tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729953550343252302024-03-12T21:30:06.529-07:00Life, Love... and Everything ElseLife as they say, happens.
Having gone through personal experiences of 'life', I felt the need to share some stories with you in order for us to learn from it, laugh about it and heal from it.
Enjoy!tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-72702230744750434022015-08-03T08:27:00.001-07:002015-08-03T08:27:45.068-07:00Serendipity: I Am 'Brave'With the way the world is going, I am deeply reconsidering having another child. The world scares me so much now, I wonder how it will be in the coming years.<br />
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What values will the children be exposed to? What will become of marriage? Will there still be sane / straight people walking our streets? <br />
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I usually don't do this but I found this post to be an interesting read.<br />
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<a href="http://meteoric247.blogspot.com/2015/08/i-am-brave.html?spref=bl">Serendipity: I Am 'Brave'</a>: I never gave much thought to the whole brouhaha surrounding Bruce Jenner’s evolution into Caitlyn, I had lumped it into the category of one...tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-76169744311666391172014-11-06T00:35:00.000-08:002014-11-06T00:35:42.635-08:00The Dream<span style="font-family: sans-serif;">I picked up my phone and decided to break the jinx. Having had a writer's block for a while now, I know it's time to break it. Life changing events sometimes causes us to loose interest in the things we love... oh well, here goes!!!</span><br />
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Struggling with myself; my legs barely carrying my weight, I realized I may have overdone this one. Gaining a lot of weight doesn't just affect ones physical wellness but also the psychological and emotional well-being. </div>
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Looking in the mirror was horrifying, I mean where did my flat tummy go? How come I was spotting some dark stretchmarks on my hips?! Was this even normal? Everyone looked at me now, walking into my office never felt more nerve-wracking. Now I understand how fat Albert must have felt.</div>
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Speaking with my therapist, I expressed with much pain in voice how upsetting the changes in my body were, how 'beautyless' I felt... He jolted me back to reality. "You are pregnant" he said, these changes are normal.</div>
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I woke up panting, covered in sweat. The room was really dark, thank God it was only a dream.<br />
Or was it? </div>
tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-80407163291257672722014-07-15T04:32:00.000-07:002014-07-15T04:32:24.275-07:00BRUISED<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">It hurts! It really hurts!! I couldn’t remember being hit
from our fight but somehow I had the worst body ache ever! My elbows were sore,
my right cheek felt warm, my head was banging, and my eyes were burning. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Everything hurts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">As I lay in bed, I tried to cast my mind back to the night
before? What happened? The evening had seemed so perfect; dinner was amazing. I
remember the candles, the beautiful rose petals, the soft music, the wine, his
soft fingers stroking me… it was perfect. He was such a romantic man regardless
of our issues. His subtle brown eyes made me melt each time he looked at me; he
was <s>supposed to be</s> the one, everyone said so. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Nothing makes sense at this moment. I feel like I had been to
Heaven but suddenly dropped thousands of miles down to Earth... It really hurts.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Flashes of him smacking me filled my mind… did this really
happen? I tried to move, my waist had a mind of its own… it didn’t respond. A sharp
pain shot up my back, jolting my memory. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">The night was planned to be perfect…
six months of pain and joy, laughter and tears, pleasure and hurt. It was a
roller-coaster! an adventure of my mind, my body and my soul. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">He had hit me
many times before but none compares to this! Surely this man was destined to be
my karma, for my many sins of fornication and rebellion.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBQxHlt0b_gkecGIJrRQdy15QUg-xLBqWYPJ6Ig4HnoU9R7G75_0faaIZQcXmCMoIjsDxpRw2eP3BBGUkBVnCHlMSb0ZReoctTZiZ_k1n6L-lcm7ZSbzzFDcyUWTXuch-XGVJYno3dzE/s1600/face_silhouette_by_mattemax-d72ibn6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBQxHlt0b_gkecGIJrRQdy15QUg-xLBqWYPJ6Ig4HnoU9R7G75_0faaIZQcXmCMoIjsDxpRw2eP3BBGUkBVnCHlMSb0ZReoctTZiZ_k1n6L-lcm7ZSbzzFDcyUWTXuch-XGVJYno3dzE/s1600/face_silhouette_by_mattemax-d72ibn6.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">I reached out to feel his side of the bed, nothing. I felt
nothing too…this was God’s plan for me, I believed it was. He had sent me here
