tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296556552024-03-14T10:46:59.617+03:00My Fish BowlLolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-53655688182050201112009-11-02T20:39:00.002+03:002009-11-02T20:47:14.496+03:00Welcome BackAhhh....I'm working on some website stuff and decided to come test it on the old blog and here I am again! I started reading and just realized, well I miss THIS blog :(<br /><br />So what's been gwaning peeps? Howz everyone been? In blog world and out?<br /><br />I've just been hanging around jare. I came back from Switzerland, took my GMAT, did alright but not as good as I would have liked. The thing just tire me jare. Plus I've been focusing on my business, family, and life generally. Oh I've got great and fabulous news for anyone who'd like to hear????<br /><br />Ok, ok, hold your horses>>><br /><br />I'M GETTING MARRIED!<br /><br />yes oh, yours truly is getting married to the love of her life. my boyfriend of less than a year (yikes!) proposed to me and I agreed to his proposal, lol. We are going to be married next year and so of course the flurry of planning that wedding is also upon me. Crazy that. <br /><br />I don't know how I should describe being engaged. I feel like I'm watching another person's story unfold right before my eyes but everything is so familiar. Sometimes I can't believe it and pinch myself, as in, o'girl, na u oooo. Lol. Like sometimes I stare at my boyfriend and it's like i'm staring at my very own fairytale, and y'all thought fairytale's don't come true lol. We'll see sha, I hope to blog about it. But y'all know how I am with this blog now....<br /><br />What else is going on?<br /><br />Hmm, maybe I should wait till tomorrow when I'm less busy to continue all the gists. I promise I will be back. I miss this ol' fish bowl ;o)<br /><br />love, peace, and hairgrease y'all!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-24070744316926641922009-06-08T03:13:00.002+03:002009-06-08T03:24:28.706+03:0020 Kids, 20 YearsThere's a saying that "20 kids cannot play for 20 years". I love this statement/proverb so much. The first time I heard it was in Yoruba from my mom so I don't really know if it's actually a Yoruba proverb translated or vice versa. Still, it's so apt. <br /><br />I always say to anybody that will listen, my best friends today are those friends that I knew while in college. For some reason, they're looking to buck the 20 kids/20 years proven proverb. These guys are all one in a million. Over the years we've laughed, we've cried, we've fought, we've loved, we've pretty much been with and supported each other true a myriad of emotions. These guys are the one that increasingly, I find myself running back to whenever I want to have a REAL conversation. I can't say how much I appreciate their love and kindness. The older I get the more I realize that real true friends, who want the best for you always, who know you inside and out and accept you and love you for who you are, are really, really rare gems. One of my closest friends of this bunch I havent even seen in years, but still there's nothing like that one hour conversation where you just run through the entire list of happenings and before you even say one thing or the other, they just get where you're coming from. Gosh, I'm so blessed to have these people in my life.<br /><br />Now back to that proverb up there. You're probably wondering ok, so what's the connection then. Well I think the conneciton for me is that people move in and out of your life very quickly. Most don't want to bother to see you, I mean really see you. If you have 20 kids on a playground it is very very unlikely that those children as they grow older and "wiser" will learn to appreciate and love each other more. Rather it's the opposite. As they know each other more, their human flaws come out with claws. Life throws us all together in the wash and by the time we get our bearings we're all a little washed out.<br /><br />Either way, I thank God immensely for those friends I made in college who years later are still sticking by me, caring about me, and renewing my faith in friendships. I'm lucky to have them.Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-59835818931393670262009-05-30T23:51:00.003+03:002009-05-31T01:11:03.932+03:00YAY!!!Hello people! or person as the case may be! <br /><br />So I finally figured out how to change the template.....YAHOOOOOOO! you guys don't know how long i've been trying to change the bloody thing. sheesh. At times, I'm just so....chuffed about me doing you know, technically, computerish things. Like i'm so not there. So now that i've finally figured out this thing, soo happy with myself! <br /><br />One of the reasons I decided to take another crack at changing the template is that I'm gonna start another blog!..........ooooh I can hear you exhaling that i don't even update this one, how can I attempt another one??? Well the other blog is going to be a bit different to this one. I was inspired by a fellow blogger who has since quit blogging but essentially every other blogger out there writing about their relationships and their lives. I've always wanted to blog about my relationships but they (the exes lol) have always somehow found their way here so I just never did in case someone randomly came to this blog and then start beefing me. I can't have that. Soooo i've thought about starting a new one since then. Now I will. I won't share the address or link, you'll just have to find me and guess which one out of the million ones out there is Lola!!! :o) I'm actually soo excited about the new blog!<br /><br />Don't worry, I'll still be posting as regularly as I can on this one so i'm not giving up on it yet!<br /><br />*************** <br />Still en vacance/study break and I'm afraid i'm not very productive yet. I mean I've started studying and all but it's like i know nothing all over again!! This is gonna be so hard. Today I wanted to study but a friend dragged me out and then by the time we came back I had just eaten and had the --itis so then just decided to veg out and watch Brothers & Sisters (which is so fab by the way!). So I pray tomorrow I can get back to studying again :o( :o(<br /><br />Till then....Ciao bebes!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-33957547937885712192009-05-25T19:56:00.003+03:002009-05-25T20:27:31.046+03:00Staying FaithfulTo my blog that is! So many times during the day for weeks now I experience somehting or something comes across my mind and I just know i have to blg about it. But it seems, i'm afraid, that that's where it all ends. I think it, and in my head I've put it away and it just never quite seems to come to fruition. Some days it's just that I'm trying to write about something i've not written about before, or just a new experience or something. No one wants to hear complain complain complain. <br /><br />You see, for those who have been following my blog from time immemorial, you'll have been following the journey of coming to Nigeria, working at a multinational that hadn't a clue how to properly repatriate a Nigerian, then to another organization that quite admittedly I didn't blog to much about (if at all) and then to where I am right now: an entrepreneur. Well, maybe I'm entering a new phase of it all yet again, so maybe its the right time to pick up blogging again. Okay, drumrollllllllllllll: <br /><br />The truth is I'm tired of Nigeria.<br /><br />Well let me explain. No i'm not tired of NEPA (what exactly is a PHCN) or traffic or LASTMA (per se) I'm just tired of the scenery and quite frankly the people. We have soooo much attitude ko? sheesh! You ask a simple question and because you have a slight accent (that in reality doesn't even really belong anywhere), what you get is so much attitude and rudeness. A lot of people go out of their way to just pull, tear, you down. But this post is not a bitchy post lol.<br /><br />So I've decided to take a break.<br /><br />I'm leaving the country for a little bit and heading to Switzerland for a wee bit. Why I hear you say??? Well, the opportunity came up and I just grabbed it with both hands (before the person offering the pad could change their minds quite frankly!). I'm so excited to be out of the country for a little while. I'm thinking maybe the time away would give me a freshened perspective of our dear beloved country. I miss bits and pieces already like facebooking and reading about people partying without me! That sucks lol. But mostly it's good. I walked home yesterday from the tube and I just felt really quite free and "loadless". It was nice not to be concerned (too much) about armed or otherwise dangerous thieves and to walk amidst the trees and all that and see people going about their business not giving a flying F what you're doing or wearing or kissing. lol. I wasn't kissing ooooo (not yesterday anyway) lol. I've also been taking just long leisurely walks through parks and eating "americana" food, lol. cheeses, smoked salmon, fresh tortellini's, greek food. YUM. and not actually breaking the bank on all these things. So fun times!<br /><br />Now let's not get ahead of ourselves oooo. I'm still coming home to Naij. So much to do there and I have my business, and my friends and family. <br /><br />*******<br />Okayyyy moving along....did anyone catch any of the <a href="http://www.lowlabunnie.blogspot.com/">Low</a> wedding shinding??? So nice and classy! Everything was done quite nicely and is possibly the best wedding I've seen in Naij. Usually Naija weddings are a NIGHTMARE for me (that's why i almost NEVER go to any). You have bride and groom sitting up on a stage somewhere looking just lost tired and like they've woken up in twilight zone with parents and all other strange "family" buzzing about in like a cacophony of colours and textures. MAD. who wants to do all that stuff???? sheesh. In my dreams I pray so fervently for like a nice quite ceremony at a small chapel with like maybe 10-20 peeps in attendance and then after like a fun dinner party in a garden like atmosphere where alcohol and laughter flows. But being Nigerian...........hmm....I better keep praying lol. What's with Nigerian parents anyway................but I digress sha. Lola looked lovely and relaxed and everyone looked like they were enjoying it so kudos to her for keeping it all together and beautiful!!!<br /><br />************Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-36657908960210584972009-03-03T16:05:00.002+03:002009-03-03T16:14:21.791+03:00Jamming WAZOBIAOk, so I read the last post I just posted and also scrolled down and noticed all I've been talking about recently (relatively now, free me!) is entrepreneurship and depression....all important but boring topics lol! sorry, i can't help it. But to compensate, I was reading <a href="http://studio5i.blogspot.com">OluwaDee's</a> blog and something jumped out at me: WAZOBIA!!!<br /><br />Boy in the last few weeks i've been so crazy about the station ooo. To me it's the best station (along with Top Radio 90.9 of course hehehe...) around these parts. There's no other place to get the news for sure. I listen to Yaw in the morning then Matse in the afternoon and I can just stay engaged for hours and hours and hours. These guys are really good. For those that don't know what i'm talking about, WAZOBIA is essentially a radio station that broadcasts in pidgeon english. It's for the common man on the streets but the thing is I find the programming so relevant to Lagos life. The guys there are always discussing issues that matter, with none of the phoneee high-falluting crap you hear from the other stations. Thing is, even though YOU may not be listening to it, all your drivers, cooks, mayguards,etc are listening...and to me, that makes it the secret Advertising weapon for anyone who cares to reach the masses (and you should care after all). I'm confused to how come a large portion of manufacturers and co don't advertise on it.....we have such a chip on our shoulders in this country sha...