A Rose By Any Other Name

Feel The Fear ... But Do It Anyway!!!!

2010-03-21T18:42:00.003-05:00

So I'm starting a new job tomorrow after months of not working. My stomach is churning in fear because these jobs are stressful!!! I know, I know I should be lucky to have a job in this economy but damn I wish I didn't have to work. But its okay, I'ma be there, bright and early.

This upcoming event in Memphis is beginning to stress me out. I have talked it so much and started investing too towards it so with a few obstacles that have come up, I feel like giving up. So I have to pray about it and NOT worry about it. I really still wanna go for it. I just hope it pans out the way I want it to.

Wish me luck!

Blogging Is Soooo Easy

2010-03-18T00:11:00.002-05:00

Not!!!! Haven't been here in almost a year. Ha ha. Tons of things have happened since then. Got married, about to start a new job and I guess all that jazz. Just wanted to say hi. Lots of things are happening, its hard to know where to start.

My weight is still up. i think I'm gonna concentrate on getting that down cos I'm too fat ... not 10 or 20 lb fat but real fat as in 70 lbs. Gotta work that out, I really do. I have got back on phentermine. Wow, its amazing. That thing takes away all my appetite. I have to force myself to eat when my head starts aching. I have also started walking.

You know, I live a few minutes from the Mississippi River with a beautiful trail for more than 3 years and never really took advantage of it. Now I can miss walking on the days I can't do it. The breeze coming from the river calms me down and I walk for one and a half hours. Even my honey was impressed. I just wonder if the scale will be impressed

But God is my strength and I know I can do it.

There is a cute festival coming up soon that I really want to enter for .... if I can get past my procrastination. But I can and will do it. Just have to line up some stuff. More on that to come.

How have you been?

Wedding Websites

2009-05-07T21:57:00.008-05:00

Well nobody seems to be doing updates so why not? :)

http://yemiandtaiwoforever.com/enter/

http://www.mywedding.com/morenikeandadeniyi/stories.html

http://www.dayoanddupe.com/dayoanddupe/

http://www.dayoanddidi.com/

http://ucheandlekan.com/

http://www.layiandjumi.com/layiandjumi/

http://omosedeandewaen.com/

http://beatriceandkevin.com/

http://wunmianddeji.com/

http://nonyeandneme.com

http://www.chiomaandchuma.com

http://www.uloandobiforever.com

http://neneandobi.com

http://www.ewedding.com/sites/KehindeTunde/

http://www.tutuandwole.com

http://www.ebiandzena.weddingwindow.com/

Happy viewing

When You Leave .....Love ad nauseum

2009-02-26T23:30:00.002-06:00

Love unloved
Can't bear to think of you leaving
Can't bear to see you not here
My heart's breaking
My soul's shaking
I'm gonna miss you

With all my soul
all my breath and all my tears
I pray we meet again
breathe again, love again
My heart's aching
I'm gonna miss you

In Memoriam
Chiagbanwe Ukaoma 1985 - 2009

Happy New Year wink, wink

2009-01-26T19:26:00.002-06:00

Well, at least I said Happy New Year in January. Things are going ok. This year I decided would be my year of entrepreneurship so I had decided to trade on Ebay, craigslist and any other possible place. It can be fun for real.
I always feel as if I have nothing to say any time I get on here, thats funny because so many things happen all in a day. Well just wishing everybody the best of 2009

Christmas Love

2008-12-15T18:26:00.004-06:00

I think Christmas is always fun times you know, you visit people, chill with friends and buy gifts ... sometimes. I really don't get into all the gift buying and my excuse is that we didn't really do that in Nigeria, haha But anyway, much love people. Life... not easy. Love .... sometimes overrated. Too many things going on people.

You know sometimes when you take a moment to reflect on your life (and here I go being all mushy and sentimental again) you can't help but thank God. At least thats how it feels to me. Don't get me wrong, if I start listing things that not ok in my life, we will be here forever but it always feels like invariably, God has shown me mercy and for that I cannot stop thanking Him. Like the song goes "After all these starts and stops, we keep coming back" it seems that is the relationship we have with God, we move away so quickly, get caught up in so many other things but God can call you to attention with a quickness! All those things we take for granted about our lives like our family, jobs, health and other things.

Lord I thank you. For all those other times I haven't thanked you, I thank you today. I pray you will always lead in my life. Amen and amen.

Have you thanked Him today?

lala

The Way I Am

2008-12-01T00:41:00.002-06:00

So believe it or not, growing up, I couldn't wait to be an adult because I sincerely believed that being older automatically came with maturity and more sense. Yeah right! Now I'm older, I realize that age has little or nothing to do with maturity.

Now I know that maturity comes with learning to toss the divalicious behaviors, holding your tongue with you are almost bursting with some well deserved insults and abuses for somebody, taking a deep breath before you toss that plate at somebody's head or a heavy handed slap.

Now I know that maturity is learning, both from your own experiences as well as other people's experiences. Holding your head up high in the middle of negativity and carrying yourself with some dignity and class. So not easy but so worth it in the end.

I talk about this because I remember cussing out one of my "friends" so badly that she never spoke to me anymore. I don't regret it because she deserved it and she admitted it herself. But I wonder if I should have handled the situation differently.

One of my biggest problems in friendshipland is that I have a tendency to be too brutally honest in my opinions. Not always the best way but I really detest all these so called friendships that people laugh in each others face and stab each other behind their backs. It really scares me.

Don't give me your friendship if all I am is fodder for your gossip with other people. Because unfortunately I have a tendency to tell all my business which I am learning is NOT the best way to operate cos the truth is, you really can never tell who your friend is until something happens.

And that is the truth.
Love, lala

In For A Penny ...

2008-11-25T19:01:00.002-06:00

A little achy from working out, I just realized how moody I'm feeling. I have been moody lately and that always happens to me when I miss appointments and stuff. Generally, when I don't live up to expectations. I was supposed to go to the orthodontist on Monday and I couldn't get out of bed. That left me so depressed and then I started thinking of so many other things floating around in my mind.

Things like the fact that I have done nothing towards my wedding besides tearing out dresses and other stuff I like out of magazines. Firstly, I don't even know if I want a big wedding. I really want to be able to share that day with my loved ones and honey's loved one but I don't know how to achieve that without a traditionally whitey type wedding.
I need to lose some (scratch that, a lot) of weight in order to look good and right now, I am moving at a snail's place and I don't think that would cut it, at all.

The weather also tends to leave me a little bluesy, don't know why. I know, I know all those explanations about why it happens. True it does happen. So, so far, here I am worrying about everything under the sun and moon and I don't know where to start.

I got it, I need a lifecoach. Someone that can point out all my mistakes and tell me how to do better. Ok, one more thing to do. Anyway, I need suggestions. Please help

lala

Believing The Hype

2008-11-21T17:36:00.004-06:00

I won't lie, I have got caught up in the hype of people sometimes. Really, really believing what they say, you know ... expecting a great deal out of them and phew! nothing, nada... just "B.S"ing at its best.
One of the worst ones that really made me sit up was a wedding I went to last year. I was wrong on my own part sah because I hate to admit it but I wasn't invited. Haa, sigh of relief... finally said it. I know, I know but at my core, I don't still believe in these attendance by invitations only weddings. I mean ... I know nobody had unlimited funds but its seems pretty mean to me. I will be too glad that people took time out of their busy schedule to come to my wedding so ain't no way, I am turning them away.

Anyway, back to my shameful experience. The was a lot of hype, hype, hype about the wedding. Don't want to give too many details away but bloggers were going to be there, fashionistas etc and "professional people" So knowing the bride, sent out an email and prepared to go to the wedding.

