The Ferguson Family Takes a Stroll in the Park

Rufus and I joined Rhadi on his biweekly run through the park. While Rhadi was running laps up and down the hills surrounding the park, Rufus and I spent some quality time on the swings and monkeybars. Rufus is finally big enough to be on the swing by himself and he just enjoyed watching the other little kids play on the slides while he watched out for his daddy rounding the corner behind him.

Rufus caught on quickly by watching the other older kids kick their legs back and forth to get the momentum to continue swinging. Here he kicks forward and leans back...

...and then leans his upper body forward to complete the pendulum movement....

And there he goes...

Rhadi finished his four laps within 30 minutes and then spent some time playing with Little Rufus before we all headed back in the car for the drive home.

It's amazing how these little trips to the park, to the supermarket....to wherever can brighten up your day. This past week has been incredibly busy at work with several of my colleagues taking vacation so that means more back to back days of work and longer days working up to 14 hours. But when I look around and see my husband working out and staying in shape and gaze down and see Little Rufus enjoying his time on the swing...all the extra stress from the day just fades away!

Rufus is much more active now so Rhadi recently registered him for a playgym where he can interact and play with other kids his age. Rufus enjoys climbing up the slides, playing on the jungle gym and finding any and everything to get into. Rufus loves running around the gym and having fun with the kids and of course, after class he never wants to leave.

I'm on my way right now to get Rufus ready for "class" at the playgym. The gym is a wonderful place where he can explore, discover new things and all with his mommy or daddy by his side. And yes, Rhadi takes him almost everyday....so it's daddy and son together playing....it's a lovely and heart-warming sight. What a wonderful husband and father!

So until next time...

Traci, better known as Rufus' mom

Pursuing a Ph. D is a MASSIVE task, but I'm not in it alone

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A Brutal Beating
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I've taken my fair share of beatings as a former football playerm wrester and martial artist. And I've dished out my fair share as well. But this Ph. D. business is a lopsided beating where my head is the only thing that is getting lopsided. It's definitely a "doable"task, but its a monumental one. You gotta hang in there and plug away at the doggone thing EVERYDAY.


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Not Alone
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Come to find out, I'm not alone in my quest. Some of my closest friends are all pursuing their Ph. D. right now too.

My best man from my wedding and frat brother, G. Stewart is pursuing his Ph. D. in Chemistry.

My son's godmother and my friend Keita Rone is pursuing her Ph. D. in Education.

My frat brother, friend and G's brother Maurice Hobson is pursuing his Ph. D. in African American Studies with and emphasis on modern day music and culture (his dissertation topic is super cool, I just can't remember what it is, but he has an interview with Andre 3000 in a couple of weeks). But just to let you know........ Maurice is "off the hook", his ish is tight!

These are some of the things that he's done so far.....


“What Y’all Really Know About the Dirty South: Working Towards A Black Southern
Aesthetic in Hip Hop.” Southern Conference on African American Studies, San Antonio, Texas,
February 21-23, 2002.

• “Bad Language, Bad Attitudes, Benevolent Notions: Hip Hop Summit 2002.”
“Stereotypes Within Hip Hop: Ballers Gangstas, Shot Callers.” University of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, February 28, 2002.

• Panelist for the African American Association, University of Alabama. “Understanding
Black Male Images and Black Brotherhood in the American Experience.” April 11, 2001.

• Panelist: “Black Manhood, Brotherhood, and Familyhood.” University of Alabama
African American Association Black History Month 2002 Forum (February 2002).

• “Hip-hop’s Role in African American History,” University of Alabama History
Department, Tuscaloosa; April 24, 2001.

• “Rap-Music and African Oral Traditions.” African American Oral History, Stillman
College, Tuscaloosa; November 14, 2001.

• “When I Ruled the World: The World’s Greatest Men and Women of Color.” Historical
Presentation for African American History Month. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated,
Lambda Zeta Chapter, 2002.

• “African American Folklore Within Hip Hop Culture.” Cultural Presentation for
Tuscaloosa City Schools, 2002.

My friend Alexandria Jones, who double majored at Howard University and then went on to get her Masters from Berkeley is finishing up her Doctorate at Berkeley right now in Archaeology. She is a little firecracker and funny as can be (and smart beyond her years).

Another one of my friends, Gena Woodruff, is pursuing her Ph. D. at Georgia Tech. She also went to Howard. She, my wife and I all attended the same high school. They were the two brainy kids. Both of them graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Gena is also 5 months pregnant and expecting her first baby!!! Traci and I are super excited for her (we hope she has a girl) :-)

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Looking To Jump
Over the Chasm
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Some of the people on the aforementioned list will jump over the chasm before I do and some after me. I can't wait until we are all on the other side so we can sit down and break bread and laugh at all of the mess that we've been through. Not many understand the Ph. D. haze. It's brutal, but its fair.

Take care.