Oh my God…Thanksgiving food coma. Like seriously, I woke up this morning, still full. I’m sluggish, bloated and I swear I’ve gained 5 pounds. And do you know the worst? I’m not done yet…oh hell to the no, lol. There is a half a chocolate cake (with cream cheese frosting!), leftover sweet potatoes and stuffing and at least a half a pint of ice cream with my name on it. I refuse to step on the scale and there will be no talk of the gym. The hubby has taken the RR’s to Chuck E. Cheese and to run a few errands and I’m here at home, under the premise that I need to do laundry. In reality, I’m too full and bloated to fit into any of my clothes, and too damn exhausted to move. Today, I am a total couch potato with no remorse. Roll me over and stick me with a fork, I’m done.
Oh and about Black Friday? You can put that where? Right back there.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
G1 anyone?
So I know people just wanna throw up when I talk about how wonderful my hubby is but I’m sorry to say I’m at it again. Now, what did he do you ask?
That man went out and bought me the new G1 phone by T-Mobil…in white nonetheless. I mean, I am not a phone person. Like, literally, if it rings and I can answer it, I’m good. But I have to admit, this phone is off the hookilicious!!! (made that up, right then and there). I have never, I repeat, never had a gadget do the things this phone does (mmm-hmmm, not even that one). I could literally throw out my computer. I mean I can practically one-touch everything. I can get to my email, my bank account, facebook, GPS…you name it, one touch and I’m there. It’s got a full QWERT keyboard which is actually quite easy to use considering the small keys. It’s always online, no looking for hot-spots or Wi-fi and all that stuff so Internet is always at your fingertips and the connection is very good so no dropped service. I mean, I gotta tell y’all, this phone totally does it for me…just like the hubby. Aight, I’m off to go find out what other amazing things it can do…
That man went out and bought me the new G1 phone by T-Mobil…in white nonetheless. I mean, I am not a phone person. Like, literally, if it rings and I can answer it, I’m good. But I have to admit, this phone is off the hookilicious!!! (made that up, right then and there). I have never, I repeat, never had a gadget do the things this phone does (mmm-hmmm, not even that one). I could literally throw out my computer. I mean I can practically one-touch everything. I can get to my email, my bank account, facebook, GPS…you name it, one touch and I’m there. It’s got a full QWERT keyboard which is actually quite easy to use considering the small keys. It’s always online, no looking for hot-spots or Wi-fi and all that stuff so Internet is always at your fingertips and the connection is very good so no dropped service. I mean, I gotta tell y’all, this phone totally does it for me…just like the hubby. Aight, I’m off to go find out what other amazing things it can do…
Monday, November 17, 2008
My-geria
My RR's are still not over their vacation and insist at every turn that they want to go back. RR#1 cried at every turn for about a week and RR#2 loudly proclaimed to anyone who would listen: "Gwanpaw's in My-geria, I going to My-geria!" - read, Nigeria.
They've picked up quite an ensemble of local colloquialisms, if you can imagine the following said in the deep slightly guttural Nigerian accent: "Ah, ah!", "see me trouble o!" and my personal favorite "abeg go jo!". And the thing is that I would actually be ready to take them half seriously if they didn't dissolve into gut-wrenching, hysterical laughter every time they said them. It's like, to them, the words are so unbelievably silly, they couldn't possible hold any real meaning right? And the funny thing is that I kind of get that...considering the range of gesticulations and facial expressions that usually accompany the phrases.
And to make matters worse, I actually do use those phrases with them, often in all seriousness and where do you think that gets me? Zip. Eat your food, jo! Stop that, ah-ah?! Abeg, move, jo! All result in fits of hysterical laughter. So I'm going to have to find some new threats and phrases that will actually resonate in their tiny, warped little minds. Spanglish perhaps? J/k...lol.
They've picked up quite an ensemble of local colloquialisms, if you can imagine the following said in the deep slightly guttural Nigerian accent: "Ah, ah!", "see me trouble o!" and my personal favorite "abeg go jo!". And the thing is that I would actually be ready to take them half seriously if they didn't dissolve into gut-wrenching, hysterical laughter every time they said them. It's like, to them, the words are so unbelievably silly, they couldn't possible hold any real meaning right? And the funny thing is that I kind of get that...considering the range of gesticulations and facial expressions that usually accompany the phrases.
And to make matters worse, I actually do use those phrases with them, often in all seriousness and where do you think that gets me? Zip. Eat your food, jo! Stop that, ah-ah?! Abeg, move, jo! All result in fits of hysterical laughter. So I'm going to have to find some new threats and phrases that will actually resonate in their tiny, warped little minds. Spanglish perhaps? J/k...lol.