Man, talk about embarrassing.. I went up to the bride and said congrats, she just answered very coolly. At the receptions, name dropping after name dropping yet the food was so tiny, the music was so dry. The clothes were so unimpressive. Mind you, I'm not even big on a lot of stuff but it was the noise and hype about this wedding that made me have an expectations. And were those expectations crushed. People were so fixated on titles but it was so boring. I haven't been to a wedding so boring in ages.

The decorations were parse, the wedding cake was like a Sam's club cake. It was weird, all I could think was ... whats going on?.

My beau and I quickly hightailed it as soon as we could and went to a ... McDonalds cos were we so starving.

So the moral of the story is .. "mo gbo, mo ya (or whatever that is) days are over. If you don't have an IV in hand, sit you ass at home!!!!!!

First time I have shared this story, for a long time I was so embarrassed to talk about it.

J And The Monster

2008-11-17T18:26:00.002-06:00

I heard a piece of news today which made me very happy. One of honey's friends (abi, acquaintances) whose girlfriend had moved to Dallas. I almost cried for her. So many things she had been through, bless her heart which no woman should have to go through for anybody.

This poor lady stood by him through thick and thin with his non-working ass all in the name of being a musician. Hello!!!! If you are in your forties and the music thing hasn't quite panned out yet, you might want to get a JOB!!! Who really depends on gigs and stuff for a livelihood in a place like Memphis, how many Nigerians do we even have here, that they will do throwing parties enough for you to pay your bills off of?

Anyway back to the story, this lady "J" worked her butt off at a minimum wage job to support the two of them while he did not work partly because of the music thing and partly because he did not want to pay child support to his baby mama (loser!!!!!)

Well, this guy went overseas to check out the music scene and of cos left J to take care of all the bills while he was gone. He came back, nobody saw any changes in him, just mouthing off as usual. Then a woman called that she was having his baby .... oloshi, that was all he could achieve overseas.

To top it all, he got some money back when the airline lost hid babg on his way back from overseas and so they gave him some money back and he bought a ticket to Nigeria (hadn't been back in 12 yrs or more) and drumroll please ..... married a woman there within 2 weeks!!!!!!

J almost lost her mind, she wasn't Nigerian so he used his language to keep her from knowing what he was up to. But the true shocker was that, this girl still was living with him after he came back from marrying a wife. People convinced him to tell her because everybody know she was so good to him. So he told her he was married and the poor thing cried and cried and called everybody from their pastor to all his friends.

I guess what baffled me so much was how she still stayed with this guy AFTER he told her he got married in Nigeria. He displayed all the traditional wedding pictures in the living room, played the tape when people came over as she made pounded yam in the kitchen. It was hard to picture why someone would have absolutely no shame.

And the guy treated her like dirt, yelled at her all the time in front of us when she tried to play with him or anything. Oh my, it still hurts me to think about it. So thats why I'm so proud of her for being able to pick the shreds of her dignity and move somewhere else. Maybe he forced her, I have no idea but she did and I just pray for her that she makes better choices that this.

There were many other things but I'm just glad she has closed this chapter, heard she still visits from Dallas but I pray this chapter will finally be closed in her life.

Smile Chronicles: Brace-Face Alert

2008-11-02T18:51:00.002-06:00

So I finally got my braces on. It was not as complicated or as painful as I expected but damn! its been hard enjoying my food. I have cut up all my food into little pieces, can't bite into anything with my front teeth, have to send all my food to the back teeth and I always feel like I have something lodged between my teeth (duh!) so I'm always sucking my teeth and trying to get phantom stuff out.
On the plus side, I have become better at taking care of my teeth. I brush twice daily and I floss. Gasp! Yes, I floss. And to think a couple of weeks ago, I didn't even know how to floss. But you know what they say ... practice makes perfect, so now I'm so much better at it and its easier for me to floss.
It does hurt sometimes and I have to put wax over the tooth responsible for making the inside of my mouth hurt. But right now, I have no regrets. I have always wanted to do this.

Bug Chasers and Life in General

2008-10-24T18:31:00.003-05:00

So this blogging thing is not as easy as I thought it would be. I enjoy reading blogs but after reading them, then I am too tired to update my blog. Sometimes not enough is going on in my life or things I can't really share.

One major thing has been my virus infected computer. It became so slow that surfing the net was no longer a pleasure and I certainly don't want to update my blog at work. Never know who and who is around. So I found this Hispanic guy to come and look at it and he fixed it up real nicely and I am very happy and satisfied with his work. So I'm back ... no more bugs, baby

But its been quite interesting lately in my life .... its always interesting. I am engaged for one. Shocker!!!!!! Even I did not believe I would like anybody long enough to think about getting married to them. But honey and I have been going steady for a year now and I still like him, hmm I think I might keep him. Ha! Ha! Its funny how how you know that somebody is the one for you: when you have even the worst quarrels and you STILL know you are still going to talk to him the next day (or maybe the next week if he made me really mad .... just kidding!)

Getting married in .... who knows? We hope by next xmas in Nigeria so that all our loved ones in Nigeria can come and our loved ones abroad can save their money to come. Lots of things going on in my life. More to come ...

Lala

Smile Chronicles: We Need Some Teeth To Work With

2008-08-03T23:45:00.002-05:00

That was my orthodontist to me on my first visit to her. Apparently all those dentist that preferred tooth extractions to root canals have really messed up my chances of getting a gorgeous smile. But not to worry, she also said I will need prosthetics ... implants, bridges(?) and the likes. In fact, mine is a surgical case as far as she concerned. Because I use my powerful muscle (my tongue ... didn't know that, did ya?) to push my teeth so I have to learn to stop thrusting out my tongue so much and we'll see where we can go from there.

How much will it cost me, you say? $3600 after excluding the $2000 my insurance will pay. Oh I'm doing it. I hate my teeth. They hae shifted so much that my gap now looks like I lost some teeth .... so not cute.

This is the year of Lala. I'm getting it all. LASIK, braces, breast implants .... ok, just kidding on the breast implant part. I will wow all of y'all. Ok maybe not all. Hopefully I will wow my honey.

How have y'all been?

Five on Friday: You've Got Talent

2008-07-11T23:05:00.002-05:00

1. What do you consider to be your strongest talent? Writing

2. Do you have any other talents that you're particularly fond of? Crossword puzzles and playing chess

3. Describe one talent you wish you possessed? A great singing voice

4. How do you display or make use of your talents? By writing short stories and forcing other people to read them :)

5. What do you think drives so many people to watch and/or participate in talent shows and competitions? A natural urge to be the best and take their talent to the sky

Smile Chronicles: The Black And White Of It

2008-07-07T20:24:00.002-05:00

Well, I went to the oral surgeon today to discuss giving me a perfect smile. Hmm, this thing go worry. It looks like it will be a long drawn out procedure. I have to go to an orthodontist first, who will start working on my teeth in preparation for the surgery. The orthodontist will put in the braces and align the teeth as much as possible in anticipation of the surgery. This will take any where from 1 yr to 1.5 years. Yes you heard me right! Then the surgery will put me in the hospital for a couple of days and recovery for 3 weeks. Liquid diet for good knows how long and then voila .... a great smile!

It sure sounds like a lot but I really hate my teeth. I have teeth that would not close making me to have a stupid lisp. And my teeth is also shifting so the gap in front is getting wider and wider by the day. I look like a hot mess! I know ... its not lack of self-esteem, its just honesty.

My honey thinks I should just work with the orthodontist and waive the surgery and I don't know. It can be a possibility cos things can go wrong during surgery so as much as possible I would like to stay away from elective surgery.

Well, I will talk to the orthodontist and see what she has to say. Wish me luck
Lala

Like Hot Water For .....