to be disciplined, to learn the art of submission, to live the life of a virtuous
woman – somehow I think I’d be dead before these lessons pay off.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Photo
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tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-48446137856422924332014-06-16T05:49:00.000-07:002014-06-16T05:49:13.460-07:00WHISPERS!!! <span style="color: magenta;">Have you had moments where your head whispers something to you but your heart agrees with the exact opposite?</span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">Below is the experience of one of the most talented/creative/girly writers I know. </span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes! She gave me an opportunity to do this…a time to share
what whispered to me…Now how am I going to <s>talk</s>, whisper to you…? Stop! <s>Shut
up</s>!! Just Stop! No! I’m going to talk back to you…<b><i> </i></b>Shhh! I’ve to ‘whisper’
what you ‘whispered’ to the ‘whisperer’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I look back at that day, I wonder how I could have done
that! So <s>daft</s> silly of me! Geezzzz!!! It was a long and hectic Friday at
work and all I just wanted to do when I get home, was throw my bag on the floor
and <s>dive</s> roll on that bed of mine. Just as I stepped out of the office
building, singing happily in my head, my phone ‘Pung’ so many times. Well,
curious to know who won’t allow me breathe this free fresh air I just inhaled,
I scrolled to the message, lo and behold it was my close <s>friend</s> ‘goatie’
<i>*That’s what I call her*</i> She was
actually <s>buzzing</s> trying to remind me that she was on her way to my
house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choi! Today is today <i>*Pardon
my English*</i> Look at me that was dreaming of sleeping away the whole night,
with my pillow as DJ Skillz. It’s not that I wasn’t looking forward to seeing
my goatie, but mhen, that’s loads of never-ending gist, giggles and you know…to
catch up on <i>*Yea I know, you’ll shake
your head and say girls can <s>gossip</s> talk! Who cares?*</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On getting home, she was already at the gate waiting for me!
From our walk into the house till like nine pm, the gist had started in full
swing. Only for her to tell me that we had a hang-out that night! <i>*Oh someone help me! What?! My sleep!!!*</i>
I tried to convince my stubborn ‘goatie’ that I won’t go since I was extremely
tired but she won’t hear any of that! Lest, I forget, she knows how to persuade
people like a policeman collects bribe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After agreeing to the Friday night gig and allowing me be
boring while we were out, we got dressed and hopped into <s>our</s> her
friend’s ride who was with his own friend. I tried to be nice, until my
‘goatie’ sent me a message to my BBM, <i>*Yea!
You know, we didn’t want them to hear Us*</i> that she just met <s>our</s> her so called friends this morning when he
gave her a lift to her office bus-stop, that he was really nice. Gosh! I felt
like giving her a hard knock, <i>*How could
she do that?* </i>only for the dude to jolt me back to the present scene and
say:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MR.
ANONYNMOUS: Sorry ladies! Hope you don’t
mind if we stop at my house so I could pick up some more cash and change my
clothes?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend murmured back a reply as we both exchanged glances<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">GOATIE: Ernnn! Ok</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of a sudden the speed of the car increased as I kept
wondering if the ‘OK’ had made this guy, <s>whose name I never got to know</s>
roar. I kept looking out of the window for familiar landmarks as I realized we
were already driving into Magodo. Only for <s>our</s> her dear friend to turn
the car to a darkly lit road, my heartbeat started pounding, <s>‘invisible yam’</s>
before I knew what was happening, he was driving into a kind of uncompleted
fence hiding a house that revealed some rugged guys smoking in chain circles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we could even get a full view of what lay inside that
building my <s>friend</s> goatie and I opened the still moving car door, jumped
and ran out for our dear lives. Like we both had the same thought flash through
our minds, the same voice whisper to us, we ran like a mad man was on our
heels, like we were in a race and we had reached the finish line but just
couldn’t stop running.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found ourselves at the bus-stop and tried to catch our
breaths as I figured out what next to do…Not like we even had enough money to
take us home at eleven thirty pm. With shaking hands, I scrolled through the
numbers on my phone as ‘goatie’ was still looking around us in fear and dialed
a trusted friend who lives in Magodo <i>*Ehen!
I know you’ll say more trouble*</i> who said he <i>*Yes! He!!!*</i> will be with us shortly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In less than thirty minutes, <i>‘Superman’</i> came to our rescue and whisked us off to his house.
