This is My City

I was dragged kicking and screaming to Ottawa. I had chosen University of Ottawa as my school of choice in Canada because it was completely bilingual and i thought, tres cool? tres francaise! This city will definitely count in the top five of beautiful cities for anyone once you've been there. Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and is a bilingual (French and English) city, as in completely bilingual. It is next door to Quebec and Hull, Quebec is still considered part of the National Capital Territory and is like 15min away. It is 4 hours from Toronto, 2 hours from Montreal and 1 hour from the American border. Ottawa is the second coldest capital in the world, behind Moscow!!! Oh, we also hate Toronto and anything to do with it. Let me introduce you:



















Gotta love the mounties!!






At Night!







In Winter!











Architecture

Interior Parliament


Notre Dame Cathedral


Interior Parliament:


Several festivals go on in Ottawa. There's the Blues and Jazz Festival in Summer. That's where I knew that Lauryn Hill was definitely bonkers!!! I was walking back from work one evening and all I could hear was Ms. Hill's screetching and crying as she sang and i was like wtf?!?! Anyway, we also have the Tulip Festival in July which is when tulips are EVERYWHERE in the city. The festival is a gift from the Queen of Holland who stayed in Canada during the second world war so since then she donates hundreds of thousands of tulips to Ottawa.





Then there's Winterlude! Ottawa is mad cold so of course we celebrate everything cold and make snow and ice sculptures and skate around the Rideau Canal which is the longest skating rink in the world, and eat beaver tails!!!













What Do We Eat?

Ok, this is fun! An Ottawaen must like poutine. In fact as a Canadian you must at least KNOW poutine, but if it's not made by a frenchman or there isn't a french person around, RUN!!!





And how serious are we about our poutine?!?!



So what else must you eat if you happen to be in Ottawa? well a shawarma of course. and i'm not talking about those pita sandwiches that some people try and pass on like it's a real shawarma, no! it has to have hummus, and garlic sauce, and tunips, if your sharwarma doesn't look like this:



and the place doesn't have one of these:



you're not eating a real shawarma, sorry! I actually LOVE LOVE sharwarma plates, y'all should try it if you can:



There's also beavertails which is fried dough covered in brown sugar or powdered sugar, this here is plain although it can be topped with apple sauce or whatever you like.





Falun Dafa
for some reason, we love our falun dafa. what is falun dafa?!?! me sef i no know oh! na so i dey see people all over the place it's sha interesting...check it out






I just like this pic below cuz it's so Ottawa, so Canadian!!! to have a stop sign for crossing turtles, how absurd, i can't imagine that would fly in America, lol.




I'll caption the rest of the pics tomorrow if there's no strike! If there's strike then yay!!! no work pour moi. I think i'll blog about the strike on my next post.
Ciao!

My First Blogger Crush!!!

It was a quiet morning. The sun was out after a full day of dullness and downpour that was yesterday. I seriously didn't have high hopes for the day, just one of those "getting by" types you know. I decided on lazily checking up on blogs this friday. So off I go to Linda Ikeji's blog and i read her post about her very chauvinist sounding friend and i'm so incensed i decide to comment. In doing that I read one snazzy's comment and it sounded so well written and then i'm like "is this a naija guy?!?!?!".... Hmm, i said, let's see what this person's profile says. So I read and he says "just moved to nigeria from yanks and jand..." so i'm like, hmm....this should be interesting so I go...........

I was caught.
Funny
Relevant
Intelligent
Cheeky
Witty

Ahhhhhhhh..............I swoon. I've found my blog crush and his name is Snazzy



To those gbeboruns present, yes i do work, so shut up. That's all.

'Ol Time Killin'

Oh my!!! Today is just one of those days you know. Work has been trying these last couple of days as we go through some major restructuring. Those of you in the know, know what i'm talking about. I think if ever i'm in a company that starts to show these kinds of signs again, I will definitely bounce before you can say "jack robinson"!!! It's not easy.

All my Canada heads, my toronto heads, will appreciate this next video link. For those that don't know.........there's an artist called Kardinall Offishal. There's an artist called Jully Black. They are hip hop. They are Canadians. And yes, they are black. It takes a true canadian to really appreciate canadian hip hop, it's different and fresh. It's mostly not about bling and hos (check out Fabolous vid about nothing for reference). Some of you may remember Kardi from "Bakardi Slang" which was hot in the states for about a minute, he even made it unto 106 & Park in those days. Anyway, this song here is called "Ol Time Killin" and it's classic. I'm just feeling it today....

Go Chimamanda!!!





I'm very proud of Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie who has just won the Orange Prize for Literature. I'm sure she appreciates the 30,000 pounds prize that comes with it, that sure inspires me to write! But on a serious tip, the lady has accomplished something wonderful for herself and other young women out there who are inspired to put pen to paper and document their thoughts for the world. So my hats off to her! She should just share the money around now....Chimamanda, just plan small party for the boys (girls)!!! lol.

Stolen Again!!

I'm stealing this from TMinx again....i think i may have done it before though but why not:

1.What time did you get up this morning? 6:15am


2. Diamonds or pearls? Hmm...this one is hard oh!!! Ok....i'll go for diamonds, but ONLY after i've had lots of pearls. or maybe i'll get pearls with a diamond pendant?!!? yea...i like that


3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Probably Spiderman


4. What is your favorite TV show? Gilmore Girls, i can't miss that show

5. What did you have for breakfast? Toast....(i won't tell you from where...)


6. What is your middle name? Temitope. for some reason everyone at the company clinic has refused to call me Lola. i don't know why.

