Love Life Secrets Revealed

Your Love Life Secrets Are

Looking back on your life, you will have a few true loves. You're a little scarred from your past relationships, but who isn't? It's important to you that your lover is very attractive. You like to have someone to show off. In fights, you are able to walk away and calm down. You are able to weather the storm. A break-up usually comes as a shock to you. You always think things are going well.

Your Love Life Secrets, Revealed

All of these are actually true...and they figured this out from pizza versus pasta! Check it out.

Friday and Wierd Things

This is another meme from Lushy's blog which also happens to be my first tag of the month!

List 6 weird things/habits about yourself

1. I don't like pizza. Sure, I'll eat it if I'm dying of hunger and there's nothing else to eat, but I don't particularly enjoy it. It doesn't matter what the toppings are or who makes it, I just can't get past the whole cheese standing solid at room temperature bit...I keep envisioning my arteries getting clogged!
2. I wear winter gloves in the house when I'm on the computer. My hands get cold very easily...and I still want to type--so even though it's almost April and I live in Cali, those gloves remain by my computer stand.
3. I listen to and enjoy country music at times. From the playlist of 1999. When I lived in an apartment where the only radio waves that i could get was country music and classical. And I didn't have any CDs or iPod back then.
4. I'm tactless. And can't even keep my own secrets. I have a tight circle of friends that I eventually spill all my secrets to. At least they all don't know each other...or the whole truth.
5. I've enjoyed my showers ALOT more ever since I got some lavender shower gel. It's almost finished now, but something about the scent of lavender is so relaxing to me.
6. I've retained a bunch of my childhood habits...I leave you to figure out what they are.

Your turn.

Not Idle

"Idleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything." ~ Floyd Dell

You think with a quote like this I would actually be talking about being idle. But it's actually the other way around...I've been ultra busy the last few days. Mainly because in a fit of pique to decrease my idleness, I added a bunch of stuff to my schedule to keep me 'busy'.

I just wanted to give a hearty welcome to all my new readers and old ones. Apparently, yesterday I got the highest number of hits ever this month...is that because I actually did a Meme? I wonder.

Today is Looking Fabulous day. I have a hair appointment for a much needed trim and set, then I'm actually going to the gym and running errands looking gorgeous! Add to that the fact that is a beautiful day outside, what's not to love?

I'm free to do anything...anything at all with my life, with my day, with my aspirations. And I love it.

10 Things

This meme is courtesy of Whoami's blog.

10 Favorites
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Color: To wear...shades of red/pink, to see...shades of blue
Favorite Time: Anything after midnight. I'm a nightowl to the core
Favorite Food: Rice
Favorite Drink: Lemonade
Favorite Ice Cream: Anything vanilla based, cookies 'n cream, cheesecake....mmmm
Favorite Place: Right in front of my computer, or behind the wheel of a car.
Favorite Sport: Yuck! Girly girl to the core here.
Favorite Actor: Currently it's Clive Owen. Something about that accent!
Favorite Actress: Hmm, I don't think I like any of them in particular.

9 Currents
Current Feeling: Accomplished
Current Drink: Water
Current Time: 8.08 am PST
Current Show on tv: Tonight I'm looking forward to watching Heist.
Current Mobile used: Motorola
Current Windows Open: iTunes, Google talk, Firefox, YIM
Current Underwear: Victoria's Secret
Current Clothes: Sweats, wife beater, sweater
Current Thought: I'm hungry

8 Firsts
First Nickname: TeeTos
First Kiss: I was 16. Kissed a whole bunch of guys that year.
First Crush: My older cousin's best friend
First Best Friend: Kit
First Vehicle I Drove: Dodge neon, piece of crap!
First Job: Office assistant to the VP of Academics
First Date: Wow, I don't even remember!
First Pet: Dog...Blackie

7 Lasts
Last Drink: Water
Last Kiss: The Italian
Last Meal: Granola bar
Last Web Site Visited: Baggage Reclaim
Last Movie Watched: The Inside Man
Last Phone Call: Joyci
Last TV show Watched: House

