I Have Learnt

These past few weeks, leading upto the last one and a half months; have been choc-full of some pretty hard life lessons.

I didnt know; at least I never imagined that I could ever take a crash course on life in such a short period of time.

But all the same, lessons have been learnt.

Lessons that will stay with me for life. Lessons that I wouldn't have otherwise learnt if it wasnt for the experiences that I had in this period of time.

I have learnt...that no matter what I do, no matter what I say, if something wasnt meant to be, then no Oprah-inspired advice, no self-help book or philosophy will make it be. It just wasnt meant to be.

I have learnt that people who I thought were true friends or had my back, were not such true friends after all.

I have learnt, because of this, who my true friends are.

I've learnt to love my loved ones like I'll never see them again. And to let them know just how much I care for them.

I have learnt that shit will happen - and not just once- concurrently and I'll have to wipe myself of it and keep going.

I have learnt that revenge is best served cold.

I have learnt that no amount of revenge can soothe a broken heart.

I have learnt that when I realise that someone doesnt like me half as much as I like them, then I really have to get a-stepping coz staying will only lead to heartbreak. And I dont really have time for that.

I have learnt that when someone likes me, then I wont need to ask them nor do quizzes nor take behavioral science to know it. I wont have to st by the phone, or keep checking my emails to check whether they've looked for me.

I've learnt that when someone DOES like me then it shows. It TOTALLY shows.

I have learnt that there's no use in crying over spilt milk. I'd better just head to the store and get another packet.

I have learnt that when all is said and done, this life is too short to surround myself with negativity. I need to LIVE like I never will.

I'm loving : There's Hope - India Arie

Amy Fade's to Black

I was quite befuddled by Amy Winehouse's passing; befuddled because just a week ago she seemed (as per reports online) to be healthier than she'd ever been for months.

Plus I'd just been jamming Rehab over and over in the past week. Quite cryptic then, dont you think? Anyways, I came across Russell Brand's touching tribute to the talented Amy and I just had to share:

“I’ve known Amy Winehouse for years. When I first met her around Camden she was just some twit in a pink satin jacket shuffling round bars with mutual friends, most of whom were in cool Indie bands or peripheral Camden figures Withnail-ing their way through life on impotent charisma.

Carl Barrat told me that “Winehouse” (which I usually called her and got a kick out of cos it’s kind of funny to call a girl by her surname) was a jazz singer, which struck me as a bizarrely anomalous in that crowd. To me with my limited musical knowledge this information placed Amy beyond an invisible boundary of relevance; “Jazz singer? She must be some kind of eccentric” I thought. I chatted to her anyway though, she was after all, a girl, and she was sweet and peculiar but most of all vulnerable.”

“Now Amy Winehouse is dead, like many others whose unnecessary deaths have been retrospectively romanticised, at 27 years old. Whether this tragedy was preventable or not is now irrelevant. It is not preventable today. We have lost a beautiful and talented woman to this disease. Not all addicts have Amy’s incredible talent. Or Kurt’s or Jimi’s or Janis’s, some people just get the affliction. All we can do is adapt the way we view this condition, not as a crime or a romantic affectation but as a disease that will kill. We need to review the way society treats addicts, not as criminals but as sick people in need of care.

"We need to look at the way our government funds rehabilitation. It is cheaper to rehabilitate an addict than to send them to prison, so criminalisation doesn’t even make economic sense. Not all of us know someone with the incredible talent that Amy had but we all know drunks and junkies and they all need help and the help is out there. All they have to do is pick up the phone and make the call. Or not. Either way, there will be a phone call.”
Couldnt have had a more adequately penned tribute.

R.I.P Amy. May you find peace now.

I'm loving: Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

Back to Black

I was rummaging through my wardrobe the other day and came to the sudden realisation that almost everything I own is black.

Black tees, black leggings, black shirts, black skirts, black trousers, black jackets, black bras, black panties, black shoes. Black, black, black.

So, I was looking for something light and airy to wear and I thought...hmm, wouldnt it be interesting to kinda just always be in ...black?

Oh, wait I'm already doing that.

See, I have been for a while now, that elusive pop of color in an otherwise dull office environment.

I'll put on something rather drab and instinctively add a dash of neon without a care; it could be neon polish a la Rihanna style, a neon top or scarf and I'm set to tackle the dinosaur that is corporate Kenya.

I mean, black isnt even my fvourite colour, as I'm in love with blue and purple and green. Oh...which reminds me, I have a think for the aqua colours again...hmm, topic for another day?

Anyhu...so I'm just starting to think that maybe I should fade to black. After all, isnt it like the most functional hue anyone can have in their wardrobe?

Plus it would go perfectly well with my mood of late.

I guess its time to embrace the snide remarks; "Who died?" or "Hey Bride of Frankenstein"

But then again, there arent that snide a people in my yard. All wishful thinking.

Release the doves!!

I'm loving - Fade to Black by Jay Z

Rioter of the week

Got milk?

This dairy farmer was protesting at the EU headquarters in Brussels over rapidly falling milk prices.

As is evident, the man did not earn his spot on the photo of the week for hurling grenades and roaring obscenities in the face of authority.

No,no...he's here for what he did right before this, which was to take a look at all his friends as they geared up for the protest -- strapping on their gas masks, pocketing their eye wash, testing their tasers, and hefting their clubs - before solemnly reaching down and grabbing the one and only weapon he needed.

Then he went to a riot armed with a freakin tit.

Check out these other badass protestors.

First They Came

First They came - Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

I love this poem. Niemoller was an anti-Communist German pastor,and at the height of Hitler's rampage in Germany, the good pastor postulated the following statement, sometimes presented as a poem.

It is well-known, frequently quoted, and is a popular model for describing the dangers of political apathy, as it often begins with specific and targeted fear and hatred which soon escalates out of control.

And as we all know too well, this is reminiscent of the happenings in Libya, Egypt, Kenya (a few years ago) and the rest of the world.

So just to remind ourselves...

"First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."

Do speak out for someone/something this week. Its the least you can do; at least for your sake and for humanity's sake.

I'm loving - Speak for Me by Jaci Velasquez

For all the good things

This year has been flecked with one heck of a disaster after another.

Ok, it all started with the Egypt riots that culminated in Hosni Mubarak's fall from grace (finally) and thereafter the domino effect was felt throughout the Midle East. With this came the hike in oil prices, the dollar has slumped, production has stalled, even earth days have shorthened!

And now the heartwrenching disaster that has engulfed Japan...its all so sad. The other day, a friend was saying how these events are so reminiscent of the "end of days" biblical references.
There's so much strife, disaster and human struggle.

The Japan situation is one that has got me thinking alot. I mean, just having a look at some of the pictures over here puts everything into firm perspective.

Its so easy for us mortals to forget all the good things we enjoy in our fickle lives; the iar we breathe, the safety of our homes, the love and affection of family, the food on our tables, a warm bed at night, the security of a job...

Lets remember to thank God and whoever deity we recognise for all the good things we have.
And please whisper a prayer to our Japanese brothers and sisiters.

I'm loving: Just a Prayer Away by Jaci Velasquez

Not Nate!

So like I was doing my usual rounds on the internet when I got an IM from a pal - Nate Dogg's gone.

Suffice it to say that I was shocked. I mean WTF???

Nate Dogg-bandana wearing,smooth,mellow,swagalicious...

It seems like every other day, another bright, shining star leaves the music industry feeling orphaned. Its like, for every true talent that leaves the earth, a hail of auto-tune backed "singers" emerges. Seemingly, this dearth of true artists like Nate, MJ and so on, will not be mitigated.

Its saddening that he's gone. Nate's contribution to hip-hop cannot be overemphasised enough; he was truly legendary.

The internet is awash with tributes, the blogosphere sparking with fond memories of the man. I passed here and couldn’t help but notice how much Nate was loved and appreciated by his fans.

Man…I don’t even know where to begin. All I can say is hip-hop’s lost a real artist, a real star, a legend.

R.I.P Nate

I’m loving Regulate - Warren G ft Nate Dogg