2008-06-24T23:25:00.002-05:00

Chocolate!!!!!!! Do you ever get those periods that you just want to drown yourself in food (I'm a stress eater) or something just so you can forget the day? Well today was one of such days. My f**ked up assistant did not come to work leaving me running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to do everything. Answer the phone, fill all the prescriptions, counsel patients etc. It was no fun day
My half assed manager did not bother to inform me that I was going to get to help. For some strange reason, that man accepted a position as a manager when he knew he has no business being a manager. He will not answer his phone or return calls or take of things that he's supposed to. This assistant calls in all the time and he has never cautioned her about her attendance and the assistant always manages to fall sick on Mondays or Thursday. How convenient!!!!
Whoa, that was a load off!
Anyway, how has your day been?

Smile Chronicles: Tongue Thrasher Alert!

2008-06-17T16:06:00.002-05:00

Are you a tongue thrasher? Well apparently I am, so my dentist needs me to see an orthodontist to see if I need surgery to properly align my teeth so orthodontist, heeeeeeeeeeeere I come!

But anyway, the dental hygienist that cleaned ny teeth scrapped that thing so hard, I almost fell off the chair. Uh, I could taste the blood flowing freely from my gums, the sound of the metal scrapper squeaking against my teeth and the only thing that was going through my mind was, "how could anything possibly be worse that this?"

Life no easy oh. So she colored my teeth so I could see the plaque on my teeth, boy that damn thing lit up like a fire house!!!! Man, was I ashamed of myself or what. So I'm going to get an electric toothbrush since Lala cannot seem to handle brushing her teeth properly.

So we will see how the visit to the orthodontist will go.

Lala

Overstepping Your Bounds

2008-06-12T20:06:00.002-05:00

Last week at church I was kinda disappointed in the preacher, he kept making references to "20 dollar tithes" even when he was supposed to be praying. He must have made that staement like twice and I felt like, "ok, granted some people do not give as much as they are supposed to but some are doing the best they can. And maybe their best is $20."
I mean, how dare a man who is not working sneer at twenty dollars when does not even bring in a penny. I was pretty pissed. He really overstepped his boundaries.
Another thing that just baffled me was the talk about the church anniversary which they wanted to spend $10, 000 on. This included flying people in and accomodating them in hotels. I looked at alll the people in that little church. How many people there are in a position to be flown anywhere by their job or anything? I think we can do things on our level.
The church needs to be focusing on bringing people who can help us develop better work skills and resources not to spend $10, 000 on anniversary celebrations. I mean we are talking about a little church.
Anyway, thats their own. The day I have energy I will go to that church, if not I go to another one. Shikena. I hate pretentiousness.

I Need A Galpal

2008-05-24T17:51:00.002-05:00

I really need a galpal. My honey says its not necessary because he's my best friend. Ummm, thats all good but I need someone to discuss from shoes to politics and how it affects women. And he ain't the one to do it with.
However, I must say my choice of galpals sometimes can leave a whole lot to be desired. I seem to choose people that are not really trying to be my friend and I do feel like I am forcing myself on them some time. How sad ... but true.
I feel like all my true "ace bonbons" are left behind in Nigeria. I still have never connected with anyone the way I connected with my old friends back home. I guess thats why I keep up with ALL of them. I know where each and every one of them is and what they are up to.

But back to my story. I work two days on and two days off. And you know there is something so super enjoyable about being off work on a weekday, it has that "take that, world!" feel about it cos I'm in my house chilling while someone somewhere is asking that age old question "when will it be friday?" Haha

Nevertheless, I wish I could find some gal to go out with on those days to do some window or actual shopping. And this weather is so nice. This would be a great time to go bargain hunting or house hunt (thats something I like to do a lot) with a good galpal. But its ok.

Galpals too come with their wahala. Wahalas you don't know thats lurking in the corner and when you least expect it, bam!!!! it hits you right in the face. I don't know. There's something about a lot of adult friendships that ring false. It feels more like 'frenemies" they come close to you to see how you are doing and to compare themselves with you. If they feel like you are doing better then they start spinning some huge tales as if .... you really care that they drive a Sequoia or A.cura MD.X. or their darling husband was recently made the chairman of M.icrosoft blah, blah etc

Still, its all good. You live and you learn and you run as fast as your two left legs can carry you when you run into one of them pyscho chicks and thank God its not you with such problems and if its you .... hmmm I will say plenty prayers for you.

Holler!

Smile Chronicles: The Appointment

2008-05-16T22:14:00.002-05:00

So I called the dental office today to make an appointment. Surprisingly the secretary remembered me (nice move on her part) and I will be be seeing the good doc in about 4 weeks on the 16th. I hope I don't have other plans by then. I really hate these appointments you have to make light years away but you know, as they say ... you've got to do what you've got to do.

Still need to change my glasses. This whole anti reflective thing on glasses peel off after a while and then your glasses start looking like something the cat dug up. Next time, I getting 2 pairs and some contacts period. Maybe its time to start hunting for some nice frames. I will look into that.

How's life treating ya?
lala

Half A Story: Honey & I

2008-05-15T17:28:00.002-05:00

The weirdest thing about life to me has always been how life always works itself out. I look back in my life and I wonder what was I so worried about? And truly these days, I go forth with confidence because I know God will take care of me. I'm not saying I'm not going to suffer any mishaps or bad fortune but I'm saying God will take care of me. He will give me comfort on the worst nights and hold me close.

When I first came to Memphis, little did I know that I would call this place home. The last 2 years have been nothing short of a nightmare but still God taught me so many valuable lessons. I look forward now to everyday at work and at home.

Now some work days are shitty no doubt about that especially with my tech (thats a story for another day) and some home days leave much to be desired but the sum total of the parts from day to day leaves me eternally grateful to God.

In this city I have made lifelong friends and possibly my life partner. Weekends are invariably spent hanging at friends houses eating and watching movies or just cooking and kicking back. I have been truly blessed.

At my part time job, I have a lot of fun with my crew there. Not saying they are all perfect but I'm saying they are easy to work with.

As my relations deepen, I marvel at the fact that I did not meet anybody worthwhile in big ol' DC that was virtually teeming with naijas but in this tiny, tiny Memphis I meet my honey. Anyway, this is just my half of the story.

To be continued
lala

Genesis of the Chronicles

2008-05-12T22:06:00.002-05:00

Growing up, I always believed beauty took a distant second to having good qualities. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I believed a guy would appreciate me if I was decent, studious and nice more than if I was beautiful. Hmmmmmmm, I have kinda softened on that stance cos the looks will attract the person to you. Unfortunately, I grasped that too late so I have really become lazy about my looks.

Sometimes I long to be that girl that will drive to the furtherest part of town to have her hair done by a certain hairdresser just because the person does the best hair, I long to be that girl that never has chipped nail polish. Fit, really into her looks and always glamorous .... I long to be that girl. The other times, I resent her ... why spend so much time and money on silly things? How many men do I possibly need in this lifetime? Why be so particular about looks etc?

I don't know.

But this year is a year of change and I will embrace change a little bit at a time. My first step - my teeth. Damn these teeth are so jacked up. I have had dental insurance for a long time, why then have I never got my teeth fixed? I really cannot answer that satisfactorily so let me just be quiet. So I have already found a dentist and I will make sure I get the braces I need this year. I just love beautiful smiles. Hopefully I will talk about my visits to the dentist in "The chronicles of the pretty smile" and then I will move to the next goal I want to achieve.

So thats that. I have had a pretty decent Monday. Hope the rest of my week is just as nice. Hope you have a nice week too!
Lala

2008-05-10T13:56:00.002-05:00

Well, I have had a whirlwind of a time. I have been to Nigeria (yes!) and back. Oh, that was so much fun. Didn't care too much for the intense heat that left me so lethargic but it was good to see my sisters and their kids, my grandmother and other family members. I didn't really spend a lot of money I think but I enjoyed spending what I had. There is nothing like spending without a care. Made new friends and reconnected with old ones.