6 Have You Evers
Have You Ever Broken the Law: No
Have You Ever Been Drunk: Yes
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Yes
Have You Ever Been in the Middle/Close to Gunfire: No
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: No
Have You Ever Broken Anyones Heart: Yes

5 Things
Things You Can Hear Right Now: iTunes, Mariah Carey singing 'Shake it Off'
Things On Your Bed: night gown and headwrap. I think my cell is on there too.
Things You Ate Today: Nothing yet
Things You Can't Live Without: My family and the internet
Things You Do When You Are Bored: Surf the internet, call people

4 Places You Have Been Today
Bedroom
Kitchen
Bathroom
Computer room

3 Things On Your Desk Right Now
1 Liter of Water
Oreo cookies
Workout video I just finished

2 Choices
Black or White: Black
Hot or Cold: Hot

1 Place You Want To Visit
Australia baby!

I'm Sooooo Old!!!

I'm not interested in age. People who tell me their age are silly. You're as old as you feel. ~ Henri Frederic Amiel

As of 3/28/2006 1:54:35 PM EST
You are 25 years old.
You are 305 months old.
You are 1,330 weeks old.
You are 9,308 days old.
You are 223,405 hours old.
You are 13,404,354 minutes old.
You are 804,261,275 seconds old.

Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 3.64305283757339 years old. (Life's just a big chewy bone for you!)

There are 188 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 26 candles.

Try your Birthday Calculator HERE.

First Anniversary

Wow, I just noticed that my blog turned 1 year old today. Happy Birthday to Mysterious Meander! It's a wonder that I didn't even know what the blogging deal was about a year past. It's amazing how many super cool people I've met and how much fun I've had. Thanks to everyone for sticking through the many venting spiels and gripes.

Here's to 365 more days of blogging.

Folic Acid

~ This is a picture taken behind the University of Lagos.

I have a problem...a huge one. I hate taking pills with a fervor that is close to dedication. Especially pills on a daily basis. I've known ever since I was about 6 years old that I've had sickle cell. I've known the treatment, the prevention, and everything I had to do consistently to maintain the state of equilibrium that prevents an exacerbation.

And yet, when it comes to that one simple task of taking Folic acid on a regular basis...I shy away from it. I remember once telling my mom that I wouldn't have to take folic acid if I ate alot of green, leafy vegetables. Even I knew that it was bull and she just gave me that look that signified that she knew I was tripping.

Whenever someone asks what pills I'm taking...I automatically say folic acid. I lie to my doctor, my concerned mom, everyone who cares. But I can't lie to myself.

The thing about it is that when I'm well...I'm soooooooo well. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me and I feel just like a normal person. Man...I love it when I'm well. Occasionally, when something is out of wack (stress, cold, dehydration, my period, exhaustion, plane flights), then I might feel the painful twinges that are a reminder of my vulnerable state.

However, I believe in mind over matter. If I will my body to be better, then it should be right? Wrong. Once I get the first twinges of pain I might be able to head it off for a few weeks by staying on the straight and narrow. But sometimes my best efforts fail and I have to take to bed for a few days until the crises passes.

I'm going to try to take the folic acid regularly. Hopefully it will ward off mini-crises and prevent major ones. I'm adding it to my exercise regimen...as a vitamin along with the protein shakes and stuff. We'll see how that goes.

Back in Action!!!

I'm heading to the gym! Yay, I'm so happy:) I will let you all know how that goes...and if I survive my first workout post-illness.

Meanwhile, I leave you to enjoy more pictures on my ongoing expose on the beautiful country that is my home. This is a picture of Port Harcourt, one of the major oil cities on the southern edge as taken from a hotel room at dawn.

More to come.

My Beloved Country

Ever since I've made the decision to go back home, I've been almost overwhelmed with the number of things I have to get straightened out before I leave. I'm excited, and exhilirated at the same time, and yet still very, very scared.

A few days ago I logged into my account at 43 Places. It's a website predominantly for people who travel. You post where you want to go, where you have been and where in the world you would like to be again. I clicked on the page for Nigeria, and it was very little positive stuff on the page. This sent me into a fit and I wrote a long rant about how beautiful and cool Nigeria is. Then I spent the next 3 hours uploading pictures to the website from Flickr and my personal collection, just to combat the negative images that most people had put up there.