Despite his look at the two of us in our skimpy dresses, he never asked any
questions <i>*Phew!* </i>and I don’t think I
will have given him a truthful answer either. I could hardly sleep that morning
but kept slapping myself for not listening to my <s>instinct</s>
‘whisperer’. As for ‘goatie’, I had no
words for her but I really don’t want to question the ’What-if’ but simply go
on my knees and thank God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over time, through life’s journey we go through times where we
may not want to do something and our INSTINCT whispers to us with all
sincerity, please listen to IT because that could always be the truth talking
to you. Sometimes you don’t have to question it because it’s you talking to
YOU!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I take a humble bow, thanks to <b>Mo</b> for giving me a chance to share my experience. <i>*Muah!* </i>You all, have a fab week and
if the whisperer whispers to YOU, sure do the right thing! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Flips
hair and walks away dragging ‘MY WHISPERER’<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-57815829313446918652014-06-09T01:15:00.000-07:002014-06-09T01:15:20.904-07:00MY SMILE <span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">I
am really excited to share this story with you. It is very recent with snippets
of this morning’s drive embedded! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It is the tale of my SMILE </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So
for a while now I have driven this really flashy (yellow) car all around Lagos
with the plate number SMILE </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">. Oh Lawd! I got too much
attention from everyone from the Yellow fever guys screaming ‘SMILE!’ to the Okada
(Bike) riders saying ‘sister SMILE </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">na’ to young guys trying to be sharp – I do
not understand why they all think that can start off a conversation in traffic!
Anyway, let’s just say I have made quite an impression over the past months. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Frankly in the beginning it felt nice getting to the office and having
practically over twenty security guys calling me SMILE</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">, having bus drivers say ‘SMILE for Jesus’, having the police stop me only to scream SMILE</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">! Chai! it got a
bit too much o. It is really funny the impact such a little item can cause. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nlsEE5YRHF7J7P7jBqZ7SPSMZxTa1ZLVMIrP92JuM83FAyEgUe8N8B9HR1XwAb2Nv1agEYcgVHY9XmugPoX26S90SHzSU4F9z-fpJyP6lI7m2w6w0Zt3yTF4cFYfbZaSDP9tCDlUwso/s1600/SMILE+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nlsEE5YRHF7J7P7jBqZ7SPSMZxTa1ZLVMIrP92JuM83FAyEgUe8N8B9HR1XwAb2Nv1agEYcgVHY9XmugPoX26S90SHzSU4F9z-fpJyP6lI7m2w6w0Zt3yTF4cFYfbZaSDP9tCDlUwso/s1600/SMILE+3.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I used
to see Lagosians differently… I mean, we were all angry drivers hustling to
get somewhere but having people (both literate and </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">illiterate)</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> take time out of their ‘hustle
waka’ to grin wide and smile really changed my perspective. Truly, everyone
just wants to be happy isn’t it? ‘In pursuit of Happiness right?' Amidst the
economy, the scorching sun, the chaos of Lagos roads… it really got me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyway, I
recently changed my plate number - an Olori (Queen) doesn’t need that
kinda attention as I have way too much of that already hehe! But yes, I took that
bold step and got it changed and you know what? No one wants to forget my
SMILE</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">! On my way to work this morning, I saw a police man who to took time out </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">to yell ‘SMILE</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">’ once he saw my car! Of course
I put on my best smile and wove back! Why am I excited? I had made an imprint on him! The same thing happened with two random (I do not know them
AT ALL) guys very close to my office… one actually said ‘my smile’ I’m like ‘WHAT
th*&*%^?! while the other dude noticed and shouted ‘smile kilode?! I know that all the security guys will still call me that beautiful word SMILE!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Why
am I sharing this? Experiencing this has taught me that little things really do go a long way. Do not wait for the perfect moment, the perfect gift or the perfect person, just go ahead and make someone happy and...</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJph4ChaMFkdKE3bCzhHG6lNrQkZqIYBV_XeEAUFvmn8lmtG3jdZYlNSyczMSZ566eCEP5X9A1RKZle2VKcXluCQau617l5mnq1257ognkFEIxoVLTMuOKYOSD56QIM-XLPhnMBvWCyM/s1600/SMILE+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJph4ChaMFkdKE3bCzhHG6lNrQkZqIYBV_XeEAUFvmn8lmtG3jdZYlNSyczMSZ566eCEP5X9A1RKZle2VKcXluCQau617l5mnq1257ognkFEIxoVLTMuOKYOSD56QIM-XLPhnMBvWCyM/s1600/SMILE+1.jpg" height="400" width="370" /></a></span></div>
tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-66701310544517613452014-05-28T08:27:00.001-07:002014-05-28T08:27:55.553-07:00BIRTHDAY POST!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhiAoFyLR9sjGg4aCgHFTrIGX1hFG2r3_nL4wWo7qcUQGT5kNiTTw9B_2IEyb9Pi7-WQmnPMRv42qsegpz82_iLljyTBb8b8QHAVCdH2JSNFQB5lumM2wdifDRpairHvR26WkfxvhKh0/s1600/The+Blonds+GOLD+Barbie+face+IIHIH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #ead1dc;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhiAoFyLR9sjGg4aCgHFTrIGX1hFG2r3_nL4wWo7qcUQGT5kNiTTw9B_2IEyb9Pi7-WQmnPMRv42qsegpz82_iLljyTBb8b8QHAVCdH2JSNFQB5lumM2wdifDRpairHvR26WkfxvhKh0/s1600/The+Blonds+GOLD+Barbie+face+IIHIH.jpg" height="200" width="191" /></span></a><span style="color: #ead1dc;">So it was my birthday on Monday the 26<sup>th</sup> of May