Unfortunately I fell ill too. I had an ear infection and a cold that is still lingering on. People still ask me if I have a cold when I talk. But still .... mmm, mmm, mmm I had such a gooooooooood time. Its terrible to be so far from loved ones

My little side hustle is coming to fruition as I have bought my first SUV that I will be shipping to Naija. My brother-in-law was quite excited about the car business cos he is a car fanatic. So next week or so, I will be going to Nashville to the person who ships cars and send it off. I feel pretty excited.

I don't want to work for a paycheck for ever. I want money saved up, a nice home and ability to help people financially. But I don't want to work forever, seriously.

I have another side hustle on my mind but let me see how this one fares first then I bring out the next deal.

Well off I go to my world of P-Square, 2face etc. Just chilling with my naija cds.

Stay blessed,
lala

Happy Me Birthday

2008-04-11T14:03:00.002-05:00

Wow, I never thought I would be such a sporadic blogger. I guess in some ways, I not quite willing to go the route of complete openness and honesty (not that I need to anyway) but at the same time, I don't want to tell unnecessary lies to people to make my blog interesting or whatever. I really hate that.

So I just blog whenever. I will officially be 32 today. Am I happy? I am, probably would not have really remembered if not for family members telling me. You know there is a joy, a lightheadedness about living life on your own terms. One thing about high school is that it made me strong enough to follow my own heart.

So today I find myself really happy about the majority of my choices because I go to bed with a clear conscience and sleep well. All the things I have achieved are things I WANTED to achieve. I still thank God I did not follow people's suggestions to be a nurse, to marry so I could say I married at 24, 25 or whatever. When push comes to shove, who really cares what age you married at????? All that will matter is "Are you happy?

I'm not saying marrying later always equal hapiness but I'm saying marrying because you have met "your heart" and going to school for something you really want will take you much further than following some "mythical to do list" Married at 21 .... check, became a medical doctor ... check, had 10 boys and one girl .... check. Bull crock!

If that works for you, hey I'm down with you but guess what, its ok to marry at 35, its ok to be a freelance journalist, its ok to decide to not have kids. Bottomline, your life has to work for you!!!!!

So whats the point of this long spiel?
Just wanted to say happy birthday to myself I guess :) :)

Love you guys
Lala

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-01-05T15:32:00.000-06:00

Wow, its been a while since I blogged. Since then I have a new job, new love and new outlook on life. Last year had its ups and downs but I still thank God. Met wonderful people, achieved a lot of things and I'm still raring to go. Some things I need to work on even more like my weight and my chronic procrastination. Oh my God!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so freaking lazy. Example : I renewed my licence a week to the expiry date. Imagine if I had run into problems renewing it, what would I have done??? I still haven't applied for an american passport and I became a citizen more than 6 months ago. I have to work on these bad habits seriously. But other than that, I do not have much complaints.
One thing I want to do this year is go for a masters in public health. But I need to save up a little money and take care of a few other things before I go back to school but its on my mind and my workplace will pay for it so thats a motivation right there.
Well I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. May this year bring you much joy, love and happiness. Amen.
Stay blessed, guys.

Dang!!!!

2007-10-29T02:32:00.000-05:00

Lawd, I never knew blogging could be so hard. Anyway, I'm back. Internet is up, I am fully functional at my new abode. Lots of things happening. Not a lot interesting but I'll be alright. Learnt a couple of lessons recently from a little bit of drama that was happening in my very before. Na wa my peoples oh!!!!! Never say never oh! The kind things I been see these days eh, I was cringing in shame. Suffice to say, like a tortoise .... I learn fast. It ain't gonna happen again. But what's up with weddings these days? Our naija sisters trying to be all "ajeburized"
Newsflash ... forget the IV only weddings!!!! They suck. Those sit-down formal things are boring and too pretentious. Weddings should be fun, easy and relaxed. And don't beg for money either. In lieu of gifts ... please give giftcards. One word ... greedy. Calm down. You need blenders, plates etc. And you can always return them (if they put a gift receipts) You don't have to be beg for money. Thats tacky
Anyway, that was my soapbox for today
Lala out!

Still On Shaky Feet

2007-08-24T16:50:00.000-05:00

Nope, I so did not plan on disappearing, it just happened. So I'm back but not so back cos nothing is connected yet in my house. No internet, no phone service, no cable, no gas. I'm royally pissed. But guess what ... I met a guy!!!!!!!
What! The story behind it is so weird ... I cannot even talk about it yet. But if you see me cussing his ass out 2 months later ... its part of the game. He still may not be Mr. Right. But suffice to say, we met under very unusual circumstances and he is a great guy.(So I say now)
But this whole moving is still taking its toll on me. I need to have internet access in my house!!!!!! Full stop! No ifs or buts about that. Anyway, duty calls. Will be back.

Finally

2007-08-13T11:57:00.000-05:00

Just got all moved in to my new place. Love it. Love Memphis. Where else can u get luxury living at a decent price? I love it, I love it, I love it.

You Know You Are From Memphis (Part III)

2007-08-06T11:26:00.000-05:00

With a little commentary this time

--Beale Street is what you look forward to when you turn 21 because you've already partied there all through high school. (Beale street is our equivalent of Bourbon street in New Orleans, party 24 hours!)

--You think it's stylish to put spinners on a beaten up '81 Buick Skylark and even more stylish when you can only afford to put them on one side.

--You'd had to explain to an out-of-towner while driving down I-40 that Bellevue Baptist is NOT an airport. (Because its sooooooooooooooooo huge)

--It's impossible to go around a block and wind up on the street you started on. The Chamber of Commerce calls it a "scenic drive".

--The 8 a.m. rush hour is from 6:30 am to 9:30 am. The 5:00 pm rush hour is from 3:30 pm to 6:30pm. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.

--"Sir" and "Ma'am" are used by a person speaking to you if there's a remote possibility that you're at least 30 minutes older than they are. (I kinda like the "yes m'am")

--The falling of one raindrop causes all traffic to immediately come to a screeching halt. So will Daylight Savings Time, a girl applying eye shadow across the street, or a flat tire three lanes over. Should (God forbid) one snowflake fall in Memphis, all drivers on the roads immediately lose any ability to control a car. Or, if in a pickup truck or SUV, they will drive as though the roads are dry.

--Nonconnah Parkway (TN-385) is the southern equivalent of the Autobahn. I-240 is the racing oval, and I-40 is the drag strip.

--You will rarely see a semi on Nonconnah Pkwy, because the truck drivers are intimidated by the oversized SUV-wielding housewives racing home after a grueling day at the salon or the tennis match, to meet their children at the school bus. (Well, Nonconnah leads to Germantown which is for the rich and mighty)

--Pedestrians in Memphis have the right-of-way.....but it is a driver's duty to take out the pedestrian when crossing the street.

--You know getting onto the U of M campus from the Southern or Central parking lot is the human equivalent of Frogger.

--You remember the days of Adventure River and Wet Wild Water & Wheels.(Now Libertyland park is closed)

--At least 3 of your friends have been to Lakeside...two of them brag about breaking out. (I love this one. Lakeside is a rehab facility)

--You survived the Ice Storm of '94.

--A typical set of Midtown directions may include, "Take North Parkway east until you reach East Parkway, then take East Parkway south until you reach South Parkway, then take South Parkway west until you reach...." (Cos the north parkway and south parkway leads to everywhere!)

--Even though it's the largest indoor arena in the region, there is NO easy way to reach The Pyramid. You must drive under a series of interstate off-ramps and through the back of a concrete company in order to park. Once you reach the building, you must climb up dozens of steps, even if your seats are at floor level, which means you will be climbing back DOWN dozens of steps after entering the arena. **(I know this is no longer valid, but at the time when you COULD go to The Pyramid, it was SO true!)**

--Radio rap is not real rap.

--You know what real Barbecue is.

--You are scared of Bartlett Cops. In fact, you actually slow down in order to outsmart those stealth creatures.

--There is an intersection of two streets near Midtown. The "two" streets are Summer Avenue, North Parkway, Trezavant Blvd, and East Parkway.