7. What is your favorite cuisine/meal? Well, I love Pad Thai.

8. What foods do you dislike? Indian, i should tell you of the last (absolute last) indian restaurant I went to and what i saw the chef doing....

9. Your favorite Potato chip? i don't eat these...

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Robin Thicke and B'Day (bootleg version with close to every damn good song beyonce ever made along with of course the songs of bday), Tuface Idibia

11. What kind of car do you drive? right...moving along.

12. Favorite sandwich? probably chicken hummus...or if shawarma counts

13. What characteristics do you despise? Unkind people, arrogance and self-centeredness

14. Favorite item of clothing? One of my ankara outfits for sure.

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Seychelles Island, or some Eastern European country.

16. What color is your bathroom? Pink....yup!

17. Favorite brand of clothing? BCBG, Banana Republic, Gap....those are the only ones I KNOW for sure i'd pick and just wear, no complaints.

18. Where would you want to retire? i've never thought of that before......uhm....canada or europe.

19. Favorite time of day? Morning


20. Where were you born? Lagos, Nigeria


21. Favorite sport(s) to watch? Football, u know, the one that counts......NFL!!! let the america bashing begin....


22. Who do you least expect to respond to this? It doesn't really matter now does it?


23. Person you expect to respond first? Ditto


24. What laundry scent do you use? Doesn't everyone use downy or bounty??? but no downy in Nigeria that i've found anyway....everything is persil.

25. Coke or Pepsi? I'm not a soft drinks person

26. Are you a morning person or night owl? Morning person


27. What size shoe do you wear? promise not to scream?!?! Size 11 American. and watever that is anywhere else.

28. Do you have pets? NOpe, used to have a cat called Lulu Chiquita


29. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? I'm nutty over someone/something/some project

30. What did you want to be when you were little? Bacteriologist and Pediatrician

31. Favorite Candy Bar? Kit Kat or Twixt

32. What is your best childhood memory? i don't know man....i just remember i was quite happy as a little child oh! once pre-puberty hit it was trouble.


33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life? Bingo Attendant, Plus Size Lingerie Sales Attendant, Receptionist, Market Researcher, Marketing Database Assistant, Marketing Information Manager

34. What color/type underwear are you? Something pink or yellow i'm sure

35.Nicknames: as if i would say.

36. Piercings ? One in each ear


37. Eye color? Brown


38. Ever been to Africa? duh, i live here...


39. Ever been toilet papering or rolling? I think so, probably at halloween.

40. Love someone so much it made you cry? Yes


41. Been in a car accident? Minor, baby ones...recently though a trailer and i mean a HUGE trailer grazed off the side of my friend's car and I was in it. I was soo scared but dude was chill.....that ish scared me!

42. Croutons or bacon bits? Ewww...i hate bacon! Croutons please...

43.Favorite day of the week? Wednesday! don't ask me why, i've just always liked it

44. Favorite restaurant? I'm assuming in Lagos right? Marco Polo. I also like Pattaya but give me Yellow Chili anytime, that's my second home :o)


45. Favorite flower? Sunflowers

46. Favorite ice cream? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or Mint Chocolate Chip

47. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Lol.......once so far!

48. What color is your bedroom carpet? Brown


49. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Again?!?!

50. Before this one, from whom did you get your last email? My last email was from AC Nielsen (drats!)

51. Which stores would you choose to max out your credit card? I don't have a credit card but.......H&M cuz i'll be able to buy plenty of cool stuff, Banana Republic just cuz i'm a banana republic whore.

52. What do you do most often when you are bored? Read, and i mean read everything....oh and also SUDOKU!!!


53. Bedtime? 10pm, if no light and i've got to turn off the generator, lol. otherwise depends on what's on tv.

54. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire? Blah...


55. Last person you went to dinner with? A friend

56. What are you listening to right now? Robin Thicke, Lost Without You. this song means a lot to me.

57. What is your favorite color? Forest Green


58. Lake, Ocean or river? Ocean...a la Beyonce and JayZ off the Amalfi Coast...

59. How many tattoos do you have? None. But i'm really thinking of it now, how come everyone I meet has one or two?!?! When I was younger I wanted the hieraglyphic sign for destiny in the crook of my back but now I think i want the playboy logo......LOL (how my priority has changed over the years!!!!)

60. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The egg of course! trust me, I can explain that.

I Have So Much On My Mind

Jeez....so much is on my mind this morning I just had to come here and jot some down so I can at least get them off my chest.

The Funmi Iyanda Issue
Please will someone tell me what this woman has done to people to garner so much talk and opinion about her? in the negative way i mean? I can't seem to understand it. Truth be told, I missed the furor that was unleashed (apparently) on Bella Naija's blog but I remember seeing the pictures and just glossing over it. I saw that same dress in This Day style this weekend, and I remember just thinking, "wow, that dress is HOT". For me though, it's like highlighting one thing that bugs me to no end of this our society. I see it everyday, I hear it everyday and it's validated for me everytime I read it in print in our magazines and in our newspapers. Please I would like someone, anyone, to correct me if i'm wrong. This is just my summation, and if anyone sees it any other way, please point me in that direction because this is just not right! What am I talking about? The way women are viewed in this society. The way women are tagged and placed in one square box. The values we are teaching our girls, our daughters, the values that are the norm for women. Women are not to be outspoken, they are not to be expressive, they are not to be too intelligent (at least not more than the men around her), they are not to be too creative, they are dress modestly, speak modestly, do modestly, modest, modest modest.............AAAARGH!!!

Everytime I see it reinforced, I cringe a little but I just shut up and move on, but really inside of me I want to yell ITS NOT OK!!! Imagine a comment i read from the Minister of Women Affairs, it went something like this "No matter what I become, i'm still wife at home and serve my husband" My problem is not with her serving her husband, my problem is what her sentence is implying. Or I was at work and a colleague says "that's not right now, it's like saying a woman should stand in front of her husband". And i'm thinking what the hell? Or some recent comments on the Vagina Monologues show that was put on in Lagos and some women writing in with comments like "vaginas should not be discussed" blah blah blah. Maybe we should all still be calling it "chu-chus" or something equally stunted in growth. Some even complained that why would they call a show "vagina monologues" that the word vagina shouldn't be there...I mean are women really this repressed? I'm wondering how these women feel about being sexual beings when they can't even say vagina?

I think it's very imperative that we start encouraging our young girls to know themselves, to be proud of what and who they are, and to be expressive in a way that's true to themselves. We should teach them confidence and dignity. A professor said something to me once that will always guide me throughout my life, she said "true feminism is not burning bras and breaking ceilings, it's not even about being domestic or timid, it's about having the freedom and right to choose whatever balance of both is right for you". This rant is not about feminism in anyway but it's about the fact that jeez....we should teach other and accept from each other, that as women, we can choose to be WHATEVER WE WANNA BE, and it's ok.

whew...all this from Ms. Iyanda!

Money, Money, Money
This is another issue that has been just bugging me. It's been bugging me since even first year in college.

I have this shirt, it's actually my favorite shirt, and it reads, "I Love Rich Boys". Apart from the fact that people should just lighten up, i have to say I get a lot of comments about it. Comments, and side looks, once even at Tastee's Fried Chicken, I got a man who very disapprovingly shook his head at me. lol. But really what's the fuss? why are people so uptight and so untruthful about money? who cares?!?! I'm someone who really I've gone through all of the spectrums, I know people who are wealthy and in the end there was no benefit to them, they died poor, not moneywise, but life wise. But I also know people who are poor and although they are happy with their loved ones, they are dying of heart disease because they don't have a lot. So what's the fuss? We all die in the end and we don't stand in front of Peter with bling!

I know for me, I pray to be blessed. I'll work my butt off to make sure my family, current and future, don't live hand to mouth. I want them all to live comfortably, even luxuriously. I've seen poverty and no one can romanticize that. This is a goal I have for myself, regardless of who my partner may or may not be. If you're going to be in my life, you have to understand that I'm ambitious, that I want to be successful, hell, that I want to pay off my student loans at a go! lol. Amen. People say what about the guy with the bus pass! well, my answer is I can never be with someone whose ambition is, or who's happy with, his bus pass situation. Never. Ambition is sexy to me!

But seriously though, we all need to lighten up! It's okay to want to be rich. What's bad is if you're driven by money and shortsighted about it, if it rules your life and your principles, if you're mad for it, if it's the devil in your life.

Ok, yes, I talked about it, imagine that!

I Dreamt of Chicken Caesar Salad!

No kidding. And it was one of those dreams that you are having so much fun and you don't want to wake up just yet and when your eyes finally open, you keep blinking them, wishing that reality IS the dream and the dream IS the reality, ya dig? LOL. I mean the thing just looked sooooo good! LOL. My friend was saying that I should ask someone to bring it down for me when they're coming but my question is wouldn't it be soggy?!?! I don't like soggy salad! And then I had this convo with another friend:
ME: i don't know, i think i need a vacation
HIM: where would u go?
ME: america now (duh!)
HIM: You know you can stay in lagos and have a splendid time
ME: u don't understand, i DREAMT of chicken caesar salad yesterday
HIM: what u need is a good meal!!!

LOL. i'm famous for not having food in my house (all you nija male readers/potential admirers, I can actually cook oh!). I just hate cooking for one, I hate food shopping in lagos, and i hate leftover food. so my dilemma is compounded, hence, no food in my house. my kitchen has water, juice, peanut butter, jam, rice krispies, and maybe bread on a good day. I'm sure you guys are starting to understand me now.

Since the day of the dream, I can't get my lunch routine in boston outta my head. I NEED me some signature salad from Cosi (romaine, red grapes, pistachio, gorgonzola cheese and some weird dressing...) but it's good!!! Somebody help me! Before anyone tries to point out (smarty pants!) that I can get caesar salad in Lagos, as easy as it sounds, i challenge the person to find me good caesar salad here, seeing is believing homie! you can hardly find good regular salad around these parts sef......

Ah.......ok, i'm through.

Some of y'all are probably mad at me now that you spent your time reading this stuff and it's only about chicken caesar salad!!! HAHAHA!!!

Dating As Fun!

When I was 19 I dated a guy we'll call Mark. Now for some reason, i'm not really sure of, Mark decided that the best way to woo me was to do these grand gestures, you know, impress me. Mark was an older man, he was a businessman, running his company and having several employees that depended on him. I wouldn't say Mark was wealthy, he was a bit on the fringe, you know, he could afford all these things but not in that nonchalant way really wealthy people do. Anyway, Mark was known for these romantic type gestures, at least grand for a 19 year old!!! LOL. The benefit of hindsight of course shows me it was all BS, lol. He'd come and pick me up under the pretenses of something really mundane and I'd end up walking into a fancy dinner at some cozy restaurant. There was a time we were going somewhere and he said he wanted to stop over at his hotel to pick up his outfit for his friend's bachelor's party only for me to walk into the room, there's a bottle of Dom Perignon chilling in a bucket by the window with a vase of beautiful red roses. Or when he was buying his new property, he took me there and we sat in the garden with some wine and just chatting into the night. See even though the relationship ended really badly (the only one of my exes that I don't speak to), those were things that always stayed with me because it was.....sweet. Coupled with the fact that the man just always told me I was beautiful and handled me with care, yada yada yada.

