Dear HIMYM: It's not me, it's you.

Reblogged from Caffeinated & Random:

Dear Barney, Robin, Lily, Marshall & Ted:

You used to make me laugh every week. We had some great moments, you and me. Those times I almost peed my pants. The episodes I watched over and over again. The Pineapple, the Duel, the Slutty Pumpkin, the Goat… Sandcastles in the Sand and Let’s Go to the Mall had me rolling on the floor.

Read more… 554 more words

LOL!!!! Love it:)

 

Flying through the clouds

(Before you read this i’d like to mention that I actually wrote this in June 2011 but never published it. I recently came across it and thought, “why not?”. Therefore, references to short vac and mid semester breaks are inaccurate because I’m actually done with my first year now; how time flies! Anyway, enjoy )

Looks like white cotton candy!

Recently, the University of Cape Town has its mid semester break also known as short vac among us students. This meant that first years alike would pack up and trapeze out of their respective residences to go see the family they missed so much even though they couldn’t admit it. I was one of them.

I flew from Cape Town to my home town Gaborone, Botswana (courtesy of  South African Airlines at a migraine inducing price) :/. I guess I should be thankful I got a window seat seeing as I booked pretty late, which relates to the migraine. Anyway, so I’m sitting in the plane, on the way from Joburg to Gaborone when the pilot announces over the intercom that we were flying through clouds. I looked out with mild interest. I mean, its nothing I haven’t seen before right? Wrong….

Firstly, I should book window seats more often. Secondly, we live in a beautiful world. When I looked out that window, I was struck at how surreal it looked. As I hastily took out my phone to take a picture, I remember thinking  ’is this how it feels like to be an angel?’ All I could see was a stretch of white fluffy clouds, forming all kinds of shapes. There’s something about seeing all that white. It seems so pure and untouched. I wished I could reach out and touch them.

It reminded me that there are things in life that are beautiful and should be appreciated. God has created a magnificent world for us to live in and we should sometimes stop, marvel and appreciate the wonder of his work. When you think about it, the beauty around you is an expression of his love for YOU. He created that just for you to see and smile. You’re able to experience something that beautiful through His Power and Majesty. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God looks out for us like this?

So, in closing, I’d just like to say, stop and smell the roses because there are a whole lot of roses around even if it doesn’t seem like it. Even the simplest thing can make you smile. Whether it be a beautiful picture or a lone flower planted in the ground. Just lose yourself in the beauty. Because right there thousands of feet in the air, I experienced something special just because I took the time to look at it.

Till next time,

Say it Loud!

 

God vs Science

Guys I got this from the net, check it out

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the problem Science has with God. He asked one of his new Christian students to stand.

• Professor: You are a Christian, aren’t you, son?
• Student: Yes, sir.
• Professor: So, you believe in God?
• Student: Absolutely, sir.
• Professor: Is God good?
• Student: Sure.
• Professor: My brother died of cancer, even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn’t. How is God good, then? Hmm?
• (Student was silent)
• Professor: You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?
• Student: Yes.
• Professor: Is Satan good?
• Student: No.
• Professor: Where does Satan come from?
• Student: From.. God.
• Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
• Student: Yes.
• Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything. Correct?
• Student: Yes.
• Professor: So who created evil?
• (Student didn’t answer)
• Professor: Is there sickness? Immortality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?
• Student: Yes, sir.
• Professor: So, who created them?
• (Student had no answer)
• Professor: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son.. have you ever seen God?
• Student: No, sir.
• Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your God.
• Student: No, sir.
• Professor: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God, for that matter?
• Student: No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
• Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?
• Student: Yes.
• Professor: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, Science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?
• Student: Nothing. I only have my Faith.
• Professor: Yes, Faith. And that is the problem Science has.
• Student: Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
• Professor: Yes.
• Student: And is there such a thing as Cold?
• Professor: Yes.
• Student: No, sir, there isn’t.
• (The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events)
• Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of Heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
• (There was a pon-drop silence in the Lecture Theatre)
• Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
• Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?
• Student: You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light… But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called Darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, You would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?
• Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man?
• Student: Sir, my point is, your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
• Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?
• Student: Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
• Professor: If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes of course, I do.
• Student: Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
• (The professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)
• Student: Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
• (The class was in uproar)
• Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?
• (The class broke out into laughter)
• Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? .. No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable and Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures?
• (The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)
• Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on Faith, son.
• Student: That is it, sir.. exactly! The link between man and God is Faith. That is all that keeps things alive and moving!
• —————————————————-
• That student was Albert Einstein.
• Brilliant.
• Beautifully done.
• —————————————————-
• wow, this was really albert einstein? had no idea he if believed in anything at all. when stories become about real people don’t they hit so much harder?

