Gone Til November

Hello.....Hello (crickets chirping)...anybody there? Despite being AWOL from the blog scene, trust that I've been keeping abreast of the happenings in blogosphere, however lurking in the shadows quietly trolling the virtual boroughs and alleys looking for blood. ahem*

Anyway, I just thought to pop in before the cobwebs take over this place. Too much is going on in my life right now. It's complicated and exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.

I thought that I'll be gone only till November but it looks like I will continue my blog in a series of trickles. 

2011 is almost over. Phew, what a year! Happy (American) Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas shopping.

P.S: It's snowing....*yawn*

Serenade (Naeto C - 5&6)

This video makes me think of my boo....

Hope

What do you do when you can't do anything else? How do you remain hopeful when you're down in the Valley? I once heard a saying that the best way to be happy is to practice 'Love and Gratitude'; apparently that's the fantastic duo to live a fulfilling life. But what about 'Hope'?  I think there should be a fantastic trio of Love, Gratitude, and Hope. That's because I get love, and I see the importance of gratitude. But I believe 'hope' takes it to a whole other level. Or what do you think?

Official Drop-out of the 30-Day Challenge

Hi Everyone,

Without more ado, I must pull out of this challenge. Honestly, I got bored and even felt like I was cheating if I wanted to post about anything else on here.

So that's it. I quit.

In other news, I am going back to the reason why I started blogging in the first place. And that was to share my thoughts in a creative outlet, no matter how ironic, radical, or unpopular they may be.And to speak on things that appeal to my nature; philosophy, make-up, romance, food, politics, and faith. 

I hope you stick around for updates. Have a good weekend!

A.P

Day 20: My fears

Eureka! I've reached the 20th entry in this 30 day challenge. Today's challenge question ask that I share my fears with you. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Madness
2. Snakes
3. Air & water-borne diseases
4. Obesity
5. War 

***

Arrrgghh....I'm tired of this challenge. kai who send me message?! Anyway, I want to drop out of this 30 Day Challenge. Truth be told, many times I didn't enjoy answering these challenge questions or sometimes it just felt forced. But I guess that's the whole point of a 'challenge' - forcing you to do more than you would have normally. Anyhow, if anything, I may end up posting the remaining 10 days randomly in between my regular blog posts. 

I hope everyone had a good week. TGIF!

Day 19: Five items I lust after

1. A sexy grown-ass living space. I'm renovating my apartment at the moment and have been getting all kinds of inspiration from condo decor showrooms...but na moni make am :(


2. iPad 2 -- I don't need it but today's challenge question clearly spelled out L U S T. cc: Consumers Anonymous


3. 2011 Toyota Camry - yes, I'm being modest. I'm not lusting after anything too luxurious like a BMW or a Benz (insurance is a b!tch). I just want something modest. Is there any such thing as a modest lust? Anya go big or go home.

4. Vacation package to Paris, France ...or ...Positano, Italy...or somewhere delicious in the Caribbean, Anguilla maybe? :)) My God, I need this lust to become a reality.

5. Johnny Depp in only an apron holed up in my kitchen going hard at the stove cooking up a storm. Don't judge. I like what I like. It could look something like this ;)

Day 18: A problem I've had...

Haha! Today's challenge question is quite daft. So of all the problems I have encountered in this life, I am supposed to pick ONE and share it with you? LOL.

Anyway, I've had problems. I mean, serious problems in this life. Where could I possibly begin? Do you want to hear about the time I was hallucinating for 2 weeks? Or the time I almost died? Or the time self-esteem issues nearly drove me mad? Or the time I thought I was going blind? Or the time I felt like I was becoming a real-life mermaid? Or the time I thought I was invincible? Or the time my heart became an ice-box (literally)? Or the time I wanted to check into an institution? Or the time I thought I could join the army? Or the time I thought my parent's marriage was falling apart?  Or the time I considered being a college drop-out??

I don't know which one of these problems to pick. But let me tell you this: problems come and go. Life can throw you all kinds of inconveniences, to say the least. In the end, if you think about your problems as 'challenges' to be surmounted, you stand a better chance of getting through with a winning attitude.

