I've just heard (and read) that Nelson Mandela was admitted into hospital this afternoon for a "routine checkup" but now I believe he's in critical condition.
Keeping him in my prayers...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
International Thank You Day
Today - Tuesday, January 11 2011 (1/11/11) was International Thank You Day. Every Thursday I write a post on my blog titled Thankful Thursday where I reflect on the past week and show my gratitude to people and things in my life. This week, because of it being Thank You Day, I'll list things that I'm thankful for :)
Thank you...
...to my parents: for giving my brother and I the best opportunities in life to better ourselves.
...to my brother for not only being a brother, but a very cool friend :)
...to God for my health, as well as my parents and brother's health.
...Sylvia, our maid for taking care of our house as if it were her own.
...to my friends for being a part of my life.
...to YOU for reading my blog :)
There's so much more I could write and thank people for, but more on that later this week!
Thank you...
...to my parents: for giving my brother and I the best opportunities in life to better ourselves.
...to my brother for not only being a brother, but a very cool friend :)
...to God for my health, as well as my parents and brother's health.
...Sylvia, our maid for taking care of our house as if it were her own.
...to my friends for being a part of my life.
...to YOU for reading my blog :)
There's so much more I could write and thank people for, but more on that later this week!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Then & Now
Chatting to my cousin, Trusha, over lunch this afternoon made me think back to when I was her age (19 almost 20).
Sometimes it feels like I missed out on a chunk in my family's life. Being away at university for four years and three years living in Korea doesn't mean that I never ever spoke to them or knew what they were up to, but I missed out on chatting to cousins and knowing what they were really like.
Listening to Trusha talk about her tastes in books, her outlook on life and such things made me think: "She is me when I was her age!" which, of course led me to my next thought: "I've changed. A lot!"
Are there things I wish I knew back then to prepare me for life...up to where I am right now? Well, yes - there are days that I DO wish I had known certain things and especially...how to deal with days that are really crappy. On the other hand, I'm still alive, right? ...and I believe that what doesn't kill you certainly makes you stronger (even though we can't figure out why certain things are happening at a certain time).
Change is like growing up...it's inevitable.
Sometimes it feels like I missed out on a chunk in my family's life. Being away at university for four years and three years living in Korea doesn't mean that I never ever spoke to them or knew what they were up to, but I missed out on chatting to cousins and knowing what they were really like.
Listening to Trusha talk about her tastes in books, her outlook on life and such things made me think: "She is me when I was her age!" which, of course led me to my next thought: "I've changed. A lot!"
Are there things I wish I knew back then to prepare me for life...up to where I am right now? Well, yes - there are days that I DO wish I had known certain things and especially...how to deal with days that are really crappy. On the other hand, I'm still alive, right? ...and I believe that what doesn't kill you certainly makes you stronger (even though we can't figure out why certain things are happening at a certain time).
Change is like growing up...it's inevitable.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Everyone is a house...
Everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual.
Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room, every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person. -Indian Proverb
Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room, every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person. -Indian Proverb
Friday, January 7, 2011
Bomb Scare at Hemingways Mall
We were having lunch at Hemingways Mall this afternoon when a siren went off. I told my mum that it sounds like an evacuation siren.
Shortly after saying that, we saw people exiting.
It was a bomb scare! Some people went to the parking lot and left the mall while others were being gathered outside the entrance.
We heard that the mall got a call saying that a bomb was planted (apparently in Edgars - a clothing store) and that it would go off in 3 hours.
Store clerks, waiters & chefs were huddled together, some lying on the grass while we waited...
30 minutes later, we were told all was OK and that we could go back inside.
I wasn't really impressed because I was waiting for action: police, dogs, helicopters! But alas, nothing.
Pics to follow.
Shortly after saying that, we saw people exiting.
It was a bomb scare! Some people went to the parking lot and left the mall while others were being gathered outside the entrance.
We heard that the mall got a call saying that a bomb was planted (apparently in Edgars - a clothing store) and that it would go off in 3 hours.
Store clerks, waiters & chefs were huddled together, some lying on the grass while we waited...
30 minutes later, we were told all was OK and that we could go back inside.
I wasn't really impressed because I was waiting for action: police, dogs, helicopters! But alas, nothing.