I think this is an excellent conversation. It shows both sides are not perfect. Its amazing how much of a genius Albert Einstein was.

Your thoughts?

 

Little Bird Take Flight

This is a fun poem I wrote entitled Little Bird Take Flight…I was feeling a bit whimsical

You can interpret it any way you want; whether philosophical or direct, its up to you <3

Little Bird Take Flight

Hello little bird, how are you today?

Is this it? Is today the day?

Today will you fly on your wings so high and free

Will you discover all that you can be

It will take some time, just you wait

Get ready, get set, hurry now don’t be late

I think he can do it do you?

Hold on a bit, stop, look and listen

There might be something you’re missing

You have to be careful, no mistakes

Don’t dive head first into the lake

Nice and easy, one step at a time

You’ll discover it’s not that steep of a climb

And then you’ll get the hang of it

Pretty soon you’ll realize

It wasn’t as hard as it seemed

There’s more than meets the eye

So take a deep breath and take the plunge

All it takes is a little courage and a full stomach after lunch

So little bird spread your wings, it’s time for you to fly

Don’t worry I’ll be there to watch you pass me by

It’s time for you to take on the world

And see what you can be

It’s time for you to test yourself

It’s time for you to be free

 

Mash anyone?

A while back I discovered an ingenious video made by a certain Dj Earworm (no, its not a typing error, that is his name). I gladly overlooked the poor name choice as his video was absolutely amazing. He had done what he liked to call a Mashup – I swear he’s English, who says Mashup anymore? – of a bunch of pop songs (and their videos) and made a video of his own with these different songs. The video consisted of different lines from these songs put together to create an entirely new AND ORIGINAL video. Like I said, genius!

Not only does he manage to pull it off, but it actually makes sense and to top it all off, its brilliant! So, after I watched this epic video, I decided I wanted more. And guess what, I found out that he does this ‘mashup’ every year. Yep. At the end of each year, Dj Earworm takes the years Top 25 Billboard 100 hits and uses them cook up yet another plate of steaming hot mash (see what I did there ).

So, you may now be thinking: what’s the point? so a guy with a worm in his ear makes a video, big whoop! But here’s some food for thought (pun intended ), should it really be that easy to bring together a bunch of presumably totally different songs that are the top 25 songs of the year and put them together?

Maybe, I gotta give Dj guy with ear problems, some credit. He must have talent to do what he does and do it well. On the other hand, should these songs really be that easy to combine? From where I stand – or sit – it seems to me that the music we listen to nowadays is basically the same concept coming out of a different end of the machine that is the music industry. These are supposed to the Top 25 songs of the year. Apparently we, the public, absolutely loved the songs. Yet, here they are merged into one. Here’s my theory: We hear song number one, we all know it’s a great song, so every pop start-with-a-recording-mic starts running in the same direction in a shameless fashion –  because they want one just like it.

For example, lets look at the sudden flood of  ’boy is having a nice time dancing in a club with a sexy lady’ songs. Que reel of songs: Flo-Rida ft David Guetta – Club Can’t Handle Me; Usher ft Pitbull – DJ Got Us Falling In Love; Taio Cruz – Dynamite, just to mention a few. They’re all copying off themselves. What happened to variety? To the self-proclaimed originality that artists liked to wear proudly on their collars? It seems to me that what everyone says is true: its all about the money. The public wants A, we’ll give them A squared multiplied by ten. Its really unfortunate.

I guess I’m taking this too far aren’t I? How did I start off with Dj needs a new name to regurgitated pop culture? I don’t know. Anyway, I’m done ranting now. Lets wait and see whether this is just a passing phase. All I know is, as long as we keep buying the music, they keep churning out the ‘hits’. And DJ Earworm keeps producing more plates of potatoes with increasing ease.

Here are the videos, they are really good for a bunch of  ’milking hit number one’ songs…

And my personal favourite…can anyone (who knows me well, or has read my past posts) guess why?

PS. Check out his YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/djearworm

Till next time,

Say it loud!

 

it’s spring! well, it is here…

The malberry tree in my backyard. See, I told you its spring here...

So over here, as in Africa, its spring! I love spring, its my favourite time of the year. I just love the blooming flowers and the last of the red-brown leaves falling away to give way to the fresh bright green ones. I can’t help but smile every time I go out.

Spring,  I’ve decided, is a very uplifting time of year. Recently, I have had some rough days. But, it has been so rewarding to look out the window and see little bright flower buds spring out and fresh green leaves sway in the wind.  It made me think: ‘there’s hope’. Spring in a way, is very symbolic to me. It shows me that after the bitter cold and troubles, the troubles shall fall away to reveal the warm sunshine and lovely smelling flowers

So, as spring comes around, lets embrace it. Lets take in the surroundings and really thank God for the beauty he created. We live in a beautiful world even though it doesn’t seem that way at times. You just gotta stop and smell the roses.

Till next time,

Say it loud!

 

Welcome to the adult world…

On August the 14th, I celebrated my 18th birthday. In the past, I had numerous plans on how to usher in my coming of age/passage into the adult world. It had involved music, lots and people and food (and I think there was a chocolate fountain somewhere in there too).

But, on Sunday the 8th of August, things changed. That is the day my mother have four convulsions, three of which I witnessed. Admittedly, it was the scrariest day of my life. Sitting there hoping to God that she would be okay seemed like the most I could do while doctors worked over her limp, unconscious and drugged body. It’s a horrible feeling not knowing what is happening or what to do; just standing there helplessly.

So, when my birthday came around precisely six days later, I was just glad to be able to spend time with her. I hadn’t made any plans before the 8th. Maybe God was preparing me for what I was really mean’t to do on my birthday: spend time with my mother. And that’s exactly what I did.

I woke up that morning to my family and a BIG breakfast. It wasn’t much but it was exactly what I wanted. Just being with her and the rest of my family and thanking God that we could have more days with her was an amazing feeling. There was no music, people, or food but it was the best birthday ever.

 

Oprah: Is her time up?

So I’ve seen a couple of polls out there and I thought hey,  I should do one to! You know, when in Rome…so here I am writing this up and it’s about none other than the queen of entertainment herself: Oprah!

I’m guessing you’ve heard that Oprah is retiring next year. Yep, she decided that she needed to shut up for once and let others do the talking. She will be retiring after the completion of her talk show’s 25th season on television on September 10, 2011. It might be September 9, 2011, actually. Who announces they’re ending their run almost two years in advance? Oprah does, that’s who! Oprah has had an amazing career and she has established herself as one of the most powerful women in the world (I bolded that just to get the point across, I’m feeling a bit feminist right about now )  She is brilliant, I mean what else is there to say? She has a way of making her guests feel at home. You’d think they would be nervous as hell when they about to meet her coz she’s OPRAH and I bet they are, but she has a way of loosening them up a bit to get them ready to spill their guts out whenever she asks. She has been able to reach all age groups, which I believe is part of her sucess…she didn’t limit herself but she diversified and touched all areas and issues of life faced by everyone. That ended up making her the richest woman in showbiz and one of the richest women in the world (don’t you wish you were related to her, I know I do).

