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Brian French

• When I was 10 years old I was the West Virginia Public Speaking Champion. My speech was entitled “Midgetitis, in my Opinion” and it outlined the pros and cons of being of shorter than average stature. If I gave the same speech today I would probably rethink the title.
• I used to work at a coffee shop that sold coffee from all over the world. My job title was “Master Roaster”. The beans arrived in 100 pound burlap sacks and we roasted and ground them according to precise specifications designed to bring out their optimum flavor.  I once fresh-roasted and ground a pound of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver to enjoy on their private jet.
• For about a year a friend and I ran a technically legal radio station from a 24th floor condo on the Palm Beach intracoastal. We invited club DJs to come and spin live, 24 hours a day. Our signal was strong enough to reach Miami and the Bahamas. The FCC came on a Tuesday and confiscated our transmitter from the roof of the building. On Wednesday a corporate station took over our frequency and our format and started charging advertisers lots of money. We never did get our equipment back. “/

I’m Trina. I have read over 50 novels this year. I have four brothers who, along with their wives and children, are the source of a lot of the joy in my life. My mother’s voice is the one that most closely echoes my conscience. I am an introvert who loves to travel to visit and experience different places. My fiance makes everything better – I’ve thought about it. It’s true. I wish I liked my mother-in-law-to-be more. I cannot abide olives.

This is me holding a mug I should have bought 😥 

How are you?? (I really want to know  I am one of two Ashely’s in the class (hey Ashley!)

Here’s my academic & professional stuff:

In addition, I am an English MA candidate, writing consultant, and (obviously) a GTA at Florida Atlantic University. I graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2013 (Go Rattlers!). In my free time I “blog,” and contribute to the digital lifestyle magazine Black Girl Fly in the Lifestyle & Culture section. I am planning on pursuing a PhD in English, concentrating on works of fiction by Black women authors of the (late) 20^th and 21^st century. My research interests include American history, queer studies, feminism/womanism, hip-hop studies, pop culture, and digital content creation.

Here’s some personal info:

I am the best big sister ever (often debated by my little brother).

I LOVE traveling (my avatar is a picture of me in New Orleans).

(Here’s a better view, I was on the verge of tears here)

I own an obnoxious (my mom’s opinion) amount of graphic t-shirts and backless earrings.

Kbye waving hand emoji

Hello everyone,

Looking forward to getting to know you all this semester. Most of my time is spent with my two-year-old daughter and our schnauzer. I like spending time with family and friends, getting slightly sunburned at the beach, playing guitar, cooking massive and elaborate vegan feasts, practicing foreign languages, sweating my butt off at Bikram yoga, traveling when I have the chance, and reading books late into the night.