Raison d'etre

Okay... holidays are approaching and I have been a tad busy... also hurt my back at work..... so I was sort of recovering from that:-) I think I am all shopped out, unless someone wants to dump a whole lot of money on me then I will certainly recover and go shopping again;-)

Yesterday, I had a craving for some pad thai, but I was in denial to go downtown and buy it from a good place, so instead I went to Jesse Wongs kitchen. I must admit, I was very excited that I could order my dinner online and also that they called me within 2 minutes to confimr everything and to let me know that it would be ready in 10 minutes. They also gave me 10% off for ordering online for the first time. I ordered pad thai, vegetable spring rolls, chicken satay and shrimp something rolls.
Can I just say disgusting??? OMG!!! I mean my first clue should have been that I was ordering Thai food from 'Jesse Wong'... but I figured that maybe the chef knew his thang. He didn't. I ate half of my dinner, but really the pad thai had a nice spicy kick to it...but it was vile. The shrimp rolls?... I couldn't do more than two. The chicken satay-- nausea. If I ever go back there, I will probably stick to something simple like fried rice or steamed vegetables.

Moving on-- Okay here is the funny story about Blagojevich... I had never heard his name until the day he decided to halt business with Bank of America. For some reason I get Chicago news on my cheap cable. I laughed when I saw Blagojevich coz he looked weird...and so imagine my surprise to hear the same name the very next day on the radio...after he had been arrested by the FBI...!!!

Talking about secret service-- I found the dabya-shoe-saga sooo funny I thought I would pee my pants! Now why didn't secret service remove dabya from the scene when that nonsense happened? What if other shoes started flying in the room? I.D.K-- thought they were a little on the slow side.

Ok... If I post nothing by Christmas...y'all have a grand time and don't forget the real meaning of Christmas. I am distracted at present.... tv:-)

Jazzmatazz

For the first time in years...I took a nap in the afternoon! Imagine that! I am not sure how I'll be able to sleep tonight:-) I've got work tomorrow...I know it's one of those rare mondays:-) The truth is I am only working 2 days this week, so I am not complaining about going in on a monday. Recession says I should go more often... but alas!

Went to see the new Bond movie...quite nice actually. Well it's pretty fast you feel like you have ADHD or something! I don't want to ruin it for those that haven't seen it yet, but then again if you haven't seen it, then you're probably not a true fan and I can tell you about it innit? bwah haha!

I am very fond of Jazz, and used to go to Twins Jazz http://www.twinsjazz.com/ and still thinkk it's the best Jazz place I know. They have open mic jazz night which is just fantastic! You get to hear unknown and up and coming artists just doing their thang and it's awesome!


Any way in my denial of most things D.C... I went to try and find a jazz place closer to me and ended up at Coco's butter http://www.cocosbuttercafe.com/ which is a jazz, wine and Chocolate cafe. All my favorite things! How delightful! It's located in Columbia and sort of looks shady from the outside because it's near a warehouse and one would tend to think you're lost as you approach the place for the first time. As you walk in you're greeted by pictures of jazz stars and instruments on the wall. Sweets displayed in the glass enclosures beckon endlessly for you to taste them. The room is small and inviting-- not bright. The down side is that you have to go to the bar to purchase everything. Last night they had a band called 'Nex lev'l' I thought they were great...the percussionist was totally entertaining! I didn't like the wines I had-- a South African rosé and a Pinot Grigio... The chocolates were...hhhhmmmmm. I didn't like the look of the cheesecake, so I didn't bother eating any. The hot chocolate was mediocre.


Talking about hot chocolate, winter is here and I HATE winter!!! It snowed the other day and I had to walk through the damned flurries!!! I think this is going to be a bloody long winter!

Also the recession as I figured is now affecting wine purchases. I have been to several wine stores and I can not seem to find agood bottle for less than $10 like I used to. It seems most wines under $15 are like 2007's and a lot of them are too young to be drank now any way which is screwed up!

LOL... the economist has the most ridiculous research done http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12630193&source=hptextfeature basically they are saying that those who wash with soap and water are morally corrupt. So I guess to maintain my moral integrity I will probably stop taking baths...lol.

Also, I will have not family this thanksgiving and Christmas. So If you think your life sucks... think of me and how I will be alone for Christmas...and know that someone else's life sucks worse than yours! I will be a freeloader... as usual... just haven't decided which houses will be raided. I may go to Texas again for Christmas if things play out right... though I have discovered that it's cheaper to go to Ohio... so I may visit my peeps there instead. Dunno yet. So many plans so little time:-)

Ummm

Okay, my dementia kicks in once in a while and I forgot what I came here to say often:-) I guess I wanted to talk about the book I just finished reading "don't lets go to the dogs tonight". Very interesting how white and black Africans live in the same country living such parallel lives that rarely cross...and having such dissimilar experiences. Had the author not had the last 2 pages explaining stuff I would have sent her a stinker for most of what she wrote. It was an okay read especially if you want to know how muzungu's viewed independence and stuff like that.

