Chemistry Is All Around Us..

Intro to Chemistry

When I began juicing three weeks ago, I didn’t realize I was preparing myself for chemistry class.  Then to read an article that contained REAL chemistry, I became intrigued.

My quest began with wanting to juice a cucumber began with using several internet search engines for recipes then I stumbled upon the portion of the article (listed in green below.)

Acid vs. Alkaline

Different parts of your body maintain a pH balance (acidic vs. non-acidic called alkaline). Keeping this balance is important to staying alive, feeling good, and living longer.

Different foods that we eat can inject acidic or alkaline molecules into our body. For instance, soda pop is extremely acidic. When the body receives soda into the system, it needs to neutralize the acid and it pulls calcium from the bones to take care of the acid.

Other acidic foods are red meats (and many other meats), processed foods, junk food, and more.

Alkaline foods (or foods that when processed by your system are alkaline) include spinach, kale, and yes, cucumbers.

Eating more alkaline foods will help your body not have to work as hard and leech calcium from the bones to maintain balance.

I said, “Self, you are a chemistry major and didn’t even know it.”

For the next 16 weeks, my days will be stretched more than usual; great things happening at work, late nights with Intro to Chemistry homework, Bible Study on Wednesday nights, Choir practice on Thursday nights, Voice classes on Saturday’s, praying for graduation in May 2013.  In all of that, I will attend to go on a few dates, have a social life (outside of social media) and enjoy the ride.

I don’t know about you but the busier I am the quicker time flies, see, it is already early February…Happy Valentine’s Day.

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Coinciding Events

Happy MLK Day!!

 

Today, January 21, 2013, I went to work.  It was also the day the country celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Coinciding with this event, President Barack H. Obama was sworn in for a second term as our elected Commander In Chief.

 

I know that may have upset or even angered some of my Black associates but I don’t see why that should be.  I am Black and I am an American and I am proud to be both.

Before I got to work, a Caucasian man approached me and exclaimed, “Happy MLK Day.” I was caught off guard and my guard was down the entire day.  It made me think, how many black people did I pass and I did not say Happy MLK Day and vice versa?

 

There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t stop to thank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., civil activists like Daisy Bates, the freedom riders, those whose lineage precedes mine; those who did not have the opportunity to complete elementary school, secondary school or even have complete thoughts about completing tertiary education.

 

I am thankful for the 1896 Supreme Court doctrine of separate but equal in Plessy v. Ferguson; it set precedence and didn’t know how powerful a case 117 years later.  I have to think about the struggles my great grandparents, grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles endured for me to enjoy the luxuries (as they put it) we take for granted today.

 

Have you ever stopped to think what the world would be today if those civil right activists and freedom riders, black and white, did not stand up for what was right and just?  We would still have the “COLORED or NEGRO’S ONLY” signs still posted at the water fountains, bathroom and signs pointing to where we could go.

 

If Dr. King listened to the 99% instead of that 1%, would he have told anyone about his dream, would we (black, non-black and whites) enjoy the civil rights and advancements we have today?  We may not have been as far as we are now but we would have made impactful advancements.

 

I heard question posed on the radio a number of years back that asked, “Which generation more impactful; the 40 years before the Civil Rights Movement or the 40 after the Civil Rights Movement?”  That is a valid question to ask.  It makes you wonder, think and ponder, makes you want to investigate what was done before and during the Civil Rights Movement to make situations manageable after the movement.

 

Our forefathers paid the ultimate price for us to be able to work beside Asians, Jews, Caucasians, Islamic, Mexicans and Lutherans on this day and the other 364 days in the year.

 

Stop! Think! Look! Listen! Read! Comprehend!…so that unspeakable parts history do not keep repeating itself.

 

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F5 To Refresh Your Life

Have you ever had a moment, minute, hour, day, week, month, year or long that you wish you could F5 (refresh)? I would be remiss if I said I had never but I have.  As I look down at my keyboard, I can see lots of common themes that run parallel and even in zigzag to my life.  Let’s see how many you can identify with. 

I think this is one of the most obvious keys I like. I like being home and vacationing away from home.  I like the home key because it reminds me of familiarity, comfort and love.  Allowing me to yearn to return and sometimes yearn to leave.

The home key moves the cursor to the beginning of the line.

Another unmistakable key; escape, escape…When feeling pressured at work or school, pressing the Esc key to remove you from current situation would be great if it could take you back home. Sort of like the Easy button.

The Esc key is used to interrupt or cancel the current process or running program.

Even though you may think you are in control of things, our heavenly father has ultimate control.  You can keep your household under control however when life is throw fast balls, it would be great to be able to tap on that key a few times to get the day in control.