Day 17: Something that I'm proud of

I'm proud of the enduring quality of my parent's marriage. They've been together for almost 40 years and I think that's impressive! Together, they've weathered many storms, given me and my siblings incredible lives, and managed to still keep it together all these years.

I pray that I meet a special man who has the lasting quality to go the distance with me. Oh, I may have found him already ;)

Day 16: Something I always say "what if..." about

Today's challenge question is right up my alley because I often ask myself "what if" questions. For example, the other day I was talking to one of my girlfriends and we kept busy contemplating the question:  'what if things were different?'

After our talk, I mostly kept on droning asking myself so many questions like: what if I wasn't born into my family? what if I didn't go to my alma mater? what if I became a superstar? what if I wasn't born African? what if I was born disabled? what if afrocentrism was the hegemonic worldview? what if I actually tried at something for once in my life? what if we all did our best in everything? what if I made different choices at every turning point in my life?

But enough of the mental hopscotch. Today, I only ask myself "what if I could do anything - how would I change my reality, heck how will I change the world?

Day 15: My Zodiac/Horoscope and if I think it fits my personality

I just did a whole bunch of occultic digging research about my zodiac sign. According to Greek astrology, Scorpio is acclaimed to be the "most powerful sign"; a water sign, anciently ruled by Mars but  ruled by Pluto in modern, of the eight house, and one of the fixed signs. So what does this all mean, anyway?

According to astrology-dot-com (I'll share only the parts I like):

"The curiosity of Scorpios is immeasurable, which may be why they are such adept investigators. These folks love to probe and know how to get to the bottom of things. The fact that they have a keen sense of intuition certainly helps".

"Fearless Scorpios rarely lose; they just keep on going, since they are stubborn and determined to succeed"

"The Scorpio-born are powerful and passionate, qualities that serve them well...[they] love competition in both work and play...their great strength is their determination, passion and motivation. Scorpios don't know the word quit, which is why they usually get the job done"

***

So do I think this description fits my personality? Well, I'll only accept the good traits and fast-forward all the negative traits associated with the sign. Some of those negative portrayals of the Scorpio include: [she] is vindictive, lustful, possessive, jealous, self-indulgent, repressed emotions, etc. etc

But like I said, I fast-forward through all the negative b.s. because it doesn't define my personality. In fact, every sign under the Sun has the capacity and propensity to be a little jealous or lustful or vengeful or even repress their emotions on occasion. So it's not just a scorpio thing per se. Ok, I'm done.   

Day 14: What I wore today

Today was rather uneventful. I stayed at home for most of the day working on editing a book and working on job applications. Then I hung out with my friend, her son and husband. We grabbed gelato for dessert. This is essentially what I wore, sans the hefty designer prices.

Black Dresses by Halston
Sandals by Charles David

.

Day 13: My Opinion about my Body and how I feel about it

I love my body. It's been with me through these 20-odd something years. I love it with every scar; self-inflicted and accidental. Each mark leaves me a story to tell my children. Standing at an awesome 5'5" with dimples, wife potential {shout out to Diddy}, I see the world from my eyes, myopic and astigmatized*. I embrace life with these hands, currently lacquered with gold-speckled brown nail polish. I haul around poundage in the normal range for my BMI proportions, but in my opinion, I could still benefit from shedding about 10-15 pounds. However, I fear that my boobage - high and perky at a 34D; would deflate with additional weight-loss.  Anya, it seems like you can't have it all after all. Anyhow, that's the least of my worries.

In truth, I'm thankful for the body I've been given. I don't have any major ailments, conditions, or disorders. My body has been good to me. And I hope it sticks around for the long haul, I say about 80 or 90 more years give or take! 



P.S:
astigmatized

Day 12: Five Guys Whom I Find Attractive

Ok! I'm loving this challenge question. Drumrolllllll pleaseeee (in no particular order):

Johnny Depp

P-Square 

Chris Hemsworth (as 'Thor')

Idris Elba

Chris Brown

Day 11: My Family

My family is awesome. My parents are baby boomers, my siblings were born during the reign of flower power, and I am the youngest; a child of the eighties.