Any way moving on.... I told my muzungu friends that as a member of the now ruling race I am in charge of all decision making. That didn't go over too well I'm afraid. They called me a nut and some other rude words I can not repeat here.... so I am planning on writing to UNCLE Obama (based on his teeth looking a lot like mine... I think we might be related!) and I will ask him to have them (especially Peggy) deported to Germany or Ireland. I am sure I can find proof that their family trees extend there:-)

On a sad note Mirriam Makeba bid as farewell this week...

Also, The weekend was fab....ate some bad sushi at one joint though... but washed it down with delicious key lime and white chocolate raspberry cheesecakes (I ate both!) from the cheesecake factory....which really has sucky food. I am sorry to say to all the die hard fans, I have eaten there 3 times now and the food always sucks. The cheesecake I can not complain about because it's awesome! But the food leaves much to be desired. I mean who messes up scrambled eggs???...okay probably my cousin who also burnt the dish cloths after boiling them for too long. That doesn't count.

I am going to go on a long rant about Gays and "civil rights" in a bit, so stay tuned.

I'm still here!

hi everyone!!!! *wave*

I am sooo happy I just finnished all my course work for the last 10 weeks and I will not have too much work for a little while!

So any way-- Zambia goes to the polls today... may the best man win! I really have no loyalties, so I don't care who wins. It aint like they'll share the wealth with me any way....so hey! I have an aunt in the race so.... I hope she wins.

I am sooo mentally tired at the moment though. Tisi and I went our Friday night....it was unforgettable.... we had organic vodka....which I swear is the equivalent of kachasu!!! It was totally lethal. I really don't remember much of the night, but I have vowed to drink very little from now on!

Saturday, we had two parties to attend. The first was my buddy vixter's 30th birthday, which was a lot of fun. We ate some goat, greens and roti. It was really good. I also ran into a guy I haven't seen in gosh like 15 years or so. The world is small.

Later we went to get down in DC at the park at 14th for mi pana's friends birthday bash. It was awesome. We were totally tired from the night before and too scared to drink. We were at a VIP booth with drinks over flowing and all we had was orange and cranberry juice. I HATE cranberry juice!

Sunday I took Tisi to see the whitehouse and a little more of DC in the day light. Then we got home to B'more and just crashed!!!

Monday I had a job interview which lasted 3 flippin hours....and they had me sitting in the cold. I was soo sick later in the day. My whole body was tired, muscles hurt....hmmm. It was hectic. I have since felt a little on the way to recovery... but man.

So any way... now I have more time and can write alittle more often than I have been doing in the past few weeks. I have also vowed to tone down my weekend escapades. I need a rest. There are a few halloween parties for the weekend... but I see myself skipping those. I want to be really low key.

Who's excited about the elections next week ey? Any hoo, I am off to nurse myself...:-)

Happy Independence Zambia!!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Zambia and it's people a very happy independence!!!! I was going to celebrate it at the JK concert tonight, but I'll pass on that:-) I will be doing something else though!

My friend Tisi flew in from Florida this week, so I am having a heck of a time with her, and we'll be sure to paint B'more and DC red...

Before I forget, I had the chance to watch Jacob Zuma at the council of foreign affairs while he was in the USA. He seems to have a lot of backing from people in the USA who would like to see him become president.... he is also quite an eloquent speaker...and makes some funny jokes... but there is something very shifty about the guy. I think he answered all the questions on investment, hiv/aids, ANC policies...etc ... well by insisting the policy of the ANC is different from the policies of presidents and ministers etc. The only thing is-- he really did't say what the policies of the ANC are.

Any way...I am off to deny that we're in a recession by greenspanning it in some clubs or something....:-) haha

Ichidunu chilalisha....

The weekend has been swell! I am a little tired and probably wont be able to write much.

Friday was happy hour:- Didn't stay long...but after that I went into hiding because I wasn't in the mood for a late night!
Saturday, went to my aunts and we went to see to see 'The secret lives of bees"...fun movie. I cried several times because I am kinda emotional at the moment and I don't want to ruin the movie for those of you that will see it.
Sunday: Mi pana and I were supposed to go play golf ( I know...I really can't play but he was going to teach me)...we ended up playing pool instead...and i sucked at that too because I hadn't played in 10 years!!! Then we went to see "W"... interesting movie. I laughed through most of it, but they made Condoleeza look like a retard.

So any way...will be back tomorrow with more stuff....

Fuego!!!

So I know I've been slacking--what else is new right?

I sort of had a very good and very bad week...and I am sure I just confused y'all, but really, I had several very good things happen and several really bad things happen. I wont fret about it though because I am still standing innit?

Crazy though: you know how I am always saying probability is like my enemy? Well this man that annoyed me 2 years ago walks in and is my client... now for real???? I was sitting there like God you can not be serious! Okay I think I amuse God and that's why s/he pulls stunts like that.... to see my reaction:-) Don't worry...I didn't go all ghetto on him. I was very professional and only said what was minimally required and asked my co-workers to do the bulk of the work.

*********************************

I think I mentioned that over a month ago I sent my passport to the Zambian embassy for renewal right? So any way, no one has ever responded to say they got my information and whether it is sufficient and all. So being goody two shoes, I emailed (coz no one ever answers the phone), and I got a lovely email informing me that a) It takes 3 months to get your passport back and b) The prices have since gone up since I sent my stuff in and it's now $100!!!.