--Again, names change at random. This situation (two intersecting streets with four names) is not atypical. It is common knowledge that Memphis was laid out by a drunk on a crippled horse.

--You remember when construction on the Main Library had to stop for about 4 years because the architects didn't take into account the weight of the books.

--Our tap water is like your Evian.

--The weather doesn't go with the season. Fall doesn't exist....we have late Spring and Summer.

--201 Poplar is a place you DON'T want to visit! (Its the local jail)

--EVERYONE hates the mayor, yet somehow, we're still under the reign of King Willy.

--You only have to drive 20 minutes to see the set of "Hustle & Flow".

--Everybody thinks they're from the hood.

--You've NEVER been to Graceland!(Man, how true!)

--You wait in line for 30 minutes for Fast Food and your order is still wrong.

--Remember the Mall of Murder?? It even had ice to keep the bodies cool until the police decided to show up.

--If you call Wolf Chase "the old mall" and The Avenue Crossing "The new mall".

--Orange Mound and Nutbush aren't things to be laughing about.

--Only in Memphis will you see 3-5 cop cars as backup for ONE vehicle that has been pulled over for a traffic violation.

--You remember when the weather guy on Channel 13 was skinny.

--You remember when the Cathouse Cafe at the zoo was STILL the Cathouse, and you STILL can't eat there.

Oh Oily Butt!

2007-08-04T22:16:00.000-05:00

If you are anything like me, you were excited when Alli (pronounced ally) came out over the counter. Basically, this drug is a fat blocker and actually has a prescription version Xenical which is twice the strength. So I quickly went off to get a bottle to see if I could shed a few pounds.
It started off innocuously enough until I decided to go on a fried plantain binge and man! was that a big mistake.
So I had stopped at a gas station to get some beverages when I let out some gas. Ooops! Somehow I knew something was wrong. I got out the car and could feel an oiliness in my rear part. I hurried to their bathroom (which was really nasty) and there it was, a splatch of oily blob on my pantiliner. Not good. Emergency!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to go back home and change.

The moral of this story ? If you must "alli", don't go on a fried food binge :)

Wait Until My Money's Right

2007-07-31T09:46:00.000-05:00

... then you can't tell me nothing! Ok I got that from Kanye West. But damn, I just got my first real pharmacist check and I was like "wow!" Nobody told me I was gonna make that much money oh. I can tell you right now if I had seen that check before July 2005, I would never have done a 2 year residency ... believe that!
But I'm glad, I did the residency. I detest unfulfilled passions. I just want to get it over with, if I can ... as long as it is something within my power to do anyway. So I'm currently staffing and I guess thats all new to me. Not having to worry about projects and upcoming presentations and rotations. I just try to do my job right that day and its over with. Man, I'm really loving that. I have so much energy at the end of my shifts, its amazing. I worked 98hrs the last pay period (every 2 weeks). I want to work at least 110hrs/2 wks cos I need to go to Naija and hook my sisters up. They have been my cheerleaders for so long ... nothing beats great sisters.
I am also going to start my "side hustle" by next week. I want to ship a couple of cars/jeeps to Naija to sell. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Hope it goes well.

The love life is as dry as could possibly be. Hmm, the Renaissance Man ... I don't really want to talk about. I stopped talking to him last month after he said something so unexpected which oddly enough left me angry instead of hurt. He insists on being friends but I wasn't having that. Na by force?? So I ignored him despite the instant messages. So on Sunday, as soon as I logged on, he started "please, please talk to me" so I did. He asked if he could call me briefly. Briefly turned into almost 2 hours which left me so drained. Its even hard to talk about it now
He wants to come visit in August. I'm not sure I want to deal with him. I think he is emotionally unavailable and life is too short for that. He wants to be absolutely sure he says before he starts anything. I'm not sure if to believe him or not. Anyway, who gets to be "absolutely sure" of any decisions they make especially decisions of the heart? Its too much for me. I am a simple person. I hate things that come with too many frills, bells and whistle. I'm not going to let him visit me. Its not worth it.

You Know You Are From Memphis ...

2007-07-25T15:35:00.000-05:00

You actually like Church's Chicken.

You know what 304 means in someone's pager when they turn it upside down.

You wash your car every Friday night just to go to FEDEX.

You've spent the night at Liberty Land Labor Day Weekend!!

You remember Club No Name or Da Expo!

You owned (or still own) a DJ Spanish Fly mix tape.

You've been to Channel Three Drive

You have eaten Buffalo Fish

You love Jack Pirtle's Gravy

If you referred to someone as, or were a "prep-type"

If you have or had a family member with a Jherri Curl

You know about Voodoo Village

You've had a date at Ellens, Leech's, 4 Way Grill, Melanie's or L&H on Third street.

You've eaten at Lotta Burger, Big Dip, or Hungry I Snack Bar.

Your summer vacation includes going to Atlanta or Biloxi.

You have "free cable"

All directions start with, "Go down I-240..."

"Sugar" is a more common form of address than "Miss". So is "Honey".

Presley can only be pronounced by a native, so do not attempt the pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the right and stare at you.

You know Memphis is pronounced "MEM---PHUS.

Construction crews aren't doing their job properly unless they close down all lanes except one during rush hour.

People think Republican means "White" and Democrat means "Black"

You can elect your mayor, school board, and day-care provider with one vote.

You Know You Are From Memphis ...

2007-07-22T15:11:00.000-05:00

You know you are from Memphis when ...

1. You know a member of a rap group that actually won an Oscar (Three Six Mafia)

2. Someone in your family has an Elvis story

3. You just call the Mississippi "The River"

4. You can make it anywhere in Memphis in "about 15 minutes"

5. You still call University of Memphis "Memphis State"

6. You are proud of the number one volent crime rate Memphis holds because that means you survived living in Memphis

7. Rednecks or not, we can still kick your butt

8. Our mayor does drugs ... how hardcore is that?

9. All year long you look forward to May because Memphis in May is da bomb ... Rajun Cajun, Musicfest, Greekfest, BBQfest, Italianfest. Need I say more?

10. You know that the Purple Church is not a real church

.... To Be Continued

Dear God

2007-07-20T14:45:00.000-05:00

I want to thank you for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards
I am thanking u right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better;
or things look better;
until people say they are sorry or
until they stop talking about me;
until the pain in my body disappears
until my financial situation improves;
until the children are asleep and
the house is quiet;
until I get promoted at work or
until I get the job;
I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand
every experience in my life
that has caused me pain or grief;
I am not going to wait until the
journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;
I am thanking YOU right now.
I am thanking YOU because I am alive.
I am thanking YOU because I made it through the
day's difficulties I am thanking YOU
because i have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking YOU because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more
and to do better.
I'm thanking you because Father,
YOU haven't given up on me.
God is just so good, and He's good all the time.

Don't Send Money To Nigeria!!!!!

2007-07-19T16:31:00.000-05:00

So says Judge Judy and I agree! This whole scam business is getting ridiculous abeg. "Mugu fall, guyman waka" indeed. Come on people! There are a lot of poor countries, why are we the only ones on blast for this scam thingy??? Are they targeting us? Maybe, but we are also walking right into it. Jeez, every where you turn there are documentaries about scam artists and guess who is at the center of these programs? You know it! This is wrong ... we need to quit.
There is no excuse for this level of dishonesty. And we should not condone it. I totally agree that its only greedy people that are most likely to fall for this bullshit, but why do we have to be the perpetrators?
The Judge Judy show was so sad, the lady sent back $2,500 to Nigeria after cashing some money orders through her friend's checking account. These ladies are 55 and 59 and yes, I do feel sorry for them, bite me!!!
We need to do better, Nigerians. We are one hot ghetto mess!!!!!!