Nigeria isn't any worse than any other country. It's infinitely more different than the US but not as rustic and uncivilized as the National Geographic makes Africa seem. We have cell phones, internet access, roads, highways, bridges and every other hallmark of 'civilazation'. The main shocker besides the hot, humid climate will be the teeming mass of people found in Lagos (New York equivalent).

The people are definitely friendlier than over here, and very, very hospitable. Sure there are the crooks and thieves like any other country, but for the most part, Nigerians are very hardworking, pleasant, industrious and friendly people.

If you have a chance to go visit Abuja (Washington DC), it's even more beautiful and organized than DC. If you swoop over to the southern tip and visit Port Harcourt, you will be stunned by the beauty of the vistas. It's rugged, it's green, it's home.

And there is nothing wrong with it. Nothing at all.

Pros and Cons

Well, here's my penchant for making lists once again. I was talking to my really good friend about my new decision. We have been analysing the pros and cons, and I have to say, the pros are definitely more than the cons.

Cons:

1. I'm going to miss my friends: Ok, but I will still keep in contact and I'll see them when I get back.
2. It's so far away: Long trip, clear on the other side of the world. It's a 14-hour flight, 8 over the Atlantic, and 6 hours from Europe to Nigeria. Plus there is that long 4-6hour layover in Europe. However, my mom will be with me, plus I'll have my iPod/laptop and some books. I'll be ok.
   
3. Feelings of failure: Well....I'm sure that I will be assailed with them when I finally get over the joys of being back home. However, I'll deal with them, as I have this past year.
   
4. I have to pack: And you guys know how much I hate to pack!
5. Plus, I must decongest my life. I'm only going with 2 suitcases, so everything else must be gotten rid of or packed for when I get back.
6. If I fall sick.....: I'm not even going to go there. I'm going to take my meds, take all the anti-malaria stuff and just stay healthy. I'm not going to fall sick, and if I do, I'm going to be ok. I've been sick there before, and I'm still living. Main treatment for a sickle cell exacerbation is the same wherever you go....Rest, Pain meds, Hydration and if needed a blood transfusion. I'm not going to get any blood, I just got a whole bunch last week so I should be ok till I get back;)
7. Restrictions: This is probably going to be the hardest part. I'm leaving my carefree, wild, I-can-do-whatever-I-want life for the restrictive, all eyes watching, pastor's daughter of a ultra conservative church role. There are a swarm of restrictions that I won't even go into, but I've recognized a majority of them and I'm prepared to put on the mask. I know that I can do it for a short period of time, hopefully, if it's longer than expected...then I will get accustomed to it.
8. No Sex: I'm voluntarily going to take a vow of celibacy until I get back. I do plan to stock up on batteries and a new toy from Good Vibes if I absolutely must, so I don't think I will implode. The reasoning here...see #7, as well as the fact that I don't trust Naija boys as far as I can throw them.

Pros:

1. Rent Free/No Bills at all!: I can live in any of my parent's four houses rent free for as long as I want. My dad lives in Lagos, my mom works and commutes to a town that is an hour away. I can stay with either of them, or go to the family home in the village, or go visit sundry relatives and friends until I get sick of the touristy stuff. Yes, I'm going to shamelessly live off my parents for the duration.
   
2. House help: Yeah, even I have to see this as a perk. Sure, I'll clean sometimes, but my parents have a maid as well as a driver. Perk? I think yes!
3. Visit with my Family/relatives: I haven't seen my grandmother in ages, and even I know that she's not going to live forever. Plus, add my 1001 cousins, nieces and nephews, and I'm going to be visiting with people for a solid 3 months if not more. I will be in the warm embrace of mia familia. Plus, I've missed home, the weddings, the parties etc.
4. FOOD!!! I will have as much Naija food as I want all the damn time! I'm already salivating over thoughts of getting some suya(spicy kabobs), Iya Gbadun's soup/rice, pounded yam with egusi soup, yam pottage, garri...and pretty much everything. My, just thinking of this makes me hungry for some good Naija food!
5. New Visa: I'll be able to update my passport and get a new visa, so when I return, I can work and go to school, travel, live my life and do whatever. Now that is a HUGE perk!
6. Church: As much as I like my church here in Cali, I've missed going to church in Nigeria. It's different, the moods, the attitudes, the traditions. I can listen to my dad's sermons again in the flesh and not just tapes.
   