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Beautiful Day
Oh, it's a beautiful day. Today I woke up feeling so high, so elated, I literally floated out of bed. I mean, granted, I just came back from a three week vacation, extremely refreshed. And…Obama's heading to the White House…I mean, that alone. But there's something else, I can't quite put my finger on it. And all the usual factors that tend to get to me – my weight, school, work, they're all still there, all still worrisome. I don't know, maybe I'm just getting older and a little more grateful for the little things in life (like how RR#2 has picked up the term "see me trouble o, ah-ah!" after three weeks in the Motherland)? Or maybe it's the holidays? I love the holidays with all the hustle and bustle…I don't know. And why do I have to find out why I'm happy anyway? Why can't I just be freaking happy for no darn reason? I can see it now: "RED ALERT!! RED ALERT!! Happy for no apparent reason" …lol. Anyway, I'll run with it for now and if I figure it out, I'll let you know. In the meantime, enjoy some of my vacation pictures:
At Bar Beach on Lagos Island
Me being silly at the beach...did someone say "Top Model"?
Cooking a pot of rice on open firewood...it's all about the experience right?
Chilling at one of the newer spots in Lagos- Barcelos. Ok, I felt a little skinny here too...lol.
At the Balogun Marketplace...insane!
Friday, October 31, 2008
A World Away
It's been three insane, hectic and glorious weeks since I left New Jersey and though I've done this time and time again, I am never the same. I amaze myself at my ability to adapt to two distincly different worlds. Leaving the relative peace and calm of the developed world where infrastucture is a given and order is taken for granted. Where a single day can be planned weeks, even months in advance and technology literally moves at the speed of light. Into the developing world where organized chaos reigns, scheduling is futile and your day is shaped by whether the powers that be will give you electricity or not. Where traffic jams have no apparent cause and vehicles are besieged by hawkers and vendors selling everything from water baggies (pure water) to electrical heaters to womens' underwear.
But I love it, even thrive in it. There's just something about the sights, smells and sounds of Lagos (Nigeria) that puts me in a comfort zone like no other. Which is really strange because I'm not one to subject myself to anything other than a life of utter and complete, unabashed luxury (to the extent possible). But how can you not love a country where you can do all your grocery shopping in traffic; grease anyones palms to get anything; purchase, peel, dice and eat a pineapple right on the roadside; and bar hop or club until daybreak (alcohol included). Of course there are the tradeoffs...the scorching heat, sporadic electricity, questionable drinking water sources, horrific roads riddled with crater sized potholes and the constant fear that you might be robbed at any given moment. But there's also the warmth of friends and family, the constant socializing at endless events, and the often flagrant almost comical displays of accummulated wealth by the filthy rich.
Alas, all good things must come to an end right? I head out tomorrow. Back to the predictable, safe, haven of the developed world that I call home. It'll be cold now, frost most likely setting in most days. I'll settle down and dig in to work and school, fixing all the messes created in my absence and catching up with deadlines. The kids will be back in school and the hubby will resume his CT-NJ commute. But at least I'll have the memories of another wonderful vacation tucked safely away, to be retrieved on stress filled days and cold winter nights.
But I love it, even thrive in it. There's just something about the sights, smells and sounds of Lagos (Nigeria) that puts me in a comfort zone like no other. Which is really strange because I'm not one to subject myself to anything other than a life of utter and complete, unabashed luxury (to the extent possible). But how can you not love a country where you can do all your grocery shopping in traffic; grease anyones palms to get anything; purchase, peel, dice and eat a pineapple right on the roadside; and bar hop or club until daybreak (alcohol included). Of course there are the tradeoffs...the scorching heat, sporadic electricity, questionable drinking water sources, horrific roads riddled with crater sized potholes and the constant fear that you might be robbed at any given moment. But there's also the warmth of friends and family, the constant socializing at endless events, and the often flagrant almost comical displays of accummulated wealth by the filthy rich.
Alas, all good things must come to an end right? I head out tomorrow. Back to the predictable, safe, haven of the developed world that I call home. It'll be cold now, frost most likely setting in most days. I'll settle down and dig in to work and school, fixing all the messes created in my absence and catching up with deadlines. The kids will be back in school and the hubby will resume his CT-NJ commute. But at least I'll have the memories of another wonderful vacation tucked safely away, to be retrieved on stress filled days and cold winter nights.
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