My Dad was and still is a looker. Tall, lean-muscle, handsome. My Mom is gorgeous: petite, flawless skin, dimples, and has the vivaciousness of a shark! They met in college, University of Nigeria. They fell in love. And the rest is history. My siblings came in all shapes and colours. My brothers are gentlemen, down-to-earth, manly men. My sisters are pretty, overbearing, and downright hilarious. My siblings and I grew up really close and shared many things in common. But over time, things changed. I moved away for school. Life happened. My brother got married. My sister got married. Suddenly, I'm an Aunty and my parents are grand-parents. My family is changing. I am changing. And this is why life is beautiful - change happens and we are a part of it.
   

Day 10: Put your Music Player on shuffle and write the first 10 songs that play

1. DJ Got Us Falling in Love Again - Usher/Pitbull
2. Firework - Katy Perry
3. My Love - Celine Dion
4. Pere - D'banj
5. Successful - Drake ft. Trey Songs
6. Without You - Chris Brown
7. Kondo - Dagrin
8. Something About The Way You Look Tonight - Elton John
9. Imagine - Glee
10. Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio


P.S:
Anyone who thinks doing this 30-Day Challenge is still easy for me, should think again. It's been hard to sit here and write. But thanks to this perseverance, I will remain committed. Besides I don't really have to think too much anyway ;)  So how's your July coming along?

Day 9: How important I think Education is?

...despite the odd wording of that question for today's challenge request, I must continue.

Yes, I have been MIA for sometime. I've been "away" in spirit, attending to matters of the mind and heart. The thing is I actually have a penchant for writing but I can't seem to do it on here consistently. I find myself constantly distracted by everything in general but nothing in particular. But no excuses today, let's get on with it. So how important do I think education is?

Well, it depends. First, let's take a look at famous drop-outs:

Microsoft, Bill Gates.
G.O.O.D Music, Kanye West
Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg
CNN, Ted Turner (was actually expelled)*
Oil Magnate, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi

Second, notice that most  of the prominent and successful drop-outs out there are men!

So unless you have a million dollar idea; you have the personal drive, zeal, or motivation to fight for your dreams; you have an extraordinary talent; you are an heiress; you marry into money; or you win the lottery, I suggest you sit your ass in school and get that degree because your wits/parchment are pretty much all you've got going for you.

But don't be discouraged if you haven't cracked the next algorithm to give us the world's super computer or if the world has not discovered your melodious voice which puts Beyonce's/Mariah Carey's/J-Hud's voice to shame. You, just keep on trying where you are. One day na one day, the world will find you. But until then, go to school. You can even pretend like you're learning something while you're at it.  

--
Reference:
* - Wikipedia

Day 8: What you ate today

Well, today I basically scavenged my way around my kitchen for most of the day until dinner, when I made a proper meal. This is a run-down of everything that went into my mouth.

10:30am - 2 vanilla cookies
1:45pm - hamburger (BBQ at church)
1:55pm - slice of cake
3:00pm - 4 crackers and a vodka cooler
5:30pm - 2 cups of water
7:00pm - 2 dried apricots
7:05pm - 3 tortilla chips
7:10pm - 4 cubes of frozen Dairy Milk chocolate ...yum!
7:44pm - 1 cup of water
8:15pm - Sauteed salmon, veggies, and fries
9:00pm - Bag of popcorn (100 calories!)
9:15pm - 1 cup of water

.....the day is not over, so I may still chow down some cake/ice-cream or grab a slab of cheese as a healthier alternative. And yes, I eat my emotions when I'm upset. But from Monday to Saturday, you will find me at the gym facing them head on. What exciting thing did you eat today?