7. Work: I plan to work over there just to add a little international flavor to my resume. Plus maintain some of my nursing skills for when I get back! There's a US-style hospital in Lagos looking for US-trained nurses and doctors. Providence? Yes.
8. The Advent: When I come back, it's going to be a whole new ballgame. My life is going to be able to attain my full potential as well as my plans. There will be absolutely no restrictions on anything I do or want to do. How cool is that?
   

On Knowing

It is impossible for you to fully know the depths and full facets of your character in your lifetime. The quest of life is to keep searching. ~ Vixen

I was watching a History of Violence yesterday. It came out last year, starring Viggo Mortenson. It's a poignant movie, that catches you and envelops you in each of the main characters. It's directed by the same dude who did Crash. I highly recommend it.

The truth of the matter is that you can never really know what you would do in a certain situation unless you are in that situation. You might hypothetically think that you might react a certain way, but without the feelings and emotions associated with it, you really can't know how you would act.

I've been taking it easy the last few days, catching up the blogreading, my emails and sleep, really trying to find my footing once again. To my utter dismay my beautiful muscles have somehow disappeared in the last fortnight and I'm back to square one. Very, very annoying! I can't even feel the muscles in my legs, and they were the most developed a few weeks ago. Such a crying shame.

I'm planning to take it easy for the weekend and get back into the swing of everything on Monday. Hopefully, I will still remember how to act in the gym and such.

Anyway, enough ranting for today. As you see, I have nothing witty at all to say!

Convalescence

My illness has taught me something about the nature of humanity, love, brotherhood and relationships that I never understood, and probably never would have. So, from that standpoint, there is some truth and good in everything. ~ Lee Atwater

I've been sick for 14 days. 12 of those days were spent in the hospital. 2 different hospitals. Oh, and I had a 2 day stint where I was home but had a relapse. So needless to say my last 2 weeks have totally sucked. But I'm glad that I'm alive. As soon as I got home, I jumped into the shower and got to experience a marvel of all marvels...HOT RUNNING WATER!!!

While I was ill, I had alot of time to think. I thought about my life, my choices, my decisions, my friends and my situation. I actually made some pretty tough decisions, during the more lucid stages of my stay.

1. I'm going back to Nigeria. It's home and there is nothing wrong with it. There is no future for me here, nothing but a seething vacuum of mediocrity. I can't work, I can't go to school and I barely exist. I need to go back to where I started and rebuild my life over again. Ever since I made that decision, my heart has been lighter and my choices have become more clear cut. I've told most of my dear friends and have even picked a date. July 25.
2. I've realised who my true friends are and who the fair weather friends are. It isn't until calamity strikes that you actually have a clearer vision of the depth of your friendships. So once again, I've been able to weed out the chaff and keep around me only die-hard true friends.
3. I'm addicted to my computer. Of everything I missed, I missed the internet with a ferocity that belied even my own comprehension. I knew I was getting better when on Days 9-12, I called my sister and had her read my email to me just to keep me kind of abreast. I couldn't convince her to read all your blogs to me, so I have much catching up to do!
4. I want to strangle my room-mate. She is a little old lady who when she is well, is probably a sweet thing. But when she is sick and in pain, she is a screaming, whiny, complaining verigo that made me want to reach over the curtain and smack her several times. She complained nonstop 24/7, hated everything and everyone and was so negative that I sometimes pressed my pain button even when I didn't need to just to get enough to fall asleep! Some of her opinions were quite prejudiced and alot of her comments made me want to scream. But I managed to restrain myself and not commit manslaughter in the hospital. She even told me when I was leaving that she was going to miss me so much!
5. I love my life. I have the very best family, the very best friends and the very best of everything. I have nothing at all to complain about even with the sickle cell. It could be alot worse!

I'm still sick

I'm still sick, i had a relapse and i'm back in d hospital and i feel like crap, i miss the blogosphere. I miss my friends, I miss u all
On d sunny side, my pain is being controlled really really well.
Take care have a good weekend everyone.

