tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102664352024-03-21T01:12:27.465-07:00Soul thoughtsSoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-45900393535458126152013-02-28T04:22:00.003-08:002013-02-28T04:26:19.453-08:00Its time to move on PLL...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmHN6MKDCn17g7yF2iZTyzs-F0n_gAbFGatUkh_1H9X4nlIFRj9xLoE0r2xK_jLb_ixiey1eUw33W-i_fN0r6c53RQzjRUbQ37vMh6BQvbUxkWK8g-5ZCiwbFvFIQmw4PASOQ/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmHN6MKDCn17g7yF2iZTyzs-F0n_gAbFGatUkh_1H9X4nlIFRj9xLoE0r2xK_jLb_ixiey1eUw33W-i_fN0r6c53RQzjRUbQ37vMh6BQvbUxkWK8g-5ZCiwbFvFIQmw4PASOQ/s320/images.jpeg" /></a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dear PLL, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've decided thAt it is time we broke up. Each time in the past I've felt this way, Heather Hogan's Pretty Little Liars recaps on <a href="http://www.afterellen.com/taxonomy/term/6789" target="_blank">afterellen.com</a> and <i>#BooRadleyVanCullen</i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">tweet summaries have always found their way to my heart, and brought me back to you. But I can't do this anymore. From the beginning of our relationship, I was one of the unlikeliest partners you'd ever have. I don't have cable TV - so I see you on hulu as soon as they make you available. I even signed up for a Hulu account so I could see more of you. You were worth $7.99 every month. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I knew I was probably too old for you, I mean I turn 42 today! I don't even have a facebook account, let alone twitter, instagram and all the other youngun's passports of today. Many times, I feel like how I imagine Ezra must feel in his illegal relationship with Aria, even worse since our age gap is probably much wider...I hoped that maybe nobody will know, that the relationship would grow on me and any others who knew about it...I even stopped sneaking around with you and shared you with my spouse who enjoys the relationship just as much these days - she is/was completely hooked. You really just seemed mature even with your youthful appearance. And you really pulled the wool over my eyes, seducing me with Emily's coming out process, and her girlfriends, dead or alive. I try not to think about your age too much actually - which is why I feel Ezra's relationship epitomizes my feelings for you. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am much older than you, and it is now clear that you are definitely not mature for your age. In fact, if anything, you are regressing with each day like that movie with Brad Pitt that I never bothered to watch, remember, the one where he gets younger and younger, I don't know, there's just something about Brad Pitt that keeps me away from his movies...but I digress...its clear in the IQ that your'e required to have to watch the show, that we are have reached the single digit years now...I think an audience of 7yr olds may be who you're looking for these days. Perhaps you're just trying to make me break up with you because you're tired of this relationship too? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I mean, you continuously have characters that don't seem to learn from their situation. Maybe it'd help if you allowed them to stay in school for some episodes, or even have parents once in a while. But what really did it for me, was your last episode. I mean, many things have just not made sense or been bizarre for a while, but I was willing to overlook them. Even how Spencer lost her brain once she found out Toby was A. The only silver lining was that it seemed that the other girls somehow automatically got some of Spencer's brain when it went AWOL - I mean, I was cheering Emily on with her sleuthing super techie ways when she was able to email a list of customers to herself...we both know you took huge steps back with her, when you had her close the curtain on Jason in the hospital, but again, I gave you a pass. Then you had Hanna solve a great mystery with her boyfriend and his father...even experienced private detectives miss out on that all the time.
And you really wooed me when you actually showed a parent for a change...that is, a parent who cared about what her child was doing/thinking/and where she was. Oh how you wooed me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVoe9Je29kLJKoUIBbPj9ZjecLBY1iMgQLCt_eBrhP0VuSkpifm7UmeMJx8_jB5IeszSaoqhrePY4n8hWJ3yHsLrF2Yk50j_z9PISEWXI8Tr588hGDLtvs9YNiIP0I0TCFlmJ/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVoe9Je29kLJKoUIBbPj9ZjecLBY1iMgQLCt_eBrhP0VuSkpifm7UmeMJx8_jB5IeszSaoqhrePY4n8hWJ3yHsLrF2Yk50j_z9PISEWXI8Tr588hGDLtvs9YNiIP0I0TCFlmJ/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></span></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But now this. You really have hit a new low...literally in age and IQ. You want me to believe in characters who don't seem to have any intelligence whatsoever. I heard your new audience of 7year olds scream in exasperation this week! In the last show, you had Emily say that doing things alone is what gets us in trouble. Then the very next episode, you have her doing exactly that...even worse because she is going after someone she was told was the infamous letter of the alphabet! Hannah and Aria, two teenage girls push a police car into a lake...far enough that it sinks?!?!?!!? Then Spencer...need I say more? Spencer, really? The A team needs to just replace the FBI, the CIA, the KGB, Scotland Yard, and all the security agencies listed on wikepedia's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_intelligence_agencies">list of intelligence agencies</a> around the world and Mona should just become president. Imagine our enemies...how they will all fall when they start getting their "A" texts!!! "A"mazing!! I hope that wasn't a spoiler - the Mona becoming president thing...please don't go there!! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I mean really - this is no longer fun staying with you. Its actually quite painful. So I've decided that its time I move on. But you know I can't stay completely away...its too early. So I'll continue my relationship with Heather Hogan's recaps over on <a href="http://afterellen.com/">afterellen.com</a> and #BooRadleyVanCullen tweet summaries...she adds an IQ filter that helps my brain stay in my skull...so in a way, I guess its not completely over (for now) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just so you know, the only way you can get me back, is if somewhere in all of this, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>A</b>) Pun intended, one of the girls is dreaming/having a nightmare and will wake up soon - these insane behaviors will make sense in a dream sequence </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">B) You are keeping a card in your back pocket that shows that the girls knew all along and were playing along...Spencer getting herself locked up is just part of a grand scheme that they will unleash on the A team in an episode around the corner </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">C) The girls are all dead too...in fact, everyone on the show is dead, and Hannahs Mum is the only parent we keep seeing because lets face it, she sees dead people. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Its been fun - wish you the best, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">S</span></span>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-19879021466115505912010-09-15T10:46:00.000-07:002010-09-16T07:57:30.921-07:00La compassion humaine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TuFgbYRuDacAKH_b7PUGXsFqAwmrKXkoS4V_KAbIiAaa3L2wvLVnUOV62_9fTIUgUk_vCW88w4D9y-D4rEEWexHMOVhnR3Qf3a6nriZS6IAY0lXYokQD2tJVN8C_E1EA_1ck/s1600/crosslike_symb.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TuFgbYRuDacAKH_b7PUGXsFqAwmrKXkoS4V_KAbIiAaa3L2wvLVnUOV62_9fTIUgUk_vCW88w4D9y-D4rEEWexHMOVhnR3Qf3a6nriZS6IAY0lXYokQD2tJVN8C_E1EA_1ck/s320/crosslike_symb.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517269623973508594" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr> <td width="221" valign="top" style="width:221.4pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;">Hier, malheureusement, j'ai dû assister à un enterrement. Je suis toujours en état du choc - parce que les circonstances sont incroyablement triste. Mais je ne veux pas parler de la haine dont on avait dû avoir pour causer une mort comme celle-ci. Je suis ici aujourd'hui seulement pour parler de quelque chose qui m'a fait penser de l'humanité en générale. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;">Donc hier, après le service funèbre à une mosquée, nous tous les pleureuses nous sommes mis dans notre propre voitures, et nous avons commencé à suivre la fourgon mortuaire, le corbillard. Il y'avait beaucoup de gens, et donc, la cortège de véhicule était vraiment longue. Je pense que nous nous trouverions près de la fin. Mais ce qui m'a étonné et qui m'a frappé c'était comment l'univers - les autres voitures, les piétons, et les pleureuses ont collaboré, sans parler un mot, en nous permettant de continuer en paix. On n'a jamais couper la cortège même quand les feus étaient rouge pour nous, même quand nous avons dû arrêter et bloquer la circulation. On a attendu patiemment pour que nous tous avions traversé. Je n'ai même entendu aucun des gens klaxonner pendant le trajet au cimetière.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;">Et donc, je me suis demandé pourquoi c'est toujours comme cela? Pourquoi nous, les êtres humains sont plus sympa quand on comprend ou entend qu'il s'est passé quelque chose de triste (une maladie, une mort, ou les chose autres tristesse de la vie) Pourquoi pas assumer ou fixer dans notre mémoires qu'il y'en a des autres troubles de la vie, et à un moment donné, on ne sait jamais ce qu'on a dans la vie; les souffrances quotidienne, hebdomadaire, de toujours. C'était vraiment triste pour moi de penser au manque de la civilité, du soutien, d'amour simple et basique entre nous. Il y'a toujours quelque chose à détester. Toujours plus de la haine que de l'amour. Mais nous en avons besoin de l'amour, nous avons hâte d'être aimer, d'avoir quelqu'uns qui vont s'occuper et prendre soin de nous. Et je pense que nous ne sommes pas sympa parce que nous n'avons pas confiance qu'on sera capable de répondre à notre amour. Et dans ce cas, nous serions peiné et vide de sentiments. Je comprends - mais je pense quand même que c'est vraiment pas difficile à savoir ou comprendre comment faire de son mieux tout le temps. Je ne parle que le fait d'avoir un peu de compassion. C'est tout - juste un peu. Si on se souviens toujours que les autres gens ont leur propres problèmes juste comme nous, et donc, si chacun entre nous n'essaie que de penser à cela, je pense que nous aurions bientôt des êtres plutôt sympa!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="FR"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="221" valign="top" style="width:221.4pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;">Yesterday, unfortunately, I had to attend a funeral. I am still in a state of shock – because of the circumstances which are still unbelievably sad. But I don’t want to address or talk about the hatred that someone has to have had to cause a death like this. I am here today, only to talk about something that made me think of humanity in general. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;">So yesterday, after the funeral service at the mosque, we, all the mourners, got into our own cars, and we started to follow the hearse. There were a lot of people, so the funeral procession was really long. I think we were near the end. But what surprised me, and struck me was how the universe – the other drivers on the road, the pedestrians, and us the mourners managed to collaborate, without speaking a word,in letting us continue in peace. No one cut the procession, even when the traffic lights were red for us, even when we had to stop and block the traffic. They waited patiently, until we had all crossed. I didn’t even hear any people blowing their horn during the entire journey to the cemetery.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;font-family:Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">And so, I asked myself, why is it always like this? Why are we, human beings so much kinder when we understand or hear that something sad has happened (an illness, a death, or other sadnesses of life). Why don’t we assume or fix in our memories that there are other issues in life, and at any given moment, we never know what one is going through in life; the daily, weekly, or forever sufferances. Its always really sad for me to think of the loss of civility, of support, of simple and basic love between us all. There is always something to hate. Always more hatred than love. And yet we know that we need love so much more. We yearn to be loved, to have our people who will be there for us, and take care of us. And I think that the reason we’re not kinder is that we don’t trust that others are capable of reciprocating our love. And in that case, we would be hurt and empty of feeling. I understand – but I also think that it’s really not difficult to know our understand how to do one’s best all the time. I’m only referencing the idea of having just a bit of compassion. That’s all – just a bit. If we always remember that other people have their own problems, just like us, and therefore, if each one of us just tries to think about just that – I think that we would soon have a pretty kind human race!</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-41037586951871859172010-09-12T11:07:00.000-07:002010-09-12T11:21:23.648-07:00Straight TalkAfter the current tragedy, I felt it important to gather some thoughts on the subject. Over the last 4 or 5 years, I've developed a closer relationship with death; I might say, more than I ever thought was possible, especially as a consequence of personally experiencing probably over a 1000% increase over the previous 33 years of my life. I started out being somewhat fearful of it, in its various forms - thinking about losing a loved one is never an easy souvenir to conjure. However, I'm starting to become a bit more inured to it and to accept that as inevitable as death is, we really have to construct a similar system to deal with it, as we do with planning out our lives. We are all fatally predisposed. Some of us, luckily or unluckily, are able to be cognisant of the approximate time of death, due to disease, crime, or accident. However, the majority of us will live and not know when we'll die. That is just a plain fact.<br /><br />So in light of this knowledege, here are a few things that I've been thinking about, to help ease our transition into the next phase of our existence (or lack thereof):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MwXj7qUOuCwaLKbBblVE4C3O_a6oY3z1qGCSuylYxmFsmi-7u3sCTIh73C2H8OW9iZPtd7g9jnkkb6wYu0rCqMMAa2aWCFAca8KqNw0mZaxbpTHnqhheUrDzxVPqu_30qiKD/s1600/Dying_plant.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 420px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MwXj7qUOuCwaLKbBblVE4C3O_a6oY3z1qGCSuylYxmFsmi-7u3sCTIh73C2H8OW9iZPtd7g9jnkkb6wYu0rCqMMAa2aWCFAca8KqNw0mZaxbpTHnqhheUrDzxVPqu_30qiKD/s320/Dying_plant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516093247643184642" /></a><br /><br />1. Live each day, loving as though it were your last. Note the word "loving" and not "living". This includes loving your own self, and taking care of your health. Imagine that your loved one suddenly dies the next day. What would you regret not having done - that's what I think loving is about. Express the words of love now, and you'll live without regret in the event that you are no longer able to express them in person.<br /><br />2. Relish your experiences; slow down and enjoy the love. You don't take the work or the money with you, but the love is something that I believe remains in your soul. Reflect on it, turn it over and shine it, pass it on.<br /><br />3. Make necessary arrangements. Our banks and employers have us sign any number of contractual agreements to account for many different scenarios, to ensure they receive their payments. Lets do the same for our own lives. Make sure that you have at least a basic will, a life insurance policy (to cover your funeral expenses, as well as family members you are responsible for), and a clear statement pertaining to what to do with respect to the care of your family. Make sure that someone knows where all this information is (and not just your partner - your siblings, closest friends, and children may also need to know). Now this doesn't mean that you need to have your funeral program printed and ready to be sent out. Some people might want to do all that, but really, you can just make sure to specify in writing and perhaps verbally to those who love you, your preferred arrangements when it comes to your funeral and burial. If you have specific religious requirements; make them known - not everyone is aware of any constraints pertaining to religious, geographic, cultural, familial, or other of your varied memberships and affiliations. So make them known - if you want to be cremated wearing your favourite red baseball hat and your ashes sprinkled at the seaside at Laboney, someone needs to know that, or you might very well find yourself buried in a concrete-lined grave, wearing your green flowery suit that you intended to donate to charity.<br /><br />4. We have no control - absolutely none, in where the life dice will fall. I couldn't tell you that I'll still be here tomorrow, nor what health condition I'll be in. However, what I can tell you is that I love, I appreciate love in my life, and I feel happy and lucky to be where I am in life. Whatever may come, I may be here, I may cry, I may laugh, its just the cycle of life - the same cycle happens to trees, stones, lions, flies, hair, viruses, fish, even our planet will go through its cycle. Its inevitable, and it'll be ok, and life will move on - it'll find a way through. Just help it along by doing as much of the above as you can.<br /><br />p.s. For me, here are the summary details:<br />1. I know that you know that I love my family and close friends, and look forward to sharing more love! We may not always remain in constant contact, but know that you make a difference in my life, and I'm glad that I get to share a part of it with them.<br />2. I have a will that can easily be found in my personal affairs, and will be looking to get a life insurance policy within the next month. <br />3. I've already stated several times that I want to be cremated, not important what I'm wearing in that event! Not important to me whether there is a church service, and what denomination it is - I'm leaving the choice to my spouse primarily, and the rest of the family. I'd like my ashes to be spread at our home in US and our family home in Ghana. I want the minimal amount of money wasted on my funeral arrangements - save the money and have a great get-together, reminiscing, cracking jokes, eating my favourite foods (plantain must be served!)- and remembering that my goal in life is to live it to the fullest, loving and sharing, being there for each other. Better yet, travel somewhere fun, and have a reunion while learning a new language, and navigating through its culture! <br /><br />Let me know of any additional ideas that you might impart with me.<br /><br />Until next time...(perhaps), love alwaysSoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-29521459429040075952010-07-10T20:52:00.001-07:002010-09-12T11:23:25.012-07:00Tell me you don't love Janelle Monáe......and I'll tell you about the psychiatrist you need to see!<div><br /><br /><object width="450" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_GlpeFqMLZI&hl=fr_FR&fs=1?rel=0&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_GlpeFqMLZI&hl=fr_FR&fs=1?rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="405"></embed></object></div>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-63328038842721466342010-07-08T07:58:00.000-07:002010-07-08T08:02:30.521-07:00Le jeu de la vie<!--StartFragment--> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr> <td width="221" valign="top" style="width:221.4pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"><b>Le jeu de la vie</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="221" valign="top" style="width:221.4pt;border:solid windowtext .5pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"><b>The game of life</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="221" valign="top" style="width:221.4pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">Je ne pourrais dormir…j’avais toujours mal a la dent, donc, c’était pas difficile pour moi de me lever quand le téléphone à sonné et c’était ma femme qui m’a appelé à minuit. Après ça, j’ai allumé la télévision, et je me suis trouvé sur une émission d’Oprah. C’était un sujet vraiment intéressant, et pour beaucoup de gens le monde entier, c’est un sujet que probablement, on ne va jamais essayer de comprendre. Il y’avait un homme, qui avait changé son sexe et il était devenu une femme. Il a raconté son séjour<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>du début et quand elle s’était rendue compte qu’elle ne pourrait plus supporter sa vie comme un homme. Au même temps, j’ai aussi pensé d’un podcast que j’ai trouvé il y’a quelques jours…d’un lycée française avec un leçon du grammaire français…sur le genre. Et la professeur a expliqué que avec le genre, il n’y a que deux. On est un garçon ou une fille…et on ne peut pas changer son genre…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">C’est clair que c’est pas toujours vrai !<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pour la femme d’Oprah, après son changement, elle a trouvé que ses amis du collège lui à accepter plus facilement qu’elle a attendu…comme un homme, qui à changé et est devenue une femme…qui est enfin aussi homosexuelle. À mon avis, c’était un peu plus facile pour ses amis, parce qu’elle est devenue une femme joli et plutôt « féminine ». Si elle était devenue moche…avec une affectation plus « masculine » que « féminine », je pense que ceci aurait été une autre histoire !</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"> </span>Mais après avoir penser de tout cela un peu plus, j’ai décidé que la vie est comme un jeu comme scrabble. Chaque joueur a ses pièces, et le but du jeu et d’essayer de créer des mots de son coté sur son panneau privé, après en avoir profondément et intelligemment pensé, et après, essayer de le joindre au mots sur le « grand panneau de jeu » et de le défendre contre les autres joueurs si l’on ne le croit pas qu’il soit vrai. Ce n’est pas aussi simple qu’il n’y paraît (mon cours de jour !)</p> </td> <td width="221" valign="top" style="width:221.4pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">I couldn’t sleep…I was still feeling the pain from my toothache, so it wasn’t difficult for me to wake up when the telephone rang and it was my wife, calling me at midnight ! After that, I switched on the telly and found myself watching Oprah. This show was pretty interesting and probably for most people in the world, its a subject that they won’t even attempt to understand. There was a man who had changed his sex and had become a woman. He recounted his journey from beginning, and when she realised when she could no longer bear to live her life as a man. At the same time, I also thought about a podcast that I happened upon the other day…it was made by a french primary school, and was a lesson on french grammar, and the gender of words. The professor explained that with gender, there are only 2 genders. One is either a boy or a girl…and one cannot change their gender….really?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">Well its clear that thats not always true !</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">For the woman on Oprah, after her change, she found that her friends from high school accepted her more easily than she expected…as a man, who changed and became a woman…who finally is also homosexual. My opinion is that it was a bit easier for her friends because she became a « pretty » woman who was rather « feminine ». If she had turned into an ugly woman with behaviours which are thought to be more « masculine », I think that this would have been another story !<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"> </span>But after having thought about this further, I’ve decided that life is like a game of scrabble. Each player has their game pieces/letters, and the goal of the game is to try to create words of your own on your private panel, after having thought deeply and intellectually about it, and then after your decision, trying to join your word to the big game board and defending it against the other players who may not believe the word exists. It really is not as simple as it appears ! (lesson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>of the day)</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-59300001136407198202010-07-05T12:52:00.000-07:002010-07-05T14:10:05.944-07:00Pauvre de moi!J'ai mal aux dents! J'ai bien mal aux dents! Pourquoi moi? Pourquoi le week-end - et pourquoi cela m'est arrivé le vendredi avant le weekend avec un jour férié en plus! Je sais que c'est à cause de mon plombage de quelque mois...<div><br /></div><div>Il y'a quelque mois, j'ai décidé d'aller chez le dentiste. Alors, je n'ai ni l'assurance médicale, ni l'assurance dentaire parce que je ne travaille pas en ce moment. Donc j'ai trouvé un dentiste où l'on accepte les gens sans assurance. Je paie $10 chaque fois que je vois le dentiste. </div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvg55mnHpWHNzIIFovCsKy56wNu2qmo8ZkHw2ednoFxUvwAy-iUfoGLon85wcpK71J2sNJlfOuquoW5786-U4Y1dNIaKlYhD8SgUrxyJfAGtKizOFqubZ9-R7DNBg5V10nlOL/s320/dreamstimefree_8578605.jpg" border="0" alt="www.dreamstime.com" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490528094273427058" /><div>Donc, j'avais une cavité et j'ai pris un rendez-vous pour un plombage. Au rendez-vous, le dentiste n'a rien dit à moi, et il a fini par me donnant un conseil de prendre attention avec les repas et boissons froid, parce que le plombage était très profond. Donc j'ai pensé que d'accord...c'est pas mal - j'ai toujours eu les dents sensibles, donc c'est pas quelque chose de nouveau. Mais aujourd'hui, c'est pas la même histoire! Et je ne veux pas y retourner. Je n'en ai plus confiance donc demain, je vais téléphoner le Université de Pennsylvanie pour prendre un rendez-vous là-bas...pourvu qu'il ne soit pas trop cher...</div><div><br /></div><div>Mais bref...je suis bien forte. Cela ne peut m'empêcher de m'amuser autant que possible! L samedi, je suis allée à un Meetup de groupe français. J'ai parlé un peu de français, et c'était très amusant parce qu'il y'avait des gens des niveaux différents, même les francophones. Après ça, je suis passée acheter des repas vietnamien du restaurant dont le nom m'échappe en ce moment...(qui était très bon - je n'ai pas attendu ça). Après, j'ai décidé de chercher le réponse à ma question de mon avenir - qu'est-ce que je veux faire avec ma vie. Mais, ça...c'est un quête continuel...ce que j'ai rendu compte, c'est que je peux choisir quelque-chose à essayer, et puis, si ça ne me va pas, je peux simplement le changer et alors...le prochain chapitre de ma vie</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Note: image from www.dreamstime.com</span></a></div>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-28265776270269717712009-10-01T09:46:00.001-07:002009-10-01T09:53:39.734-07:002 more days, and then I'm off!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKcMyLiqychbiMXhIJUOe9BSdqTBc6Ele-NQxWt25BQParPYitCdxu_11Xp0dc6T8VnQpvFCc0jQkNVp0V_JnH2MX2jqCGrhJ6zAEIKibcCADcM4fkGX9oYqqYFJO9t-Oja6Z/s1600-h/IMG_0250.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKcMyLiqychbiMXhIJUOe9BSdqTBc6Ele-NQxWt25BQParPYitCdxu_11Xp0dc6T8VnQpvFCc0jQkNVp0V_JnH2MX2jqCGrhJ6zAEIKibcCADcM4fkGX9oYqqYFJO9t-Oja6Z/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387675557978620738" /></a><br />I'm starting to get excited - yes, so I'm a bit behind, but isn't the most important thing to have the realisation sometime before the said event!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm leaving for Paris on Saturday - I've made a list and I'm checking it twice...I'm so tempted to just take a backpack with me, and see what happens...so what if I'm gone for almost 4 months - I can learn to love 2 outfits in high rotation!</div><div><br /></div>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-79414406800668264002009-08-24T18:12:00.000-07:002009-08-24T18:17:51.834-07:00So...its been a teeny weeny while...I'm getting to it - I did too much soul thought-unloading, I guess!<br /><br />Anyway, I'm back, and will be trying to do a bi-lingual posting of soul thoughts! That should be interesting :-)<br /><br />À demain!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Nelson Mandela </span></span>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-70190304064514213122009-05-18T12:24:00.000-07:002009-05-18T13:26:26.220-07:00U de tink u de bring vroom vroom?!Anywho, so early this afternoon, I decided to do some research online about how much it'd cost to bring a car into Ghana.<br /><br /><img src="http://hautelikefire.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/old_car.jpg" /><br />Seeing as the last time we went around looking at new cars, they were shockingly expensive - we were quoted US$22,000 for the Toyota Yaris for goodness sake!!!! These are selling for about $11,000 in the U.S.!!!!! So I know when you bring in cars, you are charged duty and taxes (after you've paid for the car, and paid shipping and insurance to bring it in, of course!) I'll also try to find out more by going in person to the office tomorrow, I tried really hard to dig around, but only found the following sites:<br />• <a href = "http://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/travel_tourism.php">ghanahighcommisionuk.com</a> <br />• <a href= "http://www.info-ghana.com/importing_cars.htm">info-ghana.com</a><br />• <a href= "http://www.ghana.gov.gh/ghana_web_directory">ghana.gov.gh</a> <br />• <a href = "http://www.cepsghana.org/">cepsghana.org</a> (supposedly, this is the site for info - CEPS means Ghana Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), but it looks pretty commercial and not-ghanaian, so I didn't spend too much time on it. I still need to poke around and see what I can find)<br /><br />Its probably old news, but from the UK consular site (the 1st site listed above), it seems that a car thats older than 5 years will get us being charged the least. Also, my Mum mentioned something about no duty being charged on "caravans" but I still haven't seen evidence of that with my eyes! I did see that a >10 passenger car has no duty charged, although tax is still charged.<br /><br />So imagining the following scenario (I haven't looked into shipping or insurance rates, so this is all imagined!):<br />1. 5.5year old car bought for $5000<br />2. Shipped for $2500<br />3. Insured at $1000<br /><br />Seems that assuming that the rates on one of the sites above is correct, they will end up charging 12.5% for the duty, and 12.5% for tax = a whopping 50% on the car value!<br />Also, this charge is levied/calculated based on (50% of the purchase price + shipping/freight + insurance on the car) - they call this Cost + Insurance + Freight (CIF)!!<br /><br />So for my scenario above, my CIF would be a total of $8500. Which means, for my made-up scenario, they'll charge me 50% (duty + VAT) = $4250 (almost the same price I paid for the car!!) I mean, unless I'm missing something, that seems to be the way its going to roll! No wonder people are leaving the cars at the port - especially if they don't do their homework before shipping the car in the first place.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.dwmbeancounter.com/wheelbarrow.gif"><br><br />So that explains why cars are so expensive - you'd have to sell the $5000 cheapo car for at least $11000 to make a bit of money on it! Can you imagine? And if its younger than 6 years old, then the duty is even higher!!!! I'm still in shock...but I'll wait until I hear the verdict from the horses mouth before I have my fainting spell and tsk-tsk myself to sleep!<br /><br />Just thought I'd share this news!<br /><br />And I found this other site which was funny (or not so funny, depending on how you look at it), given my shock over the above:<br /><a href="http://ghanaweb.net/GhanaHomePage///features/artikel.php?ID=99035">Ghanaweb blog</a>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-3025979554252678782009-05-18T06:21:00.000-07:002009-05-18T06:51:36.949-07:00No, we don’t have those virtues here in Ghana!Ever heard the saying, “Patience is a virtue”? Well, guess Ghana overslept on the day that Mother Universe was teaching that class! What in the world is everyone hurrying around for? Where are they going so fast, and if they are in such a hurry all the time, why are a lot of people always late?!<br /><br />I mean, there is a constant rush – cars are always honking, even in back-to-back traffic where no-one can move more than one centimeter a second anyway! <br />You’d better be ready as soon as the few traffic lights we have turn green, otherwise, you’re liable to have insults hurled your way, and a long chorus of horns telling you what a moron you are! If you successfully prevent some jerk who is driving tragically from cutting in front of you where he (its usually a he, in fact, its always a he) should not be cutting in front of you, it is a given that he will hurl some insults your way, especially if you’re unfortunate enough to be a woman. <br /><br />It is after a number of these experiences that I realized that Ghanaians in general are missing some basic characteristics that grease the ballpoints of a good human being. Its important to make the point, that I’m not saying Ghanaians are not good people, but they are missing the essential oils that help smooth the edges for a peaceful society. I’ll start with these 2 to begin with:<br />• Patience<br />• Respect<br /><br />Before I get heckled, let me give the disclaimer that I’m also Ghanaian, although my family left when I was very young – 8 years old. They made sure we stayed connected to our homeland Ghana, however, with many trips back and forth, making sure we spent time with our many Aunts, Uncles, Grandmother, and Cousins. I’m also living in the U.S. at the moment, so I do have less exposure to the Ghanaian way of living, but let me give a few examples of what I’m describing:<br /><br />1. No patience – So my 74-year-old mother and I went to the tax office for her to pay some taxes. We didn’t know which office to go to, so we went to one of the offices to ask for information. Once we got the info we wanted, we were leaving the office, so I walked ahead and opened the door for my Mum to exit first, what did you know, there was an early 40-s man who decided to enter through the door I’d opened, even though my mother was already partly through it. I couldn’t believe my eyes – we have one, an older person, two, a woman, and three, someone else had opened the door to leave – this guy didn’t open the door! I stopped him and told him that he should have stopped to allow my mother to go through, and why did he do such a rude thing! (I know, I’m too know for a woman in Ghana) He apologized, and we went on our way. (My grandmother has since told me that I was lucky in that instance that he didn’t turn around and insult me for being a “small girl” who dared to talk to him that way! ) <br><br />2. I was at the bank once, withdrawing some money. I went to the teller window when it was my turn, and said “Good Afternoon” to the lady across the glass. She nodded her head and held out her hand. I handed her the cheque and then told her what denominations I wanted the money. Her next questions/responses to me, she never bothered to look at me once, and actually rudely threw the money across the counter to me when she was done. I again, told her what she did was very impolite, and that she needs to remember that I’m a customer of the bank, so she needs to treat me with respect, and then left in a huff!<br /><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Accra_Traffic.jpg" width="500" height="350"><br><br />3. Forget about a logical line forming for anything (from traffic, to lines at the bank, to paying for something at a store) – some people just seem to think chaos is the better solution – the more lines you have, the faster they will move through it! Of course, those of us with a working brain usually know that chaos is not the way to go, but end up stuck in the line for much longer, thanks to those asinine members of the Ghanaian society who have such a severe case of Impatientis that it has numbed their grey matter<br><br />4. At church, as we were leaving a funeral service, after the mourning party had exited the church, as we all know, usually, in an orderly situation, each pew leaves in an orderly manner, from back to front, or vice versa. Well in this particular case, I was fortunate enough to be sitting next to a man who was not satisfied with waiting his turn and kept pushing me to go into the aisle (I mean pushing – at a church, a funeral service!!!) I couldn’t believe my mind! I mean, did he want me to push the older women and men out my way and just barge out into their paths?!? After I stepped out, trying not to get trampled over, some other lady behind me kept pushing into me, as she was carrying her loud conversation with someone about 4 pews forward!<br /><br />Now I could go on and on, because I have many many examples of this type of behaviour, but the bottom line – Ghanaians need help! Seriously! It might be too late to catch the older generation (those above the age of 25!), but we might still be able to catch the little ones – while they are in school. <br /><br />The funny thing is that I don’t know when we lose the respect, because as children, I remember that the need to respect others was drummed into our heads, by hook or crook – so how is it that as adults, there is no trace of this respect left – IN GENERAL. Not saying everyone is like this, and women are better at showing respect than patience, but across the board, in general, the lack of the virtue of patience is shared across both genders! What happened to all that laid-back attitude that Ghanaians are supposed to have? Did we lose it somewhere between the hiked up food prices, and petrol prices? Did the heat melt it away? Or the rain wash it away? And with all the religiousity that is exhibited, its even more surprising that the situation is as it is!<br /><br />So I’m thinking that its time to setup a notforprofit organization to inject some relaxedness, respect, patience learnings into our up-and-coming future society runners! I can’t add to the problem by simply leaving as quickly as I can – Ghana has way too much to offer, and I need to step to the program and start helping us be our best!SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-46627260206267502812009-05-12T18:18:00.000-07:002009-05-12T19:07:39.630-07:00Still no progress...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:usGH2lDXT9AjHM:http://www.allafricanmovies.com/thumbnail.php%3Fimg%3Dimages%252Fproductimg%252Fthumbnail%252FEmotionalCrack_THUMB.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 57px; height: 104px;" src="http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:usGH2lDXT9AjHM:http://www.allafricanmovies.com/thumbnail.php%3Fimg%3Dimages%252Fproductimg%252Fthumbnail%252FEmotionalCrack_THUMB.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />So I was watching TV yesterday, as I lay in bed. I typically tend to watch the cable TV shows, which are usually not Ghanaian. This time, I’d elected to watch something on one of the Ghanaian channels. I flipped through the channels (there are at least 6 these days! Quite a change from the days of the one Ghana Television station we’d all known for years!) I found a channel where they were showing a Nigerian movie, and I thought, oh great! Lets see what 'nollywood' is doing these days. The movie had already begun – but I didn’t think I’d missed too much. I recognized one of the actors, he seems to be in every nollywood movie! But there were also 2 beautiful women, so how could I turn away just yet…<br /><br />…I soon came to find out that the movie was titled “Emotional Crack”. It was about a man who was having an affair with a woman named Camilla (played by Dakore Egbuson), <a href="http://gorgeousblackwomen.blogspot.com/2008/04/dakore-egbuson.html"><img style="float:right; margin:0" src="http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg192/suigeneris1983/l_f51f1cdee40d4140ecdb806b21d1201f.jpg" width="400" height="250" /> </a>who was starting to be very demanding on his time. Meanwhile, he was married to this other woman named Crystal (played by Stephanie Okereke), who was starting to realize that her husband may be having an affair. On his birthday, she made dinner and called him to come home to celebrate with her. At that time, we see him in his office, with his demanding girlfriend who was also saying that she’d made him something special and didn’t want him to go home to his wife. He pleaded with her that he’d go home tonight, but the next day, he promised to spend it all with her. She reluctantly agreed, but wanted a kiss first, which must have been one long kiss, because the scene cuts back to her wife, waiting, and waiting, and waiting for her cheating hubby to come home. And then we see her still waiting in the morning when he saunters in, looking disheveled and he nonchalantly says he’s sorry when he sees the table that she set for him. This apparently was more than she could bare, and she told him that she’d had enough, asking him what kind of husband has a meeting until the early hours of the morning. He responded to this by shouting at her, and warning her not to talk to him like that, at which point he starts beating her quite viciously! Woaah...<br /><br />At this point, I’m thinking, ok, I’m already upset with this turn of events. I can deal with a cheating hubby in a story of fiction, but now he’s also physically and verbally abusive. I’m passionate about speaking up in these types of situations, and I wasn’t certain that this Nigerian movie would deliver on a message against physical abuse. I decided to give it a bit more time to explain itself, and so I kept watching. I was also very sleepy, and was not trying to fight it! But I did make it a bit further into the movie and saw the sorrowful apology from the asshole husband the next morning to his wife who was now crying and telling him that she was tired of his physical abuse, and he needed to get help, or she was out the door. This discussion was eventually followed by a hug and a kiss! Yes, those were my eyes rolling all around my head at this point, even in my sleepy state! But did I change the channel? Nooooooo?!?!?<br /><br />Among these Mother Theresa-esque qualities that we’ve witnessed in the husband so far, he was apparently also very possessive of his wife, imagine, all these delightful qualities! Anyway, she decides she’ll continue to stay with her husband, even after all this disgustingly insane behavior that he was exhibiting. This is believable, I guess, from what I’ve heard about some abusive relationships, but I was still turned off by it. My brain must have decided that it couldn’t take it anymore, however, and I soon fell asleep.<br /><br />But I woke up again at some point, and the movie was still on. This time, the little caption at the side showed that it was now “Emotional Crack 2”, I was about to switch the television of, when I saw 2 women sitting in a car, it was Crystal, the abused wife, and Camilla, the girlfriend. Camilla was telling Crystal that she couldn’t wait till the next time they could be together, and Crystal was also smiling back at Crystal, happy that she’d met her. I sat up – this was definitely an interesting development! A lesbian storyline in an African movie?!? What? This was definitely progress. The ladies were beautiful and sexy, they were looking like they were really having a relationship, I was thinking, what’s the catch? I know they were both with a certain man earlier, but it still seemed pretty ‘cutting edge’ to be showing this relationship in the Africa that I know!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://nigeriamovies.net/OKEREKE.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="http://nigeriamovies.net/OKEREKE.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We see them a few more times having this positive relationship, then Crystal decided o tell her twin sister, who of course went ballistic! She was disgusted, and told her it was unnatural, and the bible says its evil, how could her sister be a lesbian, and asked her sister to drop her off at the side of the road – I guess she couldn’t stand to be around her sisters disgusting lesbian self! So we see Crystal going to be with Camilla again, but as she starts getting dressed, Camilla tells her that she wants them to be together more often, and that she was really in love with Crystal. Crystal was being evasive, and said she’d come over again when she could. Camilla wasn’t having any of this, telling Crystal that they could move in together, and live happily ever after (once the dust from the speeding Uhaul settles, I guess!) Crystal however, questions the sanity of Camilla and wonders if she realizes that they’re living in Lagos, in Nigeria – where has she seen lesbians able to live together in harmony with the rest of the world? I wanted to shout to Camilla to take her show on the road, she was bound to find someone who shared her pioneering spirit, and with whom she could live happily ever after, Uhaul, or no Uhaul. However, Camilla was hell-bent on living with Crystal, but Crystal, finally noticing that Camilla didn’t quite have all her peas in her pod, and after her rejection by her sister when she told her about the relationship, was ready to end this one – she wasn’t quite ready to be herself just yet! It was going to be too hard, and she’d rather try her luck with a cheating, abusive husband, than to actually try her luck with a girlfriend!<br /><br />Then we see scenes of Camilla trying to call Crystal, but Crystal rejects the call as soon as she sees who it is, then Camilla goes over to Crystal’s house, and when Crystal sees who it is from the window, she of course walks away and doesn’t answer. So what’s a lesbian to do when she has her sights set on her ‘target’? She decides to send a letter to Crystal through her cheating husband’s address. The cheating husband brings the letter to Crystal, not knowing what it was. In the letter, Camilla threatens Crystal, telling her that if she doesn’t come and see her, she’ll out their relationship. Of course, Crystal has no choice but to go see Camilla, and in the next scene, we see them on a bed together – Crystal doesn’t look like she’s being forced to be there, however. Then we see her cheating, abusive husband walk in on them, and Camilla sits back and starts to smoke a cigarette, of course, I remember that in Chapter 6 of the Lesbian handbook!<br /><br />Crystal starts to plead with her cheating, abusive husband that it wasn’t the way it looked, and would he please forgive her. Her cheating, abusive husband walks out, and that’s when Camilla tells Crystal that she’d asked him to come there, and that she used to be his girlfriend, but dropped him as soon as she met Crystal. Crystal was now very certain that this woman was crazy, and asked her to get away from her, and never come near her. She then sobs her way back home where she finds that her cheating, abusive husband had packed her bags, and was throwing her out of the house. Because what she’d done was just so disgusting and terrible – he couldn’t possibly bare to look at her, or have her under the same roof. Crystal continues to beg and plead, but he’d have none of it. And she eventually has to leave, still bawling her eyes out.<br /><br />At her Mum’s house, her Mum is having a fit – how could her daughter bring so much shame to the family, getting kicked out of her marriage house by her husband who caught her with another w…, she couldn’t get the word out. Her daughter, a lesbian? She started beating her daughter – nothing was worse than a daughter being a lesbian. How was she going to show her face anywhere? Interesting that she was getting this torn apart because her daughter had a lesbian affair. However, when her daughter was being beaten and cheated on, she was definitely able to move around and show her face!<br /><br />So we continue to see Crystal begging her husband to take her back, and her husband waking all over her, insulting her, and then rejecting her. Crystal even challenged her husband, telling him that she knew about his affair with Camilla, so why was he judging her so badly when he’d done the same thing to her. Good question, Crystal! His asinine reply was that it was true that he’d cheated on her, and he shouldn’t have done that. But he was a man, and it was ok to do that, because they lived in a man’s world!! Isn’t he a true genius? What?!? Really?!?<br /><br />She didn’t have a comeback to that, probably because the character was given terribly weak lines!<br /><br />Anyway, let me cut to the chase because some of the additional details are even more ridiculous, but lets just say that Crystal’s twin went out to plead with the cheating, abusive husband to at least come and see Crystal, because she was in a really bad state. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Camilla had found Crystal at her sisters place and had tricked her into opening the door so she could give Crystal her things, which she’d left at Camilla's during their delicious times together. When Crystal opened the door, Camilla charged in and pushed her to the floor, straddling her and pulling out a knife that she had. She tells Crystal that if she couldn’t have her, then no-one would, proceeding to start cutting Crystal’s dress open. At this point, Crystal’s twin sister had arrived at the house, with the cheating, abusive husband in tow, and heard the sounds of struggle. They both barged in and found Crystal on the ground with Camillas knife at her throat, but they’d surprised Camilla, so Crystal is able to break free and run to her cheating, abusive husband, clinging to his leg. The cheating, abusive husband now turns into a psychiatrist, trying to talk Camilla into putting the knife down, so no-one gets hurt.<br /><br />Then comes the craziest, most insane lines of the story – I know, hard to believe at this point, but true! Camilla starts telling the cheating, abusive husband that she’d always loved him, and asking why he didn’t want her back. He tells her that he’s always wanted her, and would choose her over his wife, so she should put the knife down so they could be together. Of course, this movie had to run its tragic, ridiculously insane path, and she poked herself in the tummy with the knife. That was the end of the movie!<br /><br />So in all honesty, I’d rather see no lesbian visibility, than to see it so negatively portrayed, and in such a crass, over-the-top, sensationalist fashion. Making being a lesbian worse than being a cheating, disrespectful, cowardly physical abuser! I mean, it is unbelievable!<br /><br />This was the second time I’d seen a lesbian relationship depicted in a Nigerian movie. The first was a similar situation in which the same woman had an affair with the husband and the wife, and in the end, they confessed to each other that they’d both had an affair with her, and they stayed together. Obviously, according to these Nigerian film-makers, lesbians were all bisexual opportunists, preying on weak, dissatisfied, married women!<br /><br />It didn’t take me long to decide that I have to write a screenplay for an African movie – I need to put some positive lesbian role-models out there, along with images of strong women and a society that stands up to cheaters, and abusers, and can tell the difference between right and wrong. A story that showed all the characters, even the ones making bad decisions, as humans and not over-the-to caricatures. I know the struggle for equal treatment, equal rights, and respect for women and the gay community is currently ongoing, all across the globe, but it’s obvious that in certain parts, there is more to be done than others!<br /><br />What’s interesting is that I saw this <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3552&Itemid=0">article</a> that showed me that at least I’m not the only one finding issue with Nigerian movies…SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-58969292368436813432009-05-03T04:17:00.000-07:002009-05-03T04:31:34.241-07:00We have changed the world!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sy-LUdbmiuN1GKtLAhy9AvA32BGDtopAwB6gd1439WQJTA5ev7I2RXR84P53WWUpc23b2AWw6i6AsYvTt9GOHl55G8zjg3QQqRMykz2MTse519Y7Doa9lakhghdWGxnkDHzB/s1600-h/Maanaa+w+Mac.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sy-LUdbmiuN1GKtLAhy9AvA32BGDtopAwB6gd1439WQJTA5ev7I2RXR84P53WWUpc23b2AWw6i6AsYvTt9GOHl55G8zjg3QQqRMykz2MTse519Y7Doa9lakhghdWGxnkDHzB/s320/Maanaa+w+Mac.JPG" border="0" alt="My grandmother, Maanaa, chatting with her grandkids via Skype!"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331556964055781586" caption="Grandma chatting via Skype on my mac!"/></a><br />I was sitting with my grandmother, having our normal discussions about life in general, and updating her on some of the news that was being reported. She started making a comment about this world…at which point I interrupted her, adding to her statement by saying that “the world is changing.” Not missing a beat, she replied, “We are changing the world” <br /><br />It was such a profound statement, I repeated it over and over. Yes, I think she’s right. It’s not that the world is changing. We really are changing the world. From global warming, to fighting wars, to discrimination, to change and hope we can believe in…we are making all this happen, or not happen. We are the impetus for the change. We are causing the greenhouse effect. We are working to change discrimination so that people of all genders, races, religions, sexualities, and disabilities are able to live a life of enjoyment of their rights as citizens of the world. It is such a simple statement – a refocusing of the words of the sentence. But for me, it brings so much more focus to what is happening in the world. It allows me to realise, as I’m walking my way through the hallways and corners of life that “I am having an effect on the world” I’m not living in a world that is changing of its own accord, and in which I have to constantly adjust my compass so that I can still find my way. Of course, if I live a life on auto-pilot, I'll continue to believe that the world is changing, and its changing me! But I need to take over the wheel...<br /><br />I am part of the mass of people who are working the changes into the creases on the face of this earth. I can be part of the problem, just as easily as I can be a force towards the solutions for some of our problems in this world. I like that. It makes me walk a little straighter…oh, the wisdom!SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-72567898528510498952009-05-01T11:39:00.000-07:002009-05-01T11:47:43.541-07:00Where do I begin?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF33nduez3YoPtORtwE_qThXg5nr6-UXxHd8tU-WAOn-MaZWRhhWnalJRDvnDYWScQQr0uh_Q-wHmKlu7D47cQ42JnAto0IfRW7nmtilzPiLcjLbbuC0jQTzUQ_g17BknKi_I/s1600-h/IMG_0192.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF33nduez3YoPtORtwE_qThXg5nr6-UXxHd8tU-WAOn-MaZWRhhWnalJRDvnDYWScQQr0uh_Q-wHmKlu7D47cQ42JnAto0IfRW7nmtilzPiLcjLbbuC0jQTzUQ_g17BknKi_I/s320/IMG_0192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330928720464720066" /></a><br />For some reason, for some time now, I’ve been shying away from journaling my experience to date, so far in Ghana. I guess I didn’t know where to start documenting my experiences – seems that it should have an explanation of how I got to where I am today, however, how far do I go, to set the stage? So here’s a short summary of my journey to Ghana.<br /><br />I woke up one morning feeling like I’d just had an epiphany. I’d been having particularly depressing days full of busy work activity and very little time to spend on issues for my mother who had been calling me from Ghana. I felt torn, and not able to adequately address all my responsibilities, and subsequently felt terrible. On top of that, I’d just eaten something the day before that had caused me to have a severe upset tummy. So it was amidst all this that I just found myself with my epiphany – I needed to leave it all behind and do what I’ve always wanted to do. For ages, I’d been living a life based on my perception of the accomplishments that would meet the societal measure of success: work hard, work well, aim to be promoted, and above all else, make sure to be rewarded financially. <br /><br />I guess there’s nothing wrong with that kind of life mission, however, the important factor that is usually not added to the formula is to do all this for the things in life that you’re passionate about. Without that important factor of passion, I believe that I was only living an android’s life, just mechanically fulfilling some basic life tasks (no matter how complex or skillfully) just to make it through the day towards a solid, stable paycheck. I took pleasure in seeing that my savings balances were steadily increasing, as my debt got completely wiped out. These are all solid goals – to be able to live a debt-free life, with a savings plan to help me maintain a roof over my head, and meals to sustain me during the times that I cannot count on an income to keep me going. However, if the paycheck comes at the expense of living out a more fulfilling life in which I’m taking every opportunity possible to satisfy my life passions and contribute to society, then every cent that is added to my bank balance provides an inequality in my spiritual life balance, and will act as though I have an increasing debt that is sucking away from the very balance that I’m taking so much pleasure in.<br /><br />I finally came to the realization that perhaps what this bank balance can provide is a safety net to allow me to gingerly take those steps to free myself from within the gilded birdcage from which I find myself, so that I can start living a life in which I am fulfilling my passions. I’m hoping that I’m starting down a very exciting road – I don’t know what is coming around the corner, but I know where I’d like to start, and am open to whatever comes. I believe that I’ve helped myself get to a point in life from where I have many options available to me. I just need to choose and get going down my passion-filled journey. And so here I am, in Ghana. Spending the first 2 months of my passion-filled journey with my mother and my grandmother. Trying to absorb as much of their wisdom, love, care, and humour as I can to take with me as I continue down the road to my next stop. Choo-choo – all aboard! ☺SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-72119169709874255872009-02-06T18:06:00.000-08:002009-02-06T18:37:32.676-08:00Word to the wise...<center><img src="http://www.spotswoodboro.com/images/neighborhoodwatch.gif"></img></center><br />This is a useful forward that has circulated the net, off & on, since 2000. Although it has changed somewhat overtime, the personal safety tips remain invaluable. Interestingly enough, my girlfriend sent a similar version to a friend 8 yrs ago, (coincidentally just 1 day after her roommate was sadly mugged/robbed in their NYC Apt bldg). The friend wrote back, indicating the tips were helpful & (timing amazing); it help them evaluate things as they both moved forward. You never know when things can come in handy for others, so no further delay....<br /><br />Refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...share with adults (especially women), your children, everyone you know. It never hurts to be careful in this world we live in.<br /><br />1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :<br />The elbow is the strongest point<br />on your body.<br />If you are close enough to use it, do!<br /><br /><a href="http://karazenpofresno.org/"><img src="http://karazenpofresno.org/resources/_wsb_475x530_self+defense+web.jpg" alt="image from www.karazenpofresno.org" width="332" height="332" /></a><br /><br />2. This is from a tourist guide.<br />If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,<br />DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM .<br />Toss it away from you...<br />Chances are that he is more interested<br />in your wallet and/or purse than you,<br />and he will go for the wallet/purse.<br />RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!<br /><br />3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,<br />kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole<br />and start waving like crazy.<br />The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.<br />This has saved lives.<br /><br />4. Some people have a tendency to get into their cars<br />after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit<br />(doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.<br />DON'T DO THIS!)<br />The predator will be watching you, and this<br />is the perfect opportunity for him to get in<br />on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,<br />and tell you where to go.<br />AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR ,<br />LOCK THE DOORS/ immediately LEAVE whenever unpopulated/ unsecure.<br /><br />If someone<br />is in the car<br />with a gun<br />to your head<br />DO NOT DRIVE OFF,<br />Repeat:<br />DO NOT DRIVE OFF!<br />Instead gun the engine<br />and speed into anything, wrecking the car.<br />Your Air Bag will save you.<br />If the person is in the back seat<br />t he y will get the worst of it .<br />As soon as the car crashes<br />bail out and run.<br />It is better than having them find your body<br />i n a remote location.<br /><br />5. A few notes about getting<br />into your car in a parking lot, gas station,<br />or parking garage:<br />A.) Be aware:<br />look around you,<br />look into your car,<br />at the passenger side floor ,<br />and in the back seat<br /><br />B.) If you are parked next to a big van,<br />enter your car from the passenger door.<br />Most serial killers attack their victims<br />by pulling them into their vans while the women<br />are attempting to get into their cars.<br />AND<br />Have those car keys in your hand. They can be a defensive weapon.<br />DONT FORGET THE PANIC BUTTON ON YOUR KEY FOB either.<br />PUSH IT to GENERATE NOISE if you need to.<br /><br />C.) Look at the car<br />parked on the driver's side of your vehicle,<br />and the passenger side... If a male is sitting alone<br />in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back<br />into the mall, or work, and get a<br />guard/policeman to walk you back out.<br />IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.<br /><br />6. ALWAYS take the elevator<br />instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be aloneand the perfect crime spot.<br />This is especially true at NIGHT!)<br />-(YET, I would argue that in the day time and a "safe place" like your work place( if safe)- stair exercise is good)<br /><br />7. If the predator has a gun<br />and you are not under his control,<br />ALWAYS RUN!<br />The predator will only hit you (a running target)<br />4 in 100 times; and even then,<br />it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ.<br />RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!<br /><br />8. Women are often driven /likely to be sympathetic:<br />STOP/ Think<br />It may get you raped or killed.<br />Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking,<br />well educated man, who ALWAYS played<br />on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.<br />He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often<br />asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle,<br />which is when he abducted<br />his next victim<br /><br />9. Another Safety Point:<br />Someone just told me that her friend heard<br />a crying baby on her porch the night before last,<br />and she called the police because it was late<br />and she thought it was weird. The police told her<br />'Whatever you do, DO NOT<br />open the door.'<br />The lady then said that it sounded like the baby<br />had crawled near a window, and she was worried<br />that it would crawl to the street and get run over.<br />The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way,<br />whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'<br />He told her that they think a serial killer<br />has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax<br />women out of their homes thinking that someone<br />dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it,<br />but have had several calls by women saying that<br />the y hear baby's cries outside their doors<br />when they're home alone at night.<br /><br />10 . Running Water scam!<br />If you wake up in the middle<br />of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a<br />burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your<br />outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and<br />then will attack.<br /><br />Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors!<br />Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door<br />for a crying baby ----<br />This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because<br />the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on<br />America 's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled<br />the serial killer in Louisiana<br /><br />-Also, remember to take your cell phone with you<br />- Never leave your drink unattended (any kind of drink). Buy a new one each time, when ever necessary. If possible, try to limit drinking around strangers or new acquaintances.<br /><br />- Very importantly, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Everyone should take 5 minutes to think about these. It may save your life or a love one's life. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bgmVRDv726Q&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bgmVRDv726Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-14400948143093688682009-01-31T06:24:00.000-08:002009-01-31T06:49:13.524-08:00Walk a mile in my shoes...I've often heard friends and family alike express envy over my supposed no-responsibility life. Meaning that with no kids to worry about, I can do anything - I can jump to a new travel destination at a drop of a hat, can easily focus only on my needs and what I want to achieve in life - do what I want to do, without being weighed down by the selfless acts required by parental responsibilities.<br /><br />Really? You think its that straightforward? I've often found that its easier for me to do things for other people. Someone needs help, I don't have to think twice - I know exactly what I need to do, I am ready to offer my help, and get things going as quickly as necessary. There is low risk of failure, and the benefits are boundless! I've actually caught myself cruising for someone to help at times!<br /><img src="http://www.kuvasz.org/IMAGES/RESCUE1A.GIF" width="244" height="150" /><br />On the other hand, when the time comes to work on my own needs, my own goals and aspirations, its extremely challenging. There is high risk, and although there is great potential for many benefits, there is also the possibility of failure which equals no perceived benefit. It takes a special type of person to be able to acknowledge those risks, and move forward anyway, because they have the passion and drive to make things work, and are ready to learn if things don't quite go according to plan. They can pick themselves up, and go to it again.... This is not the easier route - and its the same route that someone who has children has to take, once they stop using those children as excuses, and actually do the work to get those dreams acknowledged.I don't have an easier task, I just have a different task. I make different excuses, and feel fear just the same way.<br /><p><br />Lets remember the saying: "<span style="font-weight:bold;">It's not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It's because we dare not venture that they are difficult.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>”<br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T-pzlZPRvx8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T-pzlZPRvx8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="380" height="295"></embed></object><br /></p>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-76109921737682320962009-01-05T09:27:00.000-08:002009-01-05T10:12:28.058-08:00Go ahead with your sexy s-elves!!Let's keep those we love close, and invest in life stocks that provide interest by way of positive relationships, emotional growth, empathy, strength, humility, and joyous love!!<br /><br />Check out a specially choreographed dance to illustrate how to live in the new year!<br /><div style='background-color:#e9e9e9; width: 425px;'><object id='A142149' quality='high' data='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=p7QVIzabCUVDfCDY&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' height='319' width='425'><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><param name='movie' value='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=p7QVIzabCUVDfCDY&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='scaleMode' value='showAll'></param><param name='quality' value='high'></param><param name='allowNetworking' value='all'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='FlashVars' value='external_make_id=p7QVIzabCUVDfCDY&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param></object><div style='text-align:center; width:435px; margin-top:6px;'>Send your own <a href='http://www.elfyourself.com'>ElfYourself</a> <a href='http://sendables.jibjab.com/ecards'>eCards</a></div></div><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyMzExNzg3ODY3MTgmcHQ9MTIzMTE3ODc5MDA5MyZwPTQxODgxMyZkPTIwMjY3MyZnPTImdD*mbz*1OTljYzNhYTM1YjA*MzEyYmNkZmZmZmQ2ZmMyNmZmNQ==.gif" />SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-55977598953617980812008-12-12T14:29:00.000-08:002008-12-12T14:36:33.051-08:00My soul-connector<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.logogolfwear.com/embroideryclipart/Grandma%20Daffodi.MD1002.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.logogolfwear.com/embroideryclipart/Grandma%20Daffodi.MD1002.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>My visit home was positive and beautiful. My wonderfully comedic 95 year old grandmother turned the corner once I got there - she wasn't able to do anything by herself when I initially got there, but by the time I left, she was bathing herself, eating, walking, making her side-splitting jokes, etc. Its wonderful. She and I are one person, if you understand what I mean, so it was important for me to see her. Of course, the fact that I also got to spend time with my Mum, who lives in a whole big house by herself since my father passed a couple of years ago, was an added bonus! I've been calling everyday since I came back and checking in, and she continues to make progress!<br /><br />I am very happy we spent that time chatting away and breathing each other's air :)<br /><br />(img from <a href="http://www.logogolfwear.com">www.logogolfwear.com</a>)SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-60559079478242176872008-12-12T14:14:00.000-08:002008-12-12T14:29:06.603-08:00I love this!Newsweek article that describes exactly what I've been saying! Its great to have this seconded by media! Article is <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653">COVER STORY: GAY MARRIAGE Our Mutual Joy</a> Which describes how the bible doesn't specifically state that marriage is ONLY between a man, and a woman...check it out, its truly an interesting read<br /><p><br /><img src="http://rastaheadwraps.com/images/knowledgeispowerlicenseplateweb.jpg" width="60%" height="20%" /><br /></p><p>(ref: image is from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; "><a href="http://rastaheadwraps.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">rastaheadwraps.com</a>)</span></p>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-5891590015598860172008-11-26T05:34:00.000-08:002008-11-26T05:45:57.513-08:00My mother called this morning, and this started the happy but anxious feeling that I get in my tummy whenever I get a call from my family. I heard about the passing of my father this way, and I’ve developed quite a stay-away feeling for the phone. I don’t like to check messages, and I tend to not like to make calls with it. Its gotten so bad that even when I receive messages for work, I usually don’t listen to those either!<br /><br />Well as my instincts told me, this wasn’t so good news. My 96 year-old grandmother is not feeling well. Apparently, she hasn’t been feeling well and my Mum is just informing me about it. I got a flashback to my father in hospital, when my Mum called me to let me know that he was doing even worse. Me, on my way to come over to see him the next day, that wasn’t something that I wanted to hear. At the time, after we finished talking, she asked me if I wanted to talk to him. I understood the sub-text. This may be the last opportunity that I get to talk to him. I was petrified. My father made a good attempt to talk to me, and I tried, in my very best ga, to say “I’m on my way, Dad…I’ll be seeing you soon. I’m bringing you lots of things that will help you. Things will get better.” And his standard response of course was…”Its already better” Little did I know at the time that was going to be the last time I spoke to him, since he passed before I got I arrived from my trans-atlantic trip 3 days later.<br /><br />So when my Mum asked if I wanted to talk to my grandmother today, my heart skipped a beat, as I dutifully spoke some panic-inspired ga to try my best to have a conversation with my grandmother. Just to set the stage, my grandmother is hard of hearing. But I have one of those phones that you can increase the mic volume, so my standard practice when talking to her is to increase the volume, and start shouting at the phone. But we usually have quite a light, joking banter about the goings on of the day. Today though, it was a different story. The first thing that came to mind was this exchange:<br /><br />Me: “Hello Maanaa, I heard you were sick”<br />Maanaa: “Yes, I’m not feeling well”<br />Me: “Why”<br />Maanaa: “Talk to your Mum, she’ll fill you in”<br /><br />Then she hands the phone over to my Mum. Well of course, that would probably be my reaction too, if some fool got on the phone, after being told I’m not well, to ask me why I’m not well. Hello?!? I felt terrible when I got the news that she wasn’t feeling well, and I felt even worse then. I realized that in my attempt to stay away from the bad news, I’d made the situation even worse. You see I’ve always thought that my connection with my grandmother was a special one. I was named after her (both my grandmothers have the same name), and she always refers to me as “Namesake” and I’m always gleaming when she does that. I love that. I love snuggling up to her, and touching her face and hands. I love joking with her, and hearing her stories of old. Most of her siblings and family have died-off, and she often talks about how she’s the only one left. She was truly hurt by my fathers passing – in her mind, it didn’t make sense that he left before she did. And she’d always tell me about the times they spent together.<br /><br />So yes, I’m a bit shaken up, and would like to summon all the earths positive energy to get my Maanaa better again.So that I will once again banter with her about how “chumo e hi” (loosely translated as the deed is good) or our standard “eez alright”.<br /><br />Here she is, being the comedian she likes to be...<br />Part1: Mum and Maanaa interview, with song and dance:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/im3OyAnemME&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/im3OyAnemME&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Part2:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z0OwbwZyYeY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z0OwbwZyYeY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Part3:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6As6EPl4FjQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6As6EPl4FjQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-37433876728354138162008-11-24T16:25:00.000-08:002008-11-24T16:26:31.481-08:00I love to hear intelligent women speak!We're so sexy!<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OnMYBs7u-80&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OnMYBs7u-80&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-10166608821703353812008-11-21T13:02:00.000-08:002008-11-21T13:53:27.645-08:00Enough!I have to get something off my chest - I'm pretty miffed right now!<br /><br />No matter what you feel about marriage, I think its hard to miss the point that there are civil rights which are being denied to a group of citizens. That just is not right, no matter how much squinting you do.<br /><br />I have always been of the mindset that marriage was an ancient/archaic construct that just does not make any more sense in our current paradigm in the 21st century, and our evolved way of living - no matter who is doing it, heterosexuals, homosexuals, men or women. But in a country where there is supposed separation of church and state, and where there are rights being offered to its citizenry, I am incensed that people are trying to make my decision for me - I'd like to make my own choice about whether or not I want to marry as a gay woman in a committed relationship.<br /><br />Lets get over this ridiculousness. If there are things to talk about, lets do that - its about time to step out, speak out, learn to accept, understand, and support each other! We don't all have to agree - I don't like the way that I perceive Muslim women are treated in Islamic cultures, but I'm not going to try to stop them from their RIGHT to be doing what they believe they should be doing. I can start a discussion to learn more and share my thoughts with them. We all need to remember that we all have control over what we believe in and do, but others may not believe in, or do the same things, and as consenting adults, we all can do what we feel is right spiritually or religiously. But that's where it should stop - we even have laws against discriminating against a person based on their religion, race, gender, handicap, etc. etc. exactly for that reason! How can you not see this is all in the same bucket?! And people, please lets not get it twisted - marriage between same-sex couples would logically lead to wanting to marry siblings, or goats??! Come on!! As a friend pointed out, the Bible is already full of those stories - lets not go there!<br /><br />I've come up with some things that I will be doing to really make this inconsistency and unfair treatment of people a thing of the past. I suggest you consider doing so too:<br /><br />1. I will start referring to all married couples (heterosexual or otherwise) as Partners, not as Husband or Wife. e.g. "How is your Partner doing - did you take that trip you were planning on taking?" I believe that we should normalize the terms that are used to make it this an even playing field - the old archaic paradigm just won't cut it anymore<br /><br />2. The people at <a href="http://civilrightsfront.com/">civilrightsfront.com</a> have a great suggestion to send postcards to President-elect Obama asking to repeal DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Plan is to send one a week (if not daily). For those of you who can do this, they suggest having a postcard party and having all your friends do it too! Think of the statement that thousands and thousands of postcards from around the country will make.<br /><br />3. I encourage anyone who wants to have a discussion to learn more and share their thoughts with me to do so. I'd love the opportunity to talk through different points of view if its being presented in a positive and respectful manner. So if you want to, you know where to reach me.<br /><br />I can't sit idly by anymore. Albert Einstein says it best:<br /><b>"</b><span class="sqq"><b style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;" >A </span></b><b style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51); font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;">human</b><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;" > being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.</span>”</b><br /></span>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-71994992929090187192008-10-18T05:36:00.000-07:002008-10-18T05:40:22.755-07:00Get out and vote!<p style="font-weight: bold;">Here is a note from my wonderful love-love - I think its useful to post for all those who may need the info:<br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;">1) EVERYONE- if you are registered, please finish it off by going to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">VOTE on ELECTION Day, Tues Nov 4th!!! </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">don't let the rain, or a "bad hair day" discourage you from walking or driving over to your Polling office</span></p> <p>-And if live in one of the few states that allows you to register & vote on the same day- Wonderful for you!!<span> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">AND if you Live in one of many states that allows Early Voting!- Take a advantage of it- NOW NOW!!!</span> </p> <p>For example, On the EAST Coast these states have /had early voting: ME, VT, NJ, VA, NC, GA, FL<span> </span>(This is just a short list, check your state's website & the sites below for specifics!)</p> <p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">2) Planning</p> <p> I hope that people who can't take off from work will allocate enough time to wait in line and not be surprised that there may be a long line, meaning= get there very early, before the doors open, or at least much earlier than the time you need to report for work.<span> </span>If you are REQUIRED to be away for Business or Duties, see absentee voting info ( below).</p> <p>-------If it is possible to take a half -day OFF from work or take the day off- consider putting in your time, now.<span> </span>If you ever experienced a polling problem at your polling office, such as machine not working, needing ID, etc. please plan ahead- we all know that the election process should have SIGNIFICANTLY improved by now, but at this point, we have to work with what we are dealt with on Election day.<span> </span>Also, make time to find out WHERE your polling office is and HOW you will get there BEFORE Election day.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where to vote</span><br /></p> <p>***Remember you vote at the polling place (that is designated) based on the address you used to register. So if you move between now and Nov, you need to go the polling place based on the address on your registration card. If you have any doubts where to go, find out NOW, NOW!!</p> <p>-<span> </span>When issues like this arise at the polling office, some locations allow (Provisional Voting), but you should learn more details about this by contacting your Board of Elections.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">3) Absentee Ballots!!!</p> <p> If it is impossible for you to be at your polling location on Election Day, Tues NOVEMBER 4th, and its within the rules allowed in your state, <span style="font-weight: bold;">please request an absentee ballot from your election office- NOW NOW!!!! (Note- there are deadlines for requesting ballots- don't run out of time)</span> and fill it out and mail it back immediately or at least way BEFORE the DEADLINE to submit.<span></span></p> <p>--To learn more about how to request an absentee ballot in your state you can just call your Voter Registration office ( the office & number may be on the card you got back after registering) -OR- just print the form from your state department/ Board of Elections website.<span> </span>If you can't find the correct information ask a neighbor, but back-up their information by checking your yellow pages, ask the local Librarian, or your local post office might still have registration forms with the phone# of county's designated Voter Registration office, or just ask me- I'll help u find the #. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">-For example,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">In Pennsylvania,</span> the rules are: if you are in the military & stationed elsewhere, if you are ill or physically disabled, religious reasons, or if your duties/ job/business require/prevent you from being at your polling office, during the whole time the polling office is open, such as 7am to 8pm, Then U can vote absentee (see more info at the PA state Dept website - <a href="http://www.votespa.com/" target="_blank">www.votespa.com</a>).<span> </span>You can also learn about more alternative voting options. </p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">4) Tip: KNOW who is on the ballot (AND) what Questions are on the Ballot BEFORE you arrive at the polling place!</p> <p> In the past, I made a vow to never again show up to vote and without knowing the other people running for office, besides the presidential candidates. Know for yourself before you roll up to the polling office -find out about ALL the candidates, not just the Presidential candidates. - To get informed BEFOREHAND, here's a website, I believe it's one of the best of its kind that lists all the candidates & ballot questions on 1 site (yeah!!!- imagine the amt of wk I had to do BEFORE!) :</p> <p><span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://www.votesmart.org/" target="_blank">www.votesmart.org</a></span><span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"> </span> </span>- below are some user tips for this site- </p> <p>a) To find the full list of those running in your county (on 1 single page), use your zip-code on the left, and scroll down to very bottom to the "Candidates" section . </p> <p>b) To find questions that will appear on your ballot, go to the Left side under (Basic Categories)& click the link that reads "Ballot Measures" then select your state.<span> </span>You will then see the questions that will be on your ballot. Look carefully at the dates, sometimes they are not sorted together. This is important for a State like California that has 13 Propositions/ Questions you need to vote on, yet in Pennsylvania, we have just 1 this time.<br /></p> <p>(These folks have done a great deal of work putting this site together. Otherwise you would have to gather all this infoYOURSELF from the State Legislature (for the questions on the ballot) and from your state's Secretary of State (for the list of candidates)!!! AND the site provides extra info!<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Why do "they" make it so hard for us just to make an intelligent vote?!!- Don't answer that :-)</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">5) To my SURPRISE !!! I have heard of & know people who actually missed the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">registration Deadline</span> in their state!!! If yours has not passed - please register.<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">---Missed Voter Registration?<span> </span>well, You should still get involved</p> <p>-For those of you, who missed registration and can't vote (you can still be involved, by:</p> <p><span></span>1. offering to drive people to the election office on Election day, </p> <p>2. volunteering at the local campaign office to make calls, knock on doors, hang signs, etc<br /></p><p>3. Donating<br /></p> 4. Giving folks stamps to mail in their Absentee ballots, if they won't be physically voting in their city on election day (such as stationed military folks, individuals who are traveling on that day and can't be at the polling location. Unsure?, then ask your election office what qualifies for absentee voting for your state). <p> 5. AND if you missed registering to vote, just register NOW anyway (or when your state starts accepting registrations again), you may not be able to vote on Nov 4th, but at least you'll be somewhat prepared for your state's next congressional or civic election. It is good to get in the habit. </p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">6) PLEASE SHARE with your Family & Friends...</p> <p> -If anyone has any questions about voting for themselves, family, unique cases such as incarceration & voting rules, special absentee & alternative voting rules, provisional voting etc etc ask your election office or ask me,<span> </span>if I don't know the answer, I am willing to help you find out...<span> </span></p> <p>*** Otherwise, these are some very useful sites: </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://www.vote411.org/" target="_blank">www.vote411.org</a> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://www.canivote.org/" target="_blank">www.canivote.org</a> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://www.nass.org/" target="_blank">www.nass.org</a> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://www.rockthevote.com/electioncenter" target="_blank">www.rockthevote.com/<wbr>electioncenter</a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><a href="http://www.votesmart.org/" target="_blank">www.votesmart.org</a></p> <p>Last but not least, I assume everyone knows this, but better over-informed that under-informed!<span> </span>Unlike the primaries, where you had to be a member of the same party to which your candidate belonged (for example, you had to be registered as Democrat to vote for Senators Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton)- in some states you were able to also vote for them, if you were Independent or Unaffiliated.<span> </span>WELL, in the GENERAL Election, it does NOT matter what party you belong to-<span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">You just vote for whomever you want!!!</span> </p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">All the best everyone- Let's end the year with a BIG BANG!!!</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></p>SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-48245702143804116562008-10-17T10:03:00.000-07:002008-10-17T10:05:23.576-07:00This made me pause..."Bella Abzug…once remarked that we would only have true gender equality when an incompetent woman could go as far as an incompetent man. That milestone appears to have been achieved with the nomination of Sarah Palin for Vice President."<br /><br />Thats scary to think that may be true!!<br /><br />(This was a comment from a post on <a href="http://www.devradowrite.com/?cat=5">www.devradowrite.com</a>)SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-85171251569456292042008-09-04T19:25:00.000-07:002008-09-04T19:34:21.635-07:00So how about that Canada??Cause thats where I'm moving to if the MacPain duo win this election!! I'm going to find myself a new wife! ;-)SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10266435.post-58936283772905884742008-09-04T18:54:00.000-07:002008-09-04T19:20:44.878-07:00CindyIs she for real?!? I was actually <strike>zombified</strike> impressed by the video they showed...then when she " unveilled" her 'colorful' family, and then showcased other colorful affiliations, that just took the cake!!<div><br /></div><div>The republicans really need to take some lessons in 'subtlety'!! All she needs is a pretty pink bow with a cherry on top!</div><br /><br /><img src="http://www.lilrascalsboutique.com/images/headbands/headband.jpg" />SoulSearcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954621146181968722noreply@blogger.com0