tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69242211272565958572024-02-20T05:21:16.681+00:00not your usual cup of tea(in my mind and all around me)TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-59720378818450289722013-03-18T13:15:00.001+00:002013-03-18T13:15:24.821+00:00100 Truths<p dir=ltr>I haven't blogged in a while. I don't have much to say. Trying to sort out this life. But I'll try. I promise I'll try. </p>
<p dir=ltr>For now, I decided to do this 100 truths thing because everyone is doing it, and, well, it's better than nothing. I think I may have done it before, but who cares? </p>
<p dir=ltr>Here it goes:</p>
<p dir=ltr>LASTS<br>
1. Last drink:<br>
Water<br>
2. Last phone call:<br>
My mum<br>
3. Last text message:<br>
Dragnet - interview invitation<br>
4. Last song you listened to:<br>
That brazilian hair song by Chuddy K<br>
5. Last time you cried:<br>
Yesterday - worried about my brother</p>
<p dir=ltr>SIX HAVE YOU EVER:<br>
6. Dated someone twice:<br>
No<br>
7. Been cheated on:<br>
Yes<br>
8. Kissed someone:<br>
Yes<br>
9. Lost someone special:<br>
Yes<br>
10. Been depressed:<br>
Yes. Yes. <br>
11. Been drunk and threw up:<br>
Yes. </p>
<p dir=ltr>LIST FOUR FAVORITE COLOURS:<br>
12. Orange<br>
13. Green<br>
14. Yellow<br>
15. Teal</p>
<p dir=ltr>HAVE YOU:<br>
16. Made new friends:<br>
A few<br>
17. Fallen out of love:<br>
Yes, although I'm not sure it was love to begin with<br>
18. Laughed until you cried:<br>
Yes<br>
19. Met someone who changed you:<br>
I'm not sure. <br>
20. Found out who your true friends were:<br>
Yes.<br>
21. Found out someone was talking about you:<br>
Yes.<br>
22. Kissed anyone on your friends list:<br>
Yes.<br>
23. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life:<br>
Some<br>
25. Do you have any pets:<br>
Two puppies - rottweilers. Kaiser and Juno. <br>
26. Do you want to change your name:<br>
No. I love my name! <br>
27. What did you do for your last birthday:<br>
Hung out with my boyfriend. <br>
28. What time did you wake up today:<br>
8:04am <br>
29. What were you doing at midnight last night:<br>
Lying in bed<br>
30. Name something you CANNOT wait for:<br>
To be self-sufficient. <br>
31. Last time you saw your father:<br>
This morning.  <br>
32. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life:<br>
I'm not sure. I've been lucky. <br>
33. What are you listening to right now:<br>
Car radio. <br>
34. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom:<br>
I don't think so. <br>
35. What’s getting on your nerves right now?:<br>
This weird cold I have. I'm finding it really hard to breathe properly. <br>
36. Most visited webpage:<br>
Google<br>
37. Current city:<br>
Lagos<br>
38. Nicknames:<br>
Mo, Dupsy<br>
39. Relationship Status:<br>
In one. Happy. <br>
40. Zodiac Sign:<br>
Taurus<br>
41. Male or female or transgendered:<br>
Female<br>
42. Primary School:<br>
St Mary's, then Kemson<br>
43. Middle School:<br>
Riiiiight.<br>
44. High school:<br>
Lagoon Secondary School<br>
45. Hair color:<br>
Black<br>
47. Height:<br>
5'5"<br>
48. Do you have a crush on someone:<br>
I do! One cute illustrator that I follow on Twitter. ^_^<br>
49: What do you like about yourself:<br>
I like that I speak my mind when I need to. <br>
50. Piercings: Ears. Two in each ear.  <br>
51. Tattoos:<br>
None. <br>
52. Righty or Lefty:<br>
Right.</p>
<p dir=ltr>FIRSTS:<br>
53. First Surgery:<br>
None<br>
54. First Piercing:<br>
Ears, before I was old enough to remember. <br>
55. First Best Friend:<br>
Veronica Adade<br>
56. First Sport you Joined:<br>
Aerobics, I'd that counts<br>
57. First Pet:<br>
A little bird whose name o don't remember <br>
58. First Vacation:<br>
Calabar<br>
59. First Concert:<br>
Rhythm Unplugged of 08, I think<br>
60. First Crush:<br>
Enejo</p>
<p dir=ltr>RIGHT NOW:<br>
61. Eating:<br>
Nothing.<br>
62. Drinking:<br>
Nothing. <br>
63. Already missing:<br>
My boyfriend<br>
64. I’m about to:<br>
Get on 3rd mainland Bridge<br>
65. Listening to:<br>
Radio and road noise<br>
66. Thinking about:<br>
My cold<br>
67. Waiting for:<br>
Life to be perfect</p>
<p dir=ltr>YOUR FUTURE:<br>
68. Want kids:<br>
Yeah. Maybe 2<br>
69. Want to get married:<br>
Yes. <br>
70. Careers in mind:<br>
Brand strategist, writer, business owner, I dunno. </p>
<p dir=ltr>WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?<br>
71. Lips or eyes:<br>
Lips. I like to kiss. ^_^<br>
72. Hugs or kisses:<br>
Kisses<br>
73. Shorter or taller:<br>
Taller.<br>
74. Older or Younger:<br>
Older. <br>
75. Romantic or spontaneous:<br>
Spontaneous. I'm pretty boring, so that would be nice. <br>
76. Nice stomach or nice arms:<br>
Arms. <br>
77. Sensitive or loud:<br>
Sensitive. Loud people generally annoy me. <br>
78. Hook-up or relationship:<br>
Relationship. Hook-ups tend to complicate themselves. <br>
79. Trouble maker or hesitant:<br>
Trouble maker.</p>
<p dir=ltr>HAVE YOU EVER:<br>
81. Drank hard liquor:<br>
Yes.<br>
82. Lost glasses/contacts:<br>
I don't think so. A bit surprising, as I've been wearing glasses since I was nine. <br>
83. Kissed on 1st date:<br>
I don't think so. <br>
84: Broken someone’s heart:<br>
Yes. <br>
85. Had your own heart broken:<br>
Yes. <br>
86. Been arrested:<br>
Nope<br>
87. Turned someone down:<br>
Yes.<br>
88. Cried when someone died:<br>
Yes. <br>
89. Liked a friend that is of the same sex:<br>
Nah, but I've always wondered how that would turn out. </p>
<p dir=ltr>DO YOU BELIEVE IN:<br>
90. Yourself:<br>
Yes. <br>
91. Miracles:<br>
I'd like to say I do, but I don't think so. Not really. I'm too practical. <br>
92. Love at first sight:<br>
No. Love is too strong a word. Attraction, maybe even kinship or some weird mental/spiritual connection, but not love. <br>
93. Heaven:<br>
Not sure. I'd like to believe, and I guess I do, sometimes. But some part of me believes that when we die, that's it. Is an afterlife really necessary? <br>
94. Santa Claus:<br>
Lol. That would be nice if he was real. <br>
95. Kissing on the first date:<br>
Nah. Unless I've known you prior to that. There's something very intimate about kissing. <br>
96. Angels:<br>
Yes. Maybe not in the popular sense, with wings and all, but spiritual beings guiding us and helping us out. <br>
ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:<br>
97. Is there one person you want to be with right now?:<br>
Yes, Gbolade. <br>
98. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time?:<br>
Technically no.<br>
99. Wish you could change things in your past?:<br>
I've done a few stupid things that I regret. I'd like to take them away.<br>
100. Are you posting this as 100 Truths?:<br>
Yes.</p>
TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-55204811664974494192013-01-07T14:01:00.001+00:002013-01-07T14:01:22.823+00:00hey (I can't think of a title)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FjVgptP6aAs/UOrSa37Pd_I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/5EbZk8K7AT8/s1600/shutupandwrite.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FjVgptP6aAs/UOrSa37Pd_I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/5EbZk8K7AT8/s320/shutupandwrite.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A friend told me today (very rudely, if I might add - but I love him anyway) that I should shut up and write. Not in exactly those words, but he said he'd rather read what I want to say than hear it. Apparently my writing is funny, or something. I no know for am.<br />
<br />
But the fact remains that at least one person out there does not like my audio posts. Maybe I should just do audio posts, to spite this Mr. But I shall not. I'll write more, I guess. It's hard when there's nothing to say.<br />
<br />
I wish I could explain why I haven't been writing in so long. It's mainly me just sitting and feeling sorry for myself. And I haven't been reading as much as I should, and I've been angry with life in general. Just not having stuff to do. Well, having stuff to do, but not being passionate about any of it.<br />
<br />
I made a list a few days ago, of things I want to do before the end of the year. I'm not sure I want to share it here, but I'll probably let you guys know when I cross something off it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbmwtRasVI4/UOrSI7LGeqI/AAAAAAAAAbI/pd0V67buzJc/s1600/Big-Mommas-House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbmwtRasVI4/UOrSI7LGeqI/AAAAAAAAAbI/pd0V67buzJc/s320/Big-Mommas-House.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of them will probably involve me no longer looking like this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I want to write a story. Or at least finish the one I was writing. I had big dreams for it. Now it's just, I dunno, sitting in a corner feeling suicidal. Poor thing.<br />