So my thing is... if I hadn't written in, how would I have known all that? Also, if my application was sent in before the price change, shouldn't I be grandfathered into the old place? I'm just saying ka?. It doesn't make any logic for me to mail more money when I'm not even sure they got my stuff and if processing has began!

I will keep you posted on the passport saga. My fear is that they will loose my passport. They lost my cousins one and they also lost my friend Natasha's one... so that's 2 people.

************************************

Friday I went out for a drink with a newly broken-up-from-her-boyfriend person... guess what happened at the place we landed at first? They had 3 weddings in the building, and they band was playing love songs....LOLOL... I was like...ummm, lets get out of here I think! The next place was like all twelve year olds with fake ID's or something... then the last place in Fells point kinda hit the spot.

Saturday... my lovely mates took me to http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/ It was really awesome. Will post pics later. I loved the steak I ate...and the ambiance. Apparently it's a really popular spot and one needs to make reservations early...which we did and still couldn't get in till 8. The food is all organic. The portions European sized-- or shall I say upscale restaurant size. So you really do have room for appetizers, main dish and dessert. The only problem was out waiter has absolutely reeking breath!!! I mean... he could kill rats with that stuff!!! We all gave anyone who asked him too many questions at our table the 'look'... we were like just eat whatever...don't ask the dude any questions! By the end of the night-- we gather someone told him why we kept laughing when he came over...and he got some mint or a drink. Whatever it was.... it sho fixed the problem!

Sunday is a blurr--- I was recovering from Friday and Saturday and didn't achieve much.

Monday-- I felt like a princess...:-)

Oh and I see news week is just now addressing whether Catholics should vote for Obama or not. Like for real? I broke that story months ago!!! www.manena20.blogspot.com/2008/06/confused-catholic-voter.html I should be writing for a big paper or something. I seem to way ahead of them. A catholic nun who is 106 years old is voting for the first time since 1952 or whatever...and she's voting for Obama:-) That's cute.

Sarah Palin is pulling all the stops this election and will on TV talking about what it's like to raise a child with Downs Syndrome. I had more faith in her ability to steal the show... but it's like shadow fell over her...and now the palinator doesn't seem to know how to aim her guns!

McCain had promised a clean campaign... but oldielox seems to be pulling out his dentures and forgetting to change his diaper! I liked him better in the republican race. He was even tempered and seemed as experienced as he is. Now he's just a big baby.

I however I'm concerned that I do not hear anything about immigration from the two presidential wanna be's. Hopefully they will address that tomorrow night. In the republican race McCain was logical on the subject... I hope the fear of loosing hasn't distorted his vision by making him say strange things now! Obama-- I do not recall what he says on the subject at all. I may read on it at some point. Too lazy at present.

Any way: I will be getting lied to by politicians for a few minutes: tomorrow-)

Wassup...

I am very excited to inform you that my birthday will be friday... woo hooo!!!!! I have a few things planned for that weekend... and I think I will be well fed and very happy.

So any way... anyone watch the debate? I watched the whole thing and found it entertaining. McCain was acting like a big baby..."I am more experienced!"...ummm dude like for real? You're like 110 years old....you better be more experienced! I wasn't thrilled about Obama saying "JOhns right" every 5 minutes...

Any hoo... They are going on and on about the bail out. I am just mad that it took this long before they decided to fix things. This has been going on since the Clinton era and before... I guess it's no time for blame and we should be really looking at a solution before we're homeless.

On the one hand, It's going to be good if the bail out plan is successful. It will save a lot of jobs for many people and also keep the market somewhat stable. I know many people feel that the people that caused this should suffer the consequences... but the truth of the matter is that they wont. They are multi millionaires who wont be sleeping hungry either way. Their little employees will be out of a job , and people will lose their homes coz they have no money...etc

I am working tomorrow so I can get Friday off... I feel so tired because I was out in DC last night. Went to Penang for dinner-- The food was fabulous! Then went to the Improv to see some comedy... most of the comedians had been on last comic standing and were quite funny. We sat in the front...and two comedians said I'm sexy...LOL... oh and the gay waiter hit on me kinda sorta... that was hilarious! Afterwards mi pana and I went to Indebleu to dance. Didn't stay long coz I was tired. I was home by 2am...I know...i'm lame:-) I drank wine, beer and some questionable liquor... surprised I am still standing, but I did have a major headache this morning.

Okeedokee... I am off to bed now so I can be fresh for the morning.

Notes from my death bed

As I lay here dying today, I dozed off and was awoken by the sound of an African voice on telly...I thought I had either died or was in Africa somewhere. It turned out it was Thabo Mbeki's voice and he was resigning from his position as president! I am still slightly in shock because although I saw it coming, I somehow managed live in denial and think it wouldn't happen.

That is very disheartening news for the southern African region and Africa in general. This will definitely lead to a period of instability in South Africa during the election process. Any way, like I said, South Africa will eventually be Zimbabwe if they are not careful. The signs are there.

Then Ehud Olmert resigned--- wow. What is going on in the world?