2014! I think I really am a birthday fanatic; I countdown from the month
before, buy a new outfit for the day (mom pays), change my hairstyle, change my
nail polish, reflect on the previous year, renew my dreams for the year ahead,
announce the date to anyone who cares to listen, solicit for gifts, *phew* the
list is endless! I wake up feeling like a brand new Barbie – The beautiful Blond Gold Barbie; you forget to call, you are cut off! Anyway, I bet you get the
point… I am a Birthday Freak! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">Somehow, I think I am outgrowing it because this year was different, I guess I was more nervous than excited. The
reality of adulthood had set in; first birthday in marriage, first birthday as
a Mrs… , first birthday as a wife, first birthday as…………. Responsible! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">Geez…
I’m not sure if you feel me but mehn it was scary, it didn’t feel the same! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">I could not plan a night out with my friends – this felt like a crime, I
could not harass my mom for gifts like I used to (although I still got what I
really really wanted from her <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>)
but yea, it just felt weird, but the worst part was me considering cooking my birthday dinner (the horror!!!!). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">Okay, seriously it was not a bad day; I enjoyed myself even though Monday tried to play its 'serious' games with me. I learned that once a year is not enough to celebrate ME, not enough to feel special, not enough to let go of all my worries, not enough to feel blessed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gEBJUwvxWs61gKmpPkFbQO79P14L6k1UUiITKG_8p0iUZiPRYi2wyALr2W-9zDLBVHUgqq90UFubRejAJE61Tsjrjl3iQAgiFxI6lMwDq2aBHKuTQu2vgycf6UZfs5fLh7FmImgRb1s/s1600/IMG_1614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ead1dc;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gEBJUwvxWs61gKmpPkFbQO79P14L6k1UUiITKG_8p0iUZiPRYi2wyALr2W-9zDLBVHUgqq90UFubRejAJE61Tsjrjl3iQAgiFxI6lMwDq2aBHKuTQu2vgycf6UZfs5fLh7FmImgRb1s/s1600/IMG_1614.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">Everyday is a gift which brings with it endless surprises and opportunities and that alone is a reason to celebrate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ead1dc;">The past year brought me many blessings, I was given a brand new life! can you believe that? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ead1dc;">Strolling down the path of loneliness - I really was tired of the many 'toasters' that remained nothing but that and it made me realize I needed more. So I decided just after my birthday (last year) to cut off all 'unholy' associations and move on. </span></div>
<span style="color: #ead1dc;">One relationship was especially hard to let go of! Ladies, you know those guys that just play the boyfriend role without exactly having any intention of being 'the one' and you just keep falling deeper and deeper till you wake up one morning, many years after and realize he was 'the one' for another woman?? Yea, that was really hard to let go of!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">A year after so much drama, a lot has changed and I have been blessed with my 'the one' and so much more! Looking back, I cannot be anything but thankful because no matter how much some experiences sucked, it feels great to have come out and come out strong!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc;">So here's to many more years for me, I am glad I am on this journey and I am sooo excited about the years to come! Many thanks to my darling husband, my mom, all my family and friends! Let's make this new year even more remarkable than the last!</span></div>
tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-40969044165655369032014-05-23T04:16:00.000-07:002014-05-23T04:16:51.549-07:00Her ‘Maami’<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1:40 pm Sunday 18<sup>th</sup> May, 2014</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. My heart raced as I heard a frantic voice on the other end
of the call. She was crying, struggling to find words to express herself…
“Dupe, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Maami’</span> is dead… my mom is dead” I went blank because it made no sense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: 39.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8:00 am Monday 12<sup>th</sup> April 2010.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Shaking from nervousness; my first day of work was going to
be great! Never had I once considered working in an Ad agency but this was a
gift that life gave to me and I was happy to explore. I never wanted to have to
put on those horrid long-sleeved shirts and pants and look perfectly polished
from head to toe like my friends who worked in Banks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I walked into the reception to
see TEN Youth Corpers waiting to be attended to! Like seriously?? TEN?! I can’t
say I wanted to be the only one or anything like that but seeing ten other
individuals in the same position as I was, just put me off. Of course this
changed after spending some time with them as I recall that those were the best
months of my life so far! Everyone had a different personality; we were all
from very different backgrounds and tribe. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of them stood out, she was
really different.. She seemed reserved but didn’t act it; she was very outgoing