The Old Woman Who Lived In Her Shoe

2007-07-17T23:55:00.000-05:00

That may well be me if I don't find a place to live by the end of the month. I have seen a few places, places that were beautiful enough to consider (for a tiny bit) not going back to Nigeria yet. My dream place has to be a two story luxurious loft or loft like condo. Gosh, I have seen huge kitchens, huge bathrooms and huge bedrooms ... hmm. Me likee, I must say.
The problem is most of them want to sell instead of renting. Craigslist has become my best friend without a doubt there are a few condo listings for rent there. Haaaaaaaaaaaa
Anyway, nothing spoil sha. I'll get my place, I know.
So I guess one thing I have noticed is how they all want to know what I do for a living. Hmm, this is still the South afterall. Racism abound so nothing will surprise me sha. Well, I'll keep y'all posted on the house hunt. Stay blessed

Welcome To My Bizarro World

2007-07-11T15:58:00.000-05:00

Yes indeedy. I am now working the "graveyard shift" and for those of you who do not know what that means, I am working from 8pm to 6:30am, hold on 7 days a week .... alternate weeks though so I'm off 7 whole days (not too shabby I think)

Well its only temporary cos we just lost one of our midnight pharmacists and this left all his shifts open qualifying our department for crisis pay which means a extra 17buck/hr for every hour you worked over 40hrs (if you were a full time worker, this was in addition to your overtime pay too) so I'm taking advantage because I am trying to move into a new place.

So my nights are my days and I sleep all day. I actually like it. I find myself eating less cos I go to sleep as soon as I get back from work and then I only eat when I wake up and next thing, am preparing to go to work.

My naija plans are still on board so I am working really hard to save up at least $50,000. Probably very ambitious but I think I can do it. They don't call me "worker bee" for nothing. One thing I am thinking about is shipping cars to naija for my brother in law to sell. Well, I don't know too much about the shipping stuff but I guess I'll have to find out once I start right? Right :)

Anyway, one ghettofabulous pharmacy technician threatened to kick my ass last night, all I have to say about that is "I wish she would!" That way, I will introduce her to a naija-styled "ass whooping" she will not forget in a hurry.
She will be getting some corrective action anyway cos I reported her. Kick my ass indeed! Ghetto, hood ignorant piece of sh*t. I wish she would try to kick my ass!

The Dirty Thirty Meme

2007-07-08T01:44:00.000-05:00

1. In two words, explain what ended your last relationship.

Crazy boyfriend.
2. When was the last time you shaved your legs?

Last week. Really hate doing that!!!
3. What were you doing this morning at 8am?

Sleeping, I now work the graveyard shift!
4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?

Went looking to see what the new residents had done to my old office. They did good
5. Are you any good at math?

Basic maths, yes! I'll do your homework if you pay me
6. Your prom night?

Did not have a prom but we had a very lovely "send forth" dinner where the rice was so tasteless and we were allowed to dress up
7. Do you have any famous relatives?

Hmm, do I count?
8. Have you ever taken out a loan to pay for school?

Yes.
9. Do you know the words to your MySpace song?

I do not have a MySpace account, but if I didn't I'm sure I'd have a song that I didn't remember the words to. Just so ya know.
10. Last thing u received in the mail?

The phone bill.
11. How many different beverages have you drank today?

Coffee, Pepsi, water and tea.
13. Who did you lose your virginity to?

Uhhh, won't you like to know. His nickname was "Comma"
14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?

Sure. And my future husband's, future kids ... get my drift?
15. What's the most painful dental procedure you've had?

Ahaa, too many to count
16. What is out your backdoor?

Nothing I wanna talk about
18. Do you like the ocean?

Not really, I can't swim
19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different kinds of popcorn for Christmas?

Nope, and I'll kill anybody who tries to give me one of them things
20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?

Mmmmaybe...Is that anything like a sanetarium??
22. Something you are excited about?

Buying my loft condo
23. What is your favorite flavor of bubblegum?

Grape
24. Are any of your great-grandparents still alive?

Nope but my grandma is
25. Describe your keychain?

Its circular and it has HOWARD RX imprinted on it. Go class of 2005!!!!
26. Where do you keep your change?

In a pullout compartment in my car.
27. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group? <li> In April at our Nebraska Midwestern conference
28. What kind of winter coat do you have?

Hmm, if you can call it that. I need to upgrad, seriously
29. What do you think of the person you copied this from?

Great blogger
30. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?

Closed.

The Ultimate Challenger

2007-07-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

I saw this on Nigeria Village Square and was amazed at how perfectly it applied to me

I AM THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGER

What I Like About Being a Challenger

Being independent and self-reliant
Being able to take charge and meet challenges head on
Being courageous, straightforward, and honest
Getting all the enjoyment I can out of life
Supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me
Upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a Challenger

Overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to
Being restless and impatient with others' incompetence
Sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
Never forgetting injuries or injustices
Putting too much pressure on myself

Challengers as Children Often

Are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit
Are sometimes loners
Seize control so they won't be controlled
Figure out others' weaknesses
Attack verbally or physically when provoked
Take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult environments

Challengers as Parents

Are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted
Are sometimes overprotective
Can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

How to Get Along with Me

Stand up for yourself... and me.
Be confident, strong, and direct.
Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.
Be vulnerable and share your feelings.
See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.
Give me space to be alone.
Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.
Even if I speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack

Belle For One Night

2007-06-22T13:41:00.000-05:00

I guess I ought to put a picture of my beautiful framed residency certificate on here but being as lazy as I am, it will be a long wait for you guys. Suffice to say, it was a very nice, short ceremony. We had dinner, the chicken and the beef were both perfectly done. As we were eating dinner, the certificates were handed out by the different residency directors. It was a lot of fun sha.
This Friday, we will have our end of residency picnic. It will be in the Assistant Director's community pool house. Its a lot of fun too. There the residency directors poke fun at the residents and give them gag gifts. For example, if you forgot a lot of appointments, you got a calender. If you used to get lost a lot, you got a map etc.

Last year, one of our residents used to put ketchup on ALL potato products even the bagged chips!!!!! We all thought that was so funny. So of course at the picnic, she got the biggest bottle of ketchup the residency director could find. It was really hilarious.

This year, I want to get my director the smallest toy cell phone I can find because she complained when the management team suggested using a cell phone instead of a pager for our administrative calls for sick calls and such.

She said "I want to go on record saying I think this phone is too bulky and for a woman, I don't know where I'm going to put it" Shakara oloje!!!! I almost burst out laughing during the meeting. So she will get the smallest cell phone she will not be too worried about the phone spoiling the outline of her outfit.

I think thats funny.

Random Musings

2007-06-20T19:46:00.000-05:00

....Good things come to those who wait. Really? Sometimes it feels like when you wait, you lose out on EVERYTHING!!!!! Blogging now is hard because I only want to blog about one thing and I don't want to be whiney or too one dimensional.

Whoever said tough times don't last clearly knew what they were talking about. The problem however is that after one issue comes another. How happy can anyone really be? Or are we supposed to strive to be happy or pretend to be happy regardless of the things going on in our lives?

That may be the million dollar question, after all

Going Dutch

2007-06-19T22:50:00.000-05:00

So its almost 11 pm and I'm in my office (went home and came back) because I don't like to work from home. I enjoy the office around this time, I'm the only one in here and ideas for things seem to flow much better for me. I'm also clearing out my stuff as the residency ends on the 29th of this month. Its been a rough, very,very,very long 2 years but I would be lying if I said I regretted it. I have learnt so much about pharmacy and about people and I am excited and motivated about putting into effect the things I have learnt.

So anyway, I met this single Igbo chick at the hospital and I was excited ... I mean sitting at home can be fun some days but not all the time. I looked forward eagerly to doing some girly stuff with a single adult. I'm not really a guy's girl ... I'll much rather spend time with females than with males.