<br /><br />WAZOBIA Fm...95.1 Take a listen! (even if the managers are racist Lebanese folks who have no regard for Nigerians in totality outside of the money they collect from our pockets but i'll digress here....)Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-69322203920526701522009-03-03T15:48:00.002+03:002009-03-03T15:57:08.649+03:00So You Want To Be An EntrepreneurSo You Want to be an Entrepreneur? (from Guy Kawasaki's speech) <br /><br />10. Embrace the unknown. <br />09. Don't ask people to do something that you wouldn't do. <br /><br />08. Focus on implementation. <br /><br />07. Don't be paranoid. <br /><br />06. Pursue entrepreneurship for the right reasons.<br /><br />...Happiness is temporary and fleeting. It should not be the goal of entrepreneurship. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]--><br /><br />Joy is the right goal. Joy, by contrast, is unpredictable. It comes from pursuing interests and passions that do not "obviously" result in happiness. It comes from building a great team, from family, from friends and inexpensive if not free things. <br /><br />05. Continue to learn. <br /><br />04. Be brief. <br /><br />03. Obey the absolutes. <br /><br />02. Play to win. <br />Play to win and don't let the bozos convince you to do anything less. Indeed, the more bozos tell you that you can't succeed, the more you may be on to something. <br /><br />Playing to win is one of the finest things you can do. It enables you to fulfill your potential. It enables you to improve the world and, conveniently, develop high expectations for everyone else too. <br /><br />And what if you lose? Just make sure you lose while trying something grand . <br /><br />01. Enjoy your family, friends, and colleagues before they are gone.<br /><br /><br />Forgive me guys, sometimes it seems that I just blog random things that don't make sense. Permit me to explain. At times, there are phases that I'm going throught that I think oh, it'd be wonderful for someone going through what i'm going through to just google it and land here! Some of you may remember my NYSC post, my PMDD post, and now here is my Entrepreneurship post.<br /><br />June last year (almost a year ago!!!) I embarked on an entrepreneurship journey (Marketing Consultant in Nigeria - sorry that again was for google, lol, ok, i'll quit now!) It's been such a crazy and unbelievable journey. Everytime someone asks me how it is, I always say a few things:<br /><br />1. It's more difficult and takes longer than you thought it was going to be when you first get in.<br /><br />2. It challenges you greatly. Every human flaw you have will be tested and highlighted. You just have to deal with it. <br /><br />3. There are no words to describe the feeling you get when you make your first buck. None. A fabulous sense of achievement that is so addictive, you plow through the next crazy difficult challenge just to get that high again.<br /><br />So what is real and practical about starting a business on your own??? You have to have passio and you must be dedicated. Keep going even after the steam is all out. Your dream IS ACHEIVABLE!<br /><br />Ciao bebes :o)Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-74712768652344490472009-02-19T17:39:00.002+03:002009-02-19T18:06:47.295+03:00So It Is.....Hey Y'all!!!!<br /><br />so happy new year, barka de sallah, or whatever else is applicable i guess. I haven't been on here in a bit but a lot has been going on. <br /><br />So...<br /><br />I got a boyfie yay!<br /><br />I got a business yay!<br /><br />I'm homeless....lol!<br /><br />it's just been hectic and when i really think about it, it's quite a lesson that i'm still standing somewhat.<br /><br />oh boy. life is a funny thing. I feel like i've done so much growing up in the last couple of months that it's amazing really. Every now and then I try to take a step back and just enjoy the view while i'm going through it. <br /><br />On Relationship<br />Relationships are hard my people. I never thought about it before but now that i'm in it, i can't believe how hard it is. Now i have a different appreciation for people in love and trying to keep the love alive, healthy, and well. It's all hard work really. In the past, I've just dated people who had very divided interests, to me i found that easy to manage, at least i was used to it. Now it's slightly different. I have an angel of a man though and I'm immensely greatful that if i have to go through this growing up phase then there's no one else i'd like to have as a partner through it all.<br /><br />On Business<br />I read something recently that said being an entrepreneur is "a lot harder and takes longer than you think when you first started". And that is the golden truth of entrepreneurship. And to do it in Lagos!!!! wow. It assaults all your senses and engages the core of who you are as an individual. If you have any flaws (and we all do) be prepared to have them highlighted at full force. Running BRENTT has been the most fulfilling, the most challenging thing i've ever done in my life. It's a constant commitment. Sometimes i think, wouldn't it just be easier to go to work at 9am and come back at 6pm, and call it a day??? not worry about anything else but that your bill better get paid by the end of the month. However, my business is the love of my heart. I love the business with every fiber of my being and I'm sooo dedicated to it. Everytime i think about other options, I feel like it'll be like turning my back on my favorite child. I LOVE BRENTT. I dream every second of the day of how my first offices would look like, how the staff would look like, i imagine how it would be to walk in on my first day and see BRENTT behind the receptionist desk. I dream of McKinsey coming to me and saying how much? Lord help me. Lord strengthen me. <br /><br />Ok that's it for now. Until next time....<br /><br />take care of yourselves...and each other!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-28886237972887136802008-11-06T17:35:00.001+03:002008-11-06T17:38:41.249+03:00TIS OF THEE.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhut6MNTdW1kb2AtZqGopwzgFrVLyihbbu4GMzhYDefgtKQQshIjqasolf_xVm57EFO9bg34x9-n8ORFO3Q2lSSjr6Eeb6qGxrrFDnP2OP6ftaogwNM6Uei1rJet97LXrwgzw/s1600-h/christina-aguilera-declare-yourself.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhut6MNTdW1kb2AtZqGopwzgFrVLyihbbu4GMzhYDefgtKQQshIjqasolf_xVm57EFO9bg34x9-n8ORFO3Q2lSSjr6Eeb6qGxrrFDnP2OP6ftaogwNM6Uei1rJet97LXrwgzw/s320/christina-aguilera-declare-yourself.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265553527963155842" /></a><br /><br />So much I want to say. I can't. Fear dey catch me (they have won). God Bless Nigeria oh!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-62303687079232684472008-11-05T21:15:00.004+03:002008-11-05T22:30:28.569+03:00CHANGE HAS COME!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wUT1WgHat6I&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wUT1WgHat6I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />On June 12, 2008, I wrote this post here: <a href="http://my-fish-bowl.blogspot.com/2008/06/this-post-is-inspired-by-nigerian-drama.html">Land That I Love...</a>. The irony of the day I wrote this post is not lost to me now (though I didn't think of it then). And why did I write it? It was an opportunity to share with others what America means to me. To share the good parts of America, the hope, the courage, the determination, the goodness, the HEART of the American people, of America. The world's confidence in the country was at an all time low and falling, and it seemed to everyone that the end of it all was finally here. America had finally been broken, the glory was gone. I have NEVER felt this way for good reason and I wanted to share indeed, what was true to me. America is not a superpower because it has money, but because it is determined, because it works hard, because it believes in a better tomorrow, because it has faith in its peoples, because it was founded by people who left their <strong>own</strong> homes, on the strength of their beliefs. And it is in all that, that no matter whether tomorrow says China, or India, or South Africa, the country will always STAND.<br /><br />Excuse me if I go on today. If i tend towards the hyperbolic today. Yesterday, i witnessed something great. ONE man, changed the world. <br /><br />For me it means many things. In my past life I've lived as an African American. I've felt the struggles of our heroes, MLK, Medger Evers, Rosa Parks, Emmett Till. I've been outraged at Amadou Diallo, at Sean Bell just two years ago. I've listened to Billy Holiday's "Strange Fruit", taken exams on the outrage when Teddy Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House. I've read on Jim Crow laws, and the law that one american black man was worth just 3/5ths of a white one. What a full circle. I've known civil right fighters locked up and hosed down. Four little black girls killed in Alabama for being black. I read of Sally Hemmings who had children for George Washington, whose children where ignored and denied. 221 YEARS of hope. 221 years of an unbroken spirit. The Lord showed it to Martin Luther King. He dreamt of it. He dreamt and the thousands present at that rally wept at the beauty of that dream. That one day, black boys and black girls would hold hands with their white counterparts, and carry a nation as brothers. 221 years that has been impossible.<br /><br />I saw it last night.<br /><br />And what of Barack Obama. A stubborn man. A determined man. A courageous man. Who dared to think the impossible, possible. His message means so much to the world. We are one people, and we too can change the world. No matter who you are, what your circumstances are, it is in you, it is in all of us, to dream, to change our world. What a message. <br /><br />I think of an African man who left his home like many of our parents, to be denigrated, and from the ashes of all the struggles and sacrifice, his son rises to lead the United States of America. It is even too much to think what this means for even our children.<br /><br />I think of this new generation. My generation whose time has arrived. This is the leader my generation has chosen. In this circle of life, my generation has said enough to the old and stood up to make their voice ring out throughout the world. It is a new morning really. This morning the baton was passed to this new generation. I too feel empowered and ready to take the stage.<br /><br />Lastly, and most passionately I think of Nigeria. Change is coming my people. Change is coming. I think of when I moved in 2006. I myself wasn't too clear on why, what, and how but once I started living, I could no longer be confused. Forget every other reason, but when repats move back, they bring back everything good they've learned from elsewhere. They demand for customer service, they demand for respect, they demand modernity, they challenge the status quo, they demand for change. That's the important reason to go back to Nigeria. I think of the strides since then, now in 2008. And even more still, people are coming back home. The whole US election campaign of the president-elect has been based on change. In Nigeria we are so used to people telling us we can't. People believe in so many can'ts. But we can. Truly we can. Even in little strides. In basic challenges, the hope is lighted anew. Are we the ones we've been waiting for? Can we, can all of us effect the change we've been waiting for?