and very assertive. It made me feel quite uncomfortable at first because I was
the kind of girl that was quite reserved and diplomatic. Our friendship was a
very dynamic one as we had to compete at the office but still found a common
ground where we could bond and relate no matter what. Often times I expressed
how thankful I was to have a friend like her as I got through many dark periods
with her by my side. Don’t get it twisted though, we did have crazy fights that
sometimes ended in tears and hurtful words but yea, we still have a connection.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Someone was responsible for this
beautiful soul sister of mine and that was her strong, loving and endearing
‘Maami’. All her friends knew ‘Maami’ so well - physically and mostly from the
sweet hilarious stories my friend told. Those two were inseparable! We often
made fun of my friend that </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Maami’</span> was like her husband because she loved her in
ways that we could not phantom. Their relationship made me realize and appreciate how deep the
connection between a mother-child really is…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgTXmRvzNjI8GLJrU47M6fT500i7NNLiX-uMyVxXQ9Aao2ynKFof2A8FcvNP1OY4BY-279usQLDPaOL78DQJFhEHSCcQlUxA22BwMIIdZPgHbjTrHuz5NNzCNtgtfXo-qOQiIiImiUjo/s1600/Olufunke@_--_=D__282307(1)_edit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgTXmRvzNjI8GLJrU47M6fT500i7NNLiX-uMyVxXQ9Aao2ynKFof2A8FcvNP1OY4BY-279usQLDPaOL78DQJFhEHSCcQlUxA22BwMIIdZPgHbjTrHuz5NNzCNtgtfXo-qOQiIiImiUjo/s1600/Olufunke@_--_=D__282307(1)_edit.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It saddens my heart to know that her sweet </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Maami’</span> has gone to rest although I know that she is with Lord as she was a
faithful servant and daughter of the Most High till the end. She sacrificed her life for her children and anyone who needed her, she was a virtuous wife and mother, a leader and an example. In death, she touched even more lives...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pain I have
seen my friend and her family go through is inexpressible but I know that she will survive
this, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Maami’ taught her well.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-49479103183054061552014-05-02T05:49:00.000-07:002014-05-02T05:49:01.576-07:00Life after Death<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I lost someone once, someone really dear to my heart. I
remember always saying I wanted to stop going for funerals because I had been
to way too many! Aunties, uncles, friends, colleagues, you name it. Too many
people die every day! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I remember the service of songs; they were the gloomiest 60
minutes of my life. Those songs gave you a taste of death. Sometimes,
during the songs, I’d picture the dead person watching us with deep pain in
their eyes knowing that they would never speak or hold their loved ones again. Consider
me creepy but we all have our crazy imaginations. Often times, I couldn’t go to
the bathroom alone after such experiences. For some weird reason, my mind would
conjure up their faces and I basically had my very own horror movie playing in
my head! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This experience was different; I never made the funeral, I never
witnessed the service of songs, I never got to say good bye. The pain of my loss was so deep, I could hardly breathe. Many nights I laid in bed weeping with my
hands holding my chest wishing I could rip it out. That way, the pain would
have no hold on me. Getting out of my misery seemed impossible, how could I ever
forget this level of regret and hate for the world? Surely my life had come to
an end, I was alive but merely breathing. Nothing could console me, I had lost
the one and only person that meant the most to me and that reality was one my
heart could not accept.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Have you been there? Made choices that took everything from
you? Dated someone who took your worth? Lost someone who you realized you did not
want to live without? Well I am quite familiar with that place and it sucks! I never
want to go back. Many months went by and I seemed stuck with no hope of release... but all that changed in one day. The day I made a choice to move on regardless of the darkness; I chose to see a light ahead, though quite dim, I followed it. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">The light led me out of the lost, gloomy cave; my broken heart and spirit </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">received</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"> healing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">That light is called Faith. Faith in something bigger than the problem, Faith in something stronger than me, Faith that shows you the positive angle to the pain, Faith that proves that there is life after death. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HAc7bAFSwjBh9XIL93DJnRSyE88fRChyphenhyphenGtN6cfwxZK0ht6frySObOuKRTgETfW7EVpLM3iAoKgi_ehAgkTGyfuNT3W3yY4pMxSIcg0MCpyc3aZr4Ujk3iNxtBPrakIPeaXha-ggM6Ps/s1600/Quotation-J-G-Holland-fire-faith-grief-pain-loss-Meetville-Quotes-277972_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HAc7bAFSwjBh9XIL93DJnRSyE88fRChyphenhyphenGtN6cfwxZK0ht6frySObOuKRTgETfW7EVpLM3iAoKgi_ehAgkTGyfuNT3W3yY4pMxSIcg0MCpyc3aZr4Ujk3iNxtBPrakIPeaXha-ggM6Ps/s1600/Quotation-J-G-Holland-fire-faith-grief-pain-loss-Meetville-Quotes-277972_edit.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Picking up the pieces of my mind was not easy but I did not bother trying with my own </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">strength, I placed my belief in something much greater than my whole life and that is how I got out. A year after, I look back and I am indeed thankful. Death does not occur only when we breathe our last breath, it happens to the best of us if we let it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The choice is yours.</span></span></div>
tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-70947700252071153702014-04-22T09:02:00.001-07:002014-04-22T09:02:22.825-07:00Thankful!<br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Days have gone by and I can’t seem to come up with anything. It
made me wonder if I was holding back or I just have a lot on my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In order not to go nuts, I decided to write anyway and make
this a thanksgiving post! As I heard from one of my favorite people, it heals
the mind. So here goes…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am thankful for the following in no particular order: life,
love, family, jobs, the Church, all the people that have come my way, the joys
and stress life brings, the tears, heart breaks, laughs, the losses and gains.
For dreams, hope, TV shows / movies, computers, cell phones, technology, Scandal
(the series), creativity, airplanes, teddy bears, water, colors, shoes, clothes,
calories, chocolates, <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">food. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For the skies, clouds, rain, sun, moon, stars, AIR, sand,
rocks, NEPA, pillows, beds, sleep, kisses, hugs, the color PINK, friends, paintings,
mirrors, Christmas, Holidays, books, music, languages, children, comedy, bras,
boxers, cotton buds, lip gloss, fake eyelashes, tooth brush and paste, bath
time, tea, snacks, soaps, magi, salt, sugar, (bread, beans, baked beans, eggs,
plantain), air-conditioners, smiles, frowns, DVDs, I-pads, Super Mario, umbrellas,
tables, chairs, tooth picks, cinemas, bubble gum! Okay! *breathless* I have to stop before some of
you think I am jobless or crazy because honestly I can go on and on!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uHWj74TmvdDu5FqVCY2aIy_87Dzh8RSnM_E3U2qGON3dHf42LeCJ7RgQ-WTBaXkwtSKlC8e7bRErVDFIM-_yXoijnoRgi3YyxmlPS02ETq5RQWb_oMJuW9PAnowhrtmRGZrXNyfrbZo/s1600/thankful-people2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uHWj74TmvdDu5FqVCY2aIy_87Dzh8RSnM_E3U2qGON3dHf42LeCJ7RgQ-WTBaXkwtSKlC8e7bRErVDFIM-_yXoijnoRgi3YyxmlPS02ETq5RQWb_oMJuW9PAnowhrtmRGZrXNyfrbZo/s1600/thankful-people2.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You have to indulge me for one more important mention though... special thanks goes out to the Don, the King, the A-Z of my
world, He is known as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who died and rose again all for my sake, my maker, God almighty. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">He gave me a new song, re-wrote my story, broke protocols to bless me, takes pleasure in giving me joy, loves me unconditionally and gives me hope for a blessed future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I don't know about you but being a Christian is everything I can ever dream of and for this, I am most thankful!</span></span></div>
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tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-85802012836473156732014-04-10T09:18:00.002-07:002014-04-10T09:18:55.831-07:00There is more<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Four years. FOUR years?! My reaction when I realized
I had been working here for Four years was quite alarming. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">Suddenly it felt like I
was drowning, like I had two big fat hands around my neck, as if this was the
end! Somehow the realization of my forth year anniversary in this company made
me feel locked up, like I was not moving. But this was good right? Being stable
is good. I mean this basically means I am loyal, patient… there are many different
ways to see this positively but somehow I had a sickening feeling. What if I woke
up 25 years from now and I still worked here?!!! NOOOO! </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">Don’t get me wrong working here has been one of the greatest
blessings <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">curse too</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">) </span>lol. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">Being fresh in the corporate world, I needed an
avenue to learn, to grow, to do something worthwhile, to add value... Well, I got
that opportunity here. Managing major brands, handling events, being exposed to
the production of TV commercials just blew me! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">My first two years was what I will
classify as dynamic! I enjoyed every second of it. The power that came with
being a manager is inexpressible. So what changed? Did I outgrow it? Was the
business changing? Or do I just believe there is more?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As I pondered on this, my mind drifted to my very first job
interview. Fresh from Uni, awaiting NYSC, very gingered to serve (make money),
still in a world of fantasies! I remember walking into the building on
Johnson’s Crescent, suspecting all that was in view. The windows were way too
tinted for comfort, the compound was hidden by trees, hardly was anyone in
sight, this place was just plain creepy! The only thing that gave me a little
bit of confidence was the sight of my Uni boyfriend a few meters behind, cheering
me on and supportive as always. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Reality hit hard, I was walking in the shoes of an adult! Funny
how I fought many years to be treated like one but I wasn’t so sure I wanted it anymore.