<br />
But life is generally alright. It's a new year, and people are back at work, so maybe I'll get some good news on the job front soon. God knows this boredom is killing me. Plus, I really need a source of income.<br />
<br />
I'll try to write something more interesting soon.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-26216712377413350722013-01-02T16:36:00.000+00:002013-01-02T16:36:49.678+00:002013 - Happy New Year<div>
I did an audio blog to say Happy New Year. I was too lazy to write.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F73368371" width="100%"></iframe>TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-55954292215201810582012-12-29T22:16:00.001+00:002012-12-29T22:16:18.159+00:00So far...Christmas was good-ish. Family's good, friends are good, and I'm learning to deal with unwanted circumstances.<br />
<br />
I met an online friend in real life. I like her in real life, too. And that makes me happy.<br />
<br />
There was an argument (I call it a fight, but he won't); it was resolved. We are happy.<br />
<br />
I discovered that I'm slowly becoming better at socializing with people. It turns out that I'm better with a bit of alcohol in me. ;-)<br />
<br />
I'm driving now. Finally. I think I'm a nuisance on Lagos roads.<br />
<br />
The world did not end on December 21.<br />
<br />
I miss living by myself. The 'freedom'.<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to 2013. I hope it brings good things.<br />
<br />
I hope it brings good things for you too.<br />
<br />
<br />TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-84176822536773095142012-10-10T13:20:00.000+01:002012-10-10T13:43:06.126+01:00On a good noteI've unpacked my iPod dock, and I now have Fun's album. Happy days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='450' height='350' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qQkBeOisNM0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
However, I am still unemployed. Truth be told, I'm still at that stage where I'm liking it. Plus, there's time for more important things (like trying to get more people to donate blood, but I'll tell you more about that later).<br />
<br />
Bye!TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-23439830825610356802012-10-10T13:15:00.004+01:002012-10-10T13:15:57.769+01:00Not just another set of statistics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='450' height='350' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YVJu61BKpkI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
I don't like the idea of abortion, because I believe no one has the right to take another life. But banning abortion will only make it more dangerous for those who want to do it anyway, and more lives will be lost. I like their solution: make contraception more easily available, and make safe abortions (for the mothers, anyway) available. Fewer people will die.<br />
<br />
----------------<br />
<br />
I need to start posting happy things again.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-1124706247808460172012-10-10T13:08:00.000+01:002012-10-10T13:08:09.540+01:00Question of the dayWhen will people (Nigerians) learn to value life?<br />
<br />
When will we learn to respect people for the mere fact that they are people?<br />
<br />
When will we learn that money is not everything?<br />
<br />
When will we learn that violence doesn't fix anything? That silence doesn't fix anything? That money doesn't fix everything?<br />
<br />
When will we learn to care for one another?<br />
<br />
When will we learn that we don't all have to be the same?<br />
<br />
When will we learn to be tolerant of our differences?<br />
<br />
When will we learn to appreciate our diversity?<br />
<br />
When will we learn to show compassion?<br />
<br />
When will we learn?<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm just so tired, and so frustrated. I can't understand the way things are in this stupid country. We have bullshitted ourselves into a false sense of security, in a country where your schoolmates can literally set you on fire for no good reason, where your neighbours can hack you to death in broad daylight for believing something different, where you're afraid to go to church on a Sunday because there's a good chance you may get bombed or shot at? Really? And all these things happen and we make a lot of noise for about two weeks, and they we just go back to business as usual, wringing our hands and praying for change, when we are not willing to change ourselves.<br />
<br />
When are we going to realize that we are our own problem?<br />
<br />
----------<br />
<br />
I was going to make this post longer, but I was angry. This always happens whenever I want to write about Nigeria.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-36573304293396364642012-10-02T13:44:00.003+01:002012-10-03T01:20:44.606+01:00Fixing ThingsI haven't blogged in a while. Forgive me.<br />
<br />
I moved back to Lagos a little over 2 weeks ago. I'm glad to be back. Obviously, there's the frustrating stuff, like the internet and the phone networks and the fact that everything is way more expensive than it should be, but I'm home. With my family and my friends and people I love who love me too. So I'm happy.<br />
<br />
Over the past few weeks/months, I've been thinking of ways I can make a difference now that I'm back here. I think I've accepted the fact that we can't expect the government (in its current state of complete shittiness) to do anything for this country, so if we want things to change, we have to do it ourselves. Plus, I've pretty much lived a very selfish existence all my life. I've taken my good fortune for granted, and I've grown immune to the sadness around me. I know there was a time I used to actually feel sorry for the less-fortunate around me, and always want to give beggars something when the showed up at car windows. Over the years, I learned to simply wind up the glass and turn away, just pretend like they're not there. And this behaviour is perfectly acceptable to the people around me. <i>"You can't give every beggar money", "they'll just use it to buy drugs", "I'm sure they have these babies on purpose so we can give them more money". </i>This is the crap that comes out of our mouths, and we wonder why things aren't getting any better? We're content to live in this bubble where Lagos/Nigeria is nothing but fancy dinners, fashion shows, clubs and every other sign of the faux-goodlife we're living. Are we honestly content with living in mansions, and our next door neighbour is a family in a shack on an empty plot of land?<br />
<br />
I'm not going to pretend I'm not guilty of this. I am. I'm trying to get my mind out of that. I'm trying to remind myself that we are all human beings. We all deserve a chance. We all deserve hope. That's what it is, really. Just hope. Practical hope, not that 'wringing your hands while waiting for divine intervention' nonsense. <i>"God will do it"</i>, we all say. Well, let God do it through us. We don't have to change the world overnight, but if we can each do something small, that will have a lasting effect on our communities, it's all going to make a big difference.<br />
<br />
There are some people, better people than most of us, who are changing things in Nigeria. There's the <a href="http://communityimpactng.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">Community Impact Team</a> who are trying to increase access to education for children living in the Makoko slums in Lagos, with their <a href="http://communityimpactng.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/it-begins-with-you-2/" target="_blank">Slum 2 School Project</a>. There's the <a href="http://sosaidfoundation.org/?page_id=71" target="_blank">SO-SAID Foundation</a>, which houses and rehabilitates the destitute in Lagos (and they are doing so, so much for them). There are people who aren't content with just throwing money at problems, and are actually dedicating themselves and their time to make a difference.<br />
<br />