The Ctrl key is used to create special functions on the keyboard.

This key when left engaged makes me feel like someone is shouting at me all the time.  Use this key with care, it is like your 2^nd grade teacher teaching you to use your “inside voice”, not your “OUTSIDE VOICE” it makes a difference in a conversation.

Caps Lock is used to make a statement, to be heard(seen) in text – place text in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

I didn't know what that key is used for until I began writing this blog.  I have always thought that if I pressed it once pressed, my world would pause like the Matrix®.

The Pause/Break key is used to pause games played online.

Refresh or to restart, to begin again.  Some days before you get to your work area fifteen different things have gone in the opposite direction you were going.  For instance, you let the dog out into the backyard, you walk out front to retrieve your newspaper and you see her running carefree down the road - F5  - that definitely warrants a tap on F5.  When you burn dinner – F5; When your heel breaks on your shoe on the way to a job interview – F5.  When your date does not look the same as he/she appears online – F5.

The F5 key, will refresh or reload the page or document window or Internet browsers.

Only if there were an Any key.

A Time To Every Purpose Under Heaven

CAN

ANYONE

NOTICE

CHRIST’S

EVERLASTING

REPRESENTATION

When it rains it pours but when God reigns, blessings pour.  Today was a good day, I ate breakfast at home; I walked to the bus stop to catch my bus on time; made it to work early; I was busy working at work..lol then that feeling that things are going ALL too well crept up on me.

I had two co-workers at different times today to approach me about a cancer story.  The first was the cleaning lady (also my coworker), she stated that her husband has lung cancer in BOTH lungs and will begin chemotherapy on Monday.  Her eyes were bloodshot red from crying since she heard the news.  She comes to work daily to keep her mind busy.  God has put it on my heart that each time I see her – hug her as tight.  I know she is putting on a brave face for husband and family however being a woman; I understand how we are as weak as babes when we are away from them.

We hugged in the hallway and she sobbed until my coping mechanism kicked in [during times tragedy I attempt to bring jest into the situation to bring about laughter.]  I made joke, she laughed momentarily but I could still see the pain, hurt and confusion she was masking.  I could even hear her body language screaming, “Lord, Why Me!”  I returned to my desk, heart heavy as if the news she was dealt was to a family member of my own.

A few hours later, I decided to stretch my legs and walk to the cafeteria to have a sandwich and return to my office for lunch; clearing my head from an earlier bout of bad news.  Up ahead, I see one of my former supervisors looking toward the ground as if she had lost something.  I call you my “Cheerleader” because you are always brightening the spirits of others; it looked like she needed some cheering up.  She told me about some recent test results from her doctor…speckles of cancerous looking tissue throughout both of her breasts.  I commenced to hug her.  I could tell that she wanted to talk more, I could even hear her body language screaming, “Lord, Why Me!”  We were outdoors in the elements, we each said, “…we will meet up again before the end of the day.”  We did, I gave another hug ad we departed.

(Tearing up as I type this) I just want to thank God for placing me in the right place he wanted me to be.  Bringing me back into his biblical fold when he did in 2012. I have I said a prayer for each; then I stopped to think WHY I have been singing Ave Maria in my head and aloud for the past 2 weeks.  Translations of the prayer/song:

The Latin:

Ave Maria Gratia plena

Maria Gratia plena

Maria Gratia plena

Ave, ave dominus

Dominus tecum

Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Et benedictus

Et benedictus fructus ventris

Ventris tui Jesus

Ave Maria

The English translation:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;

blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

I never solicit anything other than a rogue comment on my blog however tonight I ask you to please say a prayer or place my co-workers on your church’s prayer list for their specific needs listed above.  I was told if you are going to pray – let God know EXACTLY what you want and he will deliver.

Blessing be to you and yours,

Amen.

John 10:16 – And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Left With A Smooth Feeling

I can never get enough of talking about me nor can I get enough of taking pictures where cameras don’t belong….Like Barbara Walters, I always get er done.

1pm Friday, my first dental cleaning of for Twenty-Thirteen with the new dental hygienist, her name is Mitzi – yes that is her real name.  I still haven’t warmed up to the new office staff, they seem stodgy, and the main characters were busy working that day.  My wait wasn't too long seeing that there were only 3 people including myself in the dental office.

After our initially meet and greet, I let her tell me some things about herself…she is a few years older that I (I’m a perpetual 29 y/o); she goes on to talk about her husband and three children.  Then she gets to her job.  Why is it that when someone performing dental work they always wanting a response to their question.  After my second rinse, I interrupted MY service and told her I wanted to have an opportunity to answer some of her questions; such as my marital status, my dependent status, my educational status...so on and so forth.

