well there goes my week. How can I go on?? I'll just... throw myself into the Puget Sound and let the tide carry me out to sea. Look for me on the 11 o'clock news...."

Although this message was delivered via text, I still maintained the ritual. It's important to do so even if your audience isn't able to see you. It helps get your mind in the moment. The mark of a quality Drama Qween is that technology does not hinder you--your message should be able to cross all mediums for a crisp, succinct, and Drama Qween-worthy delivery.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to be a Drama Qween? Let me know in the comments.

*Thank to my good friend Sonny for reminding me that you need the deep Drama Qween sigh to complete the ritual.  Drama is nothing without the sigh.  ;)

Gemini Swagg

I spent the weekend in Portland at the Queer Students of Colour Conference, which was bomb by the way!!!

I orbited between being super energized to see people and feeling like my head was trapped in a vice because I was so overwhelmed and needed alone time.  The gluten I ate did not help.

As two buddies and me were driving home, I was told that they both admired my social skills, my courage in putting myself out there, my ability to forge connexions with new folks.

....

 ♥______________________________ ♥

They don't know how they just made my weekend so much more complete.  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Professors on Planes

I met a really awesome woc professor from Berkeley this morning on the flight from SFO to SEA.  She casually mentioned she was presenting a paper and my attention was piqued. We chatted a bit about where she was from, what she focused in and some of her research (points to me for knowing that Berkeley is a research school). Mostly, though, she focused on readying herself for the talk, which she was nervous about. I got her first name, and just spend the last twenty minutes reading up on her.

D-A-Y-U-M

She's holding it down. Solidly.

And I'd like to make a pledge, that one day in the future, our paths will cross again. Gemini promises, when they pertain to knowledge and networking, most always come true.

Watch me go.....

This Week's Goal

I'm so done with folks flaking out on me.  So done in fact that I have made it my goal for this week NOT to initiate contact with anyone. No plans. No hangouts. Nada.

I've had a few folks who I've made plans with for these past few days simply not get back to me.  I think it's rude and disrespectful and so I'm done.

I'll try it again next week. Maybe.