<br /><br />I've heard this morning, that we celebrate the re-birth of idealism, waking up to new possibilities. Change is gonna come.Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-69220140363264654052008-09-07T13:23:00.002+03:002008-09-07T13:49:59.467+03:00Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)why am i blogging about this??? cause I can dammit!!!! lol...also cause it maybe can help someone out there.<br /><br />I've always just said to people, "oh, i get emotional when on my period" or "i'm highly hormonal i think, depending on my cycle". I've noticed "hyper-emotionality" for some time now and really i just thought, well it's just one of those things. The first time I noticed this was back in college. My roommate, her boyfriend, and I were watching the movie Chocolat and throughout to the end of the movie, I was just crying and crying. My roommate was like.....oooookay.....! Even to myself I was wondering why it moved me soo much and the only answer that came to me was that I was on my period so maybe it's the hormones and that was that. <br /><br />But lately it has gotten worser and worser still. I just noticed that I get seriously depressed, I recoil into myself, i feel overwhelmed and interrupted sleeping patters. I started to worry because it just seemed to envelope me somehow. The last time I wrote about a "dark cloud" was during this period. You just feel hopeless and helpless and continue to sink deeper and deeper still. Last month I realized it was intense and even had suicidal thoughts and that's when it really began to scare me. I could tell it was hormones wrecking a havoc on my mind but you just can't seem to get out of it. It starts maybe a week before your period is supposed to start, but once it does, it just goes away and dissolves. I've been going through this cycle, and I just started to worry myself. What is this thing? It was starting to feel serious and I had to frantically call some friends of mine to talk to them about how I was feeling before sink deeper and deeper. <br /><br />As I'm writing this, I think I'm writing from just 1hour of sleep overnight. My mind was just rushing here and there and I couldn't get it to just slow down so I could sleep. Yesterday night I just felt so down and unlike myself and then this morning those thoughts came again and I thought....no, this isn't normal. So I get up and google and this is what I've found:<br /><em><br /></em><em><blockquote><p><em>Twenty to fifty percent of women between the ages of 30 to 40 with regular<br />menstrual cycles experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as a regular<br />physiological occurrence every month. In more severe cases, affecting three to<br />five percent of menstruating women, this syndrome is labeled as </em><a href="http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/women_7.asp#pmdd" target="_blank"><em>premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)</em></a><em> . Patients<br />with severe PMDD are at risk for developing </em><a href="http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/postpartum_depression.asp" target="_blank"><em>postpartum depression</em></a><em>. Furthermore, women<br />successfully </em><a href="http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/treatment/antidepressants/index.asp" target="_blank"><em>treated with antidepressants</em></a><em> often show<br />breakthrough </em><a href="http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/definition.asp#symptoms" target="_blank"><em>symptoms of depression</em></a><em> in the premenstrual phase<br />of their menstrual cycle. All that is needed is a small increase in the dosage<br />of the antidepressant premenstrually.<br />PMDD Symptoms<br />Women with PMDD complain of irritability, anger, tension, marked depressed mood, and mood lability (crying spells for no reason, verbal outbursts, or tantrums ) to such a severity that quality of life is seriously compromised. In addition to these symptoms, some women complain of lethargy, sleep disturbance, limited concentration and a host of physical symptoms such as breast tenderness,<br />headaches, joint and muscle pain, bloating and weight gain.<br />The primary symptoms that distinguish premenstrual dysphoric disorder from other mood disorders (i.e., </em><a href="http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/women.asp#major%20depression" target="_blank"><em>major depression</em></a><em>) or menstrual conditions is the<br />onset and duration of PMDD symptoms -- with symptoms appearing during the week or so before and disappearing within a few days after the onset of menses -- and the level by which these symptoms disrupt daily living tasks. (This diminished<br />level of functioning is generally in great contrast with the same woman's<br />interactions and abilities at other times during the month.)<br />The symptoms of PMDD may resemble other conditions or medical problems, such as a thyroid condition, depression, or an anxiety disorder. Consult a physician for<br />diagnosis.</em></p><p><br />Over the course of a year, during most menstrual cycles, five or more of the following symptoms must be present:<br />1. depressed mood<br />2. anger or irritability<br />3. difficulty in concentrating<br />4. lack of interest in activities once enjoyed<br />5. moodiness<br />6. increased appetite<br />7. insomnia or hypersomnia<br />8. feeling overwhelmed or out of control<br />9. other physical symptoms<br />10. symptoms that disturb social, occupational, or physical functioning<br />11. symptoms that are not related to, or exaggerated by, another medical condition</p><p><strong>What is the Difference Between PMS and PMDD?<br /></strong>The physical symptom list is identical for PMS and PMDD; while the emotional symptoms are similar, they are significantly more serious with PMDD. In PMDD, the criteria focus on the mood rather than the physical symptoms. With PMS, sadness or mild depression is not uncommon. With PMDD, however, significant depression and hopelessness may occur; in extreme cases, women may feel like killing themselves or others. Attributing suicidal or homicidal feelings to “it’s just PMS” is inappropriate; these feelings must be taken as seriously as they are in anyone else and should be promptly brought to the attention of mental health professionals.<br /></p><p>Women who have a history of depression are at increased risk for PMDD. Similarly, women who have had PMDD are at increased risk for <a href="http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/women_7.asp#menopause" target="_blank">depression after menopause</a>. In simplest terms, the difference between PMS and PMDD can be likened to the difference between a mild headache and a migraine</p></blockquote></em><p>This is exactly how it feels! I'm just so glad I googled this. They say to take Vitamin B Complex, Magnesium, and Vitamin C....so I'll be trying that for the next couple of months and let's see. Hopefully this will curb the PMS depressions. </p><p>Does anyone else go through this? I just thought it'd be important to post so any others who are out there can acknowledge or take note of this kind of thing so they know how to deal with it.</p>Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-16941372525577631342008-08-13T13:29:00.000+03:002008-08-13T13:37:14.754+03:00Lessons So Far - On Entrepreneurship<p>First guys, I want to thank you guys so much for leaving encouraging comments. I’m not sure you’ll fully understand how much they help me. I appreciate all the love and advice cuz somedays it’s just that much harder to follow through but then I truly wouldn’t want to let any of you down!! So thanks again!<br /><br />Now I’ve been thinking about some of the lessons I’ve learned so far on this journey. It’s been interesting because it’s not at all what I thought it’d be like. It’s quite a different world, sometimes I feel like I’m living in an undercover world I never get to see while sitting at a desk at your 9-5 job. But anyways, here are some lessons:<br /><br /></p><ol><li>Surprisingly one of the hardest things to get used to is the not waking up in the morning and going to the office. Or sitting in a boardroom in a meeting while someone prepares coffee or something like that. As an entrepreneur, meeting is anywhere, and work is everytime! This is actually VERY challenging for me as I’m always feeling like a slacker. It takes repeating it to myself over and over again like a mantra: “I’m trying to build something here”. <br /></li><li>You do everything, everytime. It sounds clichéd cuz you always hear people say it but you don’t really get it until you have to go meet with client, come back type proposal, develop your ad, give ad material to communication vehicle, go pick your cards from the printer, write contracts, speak with your lawyer, etc. all in a day’s work!<br /></li><li>Entrepreneurship is like school. (school of the hard knocks lol). But really it is like school because you have to know your sh--. You have to know your apples from your bananas and how do you do that? You research and research and research and read and read. Then you have to apply yourself. Except this time your grades are not printed on a paper and handed to you with a pat on the back at the end of the year. You get them in you bank account. A D grade = no money = you’re gonna drop out soon my friend!<br /></li><li>As an entrepreneur you’re constantly thinking in the future, and I think as an employee, you’re constantly thinking in the now. That’s a different orientation that I have to be conscious of changing. As an employee you’re worried about THIS project, and THIS work your boss gave you, and THIS year’s performance review…etc. As a self-employed businessperson you’re thinking, how will what I’m doing now translate 2, 3 years from now? <br /></li><li>I cannot explain the feeling of fulfillment you get when you see your project implemented in the real world. When you see 4 young men, working, making an income because of your project or your brainchild. It is so fulfilling. Yesterday as I was just about to go to sleep, you know that time period where you’re kinda almost dreaming already but you’re kinda awake, it felt like I had a dream where I actually commissioned a market research project and people are actually out there, answering it, and I felt this sense of pride, and then it occurred to me, I wasn’t actually dreaming, it was REALLY happening. The feeling is amazing.<br /> </li></ol><p>So I think that’s it so far, I really want to take the time and ruminate more but I have so much work to do and on days like this where my focus is 110%, the less distractions the better. But you get my drift.<br /><br />Ciao bambinos!</p>Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-44219362412212547992008-08-08T19:29:00.002+03:002008-08-08T19:55:36.490+03:00Rainmaker, Rainmaker....I'm sitting at a bar....trying to plan a project i'm sooooo dedicated to. I guess I'm just not a good communicator like I want to be cause I can't seem to convey the same belief, hardwork and commitment to this project from others. It's quite a daunting project but I just wish people would see something and just truly belief in the potential rather than trying to humor me.<br /><br />I know it's hardwork but truly there's money there. But i feel people are more interested in the easy type of money making....the looking for godfathers and godmothers to just rain the money on them...and for that they are willing to go all lengths. Not that I'm condemning that but I'm just not used to that. I'm not used to not believing in things. I'm not used to not believing I can achieve ANYTHING (my last post notwithstanding lol). I'm my own rainmaker dammit!!!! why do I have to move to the whims of some egoistic, small-minded people. To me that always limits your achievements.<br /><br />Aaargh, i'm just frustrated.<br /><br />I hate Lagos sometimes. I hate Nigeria sometimes.<br /><br />Just open your minds............jeeeeeez! be creative and work!<br /><br />I don't care who your father is.<br /><br />I don't care if Puff Daddy has done that project before. (not the case here lol)<br /><br />I don't care if I have to go and suck Fashola's middle toe.<br /><br />I don't care if it's never been done before.<br /><br />I just really believe that the great ones, the truly inspiring ones are the ones that write their own rules.<br /><br />I WILL BE MY OWN RAINMAKER BABY!!!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-85449053732983481192008-08-05T12:16:00.002+03:002008-08-05T12:42:47.572+03:00Follow FollowI'm in a weird place right now, just this very moment. It's like i have this negative cloud just perched behind me, monitoring my every move, trying to remind me that.....that....it's there.<br /><br />I can try and grab the bible and inject myself with a dose of faith and spirituality and God. Everything will be okay, God has ordained it so. <br /><br />Or I can try clicking refresh on facebook several times willing it, God, willing it to just show something new that would take my mind of that....that cloud.<br /><br />I can submit to it and go fully into depression mode.<br /><br />How did I get here? (situation, not existence!)<br /><br />Where am I going? <br /><br />Is this the right decision?<br /><br />Why Do I feel so out of water?<br /><br />Am I just being lazy and not looking for a proper job or do I really believe in what I'm doing?<br /><br />It's so intangible. Belief. How can I quantify it to anyone in explanation. Okay, I can have a job for Nx million or I have this belief that this is where i should go. Although right this minute it's more expenditure than income. This minute.<br /><br />It's not the job alone though. In my relationships, I feel like I may not be saying the right things to the right people the right way. Nothing is structured with emotions flying here there and everywhere. I'm the one who has walked away from those who loved her, loved those who did not love her and could not love those that did. Confused? <br /><br />Truly though, I feel like these are just demons, you know. Fighting these demons that's in my head, in my mind, in mind blood, telling me I cannot and will not achieve the things I want most to achieve. They are not real. I know. It's my fear. I know. But my fears are taking on lives of their own, pulling up cushions and lodging themselves in my consciousness. Why is this so important to me anyway?<br /><br />This fish is out of its fishbowl. I'm feeling a bit of fish outta the water. Me. The accidental entrepreneur. <br /><br />I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. Ever since I was little and decided I wanted to be a bigshot power business executive, I always dreamt of the top floor, corner office, wielding and dealing, but never wanted that top floor to be of my own building! In fact I used to always say while I was in college, "I'm not an entrepreneur", so I never took any of those classes. Nope. My dream was Fortune 500. Now look at me. The accidental entrepreneur.<br /><br />I'm just following the flow. Going wherever my feet is taking me and whatever seems to be the next logical step. Foot forward. But there's so much instability EVERYWHERE. I think it could kill me.<br /><br />I've been having panic attacks for the last 3 weeks and I'm afraid to face the fact that I know why. That I'm constantly checking, where is my paycheck gonna come from? And then I muster up some faith and stubborness, then pick up a bible......<br /><br />Something in me tells me, this is a growth period for me. It doesn't make it any less difficult. A line from one my favorite movies (Evita) says "sometimes it's difficult to keep momentum when it is you that you are following."<br /><br />So I'm testifying here with this post. It is difficult to follow yourself, your heart. <br /><br />He who has ears, let him hear.Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-1706932244517740572008-07-23T12:19:00.003+03:002008-07-23T13:40:39.236+03:00Vacay Week!<div>I'm sitting in my living room, no NEPA, and some sort of church service going on a couple of houses from me (it's wednesday morning o) and some thoughts are forming in my head right now:</div><ol><li>I don't go to church enough. I need to go more. My spiritual well-being is rooted in me going to church. I hate this feeling when I slip and I know I'm not where I should be.</li><br /><li>why o why do pentecostal churches in nigeria feel that it's okay not only NOT TO HAVE soundproof walls, but to go the extra measure and conduct the full service with loud speakers? WHY WHY WHY???? what exactly is the rationale and who are the dunces that go there and can't speak up to say look....this is wrong. What part of Christianity says disturb your neighbours, interrupt the peace and tranquility and more flock will come to you? I missed that part.....if you want to evangelize, abeg do it the old fashion way, pick up your birkenstocks and waka, abi? I mean what's the point? to reach those (like me) to lazy to get their big butts up? or to reach those lost souls??? either way, is loudspeakering the message the best way to do so??? methinks it's the lazy way....</li></ol><p>ah well...anyway...</p><p>My vacay break has been good thus far jare. At one point though, maybe today, I'll have to sit down and re-evaluate my plan for my business (marketing consulting - shameless plug, sue me!). I've finally gotten what we all say we never have - enough time - so i have to do this the proper way. the last two days have just been haphazard but we have to get down to bi'ness soon. I'm so excited at the prospect of working on my own and so proud of myself that yet again, I've crossed a border where FEAR resides for most people and I'm gonna conquer it. After, I'll have such a story to tell...........my motto this year is "Leave it to me and I'll be living proof". This motto means so much to me. One of my constant objectives in life is to push through the walls and ceilings we all build around ourselves, our lives, to show that really and truly, nothing is impossible. Our mind is the only barrier. </p><p>If you say, "how i wish I could....." I say why not? go out and do it! the world won't fall. Trust me. We all must conquer fear. That's the only thing that separates you from the life of your dreams.</p><p>*******</p><p>Now ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, i don't usually give life advices (my rant up there notwithstanding) but please I have a golden nugget of truth to share with you this morring. He who has ears let him ear o...ehen:</p><p><em>No matter how rich you are, no matter how powerful you are, no matter how influential you are, there are two things you should <strong>NEVER, EVER</strong> buy the following two things...</em></p><ol><li><em>Love</em></li><li><em>Sex</em></li></ol><p>These two things are free. As free as the air you breathe in, i would even say freer. Let me explain myself. It's simply a bad investment. If what you want is sex, ecstasy, orgasm, cuddling, kisses, etc, trust me when i say there are many folks out there who would give you all of that, free of charge so why pay? Even worse, the person you're paying knows this fact, and knows that this is just an awoof opportunity, so they try to milk you dry before you realize you just paid for something you coulda had for free. Now if what you want is LOVE, you should realize that if that other person truly truly loved you, the kind of love that you romanticize and therefore want to pay for, if they really loved you like that, they'd do it for FREE. you don't even have to be or do anything but be yourself. In fact, they will cling to you as you would be their very breathe, the person would wake in the morning and think of you first thing and want to be with you. That's love my dears, and it's absolutely free.</p><p>So don't get suckered. Remember, i didn't say money/influence/power CAN'T buy you love, it probably can, but why buy something that's free? </p><p>I've seen too many people (and i'm watching one unfold right underneath my eyes...) that sweat and huff and puff with so much effort to pay for someone's love and affection and at the same time, that person is giving it for free to someone else. Be Careful.</p><p>***********</p><p>Last but not least.....preparations are under way.....finally the most anticipated Nigerian album is about to be launched.......what am i talking 'bout???</p><p>The One, The Only, African Micheal Jackson, Koko-Master himself, THE ENTERTAINER.............</p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">DBANJ!!!!!!!!</span></strong></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 363px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="267" alt="" src="http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v261/81/117/649210549/n649210549_1027492_1623.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="left">and who's gonna be all up in that ish?????? yerp (that's phonee for yep), ME!!!! Really I don't even know what to wear for this ish o, but i know i want to look HOT! I took my dress to the tailors yesterday but i don't know......i think i want to buy a back up dress too, just in case.....LOL! But this thing is gonna be hot sha....for sure I'll bring pics and FO SHO the Unrulies will be well represented.........</p><p align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">KIMON! LET'S GO..........WA GBA!</span></strong></p>Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-10962888103455866992008-07-18T14:06:00.003+03:002008-07-18T18:03:40.234+03:00An Ode To My Peeps...So as I was mulling over what to blog about, I was typing a note to my friend on facebook and this idea just came to me. It's not that I don't have things to blog about, on the contrary, everyday, sometimes several times during the day I think to myself "I'm soooo blogging about this". But then I'm too busy during the day and then at night I just want to jump in my bed! But first things first...yea, I was typing a note to my friend Christopher - <a href="http://unrulyinc.blogspot.com/">an unruly of course</a> - and for some reason the name Christy came to mind and I remembered my grandma used to call my dad's driver back then Christy. She didn't speak too much english but she got along well with Bro.Chris or Bon Chris as we used to call him(lol) and I guess calling him Christy was her term of endearment....anyhoo, so I got to thinking hmmm.....I miss my grandparents, I don't have any alive anymore.....maybe I should blog about them, like an ode to my grandparents. So here we are!<br /><br />Grandparents are special! kinda magical even. They usually play such a key role in our childhoods and many of us remember them so fondly as adults. Many have stories of hidden stashes of sweets or biscuits their grandparent used to clandestinely give to them when parents weren't watching, or just generally remember jolly old "father and mother christmas-y" kinda figures. Like I said I don't have any living grandparents anymore (and 1 less parent, aren't u sad for me?) but I remember most of them very well. They say we live on through the eyes of our children so I guess through honoring them here, they live on.<br /><br /><strong><em>Granddad<br /></em></strong>My dad's father we called Granddad. He died in 1984 when I was just a wee lil lass. He's the one I have the least memories of but he arguably has the most impact on my life now out of all four. Granddad to me was a larger than life figure. Apparently when he was young he trekked from his hometown, Isara in Ogun State to Lagos state ON FOOT to come and do some real Lagos hustlin'...u know, that kin ting now. Anyhoo, I'm foggy on all the details but he ends up being a big distributor and invests in stock market and real estate and all of that. So he's successful sha.<br /><br />Granddad also had 4 wives and 14 kids, just 3 of them are girls so you can imagine a house full of rambuctious kids and apparently Granddad acted accordingly in order to deal with all these gende (men) in the house. Gist was he was quite clever and hmmm..........prudent with his money. You had to have a DAMN good reason to get money outta him, ESPECIALLY if he hasn't explicitly approved of whatever it is you're doing in your life, in all aspects of your life. LOL. So if he tells you not to marry someone and you do and he finds out, kai! no more money. for NATHING. lol. He was also apparently stubborn (now u know where I gots it from). But he was known for being a family man, as in when he was alive, he held everyone together and everyone behaved. My sis has memories of him telling her to come and she'd jump on his lap and he would call her his mother (my sis is Yetunde meaning mother comes back) etc. All my older cousins also have fun memories of hanging out with Granddad. He also apparently was fond of my mom and was very happy my Dad married her (my Dad was a rascal o! lol).<br /><br />My Granddad is the one i think I feel his spirit around me the most. I always feel he's watching over me and proud of me somehow...i don't know, i've always felt that since I was little. Especially when I need courage to do something, to move to nigeria, to run my company full time, I always always feel "well, my granddad did it, so it's in me and i'm gonna make it".<br /><br /><strong><em>Mama Bishop</em></strong><br />Mama Bishop is my Dad's mom and my Dad was kinda her favorite child. She was the first wife of Granddad and had SEVEN of his 14 kids!!!! so she was the queen bee in that household! She's was also somewhat of a Queen B--- oops.....okay okay, but she kinda was o! lol. So maybe that's where I got THAT side from LOL. Mama as she was fondly called got married to Granddad when she was just 15! so for me when I think of that I excuse a lot of the things she did and said because me i'm a woman too, and if my husband married 3 other wives apart from me and we were all living in the same household and I was 15 when I married the mofo, and essentially illiterate, then I might have done some of that ish too! Lots of stories are bound about Mama which for the sake of not tainting my own good name, i'll leave out from this blog...lol....suffice to say she was B-A-D sha and most of it i think were just rumours sha..lol. Mama wasn't very fond of my own mama and those stories are also abound....<br /><br />Apparently I look like Mama Bishop and she luuuuurved ME. lol. She used to call me Ibeji Mi (My Twin). The birthday party her kids threw for her, was it in 1992?!??? was and is still one of the significant events of my childhood. We shut down Bishop street and everyone boogied and partied and bulls...... lol. I just remember that the whole family had been preparing for this parry for a long, long time and all the grandkids wore the same outfit, and at the parry, the band was playing all kinds of grooves, played shina peters grooves and u know now...............................DANCING COMPETITION!!!! lol. That was a fun day! I also remember that Mama used to always kill a cow or goat or whatever during christmas and Ileya (Eid el Fitri i think) and her place was THE place to be! My last memory of Mama was the day before the entire family moved to Canada and we spent almost the entire day in Bishop (bishop street is the street she lived on in surulere). In the afternoon, Mama insisted on going into her room to get a picture of herself and gave it to my sister. She was crying and wiping her eye and was like "Am I ever going to see you kids again? Will I ever see you kids again in my life?". Even though I was little and didn't really get the emotion, I remember just being sad then. She never did see us again.<br /><br /><strong><em>Grandma</em></strong><br />Grandma was my Mom's mother. I have to say she's the one I have the least....connection to. I just remember her being a gentle spirit, a gentle soul. But we didn't really see her that much cuz my Mom's parents lived in Ibadan though they were very much a part of our lives. Maybe much of this is because my own Mom and Grandma were never too too tight so it's possible it translated on to us. Grandma was apparently a disciplinarian and strict too! She was extremely protective of her daughters I think cuz my Mom always complained that she was never allowed to do the things her twin brother did. There are certain sayings and Yoruba proverbs that my Mom says a lot and has passed on to us that I know where from Grandma. She was just that kind of woman, very upstanding, very traditional. One thing that is interesting is that she got married late (mid to late twenties i think which is old for her generation) and to a man who was 10 years her senior! I think she was the original independent woman jo! She and her husband ran many businesses but mostly, she kept a clothes store in Dugbe and my Mom has fond memories of the Dugbe Market days. I never saw the store sha, that era ended before me!<br /><br /><strong><em>Grandpa</em></strong><br />I think I've left the absolute best for last!!! Grandpa is my mother's father. I LOVE Grandpa. I always say this: the best man I've ever known is my grandpa. He was just phenomenal, kind hearted, gentle, wise, funny, intelligent, intellectual, open minded, generous, caring, God-fearing, faithful, everything good in the world sha, my grandpa was. My Mom LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED her father so much and they were very close, he in turn absolutely adored her. There's a family pic of my mom's when they were all little and while everyone was standing upright, my mom was leaning on her father's leg, looking so contented. My Mom called her father unfailingly every Sunday....we always knew whenever we heard "Papa Mi....Papa Mi.." that it was that time again lol. They loved each other and my Mom lost her father just 4months after losing her husband so you can imagine how tough.<br /><br />Grandpa was born 1910, can u imagine! He was the first son of a royal family of Odogbolu (Moloda) and was next in line but rejected the crown because of his religious beliefs. While i'm not particularly sure exactly what Grandpa trained as, I think it had something to do with Agriculture cuz he worked at the Agric Ministry for a looong time, he also owned a bakery for a loooong time, lol. He was also the first person to have a car in the town they lived in at the time so you know.....he was happening now, lol. Grandpa converted to Christianity and joined the Cherubim & Seraphim (C&S, Kerubu ati Serafu, K&S) Church and by the time of his death he was the Supreme Head of C&S Churches in Nigeria and Worldwide....meaning he was like Pastor Adeboye, but for C&S....kinda.<br /><br />I was always close to sha and again, maybe because of my Mom's relationship with him I always thought he was the most fabulous thing after sliced bread. Grandpa remembered EVERY SINGLE THING you ever tell him, and he'll ask you about it later, so if you said "Oh I joined the choir grandpa" whenever you talk to him he'll ask you about it which always made you feel connected to the guy cuz he always remembered. Also he was very patridge-y/cosby-ish so he was always happy with like cousins singing group, and grandkids association, etc. To say he was the patriach of the Osinowo family would be a gross understatement! He was like the don everyone respected and deferred to and everything. The pillar of strength for all those around him. A fountain of wisdom, love, and advice. He and his wife were married for 50 odd years and my sis said at grandma's funeral, he just sat there looking forlorn and lost and the next morning when she went to wake him up, he was curled up on HIS side of the bed while the other side (Grandma's side) was still neat and fresh. He was sad he had lost his partner of so many years.<br /><br />Grandpa knew everything o! and could read and read and read. He kept diaries since he was like young, wrote his family history, translated the C&S english hymnal to yoruba at like 80! The last time I saw him, he was like 90 and still had a mountain of books on his bed that he was currently reading. When we moved to Canada, I decided I was going to write him letters periodically and tell him how everyone was doing which I continued even till 2003/04. Grandpa cherished those letters and in 2004 when I saw he practically asked me about all those things I was writing!!! He was even asking my siblings questions about them and they were shocked, not knowing I had gisted him jo! lol. He was asking me about Quebec and whether I learnt French there since he always wanted to go there.....this is from a 90 year old man o! lol. I loved him so. Because of him I can never think all men are bad, or all people are bad or any of those kinds of thinkings we get from time to time, cuz I always remember my Grandpa was a good guy. A genuinely good human being. Because of him I will always feel connected to Odogbolu because it meant so much to him that we all remember where we came from.<br /><br /><br />Whew! There you have it - My Peeps! the ones whom I stand on their shoulders. Maybe one day my own grandkid would write something like this about me in the space blog or something that they'd have then...lol!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-31346735491647522462008-07-10T20:37:00.002+03:002008-07-10T20:55:49.423+03:00So High....git <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ur</span> mind outta the gutter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">jo</span>! :o) not high like ganja/vodka high. permit me to explain will ya?<br /><br />Heard a song today that just took me back. The song touched my soul o, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">kai</span>! I used to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">LOOOOOVE</span> this song. I would just put the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cd</span> in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">discman</span> after work in Boston, then trek the 15min to South Station to take the 6 Train home (to B-ROCK!) along with my fellow captives of the concrete jungle that is the Financial District, with power suit, pearls and Nike sneakers! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">lol</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Anyhoo</span>....whenever this particular song would come on, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">i'd</span> just get lost in it, in the emotions, in the words, and it would seem that I was floating towards the train station with no cares in mind.<br /><br />So I haven't listened to that song in forever! Maybe about 3 years? so imagine me randomly going through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">blogworld</span> and as the page is loading, the song just comes on unexpectedly....immediately it just went straight to my soul. straight. It's weird how that happens and I knew I would try and blog about the feeling because it was so real. Like if you remember the song that was playing when you got your first kiss and the song took away every emotion of the moment and kept it so that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">everytime</span> it played the harmonies paint the emotions exactly. <br /><br />Now what was this song??? just guess now................okay. okay. John Legend "So High"....of course! :o) Sometimes you don't know how deep a song is until you try to sing it and sing it with all the emotions of the singer and you realize you have to dig really dip to be able to match the tone. So High is that kind of a song. And then it brought all these feelings like:<br /><br />"Why have I given up on love?"<br /><br />The song sounds like a sweet song from another island to me, like a familiar but distant song. That made me sad. I've felt that kind of strong emotion and pull to someone before and I so badly want to feel that way again or want to believe I can feel that way again. That kind of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">exhilaration or to be so completely enamored by someone, to be so completely lost in someone. To look into someone's face and feel lust, and love, and admiration, and respect, and partnership, and safety, and joy ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Love is truly marvelous and I miss it.</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected"></span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Notice I didn't say relationship. I said love. Some would read this and say oh, Lola's talking about wanting a guy, but no, it's not about that. I can live 1000 years without a "relationship" but I can't live 10 years without love.</span>Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-70547677328969541792008-07-02T16:07:00.002+03:002008-07-02T16:47:08.819+03:00You Want A Piece of MeI'm hurt that none of it matters to you still<br />I'm hurt that everything makes perfect sense in your world<br />I'm hurt the way you look at her, and glance at her<br />I'm hurt that I sold myself out<br />I'm hurt that it's all so easy to you, I'm so easy to you<br />I'm hurt that you. just. let me go.<br />Just.<br /><br /><br />okay had to get that out! I think i've been selling my readers out for a bit. This blog was supposed to be as honest as possible as regards my experiences and sharing them with you guys but the truth is instead of writing from my heart and just putting it down, i start from who might be reading and then try and write something appropriate. But i'm not doing that anymore. My blog is my blog dammit! lol.<br /><br />My name is Lola and this is MY blog! wooooosaah!<br /><br /><br />So moving on....<br />UBP 0608 was a blast!!!!!! I love my bros and sis(s) i.e the UnRuLies sooo much. There was plenty food, plenty drink, and a beautiful beautiful beach house. We left from Ikoyi Boat Club to Ilashe Island which took like 25-30min! I think we did well with the scheduling and all even though in the morning the boat drivers were like running kabu kabu with our boats or something sheesh! The last boat got back to the boat club around 730-ish which was still alright....but no incidents whatsoever thank God! I've heard of some other folks who were getting beaten by snakes and boats capsizing and all that ish...............<br /><br />Anyhoo, thanks to the lucky 30! I was so knackered and hum............."high" enh, Monday morning at the office was killer! I had to actually go a 30min ride away to get a medium cup of Latte (since that was the only place around that sold the gaddamn thing!). My colleagues just didn't get the whole coffee/latte thing they were like "ehn so just buy Nescafe 3-in-1 now abi kini big deal?".........lol. For all of y'all that don't know 3-in-1 tastes like water with two granules of coffee. blah!<br /><br />*****<br />Ooooh, I don't know if many of you (3) readers are aware but I no longer work at Cadbury Nigeria Plc. I've complained so many times on here about all the goings on and I just finally decided I didn't want anymore. So now I work at a new mystery company. Everything is grand BUT...............<br /><br />The love of my life, my baby, my pride, BRENTT sits cooing beautiful, melodic sounds in my ear, drawing me to roll over to his side. I think I may. You may be wondering what/who BRENTT is but don't fret. I will do a proper introduction soon. I love BRENTT though and can't wait to drop everything and run to him/her/it.<br /><br />********<br />Relationships are still complicated. Sometimes I just want to close my eyes for 10 seconds, open them, look to my left and see this gorgeous chocolate man who loves me and is dedicated and committed to me and whom I love so much it hurts to the pit of my soul. I don't want to do the work of getting to this point however. All that relationship bruhaha, i don't want to do it. Just wake up and it's there. <br /><br />Bastard (of other posts fame) is communicating again. I wonder what the hell for. I mean even a vulture would sha fly away leaving the carcass abi? Bastard wants to watch the carcass disintegrate as well. anh anh..............why call me? Meanwhile he doesn't know I know ALL his shit, someone better tell him o! talking 'bout "what did i do to upset you so much?" Sheeesh!<br /><br />********<br />Why did I title this post "You Want A Piece of Me"? I've got Britney's song in my head and it just seems so appropriate to how I'm feeling right now about everything, especially work!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-50293913480593691882008-06-22T17:17:00.003+03:002008-06-22T17:28:05.535+03:00IT'S COMING!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_OHkBauiS6YYbeyaWVcPZ108RZjVlnbmcOFWXVqdfWIoXdq0ny2IfDFJvqMFMjBn2PdasZibhp99r2HxiCn8pUO0uJo77b-G3Wf3SD-7LWIQq8vekA1C2MvpHeR-LjVOhT2v/s1600-h/unruly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214710735921114434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_OHkBauiS6YYbeyaWVcPZ108RZjVlnbmcOFWXVqdfWIoXdq0ny2IfDFJvqMFMjBn2PdasZibhp99r2HxiCn8pUO0uJo77b-G3Wf3SD-7LWIQq8vekA1C2MvpHeR-LjVOhT2v/s400/unruly.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">30 Beaurriful Peeps of Lagos</span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">1 Island Beach House</span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#660000;">0608 - Get Your Passcode!</span></em></strong></div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Many of you know I'm part of a collective known as UnRuLy, or The Unrulies. UnRuLy is a movement. It's a lifestyle. It's a philosophy. And we are ready to take over Lagos......</div>Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-60619927689331109402008-06-13T01:44:00.002+03:002008-06-13T01:59:06.588+03:00Do You Swe?Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeet! I just wrote a whole thing that I really had to get out and was really satisfied with and blogger just messed me up. I don't think I can type it all again :o( :o( :o(Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-30791180878220162252008-06-12T12:53:00.003+03:002008-06-12T15:25:44.015+03:00Land That I Love....This post is inspired by <a href="http://nigeriandramaqueen.blogspot.com/">Nigerian Drama Queen</a>'s post <a href="http://nigeriandramaqueen.blogspot.com/2008/06/and-this-is-why-i-love-america.html">here.</a><br /><br />Many people love to hate on America. It's the big white giant elephant in the room that everyone can just target for fun. I mean George Bush jokes are quite international. No one will argue with you if you say things like: "Damned Americans", "American's are so dumb", etc. Most will agree, laugh and move on.<br /><br />But I'm always sensitive to all that kinda talk. I LOVE America. I'm sorry but I do. I love America and all it stands for. A lot of those things are the things I stand for. I don't know where to start but let me start with these.....<br /><br /><strong><em>God Bless America,<br />Land that I love.<br />Stand beside her, and guide her<br />Thru the night with a light from above.<br />From the mountains, to the prairies,<br />To the oceans, white with foam<br />God bless America, My home sweet home</em>.</strong><br /><br />oooh, here's another one:<br /><br />O beautiful, for spacious skies,<br />For amber waves of grain,<br />For purple mountain majesties<br />Above the fruited plain!<br />America! America! God shed His grace on thee,<br />And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.<br /><br />O beautiful, for pilgrim feet<br />Whose stern, impassioned stress<br />A thoroughfare for freedom beat<br />Across the wilderness!<br />America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;<br />Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!<br /><br />O beautiful, for heroes proved<br />In liberating strife,<br />Who more than self their country loved<br />And mercy more than life!<br />America! America! May God thy gold refine,<br />'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!<br /><br />O beautiful, for patriot dream<br />That sees beyond the years,<br />Thine alabaster cities gleam<br />Undimmed by human tears!<br />America! America! God shed His grace on thee,<br />And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!<br /><br />I can also quote the Star Spangled Banner, but I won't (yet anyway, no promises!) but let's take a look at the Pledge of Allegiance, which I had to recite in my school every morning in home room, standing up and facing the flag:<br /><br /><strong><em>I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.</em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />The Pledge of Allegiance was amended in 1954 and here's what the convincing argument was for amending it:<br /><br /><em>These words...will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded.</em><br /><br />Some people reading this are wandering...........ehn ehn so what? I'm only going this far because many people don't know the context in which the average American live. In high school i HAD to take US History in Grade 11, it was compulsory for graduating. They read all these things, they imbibe it all. These words are not just history, they are lived, sometimes on a daily basis and mean soooo much to the average American. These are good principles. Patriotism, Equality, Liberty, Justice, "Pursuit of happiness", Entrepreneurship, Freedom, Human Rights, Constitutitional Rights, Democracy, and so on and so forth. I'm not saying that they do all these things perfectly oh, but no one can argue that these concepts are ones that America is pre-occupied with and grapple <strong>constantly</strong> with, they are at the forefronts of these discourses. Which is more than can be said for the majority of countries anywhere.