I miss Christie, the former dental hygienist, but I think I will like Mitzi…I guess that when Christie was working in my mouth, we had to play 6 month’s worth of catch-up in a 45 minute session so I missed all the tools darting in and out of my mouth. We just yapped until I left the office.

This visit (because I was quiet and observing the atmosphere) there were two particular items I really liked one was the toothbrush (stop laughing) the tool where the actual paste is placed on the round thing to clean your teeth.  I love that thing and the other was a supersonic vibrating water jet bacteria remover.

I asked her why did she become a dental hygienist, she said she never had bad teeth as a child but found it sad that people could not afford dental care even brushing their teeth with a toothbrush was a luxury to some.  She wanted the people who she came into contact with to know the importance of dental hygiene.  Even washing your mouth with mouthwash and a towel will beat doing nothing; but she prefers you use a toothbrush.

I didn't get to ask many more questions of her fore my time was up.  I told her I would see her in the summer time with more questions to ask.  I did however leave with a new toothbrush for me and my grandson...granny is always working it!

My tip:  Find a dental clinic or dentist office or dentist that you like and remain loyal.  It may take some time to find them but nothing worse than to have EXCELLENT dental insurance and have a horrible dentist.

Happy Brushing.

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Being Green, Riding Public Transportation

I was green before green was a thing. #Blake Shelton

 

When I think of the word Green, I think of a new state of balance, freedom to pursue new ideas, protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others, a need for change or growth…A need for change and growth bears repeating.

January 2012, I began riding Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) part-time to attend El Centro Community College in downtown Dallas.  It was a logical choice because the DART bus and train stopped one-half block from the community college. Additionally, I was able to make it to class early with a few minutes of spare versus spending twenty minutes circling the college trying to find a parking spot; feeding the parking meter or a $10 parking spot and being LATE to class.  It conjures up nightmares to think about that.

Later in 2012, my employer celebrated having Zero Landfill – that equates to recycling EVERYTHING that is used in the facility; that further motivated me to stay green and continue to riding DART.

My commute begins with a ¼ mile walk (8 minutes uphill) from my home to the bus stop – rain, shine, day or night. Then a 20 minute bus ride to downtown, a 5 minute walk to the train, a 17 minute train ride to the next bus stop.  Then lastly a 15 minute ride to my job. Then I repeat the process to return home.  If you add that up, one hour and five minutes riding DART versus a 23 minute commute to work and home.

I can hear some of you say, “…it is quicker to drive than to ride DART,” but which is less stressful?  I became extremely comfortable with watching traffic jams instead of being part of them.  I was able to read, meet new people and see things at a slower pace, my moniker was Speed Racer.

Below are questions the skeptics continually ask,

·        Is something wrong with your car?

·        Why do you continue riding the train/bus?

·        Do you feel afraid riding the train/bus?

·        What if something happens to the train/bus?

The list goes on and on.

I reply:

+       I save gas

+       I arrive to work in a timely manner

+       I’m prompted to leave work in a timely manner

+       There are at least 15 cameras at each DART rail stop

+       DART police ride the bus and train dressed in uniform and incognito

+       I receive Twitter feeds if there are issues with the light rail system

+       If the bus is late it is either weather related or stuck in a traffic jam

+       I wind down

+       I walk a guaranteed ½ mile per day.

I lost 15 pounds – gone forever.

***DEEP SIGH***

Ethnology should not be a factory in a decision to be green however, if my Caucasian counterparts were riding DART, they would be congratulated and celebrated for “Being Green” or “Saving The Environment” or “Reducing Their Carbon Footprint.”  I’m not Caucasian but I want the earth to be saved for my grandson, his son and on down the line too.

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A grandparent’s Point Of View

From the time I gave birth to my son Jari Amanni Brooks on February 29, 1988 at 3:29 pm; until January 5, 2013, I never understood.  You ask what is it that you never understood Katina?  I never understood how my parents loved me, a teen-aged parent, so much and how they loved their grandson so much too. That they put up with me and my son.  Was it out of love, pity, the need to nurture and cultivate our lives into what they knew we would have become and are capable of today? 

I bring this up because my grandson lives with me part time and while I was on MY 2012 Christmas vacation, I became the unofficial “You Are At Home So Babysit My Baby Babysitter.” I’m became Confused because, this was MY vacation isn’t it???? 