Well, she as happy too I guess cos we called each other frequently. Made plans to go out and stuff. Then I ran into the first questionable behavior. The practice of 2 people going out to eat or watch a movie etc and everyone paying individually. I'm not gonna lie. I really, really hate that. When 2 people go out to pay, I don't see why one person cannot take care of the bill. Especially when its a small amount like 10 - 20 dollars.

So girlfriend and I went to the movies where she paid, I offered her something to eat before we went in to the movies and she said no which was fine with me. A few days later when we went out again to eat, I saw her acting so strangely when the bill came. She picked it up and was visibly shaking. I wondered why and so I brought out my card and when she saw I was about to pay, she offered to pay half. I was like "don't worry about it" So I paid and did not think much about it

Now, this girl had fallen on hard times and was going to a nursing school. She was not working so I definitely was not expecting her to pay for things we did together cos I knew she had no money. But she kept acting so strangely! At the movie theater she was ahead of me in line as soon as we got to the counter, she jumped out of the way and asked me to pay, that she would pay for the popcorn (I was al little irritated firstly cos she stood in front of me and secondly, I don't really care if I get the movie tickets AND the popcorn, its not that big a deal!!!!)
Well, the small theater only had a cash popcorn stand so I paid for the popcorn too. Don't really care.
Well we decided to go eat dinner after the movies and when the bill came, she snatched it up and hide it. I felt so uncomfortable that I got up and got some more food (it was a buffet) just to step away from the situation. As we were about to go, I opened my bag to leave a tip, she was just so irritated (maybe she thought I was trying to pay) and I tried to tell her quietly that I just wanted to leave a tip but she had moved on ahead of me to the cashier.

How about her card was declined????? She brought out another one and it was declined also! I was so pissed. Oh girl knows she's not working, instead of her to graciously accept free meals she's acting so silly. I bailed her out but I was laughing inside.

Since that day, I haven't really spoken to her cos I'm not sure I'm ready for that friendship. I call it 'frenemy". I'm not sure she likes me and I certainly don't want to hang around someone who does not like me abeg.

...Been A While

2007-06-16T18:37:00.000-05:00

...Sorry guys! I just have not felt up to blogging. I guess I have "terminitis" ... You know when you are getting to the end of something in this case my residency you just get too tired to do anything meaningful. Thats how I feel. But its not over yet, till the fat lady sings oh.

.

Wait 'til The Weekend

2007-06-01T22:53:00.000-05:00

Monday was magical because... I realized my 2 year residency was coming to an end

Tuesday, what a tiring day, because... I ended up working an overnight shift because someone called in and nobody else would work

My Wednesday was wild & crazy because... I was so angry at my manager, I yelled at him!!!!

Thursday made me think about...all the new friends I had just made and how bad I felt about leaving them

Friday is the most fun because of... I finally made a new single friend in Memphis who is Nigeria, here's to some female companionship

Who Killed My Baby?

2007-05-31T11:19:00.000-05:00

Ok, sorry ... I'm just being melodramatic. Well how else was I going to get you to read my blog??? Sorry oh, no vex abeg, I don't have a baby and if I did have one, whoever kills it will not live to talk about it. What!!!!!

By the way, the little princess of bloNgville stopped by my page the other day. I must say with a little shame I was really pleased. Naija blog royalty naim you be oh, omo girl. I am indeed one of your biggest fan. I still remember the first time I read your blog, you totally blew my mind with your sassy little way. What can I say? Big ups lil' mama, keep it crunk!

So back to the baby issue, it was one of those few nights, I did not have a million and one assignments and deadlines to meet that I was chillin', watching a little tv. I heard some commotion outside my door and being the awesome Janet Bond Double O three and a half, I stepped out oh

Peeked out small through my door and then after a few minutes, I ventured out to the elevator to know what was up. Well, I did not see anything, I only heard people yelling. One was saying" where is he, where is he" and a woman was sobbing at the top of her voice.

I immediately assumed some skank must have been caught stepping out on her man and the guy was looking for the other guy so he could brush him. Next thing oh, the elevator doors opened and this guy stepped out and started asking me "Did you see them?" I was like "see who?" He did not reply and turned the corner and took the stairs.

Without thinking twice, I ran back to the safety of my apartment where I continued hearing all kinds of noise. Well, baby girl had no plans of any more investigating oh. So I stayed put in my living room.

A couple of hours later, I wanted to go to the store so I went to the elevator, push push elevator no gree come. So I had to take the stairs (and if I hear you say "well, you live on the third floor, you should be talking the stairs anyway", I'll come over there and burst your lip!)

Man, the ground floor was a mess. Blood everywhere, the cops everywhere, yellow taps everywhere. I was like "what the fuck is going on here?"

Well it turns out, a little baby boy on the 13th floor apparently ran out to the elevators as he and his mom were about going out and leaned on the elevator doors. The door opened but the elevator itself was not in, only the empty space (I'm not sure how I can explain it better) and because the boy was leaning on the elevator door with his back, the opening of the door caught him off balance and he fell into the space, falling 13 floors all the way to the basement ... and died.

Poor baby ... but pretty please you can't haunt the elevator... please I beg you.

The Haunted Elevator

2007-05-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

Laziness is a very bad thing, my people! As in what-is-Lala-still-doing-in-a-getting-worse-everyday-apartment-complex kind of lazy. I need to get my butt out as soon as possible when I think of moving my treadmill and other sme-sme stuff in there, I just weak. Especially since I am going to be moving finally around December or so.

I guess what makes it so irritating is the new owners of the apartment complex are always distributing one thing or the other talking about raising the rent, this and that but they never talk about doing any kind of repair work on the place! Its so frustrating!

The one that takes the cake is the elevator. Man! I swear that thing is haunted. I mean, it has to be haunted and I have very plausible reason for believing that oh, seriously. How else can you explain, the same particular elevator (there are 2 of them) doing the same shit almost every time you get on it.

Trouble is, you have no idea what to expect. Some days you may get to your floor without any wahala of any sort, other times you have to hold your heart and pray.

Let me tell you what this elevator does.

I get on the damn thing and push 3, it takes me all the way to the 13th floor, then it continues to ascend but this time it adds a new twist, it stops on every floor till the 18th floor! No kidding! The first time it did this, the guy that was in the elevator with me bounced on like the 15th floor to wait for the second one, can you believe when the elevator I was on started its descent again, still stopping on every floor, oh boy was still out there waiting!

He then sheepishly entered the elevator again, muttered something and we resumed our extremely irritating journey to the 1st floor. I swear if the manager's office was open that morning eh, Lala would have let it rip!!!! I was so pissed!

This has happened more than 3 times on that same elevator! I was really trying to figure out what was really going on when the light bulb went off in my head. It was about the baby!!!!!!

What baby, I hear you ask

Well, let me tell my story! You don't have to rush me. I tell my story when I tell it!

Stay tuned!

Lala, out!

The Best Decisions

2007-05-15T14:58:00.000-05:00

... May not always be the easiest. Lately, I have been plagued with a lot of post-residency questions. "What's next? Are you moving? Are you staying? Talk to this person, talk to that oerson, they need a pharmacy manager here, they need a co-ordinator there or stay here with us. We'll create a position for you .... blah, blah, blah

I'm so tired. Going through my list now ...

I want a satisfying job (not money)
I want to be around my friends so I can chill out after work
I want to go back to school

Its crazy in my head

But mostly ... I want to go back home. I love this place but I feel such a huge disconnect. There are long and involved meetings about bar code medication adminstration while we don't even have clean sheets in our hospitals at home. I just weak abeg. I'm not motivated at all.

So I wonder ... my plan is to be in naija by December. Do I
a. Move to Houston where my crew is and work and play there till December
b. Hang in Memphis and work ... why move for only six mths
c. Stay here, get some managerial experience

I'm confused, confused, confused

Later

Living La Vida Loca

2007-05-11T19:34:00.000-05:00

Ha, Heaven only knows. I'm just getting around to watching "The Pursuit of Happyness" and I have to say the jury is still out on that one. I liked the fact that he was very persistent even when life would not give him a break but I couldn't help but nothing the styles of communication that plague man and woman communication.