After Mark, was someone I'd call Oliseh. Now Oliseh had money to throw around so once again, I was out seeing things and doing things that really trips a young girl you know. Enter a store, a bar, anywhere really and clear the place out. I've only seen someone buy the bar out when I was with Oliseh. For some reason as well, Oliseh was out to impress and he did succeed in making me feel......special, i guess. But after Oliseh, things got back to normal and has been ever since. Now why am I remembering all this?!?! (to the koko of the matter...)

Had a fabulous, fabulous, date this past weekend that reminded me of those days that i thought were long gone. I mean there was a point yesterday after I got back that I was actually thinking to myself, did I just dream up this ish? I don't know what will end up of the date, don't know if we'd be together or nothing, but it's just really nice to know that there are still guys out there that know how to do the damn thing!

Anh...anh...how fun!

I've Got A New Attitude

Hello peeps! I'm back. So what's been going on with me lately? I'm a bit busy right now, trying to hustle and make that money. For some reason I always surround myself with these high achievers and then struggle trying to keep up. Not in that bad, "keeping up with the joneses" way, but in that way that you're trying to better yourself because the people you see around you are so inspiring.

One thing's for sure, it's time to make another drastic change. I've accepted that, i'm now just working out the logistics and doing a lot of praying about it. I have so many people around me that are doing so many good things, i really don't have any excuses to sit and wait around where i'm no longer fulfilled or happy. I'm actually excited about it. Oh which reminds me again here, PWEEEEEEEEEEEASE, if anyone knows Olaotan Towry-Coker of What's New magazine, please please, put us in touch with each other. I have some ideas I want to discuss with him. Also trying to get a particular project off ground so y'all should stay tuned! I've also realized that I love working out people's project with them, a sort of consulting. I really enjoy that naturally, so i've been talking with lots of young people, trying to help them, motivate them to realizing their dream. People should watch out oh! The young nigerians I know that are coming back to Lagos are really itching to do it BIG!

ok, what else? For Urhobo Girl who made a comment about who the boy i mentioned in the previous post was and what happened.........first, you like gist and party too much jo! second, what happens in ikoyi stays in ikoyi! hahaha!

Moving on, i've noticed people are writing more about their personal life on their blogs. Oh, I wish I could do the same. The thing is soo convoluted sef. One day is one thing, the other day it's something else. Those of you that read my blog often will know that I've spoken before about some "friend" of mine. I keep going back and forth with the same question, "why are we not together again?" The thing has passed me oh! If he's like, "ok, let's do this", me i'm like "nah, not on your life". when i say "ok, i'm sorta feeling this", he's like "nah, not happening". To tell the truth, I just think this is the right people (he & I) but the wrong time. Which really sucks....

Naija Blues

i've got the kraft
macaroni & cheese blues
i've got the bluessss...

I don't know what's happening to me today. I just woke up sooooo depressed. I think i've been so tired mentally and bored for a little while now. My job is probably the biggest contributor to this. It's gone from something that was so fantastic, enjoyable, and challening. In fact last year I had to keep reminding myself that I'm so lucky to have a job doing exactly what I want to do. But since then, everything has just soured. In the name of job expansion i guess, another portfolio has been added to mine, and i'm just not with it. HOWEVER, it's taken soo much of my time. I want to have a good outlook like ok, i'll do this one extremely well, to the absolute best of my abilities, and just use this opportunity to show my versatility but damn.........coupled with the after effects of the scandal, and the office place just not being the same.

I think I just want to go home. I'm tired of Nigeria. I miss the things that have been "regular" to me for soo long. I was joking with my friend the other day that I think the day my plane lands in America, I will be so goddamn emotional. Man, it's been a long while since i've been out, and a long way for me. I remember the day I left home. No one was even home. Just me and my brother and we weren't even talking at that time. I just got up, showered, finished packing, called a cab. I remember we had just had a snowstorm and there was ice everywhere. I remember calling Tmobile from the taxi and they ticking me off :) Yes, I definitely need to go visit and SOON or i'mma have to cut somebody. I don't know how i'll do it though since getting anything at work is like getting to see Babangida while he's visiting Obasanjo in Aso Rock. I always say, if there's anything that can go wrong, any roadblocks that can pop up, the people at my job WILL find it and just make your life a living hell. A friend of mine recently needed a letter that stated that she did indeed work there and you wouldn't believe the hassle. Something that should be as simple as:
SHE: i need a letter stating I work here please
THEM: oh, (since that's one of my freaking templates) sure, come pick it up next week.
SHE: thanks!

But noooooo........ this is how it goes instead
SHE: Please, please, please, please, i need a letter stating I work here...please
THEM: go and write me a formal letter asking me
SHE: ok
****
SHE: ok, here's the letter
THEM: you need to get it signed by your boss
SHE: ok
(walks back about a block to her office to get's it signed)
SHE: here it is!
THEM: (looks disgustingly at the letter)you need to get it signed by HR
SHE: uhm...ok
(walks to HR to get it signed)
HR: why do u need this
SHE: i need to get a visa
HR: why
SHE: i want to travel
HR: put the dates and get your boss to sign it (knowing that would be impossible cuz she's not allowed to go to vacation yet)
SHE: uhm, i'm going on a weekend so i don't see why my boss as to approve the dates
HR: you're going to London for the weekend (looking disgustingly)
SHE: yes
HR: she still needs to sign the date
SHE: ok
(goes to reprint the letter, sign it by her boss, take to HR to sign, take to Corporate Affairs to sign)
THEM: ok, come and get it in 4 working days
SHE: but it's just right there, you just need to sign it and i'll be on my way.
THEM: Sorry, the policy is 4 working days
SHE: (?!@?!!!?@@!!) NARF OFF!!!