So as you can tell, I am dying. I have a bad cold and I can not breath right. My voice was gone Wednesday and then it came back, then cold got worse. Instead of being a good doobie and staying home-- I went out to D.C to play and watched 'the women'. It was a highly enjoyable chick flick and I will update you when I have the strength:-)

aawww gaawwwd the economy is a mess...where will all the laid off people go? Okay I am going back to nursing myself... woe is me

Oh and I really suck at lying! I was telling a white lie to my manager about why I wasn't going to work on Tuesday... and I almost got away with it till she called back to ask a multitude of questions about other stuff... then she hit the nail on the head and instead of defending my "doctors appointment" I burst out laughing... so now it looks like I will be working on Tuesday:-) how sucky! lololol... i need to work on my lying skills...

Quickie

Was in Bethesda friday:- Happy Birthday to my aunt Linda and Little Mikaela:-) We had soooo much to eat and drink and went to bed at almost 4am... then we were up by 8am or so because Mikaela wanted her daddy and wanted to go home...lol...gosh little girls and their daddies!

Then Saturday...we took la familia to the airport and I went on to meet friends in Baltimore. We had a nice early dinner at Don Pablo's... okay nice because of the conversation... the food was mediocre for Mexican. Then we went to Barnes and Noble for dessert... yum cheese cake.

Later that night mi pana and I went to meet friends in DC at Indebleu and Zaitinya. I had a great night, tried to keep mi pana company on the drive back... but I fell asleep. We didn't get home till like 4am or something like that. I was walking dead the next day. Lousy lunch at carmine's... sucky pasta!

So Zimbabwean's are about to power share...hmmm... it sounds like science fiction. Then the stock market went down...hmmm... and gas prices went up...by hey...I feel beautiful:-)

Texas

I am so fatigued:-) I just got back from an exciting trip to Texas it was awesome!!!

The city itself is great, lots of land, big beautiful houses, tall wonderful buildings with mirrors, steaks, steaks, beer, steaks... OMG

I also got to be a God-Mother... yeah you better respect me now. I am holy and sanctified. That's right...and it aint over yet. I will be a God-mother again at the end of the month in Iowa! Okay, so i've had a revelation and have to make better judgements in my life because these kids will be watching me and stuff... but you know what? At the moment they are too little to understand the situation... so I figure I have a few more years of 'stoopid' before I have to change my ways and act right:-)

I drank so much beer... I think I have a beer belly now... well it's growing:-)
My big disappointment was South forf ranch- a.k.a J.R Ewing's home from Dallas. OMG... it was sooooo small and not impressive at all. I was going to ask for my refund because I was not happy with it. They had to explain to us that TV adds ten pounds...and the swimming pool was made to look big by having everyone pretend to swim fast and stuff... I have lost my faith in TV. Not that I was ever a big fan of TV, but that was not cool man!

Monday night goes out to Yummy Gummy...:-)

I am sooo not looking forward to going to work tomorrow.

ok... the pics are not in order coz I am too lazy to put them in logical order, but enjoy them anyway:-)

Exactry fye ifyo fine!

So McCain picked Palin...I think it's on and poppin now!

I had a great time this weekend! As usual.... friday I met up with the girls for sushi, shopping and drinks. This went on for the whole night. I didn't get into bed till midnight... then my mum called just then. Then I went to bed, and some idiot called me at 7am to play a song for me from their car....no you don't understand....I have no clue who that guy was, but I picked the phone up twice and he was like hold on...and played some stoopid song. So the third time, I let it go to voice mail, then I guess he figured out he had the wrong number... then the calls stopped. I would have cussed him out if he called again and I was ready!.

Saturday morning, I was at the mall as soon as it opened to find a dress for my friend's wedding...I know, I'm a slacker... was born that way:-) Well I went to several stores starting with my fav cheap stores... because I'm cheap:-) I went to Filenes basement and Burlington. After I had no luck at those stores...I went just about everywhere else-- nordstoms, bebe, limited, express, some shady looking store-- Then finally, Eureka!!! White house black market. I found the perfect dress and the perfect accessories.
This is how perfect it was: when my "date" (lol) came he said "wow, you look amazing". Then the neighbour (the lady I got mad at coz she asked me to turn down my music) she said "you look gorgeous!", then I got to the wedding and a million people who I don't know said I looked fantastic. I was on cloud nine thinking I was about the combination of Naomi Campbell and Oluchi!

My elation continued when we went to 13th floor belvedere...and got almost the same reaction from strangers. Any way...enough about me. I iwll post pictures when they become available. I bought a small camera to fit in my small purse, but like they say-- you get what you pay for. It was cheap for a reason. I took one lousy photo after another. So I will wait till the other's post pictures and "borrow" from there.

BTW The view of the city from the Belvedere is breath taking! it's just so amazing-- not more than me of course, but a great beauty nonetheless:-) lol

Oh and to the Zambian's, I am sure you have all received the Cynthia Kanema email by now. All I can say is...WTF??? why do people feel the need to involve other's in their spats? so what if the Folotiya dude and other's are tapping her ass? I mean get over it! If she's a ho, so are the men!!! If the lady seriously thinks about it, she will see that her husband is probably bad mouthing cynthia coz he either couldn't get any or was turned down for round 2. As much as I find those emails entertaining... it's a bit much at times.

Any hoo, I have casualties of war aches and pains from Saturday. Serves me right though, and I aint complaining:-) I feel like I experienced Bosnia and Vietnam all at once. I have to go soak my body for a while and see what happens.

