time and planning

Its one year since Osama’s death. And that’s not the issue for me as much as the length of time that has passed! ONE YEAR! It was this time 12 months ago – what am I doing? what have I done in times past? Where is time going? Jeez! This is how we get old and we don’t even know it. Tick tock, so much time going past. So many plans, not so much time to execute. This quote below reminds me of that:

“You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of shore.” Admiral Rickover

a little background … why i do this

So I have been going through a week (OK a few actually) of posting short little things and running. And this is no different! I know why I started to blog, many moons ago – because I had read so many blogs and some I loved so much and felt like the writer and I were friends, some had witty writing and I figured I could do the same, others, were just a peep show and who doesn’t love to have front row seats to someone else’s life? But then, I also wanted to start a blog coz there were some blogs that I didn’t wanna be like.

• I don’t like photography blogs at all. I oddly enough read blogs for the writing as well.
• I don’t like blogs that have graphics telling the story. Just tell the story. Occasionally it works, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.
• I don’t like blogs that are arranged in newspaper style as opposed to one with two/three columns

This has sparked a little idea in my mind and I will try and share about the blogs that I love to read.

Added:  I also don’t like blogs written by more than one person. I can tell both voices apart but its always harder to get into!

… and the winner is

Source

All I’d say, never wear the wig ever again!

Viola Davis decided to ditch the wig she traditionally wears in favour of her little ‘fro. How young does she look!

This totally shows the finger to all the glossies that imagine that when african women with natural hair want a make over, they are secretly crying out for a weave intervention.  Sometimes, they just want to have their hair done up like Viola on the right.

ION, it would have been nice if she had worn the Oscar for Best Actress, watched the Help and she did a phenomenal job!

interior decorator for the day

Disclaimer and Caveat: Not my pics, did not take the source but they are definitely NOT MINE. (Please let me know the source if you happen to know).

This is just stuff I found on my laptop and wanted to dump here … but they are decor stuff that I’d love to have one day!

man down

The post’s title is from the Rihanna song that I have been playing in the background all week.

This afternoon, I went to do my hair and got talking to my stylist and this is an abridged version of that conversation.

The guy doing my hair always has this huge turban and looks full on Rastafari and once we got speaking about hair and why we wear our dreadlocks. In my case, it is a hair style but for him it is a whole spiritual thing. He tried to convince me otherwise but we decided to agree to disagree. Then we met today.

He started my asking what I do and when I said, he wanted to know what economists do. Tricky one, without having to go through the limited needs and unlimited wants first year vybe. So then he tried to guess my age and I thoroughly disabused him of the notion that I am a young ‘un. Then silence, while I savoured my hair wash when he randomly asked me if I like to go out (to set the mood, the music at Knoxx is largely Reggae and blares fairly loud) as he was dancing through some song and I twisted my nose and said no. So he asked why not and I said, well, I don’t have time and I am not really a fan of the whole going out scene. Silence again. Then he asked me, are you married? (Side note: I wear a silver band on my left fourth finger AND, I didn’t know where this conversation was headed). So I say yes and he then asked, so does your husband (Side note: always said, I’d call my husband, Hubstar or The Hubs, so henceforth, acquaint yourself with relevant terms) also not go out? I say no, fictitious Hubstar works too hard to go out in the evenings. So he asks, what time is too late and I say, 8 to 9 on most evenings. And then he asks, what time does he leave in the mornings? I say 6:30. So then he asks, doesn’t that put a strain on the relationship. when do you guys get to hang out? And I say at the weekends, and on the few occasions that he does come home earlier than that, we hang out and its not so bad. Then Silence. So later, he asks, do you have kids? I said no. Do you want any? Nope! He then asks, does The Hubs know this, with a look of such pity for the poor imaginary Hubs). So finally, he got talking about himself and his chick and the crux of this post.

He was telling me how God’s order to all of us was to go forth and multiply and that we need to do that. So I nod and ask him if he has any kids and he said no, and how he told his current chick that if they ever had any kids, he would have to have them tested. And first I didn’t hear that bit so I say,huh and he repeats it again. Turns out, he has been with the chick for four years and in the last year, she has stepped out on their relationship and played him and that’s why he told her to her face, turn up preggers and I’m getting the kid tested to check its mine! So then, he goes on to tell me how he found out she had played him. (If you are wondering, I was at the salon for about 1.5 hours, hence the intensity of the conversation.) Apparently, she was crying and this dude came and comforted her and he kissed her and she kissed him back and the rest is history. So he asked her, why didn’t you think of me while you were doing this? Good Q. But apparently, he got so pissed off, he HIT her. He beat her up and then he cut her hair. Apparently, the latter is prescribed by the Rastafari community and for certain “baddies”, the prescribed punishment is cutting of said (spiritual) hair.

What pissed me off about all of this is the double standard. The fact that, he beat her and no one cut his hair and it was fine for him. He went on to say how he had been provoked to the point of no return and how he needed to stand up and let her know she was woman and he was man! There’s other ways to prove this point, me thinks! There is no justification for beating a woman and that’s it! There is nothing more that anyone can say. He tried to argue and say that he had been pushed to breaking point, one time too many and he had to  do this. No, nothing like she made you do this. I agree, that in relationships you do have ups and downs and moments when you drive each other to breaking point and while the guy might argue that she made me do it, what does he think she will do when he similarly provokes her? There is no possible explanation to beating women or men. Walk away and when it gets to the point where you are done walking, split up. Its not worth it.

 

afternoon break

Always goes so much better with this:

What is it you ask? A strong cup of rooibos tea with a portion of steamed milk …. a red cappuccino if you may. New love!

Anything new caught your fancy of late?

party time

Last Wednesday was a double, double celebration.

My parents enjoyed their 37th wedding anniversary and we continue to pray that they would grow together and more and more in love.

One of my friends also celebrated her 26th birthday and we went to Odd Café in Greenside. They serve breakfast all day, mhhhh and other healthy snacks (on a day when I was so hungry, I could have eaten a cow :p). It was nice to chill with a new bunch of people and especially as it was so cold and I had considered cancelling.

its all relative, or is it?

I am a little concerned about the Jules High School rape charges ( that first were and then were dropped and then morphed into statutory rape charges) and thing is I can’t even pin my finger on the exact issue.

By way of background, the 15 year old female student allegedly claimed that she had been drugged and then raped by a group of boys. Turned out later that they were only two, as later that week two boys were arrested and then the charges dropped following lack of evidence. This is despite the fact that the video of the same act, had gone viral in the school and was allegedly available online for a mere R10 (1.4245 USD).  Now, this post is not even profound and I might even totally miss the entire argument and all the nuanced thoughts and arguments that might relate to these events. My main issue is why there are any charges to bring before the court, at all. I guess this closely relates to a question I came across earlier this week, asking when the best time is to have your first sexual encounter.  As I said, it is a multi-faceted issue and I might then stick to the Jules High incident entirely and leave you to ponder the second question.

I guess arguments are made that at 14 and 16 (the boys) and 15, the girl, these kids are primarily in school to study and nothing, or little, else that does not directly relate to this. Maybe, the real issue is the shock that we all feel that these kids had the time and the energy even to apply themselves to organising and following through which such an act during school hours. But whose problem is that? Is it the education system that has failed the students, their parents even (I am sure some people are pointing fingers and snickering) or who should be at blame here?

If they are all minors and it’s consensual, is it still a criminal offense that warrants such hype and expense at the court. If two “minors” are having consensual sex, is it wrong? And while it might be ethically or morally wrong, are there any grounds to take them before a Court of Law and charge them? Apparently the Law says that minors cannot actually consent to having sex as legally, they are not entitled to and going by Contract Law, any contractual arrangement they enter into (including sex) is voided. Does this mean that it does not matter if they are both minors and intercourse results out of their misguided agreement?

I admit, I might have missed it entirely and you might shed some light on the same.

UPDATE:  The case was later dropped and the students will be rehabilitated instead.

what is?

alpha

birth

commencement

dawn

formation

origin

outset

root

source

start

twenty years ago

on this day, I remember that we were all home and my dad was transfixed to the telly watching Mandela being released from prison. The thing that stuck out the most in my mind was why the telly was on during the day because that pretty much never happened at my home.  Its twenty years on and as with any newly independent nation, this is when the cracks begin to show and all the hope that was felt on that day begins to evaporate a whole lot more.

21 for life

It seems at 21 I knew it all or I came very close to knowing a lot of it. Was skimming through some of the stuff I wrote from back then and other than these quotes below that meant something to me then and now, If im honest, I really learnt a lot from my younger self….tihiii. ENJOY

Love does not dominate, it cultivates – Goethe

 Many waters cannot quench love: many rivers cannot wash it away.

 If you are far from the one you love, you love the one who is near.

 The one who loves least controls the relationship.

 I’d rather be with God in the dark than alone in the light – Corrie Ten Boom

We have to change our patterns of reacting to experiences for our problems do not lie in what we experience, but in the attitude we have towards it – Akong Rimpoche

 The pain of waiting is nothing compared to that of regret.

It is impossible for us to break laws; we only break ourselves upon them – Cecil B. De Mille

 God will not do by miracle what I am to do by obedience.

 The greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender – William Booth

Vision: the ability to turn a picture of the future into passion                                                                                                          

You can’t trust your affections, but you can rely on love and character

 It is possible to have a fulfilled life even if there are many unfulfilled desires - Dietrich Bonhoeffer                                                                              

 Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you -        Aldous Huxley                                                                

 Your greatest need is to be delivered from the wrath of God- and that has already been accomplished for you through the death and resurrection of Christ. So why doubt that God will provide a much, much lesser need?   C. J. Mahaney 

Decision, we make them. Then they turn around and make us. And sometimes they break us.

 God doesn’t play dice -   Albert Einstein                                                         

 We don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are – Anais Nin

 If you don’t care to be crucified emotionally in a dating relationship, leave the saving and changing of others to the Lord – Josh Harris

three nevers

NEVER HAVE I….

left town under false pretexts

learnt to ride a bicycle

completely let down my guard

NEVER WILL I

go back to where the Lord found me

take my family and loved ones for granted

compromise my morals for a job or career advancement

NEVER CAN I

close doors on valuable relationships without making utmost efforts first

jump and play in the afternoon sun as i did as a child

leave my house without checking my appearance/ carrying a bag

What has becoming an adult made you forsake and leave behind?

we’re at the crossroads…

i feel like you penetrated the cracks  and made us all pawns in your little sick game. i dont just feel like that as much as i can now see that was your game plan all along. you had the best thing but even then, it wasnt good enough for you and systematically you went out and managed to isolate and thus conquer all so you could be happy. was it worth it as Ms Cole asks? how do you feel now? you do have the last word and the last say and the scary thing for me is that i thought we all knew you, i thought we had some understanding of sorts but obviously not. How does one get to this point in life? is it intrinsic evil or is is utter selfishness? i will never understand this, surely……i won’t

ode to a friend

going through a couple of things

i came across a couple of letters

that in better times you had sent me

how did we get here?

how do we forget the past?

what happened?

was it him? did he get between us?

was it them? just the plots you latter learnt of?

was it insecurity? could it not have been voiced?

was it selfishness on my part? could i not have noticed your silence?

i do this a lot…i have already done this

truth be told: i am glad

that we parted when and as we did

im wiser 

 in future

 i’ll not go down this road

not for friendship,

out of fear,

for my faith,

for another friend

thing is: i was right about you,

 i had read you right to begin with

so goodbye

…….. friend

lemon and ginger

there are three things that i just cant wait for and im too ashamed to even say what.

1. Euro Cup starts on the 7th of June and go on until the 29th of June and my teams as usual would be the Czech Republic and Britain but the latter didnt make it and so this year, its France.
2. Big Brother Africa Three- that starts all the way in August.urgggg!
3. World Cup 2010 that will run from June 11th to 11th July. some 770 plus days

whats life without something to look forward to? NOTHING:-)

the cabinet

Finally we got us a new cabinet and we pray that we can finally begin to work at rebuilding the nation. At a glance, this is what it looks like.

1. Office of the President

Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security- Hon. Professor George Saitoti

Assistant Ministers: Hon. Simon Lesirma, Hon. Joshua Orwa Ojode

2.Ministry of State for Defence

Minister: Hon. Yusuf Haji

Assistant Ministers: Hon. David Musila

Hon. General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaisserry        

3. Office of the Vice President

Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs: Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka

Assistant Minister: Hon. Lorna Laboso

4. Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons: Hon. Gerald Otieno Kajwang’

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Francis Baya

5.Ministry of State for National Heritage & Culture:      Hon. William Ole Ntimama

Assistant Minister: Hon. Joel Onyancha Omagwa

6. Office of the Prime Minister:

Prime Minister: Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga

Assistant Minister: Hon. Alfred. Khang’ati

7. Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision Twenty Thirty:        

Minister: Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya

Assistant Minister: Hon. Peter Kenneth

8. Ministry of State for Public Service:

Hon. Dalmas Anyango Otieno

Assistant Minister: Hon. Aden Ahmed Sugow

9. Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Trade:

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade:

Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta

Assistant Minister: Hon. James Omingo Magara       

10. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government:

Hon. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Robison Njeru Githae

11.  Ministry of East African Community

Minister:  Hon. Amason Kingi Jeffah

Assistant Minister: Hon. Peter Munya

12. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister: Hon. Moses Wetangula

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Richard Momoima Onyonka

13. Ministry of Finance

Minister: Hon. Amos Kimunya

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Dr. Oburu Oginga

14. Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and  Constitutional Affairs

Minister: Hon. Martha Karua

Assistant Minister:  Hon. William Cheptumo Kipkorir

15. Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development

Minister:  Hon. Mutula Kilonzo

Assistant Minister: Hon. Elizabeth Ongoro Masha

16. Ministry of Roads

Minister:  Hon. Kipkalya Kones

Assistant Ministers:  Hon. Wilfred Machage, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui

17. Ministry of Public Works

Minister:  Hon. Chris Obure

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Dickson Wathika  Mwangi

18. Ministry of Transport

Minister:                 Hon. Chirau Ali Makwere

Assistant Minister:        Hon. John Harun Mwau

19Ministry of Water and Irrigation

Minister:                 Hon. Charity Kaluki Ngilu

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri

20. Ministry of Regional Development Authorities

Minister:                Hon. Fredrick  Omulo Gumo

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Judah Katoo Ole Metito                     

21. Information & Communications

Minister:                  Hon. Samuel Poghisio

Assistant Minister:        Hon. George Munyasa Khaniri, Hon. Maj. (Rtd) Dhadho Godhana

22. Ministry of Energy

Minister:                Hon. Kiraitu Murungi

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Charles Keter, Hon. Maalim Mohamud Mohamed

23. Ministry of Lands

Minister: Hon. Aggrey James Orengo

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Silvester Wakoli Bifwoli, Hon. Samwel Gonzi Rai

24. Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources

Minister: Hon. John Michuki

Assistant Ministers:  Hon. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe,

Hon. Jackson Kiplagati Kiptanui

25. Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife               

Minister:                Hon. Noah Wekesa

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Josphat Koli Nanok

26. Ministry of Tourism

Minister:                Hon. Mohamed Najib Balala

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Cecily Mtito Mbarire

27.Ministry of Agriculture       

Minister:                        Hon. William  Samoei Ruto

Assistant Ministers:        Hon Japhet Kareke Mbiuki,

Hon. Gideon Musyoka Ndambuki

28. Ministry of Livestock Development

Minister:                 Hon. Mohamed Abdi Kuti

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Bare Aden Duale

29. Ministry of Fisheries Development       

Minister:                Hon. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma       

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Mohamed Abu Abuchiaba

30. Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands

Minister:  Hon. Ibrahim Elmi Mohamed

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Hussein Tarry Sasura

31.Ministry of Cooperatives Development

Minister:                Hon. Joseph Nyagah

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo

32. Ministry of Industrialization        

Minister:    Hon. Henry Kiprono Kosgey

Assistant Minister:        Hon. Ndiritu Murithi

33. Ministry of Housing

Minister:  Hon. Peter Soita Shitanda

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Bishop Margaret

Wanjiru Kariuki

34. Ministry of Special Programmes

Minister: Hon. Dr. Naomi Namsi Shabani

Assistant Minister: Hon. Mohamed Muhamud Ali

35. Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs

Minister:  Hon. Esther Murugi Mathenge

Assistant Minister  Hon. Atanas Manyala Keya

36. Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation

Minister: Hon. Hon. Beth Wambui Mugo               

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Dr. James Ondicho Gesami

37. Ministry of Medical Services

Minister: Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o

Assistant Minister: Hon. Danson Buya Mungatana

38. Ministry of Labour

Minister:  Hon. John Kiyonga Munyes

Assistant Minister:  Hon. Sospeter Ojamaa Ojamong’

39. Ministry of Youth and Sports       

Minister:     Hon. Dr. Helen Jepkemoi

Sambili

Assistant Minister: Hon. Wavinya Ndeti, Hon. Kabando wa Kabando

40. Ministry of Education        

Minister: Hon. Samson Kegeo Ongeri

Assistant Ministers: Hon. Prof. Patrick Ayiecho

Olweny

Hon. Andrew Calist  Mwatela

41.Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology

Minister: Hon. Dr. Sally Jepngetich Kosgey

Assistant Ministers:  Hon. Kilemi Mweria, Asman Abongotum Kamama

42. Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General: Hon. Amos Wako

I see a couple of women and thats good, in significant seats other than Lady Karua, i cant say how many more. They have pretty much recycled the same old folks and i wonder what we get when we place old wine in new wineskins? lets wait and see

the list is courtesy of Standard.

of Burma, mugs and songs

A friend of mine bought me a new cup on Sunday just on a whim and I was reminded of my earlier whinge about my friends and how they don’t do things for me.

 I quite like this song. OK you must understand thatI rarely listen to R n B so for me to like this sond and go to this extent of placing it here,its deadly then. It does make me think though and thats not a good thing at all. Did I make a mistake and at what point did I know and should I just have walked away? Mhhh….

 The situation in Burma is a particularly pathetic one coz its a couple of ignorant juntas who having wealth and power at the expense of the citizenry and democracy are now out to maintain it at all costs. In the recent weeks we have been thronged with pictures of Buddhist monks matching down the streets of Rangoon and the brave Burmese ordinary folk standing guard around them. While the cases of malnourishment in children under the age of three continue to rise and the price of basic commodities continue to soar, the Generals are able to live lavishly. There are numerous sanctions that have been placed against the country but often this affect only the common guy who is already so harassed by the haves that one really wonders what is the place of these sanctions especially if not all the countries honour them and the common people are the only ones who are affected? Who ends up paying for these sanctions anyway?