More on Me

1. My ex is: a really great guy-- smart, driven, attractive and fun.

2. I am listening to: Stephen Colbert's wisecracks on Comedy Central.

3. Maybe I should: (a) call my parents (b) go to church sometime

4. I love: my parents, siblings, close buddies, books, fast internet connections, comedy,...too many other things to mention.

5. My best friend: is on a different continent.

6. I don't understand: quantum physics, marriage, how rats become pets, and the obsession with celebrity couples.

7. I lose: at most competitive sports.

8. People say: I look really young.

9. The meaning of my screen name is: nada.

10. Love is: complicated and takes time and experiences to grow. The word is way over-used.

11. Somewhere, someone is: getting drunk.

12. I will always: remember my roots and think about the bigger picture.

13. Forever seems: too uncertain and unbearably long.

14. I never want to: die a slow, painful death.

15. My cell phone is: new, I'm still figuring out how it works.

16. When I wake up in the morning: I hit snooze and say "5 more minutes."

17. I get annoyed at: burger king commercials; infomercials; arrogant, rude, & loud people.

18. Parties are: usually fun, depends on the crowd.

19. My dog is: small, white and fluffy...did I mention stuffed?

20. Kisses are the worst when: they're sloppy.

21. Today I did: shopped for groceries, cleaned, cooked, and went to the library.

22. Tonight I will: Read Barrack Obama's book before I sleep.

23. Tomorrow I will: run errands.

24. I really want: a ticket home for Christmas.

25. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?: Face is clean.

26. What's a word that rhymes with "FUCK"?: Truck.

27. Bright or Dark Room?: Dark.

28. If you're alone in a room with two beds, which one do you sleep on?: The bigger one.

29. What was the last thing you said to some one? "You want me to close the door?...Goodnight."

Small world

Damn, how does the world seem so big one moment and then shrink the next? When you unexpectedly run into people you know from somewhere else, or somebody comes up to you and says they remember you from place x (and it's for real! not a pick-up line). It can be great to recognize a friendly face in the crowd. But, sometimes it's the last face you wanna see, ie a person you dislike. It's irritating when a person you've interacted with very briefly acts like you're really close. Out with fake smiles and forced pleasantries, whatever happened to saying a simple hello and moving on?

M' iTunes

Songs I'm lovin' right now:

1) Trippin' by Toni Braxton--talk about a comeback! She looks hot and sounds hotter.

2) Over my head by The Fray--this Denver band rocks, I'm just dying to see them perform in my city this summer (tix already sold out). The music video features the lead singer and his younger bro.

3) Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado and Timbaland--major image revamp for Nelly, her vocals are still strong. Timbaland has one of the sexiest voices I've ever heard and natural talent.

3) Unfaithful by Rihanna--the girl has a great voice, cool video.

4) Anything by Bamboo--this Kenyan rap artist has talent! His lyrics flow and make sense. Saw him perform in L.A. during Rugby Sevens weekend. Wish he'd come tour my city. Now, where can I buy one of his CDs?

5) Clarinet Concerto Adagio by Mozart--that quote about "music soothing the savage beast" must have been about this song. When I'm tense or trying to sleep, listening to this relaxes me. It's 7 min. long (yawn...)


Songs I detest:

1) Anything by Pussycat Dolls.

2) My humps by Black-Eyed Peas--After unleashing "Where is the Love" and a couple other songs, they must have run out of ideas. This song is annoying!

3) Temperature by Sean Paul--the song is sawa, but it's a reminder of somebody who really liked it. Can't listen to the song without thinking about the person, so I don't wanna hear the song.

4) Laffy Taffy by D4L--it's playing on the radio right now! I wouldn't date a guy who liked this song.

The Other Side

I watched Paradise Now last night, and I'm blown away.

Right at the end when Said remains behind while Khaled goes back, I wasn't totally surprised. It seemed like they switched roles half-way through because at first, Khaled seemed more passionate about their cause. Said was soft-spoken and calm under pressure, but underneath that was the cold hard resolve to reclaim his dignity in the face of occupation. This film is powerful because it doesn't sugarcoat the situation, force one to choose sides, or even project a fairy-tale end to the never-ending Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It does something really powerful: it gives a glimpse behind the headlines and portrays the humanity of a people stripped of their dignity and their extreme attempts to reclaim it; it makes you think about the other side of the story, which is also the name of a book by Marian Keyes I read recently. It's chic-lit with a twist: 3 women narrate their own side of the story. The main reason I read it was to find out Jo's views; she is dating her married boss Mark. Entertaining!

Random rant of the day: What is it with movies or shows being set in an African country and not featuring any of the local people? For example, an episode of 'Next Top Model' (which I don't even like) shot in South Africa barely showed any black people. All the drivers, designers, tour guides, and random people at hotels shown were white or Indian. Where are the black people at? It's like all those Kenyan films where the only black person you see is the cook, a flat character with only 2 words to say "Yes madam." How can we have our story told by outsiders? It's usually biased and condescending towards the people. We need to retain our dignity if nothing else.

Summer bbqs, Juneteenth, and Dad's Day

"So what do you do for fun?" is a question I ask and answer when I'm getting to know people. This weekend, I got to do one of my fave things: attend a house party/bbq. It was fun and had the right amount of everything: blend of people, great food, lots of alcohol, and lively music. I'm not into clubbing anymore: I'd rather go to a pub or house. I've learned that the word 'party' can mean anything from a crew of friends hanging out, to a dinner, and all the way to a full-blown event--it just depends who you're talking to. It's interesting to hang out with different crowds and see how they like to party. Brazilians get my top vote for best people to party with.

I passed by a Juneteenth festival this afternoon. This holiday, dating back to June 19th, 1865, "commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S." Did anyone ever learn this in history class? I just learned about the holiday recently. A few blocks on the main street were closed off to make room for booths with food, jewelry, random collectibles, and a couple stages with musicians performing. It was cool to see black families enjoying a family day. I even spotted a police department recruitment booth and for some reason I thought it was funny. Another observation I made was that most of the people selling jewelry and African print textiles were Asians. They also own and run most of the beauty supply stores that sell hair products for black women. Hmm..These people are very enterprising, everything is 'made in China!' I think it's about time we learned something from them. When businesses make profits, they channel them back into their communities giving themselves more economic power.

Happy Father's Day! Got my Dad a fabulous gift which will be hand-delivered to him sometime next month. It's gonna be a cool surprise!

Baby please!

My favorite Uncle (he's like a second Dad) and his wife just got a baby. I spent yesterday afternoon shopping for baby clothes. Willingly. (Disclaimer: I've previously aired my views on kids: I don't want to give birth to any now, or in the future. ) This baby is very special and I'm campaigning to be a favorite cousin. I still remember what it was like to be a little kid and have some wonderful older cousins pay attention to me or give me a special treat. Despite my disclaimer above, I don't hate kids. And I just realized what cute clothes they have. There are a million other things that are being marketed to Moms and Dads, and I'm thinking "what the hell is that?" Thanks to celebz, there's a lot of interest in designer products for baby. Some are cool, most are just a waste of time and merely status symbols (isn't everything?). There's a this thing called a baby leash. I first saw it being used at the airport, then in a nearby neighborhood. Seems brilliant for handling active toddlers in public places. (Or naughty adults in private...)


P.S. I hate the Burger King commercials with some guy wearing a chicken costume. Seriously, who came up with this ad? That feathery monster just grosses me out and everyone in my digz.

I'm like totally excited! I got accepted!

Major pet-peeve:
People who say 'like' or 'totally' about 10 times in one sentence. It's such an airhead expression.

Yesterday, I got great news. I was accepted into a school program in my city for this Fall. I didn't think I would get in this year coz I got a denial letter before, so I had plan B and C in place (one involved moving to Hawaii for a few months). Main reason for denial was a couple of prereqs I hadn't done, so I was taking the classes at the local community college. Another thing is the program has limited spots. As most people abroad can attest, it's difficult to balance studies and work. I'd been away from school for a while so my study skills were rusty, anyway I passed my classes! Yay! Actually got an A in Philosophy (the teacher was generous in giving extra credit). As for Chemistry, I'll just say I'm glad I don't have to repeat the class. It's over.
Now, the process of planning for school begins. I'm rather excited about it coz it's taking me closer towards my future plans and ambitions. I remember those last months at home when everybody would ask why you were leaving home and what you wanted to study. At the time, life seemed simple. Now, I realize how much work and effort must be done for plans to succeed. I have renewed respect and love for my parents. I'm feeling optimistic right now and I'm fulfilling my New Year's Resolutions. I hope #1 will happen this December holiday. I've done part of #2 in changing hours, I'm planning to move from that place at the end of the summer. I know it's time to move on to a new phase.

Another highlight: Brazil winning Croatia 1-0. The Croatians put up a fight and were better than I thought. But in the end, Brazil is it!

Thumbs down: The Armenian scandal and the way State House is mishandling it. It reeks of high-level corruption and is doing considerable damage to us and our country. Every other day, I meet somebody who's taking a trip to Kenya and they ask questions. It's guaranteed that many will cancel their holidays as the travel advisories roll out once again. And that brutal attack on a high school boy in Nairobi and the way his situation was mishandled by the school officials is so sad. Tafadhali, enforce the Sexual Offences Bill right now and put the cruel perpetrators away from society.

Krav and German Goals

A few days ago, I went to check out a Krav Maga class (Israeli self-defense martial art). What a workout! It was rather intense, and although I thought I was fit in general, my musles were sore and achy the next day. It's really fun and practical too, so I'm thinking about joining. One observation I made was there were more men than women in the class. It seems like women seem more aware of their body image, but the men are more active in getting out there. A hasty generalization, I know. Or perhaps women prefer aerobics, yoga, and dance?

Anyway, the World Cup has started! Germany beat Costa Rica (4-2). I just caught bits of the game coz I was at work. Hope to see a lot more soon. Well, I'm off to work now!

An Omen?

I just had write something today. The date is 06/06/06 or 666.
Some churches say this number has meaning and there's something evil about it. Revelation refers to it as "the mark of the beast."
I don't really know.
Disasters happen on any other day so I don't know what makes this day any worse. It's not the end of the world just yet.

Ati there's a town called Hell in Michigan. They planned a celebration for today. I'm superstitious so I wouldn't ever live there!

A reliable source tells me that horror movies usually rank high in the box office. Well, I know I'm not contributing to any of that coz I don't watch horror. I don't even want to see the trailer or adverts for the new movie "The Omen." Even though I know there's fake stuff (Scream), I don't want to see anything to do with exorcisms, or massacres. Real life gets scary enough. I know if I watch those movies, I'll be getting flashbacks at odd times. So, no thanks, it's not for me.

6 Facts About...

Me!

I've been tagged by The Outlaw Torn.

The rules:-
- Post six weird facts/habits about yourself. These cannot be used against you later on : )
- At the bottom name the six people you will tag next.
- Leave them a comment to let them know they've been tagged and to read your blog.

6 Weird Facts about myself:

1. I'm obsessed with cleaning my ears: I always keep a stock of q-tips handy. It's part of my morning and bedtime routine. I even do it in the middle of the day. It all started after this guy slobbered all over my ear one evening....

2. I used to love eating plain lettuce in high school. I relished fresh, crunchy iceberg lettuce with nothing on it: no dressing or vinegar. My buddies used to dis me about it. I even had an embarassing photo published of me devouring a head of lettuce; now I think it's funny. I don't do it anymore though.

3. A lot of people confide their secrets to me. I guess they find it easy to talk to me. I've heard all kinds of confessions so few things shock me anymore. I'm not telling anything! On the other hand, I have a hard time confiding in people.

4. My ideal body is that of Serena or Venus Williams. I would love to be an athlete with rippling muscles and incredible strength.

5. Every time I wake up, I have to make my bed. Even though some other things are out of place, a neat bed just makes the room look so much neater. I guess my Mom's admonitions to clean and neaten things rubbed off on me, or was it the years of boarding school routine?

6. If I drink hot coffee or tea from a mug in a restaurant or a stranger's house, I'll usually hold the handle in my left hand (I'm right-handed) because I'm subconsciously thinking of all the people who've sipped from that same cup and their germs.

I'm tagging Acolyte who always has something interesting to say, Future Diplomat--hope this will be a cheerful distraction, La Belle Kenyanne please share, Nakeel I'd like to get a closer glimpse of you, Omar I bet you'll be very unique, and Sayesha who has lots of fascinating ideas.

Being Kenyan on Madaraka Day

Happy Madaraka Day!
Quick recap: this is a national holiday in Kenya that "celebrates the anniversary of self-government." It dates back to June 1st, 1964. It's often confused with Jamhuri Day, our Independence Day that was on Dec 12th, 1963. However, I'm not going into the political aspects of the holiday. I'm making this personal! This is about me being a Kenyan.

I am purely Kenyan: my passport and experiences prove it. I was born and bred there like my ancestors before me. It's my home because that where my roots are. There is so much to reminisce about: Farmer's Choice sausages and chips, slaughtering a goat for Christmas, braving pot-holed, muddy roads to go shagz & visit grandperoz, being welcomed into homes with hot chai, boarding schools, report forms (aiming for no. 1), mitush, VM, Splash, going to the show, buying sweets and bread at the local kiosk, crazy neighbors, friendly neighbors, dressing up for church, the comforts that peroz worked hard to provide, holidays, plucking chickens and cooking for visitors, shopping @ uchumi, the local market, etc. Life wasn't perfect, but I couldn't imagine being from anywhere else. I like to share my growing up experiences with people who have a limited view of Kenya. Of course, our wildlife is important--we've enjoyed those trips to Masaai Mara (it has the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen). And it just happened that a famous marathon runner or two lived in my old neighborhood. We're proud of them! But what about the majority of people whose lives revolved around other things? There are so many stories...that's why blogging is so great! We get to hear some different and some similar stories that connect us and teach us things we'd never know. KBW was a great idea.

Anytime we celebrate an anniversary whether it's a birthday or the birth of a nation, we reflect on where we started, and how far we've come since then. Somebody famous (who?) said "life is a journey, not a destination." On that note, I'm going to quote something I wrote on August 9, 2003:

[Before my sister and I came to study in the United States 2+ years ago, our father, a very wise man, told us this: He said that it is important to know where you are from. I didn't fully understand it then, but now I have seen the light. Our culture is our identity--it makes us distinct so we are not just another faceless person in the crowd. And this is very important when you live in a country where you are classified as a minority--and associated with all the negative things that come with it. When you have a sense of self, it gives you pride and dignity and helps you keep your focus. After a while, people will notice that you are different and you can excel at what you do. When I was in Kenya, I used to be amused when a person gave a lengthy introduction, "My name is so-and-so, my father is...my mother is...my home village is...the nearest market is...in this location...in that sub-location..our chief is..and our MP is...." then the person would continue to give a mini-history of his family--including marriages and children. Now I understand why all this is imporant. We need to have a sense of history and know where we came from as we try to find our place in the world. ]