The weekly update

Started the semester finals on Monday, and it’s just my luck that the last one is in a few hours time. Funny how exam time changes people because it seems you all have this one thing in common, this inevitable thing, that’s gut wrenching and stressing. I discovered this when I was sitting outside of the exam room and this girl walked towards me...well towards the room to be exact. She then proceeded to greet me...by name and ask how I was. Of course the fact that she knew my name threw me off a bit, there are some people you see around but never talk to and therefore never consider that they would know your name. After all there is something intimate about a person’s name. We proceeded to discuss the exams questions we might face.
Even the Barbies are being very friendly, which is kinda weird and unnerving, considering that they are Barbies all the time. Exam time changes people...I’ll be glad when it’s over as I am in need of a well deserved break.

In Obama News

Of course with the inaugaration looming evryone is debating on what Mrs. O should wear and the top name designers are falling over each other and getting their sketches in. Personally I have three favourites. One by my favourite designer Christian Lacroix for the dramatic-ness of it all


, and then every bride’s fave designer Monique Lhuiller for something glamourous


and then last but not least perennial First Lady favourite Oscar de la Renta for the sheer simplicity and elegance



The full portfolio is at wwd.com

Thanksgiving Take 2

The Obamas braved the cold to hand out thanksgiving meals. And I was thankful, that I was almost done with my degree, I had a job in the financial services area when a lot of people were losing theirs, that I have a Bf who loves me, that I was not in Mumbai ( still praying for everyone there - there is a heart breaking story of a little boy his name's Moshe[means saviour] whose parents ran the Jewish centre Chabad House, they were killed in front of him). Sad, just sad.


These are trying times we live in, I look back and think I want to be a kid again and not have all these worries, because it seems then, that life was not harsh.


It's all political

Apparently the prez was buying the new Mrs O a $30k ring, peanuts compared to Bee's $5m Lorraine Schwartz bauble, of course it's all rumour, why do people always suffer from PHDs (pull him/her down syndrome??) Anways word is that people are out to make them to be elitist and not down to earth, watevs *rolls eyes*

I am however loving the dual Essence cover, it's going to be worth a mint in 10 years time. Mrs O brings the hotness and if she wasn't married to him, I'd jack him and make a baby daddy, all that swagger on one man ain't good.



Speaking of politics, the Secretary of State is Hillary Clinton, interesting choice, good one nonetheless.

Music minute

OMG I am loving me some Sol-angel, chick has been underrated, suppose that's what happens when your sister is Bee. I felt her since her Feelin u days but chick went and stepped up her game with T.O.N.Y. which has been on replay much to my Bf's annoyment...LOL. I also dropped some extra hard hints as to my christmas pressie...the album of course!



Love the ending with the photo of her and her son, beautiful.

Knocked out of my Obama fever

So my birthday has come and gone and I did not notice, well not that I didn’t notice I have just been on a high since Nov 4. Well that was until yesterday. In my final class before holidays if you call them that one of the Barbies went and complained that a mid term was highly unfair as it required knowledge that she did not possess. The gall of that girl!! What’s worse was that she batted her pretty little long lashes and the Dean of the school said yes, you are right. I mean seriously pick up any newspaper and it’ll tell you about the financial crisis come on; it’s even in the rags that she reads. It’s funny because we have actually had some genuinely serious complaints regarding other lecturers but when we voiced those concerns we were told to suck it up!! Hypocrisy, discrimination!!

So sad that the whole of the sunshine state is on fire, I mean damn shame. P.s Barack is one of the GQ men of the year *sigh* pure hawtness (Michelle O is one lucky 1st lady- totally addicted to their love fests now- keep it real).

Anyway I am going to turn the blind eye. Onto other disturbing news, I am going to Australia mate*hehehe* had to chuck that in there sometime next year, after the inauguration obviously so I got a friend to help me move some of my ish into storage. Now my friend has been dating this oafish, possessive guy for the past year (seriously in her case love is definitely blind) and she volunteered to help. All cool with me till her dude got involved now he all up in face acting like he’s king and I should be all sorts of grateful, n*gga stop, I almost went and did a b*tch please on his as*. Now I have a feeling that my friend, well she ain’t going to be one for long.