P.S: This was my 8:15pm appointment ;)  

Day 7: Five Pet Peeves

In no particular order:

1. When people spit out mucus on the street/sidewalk (you know that thick kind) ....ewww nasty! O_o

2. Walking through a park in high-heels....your heels dig into the mud, then you end up rocking "chunky heels". ugh.

3. Pigeons. Don't these buggers carry rabies and all kinds of diseases?! I don't think they're cute.

4. Heavy periods. nuffsaid!

5. Slow internet. Since I've been spoiled with warp speed internet, it's unbearable to deal with average download times....like plucking out your own teeth unbearable.

Day 6: Your Views on Mainstream Music

I think it's aite. There's some pretty dope schit out there there. Y'all remember that track with T.I and Yung Dro "Ain't I"? ughhh man, that track was the flyness. Ok, I dunno why I'm typing in ebonics, but that's how I feel about mainstream music

Day 5: Things you want to say to your Ex

Honestly, it started off as a distraction. I didn't know I was in love with you. I didn't think you would make me cry blood and tears. If I knew, I wouldn't have stayed with you that long.

We didn't need the games. We didn't need the heartbreak.
We didn't know how much we were hurting ourselves.
You shouldn't have been selfish. You shouldn't have lied to me.
I shouldn't have believed you. I shouldn't have kept on loving you.

We should have been honest. We should have been true.
I used to hate myself for being so naive, not anymore.

I think not of those shoulds, woulds, or coulds.
My only thoughts: "...time and chance happen to them all" (Ecc. 9:11) .

Day 4: Bullet Your Whole Day

Today was rather uneventful so it will be relatively easy to give you a breakdown of my day. Here goes:

9:00am - alarm went off. It's a sunday, I deserved to sleep-in

10:20am - got to church 20mins late. Trying not to make this a habit.

12:00pm - went to teach my Sunday school kids. I teach about 15 kids aged 5-10 year olds. On some days it's terribly stressful but it can be so rewarding as well.

1:15pm - church is over, greet a few people. Dash home for lunch because I'm starving.

2:00pm - well fed. Sitting in front of the TV, mindlessly...daydreaming of the future, facebooking.

4:00pm - got off the couch, do some yoga and core-strength training. Turn on some soca music, got my exercise on!

7:00pm - hungry again; grab leftover chicken curry and rice from the fridge.

7:25pm - got on the phone with my sister (catching up, she had me reeling with laughter).

8:00pm - on the phone with my boyfriend (long-distance romance)...did this for over 2 hours! Love. yeah.

10:23pm - ignored a call from a colleague. Why are you calling me at this time? Haven't you heard only close friends and family can call after 9pm.

12:30am - got under my duvet. time to catch some Zzz!

So there you have it. This Sunday was below average on my activity scale but meh. Tomorrow is another day! How did you spend your Sunday?

Day 3: A Book I love

Today's '30 Day Challenge' request is asking me to commit literary infidelity of monstrous proportions against some of the most magnificent books I've read. Out of all the books I've read which had lasting impacts on my life journey, I'm supposed to pick one?? umm..ok. Click here, here, here, and here to see other books I enjoyed tremendously.

One book which I particularly enjoyed was by Swiss-German author, Herman Hesse's 'Narcissus and Goldmund' (1930). It is an incredible story with many life lessons for friendship, adventure, conformity, freedom, and truth. The book has been described as a raging battle between flesh and spirit. It appealed to me on so many levels; made me question my path, and even brought me to tears at different points in the story - but that is not special, I tear up easily! 

Anyway, you can sample the book here from Amazon. You can also check out wikipedia's blurb on the book.

Day 2: Something I feel strongly about

As a concerned Global Citizen, I feel strongly about many things. In fact, I am passionate about too many things; it`s hard to single out just one. But today, I am going to share on my passion for sub-Saharan Africa.

A wise person said `Africa is not poor, Africa is just poorly managed`. In my view, Africa is the classic case of a series of unfortunate events. In theatre, this Continent has all the elements of a successful Tragedy - many paradoxes abound along with human suffering. For example, the abundance of natural wealth and resources juxtaposed with the prevalence of poverty is one. Or the abundance of human resources and potential manpower alongside low-skilled labour and people with very many desperate needs.