Oh and guess who isn't working tomorrow??? that's right!!! me:-) I am also planning to be in Texas this week, so I am hoping Gustav, Hanna and Ike don't get in my way! So keep me in your prayers. I really want to go. They say EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas and a sista's gotta check it out for a herself! I also want to see J.R's ranch and some other texan stuff:-) G.Dubya's there at the moment-- hey, maybe we'll link up:-) What happens in Texas gets deleted from all cameras:-)...just kidding. I will be a perfect role model.

I watched "there will be blood" today and I was not amused. What the hell was that? the movie is as bad as 'monsters ball'... I was really disappointed because of the great reviews it had. Sometimes I am not sure if I am seeing the same thing as other people.

BTW...I wonder when the elections are in Zambia...I just might stand for president:-) LOLOL. Start my own party and stuff...and you my loyal readers can be nominated as anything you want except president because I said it first.

Tantra and such

It has been so busy lately I run out of time to do stuff... I have promised myself to slow down once winter pops back around... so I hope I can hold steady until then!

Well, friday I went to the Maryland state fair and ate myself silly... and this was my first time at the state fair... so I was walking around like a country bumpkin observing all the lights and stuff.

Saturday was my buddy Heather's bachelorette and we went to her friends house for pre-party appetizers and martini's, then we picked up the guys-- then it was ON and poppin in D.C! We went to Indebleu/ Tantra lounge and just had a blast! We had a VIP table and danced all night. We didn't get home till 6am-- then the men decided they would make us breakfast...and the one girl started throwing up...and I was like OMG...I am going home! Okay I was a party pooper and went home instead of staying the night as planned:-) The high light of the noght is that our bill came to $1500...and the "big baller" in the group said "I gat this!" I was in awe. The guy didn't even bat an eye when he paid. It was like superman in the flesh!

Sunday I ate everything I could get my hands on, and went to Annapolis for the afternoon. I was soooo tired I slept by 8pm and didn't wake up till my alarm went off... and surprise surprise-- guess who worked on a monday? YES! ME!!! It was rather strange because I haven't worked on a monday in a long time... but i planned it that way because Tuesday is the 26th of August and that's one of the days I never work per year.

I won!!!

I am not enjoying this heat... but I am certainly glad it's summer:-)
I joined a soccer supporting club this weekend, and I get a jersey, and I am quite happy with that!
It has been a full week, and I am supposed to be doing some work right now, but haven't the energy.
I went to Wolftrap in Virginia yesterday for Gladys Knights concert! Oh what fun! It was a short but delightful. She sang for approximately an hour and a half, and most were not her songs, she did some Lona Horn, Ella Fitzgerald, boys to men, Luther V, Teddy Pendegrass...etc, and like 4 of her own songs or so. Her brother came out and he was sooo entertaining. As soon as I get my videos uploaded, I will share them with you. Gladys can move though! She was awesome to watch. The only things I hated about the evening were the heat...and the bloody almost $10 burger!! Like really, all it had was regular beef patties, a slice of American cheese, and a regular bun! same as bloody McDonald's dollar meal...and boy did I hate the traffic getting in and out of the joint!!!!
I have been invited to go back for roots, rock, reggae (with the Marley brothers), and I think I will have to use public transportation for that!

I am very exhausted because I haven't had much sleep the past few days...
Early this morning, we were in Federal Hill for brunch( http://www.regisamericanbistro.com/brunch.htm : check out the brunch menu! I had the salmon Benedict...all I can say is oooohhh baby!) and shopping, I got some really pretty jewelery.
After that, I went to a 'Tastefully simple' ( http://www.tastefullysimple.com/Cultures/en-US/ ) party. I had never been to one, but was glad my first one went great! I ate and drank so much I am bloated at the moment! Then, I WON THEIR GIFT BASKET!!! I haven't won anything in a long time, so I was quite happy, I didn't even know what was in the basket till later, so it was a nice surprise:-)
I have to try to walk off dinner before I puke in my sleep or something:-)

Oh wait! The west has now "discovered" Mahuyu!!! Also I had no clue it had more vitamin C than oranges! That's really cool! I remember buying them from vendors in the neighborhood, cracking those babies open and enjoying the powdery freshness of the fruit. Ahhh, such fond memories. Sometimes I crave them, but what can I do? They are not here and will probably be a stupid amount here anyway.

Friday njikata!!!

ala mwandi! I can not explain how much I love fridays!!!

I am sooooo happy right now just thinking that tomorrow will be FRIDAYYYYY!!!

aaahhhh! I can not wait! I am working early in the morning because I aint rich enuff to quit my day job... then I have a few plans... A, B & C.

