Greetings Family!  I am still on a high because last night I saw one of the most prolific artists of our time.  STEVIE WONDER!!!  This was on my bucket list and I am blessed to have seen him.  This was his Songs in the Key of Life tour and it was amazing!   The body of work in that double album can be compared to nothing else.  I still have the album in my collection. You have to look at the artist and the time that the songs were written to understand that he was able to capture the present and the future at the same time.  One of things that struck me in addition to his musical genius, were the lyrics of every song…which is part of the genius.  During the concert it was like I heard the words for the first time and saw through his words the world that Stevie wrote about.  More inspiring was that those words could have been written today in 2015 as Stevie said which is commentary on our world that exists today.  Stevie Wonder in addition to being an artist like no other is also an activist, poet, humanitarian and a comedian. If you have never heard this music or have not listened to it in a long time do yourself a favor and listen.  It will change you family.

Bye Geese!

So in order to get ready for spring I decided to start running again. Now I used to run when I lived in North Carolina and I loved it. (there are a lot of things I loved about NC but thats not what this story is about) So after a year and a half of not doing anything I got up yesterday morning and headed for the park. I started walking around the track at first, just to loosen myself up for running (yeah right). when I noticed a flock of Canadian Geese. Now we all have heard the stories about how these geese like to attack people and being that they are pretty big its not so easy just to walk by them. Of course my lazy bones were like "don't do it, go back home! "The geese will get you!""No lazy bones I'm here so I have to do it!" It took every inch of my willpower to walk around that part of the track but I made it. I didn't look there way, so they seemed not to see me. Feeling a little cocky now I decided to jog a little bit, as I was jogging I noticed that some of the geese had moved a little closer to the track. OOOOOkay? I slowed down a little bit, because I wanted to make sure if I had to run I had some energy to run. Ok so I went around a couple of more times with no incident until  a couple of geese decided to stand on the track blocking my way just as I was coming around so I said Wooh! and looked at them, they looked back at me and hissed! I started pumping! I didn't even turn around, ran all the way to my car and looked back to see them just standing there. Dam geese....trying to stop me from getting my workout on!  So today I joined a gym. lol!

Spring!

Welcome to Spring Pooka Family!!!  Yea, yea, yea, I know it snowed the first day of spring and that temperatures feel anything but spring-like but it is officially spring on the calendar.  That means it’s time to pack away those winter clothes, pull out those Spring jackets, start planting the flower beds and get outside and start moving!  Personally, I feel as though I’ve gained about 20lbs this winter with not being very active.  As we get older (26 yrs per Taiye) I know that our muscles turn into fat a lot quicker so it’s so important to stay active, stretch, be mobile so we can enjoy life and not have to complain about aches and pains.  I feel as though I’ve had cabin fever for 6 months so I’m ready to get outside and walk off these pounds.  Won’t you join me Pooka family?

Gratefulness!

 

Greetings Family.  I celebrated my birthday two days ago!  I received lots of call and lots of texts and lots of love for which I am forever grateful!  Before I got out of bed I read from a prayer inspiration book that I keep on my nightstand.  When I finished reading I prayed and thanked God for the moments of my life!  Family I share with you to cherish the moments.

Well?

Ok. Its March. We are two months and two weeks into the new year. How ya doing? Ok I'll start, I have fallen off. WAAAAAY OFF. I really couldn't tell you what happened, I finished up the Daniel fast strong, I actually keep going after it was over thinking that I could become a vegetarian (kinda sortof still eating fish) but it wasn't that bad. Sugar who needs sugar? I got Applesauce! Lol what a joke! Next thing I knew I was eating turkey burgers and oreos! What happened? I stopped exercising! Why did my body betray me? We were doing so well. Well I've cried my last tears and I'm starting again. One morning at a time, one meal at a time, one day at a time. Who's with me!!!

PARCC/Common Core Curriculum

Morning Pooka Family!  Many of you may have heard the controversy stemming from the PARCC test/Common Core Curriculum standards that were implemented by the US Department of Education.  I hadn’t paid very much attention to the topic since Taiye is only in kindergarten and these tests don't kick in until 3^rd grade but with all the buzz about it on social media and in the school yards among parents I figured I’d better start paying attention.  To be honest with you I’m sort of leaning in favor of this new practice because I’ve always believed in a level playing field.  I mean that’s what our grandparents and great grandparents fought and died for – the equal opportunity afforded to all people.  So I believe that every student should be taught vigorously with in all school district and be evaluated on equal standards when it comes time for them to apply for colleges.  However, I also understand that mandating these standards can stifle those teachers who are good at inspiring students through other less standardized teaching practices, as well as the potential to have their performance being evaluated unfairly on how well their students perform (some students just aren’t good test takers so to penalize the student and the teacher for this is unfair) not to mention the host of other “issues” teachers in more disadvantage areas have to deal with (i.e. students who can’t focus on learning because of their family situation).  I know there are a host of other reasons for and against the PARCC/Core Curriculum and as with anything in this world there is no one answer that will satisfy everyone.  My goal as a citizen is to make sure that the decisions affecting our children’s education are administered fairly and my goal as a parent is to make sure that I provide Taiye with every opportunity with in my means for her to  compete fairly in this global market.

Peace & Blessings,
Tricia Akinwande

30 Days Until......

30 days until…

No more boots
No more black snow
No more falling down icy steps…ok maybe that was just me!
No more cold hands and cold feet
No more staying in your warm bed and being late for work
No more staring at pictures of tropical places while waiting for the subway

But 31 days until!!!

Wearing one layer of clothing
Getting a pedicure
Watching the first flowers bloom
Meeting friends for lunch outside…foodie favorite!
Appreciating the warmth of the sun
Riding with our windows down to smell the spring air
Hello Spring….we are waiting for you!!

Peace
Donna