My son, age 24 and 11/12^th’s, thinks being a parent is all relative yet I beg to differ.  He still can’t give me a young folk definition of Relative)  I digress…Just think:  you have waited ALL YEAR for CHRISTmas time to roll around so that you can get up AT WILL, go to bed AT WILL, do whatever AT WILL until you are made the unofficial babysitter. This puts a kink in your plan. 

My grandson and I began our day at 7:30 am watching NO LISTENING to PBS’ Arthur the opening theme song for 2 hours while eating breakfast; then followed by an outdoor adventure to the backyard for an hour.  After that, we came back inside for 2 hours to warm up and eat lunch.  I, I mean, WE take a much needed nap for 1 ½ hours.  I get up quietly to make a snack and begin dinner then by that time, my son is home to enjoy a well-rested toddler before they take a bath and it is bedtime.

I am soo thankful that my son has an opportunity to be with his son, retraction. I mean I so thankful that I have an opportunity to be an active participant in my grandsons’ upbringing. 

Imagine it 8:30pm on any given weeknight and you are home on vacation you have been up with a toddler ALL DAY..by this time I am pooped…completely exhausted.  Too tired to enjoy my “at-home communion” – I just shower and go to sleep. As I doze off I hear the sargent from Full Metal Jacket yelling, “Enjoy your sleep soldier…You have to be up at Oh 7 hundred…”  REALLY, really? 

My poor dog and cat, they beat me to bed EVERY night because a toddler really toddles and they are tired from running from him all day.

I said all that to say this. 

THE Katina S. Brooks PSA:  Young people, when you have children and you still live at home with your parents think about how you child will affect the ENTIRE family…right down to the pets.  Be Kind Rewind, Don’t Do It, Stranger Danger, Just Say No. 

I have always thanked my parents for an exceptional job they did raising me and helping me raise my son.  I now feel the growing pains they must to have experienced and I need them now to pray for me and my son and my grandson’s family…because my grandson is THE MAN OF MY LIFE – and children now-a-days need all the support they can receive.  I love my Life, I love my Parents Albert and Gwendolyn Brooks, I love my son Jari Amanni Brooks, Sr. and my grandson Jari Amanni Brooks, II.

Juicing..Not the Mtume song "Juicy"

Chapter 40, Scene One…ACTION!!!

It is a new year and what a way to begin.  I waited in angst ALL day to get home and try out my new juicer.  I purchased a Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer.  I had some difficulties before getting home – I felt like I was in an episode of Pippi Longstocking.  The bus driver left me standing at the corner when I was CLEARLY waving the driver down to board the bus.  I threw my monopod to the ground in anger and I memorized the bus number because Dallas Area Rapid Transit was going to hear from me – the angry transit rider.

I stood in disgust and snapped angry photos:

 

As fate would have it, I was able to board the bus with the driver who left me at the bus stop.  She apologized to me the entire time I was on the bus.  She “said” she felt bad for leaving me because she was in a hurry – NO EXCUSE!  I accepted her apology because she said she felt bad for leaving me.
 

I digress.  I finally get home after purchasing some “sweet” items for juicing: 

1 bag of Granny Smith apples

1 container of Blueberries

1 container of Strawberries

2 packages of Carrots

3 Lemons

1 bag of Oranges

1 Pineapple 

By now I am even more excited because my taste tester has arrived, my grandson Dewtybug (Jari II).  My machine isn’t the quietest but it pulverized those fruit in no time flat and the juice was flowing.  WooWhee!
 

My first recipe was one from the Hamilton Beach book called Winter Zinger: 

1.     2 apples

2.     1 orange, peeled

3.     ¼ cup blueberries.

 

Three item recipe - De-Lish-Us! 

My taste tester kept coming back for more.

Adding FRESH juice 1-3 times daily to my diet (I’M NOT DIETING), continuing to eat my vegetable medley with lunch and dinner, taking the bus, riding my bike and remaining active with my grandson; I may lose more weight this year and gain the much needed energy to sustain my lifestyle. 

Happy Juicing.

 

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2013 - Happy New Year

2013 - Happy New Year

As the last grains of sands slip through the hourglass of Twenty-Twelve, I am reminded of all the JOYS amidst the Jinx 2012 imported and exported into my life.

My happy times certainly outweighed my unhappy times but through it all, I am thankful to be able to count All of my blessings daily.  I still have both my parents alive, all of my siblings are all alive (all eight of us); my maternal and paternal grand mothers are still alive and healthy; my son and my extremely handsome, chatty and active grandson.

I will be ringing in Twenty-Thirteen like I rung in 2012 – no one man to kiss at the stroke of midnight.  If that is how my new year is to begin, then so be it.

Happy 2013 New Year!

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne!

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne!