Yesterday morning as I scurried across campus, late for my class, I saw a pair of Canadian geese in flight. Not too far from where they were was another goose that quacked at them. It sure got their attention as they landed not too far from where it was. I made my way to class and soon those geese were well forgotten.
After class, as I retraced my steps across campus on my way to catch a bus. I heard those geese again. I looked all over and could not see them. The quacking got louder and I noticed the pair above a building. I went my way and as with my earlier encounter with the pair I soon forgot about them.
It wasn't until at some odd hour of the night that I woke up and thought about that pair of geese. You see Canadian geese are not popular birds , they are often a nuisance. You do not want to walk across a lawn where these birds have been around, they are messy. I remember a year or so ago at church we had an exercise where we would go to the the open space outside our church to pray. When we prayed we would take off our shoes and Pastor would always caution people to be careful on that lawn , it had been home to a flock of geese.
I remember a few years ago the city was on about the droppings of Canadian geese making their way into the rivers and eventually into the lake, and the environmental impact it had. And the plane that ended up on the Hudson River, the geese were to blame.
For some reason this pair reminded me of a pair of white geese we had growing up. I grew up on a farm. When I was younger growing up on a farm was something I detested, it wasn't cool or hip. Now anytime I fly home, the farm is my favourite place. It is serene, away from all the hustle and bustle, and I feel in touch with nature.
On the farm at some given time we had animals that you would not typically find domesticated in a black-owned farm. At one point we had a tortoise, found by the guys while herding cows. We also had a baby monkey, abandoned by it's mother while a troupe of monkeys which was raiding the maize from the fields was scared off by a single shot from my dad's rifle. I will tell the tale of the monkey in another post . We also had a hedgehog too, it was found in the fields as well.
Back to the geese. I do not remember when we got them, but as far as my memory serves me, we brought them to the farm from our house in Killarney. For the most part they were peace loving birds. they never had any chicks so maybe they were the same sex, I mean as weird as this may sound , how does one determine the sex of a goose? There were a few instances when they unleashed a reign of feathery terror. The victims were my young sister, my late aunt Portia, I think at some point my mum may have fallen victim too , but their favourite pick was my brother, and maybe because he was as tall as they were.
My brother was born when I was 6 yrs old. While bother my young sister and I enjoyed having him around, she always seemed better at playing with him and making him stop crying, she was better but she always dodged taking care of him. I on the other would play with him, but when he cried I could never get him to keep quiet, until one day I had an aha moment. I stuck his thumb into his mouth. Little bugger latched onto that thumb, and that was his new soother. Unfortunately, it gave birth to a habit that lingered on for years.
Just as much as he loved his thumb, it seemed to have caught the attention of the geese. Anytime that lil fella would dart across the yard, the geese would go after him , and with their beaks yank at his thumb. Maybe they too needed to get a taste of that scrumptious little thumb.
My young sister used to be chased by the geese. Maybe this was how she turned out to be a fast runner. All that outrunning of the geese was training for her. As for mum and aunt Portia, they kind of looked alike,and anytime she would visit my mum would give her some of her clothes to wear. I do not know what it was about one particular skirt , but the geese would attack.Again I am not too sure if they were attracted to the skirt or repelled by it , but they would attack, all the while while I always peered through some window and literally rolled with laughter.
What happened to the 2 geese is a rather mirky memory. I think one was attacked by a snake and because the remaining goose was lonely I think it was slaughtered and cooked for the dogs.
Saturday, April 06, 2013
Saturday, December 25, 2010
RED is BOLD
A little secret about me ...oh well maybe its not a secret to those who are connected to me on Facebook, is I love makeup.... yeap I am a makeup Junkie , addict , I am am obssessed .
On a quiet evening you'll find me doing a makeup look , or watching various tutorials on Youtube... amazing the things tou can learn on youtube and blogs etc. I can be engrossed in all things make-up for hours and hours. I still have a lot to learn, and am always on the hunt for new products. Last week I walked into a Rexall drugstore and found some NYX products.... I didn't know that I could find these in Canada. I awlys see tutorials of people using these ,and I always assumed that I had to the States to get these. Even better was that they were on sale, so I picked up a whole load of eyeshadows , jumbo pencils and liner.
Last week I hit the malls, and was just having a day so I decided to thow on one of the new shaows I had got. I really wasn't feeling up to wearing my makeup, but I have made it my mission to wear makeup anytime I am off work... I figure I bought the products I might as well use them. So I didn't put a lot of thought and effort into my look , just rocked the Hunter green Shadow, and boy did I get compliments...from people who actually know makeup. The first was the lady at the MAC counter, I stopped by to make a small lil purchase, then next was a lady at Sephora who loved the look. I will have to look at my camera to see if I have photos of me , and will post them. It is a big deal for me when a trained make-up artist stops and gives me a compliment. To me its the endorsement I need, and I really cannot take all the credit because I have had so many people teach me how to do makeup, and all but one ( I think!) know that they have had an influence on me.
Anyway I have been looking for the ideal red lipstick.... I believe that every woman has their own Red lipstick. I was not actively looking because up until a few days ago I only owned 3 lipsticks , which I rarely use. I am not a lipstick person... I am a lipgloss kinda girl., and part of me was afraid to venture down the red lipstick road. The last time I had visited MAC, in an attempt to get a red liptick I settled for a pinky plummy shade. My very first lipstick was MAC Sophisto and I loved the way it felt , so I always thought that they were the go to people for lipsticks.
2 days ago after catching a movie with a friend we ventured into one of the department stores, and I asked the lady at the MAC counter on what red shades she'd recommend and she seemed totally un-interested, and clueless, and after getting me to try pretty much almost all the reds and even a lipgloss I was disappointed. Disappointed... yes I was crushed.... this was MAC that we are are talking about... I have always thought they were one of the best brands... even though I couldn't quite get the ideal foundation shade from them, I love all their other products;eyeshadows ...coz I believe they have a wide range...possibly shades I never dream of seeing as eyeshadows, blushes etc.
Right next to MAC is the MAKE UP FOR EVER counter , we went there and the makeup artist was busy with a client but when she asked me what I wanted she handed me 2 lipsticks and a brush... and as soon as I tried the first one I was sold I was in love....she looked at it and said it was ok.In my mind I thought, r u freaking kidding me ...this is awesome..., this is the best red I ever wore....I mean hello! Anyway she had me try the 2nd shade ...more awesomeness,... So at the end of the night I was a proud owner of the Rouge Artist Intesnse #46 and #48. My fav. being the # 46, which I wore yesterday and can I say that I didn't know I had sexy lips....wow... I felt like I owned the world. This morning I was tempted to wear my 46 again, but having had a rough night due to my asthma, I woke up late and was already running late for work, I decided against it. throwing Makeup on .
RED is sexy, fierce, bold, ayoba, fabulous and just downright awesome. Red commands attention...its turns heads...and it definitely gets my seal of appoval.
I also came to the realization that there are a whole lot of good brands out there and we should never be afraid to try other brands. Venture down brands, I know I have found cheaper brands, that do the work just as good as the pricier brands. I love to use drugstore brands too..do not write them off....some of my favourite eyeshadows and mascara are drugstore brands.... Then there are some brands that there are no comparison to. If you think they are pricey save up and hook yourself up.
On a quiet evening you'll find me doing a makeup look , or watching various tutorials on Youtube... amazing the things tou can learn on youtube and blogs etc. I can be engrossed in all things make-up for hours and hours. I still have a lot to learn, and am always on the hunt for new products. Last week I walked into a Rexall drugstore and found some NYX products.... I didn't know that I could find these in Canada. I awlys see tutorials of people using these ,and I always assumed that I had to the States to get these. Even better was that they were on sale, so I picked up a whole load of eyeshadows , jumbo pencils and liner.
Last week I hit the malls, and was just having a day so I decided to thow on one of the new shaows I had got. I really wasn't feeling up to wearing my makeup, but I have made it my mission to wear makeup anytime I am off work... I figure I bought the products I might as well use them. So I didn't put a lot of thought and effort into my look , just rocked the Hunter green Shadow, and boy did I get compliments...from people who actually know makeup. The first was the lady at the MAC counter, I stopped by to make a small lil purchase, then next was a lady at Sephora who loved the look. I will have to look at my camera to see if I have photos of me , and will post them. It is a big deal for me when a trained make-up artist stops and gives me a compliment. To me its the endorsement I need, and I really cannot take all the credit because I have had so many people teach me how to do makeup, and all but one ( I think!) know that they have had an influence on me.
Anyway I have been looking for the ideal red lipstick.... I believe that every woman has their own Red lipstick. I was not actively looking because up until a few days ago I only owned 3 lipsticks , which I rarely use. I am not a lipstick person... I am a lipgloss kinda girl., and part of me was afraid to venture down the red lipstick road. The last time I had visited MAC, in an attempt to get a red liptick I settled for a pinky plummy shade. My very first lipstick was MAC Sophisto and I loved the way it felt , so I always thought that they were the go to people for lipsticks.
2 days ago after catching a movie with a friend we ventured into one of the department stores, and I asked the lady at the MAC counter on what red shades she'd recommend and she seemed totally un-interested, and clueless, and after getting me to try pretty much almost all the reds and even a lipgloss I was disappointed. Disappointed... yes I was crushed.... this was MAC that we are are talking about... I have always thought they were one of the best brands... even though I couldn't quite get the ideal foundation shade from them, I love all their other products;eyeshadows ...coz I believe they have a wide range...possibly shades I never dream of seeing as eyeshadows, blushes etc.
Right next to MAC is the MAKE UP FOR EVER counter , we went there and the makeup artist was busy with a client but when she asked me what I wanted she handed me 2 lipsticks and a brush... and as soon as I tried the first one I was sold I was in love....she looked at it and said it was ok.In my mind I thought, r u freaking kidding me ...this is awesome..., this is the best red I ever wore....I mean hello! Anyway she had me try the 2nd shade ...more awesomeness,... So at the end of the night I was a proud owner of the Rouge Artist Intesnse #46 and #48. My fav. being the # 46, which I wore yesterday and can I say that I didn't know I had sexy lips....wow... I felt like I owned the world. This morning I was tempted to wear my 46 again, but having had a rough night due to my asthma, I woke up late and was already running late for work, I decided against it. throwing Makeup on .
RED is sexy, fierce, bold, ayoba, fabulous and just downright awesome. Red commands attention...its turns heads...and it definitely gets my seal of appoval.
I also came to the realization that there are a whole lot of good brands out there and we should never be afraid to try other brands. Venture down brands, I know I have found cheaper brands, that do the work just as good as the pricier brands. I love to use drugstore brands too..do not write them off....some of my favourite eyeshadows and mascara are drugstore brands.... Then there are some brands that there are no comparison to. If you think they are pricey save up and hook yourself up.
People Can always tell.....
Yesterday in the last minute madness of getting the perfect present or getting those groceries for the Christmas day feasts, I found myself at a grocery store. If you know me , you'll know that I hate being caught up in crowds. I am a very patient person but when it comes to crowds, and standing in line I am that very person who'll be tapping in my feet , and will leave what I want so I can avoid standing in line. So yesterday my friend called me to tell me she had forgotten to buy some butternut squash , and this is how I got to be stuck at the grocery store.
Anyway as I walked through the produce section, I heard a man tell his wife (I guess) that peeople can always tell. My assumption was maybe she had reached out for some pre-cooked or packed item , that she could get fresh. Then I got thinking ... we cause ourselves unnecessary stress trying to get everything perfect, for the holidays, for a certain function , for whatever reason, just because we are want to please peeople or we want to make an impression.
I know that whenever there is a function ... I'll stress about what I will wear. In my mind, I already have my biggest critic and I begin to imagine what they will say if I show up dressed in a certain outfit, or if I wear something that I already own. Then after combining a few outfits in my mind, I'll decide none of the clothes I have are not good enough to wear and I head off to buy me a new outfit.
Most times my critic never is at the function , and other than myself no one notices that what I am wearing is brand new. We all get caught up with what other people think or will do or say.
So how about you cook what you can for Christmas... after all its not really about food , its about getting together with loved ones and appreciating that God saw us worthy enough to send us His Son You don have to go all out and plan a huge meal, that you'll probably stress about cooking , and when the night is done where you will put all the left overs because the fridge u have is too small to contain them all. How about just drop by the mall, and hook yourself up with a nice outfit , just because you like it and the only person you are out to please is you? Or how about you wear that outfit you've worn only once, and throw some different accessories, to make it look different from when you last wore it , so you can celebrate your creativity and enjoy the event not to try and please another person.
Will Smith once said, " People spend a lot of money they don't have , trying to buy stuff they don't need, in order to please people who do not even care about them." Just do you and please God and yourself, because there are whole lot of personalities out there and there is only one of you. You cannot please any of them, and attempting to do so will lead to stress and frustration.
Merry Xmas y'all and be blessed.
Anyway as I walked through the produce section, I heard a man tell his wife (I guess) that peeople can always tell. My assumption was maybe she had reached out for some pre-cooked or packed item , that she could get fresh. Then I got thinking ... we cause ourselves unnecessary stress trying to get everything perfect, for the holidays, for a certain function , for whatever reason, just because we are want to please peeople or we want to make an impression.
I know that whenever there is a function ... I'll stress about what I will wear. In my mind, I already have my biggest critic and I begin to imagine what they will say if I show up dressed in a certain outfit, or if I wear something that I already own. Then after combining a few outfits in my mind, I'll decide none of the clothes I have are not good enough to wear and I head off to buy me a new outfit.
Most times my critic never is at the function , and other than myself no one notices that what I am wearing is brand new. We all get caught up with what other people think or will do or say.
So how about you cook what you can for Christmas... after all its not really about food , its about getting together with loved ones and appreciating that God saw us worthy enough to send us His Son You don have to go all out and plan a huge meal, that you'll probably stress about cooking , and when the night is done where you will put all the left overs because the fridge u have is too small to contain them all. How about just drop by the mall, and hook yourself up with a nice outfit , just because you like it and the only person you are out to please is you? Or how about you wear that outfit you've worn only once, and throw some different accessories, to make it look different from when you last wore it , so you can celebrate your creativity and enjoy the event not to try and please another person.
Will Smith once said, " People spend a lot of money they don't have , trying to buy stuff they don't need, in order to please people who do not even care about them." Just do you and please God and yourself, because there are whole lot of personalities out there and there is only one of you. You cannot please any of them, and attempting to do so will lead to stress and frustration.
Merry Xmas y'all and be blessed.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
New Attittude!
A few weeks ago I saw a man in front of my house on some pink and grey roller blades. Didn't pay much attention to him, well not as much attention as i did to the color of his roller blades. I so him a few day after that , and realized he was learning how to roller blade.
Today while I was getting my dosage of neighborly gossip, with my beloved neighbor Charles, this man zipped by, on a newer pair of blades, with much confidence. Charles and I both commended him. It was only then that I realized that this little Asian Man is probably in his 60's. At one point he fell , but in a split of a second he was up and owning the road like a pro. One word that came to mind , was perseverance.
In that small little act I somehow felt inspired. Making it will never be easy, there will be falls, bruises and scrapes along the way. Our attitude is what gets us to our ultimate destination, and though u might get to it all scarred, its in wearing those scars with pride that makes us know that every bump along the way was worth it.
So with my renewed mindset, here's what I will be doing, I am going to eat sleep , pray and roller blade my dreams into realities , and nothing will be stopping me.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
The pain..does it ever go away?
They say time heals all... maybe it does maybe it doesn't, all that could depend on the cause of your pain.
Last night I read a friend's blog, and I can't even describe how I felt when I was done reading it. In last few years she has lost a number of family members, yet when you meet her she has a larger than life personality.
I met her a month ago , and I liked her instantly...don kno what it is about her , but I was drawn to her spirit and her confidence.It was during a random conversation that he mentioned that her mom was late. I of all people know, you do not dig into the circumstances surrounding the loss of a parent.You wait and listen for the person to tell you more. If they choose to give you more info, that's fine , if not that is fine too. So while I read her blog I realized she lost her dad and grandmother too, all in the last couple of years.
Then I was reminded of the time when I lost my best friend, my dad.He died seven years ago. I cannot even put in words how I felt when I was told he was gone, leaving me with my last memory of him, the hug and words of advice couples with a few errands as I left the motherland for a world so new and unknown to me. Right then when I got that dreaded phone call, my hopes of a surprise visit to him, were shattered, oh how I had imagined his joy as his little gal came home. Instead when my aunt called me to tell me her brother was late, I held on to that silver portable phone,asked her questions surrounding his death...he had been sick, having been in and out of comas at one point, but just days before I'd called him, and he'd told me not to worry, he was feeling much better and gaining his strength back, to the point where he said he could walk up to the gate and back without sitting for a moment, to catch his breath. Aunt also told me that she was going to drive down from the States that Easter weekend , with her family to be with me, and I remember asking her where they were going to live, and making parking and all sorts of arrangements.Up until that point I'd heard what she had told me , but the loss I had just experienced hadn't registered in my head. When the converstion was over and my room mate and the lady she was braiding expressed their condolences, it hit me ...when Auntie was talking about her brother , she'd been talking about my father. At that moment I wished for an earthquake, because up until that day , all I ever did was so that my father would be proud, so how was I supposed to live my life without the very person who inspired me to give my very best?
So fast forward to now, 7 years later. I still have moments when I think of him and I weep, as hard as I did then. Then I have moments where I can talk about his death, without shedding a tear. I also have moments where during converstions with relatives or family friends, they will mention how they remember him as a funny person, an intelligent , kind hearted man, full of business ideas, then I am a nervous wreck , and they are left feeling guilty. So for me some years have been harder than others. I cannot say that time heals all, because death is like having a wound that just won't heal. All I know is that I miss my earthly father dearly, and I know that I can't ever give myself the right to tell someone who has lost a parent that I know how it feels, because I would be lying. I may have an idea of what they are going through. Though our loved ones may be absent in flesh they are present in our hearts, and in our spirits and in the memories we shared with them. I rest assured in 2 things...that I heavenly father who loves me unconditionally and in the hope of seeing and being re-united with all those loved ones we've lost in the journey of life.
Last night I read a friend's blog, and I can't even describe how I felt when I was done reading it. In last few years she has lost a number of family members, yet when you meet her she has a larger than life personality.
I met her a month ago , and I liked her instantly...don kno what it is about her , but I was drawn to her spirit and her confidence.It was during a random conversation that he mentioned that her mom was late. I of all people know, you do not dig into the circumstances surrounding the loss of a parent.You wait and listen for the person to tell you more. If they choose to give you more info, that's fine , if not that is fine too. So while I read her blog I realized she lost her dad and grandmother too, all in the last couple of years.
Then I was reminded of the time when I lost my best friend, my dad.He died seven years ago. I cannot even put in words how I felt when I was told he was gone, leaving me with my last memory of him, the hug and words of advice couples with a few errands as I left the motherland for a world so new and unknown to me. Right then when I got that dreaded phone call, my hopes of a surprise visit to him, were shattered, oh how I had imagined his joy as his little gal came home. Instead when my aunt called me to tell me her brother was late, I held on to that silver portable phone,asked her questions surrounding his death...he had been sick, having been in and out of comas at one point, but just days before I'd called him, and he'd told me not to worry, he was feeling much better and gaining his strength back, to the point where he said he could walk up to the gate and back without sitting for a moment, to catch his breath. Aunt also told me that she was going to drive down from the States that Easter weekend , with her family to be with me, and I remember asking her where they were going to live, and making parking and all sorts of arrangements.Up until that point I'd heard what she had told me , but the loss I had just experienced hadn't registered in my head. When the converstion was over and my room mate and the lady she was braiding expressed their condolences, it hit me ...when Auntie was talking about her brother , she'd been talking about my father. At that moment I wished for an earthquake, because up until that day , all I ever did was so that my father would be proud, so how was I supposed to live my life without the very person who inspired me to give my very best?
So fast forward to now, 7 years later. I still have moments when I think of him and I weep, as hard as I did then. Then I have moments where I can talk about his death, without shedding a tear. I also have moments where during converstions with relatives or family friends, they will mention how they remember him as a funny person, an intelligent , kind hearted man, full of business ideas, then I am a nervous wreck , and they are left feeling guilty. So for me some years have been harder than others. I cannot say that time heals all, because death is like having a wound that just won't heal. All I know is that I miss my earthly father dearly, and I know that I can't ever give myself the right to tell someone who has lost a parent that I know how it feels, because I would be lying. I may have an idea of what they are going through. Though our loved ones may be absent in flesh they are present in our hearts, and in our spirits and in the memories we shared with them. I rest assured in 2 things...that I heavenly father who loves me unconditionally and in the hope of seeing and being re-united with all those loved ones we've lost in the journey of life.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
First Make Up Shoot!
Mention Make-up and I'm on it, with no hesitation. So when a friend messaged me on Facebook asking me to come for a makeup shoot, I almost died and went to heaven. I have been waiting for this moment for a while... I 'missed' my first chance and recently I just declared I wasn't going to miss any of my moments.
So like a woman on crack I jumped on my keyboard at 140 km/h and replied yes to my friend. Only prob, was that the shoot would fall on my weekend on at work, well I wasn't about to miss my moment, so for the first tim ein my life I actually switched my shifts.
So yesterday was the day of the shoot and I woke up late , took a cab, which was stuck in traffic, and when I did get there the driver couldn't quite find the place. As annoyed as I was getting, I was determined not to let anything spoil my day, not even the fact that it was raining , or the fact that the driver had slammed his breaks to hard a drop of the smoothie I was having, ended up on my top, or the fact that the teap in my water container had leaked into the plastic bag I was carrying.
With my head held up I strutted my stuff into the building. The owner of the loft opened the door and welcomed me. As soon as she introduced herself I remembered running into her at a Tuku show last yr. On the couch sat Lulu, who immediatedly recognized me from my Facebook profile picture... already she was into my good books... On the chair was Sharon, met her for the first time about 2 years ago, and this was our second time seeing each each., and lastly was Pam , our Makeup Artist. So after hugging everyone and settling my stuff and I beelined for the spot next to Lulu , and we got chatting. By this time Sharon's lashes had been done, and sooner than later she was done. The other ladies were a bit nervous, so excited me jumped up to be the next. Then In walked Tabby, gorgeus and sassy lady.
Pam applied my foundation and while she was doing it she was thinking of the look for my eyes. She mentioned that I loved colour and I told her my facce was at her mercy. While we were chatting TSI got the music going, we listened to everything from Old Skool, to Kwaito, to Tuku , and some Rhumba. Pam finally settled for my fav. eyeshadow colours - purple. In the meantime the photographer had arrived, furniture was moved and the little bachelor pad was converted into a studio. Sharon was up, and did she work that set.
I was next, and by this time , I think it was the hunger, or the heat or a combination of both. Feeling a tad bit un-inspired I sat on the stool. I think most of the energy was focussed on me not falling off of the chair. While this was going on Lulu was in Pam's chair. I didn't quite seem to take the photographers direction too well. If I wasn't looking up too high it was too low, or my eyes were closed by the time it was time to shoot. Between all that my eyes were tearing , so midway Pam had to do touch ups, and a few shots of us were taken. Photograpgher kept saying I need to relax, and to be honest I thought I was relaxed. Before long my shoot was done.
Next came Lulu who rocked the set. And while she did that TSI got her make up done. Lulu's challenge was she could not sit on the stool. First she was too short , and then the stool was small. So the whole shoot was done with her standing. While the photographer waited for TSI, he decided to take a few group shots... we enjoyed those, few as they were, I think we nailed them.
Then came TSI, who is a pro at these things... Her shoot look long, she hit the set with a pair of heels , and worked it. She added a few accessories, and all we did was stare in amazement. All the while Tabby was on Pam's chair.
When Tabby hit the set she didn't know what to do, so Donald, the photographer's assistant asked us to vacate the room. A few of the pictures we saw, showed us she owned the set. during this time we decided to addres the other situation at hand, which was hunger. While we ate Pam , did her own make up , and as soon as Tabby was done, she hit the set.
A few minutes later we did group shots. The first up were the two tall ladies, Pam and TSI. Next up was yours truly and Lulu, the big gals, and finally the last 2 were Sharon and Tabby the petite models. And that was the end of our shoot. So now we wait for 2 weeks.
So while Photographer packed his stuff we did a few of our own photos, made plans to hook up again and tackled a few topics. Anyway turns out Tabby and I go to the same church, funny thing is we've never met, yet she is always with a few friends I know. Sharon used to come to church, but hasn't been since the church moved, and hadn't any idea how to get there, so I opted to meet her next Sunday and we can go together, seeing we kind of live in the same hood. Lulu on the other hand lives in the same hood as Tabby , and she has been looking for a church, so Tabby promised to bring her to church.... talk about God being good.
I am happy I finally got to do a shoot. I hope there will be a few more after this, and I hope I learnt a few things about poses etc., but my real joy is in knowing that when Pam thought of putting her portfolio together she found me worthy of making an appearance into it. I am also excited at the thought of her doing finally taking her skills seriously...y'all should have seen the transformations. My other joy lies in the new friendships that were created last night. The evening ended by us exchanging contact information.
I don't know what God is up to, but I got a feeling he is up to something huge.
So like a woman on crack I jumped on my keyboard at 140 km/h and replied yes to my friend. Only prob, was that the shoot would fall on my weekend on at work, well I wasn't about to miss my moment, so for the first tim ein my life I actually switched my shifts.
So yesterday was the day of the shoot and I woke up late , took a cab, which was stuck in traffic, and when I did get there the driver couldn't quite find the place. As annoyed as I was getting, I was determined not to let anything spoil my day, not even the fact that it was raining , or the fact that the driver had slammed his breaks to hard a drop of the smoothie I was having, ended up on my top, or the fact that the teap in my water container had leaked into the plastic bag I was carrying.
With my head held up I strutted my stuff into the building. The owner of the loft opened the door and welcomed me. As soon as she introduced herself I remembered running into her at a Tuku show last yr. On the couch sat Lulu, who immediatedly recognized me from my Facebook profile picture... already she was into my good books... On the chair was Sharon, met her for the first time about 2 years ago, and this was our second time seeing each each., and lastly was Pam , our Makeup Artist. So after hugging everyone and settling my stuff and I beelined for the spot next to Lulu , and we got chatting. By this time Sharon's lashes had been done, and sooner than later she was done. The other ladies were a bit nervous, so excited me jumped up to be the next. Then In walked Tabby, gorgeus and sassy lady.
Pam applied my foundation and while she was doing it she was thinking of the look for my eyes. She mentioned that I loved colour and I told her my facce was at her mercy. While we were chatting TSI got the music going, we listened to everything from Old Skool, to Kwaito, to Tuku , and some Rhumba. Pam finally settled for my fav. eyeshadow colours - purple. In the meantime the photographer had arrived, furniture was moved and the little bachelor pad was converted into a studio. Sharon was up, and did she work that set.
I was next, and by this time , I think it was the hunger, or the heat or a combination of both. Feeling a tad bit un-inspired I sat on the stool. I think most of the energy was focussed on me not falling off of the chair. While this was going on Lulu was in Pam's chair. I didn't quite seem to take the photographers direction too well. If I wasn't looking up too high it was too low, or my eyes were closed by the time it was time to shoot. Between all that my eyes were tearing , so midway Pam had to do touch ups, and a few shots of us were taken. Photograpgher kept saying I need to relax, and to be honest I thought I was relaxed. Before long my shoot was done.
Next came Lulu who rocked the set. And while she did that TSI got her make up done. Lulu's challenge was she could not sit on the stool. First she was too short , and then the stool was small. So the whole shoot was done with her standing. While the photographer waited for TSI, he decided to take a few group shots... we enjoyed those, few as they were, I think we nailed them.
Then came TSI, who is a pro at these things... Her shoot look long, she hit the set with a pair of heels , and worked it. She added a few accessories, and all we did was stare in amazement. All the while Tabby was on Pam's chair.
When Tabby hit the set she didn't know what to do, so Donald, the photographer's assistant asked us to vacate the room. A few of the pictures we saw, showed us she owned the set. during this time we decided to addres the other situation at hand, which was hunger. While we ate Pam , did her own make up , and as soon as Tabby was done, she hit the set.
A few minutes later we did group shots. The first up were the two tall ladies, Pam and TSI. Next up was yours truly and Lulu, the big gals, and finally the last 2 were Sharon and Tabby the petite models. And that was the end of our shoot. So now we wait for 2 weeks.
So while Photographer packed his stuff we did a few of our own photos, made plans to hook up again and tackled a few topics. Anyway turns out Tabby and I go to the same church, funny thing is we've never met, yet she is always with a few friends I know. Sharon used to come to church, but hasn't been since the church moved, and hadn't any idea how to get there, so I opted to meet her next Sunday and we can go together, seeing we kind of live in the same hood. Lulu on the other hand lives in the same hood as Tabby , and she has been looking for a church, so Tabby promised to bring her to church.... talk about God being good.
I am happy I finally got to do a shoot. I hope there will be a few more after this, and I hope I learnt a few things about poses etc., but my real joy is in knowing that when Pam thought of putting her portfolio together she found me worthy of making an appearance into it. I am also excited at the thought of her doing finally taking her skills seriously...y'all should have seen the transformations. My other joy lies in the new friendships that were created last night. The evening ended by us exchanging contact information.
I don't know what God is up to, but I got a feeling he is up to something huge.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Single,sanctified and satisfied
On the last Friday of each month, we have a discussion panelled by the Empowered Ladies Union at Church. I am a relatively new member at Church and had never been to any of these, so when I got a message titled ' Single, sanctified and satisfied' I knew I was so going no second guessing.
What an awesome time of fellowship with other single women. The Panel was made up of women of all walks - Pastors wives, recently married women, widowed women, single mothers and single women who've never been married. All I can say is God is at work y'all.
A few things I learnt :
- Not everyone is designed to get married. If it is God's will for one to be married, it will come to pass , however if not, it is our hope that we accept God's plan and purpose for our lives , for we know that even though he knows the desires of our hearts, what we desire and His will may not be in alignment.
- We ought to be very careful, about the way we approach marriage and other things in life. Sometimes as single women we get caught up in the idea of marriage, to the point where we become obsessed with marriage. When we become obsessed with something,that thing becomes an idol, and our God is a jealous God. So seek ye first the Kingdom of God.
- there will always be pressure from other married people , friends and family. We have to know who we are in Christ and remain stedfast in God. The best way to go through this life is to be productive and enjoy this phase of singleness. Continue to work for the Lord,and once we have proven ourselves fruitful in this phase then will He move us to the next.
- there is nothing wrong with being single. We are complete humans. Wanting to get married doesn't not deem us incomplete, but rather as complete humans who want to be complimented.
At the end of the night, it was encouraging to know that I am not alone, and I felt as though as heavy load had been lifted off.
Now a quick word, to those have asked me when I will get married. Please cut me some slack. I am not God, and I do not know when it will happen, nor do I know if that's His will for my life. Just let me enjoy my singleness. I have not complained about being single, I am single, sanctified and content( satisfied). Food for thought- if you so desperately want me to get married, maybe you ought to lift me up in your prayers. And no I will not go to clubs or visit internet sites to find a man... I was designed to be pursued, so I will not put myself in places that I know fully well I ought not to be at. I will continue to do the 'boring' things,and will not put myself out there, I will however bring it anytime I go out, even if its to the gym, or grocery store, maybe I may bump into him there, and don't dare begin to wonder about looking for a brother at church... cause I have better bizness to take care of ...I am busy seeking God's kingdom and being fruitful in the stage that I am in, if Almighty sees fit to add him, then Glory be to God. Simply put BACK OFF.
What an awesome time of fellowship with other single women. The Panel was made up of women of all walks - Pastors wives, recently married women, widowed women, single mothers and single women who've never been married. All I can say is God is at work y'all.
A few things I learnt :
- Not everyone is designed to get married. If it is God's will for one to be married, it will come to pass , however if not, it is our hope that we accept God's plan and purpose for our lives , for we know that even though he knows the desires of our hearts, what we desire and His will may not be in alignment.
- We ought to be very careful, about the way we approach marriage and other things in life. Sometimes as single women we get caught up in the idea of marriage, to the point where we become obsessed with marriage. When we become obsessed with something,that thing becomes an idol, and our God is a jealous God. So seek ye first the Kingdom of God.
- there will always be pressure from other married people , friends and family. We have to know who we are in Christ and remain stedfast in God. The best way to go through this life is to be productive and enjoy this phase of singleness. Continue to work for the Lord,and once we have proven ourselves fruitful in this phase then will He move us to the next.
- there is nothing wrong with being single. We are complete humans. Wanting to get married doesn't not deem us incomplete, but rather as complete humans who want to be complimented.
At the end of the night, it was encouraging to know that I am not alone, and I felt as though as heavy load had been lifted off.
Now a quick word, to those have asked me when I will get married. Please cut me some slack. I am not God, and I do not know when it will happen, nor do I know if that's His will for my life. Just let me enjoy my singleness. I have not complained about being single, I am single, sanctified and content( satisfied). Food for thought- if you so desperately want me to get married, maybe you ought to lift me up in your prayers. And no I will not go to clubs or visit internet sites to find a man... I was designed to be pursued, so I will not put myself in places that I know fully well I ought not to be at. I will continue to do the 'boring' things,and will not put myself out there, I will however bring it anytime I go out, even if its to the gym, or grocery store, maybe I may bump into him there, and don't dare begin to wonder about looking for a brother at church... cause I have better bizness to take care of ...I am busy seeking God's kingdom and being fruitful in the stage that I am in, if Almighty sees fit to add him, then Glory be to God. Simply put BACK OFF.
Homecoming!
February purposely saw no blog. A lot was going on, and I decided not to to type anything. On the last day I decided to drop in and let my fingers dance on the keyboard, then I decided against it.
We hosted the Winter Olympics which ended on the last day of February. Then we had the Paralympics in March. If you know me well , you know that I would have done anything to be in Vancouver during that time, however it was nice to know that the Olympics where right in our backyard, so yeah you guessed it the Olympics were the culprit. I do not recall being so interested in sports as I was. I mean I cried when Tessa Virtue and Scott moir , danced their way to olympic Gold, and cried when Melissa Hollingworth, cried in front of the nation, when she became fith in her sport. I was engrossed in Hockey games... I was sitting on edge , and cheered Canada on. I tried to catch as much action as I could. O Canada is a song we all grew to know so well. I think if you reside in Canada and you still do not know the National anthem , there is something teribly wrong with you. I remember thinking that at some point if one was to look down from space, Canada would stand out, because of all the red and white that we proudly wore.
During this time I went back to one of my best courses at Uni- Roots to Modern Canada. Over the years we have often tried to define our Canadianess. Often times our identity is tied to what we are not in comparison to our neighbours to the south. Yet, there are many things that make Canada, from being a peaceful nation , excellent human rights record, vast landsacpe, natural resourses, the wilderness, the maple leaf, hockey, the moose , the beaver.... I could go on and on. Maybe unlike most nations our Canadianess, can find its definition in all these things - we just don have that one thing that defines us.
Up until the Olympics, I was Canadian only in the sense that I hold a Canadian passport that grants me hassle free entry into the US. I still think of Zimbabwe as my home, and would often think of Canada as a transitional phase. Among other things, during the Olympics, I became fully aware of what it meant to be Canadian , and came to embrace Canada as my home. The beauty of it all is that I can call Canada my home as much as Zimbabwe is my home, and the beauty of being Canadian is that I don't have to choose, both countries can be my home. It has taken 9 yrs and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for me to feel at home.
We hosted the Winter Olympics which ended on the last day of February. Then we had the Paralympics in March. If you know me well , you know that I would have done anything to be in Vancouver during that time, however it was nice to know that the Olympics where right in our backyard, so yeah you guessed it the Olympics were the culprit. I do not recall being so interested in sports as I was. I mean I cried when Tessa Virtue and Scott moir , danced their way to olympic Gold, and cried when Melissa Hollingworth, cried in front of the nation, when she became fith in her sport. I was engrossed in Hockey games... I was sitting on edge , and cheered Canada on. I tried to catch as much action as I could. O Canada is a song we all grew to know so well. I think if you reside in Canada and you still do not know the National anthem , there is something teribly wrong with you. I remember thinking that at some point if one was to look down from space, Canada would stand out, because of all the red and white that we proudly wore.
During this time I went back to one of my best courses at Uni- Roots to Modern Canada. Over the years we have often tried to define our Canadianess. Often times our identity is tied to what we are not in comparison to our neighbours to the south. Yet, there are many things that make Canada, from being a peaceful nation , excellent human rights record, vast landsacpe, natural resourses, the wilderness, the maple leaf, hockey, the moose , the beaver.... I could go on and on. Maybe unlike most nations our Canadianess, can find its definition in all these things - we just don have that one thing that defines us.
Up until the Olympics, I was Canadian only in the sense that I hold a Canadian passport that grants me hassle free entry into the US. I still think of Zimbabwe as my home, and would often think of Canada as a transitional phase. Among other things, during the Olympics, I became fully aware of what it meant to be Canadian , and came to embrace Canada as my home. The beauty of it all is that I can call Canada my home as much as Zimbabwe is my home, and the beauty of being Canadian is that I don't have to choose, both countries can be my home. It has taken 9 yrs and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for me to feel at home.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Without Hope ...
... the people perish.
Today I sit in front of my pc, and I cry. The reason for my tears is for the people of Haiti. An earthquake and after shocks...have wiped out a the tiny nation of Haiti...and I am sure in all the sadness, we can look up and continue to praise God for all the miracles....those who are alive , and most importantly those who have managed to cling on to life, while trapped under all the rubble.
My tears are for those left homeless, those who have been orphaned, those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost limbs, for those who have lost a way of life, and some of my tears can't be explained, because in the face of all this there are those who have stood and continued to praise God, in spite of their circumstances.
I have never seen a tragedy as Haiti...or to rephrase I have never moved by something such as Haiti. So today as I watch Canada for Haiti and Hope for Haiti Now. I realize what my mandate as a world citizen is.
Human tragedy defies territorial, racial and economic boundaries. Today after work my plan was to get a pair of shoes that I have been eyeing for a while. Voice of reason told me I do not need that pair of shoes I have many shoes that I can wear. Instead I feel compelled to take that very money I was going to spend and donate it to a charity that is doing work in Haiti. I figure that is the least that we can do . We have so many things that we get and we never use, or never need. Even better is that the government of Canada is matching all donations collected dollar for dollar.
All I can do is join together with other world citizens.I believe our duties are :
- to pray for the recovery and restoration of Haiti.
- to help fund the restructuring of the nation of Haiti
- to revise and re-evaluate our priorities.
- to reach out to all our fellow human being...not just Haiti, but anyone who needs help and because they need us and we need them.
My challenge to everyone who reads this is to find a charitable organization wherever you live and choose to make a difference. Remember the need is great but we can tackle situations one person at a time.
Today I sit in front of my pc, and I cry. The reason for my tears is for the people of Haiti. An earthquake and after shocks...have wiped out a the tiny nation of Haiti...and I am sure in all the sadness, we can look up and continue to praise God for all the miracles....those who are alive , and most importantly those who have managed to cling on to life, while trapped under all the rubble.
My tears are for those left homeless, those who have been orphaned, those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost limbs, for those who have lost a way of life, and some of my tears can't be explained, because in the face of all this there are those who have stood and continued to praise God, in spite of their circumstances.
I have never seen a tragedy as Haiti...or to rephrase I have never moved by something such as Haiti. So today as I watch Canada for Haiti and Hope for Haiti Now. I realize what my mandate as a world citizen is.
Human tragedy defies territorial, racial and economic boundaries. Today after work my plan was to get a pair of shoes that I have been eyeing for a while. Voice of reason told me I do not need that pair of shoes I have many shoes that I can wear. Instead I feel compelled to take that very money I was going to spend and donate it to a charity that is doing work in Haiti. I figure that is the least that we can do . We have so many things that we get and we never use, or never need. Even better is that the government of Canada is matching all donations collected dollar for dollar.
All I can do is join together with other world citizens.I believe our duties are :
- to pray for the recovery and restoration of Haiti.
- to help fund the restructuring of the nation of Haiti
- to revise and re-evaluate our priorities.
- to reach out to all our fellow human being...not just Haiti, but anyone who needs help and because they need us and we need them.
My challenge to everyone who reads this is to find a charitable organization wherever you live and choose to make a difference. Remember the need is great but we can tackle situations one person at a time.
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