Adulthood came too fast!! I remember reminiscing about the good old days (while waiting to be called) when I could get out
of bed and decide whether to go for a class or not, request for pocket money
from my family, have sleep-overs, throw tantrums when I wanted something new, </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">barbecue</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> parties, the December homecoming parties for friends abroad<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I secretly
hated these</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span>, you name it! Somehow I wished I had been a bit more serious
in school, gotten a holiday job in between or something, surely that would have
made me a tad bit more confident! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b>FYI, the
interview was a flop!</b> The guy almost threw me out of his office believing I
had come to mess with his mind or maybe I was just plain stupid – who knows??<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was ‘scarred’ for life. Thank God I did not need to be
interviewed for NYSC, surely they would have exempted me and sentenced me to a
life of a destitute! It was bad!! **Okay enough of the sad part**</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5hjDyqa3vVv1IzPUGTRuzI9If_KSOEdigOy_8L-QhkwyHemgn7matB3Nx7qxwaHYwbdotmRrhRFZVy4euxbCSd2weUSMlhsXUOQ-L9OrKhJ1or_musBLu4PdNiHlL7jf1EGEWynuczE/s1600/cry-512.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5hjDyqa3vVv1IzPUGTRuzI9If_KSOEdigOy_8L-QhkwyHemgn7matB3Nx7qxwaHYwbdotmRrhRFZVy4euxbCSd2weUSMlhsXUOQ-L9OrKhJ1or_musBLu4PdNiHlL7jf1EGEWynuczE/s1600/cry-512.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I got through camp and needed a place to work (I had to
redeploy from Abia state by the way, which meant I had to look for a company in
Lagos to take me in, which meant I was going to get INTERVIEWED!). I must have
lost a lot of weight that period not only from the fear that nagged me all day and also kept me awake at night but also from fasting till 12noon everyday (I hated fasting). I needed
a miracle!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Finally, I cajoled one of my uncles to help out and I got the
contact of the Managing Director of this company and secured an appointment. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I bet
it took all the nerves in my system to keep me alive and sane that morning. With
sweaty palms and shaky legs I walked into the reception 30 minutes early,
reading Psalms and trying to speak in tongues (I made sure I learnt how to
twist my tongue that period, made me feel closer to God).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I was ushered into a corner office with a great view of the
mainland express way, somehow this office made me feel warm. The next hour went
by like it was five minutes. I mean this man was an Angel! He listened to every word
I said like I made sense and explored various ‘hidden talents’ I never knew I had!!