Continent of Potentials

Remember your elementary school teacher who often said Student A was so full of potential. Fast-forward 10-15 years later. You see that somehow Student A did not amount to much, and just fell by the wayside. Potential don`t mean much if you don`t have the drive, ambition, or a strong desire to succeed. It`s even harder to succeed when you don`t have a stable support system or people rooting for you. Useful analogy. Africa is like Student A. So full of promise. Yet, something is amiss.

I could go on about this paradox of plenty* but right now I don`t feel the urge to write a personal essay on the topic. The facts are apparent. You don`t need me to tell you Africa needs help. And I don`t mean international intervention. Africa needs homegrown help, sustainable organic intervention by its own citizens. A helping hand by the familiar, agents for change who have a personal vested interest in Africa`s success. 

Idealism

I have idealized the kind of help Africa should get. But with the state of things, very impoverished regions could use help from anywhere they can get it, including transnational corporate investment. So long as there are tools to ensure fair deals and mitigate against exploitatory tendencies.   



Endnotes 
* - a paper I have been working on for over 14 months and the crux of the main argument.

Day 1: 5 Ways to Win My Heart

To begin my `30 Day Challenge` (see previous post), I`m starting off with 5 tried and true ways to win my heart. I believe that in male-female relationships, things can get complicated very quickly. So in my dating life, I`ve taken out the guess work and simplified things by deducing a list of qualities which seem to be working for me.

Please note that these qualities are in addition to physical appearance. And for me, physical appearance includes his height, weight, build, accent, swag*, and style. As a vain child, looks grab my attention. But a possession of the qualities listed below will determine whether or not my attention is retained.  Yes girls, you`ve gotta act like a lady but thing like a man!

* - swag refers to that quality in a man that can`t quite be described. You`ve gotta see it to believe it ;) 

The List:

1. Engage my mind first - I'm a complete sucker for geeky & nerdy types. I love intelligence, I love brilliance. If you have both; you've already got my attention!

2. Dazzle me with your personality - it's O.K to be yourself. If you quirky and sarcastic; that's alright too. Just let your personality shine through. 

3. Make me laugh - I love a funny guy. If your sense of humour is cordial and sometimes you push the envelope, I can get into that. Being funny is more than just cracking a few recycled jokes. It's about continuity even through those down times.

4. Be your own person - do you have a hobby? are you doing something you enjoy? If I can explore your world, you become fascinating. Be the best version of yourself, not a phony replica of someone else. No one can do you like you do!

5. Always tell the truth - Yes, even when the truth hurts, let me hear it. I can handle it. If you're honest with yourself and you're honest with me, I dig that. Integrity is sexy.

30 Day Challenge

The Summer of 2011 is officially beginning (in my books!). I know I`ve been MIA for a some time now. Why is that whenever I come back here, I`m usually apologizing for being away? That needs to change.

I have a few MEMEs to do on here. But before then, I found this awesome distraction for blogger's writer's block over at the Flawless Mistake's blog. This will gimme something to yarn about. I'll get to it right away.

Here's to a fabulous summer ahead, cheers!

Dead Man Trending

Hey folks, I've been going through a job transition so I haven't had that blog inspiration in a bit. But i'm back now, so let's keep it moving.

So today's post is about the death of Osama Bin Laden and the subsequent floodgate of facebook comments and status updates which fried my brain for the last 48 hours. I saw too many comments like 'Osama is DEAD!' 'Praise God, they have killed Osama' and  'Obama destroyed Osama!'. These kinds of comments  kept flooding my newsfeed. It was just way too much.

 Zuckerberg really needs to create that dislike thumbs-down feature on the site.

So my people, in this day and age where most people have the internet or at least have some kind of access to global media, why do some people take it upon themselves to be virtual towncrier? Me sef, I tire! In fact, yesterday's number two global trending topic was #osama, after #canadavotes. But na so we see am, dead man trending!