So how can we help?<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Start Small.</b> Find small issues in our communities that we can do something about, and then actually do something. Go through social innovation websites like <a href="http://www.good.is/" target="_blank">GOOD</a> and <a href="http://www.openideo.com/" target="_blank">Open IDEO</a> to look for ideas and things that have been done in other parts of the world, that we can replicate where we are.</li>
<li><b>Keep it Simple.</b> A simpler project will probably cost less, and will be easier for other people to replicate in their own communities.</li>
<li><b>Make it Personal.</b> Don't just throw money at a problem, really get involved. Get to know the people you're helping, talk to them, become a part of their lives. That way, they'll really feel like someone cares.</li>
<li><b>Be Social.</b> Tell people about what you're doing. Document it on a blog, tweet about it, share it on Facebook. Never shut up about the needs in the society. There are so many individuals with the money and resources that can help, and they'll be willing to put their names behind good things because of CSR, so let them know.</li>
<li><b>Give.</b> Even if you don't have the time or passion to start up your own social project, find one you believe in, and give. Give your time, your money, used/new clothes, food, household items. Give them a Like on Facebook, share their story on Twitter, write a blog post about them, pray for them, direct people to them. Just give.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's so much we can do, if we just open our eyes.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNBHxxY99o0-5rsR7a9S8IuMPYpHVOYJoozWQl3eJnvN1wtjQQfqrwamzvHVPUA6pVdYocvm8lkSZkuJgA84Q-z7vSdbl_93JO1RHjTmGGEP9khFmuZ3BtHvThYHvjZJUX3lc9thwem4/s1600/country.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNBHxxY99o0-5rsR7a9S8IuMPYpHVOYJoozWQl3eJnvN1wtjQQfqrwamzvHVPUA6pVdYocvm8lkSZkuJgA84Q-z7vSdbl_93JO1RHjTmGGEP9khFmuZ3BtHvThYHvjZJUX3lc9thwem4/s1600/country.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stole this from 'Lara's <a href="http://labyrinthsoflahrah.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>, btw.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-441042040756755222012-08-29T01:25:00.000+01:002012-08-29T01:25:05.635+01:00HairI am seriously, seriously, seriously considering going natural. Not that I have a problem with my relaxed hair or anything. I try to take care of it properly and it's easy to maintain. I don't do my hair a lot, so it's fine.<br />
<br />
But if I ever have a daughter, I want her to love her hair the way it is, and not grow up thinking that when she got older, she would be able to have beautiful straight hair. Trust me, that was how I thought.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Straight hair = good, curly/kinky hair = bad</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How could I tell her to love her hair and that it's beautiful, if I go to straighten mine every three months? So I really want to do it. Plus, I think natural kinky/curly hair is super-freakin-hot and I love fixing bohemian curls. I'd love if my hair was like that.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And then, I stumbled on <a href="http://geraldinethegreat.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">this</a> blog, and she has the most beautiful hair ever!!!!! In just 3 years! My hair grows pretty fast, so I'm sure I can do it. But I'm scared of looking like a football head if/when (hopefully, when) I finally do a big chop.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sigh.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Decisions, decisions.</div>
TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-26311692702710684912012-08-29T01:01:00.000+01:002012-08-29T01:01:06.653+01:00Speed DatingStole this off Seye's blog.<br />
<br />
It's interesting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='450' height='350' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3RDnUUfgf0o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-13366348260993856622012-08-23T19:44:00.000+01:002012-08-23T19:56:47.537+01:00Me. Talking.So I decided to do a voice/spoken/audio/whatever post.<br />
<br />
Here goes:<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F57320499%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-iHIJL&show_artwork=true&secret_url=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<br />
Sorry about the heavy breathing. I have a cold.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-5799761545930717852012-08-17T16:31:00.001+01:002012-08-17T16:35:29.361+01:00I. Have. To. See. This.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='500' height='400' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LzU1Uvb6bGs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
It never occurred to me to read the book; I guess I always assumed it was one of those overrated American things (e.g. Breakfast at Tiffany's). But I saw this trailer and it looks amazing, so I guess the book will be oven better. downloaded it already, read the first two pages. Can't wait till I'm done with this dissertation, so that I can read it.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-87514226072609050112012-08-17T01:10:00.000+01:002012-08-17T01:19:17.623+01:00Hey girl...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpZcwZB-NQBpnj0wk0TUWP29NfX4AGPP9mdWdfU3VgOPFKVDrxAHvxuc7g6Zs_aj1PgDA-_AxEl1gUOnXOayU8zeLMiSmdgt6sJOYcH4JqmWZB7umsmxFFLfRzNaKABKK1ZoAqVuePoI/s1600/confidence1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpZcwZB-NQBpnj0wk0TUWP29NfX4AGPP9mdWdfU3VgOPFKVDrxAHvxuc7g6Zs_aj1PgDA-_AxEl1gUOnXOayU8zeLMiSmdgt6sJOYcH4JqmWZB7umsmxFFLfRzNaKABKK1ZoAqVuePoI/s320/confidence1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There are a few things I want to say to you, and I'm hoping you want to listen.<br />
<br />
First of all, I love you. You should know this, and know that even when I feel like wringing your neck and throwing you into the lagoon, it's only because I love you.<br />
<br />
Right now, I don't know how you look, or what you like, or if you're even going to exist, but I hope you'll be a little like me, just a million times better. I hope you'll love music and art and books, I hope you'll be athletic, I hope you'll be really smart, I hope you'll be very beautiful. And even if you don't match the socially accepted view of beauty, I won't care, because no one could be as biased towards you as I am. I hope you have a lovely singing voice, and I hope you can draw and paint and play the piano and the violin and the guitar and the drums. It would be so cool if you can drum.<br />
<br />
If you can do all these things, that would just be awesome. If you can't, I'm sure there's something awesome that you do amazingly. Maybe you're a model. Maybe you're a teacher. Maybe you can dance. Maybe you can write. Maybe you're a whiz with numbers. Maybe you're a brilliant programmer. Maybe you're a make-up artist. It doesn't matter what you're good at, only that you make time for it in your life.<br />
<br />
Make time for the things you're passionate about.<br />
<br />
Be passionate about something greater than you.<br />
<br />
Have fun.<br />
<br />
Experiment.<br />
<br />
Live.<br />
<br />
Don't let anything define you. Not your beauty, or your body, or your intelligence, or your work. Not even your family. There's a reason you're in the world, and it's much, much bigger than you could ever imagine.<br />
<br />
You are bigger than you.<br />
<br />
That doesn't sound like it makes sense, but what I'm trying to say is, you are greater than the sum of your parts.<br />
<br />
There is more to you than your beauty or your brains or whatever wonderful thing you can do, and I hope you spend your life in pursuit of that 'more'. Don't ever settle for average. You are not average.<br />
<br />
Believe in yourself.<br />
<br />
Find what makes you happy.<br />
<br />
Do it.<br />
<br />
Live it.<br />
<br />
Don't let anyone tell you who you should be or what you should do to gain their acceptance. Don't conform to anyone's standards. Don't compare yourself to anyone. Yes, life is a competition, but you're competing against yourself, no one else. Life should be about you constantly trying to be better than you were yesterday.<br />
<br />
Grab all the experiences you can.<br />
<br />
Travel.<br />
<br />
Eat strange food.<br />
<br />
Learn another language.<br />