<br /><br />I always say they are many bad apples in the US but all you need is one good apple, and that ONE good apple can change the lot. Not only that but you can almost always bank on the fact that there WILL be one good apple amongst the bunch. That's what America means to me.<br /><br />People think of America as this homogenous land but it's not. Someone in Boston can be so different from someone in Ohio, so different to a Texan, so different to a Californian, so different from someone from Utah. As in VEEERY different oh. They don't all think alike and feel the same way.<br /><br />Me I love the country sha. The land of Starbucks, and MTV, and ObamaRama, and........<br /><br /><br />PS - no one should come to me and tell me I should be writing about Nigeria and all that junk. I'm not small-minded or close-minded enough to only love one country and blind myself to all others. I love Nigeria, Canada, and US all equally. SUE ME THEN.Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-9132927028214601082008-06-08T17:35:00.004+03:002008-06-08T18:20:51.337+03:00Six Quirks Tag!I've been tagged!!!<br />Here are the rules:<br />1.link the person who tagged you: <a href="http://msminx.blogspot.com/">Ms. Minx</a><br />2. Mention the rules in your blog…<br />3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours...<br />4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them…<br />5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged...<br /><br />6 quirks...<br /><br /><ol><li>I don't like going out at night when there's a full moon. I don't know i'm just superstitious like that. All the times i've been robbed in Lagos, it's been a full moon.....coincidence? I think not! There has to be something behind the folklore now, there's never smoke without fire methinks!</li><li>I keep in touch with everybody FOREVER! lol. If i've met you, and i still have your phone number, chances are that I'll call u up sometime, even if it's like 4 years later! In fact, I just got off the phone with someone I haven't seen in like 4 years, who lives half the world away, and whose life has changed so much from when I knew him that if we were to actually sit face to face we might not recognize each other, but hey....at least we're "keeping in touch". I just don't like to ever loose a friend.</li><li>Inside my heart somewhere, I believe that the Yahoo Horoscopes are true....lol! I mean how can it be sooo right most of the time I check it? I read the daily horoscope, then the weekly one, then the monthly one, then the yearly one. I read the yearly one several times during the year just to check up on how it's shaping up so far. I don't go reading the daily one every day, maybe once or twice a month but still....i'm always up on it o!</li><li>My name is Lola and I have a slight obsession with Beyonce. there, i finally admit it ok? jeez. Yes I go to <a href="http://www.beyonceworld.net/">BeyonceWorld</a> and quite often too. I check up on the pics, see which magazines she's in, read the articles...blah blah blah. okay? Sometimes I think how can a girl be living such a great life and everything just.....works out? Not Fair :o(</li><li>I love eggs. Eggs are my favorite food. Any which way, scrambled, fried, omelette, sunny side up, poached, boiled, scotch eggs.....anything. When I was in college I used to have just scrambled eggs -no salt, black pepper, and american cheese...yum! - and orange juice for breakfast pretty much every morning. No bread, no croissant or anything to go with the eggs o, just eggs. Sometimes i'd have it for dinner too.....</li><li>I dance in the house, when no one's home. I can just feel like letting loose or not thinking about anything, get home, turn on the music really loud - usually beyonce of course - sing along at the top of my voice and just dance. This can actually go on for hours. In my head i'll think up different scenarios like i'm in a club, or i'm singing at a show or something, and then just go. </li></ol><p>whew! good thing to stop here before i delve deeper into weirdness....lol!<br /><br />I tag: </p><p><a href="http://thecrazythoughtsinmyhead.blogspot.com/">Spa Girl</a><br /><a href="http://unrulyinc.blogspot.com/">The Unrulies</a><br /><a href="http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/">Linda Ikeji</a><br /><a href="http://ibiluv.blogspot.com/">Ibiluv</a><br />any other person reading this!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-49240534919821739782008-05-12T22:05:00.002+03:002008-05-12T22:31:40.935+03:00Pieces of Me<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://gracemagazine.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/writing450.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Just some words today my pretties. Does He Know is actually dear to me and this post started with me wanting to share it but then i wanted to share another and another. Enjoy and let me know what you think!<br /><br /><strong>Does He Know</strong><br />he walks in a certain way<br />moves to a certain groove<br />his language speaks to me in a way i cannot say<br />and when he speaks i drown in his words<br />travelling the world in a second as he talks<br />i wonder is he feeling me like i feel<br />how long is it gonna take for him to see....<br /><br />he's funny in a smart way<br />smart in a funny way<br />he doesn't know at night how i yearn for him<br />and when he speaks his eyes just light up<br />oh i can't say enough of how my heart jumps<br />i wonder is he feeling me like i feel<br />how long is it gonna take for him to see....<br /><br /><strong>The Seduction</strong><br /><br />I imagine a beat playing<br />More like a theme song<br />Maybe the guitar riffs of Shaft<br />A confident swagger, slow stepping<br />He ain’t hearing the music<br />But he knows the rhythm well<br />Keep your eye on his steady feet<br />For his eyes, they mesmerize<br />And all he touches he tames<br />To the unknowing, the beat takes sway<br />Once more he has his way<br /><br /><strong>Keep Floating</strong><br /><br />Keep floating<br />I release you to the wind so you can<br />Keep floating<br />Maybe reach a destination<br />Maybe ease a frustration<br />Keep floating<br />All the good you did to me<br />You can bring to them<br />Keep floating<br />As they hold hands<br />And they walk to a rhythm<br />Keep floating<br />Or maybe he’s on his knees<br />Hands shaking at those rings<br />Keep floating<br />Or she’s left alone wandering<br />Never knowing really<br />Keep floating<br />Keep floating<br />Keep floating<br />If the love we felt was that strong<br />Then I will command it hold on<br />And even if it’s not us two<br />May it keep floating to the right twoLolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-39708077723748252942008-04-23T00:00:00.002+03:002008-04-23T02:04:01.121+03:00Memories of Falling in Love...Just browsing through blog world and landed at Overwhelmed Naija Babe's blog where she mentioned that her aunt made fried eggs on a firewood and I thought back.......<br /><br />I remember the day I fell in love with him. We were hanging out as usual at our usual meeting spot, and I guess both of us didn't really want to leave. So we kept talking and talking knowing full well that the later it got, the higher the chance that I'd have to stay somewhere on the Island. After a little while I leaned over and asked him, "can I stay over yours?" and he answered that yes it was fine. We continued talking but inside of me I was already filling up with anxiety and expectation and slight fear. I had never even suggested staying at his place the numerous times we've hung out late into the night (or late in Lagos terms as in crossing third mainland at night is not something one should get used to..) let alone stayed there so this was going to be something new. Even though there had been tension in our friendship so far, we hadn't crossed any of those kinds of lines yet. Maybe? Maybe not......<br /><br />So we get to his place in Ikoyi, and since he was moving the apartment was really a ghost of an apartment with nothing much left in it but memories. We settled down, got to talking and soon he just drifted off to sleep but I was wide awake. Mostly because the radio was on and I can never sleep with the radio on, but also cuz there was this man I admired so much, whom inspired me so much, sleeping next to me in his boxers and his tattoo. So I just lay there and let my thoughts drift over the sound of the radio. That's when Robin Thicke's song came on, "lost without youuuu...can't help myself.....how does it feel........." and I became lost in those words, and in that moment, I gave in. I gave in to all the emotions. <br /><br />Morning came. I barely slept really and mentioned that when he woke up and he nodded his head saying he kinda noticed. So we left it at that. He got up and asked what I wanted to eat, boasting that he cooks the best breakfast so I said to show me. We moved to the kitchen, which of course had a makeshift, just run through quality about it, no gas no stove. So he went to the balcony, lit the firewood there, and put the pan on. As the radio blared on in the kitchen, we diced and passed this and that, while the pan sizzled. Robin Thicke comes on the radio...."lost without you....can't help myself..." We both don't say anything just started singing along. I felt content in that moment and thought back to my surrender to this man under the influence of the same song in the dead of the night. I loved him then. But I couldn't say so, just joked about the caveman romance of the moment, he making sure I ate even if frying eggs by firewood in the early morning. <br /><br />We went into his room and ate and talked. Just talked and morning lazied into afternoon and I didn't want to go. I knew I would have to but I knew I didn't want to. I could spend many more nights and days with this man. As I walked out the door that afternoon, I took a look back at the abandoned apartment where love grew. Just then he shut the door and we both walked away. <br /><br />*****<br />This mysterious "he" may read this blog and recognize the story and you know what, it's okay. That was a while ago and sometimes these things just happen!Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-17787391752839396902008-04-12T15:09:00.002+03:002008-04-26T21:06:14.478+03:00If I Had The Money......This post is entirely dedicated to all the things i would get if truly I had the money!!! I've been wanting to do this particular one for a while but so many things got in the way, alas, here it is sha..........i hope y'all luuuurves it and if there are any rich folks reading this and feeling philantrophic pls, buy one of them for me and i'll love you forever. i swear. lol! Enjoy!!!!<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Range Rover</span></strong></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.carseek.com/intc/large_images/2008_land_rover_range_rover_suv_front_driver_three_quarter.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.carseek.com/intc/large_images/2008_land_rover_range_rover_suv_front_driver_three_quarter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>ok. how sexy is this thing??? like i can't really talk cuz just looking at it is a bit orgasmic for me. I don't know what it is as I don't usually go gaga over cars but naaa........seriously look at it!!! It also costs 21m naira apparently. Now a friend of mine recently told me he's getting this car and gosh you can't imagine all the things I put on the table as barter in just driving around the car with him. Yea...that bad. To all those expecting me to reel off a list of motor mumbo jumbo about specs and all that, sorry but you are going to be disappointed. this is where it ends. sexy car........