The 4ACES TV: Pakos VS. Buttas

Today, I'm sharing a video from the gorgeous ladies at  The 4ACES Date . They're on  my list of blogs I absolutely adore. This is the second instalment in their series showcasing ajebutters and ajekpakos. It's super funny, check it out:

New Video: TY BELLO - The Future

Hi Folks,

I got goose flesh watching this video, it's pure and inspirational. I hope it inspires you too, because God loves Nigeria and we are too precious to burn. Enjoy.

A List of Ridiculous Things!

1. People buying more than they can afford. Swipe, Swipe, Swipe. They will say: “um, that’ll be on visa”, “try the AMEX”, “I think I’ll put it on MASTERCARD”. Financial baggage is not cute. Debt is a disease. It steals your peace, costs you unnecessary interest, and ruins your credit score. So the next time you enter Zara or Guess or H&M (my own pitfalls), think again before you swipe. Like my Dad used to say, "cut your cloak according to your cloth".

2. People who love animals more than people. I actually had to apologize for laughing when a co-worker said her family had a funeral procession for their cat. Just to put this in perspective, their youngest family member is 27, so there were no children involved in that procession --ROFL. Some people pay way too much attention to their animals than they do other people like  their neighbours and friends. My friend’s roommate paid $2000 to put her dog in “dog boarding school” while she was away for 2weeks! When I heard, I laughed so hard I think I peed a little. I mean, what is the point! In my mind, I say pay me that 2K and I’ll show your dog a good time. Some people never give to charitable causes but they can spend money; some up to $2500 annually in owning a dog. The irony. Mostly oyinbo people are guilty of this kind of affection.

3. People wearing stilettos trying to walk on ice. That's about one of the dumbest things I witness every winter in this land, the True North strong and free

4. People scantily clad in -30C weather. This is a follow-up to my previous ridiculous thing. We live in fr***ing C A N A D A! (read: freezing canada). Please put some clothes on. The eskimos got it right, they knew you couldn't be looking cute in -35C while showing bare legs. So don't fool yourself. We all see your goose flesh in that mini-skirt. #stupid 
   

5. People who chew food – gobble it down! You may not be able to relate but I think chewing food is overrated. You can just swallow it down. After all, pythons do it and live - therefore, so can you! So the next time you’re eating that plate of beans, don’t chew. Just swallow. You’ll be amazed when it comes out in whole bits at the other end. Works for me every time. I stay smiling. (disclaimer: I don't actually just swallow food. I chew on occasion

6. People refusing help when they clearly need it. Some people have real problems, I tell ya. Sometimes these people are random strangers you meet or they could be friends/acquaintances that could use a helping hand in some way. But oftentimes they turn down all support offered to them. I often wonder if its pride, but then I know it’s stupidity. If you need help. Get help. In fact, take help. But they gently refuse and continue struggling on. Let me share this story from work. My colleague had some trouble with an excel spreadsheet that was taking him hours to fix and wasting valuable time. I tried to offer help but he wouldn’t accept, saying he would figure it out. Ok now. Fast-forward 4 hours later, why did my manager assign the same file to me to finish? My colleague struggled for nothing without success. I’m not sure, maybe he thought as a man he could figure it out by himself (intitutively, ofcourse). Or maybe he was thinking “what can this black woman teach me that i can’t find on google?” Oya, find it now? No, he couldn't!. See wasted effort.

7. People chooking* up randomly. You may include raw chookers in this category. For chrissakes, why do some people think they’re immune to gonorrhoea or syphilis? Or even HIV? It baffles me. In this era of female assertiveness and equality, some ladies have simply chosen to forget self-restraint and decency. It’s not every man that gives you attention, takes you shopping or buys you dinners that you’ll open leg for. And for guys as well, it’s not every randy thought that pops in your head that you must kpansh away. My mother always said that the biggest remedy to unwanted (or unfulfillable) sexy thoughts is to ignore them. You read right. You CAN ignore it. Same thing with people who pick up at the club, um...don’t?! #nasty. In the end, people will do what they want. So if you do chook up, please condomize your life! 