Now we have to say goodbye to her and here entertaining shows. But what do you think? Do you think maybe she should have stuck around a little longer? After all, no one says no to Oprah. On the other hand, did you breathe a sigh of relief when you heard the news? Were you tired of seeing her very rich self tell you all the things that are wrong in your life? If so, just hang on a little longer, the wait is almost over…

 

Goodbye 2010, hello 2014

The logo is entitled 'Inspiration'

A while ago, I was shown the official 2014 FIFA World Cup  logo. My first thought was; Already? wow, that was fast! Afterwards, I proceeded to criticize the logo stating that it was ‘too simple’ and that ‘those hands look like trees’ (look at them, don’t they look like trees?) . Anyway, as I think back to that moment right now and carefully look at the logo with an open mind, I realise that it’s quite fine. Actually, I like that it is in the shape of the world cup

Why was I being so judgemental? I guess I’m still hanging on to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. You see I’m African and I’m extremely proud that South Africa managed to organise a great world cup without any (major) incidents. Admit it, the world cup was pretty good wasn’t it? That’s if you actually watched the world cup…So now it’s over and it’s just part of our memories. When I think about all the hype and the preparations before it started, it’s kind of sad to think its all gone. 

I think that specific moment was my ‘it’s time to let go’ moment. You know that feeling you get when a while after you’ve just broken up with your boyfriend/girlfriend, you reach a point when it finally hits you that its over…yeah, that’s the one. I never realised I was holding on to the 2010 world cup. It hit me right there and then. So reluctantly, I let go and said goodbye like a kid on the first day of school.

Of course its gonna hold a special place in my heart (and hopefully everyone else’s hearts, or at least minds) because it was the first event of its magnitude to be held in Africa, but now I have realised, we have to look forward to the future; its Brazil’s time to shine.

Till next time…

Say it loud!

 

Thinking about home…

Our flag flying high

Living away from my country of birth, Kenya has  not been nearly as hard as I thought it would be. When I say ‘as i thought it would be’, I am referring to my 8-yr old self, wondering whether I’ll fit in and find new friends. Back then I was terrified; you know that nervous feeling you get when you have to move to a new neighbourhood, or maybe even a new town…now imagine moving to a new country.

Well things turned out fine. I made friends, I went to my new school and I liked it. I basically moved on with life. Its been what, 9 years now…It has generally been smooth sailing and I have no complaints. But there have been times when I thought back and I wondered what would have happened if I had stayed home. I miss Kenya horribly at times. These times are when I remember all my old friends, or when I look at the old family albums and seem my all relatives i.e cousins, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunties etc and think of how much I’ve missed out of their life.

On the other hand, as we have lived in Botswana my family and I have adhered to our Kenyan values. We have stuck to our traditions and morals. These include: possessing a stong sense of family and community; the demand for respect for elders, especially those who are significantly older than you; calling any grown up I know as Aunty or Uncle; and I speaking my mother tongue, Kimeru and Swahili. In my opinion,  I am Kenyan in every right.

Yet sometimes, I feel like there’s so much I’ve missed out on. Things like: going to boarding school, which is an automatic thing for any pupil or student in Kenya as a large majority of the schools are boarding school; having relatives visit almost every weekend because they just needed to see us (who by the way always seem to want something else other than just seeing us); or making weekly trips to the local market to buy an assortment of fruits and vegetables. All these things are part of the daily Kenyan life that I would have had if we had stayed home.

I guess its okay. Botswana is an amazing country and of course I have been presented with amazing opportunities that I may never have gotten in Kenya. These things happen and are just a part of life. There’s not much I can do right?

So, I guess now my nostalgic state of mind has passed, I’ll leave you to it  Till next time!

 

Say it loud!