I wonder is there anyone who lost a girl/boyfriend because of their or maybe your relationship?
Speak on it.

Been darn cold of late.

Ladies and Gentlemen presenting Mr President

Hope is still alive!!!


This right herr is history in the making, I have 5secs to present the 44th President Elect - Barack Obama. OMG been out celebrating, I have friends all over the world, who ain even American celebrating! Check out the fabulousness that is the First Family below:


Barack, Sasha, Malia and my nu style icon Michelle O.


Barack the symbol and agent of change, change is a' comin ya heard!!!! My people definitely rocked that vote and we'll be talking about this in the same lines with Abe Lincoln, JFK, MLK.

*on a side note*
Out of curiosity though, if the prez was Republican would he have gotten in?

Thanksgiving

I often find that when I blitch and blitch and blitch it get a lot of ish off my chest, but the recent tragedy that befell J.Hud had me thinking. I am in a prestigious university and I can barely make my tuition fee payments and yet in perspective I am better off than her (seeing as I wasn't given a raise and the bank that was funding my tertiary loan went under)...the loss of family is always bad, but to lose them in that way is even sadder.

Then there's the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in this day and age...I fear people will sit up and take notice a decade from now like they did the Rwandan genocide.


Another sad story is that of a Somali rape victim who was stoned to death, or the albinos in Tanzania who are victims of witchcraft and all sorts of madness. I realise at times like these that, well, I may not have what I want or be where I want to be, but thank God I am not there.

Gotta go, I have a mid term to study for and assignments to finish.

Girly Business

A lot of guys think this is overshare...they can jump! If you have a GF, sister, mom – everyone has one then at some point in their lives those women are going to experience cramps or period pains. I remember when I told my BF, I expected him to say, “Yuck, overshare!” I think it’s good that men know what women go through in order to help them... I did a lil survey among my friends. One friend said she recalls a day she was in bed with her BF and he was reading a mag and the sound of him turning the page irritated her so much she told him to stop imagine 5secs later she was going off at him about breathing loudly and then crying at the drop of a hat because he left her alone. Funny story, but in all seriousness some pains are so bad they make people bed ridden. I had a friend who used to miss class once a month.

I recently found a nifty trick apart from lying on all fours with a hot water bottle against the stomach, a cup of warm milk with a teaspoon of honey and sprinkling of cinnamon works well, well for me it does. So ladies (and guys – your GF might stop telling you to stop breathing) if you try it and it works or doesn’t and you have ideas that might help send a comment.
I faked that I was feeling ok, and then couldn’t move for an hour when I got to work. And I had to go to uni afterwards, drove my poor BF up the wall with worry.

The weather and weekly recap

It’s becoming chillier everyday; I wait can’t for the break... I was a star in today’s lecture. It was a surprise lecture in which one of my old and fave lecturers came and gave us what he thought was his “last lecture,” little does he know that the students are petitioning to have him take the full course. I have never meet anyone who is so passionate about law...it’s insane. Anyway back to me being a star, he picked on me (partially because I was the only student he recognized in the class...it’s good being the only black person, who are more unforgettable!! Especially if you participate in class discussions).

Highlight of the lecture was when ‘I am talkative Barbie’ freaked when someone cut her off...long gone are the days when people raise their hands if they had something to say. Anyway she started going off indignantly at the other Barbies *laugh* but that was not the end of it when I was asked to attempt a case study she shot gunned and was put in her place, maybe I should have warned them that THIS lecturer doesn’t take any crap...he’s ol’ school with cuff links and shoes with lace. Ah well they learnt something new today.

The picture above is what I can look forward to when I head for the land down under. I told the BF that I couldn’t wait to see the great outback, he says,” it’s right there, “pointing at my butt.