A and C are top secret operations... B?...it's open for discussion! Tomorrow night, or Sunday, I may go to the Symphony Orchestra... they are playing Rachmaninoff this weekend and tickets are cheap...so I might as well! I like listening to Rachmaninoff because 1) his name is funny 2) I think I can pick up the turmoil of his life in his work:-) 3) dude died 5 months after becoming an American citizen!
Saturday, for plan B- I will be out shopping (read: spending money that I don't have) with the girls at an outlet mall:-)

OMG!!! The funniest thing just happened! When C$ and I went to Adams Morgan, we were at a Bar that is usually frequented by 'public enemy #1' also known as kapoli (bush pig), and we kept thinking...OMG any minute now...he's like going to walk through that door, and it will be on and poppin! Needless to say, he didn't show... but today I was looking at another friends pictures...and there was Kapoli at the same place we were-just a different day of course...but it was hilarious!!!!
***************************
perceptions during childhood:- When I was a kid, I used to think that everyone with the last name Tembo (and others for that matter) was a gardener or servant of some kind--and was almost always poor. So one day, my daddy's little sister came home and announced she was getting married to a Mr. Tembo...and everyone was excited except me! I was dismayed that they would be letting her marry a 'Tembo', and that I was to be on the wedding line up! I was thinking to myself...OMG! Princess M in a wedding party probably in Garden or Bauleni compound??? Hell no! Over my dead body! The dust in the compound would mess up my pretty pink dress with white flowers!!! Come to find out the dude had more money than my father, mother sister brother and me combined!
That's when I learnt that names didn't necessarily define poverty! Like how dumb was I??? I don't even know how old I was at the time. I just know that I was a dancing diva and was on so many wedding line ups...even of people I didn't know, and i wasn't about to mess up my roll nuh meen?
*********************************************
Okay, I am going to bed now so I can wake up and it can be Friday:-)

Comme ci, comme ça

The weekend was comme ci, comme ça... Friday, the date called and since I was not doing anything worthwhile... I accepted his invitation to hang out. Okay, let me make this clear-- I shalln't be going on any more dates for a while, and will not be seeing him either. The trauma! I can not go into details right now... but if you follow the script, you will pick up the reason somewhere:-)

My baby brother has settled in nicely in Zed and I am jealous that he's home and I am here:-(, well my mum is on a major campaign for me to meet her in London in August. I haven't really looked at ticket prices so I can not agree yet, and I also i'm not sure how recession friendly this trip might be. As for my homeland? not sure if I will go this year...maybe Warren Buffet will call before then and marry me so we can live in happiness traveling the world.

I went to Bethesda Saturday and stayed till today. It was soooo much fun!!! Saturday, we hang out down town, I got to eat sushi at a place I haven't eaten at in 6 years or so. The food was so so... nothing to write home about. I should stick to places I know really!

Oh and the highlight of my weekend? Guess what I bought???????? You will never believe it! He-man and She-ra on DVD!!!! Yes! The first 5 She-ra episodes when the sorceress tells her that she was kidnapped by the horde and that He-man is actually her twin brother! Then she meets her parents for the first time...and I just wept!!! Like OMG! I was soooo happy for her!

Moving along-- I also watched Glory, the story of the 54th (infantry?) of Massachusetts. If you haven't seen it and are interested in American history it would be something great to view. It's about the negro military from the north fighting the soldiers in the south...and it was so heart warming...hope i'm sounding sane!

I spent part of Sunday in Georgetown...oh what fun!

I also watched Darfur Now, a story about 6 people trying to make a difference for the darfurian people. My favourite person was the female rebel...she is sooo cool!

Okay, so Ladies: Listen to me and listen good. If a man can not kiss... and he's my age or older... Houston we have a problem!!!

Gentlemen: If you are older than 21 and do not know the ART of kissing. Please, stop reading now-- pick up a copy of karma sutra, cosmopolitan magazine, Google it or a pron video or something!!!!! It is very embarrassing for you and for the person you are kissing! It is so traumatizing.

I am off to watch 'Path to War' and will tell you all about it later today. The news is still the same today as it was Friday...eh?

Sun follows rain...

...joy follows pain

AAAAHHHHHH!!!! The weather is really sucky today! The worst part is, I do not have a good movie to see or a good book to read. Also, as if i wasn't suffering enough, I seem to have lost part two of my pride and prejudice dvd...ummm I wonder who 'stoled' it!

It's raining cats and dogs...and that's really pathetic considering yesterday it was so nice and warm and I got to do some fun things. Well at first, I was supposed to go hiking with some friends to some place called 'old rag' or whatever in Virginia. They were supposing it would take about 4 hours to walk the trail...and Manena wasn't feeling that on a nice warm day. Okay I plan on doing a hike at some point with them... but yesterday wasn't the day. In the next fort night or so, they plan on doing Harpers Ferry, so I will most likely do that instead. We'll see where the wind blows.

I was supposed to go dancing yesterday, but I guess I was tired because I sat to watch an Indian movie, then before I knew it I was asleep...! OMG!!!! I have become a grandmother!!! I didn't even do my wine!

Also, I'm I the only one beginning to see a conspiracy with the Obama, Clinton, McCain thing? This is what I mean:- If the democrats keep clawing at each other, they will indirectly help the republicans when it's time for the big guns to come out. If they really cared about their party winning, wouldn't the super delegates step up now and say "someone has got to go?" They need to sit both of the candidates down and tell them who needs to step aside and why. Their little fight is taking away from the main election where everything will count. Frankly, just as McCain is sort of campaigning at the moment, they too should have already started the main campaign and not this nit picking session. What is that's the idea? to make McCain win?, then when he's done he'll help Clinton win? Hmmmm??? what if?

I really don't care who wins...it doesn't matter to me, but I am certainly tired of listening to Hillary and Barak fight. And I am tired of hearing "experts" change their stance on candidates on a daily basis.