<br />
Live another culture.<br />
<br />
Learn.<br />
<br />
Challenge yourself.<br />
<br />
Always, challenge yourself.<br />
<br />
Be kind to the people around you. Not only will it make them feel better about themselves, it will make you feel like a better person too.<br />
<br />
Learn to accept kindness from people.<br />
<br />
Love. With all your heart and all your soul. Always wish for the best for everyone around you. Know that people will hurt you, and that life isn't always fair. And when awful things happen, learn from them. Sometimes it's your fault, sometimes it's someone else's fault, sometimes it's just life being life.<br />
<br />
Dance. Even if you're terrible at it.<br />
<br />
Believe you can change the world.<br />
<br />
Try to change it.<br />
<br />
Remember that life doesn't owe you anything. You need to work hard to live well.<br />
<br />
Accept that things won't always go your way. Deal with that, but never give up. Go back to the beginning and figure out another way. Work on your strategy. Improve yourself. Get better resources. Try again. Try harder.<br />
<br />
Know that you're going to make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up when that happens. Embrace your mistakes and learn from them. Sometimes you have to make mistakes so you can grow.<br />
<br />
Read Jane Eyre. She's a fictional character, but you couldn't ask for a better role model.<br />
<br />
Find someone you can trust. I won't tell you to just trust people, because they usually don't deserve it. But be a good friend, and find someone who will be a good friend to you.<br />
<br />
Remember that friends respect you and tell you the truth.<br />
<br />
Respect people.<br />
<br />
Speak the truth.<br />
<br />
Keep your private life private.<br />
<br />
Never compromise your values for anything or anyone. Not even yourself.<br />
<br />
Love yourself.<br />
<br />
Know that there's a Greater Power out there watching over you and taking care of you. Never take that for granted.<br />
<br />
Remember that there is always something to be thankful for.<br />
<br />
Live.<br />
<br />
Love.<br />
<br />
Believe.<br />
<br />
Dream.<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Okay, so this started out as a letter to the daughter that I don't (and may never) have. I was just sitting on my kitchen counter and eating Indomie when the words dropped into my head. I guess it's just something I would like my daughter (and every girl, really) to know. The last four words are something I came up with when I was about 15. I was trying to put together rules for life, and that was all I ended up with. To be honest, I think those four rules are more than enough.<br />
<br />
I hope this adds value to someone's life/day/whatever.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-15522227604090192942012-08-08T15:20:00.000+01:002012-08-09T00:47:27.814+01:00Yo!I'm taking a break from dissertation and job applications to say hello. Life is going well. School is almost over, and real life will start soon, and that is just scary. There's nothing on ground yet. Still trying, still hoping, still looking for what will save me from a lifetime of poverty and depression. But it looks like some things are showing up, so yay!<br />
<br />
July was more or less okay, finished up with classes, visited family, went on a short break, and I'm back. August. Month of the dissertation. And the Olympics. I cannot forget the Olympics.<br />
<br />
I missed the whole opening ceremony, if you can believe that. I'm too lazy to look for it online. I've been watching the games when I'm not harassed by guilt (seeing as I should be working instead), and well this whole Team GB thing seems to be getting to me too, because I'm all for Team GB. I heard Nigeria won a medal, Ajoke Odumosu, the hurdler. Thank God for her life. And what is people's own with Gabby Douglas's hair? That girl does AMAZING things with her body, and people have a problem because she didn't sew on some fake hair? Seriously, come on! At least, babe has enough hair on her head to pack in a bun, which is more than we can say for 80% of the Brazilian hair borrowers... come on, you know yourselves.<br />
<br />
Aaaaanywayyy, there's nothing much going on. Study music has changed (for some reason, I can't study without music, and it has to be a different genre every term), so now I'm listening to Calvin Harris and LMFAO while writing my dissertation. Somehow, that's just awesome. (Btw, I can't decide who is hotter, Calvin Harris (dark shirt, intense gaze), or Adam Levine from Maroon 5 (sexy smile, a million tattoos). Beautiful men. I will still always carry a torch for Heath Ledger, sha).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/72635334/Calvin+Harris+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/72635334/Calvin+Harris+2.png" width="253" /></a><a href="http://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/adam-levine-covers-out-september-2011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/adam-levine-covers-out-september-2011.jpeg" width="288" /></a> </div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqjEIunVJ656yjfVEtWOqQvRJCcagVaoCkH2A7WQS0P8tQNRmO1nZmbN0MQzJI3hZjm7lLWXVl3Xh7Vn75Y6YIPczZJyz8JywD3nEEGq3jftO9iYMM0g0tejwPFxM3GN6_4Gsp4hljDc/s1600/heath-ledger-photo-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqjEIunVJ656yjfVEtWOqQvRJCcagVaoCkH2A7WQS0P8tQNRmO1nZmbN0MQzJI3hZjm7lLWXVl3Xh7Vn75Y6YIPczZJyz8JywD3nEEGq3jftO9iYMM0g0tejwPFxM3GN6_4Gsp4hljDc/s320/heath-ledger-photo-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">always and forever, baby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yes, I realize it looks like I have a thing for boyish men with a bit of facial hair. Well, I do. :D<br />
<br />
I started a diet at the beginning of last month, but I didn't say anything about it 'cause I knew I wouldn't stay on track, and guess what? I didn't, so I'm still fat. I can't wait to get home so everyone I make eye contact with will tell me how fat I am and ask how much McDonald's I ate. No one wants to hear that I don't particularly like fast food, they'll just be talking anyhow.<br />
<br />
I realize how random this whole blog post is as I write it, but I've been way too mushy the last couple of posts and I need to find myself again.<br />
<br />
Birthday season in my house is coming up soon; Mum on the 21st, Brother 30th, Sister September 7th, Dad 15th. I have no money for presents. Oh well. They shall each receive a hug and a kiss; it's the thought that counts, abi?<br />
<br />
I really cannot wait to be back home.<br />
<br />
That's my dose of randomness for today.<br />
<br />
Bye!!!!!<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Apparently Ajoke Odumosu didn't win any medal o, my sources were wrong. Unfortunate. Oh well.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-61726333457096885172012-08-07T21:25:00.001+01:002012-08-07T21:25:01.854+01:00Isn't this cute?<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/43457382?color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/43457382">The proof that we are soulmates</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/emanuelecolombo">Emanuele Colombo</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-86687743423287819392012-07-25T14:37:00.001+01:002012-08-26T01:24:38.411+01:00Super. Plenty. Uncountable. Much.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG9MYbGA-MmNZpnbyRymakqwuFjja0ptwJPzc9-MSzGddeCwXh5wJC5fbh7QKP1HibVHK1t_lj50aTxV0_axy7AiyleS4fILkM495kpmRc9pmH1OMJeruCpMbgRBwwzutVIr8CM9jZgc/s1600/infinity.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG9MYbGA-MmNZpnbyRymakqwuFjja0ptwJPzc9-MSzGddeCwXh5wJC5fbh7QKP1HibVHK1t_lj50aTxV0_axy7AiyleS4fILkM495kpmRc9pmH1OMJeruCpMbgRBwwzutVIr8CM9jZgc/s320/infinity.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="p1">
Super</div>
<div class="p1">
Is how I feel when I'm around you</div>
<div class="p1">
Like all is well with the world</div>
<div class="p1">
Like I'm blessed beyond measure</div>
<div class="p1">
Like I have everything I could ever desire</div>
<div class="p1">
That I clearly don't deserve.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
I'm invincible</div>
<div class="p1">
Because you're behind me</div>
<div class="p1">
Carrying me</div>
<div class="p1">
Spurring me on</div>
<div class="p1">
Reminding me that I can</div>
<div class="p1">