*Chooking: sexing, f**king, kpanshing, 

Nike & HIV/AIDS

This is one reasons why I applaud large multinational corporations, like Nike; it's their ability to reach a wide public base with their advertising and popular campaigns. So today is not one of those days to chant "Down with Capitalism, Down with the Man" instead I will showcase this powerful video.

We're almost at the mid-week hump, hope you are being productive with your time.



Smooches,

Anya

Stylish and Versatile Blogger Award

This trending stylish and versatile blogger award was given to me by Third World Profashional and Mamuje. As part of the fun, I'm required to:


1) Thank the blogger that gave you the award.


2) Then list 7 things about yourself.


3) Give out the same awards to 15 other bloggers.


4) Then contact them.

So here goes nothing:

I will start off by thanking Miss 3rdWP and Mamuje for bestowing upon my blog this wonderful honour, it's lovely, thank you dolls. *hugs*

Seven Things about Me: 

1. I will start with by sharing some not so flattering things about myself. I have narcissistic tendencies. With my strong sense of perfectionism comes many flaws, like narcissism and a desperate attempt to control outcomes, feelings, and other uncontrollable things. As a result, I am frequently unhappy about the outcome of things, especially when they don’t go the way I envision. These days, I am learning to let go and let God.



2. I also have snobbish tendencies. Do you see how I did not say I’m a snob? I only display some tendencies. And I don’t do this out of a sense of elitism or an unreal sense of self-importance. It’s just that sometimes I fear being uncomfortable and will stay away from uncomfortable situations by any means possible. So for example, if my friends were going to a social event that required too much mingling, I won’t go. Not because I’m too posh to mingle, but if it’s not my scene (i.e. something I’m really into)  and I suspect that it will be uncomfortable and I would rather not go.


3. I am aging prematurely. Let me explain. I’ve noticed that my classic taste for the finer and simpler things in life is not in vogue with my peers. This applies to what I eat, how I dress, what movies I love, and what activities I enjoy. Although I’m 23, I am generally more comfortable with people in their early to mid-thirties. My friends often say I should seize my youth and live in the now. But I have no idea what that even means. I have no interest in wearing ripped leggings and bohemian gladiators in the name of youthful exuberance. Moccasins and shorts are more up my alley. But I can’t deny experiencing a sense of loss when I hear those comments about my fleeting youth. Please share your thoughts: what exactly do 23 year olds do? What do they wear? How do they stay young?


4. I am in love with a man who loves me back and is incredibly smart and handsome and fabulous. But I can’t help thinking; it’s all too good to be true. What is up with that mentality that something this wonderful could happen to me? Damn it, I know I deserve a man who is smart and handsome and fabulous. Every day, I’m learning to live in the moment.


5. So on to more frivolous details about my life. People tell me I’m very nice and thoughtful. Before I used to think it was a weakness. That made me cautious and always on guard because I didn’t want people to take advantage of my generosity. But over time, I’ve come to realize and appreciate that being nice and thoughtful are actually good things, go figure!


6. I am too curious for words!  I like to think google was made for me! There’s nothing that I want to know about, that I won’t find out about. The only enigmas that I haven’t cracked are algorithms and God. Algorithms; because I have the attention span of a goldfish for mathematics. And God; because God is unfathomable.
 
7. Sometimes I wonder why I blog. If you haven’t noticed, my postings on this blog have been few and sporadic. I know I say I will post more entries, more often; but most times I would rather just read other blogs and comment than post one of my own. Does this make me selfish? lazy? bored? I don’t know or probably a combination of all those things. But I no longer know why I’m doing this . Sometimes I think, perhaps, if I wasn’t posting anonymously, I would have a stronger commitment to this space. But I won’t go public here. I’ve already shared too much about my real life. Maybe I need to turn a new leaf and start a new (un-anonymous) blog all together. We will see.



And there you have it, seven random things about my life. The instructions for this meme say to tag 15 people. That is serious work. So since this meme has gone around blogville a fair bit, and I’m filling it out quite late - if you haven’t done it and you’re reading this post: consider yourself TAGGED!