Moving on...why is it that most people in this country prefer to be confronted before they do what they are supposed to do right? The other day, my eye was inflamed, so i picked an eye doctors name out of hat, made an appointment and went by to see him

This was what happened after I was placed in the room.

****************

Doctor arrives 40 minutes after I was in the room. Does not look at me, and does not even acknowledge that I am in there for a few minutes then:

Silly Doc:- You have a problem with the left eye?

Manena:- Yes sir

Silly Doc:- how long have you noticed it?

Manena:- since the night before

Silly Doc:- Okay let me take a look

(prods eye, shines light in eye, lifts Manena's head up, turns her head...etc)

Silly Doc (while reaching for a bottle):- Right. I am going to put a drop in your eye.

Manena (getting out of chair):- Ummm...no sir.

Silly Doc:- why?

Manena:- well because I do not know you. You didn't tell me your name, you didn't ask for my name and you have not said what the drops are that you will put in my eyes, nor have you told me what the drops do.

Silly Doc (pointing at his stupid lab coat):- I am the doctor!

Manena:- well you didn't tell me that and you didn't greet me. For all I know, you could be the janitor dressed in the doctors lab coat ready to drop some anthrax in my eye! This place is very busy and there are too many people walking around. You don't even have an I.D badge on.

Silly Doc:- I am doctor silly doc, and you really need to have your eye taken care of

Manena:- I understand that, and I will only stay because I have taken the afternoon off work to take care of this. But I am not happy and this is not a free visit.

++++++++after care of eyes, I made sure to let the office manager know that were I to alert JACHO of this man's foolish behaviour it would be a big deal. I also let them know that for my follow up appointment on Saturday, I was expecting better service. So any way, I went back on Saturday...and this was my visit.

Silly Doc:- Hello Manena, how are you?

Manena (on the defensive of course):- good.

Silly Doc:- is you eye doing any better?

Manena:- yes it is

Silly Doc:- Oh that's really great news! Let me take a look...etc oh and just wait a little so I can direct you out of the building.

+++++++The man was a different person with a better tone and demeanor. I believe it's because I went all spaz on him...or maybe he finally got some that night...I don't know, but why did it have to come to this? why don't people just do what they are supposed to before they are told off? It's like they like to see how far they can push your buttons before you react!

*********************************************

If the power goes out because of this lightening...I am gonna be the saddest little girl in the neighborhood!

*********************************************

The Washington DC international film festival starts this week. I want to see AmericanEast with Tony Shalhoub (Monk) and 'In the name of God' on Sunday. Then maybe Saturday I could see 'The pope's toilet'. Africa is ill represented by Egypt. They call them Arab world films, but so long as Egypt continues to be on the continent of Africa...I will call it an African country! I don't care how many ways y'all try to explain to me that it's Middle Eastern. What--evveer!

Also, wine in the woods is coming up on May 17th and 18th...what JOY!!!! Columbia will be alive with wine lovers from the Baltimore/ DC metro area. I will be drunk and I will be eating everything they will be selling:-)

***********************************************

Talking about wine...you know how I am always having stupid dilemma's right? So for the last few weeks, I had been purchasing South African wine--new labels to me such as Indaba, Oracle, Kanu, something with a leopard on it...ect. They are great wines...don't get me wrong...and I initially was doing it to support my African brother's and sisters. Then the other day, I sat and thought about it and decided the bastido's shouldn't benefit from my dollar...then i thought again and now, I am doing it for the paupers that work the field-- you know...so they can have a job to feed little Man'dla and Sibongile with. It took a while to get to that conclusion...but it just goes to show you how much growing I have had to do. I am like so totally mature...like really!

++++++++++

LOL!!! Boredom really makes you laugh at things that aren't funny! I am listening to a song by St Bernadette choir 'Ubulwele bwa AIDS' and I just burst out laughing. I mean they are seriously lameting the devastation of AIDS...but it's the way they did the lalalala part that just killed me! I am really not that heartless! Besides, I have only had 2 sips of wine and I am not "happy" yet!LOL

I like how in Zambia we can take anything and turn it either into comedy or a song! It just kills me! I remember the day my cousin and his friends turned the Peter Stuyvesant cigarette wrapper words into a song which ended with the words..."talala wemwana ba wiso li lofwa....waskokoko jammoni...palamilitary ku bus stopo!" Hilarious!!!

++++++++++++++++

I suppose you're tired of reading, so i'll stop here:-) Have a great week....ciao

I'm sor'ed

amigos! como estas?..don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? LOL

Well pardon the silence...but I have been quite busy, and it's not over yet. I will be indisposed for the next four weeks. I will be doing a lot of city to city travel as I help a local company with it's transition. LOL...someone actually thinks I know what I'm doing--that's cool! I also have a few projects to complete...so I will be spending a lot of time on the computer, I just don't think I will have enough idle time to blog...unless of course someone pisses me off and there's no one to make me feel better (lol...I wish I could tell this story! I am dying to let it out but can't).

