Defining My Previous Years

Sorry people for not posting since, the subsidy issue scattered my posting plans, since I wanted to do the protest thing and sort out myself. Last week wasn't pretty at all for me but I am better now. Can't let the devil steal my joy, cos he didn't give it to me in the first place.

So to continue the post I was to finish last time, please, click this link in case you missed it.

After the annual stock taking, I also label the year based on how it went. Last year, I decided to do something different. I named my year, based on how I want it to be, based on what I saw that year bringing to me (also tied to the goal). Funny enough, how I named it at the beginning of the year was how it played out in reality. 

So I have done that this year again. This is a list of how some of the year was labelled based on how it actually played out in reality.

2005 – My Year of Darkness (The darkest year of my life)

Everything just went bad this year. It started badly, when they sent us away from school in January then cos some idiots burnt the DSAs house. School was rough when we got back, my Dad died, Pastor Bimbo died and so many terrible shizzles happened to me. In fact, at the end of the year, I prayed that I would never ever see such year in my life again.

2006 – My year of good beginnings.

I think it was just an okay year. I had peace of mind, school was looking good. Industrial Attachment was good and my future was generally looking bright. Nothing compared to the previous year at all

2007 – My year of Drama.

This was a mixture of very good and very bad at the same time. One minute I was blazing all A’s in my final year, the next minute, I was dealing with a terrible break up. I mean God really made me shine in this particular year but I suffered, no be small. The drama was just too much.

2008 – My year of Transition

Nothing ‘gen gen’ happened this year. It was just there, but it was a transition stage between two major phases of my life. I just took life as it came.

2009 – My year of Increase

What I actually transitioned to from 2008 manifested. I mean, the difference between my life in 2008 and 2009 was crystal clear. God just increased me, just like that.

2010 – My mirror image year.

One of my best years ever. I say mirror image cos the first half (Jan – June), which was terrible was the direct opposite of (July – Dec). I mean on June 30, my life was in a state of confusion, mess and shambles in all areas, but July 1^st, life suddenly became unbelievably good. All the bad things (including an accident) happened in the first half and all the good things happened in the second half

2011 – My year of upliftment.

This is because God actually lifted me up and let everyone know that He lifted me up. I suffered some disappointments, but I counted them as nothing because they were not really important to me and my destiny. The things I really counted important, God did for me and that’s what matters, though they are material stuffs.

2012 – My year of....

As I said, I have written how I want it to be and that’s what it will be at the end of the year. Amen

To the next set of entry games,

1. Interview with Corrupy: This is sort of an animation article, where I actually had the opportunity to interview corruption and ask him some serious questions about him and Nigeria

2. Maybe...: A poem of maybe statements. Maybe this... Maybe that...

3. Waiting for your downfall: A poem about the fact that at every point of your life, some people are actually plotting your downfall and you progress actually irks them out.

So, please, vote for the one you want. If you vote for all, you vote won’t count o, lol.

When I posted the winning entry of the last entry game, I noticed from the comments that some people did not understand it. I am working on my book and it has several entries (comedy, reality, tragedy, poetry, prose, drama and loads of more things). I am therefore posting some of the sample entries on this blog as a kind of preview and to get feedback and suggestions. The entries are all ready and only the winning entry will be posted. If peradventure, the entry you voted doesn’t win, you will have the opportunity to read it in the book. I will have a couple of giveaways, so it’s still kinda fair. And if your choice did not win this time, it might win in the next set.

Let the voting begin. Thank you all for the love and support. Happy subsidy times...

GEJ + Subsidy + Protest

I think this is gonna be a short post cos I don't feel too good. I have been going through some things and I don't have the strength to rant.

I am breaking the no-politics-zone-blog protocol, this time, in order to join the blog protest. I drove today without AC, like I have been doing for the past one week because when I budgeted fuel money, I didn't remove subsidy from it. Jona pulled the rug under my feet so I had to cut some things and in the end, it looked like I had just taken my bath in my car, I am not finding it funny at all.

Maybe the reason I can't complain too much is because I never expected anything from Jona. I actually saw all these coming and refused to vote for him, even when Christian leaders were campaigning for him. I made my decision because of the way he treated the whole campaign thing and never partook in any debate. He only had eyes for D'Banj. I was convinced he had nothing to offer me and would have been surprised if he had actually done good. I also think he should stop talking, cos he doesn't know how to talk.

I told some people that I wish this guy would be asked to leave cos as long as he is there, only God will ensure that something good comes out of this country. Even if the subsidy is removed, loads of other issues that he won't be able to solve will come up. But my friends told me that I am just wasting my time and not being realistic, as it won't happen. I for one don't believe he can govern us or he is the right man for the country but the truth is that what is done is done. I also know that he is not the one really leading this country, which makes the whole thing worse because it means the protest won't have effect as fast as we want. It will have its effect, but not just as fast, so we have to be ready for that.

I am sorry if this is not the typical protest post you were expecting, but as you might have realized before now, I am not a typical reactive Nigerian,  I am a proactive one. Next time, let us not be blinded by ethnicity or religion.

I remember that in 2008, I told people that it will get to a point when Nigerians will protest and fight back, but no one believed me, that said Nigerians can't fight. I then used this illustration. When a big man holds a small child to the wall and punches his continuously for months, no matter how small or weak that child is, one day he will hit back. It doesn't matter how weak his punch is, he will still try to hit back because there's an extent to what suffering any man can take. I wish I could see the people that told me it would never happen and tell them, 'I told you so'.

For people planning to protest, please, don't let tear gas turn you back to your houses. Government knows that Nigerians run away at every little thing, and they will do what they can to disperse us but now is not the time to run away, let us stand sown. If we don't get it right this time, I doubt that we will ever get it right.

I am also sorry if this post looks scattered. One again, I don't feel too good and am sorting out a lot of things personally. Thanks for reading

Resolutions and Goal Scoring

Happy new year to you all. I wish you a blessed year of 2012. I spent 5 hours in the kitchen yesterday, but I did not complain cos i was prepared for it. At the end of the day, it was a good day.

2011 was a good year for me. I don’t do New Year resolutions. I wrote a post on New Year resolutions last year January about why New Year resolutions fail most times. I think it is quite insightful and you can read it here. What I do is to set realistic and measurable goals and score myself later. So, after doing my stock taken based on the annual goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year, I scored 38.6%. Yeah, I know it is low, but at least, it is better than last year’s 36%. The irony is that the more I achieved in life, the less I scored.

Funny enough, I don’t think the reason was that I set goals that were too high to attain. I think one of the reasons was that I focused so well on achieving one part (e.g career and finance) and neglected so many others and at the year, it affects the average, because the goals I usually set encompasses so many parts of life.

Other times, I set goals that are beyond my control. An example can be ‘To go to India.’ What if I am denied Indian Visa? You see, I will automatically score 0% that goal there cos even my efforts will not count, as the goal did not put my effort in consideration. So if I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot, I can say ‘To take concrete steps towards travelling to India’. Though, this particular one is more subjective and gives room for laziness. Since I am setting the goal for myself, I’ll rather be strict with myself and set the first one.

One other reason why I scored low was because I wasn’t going back to check the goals monthly, so it was the ones I considered more important, which apparently, stuck in my head more, that I ended up achieving. This also causes one to chase other goals that were not initially set. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as you achieve most of the ones set before. What I have done to combat this is to set monthly goals, feeding into the yearly goals so I achieve as much as possible.


We practice this at work, so I am kinda used to this thing, though I started this before I started working. I feel have started boring you guys. Niways, see some of my scores below


2008 – 48%


2009 - 57.5%


2010 – 36%


2011 – 38.6%


I have looked at the goals for 2012, and I think the scores will be more impressive this time around cos I have changed strategies. I think I also set goals within my control. Let’s see how it goes sha.

I haven’t finished, but the post is getting long. I think I have to continue in another post

A Letter to Undo

Hi People, how did your Christmas go, hope fine? As I might have hinted on some bloggers' comment boxes, I am not actually a fan of Christmas because I feel it is always abused by some people, I still managed to have a relatively good time. I tried not to eat too much cos I hate having to deal with a bloated stomach.

As for the bombing, I have been trying so hard to hold my tongue from uttering words against Mr President for the past three months. Words are powerful and I don't want to prophesy negatively into his life. I didn't vote for him and I don't regret my decision. I don't even want to think to much cos it makes me feel powerless and I hate feeling powerless. This I know, 'One day, bush meat go catch the hunter.'

As for the entry game, Apart from one person, every single person that voted asked for A Letter to Undo. I found this very surprising, as I thought everyone will ask for In My Pocket, which is the one I prefer in the three. Though, no one voted for it. Its all good sha. Please, find below the unedited verion of the entry. Constructive criticisms will be appreciated, thanks.

SORRY! THE LETTER HAD TO BE TAKEN DOWN AFTER 28 DAYS IN ORDER TO SERVE ITS INTENDED PUBLISHING PURPOSE.

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

P.S: I am in the process of expanding my business, it has nothing to do with hair. I am currently opening it up for private placements. It is a business that is not affected by the power supply or fuel subsidy situation of Nigeria. Send a mail to hattylolla@yahoo.com if you think you might be interested in owning part of it.


Regards.

Awards and Hankiddictions... The Entry game continues

Good day people. How was your weekend, hope cool? Mine was really nice. Apart from a little itch when OH lost his car keys late at night in Eko Hotel and we had to go in mine and did not find it until the next morning when we went to church, also at Eko Hotel, things went fine.

My company’s end of the year party was on Saturday, it was an old school affair. As some of you already know, I work for one of the world’s Big 4. You are allowed to speculate which one of them it is cos the day I mention it, that will be the day my blogging activities will end, as long as I am their staff. It is a matter of company policy cos the firm give’s opinion all over the world and I have to be seen as not giving opinions on social network. If by now, you still don’t have a clue, well, all I can say is wait till I am no more their staff.

Niways, guess who won the award of the most unusual and different staff on Saturday. Well, you guessed right... me. This is my second award at work this year. I talked about the first one in this post. Before you assume that i am one performer like that, let me quickly mention that none of these awards are work related. The one of July was the community service award of the year, while that of Saturday was because I am actually always different in everything, the way I make my hair, wear my heel, etc. They called this category the Lady gaga award, so you can imagine. Though I don’t like Lady gaga at all, I don’t even know any of her songs, I like the description of the category. In fact when nomination categories were sent out, I laughed silently, knowing that I was a number one culprit and no one could actually get this award but me. Most human beings are just too normal.



The Community service award. A sane pic of me at the background



Me in my elements

Me rocking the party, old school style

Leaving awards aside, I want to thank God from curing me from an addiction of 11 years. It might not sound serious but I can tell you that it wasn’t funny anymore. It is about handkerchiefs. Since year 2000, I couldn’t do without holding handkerchiefs. In fact, if I did not hold a handkerchief in, my palms will start shaking and sweating, eventually spreading to my face. It later got serious and handkerchiefs were no more enough. I graduated from hanky to face towel. I later realized in 2009 that people thought I did it for spiritual reasons but I had no knowledge of this until someone decided to ask me. Imagine my surprise... I guess it’s because they realized I couldn’t do without it.

OH complained about it when our relationship started getting serious so I decided to step it down to handkerchiefs again. The main issue was that I had to hold on to something, either a handkerchief, phone, etc. If I lost the hanky along the way, I looked for a tissue paper or saviette. One day, I looked at some of my pictures, every single one had an image of face towel or handkerchief in my palms. At this point, I knew the situation was beyond control. I desired to stop but could not.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me announce to you today that my hankiddiction has been cured. One day, I just realized I wasn’t holding it anymore, yet I wasn’t shaking and sweating. It started by me not having to hold it for several hours without even noticing and later I just stopped completely. This is what prayer can do, break 11 years of minor addictions. Thank God

As I said, the entry games continue. What do you want to read next?

1. A letter to undo- It is a letter about a girl who regrets the decisions she made writing a letter to her past, trying to tell her past what not to do. She is basically wishing the letter could automatically change her past

2. In my pocket- This involves short skits of drama eclipsed with a poem. It is about chief shokolokobangoshe and how he has all the sectors of Nigeria in his pocket, how he abuses power and uses it for his selfish needs. He is very boastful about this fact

3. Professor Greed- This is a poem about a man whose whole being has been consumed by greed since he was a child. He is basically asking greed to leave him alone but he is trapped.

So, which one do you want to read? Remember, the one with the highest vote gets published. Also, it will only be on my blog for a minimum of one month and a maximum of two months, before it finds it permanent place in the book.

P.S: No one got the answer to the question in my last post. I get to hold on to my gift and also I will keep the answer to myself.

Its December 15!

Hey people, it is December 15, exactly the beginning of the third week in Decemeber. It is time for me to come back to my baby, like I promised. I mistakenly said I'll be back by the third week, instead of the fourth week but since I already said it, I will stand by my word. My word is the only thing I can give people like you so you can have it, lol.

So to kick off, I did some things on my blog a month ago. Who can tell me what this is? There will be a gift for the first correct answer oo. Yea, I know it is difficult, but considering the fact that it is going to be a copy of my first book ever, I think it is worth a try. Though, the 'gift' won't be ready until next year.

When I took a break from blogger, I kicked off my editing business. Forget the typos you see on my blog post sometimes, that is if you see any. But as some of you know, I have been the editor and publisher of some neighbourhood newsletters in Lagos for the past two years. So yeah, I have experience but that is another business. I sabi English, no be small. I am one of the people that actually listened to their English teachers back in primary school, so preposition, conjunction, defininite and indefinite articles, etc still dance alanta in my brain. I guess it is just my passion.

I commenced the manuscript editing business sometime in September and I would love you to give me a chance if you have an unpublished book you desire to publish. I am currently working on a fellow blogger's book, which I am almost done with and by the Grace of God, will be working on another blogger's book, come January. If you have more questions, just click the 'Edit your Books!' tab or just click here.

People, I have really missed blogger but I know wasup with all of you sha. As long as you blogged about it, then I can tell you that I read it. 9Ja Great has suddenly become a counsellor and a caring man, *smh*. Myne and Dunni are taking a ride down the Babs lane, Gospel Girl is nowhere to be found, Naijamum has fallen off the flat surface, Hazel suffered some shenanigans from her house help and nanny, Cherry Chatter is not finding it funny at all when it comes to the relationship thing, she's dishing it out very hot, Blessing is finding contentment, TamunoIbifiri is trying to lose weight, Unveiling Gold has finally passed her exams, HoneyDame and Ginger just keeps asking of me, etc. If I didn't mention you and you blogged, just know this, I know what you did last night. Some people have left, new people have come. I have to start searching for new blogs to follow.

Concerning the entries for my book, we will continue the one out of three entries game in my next post. Thanks so much for everything guys, I love you people, I really do. So here is a picture I am dedicating to myself, that is assuming I was missed. In the mean time, don't forget to allow me edit your books. I need to buy food to feed myself, abeg.



Picture from maronsi.com



I'll be back

Hiya, my blog family. Yes, do you actually realize that we are a family? Well, I will explain why I said that in another post. But this post is for another matter.

I know some people don't notify the blog family before they do this but as for me, blogging has become a very important and major part of my life and I will love to keep it that way for as long as possible.

So many things have been happening to me lately and many more will still happen between now and December. After weighing the current circumstances of my life, I have decided to stop my blogging activities for the next two months. Believe me when I say that if I don't do this, so many things will suffer. This is because I am very much addicted to blogger.

I won’t be updating and I won’t be commenting on your blogs. I will be using Google reader to read all your posts whenever I am in Lagos traffic, so if you thought you were gonna gossip about me cos I am not here, you better think again. I am going for a while but I still have a camera on you all *evil laughter*.

To everyone that gave me the versatile blogger award Priscy, a9Ja Great, Dammy Jewel and others. I really thank you so much. I actually thought I would have been able to do a post on that but unfortunately, that is not the case. Please, don’t stop nominating me o. Remember, I am watching

As for my book entries, the one that i am supposed to be putting one in every entries on blogger, I will continue that when I get back

I will be updating the natural hair blog because all the posts are ready and will be scheduled, some naturalistas have come to rely on that blog and it is good to be consistent

I will really miss you guys and your plenty comments on my blog. Someone once asked me how I get so many comments. She has far more followers and gets like 10 and I have lesser and sometimes get 40 - 50 but I really didn’t know the reason why that is the case. So I am taking time to thank you guys so much. I am very grateful.

Picture edited by @ilola

I’ll be back by 3rd week in December, if I don’t come back by then, don’t allow me rest on twitter. I seriously doubt that this will be the case. *tears and tight emotional hugs* commot dia 9ja great, no hug me tight jo, don’t you know you are a naughty? Lol. Na you talk am o, no be meee o.

*grins, cries, waves goodbye, turns back and runs off*.

One lovely blog award

 I have gotten three different awards/tags in the past four days. I just have to find a way to doing all of them in the order which I was tagged. The first is One lovely blog award, I was awarded this by The relentless builder. I want to thank you so much for the recognition

Here goes the rules


Link back to the person who gave you the award
Complete the form below
Tell seven random things about yourself
Nominate 15 bloggers


Name your favorite color

I don't have favourites. No favourite anything. Sorry

Name your favorite song

No favourite

Name your favorite dessert

No favourite

What pisses you off?

Shallow people and shallow discussions

When you are upset you

I hardly get angry but if that ever happens, I like to sleep. I feel better when I wake up

Your favorite pet

None, I don't do pets

 Black or white?

Black o, white gets dirty easily. The dust in Lagos is not fun at all

Your biggest fear

Fear of death. I know I shouldn't have this phobia cos I am a Christian. I guess I still have more work to do on myself

Everyday attitude

Achieve all I can achieve for the day. Maximise it to the fullest

Your best feature

My hips.

What is perfection?

Perfection is having a flawless relationship with God

Guilty pleasure

Thinking about the day I will get married and have the legally spiritual right to have sex. What will it be like? etc.. Please, don't yap me ooo

7 Random things about myself:

• I am 5'5 in height 
• I am a British size 6, American size 2
• I work three jobs. 
• I can listen to sermons from morning till night, I never get tired of hearing people preach
• I spend more money on my hair care than food or anything else. And I don't even use extensions. smh
• I enjoy watching cartoons. I don’t think I will ever outgrow them. 
• I have a strong personality, which can work against me at tmes

Tags

Please, let me twist it a bit. I tag the first 15 commenters, excluding me. Thanks a lot for reading


P.S: I don't like watching cartoons. It was a copy and paste error from the person that tagged me. Sorry, Relentless Builder. 
I kept wondering where cartoon comments came from till I checked the post again.