</div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ford Thunderbird</span></strong><br /></span><br /><a href="http://www.wnmb.net/press2/images.php?op=article&id=1006"></a><a href="http://www.fordforum.com/models/thunderbird/images/2002-Ford-Thunderbird.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.fordforum.com/models/thunderbird/images/2002-Ford-Thunderbird.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div>Ok. I didn't mean to talk about two cars but i just thought why not! The Ford T-Bird is my favorite car of all time. They stopped making them in like 2005 i think and I was sooo crushed as they've been my dream for a while and even still in this lifetime I will own a tbird oh, gba be! They're actually not very expensive for a car at about $40 to 50,000, I still can't afford it so I'm putting it on my if i had money list.....ah....one day TBird Retro Generation, one day....<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Royal Oak Offshore Lady Alinghi Chronograph</strong></span></div><div> </div><div> </div><a href="http://www.thepurists.net/Patrons/members/Presscenter/RoyalOakOffshoreLadyAlinghithmb.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.thepurists.net/Patrons/members/Presscenter/RoyalOakOffshoreLadyAlinghithmb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br />Just from the name sef you go know say too much efeezy meeeehn! I love this watch o! I've liked Audemars Piguet watches since my days in Ottawa, and then of course strolling down Copley Plaza in downtown Boston. Anyhoo, this baby will only set me back about $24,000! Not too much abi? LOL! but 'is beaurriful non?<br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Samsung G800</span></strong><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.gsmmag.com/images/samsung_g800/samsung_g800_1.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.gsmmag.com/images/samsung_g800/samsung_g800_1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /> </div><div> </div><div>This is one of Samsung's new phone and yeeeeees, that's a 5.0 megapixel camera. I love Samsung since I bought a flip one last year that armed robbers stole from me just a few months after so since then i've been crazy for Samsungs and then I found this one. Plus I like G600 as well. so if anyone looooooooooves me. this is it. well after the Nokia E61i</div><div> </div><div><span ></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Nokia E61i</strong></span></div><br /><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.unwiredview.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/nokia-e61i-mobile-e-mail-device-eseries.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.unwiredview.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/nokia-e61i-mobile-e-mail-device-eseries.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>I actually love this phone and I've been coveting it for quite some time now. First my colleague in the office I had it and I fell in love with it. Then when I was going to buy my ill-fated Samsung described above I saw it but was advised against it as per the E61 then didn't have a camera phone. And then this version came out and since then i've been seriously dreaming and fantasizing about it. The phone costs about N60,000 here. Now that's some serious change so "o gba riro" u know. I've <span >almost</span> bought it several times but I come to my senses very soon after and forget about it. I'm still looking for someone to buy me this phone or the IPhone. Thanks. Much Love.</div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><div></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Burj al-Arab Hotel, Dubai</span></strong><br /></div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://gfx.fox.nl/images/imagebase/du_dxb_burj_al_arab_a.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://gfx.fox.nl/images/imagebase/du_dxb_burj_al_arab_a.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://dubai.travel-culture.com/images/BURJ_AL_ARAB_toilet.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://dubai.travel-culture.com/images/BURJ_AL_ARAB_toilet.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Of course everyone has heard of the Burj al-Arab hotel in Dubai. We all also know it's the only 7 star hotel in the world currently (though a few others a being built in the same Dubai even an underwater hotel...........ok, so anyway...) I sha dream of visiting this place and staying there at least once before I kpai. It just seems like one of those things that would be just special once in a long while kinds of thing. You only live once abi? </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>W Hotel</strong></span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><a href="http://www.area3.net/projects/photobook/2004koreaweb/012_hotel_W.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.area3.net/projects/photobook/2004koreaweb/012_hotel_W.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>My favorite hotel brand is Westin. I love their Heavenly Sleeper beds and if you've slept in one you'll know exactly what I mean. They always advertise it as sleeping on clouds and it kinda feels like that. Anyhoo, W hotel is an even posher hotel from the Starwood Hotels group of hotels and I've been obsessed ever since I found out about it. It's described as "uber-chic" and has all kinds of extras plus it's kinda like the hotel brand of choice for celebrities. I started falling in love with hotels when I started finding out I could stay at really good ones for cheap at <a href="http://www.hotwire.com/">http://www.hotwire.com/</a> LOL! My favorite W is actually the one in New York on Times Square. I always dream of staying there but i'm sure it's at least $400 per night (come to think of it that's how much you pay at Eko Hotels oh...........thieves!)</div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29655655.post-85703728737464407592008-04-01T13:05:00.000+03:002008-04-01T13:08:39.403+03:00Sex EducationI’m a big big BIG supporter of educating young people about sex. I’ve had the opportunity to teach sex ed classes and I’m very proud of this. Recently I was watching Rubbing R*** oops, I mean, Rubbing Minds, on Channels TV (I haven’t paid my dstv bills which may also explain the onslaught of posts!) and the subject of the day was Pornography. Now the fact that Chude and co are even discussing this topic on national television deserves another post on its own but that’d be digressing….Anyhoo, a friend of mine who’s also on the panel of the show was of the opinion that porn is not only okay but in fact recommends it for young adults 12-18. Rightly, as adults the thought of a 12 year old watching or looking at porn is cringe-worthy and while I don’t particularly subscribe to that point of view, I do believe that it is critical for teenagers in that bracket to be exposed to proper sex education. Watching that show, I started thinking about sex ed generally.<br /><br />Let’s face it, we’re all curious human beings subjected to the whims of our natural hormones and composition. Certainly by 12 years old we are growing into our bodies, noticing the changes and the reasons for the changes, being aware of ourselves as sexual beings. Curiosity sets in at this age and is even aided along by what we see or read or witness in our peer groups (and I’m not just talking of tv and magazines but of real life). There’s no way you can show me a 12 year old who is not aware of sex and trying to figure out what role it plays or perhaps will play in their lives as an adult being. Now I truly believe that proper sex ed helps to vent these emerging curiosities and help to provide the necessary tools to have an healthy attitude towards it and make the right, informed decisions. <br /><br />Proper sex ed first and foremost validates the particular pubescent stage in that teenager’s life. It’s about saying, ok, there are certain things happening within and without your body right now, but it’s okay, it’s absolutely normal, and here are the tools to help you cope with it. Then it’s explaining exactly what to expect in physical terms (as plainly as possible in proper medical terms) and teaching how to know and respect your body. It’s also about educating on the whole range of options available to you in many different scenarios and how to go about, confidently, picking the right option. Many people think that sex ed opens up a Pandora’s box so to speak, but I’d rather believe that it is equipping young adults to deal with the contents of the so called Pandora’s box, because believe me it’s opening up at some point and they’re gonna have to deal with it. It’s also important to note that a proper sex ed program must and should always emphasize the benefits of abstinence. Every person, young or old, must know that your sexuality is your own, and whether you’re “active” or not is a decision YOU should actively make. <br /><br />In this our world, sex ed is also about educating young ones that sex is not just about climax, or doing something “bad”, or satisfying a curiosity, or peer pressure, or anything like that. It’s about entering the world of unwanted pregnancies, of sexually transmitted diseases, of HIV/AIDs. I’m always, always amazed how little people, grown adults know about STDs and I always find myself asking, if you don’t the difference between Chlamydia, or syphilis, or what it looks like, or how it behaves how can you consciously protect yourself? Truly if your partner doesn’t tell you they have Chlamydia how would you know??? Can you recognize herpes? Do you know you can actually still contract herpes even with a condom??? It’s frightening that most people don’t know these things. A recent survey found that 1 out of every 5 young girls in high school in the US has an STD. 1 in 5!!!! And that’s in America, imagine Nigeria where promiscuity is actually rampant and to some extent accepted from aristo-carrying university students, to polygamy, to accepted infidelity, the circle is endless. I remember a married man having a conversation with my male friend and I, rushing off to go and meet 3 different girls in some hotel room and being quiet excited about it. As they say when you sleep with a partner you’re also sleeping with ALL of that person’s partners, I thought about this and thought of the man’s wife and the pool of possible sexual diseases this man can carry home……..truly frightening especially when you think this is a country where condom-wearing is not the norm. If anything I encourage everyone reading this to just get to know about STDs, then you’ll know how to protect yourself and save us all really! A good sex ed program teaches all these things at the onset of sexual curiosity and activeness.<br /><br />Anyway, I can write all day on this topic as I’m truly very passionate about it but what I truly want to get through is the importance of a proper attitude and knowledge of these matters instead of taboo-ing it. Knowledge is power in every facet of life and still applies in this case.Lolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04212835201334004535noreply@blogger.com3