I should really be in bed right now...but I just don't feel sleepy. Oh and Pregaz one gave birth Friday morning to little Madeline who came in at 5am and weighed 8.5 pounds! She is so adorable! I only got to see pictures because I couldn't go to the house--I still have a cold and cough thing going...SARS??? lol...just kidding (said in my Indian accent)

The news is still the same as last week eh? Olympic torch disruptions, Zimbabwe destruction, recession discussions...ect. Nothing new there.

I was hoping American airlines would have a huge sale...um...fat chance. Any way, I am looking forward to the summer. Sexy needs to be outside doing wine tastings and other fun things that involve being outside. I am tired of the cold weather. Like totally tired.

So right now I suppose I am sor'ed (sorted--for non 'British' speakers), I hope you're all swell and peachy!

taa--

It's all rainbows!

I have had an interesting week...which is actually good news! It was busy enough that I do not remember half of what happened. I remember running into mister delisioso himself! God took his time making that man I swear!!! After that, I have little memory of the week:=)

So I'll skip to Friday because that's the day I went for a jewelery party (a what????), it was great really. Lots of finger food and alcoholic beverages. I was even given the honor of being the Margarita preparer!!! I was sooooo chuffed with myself that I could mix a drink:-) I really should open a bar! The party planner was our Americasian friend that would like to join our "circle" by filling the other minority slot that we have open. She is pending approval as I evaluate whether I can handle sharing my minority responsibilities or not...lol!

Our one pregaz friend looked like she was ready to pop! It was so cute...she was winded in minutes:-) The baby refused to move or kick when we were messing with mama's belly--which looks like a nice little desk now--lol!

I also spent time talking to a total waste of sperm this weekend! I hope the persons parents know that they completely wasted a night of passion when they created that human being!

Oh and can I just say God is AWESOME??? He may work in totally mysterious ways, and frankly I don't agree with most of the decisions God makes-- but with regards to yesterday I can say that we were in agreement!!!

I am also quite ill by the way...picked up some bugs and probably have an upper respiratory disease of some kind. It might be just allergies, or most likely something i picked up from "french fry" and "french kiss" because they were coughing a lot.

Can somebody get me a secretary please? I am overwhelmed with what I need to do. I have so much stuff to remember, half the time I could swear I'm sleep walking.

I went to the dentist this week--no cavities!!! Thank you Colgate!

I also went for my annual Gynaecological exam (most women need to go once a year by the way!), and can I just say I love the new Nurse practitioner that I had to see!!! She was so swift and quick and before I knew it...we were done! Totally cool man! Usually I prefer men to do my check up and all because I find them a little more gentle than women--which is weired, but it's my experience. Getting the exam is uncomfortable as it is, so finding little pleasures like somebody who wont have a probe sitting in your cookie while they look for supplies is really nice! I can recommend my new NP to anyone!

Actually, I can not imagine having a job where I stare at women's poonies all day! What in the world!!!

My passport expires this year...and there is nothing I hate more than renewing it!!! They lost my cousins passport last time, so I am a little weary having to do it here as well, but what choice do I have? Sijui (is that how you spell it Swahili speakers?).

Part deux

All I have done this week is eat, eat and eat!!! Monday, I went out with friends for dinner, then wednesday we had a farewell dinner for a co-worker--and as usual I had people shocked with the size of my cleavage:-) Women all react the same when they see it and men aren't brave enough to comment.

I even ate breakfast twice in one day because I had people buying me breakfast and lunches...:-) dude!! The food this week was better than last week, which is awesome! The best thing that I ate this week would have to be the huge chocolate chocolate chip and fudge cookie:-) ummmm!!

Then Friday I went out for Peggy's B'day dinner at the new Sushi Hana location on falls road. Quite frankly I liked it better than the other location: it's classier, and has more free parking....The food is the same which is a plus, but my favorite waitress is at the other location--which is of course a minus:-)

I spent most of my weekend in D.C. (are you really surprised?) Saturday, we went shopping to leesburg pike, and then we went out to Juste Lounge again--this time to experience the saturday night mingle/ international night thing. I quite liked it. I danced none stop...then when I was doing the dutty wine--my hair piece fell of!!! That was a major Kodak moment:-)lololol!!!! I sinply picked it up and re-adjusted my look!!! Dust yourself off andf try again;-) My leg muscles really hurt, and I think I drank too much...okay I know I drank too much! The last few weeks though I haven't had any wine!!! Can you believe that??? It's been hard liquor on the weekends only and no wine...such a sad day in nenaland. This one dude bought us drinks and then breakfast, then he drove us home...he's in the navy--maybe that's why he has manners, I don't know:-)

We got home at almost 5am, and little miss sunshine (that's me!), was awake by 8am and ready to get going for a fun day in D.C. Now those two little french chicks are too dar gon slow!!! I woke them up early, but they weren't ready till like 2pm or so:-) Then the walking began.....oooohhh Lawwwd! I think we did 5 K with hang overs and just plain tiredness.

We went for the cherry blossom festival and and just had a fun time listening to music, walking around and striking poses...:-)
The day came to an end when we found out that apple in montgomery mall is out of iPhones and so is AT&T!!!!! How gay is that???? The frenchies are trying to buy two to take home with them and the store has no idea when they will restock.

Lawd have mercy...I am so tired! I need to get my behind in bed and will continue this session tomorrow. Ahhh...the life of a social butterfly never seems to have a dull moment:-)