Pics to follow.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Thankful Thursday
As 2010 wraps up, I have more to reflect on and be thankful for...not just in the past week but over the year. I'll add to this list as more things come to me, and no doubt they will!
I'm thankful for:
- ...my health
- ...to have two healthy parents and brother
- ...to have food to eat everyday
- ...to have clean clothes to wear everyday
- ...to have running water to take showers everyday
- ...having a clean and warm bed to sleep in every night.
- ...Donovan helping out at home.
- ...my dad sending me AT.
- ...my dad helping me out with a contact.
- ...my brother willing to help me (with a contact)
What are you thankful for today/this week?
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. -Cicero
Plan Less. Live More.
"You'll never enjoy never your life fully by making plans" is what a friend said to me the other day. He thinks I plan life way too much. Do I?
Well, for as long as I can remember, I have been making "To Do" lists. I love them. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I tick something off that I've done. I've always felt the need to be in control, especially concerning my life. That just makes sense, doesn't it?
I've just finished reading Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now where he talks about being present and conscious. Come to think of it, doesn't it just seem ridiculous to continue worrying over something that as passed? We can't turn back time, as much as many of us want to. Also, we have no idea of what tomorrow holds in store for us. We aren't even guaranteed the next 30 minutes. That's the reality of life. All we have is now.
So, now I'm trying my level best to practice this. It's not easy, believe me! Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to suddenly stop planning. I need some kind of outline as to where I'm headed, but to plan everything down to the minutest detail is a waste of time really, because in a split second - everything could change. So all that time that was spent planning was a waste of time and energy, when you could have been enjoying the "now" (then!)
Just my thought...!
Well, for as long as I can remember, I have been making "To Do" lists. I love them. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I tick something off that I've done. I've always felt the need to be in control, especially concerning my life. That just makes sense, doesn't it?
I've just finished reading Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now where he talks about being present and conscious. Come to think of it, doesn't it just seem ridiculous to continue worrying over something that as passed? We can't turn back time, as much as many of us want to. Also, we have no idea of what tomorrow holds in store for us. We aren't even guaranteed the next 30 minutes. That's the reality of life. All we have is now.
So, now I'm trying my level best to practice this. It's not easy, believe me! Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to suddenly stop planning. I need some kind of outline as to where I'm headed, but to plan everything down to the minutest detail is a waste of time really, because in a split second - everything could change. So all that time that was spent planning was a waste of time and energy, when you could have been enjoying the "now" (then!)
Just my thought...!
My un-PC coffee date
Last week, a university friend and I found each other in the same town at the same time so she suggested a coffee date, which of course I agreed to... but it wouldn't just be the two of us. There were a couple of other people, one of whom I also knew from university via my friend.
We met at a coffee shop, and after greeting my friend (I was pretty excited since we hadn't seen each other since graduation) I wanted to hug the friend (of my friend) who I know - although not very well. She sat with her arms crossed and said, "I don't hug people of colour."
"What sh*t is that?" I asked - knowing very well that she was attempting to be humourous.
It was a square table with all four chairs occupied and one pulled up to the corner of the table.
"That chair is for you. It's for people of colour," this girl said.
Taking it with a pinch of salt, I sat down and proceeded to catch up with my friend over this "People-of-Colour" girl. I asked her if we could please swap seats because I didn't want to be talking over all the time.
For the next hour and a half, I tried to elicit conversation with my friend who was sitting to my left, while the girl on my right was continuously making these racist jokes. Now, I know her, but I never knew her that well to make such jokes to/about (?) me. Eventually, I turned a deaf ear and blatantly ignored the little smart-ass chirps that were coming from her direction.
So what do you think? At what point would you think it's just not funny anymore? Kind of annoying and so rude - whether it's a joke or not. Remember, "there's an element of truth in every joke".
Luckily, I had another coffee date to get to so it was time to leave...and oh boy, was I ever so happy to leave their company.
We met at a coffee shop, and after greeting my friend (I was pretty excited since we hadn't seen each other since graduation) I wanted to hug the friend (of my friend) who I know - although not very well. She sat with her arms crossed and said, "I don't hug people of colour."
"What sh*t is that?" I asked - knowing very well that she was attempting to be humourous.
It was a square table with all four chairs occupied and one pulled up to the corner of the table.
"That chair is for you. It's for people of colour," this girl said.
Taking it with a pinch of salt, I sat down and proceeded to catch up with my friend over this "People-of-Colour" girl. I asked her if we could please swap seats because I didn't want to be talking over all the time.
For the next hour and a half, I tried to elicit conversation with my friend who was sitting to my left, while the girl on my right was continuously making these racist jokes. Now, I know her, but I never knew her that well to make such jokes to/about (?) me. Eventually, I turned a deaf ear and blatantly ignored the little smart-ass chirps that were coming from her direction.
So what do you think? At what point would you think it's just not funny anymore? Kind of annoying and so rude - whether it's a joke or not. Remember, "there's an element of truth in every joke".
Luckily, I had another coffee date to get to so it was time to leave...and oh boy, was I ever so happy to leave their company.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Lettuce Tea for Insomnia
Recipe for Lettuce Leaf Tea
- 2 outer leaves of organic romaine lettuce
- 8 ounces of water
Thoroughly wash the leaves and then simmer for 20 minutes in the 1/2 pint of water.
Strain and drink before bedtime
Restless at 2am
In a limbo
My friend, J says that I'm in a limbo. I think she's right. This also relates to my writing, and what I do need to get is my butt into gear.
Last week I visited a new friend that I've made, Dr Mitra at his home. I was feeling a bit uninspired with my writing and the words seemed to have been blocked. Real writer's block, if you ask me. It's been going on for a few weeks now, though. Dr Mitra is an artist and poet and I couldn't figure out how he finds the time to write, paint and still run a hospital.
He just smiles and says, "That's not a problem!"
So I thought, if a doctor can find the time to do this, surely I can too?!
We all draw inspiration from different people and situations, and last week when I told Dr Mitra that I was battling to write lately, he said to me, "You must write."
I must write.
I need to follow the doctor's orders!
My other inspiration came from another friend, Kojo who also balances a busy lifestyle...editing a magazine, attending social events, fulfills his responsibilities of a husband and father and still manages to run his blog.
So I think about why I've not been writing.
I thought about what my writing goal for the new year should be, and I've decided to just: RELEASE THE WORDS and let them mingle and play the way they're meant to. There are some days that I honestly battle to string sentences together, so from now - even if they're just words, I'm letting 'em out.
I've discovered E-mail > Blogger so actually, I have no excuse to write...anytime, anywhere. As long as the words are coming from my mind (and heart) to my blog!
It's been years since I've written poetry, and perhaps it's something else I'd like to get back into.
'nuff rambling, I need to get myself to sleep. I have to be up early to take my car to Hyundai for licensing.
Good night :)
Last week I visited a new friend that I've made, Dr Mitra at his home. I was feeling a bit uninspired with my writing and the words seemed to have been blocked. Real writer's block, if you ask me. It's been going on for a few weeks now, though. Dr Mitra is an artist and poet and I couldn't figure out how he finds the time to write, paint and still run a hospital.
He just smiles and says, "That's not a problem!"
So I thought, if a doctor can find the time to do this, surely I can too?!
We all draw inspiration from different people and situations, and last week when I told Dr Mitra that I was battling to write lately, he said to me, "You must write."
I must write.
I need to follow the doctor's orders!
My other inspiration came from another friend, Kojo who also balances a busy lifestyle...editing a magazine, attending social events, fulfills his responsibilities of a husband and father and still manages to run his blog.
So I think about why I've not been writing.
Is anyone reading what I have to say?
Is anyone out there?
I thought about what my writing goal for the new year should be, and I've decided to just: RELEASE THE WORDS and let them mingle and play the way they're meant to. There are some days that I honestly battle to string sentences together, so from now - even if they're just words, I'm letting 'em out.
I've discovered E-mail > Blogger so actually, I have no excuse to write...anytime, anywhere. As long as the words are coming from my mind (and heart) to my blog!
It's been years since I've written poetry, and perhaps it's something else I'd like to get back into.
'nuff rambling, I need to get myself to sleep. I have to be up early to take my car to Hyundai for licensing.
Good night :)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
30mins into 2011
Our little Jack Russell is terrified at the moment because there are fireworks bursting outside. Here she is in my parents' bedroom.
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