And happy belated Valentine's day folks! I hope you laughed, got some good nookie, and ate more than your fair share of sweets. I know I did two of the above ;)

Best Blogs for African Studies Students

If you are an African enthusiast who enjoys reading about the Continent, check out these links here.

Woe is Me

Today my Uterus is not cooperating with me.

self-explanatory.

full-stop.

Winter Boots

...because winter fashion is hard and that eskimo look is not sexy.

It can be hard to stay sexy in this Canadian winter with all that much need layering and padding. And don't forget the icy-roads and sidewalks and slush (oh my!).  But my Fashionistas, we have to remind ourselves that winter fashion is possible, winter fashion can be practical and winter fashion is fun!

I've been searching for boots for a while now and since Winter is almost over (only 3 more months to go!) winter styles at the mall have started going on sale. So y'know your girl is looking to get something cute. I found these boots from Aldo and Nordstrom. As usual, the nordstrom bootie is a bit pricey but they're all très cute! As you will see, I'm a big fan of the brown, because I feel black shoes look too serious and formal. I like to keep it casual-chic. Check out the boots and share your thoughts!

Michael Kors 'Carlie' Faux Fur Bootie - $194

Aldo Buzzelli Mid-calf boot - $104.99

Aldo Wootan Ankle Boot - $140

Aldo Rubio Ankle Boot - $90.99

..for the colorful fashionista. Heck, I would rock it!



Aldo Horio (black suede) - $62.99

Back to Africa

­­We live in a society where no matter how bright you are, the circumstances of your birth determine how well you do, except of course if by some miracle you find yourself in government where plunder is the only option. This has got to be the only place on earth where honesty is derided as foolishness and theft and plunder are celebrated. This is a place where we don’t, as a matter of course, groom thinkers and philosophers or scientists and inventors; a place where patriotism is the last word on anyone’s lips, not surprisingly because it is difficult to feel fervour and passion for a place, which kills dreams and hopes.

 -Kadaria Ahmed  in Observations: The lesson from the North (10/01/11)

Culled from 234next, Opinion Editorial 

These are the kinds of stories I find in the news at a time when I`m thinking of my Exodus-cum-Exit Strategy to Nigeria. There are so many factors to consider in this exodus... 

Will I find work

Will I find pay

Will I find play

Will I find convenience

Will I find happiness

Where is my future heading?

After living in the West for almost a decade, I have become accustomed to this culture, norms, values and general way of life. So a few days ago when my folks said to me  ­­­ 'start thinking about coming back home', ask me why I experienced shock, panic, anger...? But believe me, I consider myself very patriotic, I love my Country. But I don`t like what it does to dreams, hopes, and aspirations.

You know how people say, `hard work pays` - well, that is not necessarily the case in my Country. Hard work does not always pay. The system is not in equilibrium. You can work for 35 years as a Public Servant and end up with no pension.  Your altitude in life is dependent on luck and chance, if anything. My Country is not a welfare state. I have seen homeless former veterans, who became amputated during my Country`s civil war and  various heroic `save-them` missions in West Africa. These individuals have nothing to show for it...unless you`re a top general living in the Hills. The average low-rank former veteran is broke, lining up monthly at a window scrapping to collect any semblance of a pension package. 

My people, with this kind of treatment, why should I surrender and run back to the unopen arms of my Country. Think: a lover forsaking all and running back to unrequited love, please why bother?  

Let me know your thoughts. 

P.S: I am not a fashion designer or any of those entertainment/celebrity-like things that many Western graduates have gone back to do in my country. Don`t get me wrong; I believe everyone has their part to play. But I am a glasses-doning, Political Economist yuppie, living and working in a capital city.  How can I surrender all of this for a high dose of uncertainty?

Welcome 2011

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm ready for you 2011...bring it on.

I encourage you to envision the best for your life this year. Dream big, act on it, and see where it takes you.

Here's to new beginnings and a fresh lease on life.

Happy New Year!