He is recovering in the ICU - again. I guess that’s what I like about him...his cheekiness and ability to make laugh when I’m having horrendous period pains...that’s another story for another day.

Had an exam, sorta like a mid term. I finished it in the 1st 10mins, which either says I am a genius or I didn't know jack( personally I prefer the former). spending the rest of the weekend off daydreamin about sandy white beaches and surf...yeah this chick surfs!

The week so far

The BF critiqued or rather massacred butchered assignment, so much for constructive criticism, anyway I handed him what he thought was the finished product with his corrections taken into account.

Instead it was a little story:"Fresh from the shower, I stood in front of the mirror complaining to my husband that my breasts were too small.

Instead of characteristically telling me it's not so, he uncharacteristically came up with a suggestion.

'If you want your breasts to grow, then everyday take a piece of toilet paper and rub it between them for a few seconds.'

Willing to try anything, I fetched a piece of toilet paper and stood in front of the mirror, rubbing it between my breasts.

'How long will this take?' I asked.
'They will grow larger over a period of years', my husband replies.
    
I stopped. 'Do you really think rubbing a piece of toilet paper between my breasts every day will make my breasts bigger over the years?'
 
 
 

Without missing a beat he says, 'Worked for your backside, didn't it?'    
 
He is still alive, and with physiotherapy, he may even walk again.  Stupid, stupid man." THE END. Don’t mess with a black chick.

The surprise: I knew something was up, the BF is an exchange student and has planned to take me home...to meet his parents...no boy takes a chick home to meet his parents if he’s not serious *cough*. Now I’m prepping for the trip down under! Yep. He’s Australian mate, lmao. OMG just realised this will be like Guess Who?! (Ashton Kutcher), only I’m meeting his parentals...he hasn’t told them I’m black either, should be interesting – once you go black you ain never goin back. I hope they are like the Fockers.

I discovered something utterly amazing, the Barbies are actually good people *cough* if you overlook the vanity etc, you just have to catch them separately. I sat next to one of them, I think that’s the only class she’s by herself, and she almost looked vulnerable without the herd. It was nice chatting to her for the whole of 5 minutes before I zoned out, there’s only so much class politics I can take.
Got suggestions I show off my mad photography skills on my blog, bring on the fun times!!

Annual reviews at work, doing a good job, have improved past expectations yadda yadda yadda, show me the money!!


 

New month, New beginnings

Well sorta, every time I want to blitch about the world and how it’s mistreating me, I feel immensely ashamed when I find someone who is in a far more dire position than myself. For example the Show Me Campaign, that John Legend (one of my fave musos) is involved with. It can’t be all bad I think there should be some leeway to allow yourself a bit of sympathy once in a while and then get back to the cause of saving the whales or eradicating poverty.

So for the month of October I have promised to highlight others’ plight. It’s fitting since it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and I lost an aunt to the disease so I urge all ladies to remain vigilant in self examination. Think pink people!!

I love the weekend, I’m going to late mass and then a movie with the BF most likely Eagle Eye – big Shia fan. Horoscope says expect an awesome gift.

Monday Blues

The weather is just perfect, a little crisp but sunny and cloudless and I find myself in the train on my way to work. On such a beautiful day, I imagine I could have been at the beach, not in the water though. There’s nothing like gazing at the ocean and marvelling at the vast greatness of it, kind like star gazing another one of my chill out exercises.

Anyway the highlight of today was bolting out of work in a mad dash for the train...don’t like public transport sometimes and of course when you’re in a hurry Murphy’s Law dictates that they’d be someone dragging their fat as* as at the speed of a snail. Reason for the hurry is that I had to make it to uni before 5 to hand in an assignment with a measly grade, after hustling to get to the train and running in heels from the station to uni (forget going to my room to change 1st) I am glad (relieved and tired) to say I got it in at a minute before 5, talk about cutting it close.

Anyway went back home for a quick shower and snack before my class which I slept through. Dead tired. Walked in and off to bed now.