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">Bottom line is he gave me an opportunity! This was both
awesome and scary, kinda like those episodes of ‘Touched by an Angel’ where a
human has a divine encounter! Okay I might be getting a bit too dramatic on this one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qn7qbUfk8E4Gbe5WiAe3pHrBX5l3zfTFna76kcEXlOJIKwflfQFiD5djXmKTSr-_ZX8XsHrSY4gGIST97VEFAKDVpkArBeQEEvIuhX1qHWMaEnJn64vg5f2b8jwOpHzhhjbZ1Y9YXcA/s1600/chance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qn7qbUfk8E4Gbe5WiAe3pHrBX5l3zfTFna76kcEXlOJIKwflfQFiD5djXmKTSr-_ZX8XsHrSY4gGIST97VEFAKDVpkArBeQEEvIuhX1qHWMaEnJn64vg5f2b8jwOpHzhhjbZ1Y9YXcA/s1600/chance.jpg" height="142" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The point is I got a second chance and I believe everyone deserves
one; you may have flopped a couple of times but that’s not enough reason to
stay beaten. There is MORE! I would never have thought I could achieve all that
I have in the past four years but for the man that gave me another chance. Trust
me; I was a real novice with zero knowledge of the world outside of the walls
of my Uni. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">I thought I was useless until someone gave me a chance to
explore my worth… Who can relate? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">The Bible says about Jesus ‘the stone that
the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ Bible Ref: Ps118:22 NLT; therefore,
give yourself a break, believe in yourself and take another shot at what you
want to achieve.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">With regards to my present emotional situation, I have not
taken my gift for granted neither am I ungrateful. I just know that it is time
to do / achieve more. I will keep you posted on what happens next!</span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXHaFgS0iSzOFbwhkN6XegPifCVlZFAZL04UTVUQuuSbOLj8YQyzra6-FfkQ2BjAGi8VpVHkvPpEnCohx5Z2uSgaxj-ybkYTbYE8MtFgOcxtX6RWlFECpiMzJvPykpa-tt3liJcXlJNw/s1600/wink.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXHaFgS0iSzOFbwhkN6XegPifCVlZFAZL04UTVUQuuSbOLj8YQyzra6-FfkQ2BjAGi8VpVHkvPpEnCohx5Z2uSgaxj-ybkYTbYE8MtFgOcxtX6RWlFECpiMzJvPykpa-tt3liJcXlJNw/s1600/wink.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Please share your thoughts</div>
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tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172995355034325230.post-36335345073946789442014-04-07T09:02:00.002-07:002014-04-07T09:02:47.980-07:00All that matters...<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">So the weekend was far more eventful than I planned. Waking
up on Saturday morning, the bliss that comes with waking up beside my husband,
the joy that fills the air knowing I have two whole days out of the office, the
sound of children playing on the streets and of course the hawkers – bread,
ogi, (you name it). Yay!! Saturday!!!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Having my mother-in-law visit for the first time made me a
bit nervous, I felt everything had to be perfect; squeaky clean floors,
windows, bathrooms and toilets. The idea of her coming to our house and having
a meal scared the hell out of me; I mean who can compete with the world’s best
cook (well 2<sup>nd</sup> best! My mom is number one) but thank God for all
those years of having to help out in the kitchen. Judgment day had come! I
figured I’d make the most unexpected meal, the exquisite, delicious (my favorite
for life) beans porridge and plantain</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">Having shuttled between the kitchen and house-cleaning for
about three hours, I was ready to drop onto the sofa for a short nap. That
wasn’t going to happen as I heard the familiar horn just outside the gate!
Jumping up while getting rid of all forms of clothing on me, I jumped into the
bathroom to make myself look a little bit presentable rather than scare off the
poor woman with my awfully sweaty and smelly body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">That’s how I came out o to see my husband and his mother
carrying a boot-load of food stuff as gifts for me! (well us).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"> I’m not sure which
made me weak, her kindness or the reality that there was more work to be done!
She barely sat for five minutes before rushing into the kitchen to prepare fruit
salad for us which I gladly downed within minutes while catching up on the
week’s activities. We cooked, we laughed, we talked, we played and for a few
hours; my world was one without pain, hurt, or any of those negative feelings. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">I can go on writing about our escapades from that day but the
point is, family is one of the best gifts God has blessed mankind with. I have
been through so much in my past to know that without a support system, there
was no way I would have made it out sane. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%;">I recall sometime; not so long ago when I was really sick and
had to stay in the hospital for a while, I figure I was the most popular
patient as the nurses got tired of sending out my mom, sister, aunties, cousins
and friends because I needed rest – well so they said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My first post is dedicated to those who have made life worth
living... I hope you are not tired of me yet!</span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNTiyED1q3cxTv_u1w9tBb00SRFkTZyoqmzLNFSmutmkn_oGPDU1ypmqzxWcyGdWA4dVs-HumkDY0paEL5j_lgSioccWWARGN2_-_NRJGSk6HccS1pFOLP9XrzTyNrot1T3c_mnmHwJs/s1600/Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNTiyED1q3cxTv_u1w9tBb00SRFkTZyoqmzLNFSmutmkn_oGPDU1ypmqzxWcyGdWA4dVs-HumkDY0paEL5j_lgSioccWWARGN2_-_NRJGSk6HccS1pFOLP9XrzTyNrot1T3c_mnmHwJs/s1600/Family.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></span></div>
tammydeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08936362736381561521noreply@blogger.com9