Lol. except for the narf off, that's the way it goes. for a simple letter. that states you work for the company...........BLAH! Maybe I should just lie and say I was abducted for two weeks! they'd believe that ish for SURE!

Anyway back to my depression. It's even bordering on the existential a la Lisa in Saved By The Bell (what is art? is art art? are we art?) Lol. Hey! Maybe it's just a quarter life crisis, i've heard of this happening but maybe this is it? One thing I find myself thinking about (or trying not to think about) is death? how strange is death and this life? you're born and then you die. we all don't even know what happens when you die (Christians believe if you're good you go to heaven if not then it's hell but how does all that work out? do you really see Peter at the door? do you fly there from your body or do you just appear, one sec u watching tv, next thing you're like wha? peter?). it's like you just cease to exist, like a cockroach that you kill in your house and throw in the incinerator (aka bonfire). A staff member just died this weekend. I liked her. I can't believe she died. And then the VTech people. They wake up, go to French class, and never come out again. My dad who died of cancer which is the LAST THING anyone thought would kill the guy. He liked his beer, i think smoked when he was younger (i never saw him smoke) and that's about it. He was fine one minute and dead the next. Toni Payne's I assume little cousin or nephew of some sort apparently died. And then thinking of that I remember my two cousins that died last year, they were 8 and 10. What's the point? How do you make your life meaningful in this race to the grave?

Ah....i don't mean to depress y'all too I swear!!! Everything is just seeming so random to me right now. Not just death but everything. Random. I told you, existential right? (man, that class fucked me up oh, i won't lie!)

I know what i'm gonna do. I'm gonna do something really crazy and out of this world that the drama of it all will take my mind off all these thoughts! (don't worry y'all nothing morbid in anyway oh!) lol. it'll probably involve a boy.......lol. yes, i'm that girl that read seventeen mag until i was like 21!

Anyway, toodles!

Magical Elections

I love politics. I love every aspect of it. To me it’s one of the most beautiful things about modern civilization. It is the ultimate test of democracy really. I’m not so much a staunch believer in democracy in terms of philosophy, but I do know that it is one that has worked in various fashions for the biggest economies and most successful nations in the history of man.

Yet, watching Nigeria’s elections circus (indeed the best descriptive word), leaves me completely disheartened, confused, and now complete apathy is beginning to set in. I’m sitting right now in front of the television watching the news coverage and I’m finding it hard to believe that this sort of…..magic, can happen so openly, and to feel so disconnected, even as a citizen, as the everyday person, is just sad.

In Abia state, apparently INEC did not get ballot papers in on time, SOOO voting did not start until about 5:30pm………..yes, read that again, 5:30pm!!! And even then it was in the dark, but that is a secondary problem I suppose. I’ve just watched presidential candidate Orji Kalu who just casted his vote at 7pm give such an emotional comment to the press. I don’t care too much for him, but it is his absolute right to contest for the presidential election if he can and be given a fair chance. But after spending all the time, money, and effort to now come to the ballot box and vote in the dark at 7pm!!! What feeling of disappointment that must have been. This is in the South East which will no doubt have most of his constituencies. How can ANYONE observing this think that this man has had a fair go at it? What kind of message does that send? What kind of gross incompetence and embarrassment is this for INEC? What is this monster we’re all dealing with?

In Lagos West and some other senatorial districts, elections for the Senate were cancelled completely to be held another day. What kind of????? How can anyone in their right mind think this is ok? Or free and fair?? Or what? What is this monster really?

Lately when people talk about the elections, I just find it cute. All the spitting that goes back and forth, it’s glazing over the real, REAL issue we all know, which is that elections in Nigeria are very very far from being the kind that celebrates democracy, far from being free, far from being fair. That’s the absolute truth. We are all afraid to say exactly that, because when you look back, those times (in the past) were SOOO rough, I understand that, but what is this we have? Nothing. Obasanjo picks who’s gonna be the next president and nothing but an American invasion will stop that act from coming true. We all know that. The curtain draws, the actors play the part, the “hero” wins, the puppet master is happy. This circus. The Nigerian elections. Circus 2007.

What monster are we all dealing with indeed?

Donde Estan Los Ladrones

Alrighty people, i have tons of pics about 100, but i'm finding it hard to resize them and then upload them because of the speed of my internet connection soo.....sorry but these like two pics will have to do :( !!!

In other news..........got robbed at gunpoint last week wednesday on what I think was falomo bridge. Well, never had a gun pointed at my cranium so it was an experience. I was quite shaken for the day (incident was at 8pm) and then the trauma set in so I started to sleep with a golf club by my bedside (cuz my bag had my pay slip in it with my address et al.) anyhoo.......life must go on right?....right???

Man, i need a vacation...

TMinx is Back...YAY!!!!

1. Yourself: Beautiful outside, but more beautiful inside
2. Your partner: Up to God
3. Your hair: Dark Brown
4. Your mother: Blessed
5. Your father: Hella Funny
6. Your favourite item: My camera
7. Your dream last night: Can't remember
8. Your favourite drink: Mojito (of course it had to be alcoholic right?
9. Your dream car: Mini Convertible (yea, i'm weird)
10. The room you are in: Work (aargh!)
11. Your ex: Beautiful
12. Your fear: Death and Failure
13. What you want to be in 10 years: Wildly Successful
14. Who you hung out with last night: Jamila!
15. What you're not: Introvert
16. Muffins: Carrot
17: One of your wish list items: Plane ticket to Paris
18: Time: 430pm!
19. The last thing you did: Called Bunmi
20. What you are wearing: work clothes, but still sexy and fly fa sure!
21. Your favourite weather: Rainy
22. Your favourite book: Power of a Praying Woman, Leap of Faith
23. The last thing you ate: Rice, moinmoin, and snail stew
24. Your life: is everywhere God wants it to be
25. Your mood: Playful, Happy
26. Your best friend: many good girlfriends i wouldn't trade for the world!
27. What you're thinking about right now: Public Holiday Thurs & Fri, YAY!!!
28. Your car: right.....
29. What you are doing at the moment: Blogging, DUH!
30. Your summer: Work, some traveling
31. Your relationship status: Single (i need hookups y'all!)
32. What is on your TV: DStv
33. What is the weather like: VERY Hot
34. When was the last time you laughed: if you know me you know i laugh a lot! can't help it, i'm a happy person!!!

I'm so glad TMinx is back!!! We can go back to more blogville gists, etc....In honor of her, i stole this meme from her site.

Obudu was breathtakingly beautiful, I'll post pics tomorrow or by Monday sha!!! (didm't u hear, public holiday tomorrow and friday...shu...)

What Shall I Blog About?!?!

I'm having a wonderful day today. I have terrible sinuses cuz of the dust in my house that I had to clean last friday. It's amazing that so much dust can accumulate in one week! But even the sinuses ain't getting me down today, no way Jose (yes, i'm so corny). Maybe it has to do with my going to Calabar, Obudu Cattle ranch to be specific, this Easter weekend. I've heard sooo much about how beautiful it is. Here are some pics I googled:


































Yea...its nice ain't it? And the weekend is all planned out with a group of people I'm just too excited to go. But apart from that just generally happy right now, enjoying life, etc. I wanted to blog since last week but just didn't have the time to get around to it. Even now, i'm sneaking in time to do this! So what i've decided to do is write a small blurb/compilation of all the things I wanted to blog about since last week and their titles I had in my head (yeah, i'm strange like that). So here we go.

Adventures of Frick and Frack
I have at the company I work at, two people I'd like to call Frick and Frack (i have to be somewhat vague here since I think they've somehow discovered the blogging world recently. You see Frick actually has some sort of job security, but i'm not sure he/she (hence on known as hesh) knows that, so hesh is very bitter about "thinking hesh doesn't". Frack on the other hand, doesn't have a prayer (IMHO) and hesh has every right to be bitter I guess, but misery does love company so hesh has dragged Frick into his/her misery, and now, I'm not so sure Frick even has job security anymore. Anyway, they are bugging HELL outta me. Always looking you down, gossiping about EVERYTHING, backbiting, thinking that the world OWES them everything. Abeg jo! Maybe all the energy you pour into "analyzing" everyone else work, if all that energy was poured into................your own work (surprise!!!) then you'd be faring much better.
Whew....got that off my chest!

Friend or Foe?
Ok, here's the gist as sad as it may be o! I met a boy recently. We went out a few times, and just as I was starting to really get excited about it, dude calls me and has a "talk" with me. Here it is:
FF: Lola we need to talk about something cuz i'm sensing that you may be a bit confused about some things us, what are we, etc...
ME: uhm.....yes
FF: Ok, i thought so. well, i really like you, love hanging out with you and think you're a great gal but i'm just not into committed relationships right now.
ME: uhm....ok...but i'm not into "any other kind of relationship" right now either, especially not with you.
FF: Well, I'd love if we could still be friends...
ME: I don't think so. I'm not your friend, let's not confuse that either.

Anyway, that was my stance and i felt quite strongly about that. I mean i don't need more friends at all, AND i'm not going to be the "friend" that's secretly pining for the guy and dying inside e'rytime she sees him with some other jump off, i've been there, done that, got the therapy bill. But i'm weak really, and apparently we're friends now.......we'll see how that lasts, i'm VERY skeptical. I mean, I've effectively gotten him outta my system I think, but do I need that temptation at every turn.....?!?! Can a woman and a man, who have had chemistry if nothing else before, can they truly be friends?!?! Dude, if you're reading this (highly unlikely but...) there's no conspiracy theory behind it abeg....keep it moving jo.

Wedding Fever
Soooooooooooooo....I have a friend who in delirium (brought on by the combination of codeine and some heavy malaria medication) dreamt of her wedding. She has been "happy" ever since. But that's not the the crazy part. She is now planning the said wedding. YES. planning it, hall, dress, et al. EVERYTHING but the man, which, hmm...call me crazy but I think that's what should come first. To her credit, she has the man thing in the horizon but hmm...sha. For me i'd think I'd do it in steps: man, boyfriend, ring, fiance, engagement ceremony.........and before you know it.....WEDDING!!!! lol. I don't know, i'm just not too too too crazy about thinking about MY own wedding. Don't get me wrong, I love watching all those wedding channels, and love looking at the pics and all that, but somehow i don't really connect it to me! It's weird. Somehow i still don't see weddings as a passage right that MUST happen, to me it's still lodged in that fairytale part of my brain along with my cinderella stories. But anyway back to the story, this babe is now convinced, absolutely convinced that it was all a spiritual episode and the reality is coming REALLY soon so hey........i guess it'll save everyone time since she's already prepared. Maybe I should tell her to hurry up and book the hall now! LOL.

Anyway people, enjoy the Easter break!!!

True Love at N700!?!?!!!!!

Let me use this medium to exclaim very loudly!!! I'm so upset about this. This is like a 50% hike in prices from one month to another. who does this?!?! i'm buying my mag jejely every month for N500, happy that my mag is reasonably priced and much better quality than the other and then WHAM! this morning I get to work and my co-worker is brandishing the new mag around, and of course I clamour to go and see that's when she dropped the bomb..........."N700" Que? I almost had a heart attack. She then says, enh, shebi it's only $5. So I exclaim very loudly, do you think i buy a regular mag for $5?!?! How much is Vanity Fair, and that is like the creme de la creme of magazines with a gazillion pages, globally respected journalists, internationally celebrated photographers, etc. In this country we like to take the piss a lot. I mean, this True Love didn't even come with more pages or look or feel any different, so how do you justify in the consumer's mind that this product needs a 50% hike in prices?!?! Maybe my marketing and operations is a little off, but somehow I don't think so. I work in an FMCG so I understand the constraints of production in a country like Nigeria, but a 50% hike with absolutely no PR to back it up, no educating your consumers about why you need to jump prices?!?! I mean it's expensive by international standards. I have a Sleek Magazine and it sells for N1000 and it's a much bigger mag with much more articles etc. I don't know............doesn't seem right, but in Nigeria the consumer has no powers.........

Disclaimer: Please let it be known, that True Love West Africa IS my favorite mag in this country and i've said so too many times to too many people. The quality is great and the articles are relevant and inspiring. But in a true love (pun intended) you have to give as good as you get and i'm just too ijebu for this thing jare!

My Love for Tuface Idibia!

From the moment I heard:

Nothin dey happen
Catch the vibe
Get the feeling
Yes oh!

I was hooked like a mug! I loved Tuface from the moment I heard his songs. His voice was just smooth, and his songs were on another level from some of the other things I'd heard coming out of naija. Yes, African Queen was at one time the most recognizable song in Africa, or black Africa at least, but I just never really felt that song to be honest. But Nfana Ibaga and Keep on Rocking were my jams! Even Ole! i still listen to today and it still seems fresher than many other nigerian songs out there right now.

From the time Tuface got all those accolades, I was quite worried for the man cuz you know us Nigerians now, we love fad too much, especially when it comes to our musicians! my god, here today gone tomorrow is the order of the day, and once something is considered "so last year"....that's the end of it. So I was always rooting for 2Face and his sophomore album cuz the man is just plain talented u know! And then the new songs started trickling in one by one and from the little I heard, it sounded great, so I copped it! And my God, I'M LOVING IT!!!! every single dang track i love! Right now this is my favorite though, check the video (NO SHAKING):




I play this song everyday first thing when I get home. I don't know about the video since it wasn't shot in Nigeria and was featuring African Americans in some African American themed type of video - i'm sooo not feeling that! But the song is hot! One thing I'm loving about this new CD is that Tuface's lyrics are just too mush jo! I noticed a bit about it in his last album but on this one, almost every song as one of those "conscious" musician overtones, it's beautiful! Here's some animated video for his other single 4 INSTANCE. I'm not feeling this video either and hope there's another one to replace it, BUUUUT again, the lyrics to the song are on point.




SEE ME SO and E BE LIKE SAY are also very nice. So all in all, I'm just bigging up my brother here jare! If you guys have a chance, buy the cd and take a listen. It's one of the best from Nigeria by one of our best! I wish Tuface was just managed a bit.....better, his opportunities are boundless!

I still love me some D'Banj (especially after that photo in Genevieve with his mama!) but he and Tuface sing different kinds of music i think.

Poetry Dayz...

I feel like Poetry today. A long time ago I used to write very often, but these days either there's nothing that i'm inspired by or it's just not happening for me. Ah well, i've been wanting to post some of my poetry here, just cuz, they my babies and i want them very accessible. Either way, enjoy! (my NR readers may want to skip this one!)

This first one, i didn't write at all, but I still love and you know, as women, we all have those days!

an ode to the "it" gurls" (Tremaine Loadholt)

i'm prettier than her
is what i tell myself
in the mirror at nite
while i smooth proactiv renewing
cleanser on my face.
"so, why'd he choose her?"
and why do i still want him
after 1, 2, 3, 4....
years?
"we always seem to want
what we cannot have or what
we do not have access to,"
so she says. i give her
a sideways look cuz she's got
what she wanted, and took him
from someone else.
i often wish i had
the gall she sticks out
like a beautiful set of double
d's.

she brags about the man
she's fought many women over
and how they "won't ever part
cuz i got him wrapped 'round
my finger gurl," and i
stare at her wondering how
fast i could reach inside her
chest and pull out her heart while
she's still talking. the picture
fades and i begin
telling her how i sometimes get
close to being the one
a him chooses but nevertheless,
friend zone is where i'm
usually parked. i sit
casually honking my horn
for all of the teacakes
that walk by, none of them
*whistle* back to me.

"if you want it, go for it
gurl."
i smile at her,
and as it seems to shrink i look
her square in the eyes and
say, "i'm just not that
desperate."
silence takes over
the room, she bites the nail
of her index finger on
her left hand and lets out
a sigh. and it's all clear
to me, she's not
the it gurl either.

©Tremaine L. Loadholt (from okayplayer.com)


This one i just wrote, it's not about anyone in particular o! Just wrote it.

I want u to
Hold me
Caress me
Kiss Me
Drink me in like fine wine
I want u to
Part my legs
Peak into my core
Fill my emptiness
With your steadiness 'til i
shake rattle and roll
I want u to
Whisper then
Softly hum, then
Rock me gently
Till I drift away
Memories of the present
As you trickle down my thigh
leaving a trail, it's mark
I want u to
leave me a note the next day
saying how good it was
How sweet it was
How you're thinking of me
At this moment, this second
I want u to
Admit it ain't never been like this
Never loved like this
Never scared like this
so desperate to ask me
Quietly, consciously
What do u want me to do?

I wrote this next poem after dealing with family wahala after someone dies. The fakeness of it all. The chaos. The chief mourners et al. The ugliest part of humans come out in nigerians after a death.

And No One Came
Tongues wagged
Fingers clapped
Teeth gnashed
Mouths wailed
In the dark
As the veil cometh
And all was silenced
A soul yearned
But no one came

Hollow laughter
Snickers after
Raucous banter
Lazy chatter
In the night
As the thief trumpet
And all was guarded
A spirit called
But no one came

Now he roams
Now he knows
Now they fret
Now regret
The thief is blind
The veil is neigh
Who now will come?
When next it calls?

This is one i wrote a long time ago, can't remember why, just one of those days I guess!!!

That Day
That day I cried rivers
That day I opened my soul unendingly till i shivered
That day I remembered the sun, the sky
The moon all seemed placed under my starlit eye
As I wandered effortlessly amidst the greens, the tees
That day I cried when all I saw pleased
When I found that parking spot down that busy street
And that train all but seemed to wait for me so I could meet
That wonderous black gaze of my wonderous black man
That day I cried for the plight of my tan
In my stand, my skin has erased all possible means
That I should after years, after days, after ways
Burst out of my unruly seams
That day I cried
That day I opened up my soul unendingly till i shivered
That day the sun, the sky, the moon
They took the time to swoon
That day the world cried
That day my alienation died

Ok, i think that's it for today! Ciao!

Life without DSTV and other musings...

Oh my..............I know, i know, i need to update my blog more often, but it's hard to do that when you only have internet at work and it's an open workspace with my boss sitting directly behind me! But it's one of my new month resolutions sha...lol!

I've just read
Jeremy's post and I must say I enjoyed it thoroughly. I don't always agree with Jeremy and sometimes I feel that he has an air of "superiority" in his comments, but I respect his points though as I don't think he means to be malicious. Sometimes his observations are so poignant and on point, I'm recalling his write up on religion, which was teethering on the edge of "anti-religion" but still had very relevant and oh so true points. Anyway, he ruffles feathers which, in my opinion, is not such a bad thing! So back to this particular entry, it's just fantastic! The pictures are absolutely, absolutely beautiful.





You can go to his blog to see more and please do read. It makes me want to go "backpacking" in the north. But I don't think that is too possible! It's quite a shame that it's not as accessible to women as it is to men. Even Jeremy commented that he didn't see to many women out and about so I can't imagine what kind of risk it'd be to be a female traveller/tourist there. Plus Lord knows, i'm petrified of any religious riots cuz I heard those things are B-L-O-O-D-Y, with friends killing friends, neigbours killing neighbours, etc., how much less an unknown female yoruba traveller with an american accent? I don't know.........

Anyway o.........I HAVE NO CABLE!!!!!! aaarghhhhhhhh! The short version is the money was paid into the wrong account, and of course...there's no remedy for that soooo for the next month (I hope!) I have no DSTV! To understand how horrible this is really, I've been in nigeria for a little over a year now and i've NEVER EVER EVER watched local television. The past two weeks however, the gods have somehow decided to punish me. I don't have the words to explain how bad it is. But i'll sho try!!! lol. First off, my particular tv only receives a few stations and they're not clear, 2 NTA channels, MiTv, Galaxy, LTV, Silverbird, and sometimes the new Link 65 though it doesn't have colour. I think the only one missing is AIT which is not clear at all. So there you have it, the local television stations. Most of the time, there's news, which like Adaure said, is not really news but paid hypes for several companies, products, and people. If not that then it's some old, stale, update on what PDP did in Akure over the past weekend, which is always the same diatribe of burning the AC broom and a whole bunch of people ranting on with a very "just-this-much-and-the-money-will-be-flowing" look on their faces......BORING. And then if not news it's an array of sleek televangelists telling you they have the key to your happiness, or you should come to their campground, or there's one that actually says if you come to his church, you'd get married or have a set of twins by the end of the year...i'm still not sure if he's the one doing the impregnating.........ANYWOO, then, it's some poorly produced, poorly shot, sort of program in the realm of sports, or beauty, style, or "women in -----(fill in the necessary industry here). imagine someone sitting on a stool with an obviously black drape background (or worse, some sort of basic computer imposed bright, sometimes, moving background), trying to speak fonee with the aid of a poor script and introducing some lame topic, like where i should go to find beads, or breadmaking, or something. If not, then it's rhythm (sp?) unplugged or soundcity or warreva.....just DULL!!! there's absolutely nothing that's remotely stimulating, or a new idea, or opens up the world, or shows what's going on in other parts of the world, or which when you've finished watching you'd think, wow, I just learned something new, nothing. just DULL. I've taken to reading but i'm afraid i'm running out of things to do to occupy my mind. Anyway, there's always sudoku...

Oh, and if anybody caught it, I was in the Guardian newspaper last weekend, in the Life magazine insert, with a picture and interview. Emilia mentioned something about it to me on Saturday but I seriously thought she was talking to a friend....i'll post a pic tomorrow (i hope!)