The importance of being black

The Slave Shift
I have been working the slave shift and I ain’t paid sh*t. That’s what comes to mind when I think of my job and what’s most upsetting is that one of the partners had the gall to tell me I was lucky to be there because of my skin colour....oh really. In this day and age, if he had said that he was looking at someone else’s stellar resume I wouldn’t have been so pissed but the fact that he went and told me that when he liked my resume when he saw it, but didn’t like my skin colour is a bit out of line.

Honestly I know that I'm the only person of colour in a 25 storey building and do not need someone making me feel self conscious about that fact. I love being who I am but I do not think I should be defined by the colour of my skin. I am balck and I am proud.

Black men

What is wrong with black men as fathers, such disappointments? I love my brothers but I hope as hell they do not end up like the man who moonlights as our father. As far as being one he has been an absolute failure, leaving our mother to fend for us by herself and coming back like a dark cloud...full of promises of rain but never delivering then finally leaving for good. Children always think that they are in the wrong because of what is said to them etc, well my father did the best he could to break me. “you’ll never find a man,” “you’ll never keep a man,” “you’re worthless,” I noticed that these words though just words had been deeply ingrained in me that I did not notice them until I met my current boyfriend (He is by Heather Headley comes to mind when I think of him), it’s sad and good that he has been able to help me undo years of verbal abuse. Sad because no little girl thinks her daddy will hurt her, good because I have learnt to trust and believe in myself, suppose that’s the funny thing about being in love, you see yourself in the eyes of the person you love and in them you learn to look at yourself differently.

And for father’s day Barak made a statement a lot of people thought was talking down to African Americans, but it’s true...men should stick around and be good fathers. I suppose that’d be a reason I’d vote for him...he’d make a great father of the nation.

In the current issue of Essence Mo’Nique, God bless her, tells of her abuse and how no one did anything especially her father who is supposed to protect her. I am so sick and tired of this patriarchal society, and funny thing is I am not even a feminist. Do men know how much they affect their children...now you hear a new Fritzl case every second day. Are there any decent fathers out there?!!!!
Much love for my sisters, you are all my superwomen.

Weekend

It has been a slow weekend, catching up with a long lost friend and indulging in our favorite activity (window shopping), catching up with chores and going to a night mass.

Nothing like the sound of the choir to soothe troubled minds. The homily was rather interesting...it was the 11th hour. The parable of how a vineyard owner paid workers who started work early the same wage as those who had started late. Of course in today's society we would see that as being unfair because of how we are brought up believing in what's equitable. That said this demonstrates how divine He is to be so generous. Food for thought.

Growing Pains

At the end of angst filled teenage years you'll emerge a new person, go to uni, no more outbreaks, awkward moments when talking to boys, lots of parties and sex, and no nagging parents. Well uni has fulfilled 1 promise..definitely no nagging parents, they are in another state, and there are definitely lots of parties to go to(I mean the weekend starts on Thursday). About the sex...that's a lie, so are the awkward moments (I just choked when I spoke to THE hottest guy in my class) and the breakouts...well I am damn near adulthood and I'm still dealing with acne*sigh*

Having said that I have decided to hate uni. I have been in it for way too long. I love orientation though, watching the newbies in their awkward shuffle looking for familiar faces, I suppose it's the same as 1^st day of class. You walk in, hope you'll see a familiar face ...a safety net. Unfortunately this fall I do not have that luxury, instead I am stuck with the nastiest popular girls in my program “The Barbies.” The Barbies are like well Barbie only they are not all blonde and definitely not leggy. What annoys me so much about them is they want the lecturer's attention, and they want the class no the world to know how this class relates to their very being, they are a vapid bunch at best.

Unfortunately for my 1^st class I was stuck behind them, with their non stop chatter. The lecture dragged on but at least I got through it with some knowledge regarding how the government taxes its citizens...yes riveting stuff I know. Now I have to go and prepare for another class, the 1^st week at uni....great my life suddenly seems bleak. I need a holiday.