Reminding me that you want me to</div>
<div class="p1">
That I'm winning for us both. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Plenty</div>
<div class="p1">
Is such a funny word</div>
<div class="p1">
Never really used it much</div>
<div class="p1">
Until now</div>
<div class="p1">
Who says plenty anyway</div>
<div class="p1">
No one, I suppose</div>
<div class="p1">
At least not when they're talking about</div>
<div class="p1">
An abundance of good vibes</div>
<div class="p1">
Happy feelings</div>
<div class="p1">
Olive juice</div>
<div class="p1">
But with you</div>
<div class="p1">
Plenty is just about right</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
I remember when I was younger and</div>
<div class="p1">
Uncountable</div>
<div class="p1">
Was my word of choice</div>
<div class="p1">
What is infinity </div>
<div class="p1">
But an eight lying on its side?</div>
<div class="p1">
Uncountable doesn't even have a symbol</div>
<div class="p1">
But how else can I describe</div>
<div class="p1">
The magnitude of what I feel for you</div>
<div class="p1">
Uncountable</div>
<div class="p1">
Is again in my vocabulary</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Much</div>
<div class="p1">
Seems rather insignificant</div>
<div class="p1">
Compared with words like</div>
<div class="p1">
Super</div>
<div class="p1">
Plenty</div>
<div class="p1">
Uncountable</div>
<div class="p1">
Little big words</div>
<div class="p1">
Much isn't as large</div>
<div class="p1">
It's not out of this world</div>
<div class="p1">
Not like intergalactic or hyperspace</div>
<div class="p1">
Or warp-speed or light-year</div>
<div class="p1">
Or teleportation</div>
<div class="p1">
I don't love you to the moon</div>
<div class="p1">
And back</div>
<div class="p1">
To infinity and beyond, maybe</div>
<div class="p1">
Or more</div>
<div class="p1">
Much more</div>
<div class="p1">
Much</div>
<div class="p1">
We use that word when no other will fit</div>
<div class="p1">
A filler for what we can't express</div>
<div class="p1">
Much</div>
<div class="p1">
Is how I love you</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
I wrote this while thinking about one man that I'm so totally in love with. Also, I had just read Frank O'Hara's '<a href="http://edwardbyrne.blogspot.co.uk/2008/06/frank-ohara-having-coke-with-you.html">Having a Coke with You</a>', and I decided to try my hand at un-poetry-like poetry. I don't write poems, so forgive me if it's not a work of art.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-40866507188579662602012-07-10T22:02:00.000+01:002012-07-10T22:05:40.131+01:00i like this song<span style="font-family: inherit;">and his voice is beautiful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='450' height='350' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/91iXRMkmFbs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>Keep Your Eyes Open by NEEDTOBREATHE</b></div>
<div style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(lyrics from azlyrics.com)</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you could soldier on<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Headstrong into the storm<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I’ll be here waiting on the other side<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don’t look back<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The road is long<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The first days of the war are gone<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Take back your former throne and turn the tide<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Cause if you never leave home, never let go<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You’ll never make it to the great unknown till you<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open, my love<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />So tell me you’re strong, tell me you see<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I need to hear it, can you promise me to<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open, my love<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Just past the circumstance<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The first light, a second chance<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />No child could ever dance the way you do, oh<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Tear down the prison walls<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don’t start the curtain call<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Your chains will never fall until you do<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Cause if you never leave home, never let go<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You’ll never make it to the great unknown till you<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open, my love<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />So show me your fire, show me your heart<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You know I’ll never let you fall apart if you<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open, my love<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Open up<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Open up<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Open up your eyes<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The weight is unbroken<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Open up<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Open up<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Open up your eyes<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don’t let the night become the day<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don’t take the darkness to the grave<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I know pain is just a place<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The will has been broken<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don’t let the fear become the hate<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don’t take the sadness to the grave<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I know the fight is on the way<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />When the sides have been chosen<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Cause if you never leave home, never let go<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You’ll never make it to the great unknown <br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Open up your eyes<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />So tell me you’re strong, tell me you see<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I need to hear it, can you promise me to<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open, my love<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />So show me your fire, show me your heart<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You know I’ll never let you fall apart if you<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes open, my love<br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Keep your eyes (Keep your eyes open)</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-59835585475543841302012-07-10T21:49:00.002+01:002012-07-10T21:49:49.857+01:00a random moment...... when I want to disappear.TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-84273266921687435952012-06-27T16:33:00.000+01:002012-06-27T16:36:42.259+01:00People are meanI'm not the biggest fan of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_Out_Boy">Fall Out Boy</a>, and I'd never claim to be. I like some of their songs, and I always will, but the rest are 'just there'.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, I stumbled upon <a href="http://www.patrickstump.com/post/18474641989/we-liked-you-better-fat-confessions-of-a-pariah">this blog post</a> by their (former) frontman <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Stump">Patrick Stump</a>, and it just saddened me. People are mean. This is a musician who lives to perform, loves it, and so-called 'hardcore fans' now buy tickets to his shows just to boo him off the stage, to the point where he's decided not to perform anymore. Just because he changed his sound. Who owns music, anyway? I mean, if you don't want to listen, don't listen, but no one owes you music you like. There's a lot of music in the world.
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<br />
I copied the blog post here for those of you who can't be bothered to click the link. (Emphasis below mine).<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">We Liked You Better Fat: Confessions of a Pariah</span></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s this really nice piece at underthegunreview.net by Jacob Tender that a friend forwarded me today. It’s about how important Fall Out Boy’s album “From Under the Cork Tree,” was to him. After reading it though, nostalgic and well-written as it was, I really found myself more depressed than anything. It’s a complicated feeling, one that I’ve been incapable of explaining to anyone and have them fully understand. In spite of this though, I suppose I will give it the old-I-didn’t-go-to-college-try:</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tender had one line that really hit home for me. I related to it in terms of my feelings towards other artists, but I also winced at the profound implications it touched on in my own professional life:</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I didn’t like those pretentious assholes who didn’t like anything after <em>Take This To Your Grave. </em>I now recognize that I’m one of those assholes, but I still fume when some of my favorite records are so easily discredited by ignorant semi-listeners.”</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">The reality is that for a certain number of people, all I’ve ever done, all I ever will do, and all I ever had the capacity to do worth a damn was a record I began recording when I was 18 years old. </span> </b>That I can live with. That’s fine and fair; I have those records in my collection that seem to stand out far above the rest of my favorite artists catalogues (and especially for artists in whom I only have a passing interest). I suppose there’s nothing wrong in thinking I’m at a point in my life where it seems I’ll never catch up: If anyone’s going to appreciate the work I’m making, it won’t be until long after I’m done doing it. Again, this is fine: I’m insanely lucky to even imagine anyone ever appreciating anything I ever do, let alone in real time. Countless artists far better than I have only achieved posthumous acclaim. <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">If I am to be obscure and financially unsuccessful, there’s nothing disheartening in that. The thing that’s more disheartening is the constant stream of insults I’m enduring in my financially unsuccessful obscurity.</span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fall Out Boy’s last album Folie A Deux was our most critically panned and audiences openly hated it (it was also our poorest selling major label album even if one adjusts for the changing music economy). Now, that’s not to say it didn’t have its fans, but <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">at no other point in my professional career was I nearly booed off stages for playing new songs. </span></b>Touring on Folie was like being the last act at the Vaudville show: We were rotten vegetable targets in Clandestine hoodies.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That experience really took the wind out of the band’s sails; It stopped being fun. I suppose I’m just not that thick skinned. So perhaps it was even more ill-advised when I went out and did something I’d always wanted to do; make my album and have it released by Island Records [my solo record Soul Punk]. I coincidentally happened to achieve another goal which was to lose the weight I’d been carrying around since a month-long drinking binge after a bad breakup. Those accomplishments were happy things. Living in the moments of achieving them were perhaps among the happiest in my life.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">So when I went out into the world to show off the self I felt like I was happiest and most comfortable being, I suppose I knew there would be the “Haters” [I loathe the clumsy/insufficient word but it seems the most universal]; The elitists that would always prove impossible to please.</span> </b> I had always been prepared for “Haters,” because there’s never been a moment since I graduated high school where I haven’t been the guy in “That Emo band.” First said emo band was dismissed as third rate pop-punk played by hardcore kids…a pale imitation of Saves the Day. Then we were swept up in the emo backlash [I really didn’t know we were an emo band…that’s not what the word meant a decade ago]. To this day my favorite writer at cracked.com will occasionally take swipes at my band as one of the worst things to come out of the 2000’s. We were a (albeit funny) running joke on an episode of Children’s Hospital. </span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those examples of “Haters,” were people who never liked me (or at least never liked my music) and, by all rights, never really should. Such is the way of things. Different strokes for different folks as it were. <span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>What I wasn’t prepared for was the fervor of the hate from people who were ostensibly my own supporters (or at least supporters of something I had been part of). The barrage of “We liked you better fat,” the threatening letters to my home, the kids that paid for tickets to my solo shows to tell me how much I sucked without Fall Out Boy, that wasn’t something I suppose I was or ever will be ready for.</b> </span> That’s dedication. That’s real palpable anger. Add into that the economic risk I had taken [In short: I blew my nest egg on that record and touring in support of it] the hate really crushed me. The standard response to any complaints I could possibly have about my position in life seems to be “You poor sad multi-millionaire. I feel so sorry for you.” </span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quite right, I still have access to enough money to live on in order to avoid bankruptcy for at least a few years as long as I stick to my budget, but money really isn’t everything and it never was. Perhaps those are the words of a privileged man who doesn’t really know what poverty really feels like. Again, that would be a fair rebuttal; I wasn’t raised rich, but lower middle class upbringing in early 90’s Midwest US of A is still a far way from the bread line. <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Still, there’s no amount of money in the world that makes one feel content with having no self respect. There’s no amount of money that makes you feel better when people think of you as a joke or a hack or a failure or ugly or stupid or morally empty.</span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This of course isn’t Tender’s fault. He never said anything negative and indeed only said great/supportive things. I guess I’m just angry because he illuminates why I’m a 27 has-been. <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">I’m a touring artist and I feel I’ve become incapable of touring anymore with any act…</span></b>whether I were to go out as a solo artist or do some Fall Out Boy “Reunion” [nope: Still never broke up] or start a new band…<b><span style="color: #93c47d;">there will still be 10-20 percent of the audience there to tell me how shitty whatever it is I’m doing is and how much better the thing I used to do was. </span></b>Not only that, but that 10-20 percent combined with whatever notoriety Fall Out Boy used to have prevents me from having the ability to start over from the bottom again. I can’t even go back to playing basement shows. As the saying goes: I couldn’t get booked at the opening of a letter.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s as though I’ve received some big cosmic sign that says I should disappear. So I’ve kind of disappeared. I know a lot of you have wondered where I’ve been. I’m sure others of you are disappointed to hear I’m still kicking around somewhere (kidding…sort of). But the truth is wherever and whoever I am, whoever I am whenever I release whatever release is my next, whoever said recording is recorded with: <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">I will never be the kid from Take This To Your Grave again. And I’m deeply sorry that I can’t be, I truly am (no irony, no sarcasm). I hate waking up every morning knowing I’m disappointing so many people.</span></b> I hate feeling like the awkward adult husk of a discarded once-cute child actor. I’m debating going back to school and learning a proper trade. It’s tempting to say I won’t ever play/tour/record again, but I think that’s probably just pent up poor-me emotional pessimism talking (I suppose can be excused of that though right? I am the guy from That Emo Band after all).</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve managed to cobble together some work…I’ve been moonlighting as a professional songwriter/producer for hire and I’ve even been doing a bit of acting here and there. I have no interest (and evidently that sentiment is reciprocated) in performing music publicly any time soon but as I’ve said I’m sure that will happen when it happens. I have been debating releasing the unfinished follow-up to Soul Punk. We’ll see what happens there. Still no word on Fall Out Boy…I know Joe’s working on his new record and Pete’s mixtape just came out so I don’t expect anything on that front in the near future. I, as always, would be super psyched to do the band again though. I’ve been watching a lot of Downton Abbey and I’ve finally caught up on the Office. Friends have been turning me on to all the records I’ve been too busy to listen to over the past couple years.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do suggest reading Tender’s column if it sounds interesting to you; He’s a great writer and it’s a fun/relatable little story regardless of who the band is within it (film adaptations of Nick Hornby novels should be proof of that).</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://underthegunreview.net/2012/02/28/editorial-the-cure-to-growing-older-a-musical-retrospective/" style="line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://underthegunreview.net/2012/02/28/editorial-the-cure-to-growing-older-a-musical-retrospective/</a> </span></blockquote>
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So, that's it. We expect people to live by our own standards and when they don't, we make them feel like second-class citizens. It's not just about the music, its everything. We expect people to think like us, dress like us, have the same religious beliefs, live like us, like the same music we do, watch the same TV shows, have the same interests we do. Even worse, we expect people to stay the same. Change happens. We have to learn to accept people for who they are and realize that no one should have to change (or even stay the same) for us.<br />
<br />
Everyone should be allowed to be who they are.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(obvious exception is where who you are is stopping other people from being who they are. In that case, sorry).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJQ99SUd6UQSKj4CukkK3PGjt1xzYOq5txBVJNiqytEYv6f2q1K76BwX9OGyN2F2xBgALAjVu7atUebtNTacZ-allU7ZjOdJkQvx18toL1jGoPFTmNcikHQjaTPeX_lP9lbieOmxsUEM/s1600/be_you_not_them2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJQ99SUd6UQSKj4CukkK3PGjt1xzYOq5txBVJNiqytEYv6f2q1K76BwX9OGyN2F2xBgALAjVu7atUebtNTacZ-allU7ZjOdJkQvx18toL1jGoPFTmNcikHQjaTPeX_lP9lbieOmxsUEM/s320/be_you_not_them2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-87857726781924272352012-06-24T14:03:00.002+01:002012-06-24T14:07:19.882+01:00Small (and not-so-small) talk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oioEQvyLRkI/T-cPtv7VOKI/AAAAAAAAAUI/G_EHeeBVTZ4/s1600/small_talk_rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oioEQvyLRkI/T-cPtv7VOKI/AAAAAAAAAUI/G_EHeeBVTZ4/s400/small_talk_rules.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not half as elegant or fancy as the ladies in this illustration. I am also much worse than they seem to be at making small talk. Image from <a href="http://boldonabudget.com/2011/06/14/10-big-rules-of-small-talk/">here</a>.</td></tr>
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I just got back from church about 20 minutes ago. Now I'm sitting at my desk, listening to Amazing Grace on the the radio and thinking about what to write. I haven't blogged in a while, mostly because I have nothing to say, and mostly because I have too much to say and I fear my message will be lost in the words. If I even have a message.<br />
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I've been thinking of so many things, of my life and my future, but I think I've said enough on that previously. There's no need to talk about that today. I shall try my best and hope it works out.</div>
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I am afraid. Of lives being cut short before their time. I'm not going to talk too much about the plane crash on June 3, because everything that can be said has been said. It was unfortunate. It was sad. It was devastating. It was unnecessary. It could have easily been avoided. But it was not surprising. Call me callous, but that's how I see it. (Btw, my hands are shaking as I type this, and I don't know why). Something like it was going to happen sooner or later, because of the greed that is part and parcel of the Nigerian society. It's not the government or the leaders, its everybody, right from the child that cheats in his primary one exam to the president that tends his garden with a billion naira. Everyone's greed and corruption is simply limited by what he has access to.</div>
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This is not a political argument. If I had my way, I would take all my loved ones away and we'd all go and live somewhere I wouldn't be afraid for their lives at every moment.</div>
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That being said, I am grateful for their lives and their love, their support. I thank God that I am fortunate enough to know and be loved by my family, my boyfriend, my awesome sister-friends, my friends.</div>
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I am thankful for new friends.</div>
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All I hope is that take advantage of the time I've been given. That I use it well, leave this world different from how I met it, make a difference. And that while doing what I can to change the world, I don't neglect myself, that I become the best version of myself.</div>
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Okay, I needed to get that out of the way.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
An update on happier things:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<ul>
<li>I went to the Coldplay concert. It was awesome. I would do it over and over and over again.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw84_hKYvukV7j8Rc11e9C4ZNjMRjHe6kFx079BeVbzFVTOLVv1aeMrwum2tKTnI0k6e0-AlJIjnCGyCLnH3s0MHBE4xgt6NxyMqSK7V_nHWimGMepAU68NgmeLMnQap60dEzHW8DyQ0/s1600/210120529-Coventry-Crowd_Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw84_hKYvukV7j8Rc11e9C4ZNjMRjHe6kFx079BeVbzFVTOLVv1aeMrwum2tKTnI0k6e0-AlJIjnCGyCLnH3s0MHBE4xgt6NxyMqSK7V_nHWimGMepAU68NgmeLMnQap60dEzHW8DyQ0/s640/210120529-Coventry-Crowd_Large.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Stadium was packed (about 40,000 people). I'm horrible with a camera, so I stole this panorama off the Coldplay website. But this is the actual venue that night.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">So you know I was actually there. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">Flashing wristbands + lasers + fireworks + extremely happy people = Awesomeness!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<ul>
<li>My sister came to visit last week. She left yesterday. We went to Alton towers (haven't been to a theme park in like 2 years, but I think I've grown up a bit - for the first time, I didn't think I was going to die on a ride) and to see the Phantom of the Opera (which is a beautiful beautiful show, the music, the acting, the sets were just perfect). And it was just nice to have company and someone to spend money on me, because I am the most anti-social person in the world and I have recently become a broke-ass.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I'm finally done with classes!!!! I still have 2 essays and my dissertation to write, and I'm studying for a project management exam, but I'm done with proper classes. For that I am happy.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I was very scared last week about some trouble I may have gotten myself into. But fortunately, I did not get myself into said trouble, so I'm happy. I'm also hoping that I've learnt my lesson.</li>
</ul>
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I think that's about it. Not much has happened in a month. Or maybe some stuff has happened, and I just don't know how to put it in words. Or maybe I don't want to jinx a few things that are in progress. We'll see.</div>
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Take care, live well, and be happy.</div>