The guy kept on playing off the fact that the rent wasn't paid, still continued to act like everything was fine and dandy. I can imagine how the woman felt. We as women worry so much so when your man decides to keep mute and not talk about the issues bothering the relationship, we want to pull our hair out.

Well, nice movie, I wish though that things had worked out between him and his wife.

My Free Implants

2007-05-04T17:06:00.000-05:00

I'll admit, I love to buy books at the airport. I don't know why, I just pile up on the books and magazines no matter how much cheaper I can get them elsewhere. Well, I splurged and bought this book called "Beauty Junkies" that talks about plastic surgery and how much people spend on them.

Hmm, what can I say? This world has spoilt. From microdermabrasion to liposuctions to tummy tucks to Botox and Restylane, there is nothing your money cannot buy you. So you can basically buy a new you if you so desire.

Wanna go from man to woman or woman to man? They'll take care of you in Thailand. Want a surgery safari? South Africa is your place cos you can go there, get some "work done" and take a few pictures with the lions and when your friends say "hey, you look refreshed" you can always say "oh, I took a vacation in South Africa, look at my pictures"

Are Nigerians partaking in this sometimes dangerous activity? You betcha! Stella Obasanjo was even named in the book and the model Oluchi has been sporting a pair of boobs lately that certainly did not come from God

So if you have decided that comestic surgery is your speed, especially breast implants and you want someone else to pay for them, well carry your two left legs to www.myfreeimplants.com where if you promise to show the before and after pictures, people (I guess guys) will raise money to get them babies.

Haha, I wonder what we will be doing in the next 10 years :)

Lala And The Renaissance Man

2007-05-02T22:52:00.000-05:00

I haven't been blogging much lately because I feel like I blog too much about work but I just can't think of anything else to talk about! How sad.

But anyway, I have to say I had an awesome time in Omaha. The hotel was great. Now I have been to a few hotels but I have never been to a hotel with that much amenities oh. It was pleasantly surprising. There was free internet, free breakfast and hold on, a manager's reception by 5:30pm -7:30pm every evening with free alcoholic beverages. Awesome!!!!! You could even print free of charge from their computers. Man, thats some paradise oh.

Everything was done in the hotel so we did not go out much except to eat. Omaha is supposedly noted for their steaks so we had ... steaks (bye, bye diet)
Our second night (Sunday night) we went out to eat, I got a steak, a salad and a glass of beer and my bill came to $39.11. Wow!!!! And we were only allowed $25 for dinner. I was pissed oh. So I have to swallow the remaining eh? Chineke!

Anyway, back to my topic oh, I "met" the Renaissance man oh. Its looking good, looking good (but don't it always good at first?) Until you find out he's a hardcore loser with no brains and an inflated ego. Then you quickly kick his ass to the curb. No time wasting oh!

Just the way I like them, unassuming, funny and supersmart. I love me some nerds abeg. Give me that bobo who can explain Einstein's law of relativity to me anytime. So Mr. Supersmart, put your game face on cos its about to be on like a pot of neckbones!

Is he the one? Who knows? Who cares? I love being in love and I know my "heart" is waiting for me somewhere so I'm willing to be patient cos true love will come, I know.

Stay tuned

Why Does It Bother Me?

2007-04-26T22:25:00.000-05:00

I know this girl who in my opinion is loud, boastful and tends to embellish things a lot. I don't know what to make of somebody who announces to everybody that she's getting married on a public website with no date fixed! I think thats kinda putting the horse before the cart. Your close friends, yes but on a public forum, I think one should wait until 99% of things are fixed.

I admit it, I'm not most girls ... I'm not big on guys, don't get me wrong I have male friends, have had lovers but I'm just not the flirting kind, I get bored easily with guys and in turn, not too many guys like me. I'm not so big on clothes, shoes etc I like them but I would not go out of my way to buy them.

I love conversations that open me up to new ideas and I dislike cheerleading friends. I expect my friend to tell me when I'm fucking up, don't let me act a fool!!!! In turn, I call it the way I see it. Many people bristle at that, if you disagree with them, automatically you hate them (in their opinion) and they get an attitude. Forgive me if I don't understand why people don't think there is room for improvement in them

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I dissect and judge people all the time. As a matter of fact, I'm very laid back and comfortable to be around but I don't want to be mediocre. I want people around me that will make me want to be a better person

So back to the story, that is if I had one. This girl huffs and puffs, tries to throw some cheap shots but you know I set her straight and all but I guess the one question I have to ask myself honestly is

"Why does she get on my nerves so much???" I don't understand why. Granted we have a history but we weren't close really or anything so I don't know why I'm so pissed. I honestly would like to know why everything she does drives me up the wall and better still, how to learn to ignore her.

Why the hell does it bother me??????

If

2007-04-19T09:04:00.000-05:00

I have never seen this poem before but I saw it courtesy of Uluisrare on my alma mater website www.fggcowerri.com and I think it was awesome. This poem tells how how to live. Be humble! Be moderate! I love it. I will keep it close to my heart cos its easy to get carried away by accolades or get stiffened due to obstacles but this poem will surely remind me of something I need: Balance!

If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on !";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

- Rudyard Kipling

This has got to be one of the deepest poems I've seen in my life!

Been A While

2007-04-17T20:59:00.000-05:00

Aha!!!!!!! It getting down to the wire! I'm not feeling too hot. Its the end of the road and I'm still not sure where I stand with anything. I guess this blog will serve the chronicle of the decisions I have to make concerning my next step.
I guess there is such a thing as too many options. I can
a. Intensify my search for a pharmacy manager position
b. Try to work on a Ph.d in public health now
c. Go to naija and get the NYSC over with

All of these options have pros and cons which I'm not really going to go into right now but I want to do all three really if you ask me. Great thing is, I can!

Well, I'm about to hit the road once again. First to Houston this weekend for a wedding then next weekend to Omaha for our resident conference. Never been to Omaha before, I hope it will be interesting

Oh the taxman finally came around today and I got a whopping $157 as refund. Great!! (sarcastically) but anyway thats over and done with. I seem to have money lying around cos I never do things on time. I still haven't turned in my expense sheet for my december trip to Cali. Isn't that stupid?So I got an email from whoever asking me to turn that in so I will turn that in.

Then CVS wrote me that I have checks totaling $500 with them. Its not my fault, I tried to get my paychecks before I left but Earl was so mad at me because I did not sign up with CVS that he did something to my money. But man, I just could not see myself the rest of my life "lickin' and stickin" labels on prescriptions behind a counter for the rest of my life abeg. It was too boring and used little of what I went to school for 7yrs for so I chose to do something else.

But I'll try and get my money, you bet I will.

About Me

2007-04-11T10:51:00.000-05:00

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6.30am
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Pearls
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The Devil wore Prada
4. What is your favorite TV show? What Not To Wear
5. What did you have for breakfast? A granola bar
6. What is your middle name? Chinwe
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Igbo ( Nigerian)
8. What foods do you dislike? Seafoods mostly with the exception of fish.
9. Your favorite Potato chip? Baked chips
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? John Legend
11. What kind of car do you drive? Nissan Sentra 2005
12. Favorite sandwich? Chicken salad
13. What characteristics do you despise? Pretentiousness and
14. What are your favorite clothes? Slacks and shirts
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where WOULDN'T you go? Iraq
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Banana republic/ Express
17. Where would you want to retire?Nigeria
18. Favorite time of day?Evening.
19. Where were you born? Lagos, Nigeria
20. What is your favorite sport to watch? Figure skating
21. Pepsi or Coke? Pepsi
22. Beavers or Ducks? What?
23. Are you a morning person or night owl? Morning person
24. Pedicure or Manicure? