So tis been months and I haven't visited this aspect of my life... reason(s) ...it's been a crazy coupla months plus I've been struggling to get ma foot outta my mouth.

Months ago blogged abt Zim, elections etc, I went on to even hail a Zim politician our own Obama...who woulda thought that on this very day as I sit here and type away...Zim would be governmentless, Bob would still be in power,and there would be a Cholera outbreak back home. In other political news, the Big O, won the US elections and Mbeki stepped down.

I started school , and while the long days were brutal in the beginning , I adjusted and got used to the new routine...which spelt ...less mall time, and an even smaller social life...November saw me celebrate a milestone, and with that came a strike at Uni, classes were suspended and they remain suspended even to this day. Somehow I miss skool, I miss my long commute, and I miss studying...however in the last few weeks I've felt a bit discouraged. I have worked hard to get to this point ...and to kno there is a possibility I might lose the school year, and my hard earned $$$.

Somehow..I feel good...I can't even explain this feeling that I have . I feel awesome just beyond words. I know that all things work out for the good. The year is almost over , and a new one is on the horizon... I am just thankful for all the blessings...from the simplest lil things to the big ones and every one on the special ones in between.I have learnt not to complain , but to praise God through my circumstances.

On time God!

This what I saw when I stepped out of the mall this evening - Rainbow. Geez I can't remember when the last time I saw a rainbow was. To me rainbows are very special. Even more special was the timing. I believe God gives us his assurance through Rainbows, in the same way He made a promise to Noah ...never to wipe out the human race or animals by floodwaters.
This was special to me...I felt like this was another reminder that God is with me in all I do and go through and he hasn't forgotten his promises. Talk about an on time God!Once again thank you Lord!

My Praise!

Last week I was faced with a situation and I didn't know how to solve it. Today I stand to say that scenario, has been worked out and I didn't even need to lift a finger. I look at my life today, where I was yesterday,and I see so many times I felt stuck with no solution and confused. Then God steps in and shuffles things around and before you now it the trial is a victory. I just thank God , for meeting yet another need, for bringing me over another mountain, for seeing me through a rough sea...and for his Goodness and sustenance.... for all these things and more I just give you praise and this song has been in my spirit! Enjoy.

Unfinished Business...

Of late my days seem to be filled with unfinished business... I have stuff pending workwise,even my blogs...I have many drafts that need to be finished, I got personal projects pending too. It seems to me there are not enough hours in the day...I am constantly tired...haa...I'm just taking on too much. Maybe its about time I learnt the word No, not wat it means but to say No to the things I can't do. Maybe I ought to stop making promises if I think it will be a hassle to fulfill them, after all I am human, I aint got no 'S' on my chest, I'm just ordinary people.

All Heels led to ....Sex and the City.

The plan for the day was to shop....not for ourselves but for the people back home. After shopping we were going to meet one of our adopted moms, have dinner and head out to watch the Movie- Sex and the City!



Friday morning saw the chronological events of the switched around. For starters I woke up early - very early.... I mean 5am sawme up and ready to face the day. I was up and filled with energy...so I was in the kitchen scrubbing away. Soon I ran out of enrgy, so I grabbed a bowl of cereal ( something I hardly do coz I'm always on the go) and jumped back into bed.



Then I got the call- Sex and the City tickets were 90% sold out! We had to move fast...however after being slowed down by my landlord...who just wanted to ctch up with me, and having to play shrink, 11 am saw us in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district. We ran into Faith, a Zim chick I met when I first got here. After all the hugs and pleasantries, we found out they were off to see the movie too. Their plan was to have lunch and watch the movie. We all decided to line up for the tickets... we were somewhere at the front, right behid Faith's convoy of abot 12 or saw ladies. Except for Faith, no one else was in heels, most of them were in jeans and sneakers or their scrub, they had just finished their clinicals. We waited ...for how long, I have no idea how, long...we all yacking away... how we were all excited about the movie, the reviews the local papers had given the movie, can you imagine, The Globe and Mail, gave it zero stars....anyway who cares about what the columnist in the newspapers think. We got in ...1950 show ....sold out, 1850...sold out, 2220 sold out ...., 2315 sold out! So we settled fo 1615...that would give 'mom' enough time to join us from work.



Armed with out tickets and pleased with ourselves ...we went shopping. Next to finding great deals...what made me even happier was that I had those tickets in my hand...and it wasn't such a big deal that the way we'd planned the day was turning otherwise!



Hour later back at the Scotiabank Theatres...time was ticking... we were waiting for 'mom'...who was somehow lost in town...we waited...and were just short of the thumb rolling routine...when three...very hot guys, got out of a pink fire truck, with Quattro Schick transcribed on its sides.Three hunks in black, and rocking some pink suspenders....oh my days! They handed every woman a shaving stick....freebies....well I'm still well- stocked from the last time I hoarded some..at the Beaches Jazz Festival...besides it would be outta characterto start hoarding...right here ! Even men...cab drivers ...etc were reaching out to get the freebies...guess I aint the only one who loves them!.



It was then that I spotted the Man in the trench-coat...I knew I'd seeen him somewhere but couldn't quite put my finger to it. Anyway still no sign of 'mom' and the clock inching closer to 1615, we decided we'd head up, get our lil munchies... secure seats and have one of us come back to check for 'mom'. 1610ish...she showed up and we headed straight for the assigned auditorium...it was packed....the last movie I came to see and was this packed was Dreamgirls.



Movies starts and all women scream. The fashions...ha...I've never seen such. And my twin is in too. Great movie, I'd go watch it again!
Anyway...as I watch the movie I realize that in one way or the other we are all like Carrie... well maybe not all of us maybe me. We have the Miranda's , the Samantha's and the Charlotte's surrounding us. I choose not to match these characters to my frenz...but we all need frenz. They are probably our toughest and most sincere mirrors...they will tell me what I need to hear...out of love and admiration, and they'll tell me wat I may not necessarily like to hear, and again they'll do it out of love. They'll be there to rally me on, and if ever my load gets to heavy I have their shoulders to cry on , and possibly, they will cry with me. People look at me and think I am strong....I beg to differ, I'm just ordinary, I just have a strong base- my frenz. I pray and hope that I can be at least half as good to them as they have been to me. Love you Smokes, Timbit and Lilo. You are tru gems!

Another lesson learnt. Never seek what you think is a higher level of happiness than wat you are experiencing.Be content....happiness has no levels...when u are happy u r happy, if u are not happy with what u feel then u are not truly happy, do not seek for more of wat u r feeling...because u just won't get it, before u know it u'll miss out on a good moment and it just might be too late to go back and enjoy it. Open your eyes and enjoy your happy moment, every aspect of it !

My best buddy always sez if ever one is to open a business in Toronto, a food joint would be a good investment. People here are forever eating. Haa I am hungry now, btwn dealing with the printer, rushing to Genet's and the Green festival ... I neva had the chance to eat something.Note to self: I gotta take care of the body.



ahh My Toronto is Multicultural. We have just about everyone from each country in the world and with them they bring their cultures and food. So now I am hungry, any thing will be great. I could go to Swiss Chalet... but I don wanna go into that place and sit alone...and am not really feeling chicken.. nor am I feeling Sharwamas - other side of the street seems to be Sharwama central.. So I plod on along Yonge street. By now i am at College Park. And there are some hot Dogs....reminds me of the time when we'd just got here , this was one of the things we loved about Downtown Toronto , the hot dogs. They sure smell good but... Did I mention I am very fussy when it comes to my food. So I pass on the hot dogs as inviting as they seem. It is a hot day... how long have those raw sausages been sitting out there...and the condiments..most of them ought to be in the fridge, pple been passing by, some sneezing smoking and who knows wat else they might be spicing those sausages with. Then I am wearing white... don want no ketchup and mustard accesorizing my outfit!

I hit College Park , and it is then that I come across Rich Tree (I've always wondered why it is called Rich Tree, I secretly think its because the food there is pricey it was made for the rich, in pocket) I get in the salads are inviting...but I aint about to do a salad...this gal be hungry, I finally settle for a curried seafood pilaf, and I decide I'll treat myself to a dessert- bread pudding, and what could be more refreshing than a lemonade on a hot day. I look around...the small dainty tables are so European, but why waste a pleasant day indoors when I can just chill oustide, under those umbrella's and maybe just maybe I might read a few pages of the book.

My plate is loaded with veggies, the colour scheme is happening just the way my mother would have loved her plate... Oh that was back in the day when Zim was the land of milk and honey, now Zim is the land of dry bones , you settle for wat you can get, forget the nutritional value of that meal as long as it can fill you up and keep u going. How sad!

I come back to reality when I realize that a small speck of rice has fallen on my bust...kanje icurry kayiphumi...oh well not much damage done....its still a beautiful day and my meal is mnandi,(in my word there is no such thing as calories...watever it is that I'm packin on right now, I'll walk it off. Food is meant to be enjoyed not to enslave people..how are u expected to enjoy your meal when u know u want it...is there any point in leaving that plate half empty when your tum tum is telling u it's half full?) nothing will dampen my spirits, not even the lemonade that is just too sweet. There is a cool breeze, and pple sitting on the lawn abanye waqethukile... I open my book and I read... and read ..and read...then I feel it...the heat is right on my arm. Damn I don want a tan, even though some people believe I have a tan....already ( Percola wasn't the only one trying to have the bluest eyes....yeah maybe I aint aiming for the bluest eyes... but I sho as heck won't sit in the sun and let it bake me till I am mntshwankela black....no thank you!)

So I decide to continue with my journey, my toes and fingernails are screaming S.O.S. I need to get me a mani-pedi. Ahh My Toronto...is relaxing. No one knows how many lil spas there are in this place. The nail industry here is dominated by the Chinese and the Vietnamese. I think the Nail Cup goes to the Vietnamese..though if u ask me all of them are same fanana. I get in pick my shades and I'm assigned a chair. And now men come and get their feet and hands hooked up too...not too long ago men who took care of their feet and hands were thought to be gay... but things have changed. Quite frankly I think its a good thing....something I'll explain briefly in one of the next blogs..just don hold your breath it might be a while...before u get the next one.

I hook up with bhururu once I'm done and she likes...now sengikhathele... she tells me she has prepared dinner at her place... ah some friends are angels shuwa! that's why she is my friend ...she cooks....just kidding there is more to our bhururuness than food! Dins is good, she offers me a breezer...I take one sip and dose off... I am exhausted.

When I wake up I head home, and I think of all the faces that are knitted together to make this city... I live close to Little India, I work with Grenadians, Filipinos, a Fellow Zimbabwean, Polish , Dutch, Guyanese, and Ghanaians. Our Clientele, is made up of Irish, English, Scottish, German, and Srilankan people. The cabbie who took me to the hairdressers' was probably Indian, my hairdresser is from Djibouti... my nails were done by a Vietnamese lady. My landlord is French Canadiana...My Toronto is...united nations...and with this I think this is going to be my last thought of the day. Wat do you kno, its raccoon mating season....they are up in the tree beside my room. Raccoons are very noise and tonight on Dagmar Ave asibuqothi ubuthongo....the world gotta kno its hanky panky time for the raccoons... darn it...kungabantu i'd say get a room, then again this tree might just be their lil hotel room.And i am not even hating on them creatures... i am in need of some sleep.Tomorrow i gotta put together three different portfolios. I gotta get out of bed and look for those ear plugs... and I'm off to dream land!

My Toronto is...never boring

New York may be dubbed as the city that never sleeps, but I'd like to thing that Toronto is the city that always has (exciting) things happening.

Yesterday my day began with me typing up stuff for my uni. application... supplementary applications stating all my activities since high skool. I decided to take my 'brand new' printer and connect it to my pc, so I could print. ( Now I ask... I bought the printer about 2 or so yrs ago, and never had the need to put it into use till yesterday... so is it still brand new? ) Anyway I proceed to print ...but each time the paper jams so ... no printing done. I keep trying ...try just about every trick - and there are not so many that I kno. So finally I call my 'hubby' he is a comp genius, and we establish that there are no rollers on the one side, and he says take it back to the store . Am thinking I don kno where the receipts are... for all I know they made their way to Detriot...Toront's garbage heaven.

Look at the watch is after 11am...tish ! I have an appointment with the (h)airdresser! (Jamaicans hardly use the h, to them its silent.. so I always wonder if they pronounce hair as air, how to they pronounce heir?) After my shower , I see isikhathi sesidliwe ngu kitty. No time to dress up... so I jump into some white sweat pants, a white tee, white flip flops.... I look at myself and feel am too white , so I throw a brown lil sweater. Now my (h)air... I can't even put a comb thru it. I grab a brush and brush the few stray hairs that have escaped from my ponytail. Time check ... 11.45am , okay perfume...and I'm out. Fone rings tis frendado asking me if I am on my way...am trying to tell her I am on my way and a minute later we r done. Ok so now wat bag will I carry? I settle for my burgundish Guess purse- I might as well carry it ... coz my outfit is not really happening... who cares I'm only going to the (h)airdresser and back. Ohh and I must not forget The Book! (That's for another blog) Anyway am sure the time is inching closer to 1150.

Get downstairs, the new neighbours are on their porch...no time for pleasantries today, so I lock the door and dash out.Tunes in my ear I pick up my pace and head for the bus-stop. When I get there no street-car in sight....damn man. Ahh well it's Queen Street I can get a cab anytime. $ 7 later, I am at Genet's place... but the door is locked. ( Me cabangaz... did I just spend $7.00) to be welcomed by a locked door. My fone out .. I'm about to dial her number when she opens the door. She sez she keeps it locked coz she doesn't want to be disturbed. Hmm disturbed? I don think so... The reason why she keeps it closed is because we are in Reagent Park.. rough neighbourhood... lots of homeless pple, junkies ...and just suspicious characters.

I explain to her wat I want done.. she nods her head like a Grade One pupil. We get started.. asks why I have a lot of scars... tell her that is the nature of my skin, I have sensitive skin. Another client comes in. Genet applies the relaxer to my head...in no time i feel that tingly sensation...and Genet is not even half way.... the problem is like all Africans when she talks her hands and mouth do the talking. By the time she is done applying... she xpects me to be feeling the tingly sensation....but hell to the no... I'm burning. She combs through my hair quickly... and tells me 5 minutes.Woman did you not just hear me say my scalp is burning! She washes the other clients hair...no more (h) air ... akusathambanga ekhanda. I throw The Book aside! I get up and start dancing around., and no am not dancing to the tunes coz those are off and in my purse .

She looks at me , and sez 5 more mins. Ahh wena mama... are u kidding me. Now I am worried , I will have hair falling off my head. Maybe she knows wat I am thinking , becoz as soon as she sez that she says, ok lemme wash it off. After that I sit under the drier and I've renewed my vows with The book. She works on the other client's hair... she has natural hair... very nice hair. Genet jumps back to me ..we blow dry and I sit at the curling iron station. She asks me what the book is all about...maybe she has never seen a union so strong! I tell her the book is about Politics... well not really ... it's about Zimbabwe. The book was written by my friend Dave. It is titled, Mano a Mano -- Quote, Unquote . It is beautifully written, and I can't seem to put it down... I know this is one book that I would have loved to tackle when I studied Literature in English( or English Literature), instead of Great Expectations.

Damn my hair looks swell. And the length... Must say Genet did a good job. I head to the bank to deposit some money into my account. I have more money than I need and I think it would be wise to put it into my account b4 i spend it on a pair of shoes or purse. After this I will be on my way home...yeah right! My bank is across from the Eaton Centre. After my transcation, I see a huge crowd, so i go there. I see the the road is closed... there are stalls everywhere.Haa I love these things.. there's always good freebies. Last year at the Beaches Jazz Festival, I got myself a huge supply of Schick Quattro shaving sticks... I haven't had to buy any since. They are freaking expensive! At the 'Taste of Danforth' I got me a huge supply of gum...lasted me a while too.The year before I was loaded with a huge supply of hand sanitizer.

So much for going straight home. Seng'se toni. Oh I hope I don meet anyone looking the way I do.. then again and my purse are the only things going for me.Ahh then I think of home how going to town was always a big production. MBNA wants people to apply for credit cards... I look to see wat they are giving away....tees, water bottles and bags... nice bag, and its one of those green ones... i can put my book and sweater in it. I think i'll get me that bag. But do I need another credit card...no... I have one unused one at home. After my application , I get my bag and yim' lo am off. I see a lot vegeterian booths. Maybe i should visit them...after all i have though of giving up meat. Ahh no ... I can't live without meat.

Wat is this Citizen's Bank.Guy comes from the booth, gives the gals in front of me his business cards, and he mentions his email address is on them and he is single too. I smirk. Across the booth is the Winter Gardens Elgin Theatre.. there's a line- up( queue) and there are people dressed in costumes... oh kanje its Doors Open Toronto. Never been to it but wat it is, is 'Multicultural places of worship and Toronto’s National Historic Sites will be in the spotlight during this event, which gives visitors an opportunity to explore over 140 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural and/or social significance; admission is free. Many of the city’s finest churches, chapels, temples, synagogues and mosques are among the featured buildings this year, as well as structures never before open to the public. My Toronto always has something to do...and did they say tis mahumpty! I'm still walking and I haven't the slightest clue of what this is. Am close to Yonge Dundas Square now. Then tish , there's a camera crew, and a chicka holding a mic, the camera chick is counting down. Neva seen wateva station they are from... but I'm out. I can't be seen on TV looking like this...am sure my derriere my come out....well it will take someone who knows me real well to identify me from behind. At the Younge - Dundas square ...there's music and a huge crowd...ziyaduma then another TV crew... this time its CP24 and just about everyone watches them, this time I decide not to duck, the lady is having technical difficulties with her mic. It is only then that realize that this is the Green Toronto Festival!. Ahh that explains it. I was wondering why everything was green etc. Now I wonder why if we are to save the planet we should go green, yet green products are pricey..so how do we do it?

Elsewhere I hear there was a Brazilian festival, and there was Carassaga - another festival with 23 countries represented. For now I am hungry..... Let me find something to eat...

Change....

We've all heard the all familiar saying.."Change is good". For the past few months I've been following US politics...so much for being apolitical... guess I too have changed. As the whole world turns their gaze to the 'Super Tuesday' results, it just makes me realize that this is a serious but exciting time. I am rooting for Barack Obama....and not becoz he is a black man, but becoz I have come to admire him and what he stands for - guess that is what we call charisma!. More importantly I have come to believe that it is time for change. There is something about Obama, and his wife....they have sincerity. When they talk, you know and feel that every fibre in their bones is aching for change, just like a lot of people everywhere. All the best to Obama!

Across the seas, Zimbabwe's former Minister of Finance announced he would be running for presidency. When I heard this news something deep down in me came to life. Its like there was a seed planted a long time back and it just got its first water droplets. I am sure a lot of Zimbabweans worldwide have that seed, that has been longing for just but a drop of water and that seed is change, and we have all been looking for that instrument for Change. We often talk about the need for change, but what have we done about it.

I have always rooted for Simba Makoni and seen potential in Him. Like Obama, I think he has charisma, and given his credentials ( former Executive Secretary of SADC and various ministerial posts) . Maybe he could be our own Barack Obama. It takes a lot of frustration and determination for one to position themselves to become an instrument of change. In the US its not about being black, its about the economy, bringing the troops back home, and strong foreign policies. In Zimbabwe, its not about the tribe, it is also about the economy , and restoring to a great people their great country and their pride and their dignity.

I do not know what the future holds but I see a flicker of hope. Let us not be toothless dogs who keep barking for change and thereafter do nothing to effect change. Let us support those who have taken a stand and have purposed to effect change. To Americans and Zimbabweans worldwide... we may be world apart, but our quest is the same. This is our time, we can make history...."YES WE CAN" . Let us be united for a common goal - CHANGE. Let us VOTE. When we do not vote we have no one to blame but ourselves.