</div>TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-38488998699643760532012-05-23T13:45:00.002+01:002012-05-23T13:45:52.667+01:00Twenty Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTG6eNvVEY76c6aWhCymvRuKnninaTGVr8jFFZX3QtUlwT6K18gm6_DtE7Ly51edDBOQCpV53tGGlmwsdZZDyN9BoSBbGaEowfFRb-4PcjBZvczYoRFg9xYjV6QRVhxKj25ZHe_3TEJ8/s1600/3117977_640px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTG6eNvVEY76c6aWhCymvRuKnninaTGVr8jFFZX3QtUlwT6K18gm6_DtE7Ly51edDBOQCpV53tGGlmwsdZZDyN9BoSBbGaEowfFRb-4PcjBZvczYoRFg9xYjV6QRVhxKj25ZHe_3TEJ8/s320/3117977_640px.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I turned 22 three days ago. I feel the same. I'm thankful. I'm getting older. Life is knocking at my door. That is scary. More so because in my head, 23 is the perfect age, the point in my life when I've got it all together. I have just one year to make that happen. Sigh.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anyhow, nothing's been up lately, back in school mode, still looking for a job for after school. I used to be much surer of what I wanted to do, but now I just want a good well-paying job that I won't hate. That is all. I hate that I don't know yet what that is. Looking for a part-time job too, because I have somehow spent a lot more money than I intended, and I am too proud/ashamed (strange how those two words mean the same thing right now) to ask the parents for more.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Last week Friday, I realized that I'm going to miss my classmates. Weird because I only really was friends with about two of them, but I feel like I should have tried harder. Most of them are quite lovely people.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I bought tickets for Coldplay (one thing off my yet-unwritten bucket list!), but they're still in the mail. concert isn't till Tuesday, so we'll see. I'm just really excited. I have to listen to Mylo Xyloto and cram all the lyrics before then. :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The boyfriend came to see me on my birthday. Huge surprise, because he wasn't supposed to come till his birthday next month. He's awesome.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ummm.... 24yearoldteenager tagged me in that Elevens thing about two weeks ago, but she was nice enough to make it only six things. So, here goes:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><u style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Rules</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<ol style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Post the rules</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You must post 11 random things about yourself.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Answer the questions that your tagger posted for you. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">11 questions, then choose 11 people and tag them to answer your questions. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to let them know you tagged them.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No tag backs...</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let the tagger know when you answered their questions</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">My Answers</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">1. If you could have superpowers? What would it be?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">I'd like to be able to read minds. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">2. What do you think of/feel when you hear the word, "white"?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">Ted Dekker. And death. And life.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">3. If you had a million pounds in your account right now. What would your next five year plans be?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">That's a difficult question. I'd try to find myself and my purpose, volunteer, spend my time doing what makes me happy, try to find a revenue-generating activity that makes me happy.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">4. Do you believe in love? Why?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">Yes. Because sometimes that's the only explanation.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">5. If you could change one thing about your life what would it be?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Nothing major, but I would have volunteered more. I would have taken away all my mistakes, but I think they helped make me who I am today.</span><span style="line-height: 21px;">6. What do you think about "weed"?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">Hmmm. Like everything else, moderation is what matters. I'd rather do weed than cigarettes, though.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;">Please forgive me for not having any questions for people. I'm sorry.</span></div>
</span></span></div>TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-77065372550309825902012-04-30T14:20:00.003+01:002012-04-30T14:20:50.429+01:00To attain happiness...<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">To attain happiness in another world we need only to believe something, while to secure it in this world we must do something.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://encyclopedia2.tfd.com/Gilman,+Charlotte+Perkins" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_top">Charlotte Perkins Gilman</a> (1860-1935)</div>
</blockquote>TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-91342649694744960282012-04-30T14:18:00.000+01:002012-04-30T14:18:06.470+01:00You better...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP2ltfMqb5FYlLUJ1xivMfSJxK8nmo1II-u_Dd1liyy1dalq0mJVgLQfE1RUiHWbg2H4TnIGMnTgIaYApqY1oU1LOv0PkZE8WdBlSiwdvycaFSUpEQnytyz6NfzJtC9yK8qHuVaH55xA/s1600/check-yo-self-before-you-wreck-yo-self-t-shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP2ltfMqb5FYlLUJ1xivMfSJxK8nmo1II-u_Dd1liyy1dalq0mJVgLQfE1RUiHWbg2H4TnIGMnTgIaYApqY1oU1LOv0PkZE8WdBlSiwdvycaFSUpEQnytyz6NfzJtC9yK8qHuVaH55xA/s400/check-yo-self-before-you-wreck-yo-self-t-shirt.jpg" width="359" /></a></div>
<br />TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-606261535758818032012-04-30T14:14:00.003+01:002012-04-30T14:16:52.307+01:00On living for you: a letter to a friendI'm not going to pretend like I don't care what people think; I do. I think I've just learnt (and I'm still learning) whose opinion counts and whose doesn't. I used to look to my friends to validate everything I was doing, from the guy I was dating to the school I was applying to, and it never worked out. The thing is, no one was living my life but me. Even if I told these friends every minute detail of my life or experiences, I was sure to miss something, something would go unsaid, some feelings/actions/thoughts I wouldn't have the capacity to relay to them. But I still wanted the go-ahead from 20 or so different people before I did anything. That was stupid. Everyone has ways they deal with things, everyone has ways they think you should deal with things, everyone has different priorities and more often than not, you aren't one of those priorities.<br />
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I was in a place where I would get contradicting advice from so many people, and attempt to do everything they said. My life was a mess. I knew what was right for me, but I just needed to know what else everyone thought.<br />
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At some point, I decided to just think about it. Why was I happier when I didn't tell everyone my worries? How come everybody's 'help' just seemed to make things worse?<br />
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Now, I'm not saying you should never ask for help, because we all need help sometimes. But no one needs to know every detail of your life. No one should be offended because you took a decision that didn't affect them before consulting them. Because, guess what, no one is living your life but you. But if you really need to share EVERYTHING, take some time out of what you're doing and figure out who really cares for you. In most cases, it's family. Start with them. When you finally find the friends you can trust, remember that <i>they</i> don't have to be friends themselves. And if they're not, you don't need to bring them all together and put your problems up as a topic of discussion. I don't believe in groups of friends. Three is a crowd, in any situation. Twenty to one discussions begin to feel more like an attack and less like friendly advice.<br />
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I have a few friends now, and while they know more or less everything about me, they don't know what they don't need to. Even if I ask for advice, I base my decisions on my own happiness and what feels right. Because the only one living my life is me.<br />
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I know I'm the last person you'd probably take advice from, but I wish we were friends, so I could call you and tell you not to care, to live for you and do what makes you happy. No one knows why you made the decisions you did, so no one is in a position to judge you. Sure, to us, it seemed a bit sudden and very unexpected, but it's your life. You have your reasons, and even if we don't understand, we support you and we want you to be happy. So don't get bothered with how people (friends and not-friends) see you. Just do what makes you happy.<br />
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<br />TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6924221127256595857.post-72941757648038397982012-04-28T16:56:00.000+01:002012-04-28T16:58:11.930+01:00Dear Women (an inspiring piece by Poetri)I saw this on Facebook and it made so much sense. More women should see this.<br />
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<br />TecknicoleurGrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376844006147100596noreply@blogger.com3