Did You Miss Me?

The more serious the illness, the more important it is for you to fight back, mobilizing all your resources - spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical. ~ Norman Cousins

To the uninformed, I've been sick ever since last week Thursday. I actually had to be rushed to the hospital via ambulance with some complications arising from my sickle cell. The EMT was so utterly fabulous (as well as a delectable piece of eye candy), that I even in my pain induced and hyperventilating state managed to notice. He put an 18 gauge IV needle in my arm (which is usually full of hapless veins that noone can put an IV in) -- all this while being ensconced in the back of the moving ambulance on a bumpy road (I did feel every single bump!)

Anyway, the hospital stay was unremarkable and mostly uneventful. My blood levels were low but my doctors decided not to give me a blood transfusion (thank goodness!), the food was utterly abysmal but I really wasn't hungry anyway. I got wonderful doses of LEGAL drugs that left me in a happy daze most of the time. Which was good because it helped me avoid interacting with my psychotic roommate, who cussed out everyone--the nurses, the staff, the hospital administrator and the doctors, but who managed to leave me out of the cursing because I was out of it.

I'm home now, still get tired very easily, sleep about 16 hours during the day and am trying to keep up with my fluids and meds. Hopefully I will be back to my vixenish self by the weekend.

Thanks for all the lovely phone calls, emails and loving care from everyone and yes, it's good to be back.

Who Are You?

I came across this in my inbox today and simply had to share with everyone.

---

SO WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU?

The things you do are important to you.
Yet they are not who you are.

The words you speak serve to express you.
Even so, they are not who you are.

The circumstances of your life give you a context in which
to operate.
However, those circumstances do not define you.

The problems you have, the possibilities that are open to
you, the challenges you face, the value you've created are
all connected to you. Yet they are not who you are.

Your past tells the story of what you've been through, and
your future gives you space in which to grow.

Your past and the future are not you, though.

You are beyond your words, your actions, your circumstances,
your challenges, your accomplishments, your past history
and your future opportunities.

So who exactly are you?



You are the person who can give it all meaning, and beauty, and love.

~ Ralph Marston

Blue Star

We promise you intelligence for your life. We're here to make you smarter, healthier, better at everything you do. We're going to help you live to be 100 years old or more....... ~ John Tesh

Yippee! I got my blue star on Ebay today. For the Ebay-challenged, it means that I have officially had 50 transactions with other Ebayers. I really have 62, but they don't count votes of the person that you bought something from more than once.

The item...The Quarterlifer's Companion. A book suggested by a friend in NY to help me through this year of my life. Apparently, I'm a quarterlifer if I'm living till 100...which is so not going to happen!

Can you imagine me blogging at a 100 years old? I have never imagined me living that long. I know you are going to say that I shouldn't sell myself short, but really, who would I be hanging out with? All my homies would be pushing up daisies and all that I have to amuse myself with are my rambunctious great grand kids. They will just be laughing at me all the time talking about DVDs, the internet, iPods and CDs!

Nope, I'm not going to live to be a hundred. Maybe 99 though.

Achievement

The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval. ~ Denis Waitley

Each day that I get up, I'm amazed that I even have any life in me at all. The days are blurring together in a mass of mediocrity and monotony that is bound to drive even the most excitable person into a truly introspective state.

There isn't anything wrong with me, I'm doing great. I have nothing at all to complain about, I have a roof over my head, food in my stomach and loving friends and family around me.

And yet...I want more.

More of everything, more challenges, more work, more drama, more things to write about. The highlight of my day shouldn't be my exploits in the gym...that is banal, that is trite and I don't think anyone wants to hear of how I burnt 200 odd calories that evening.

I feel like all around me the world is moving and I'm stuck in a vacuum, a void of stagnancy. It's not the fact that I'm bored, for truly I'm not. I get invited to events all the time but end up turning most down just to stay home and be introspective. Remember last year when each weekend was a whirlwind of all kinds of interesting activities? Well this year, I can't even be bothered. I have no wish to do anything, I feel that mindless entertainments are only wasteful and shortlived.

I want more. I need more.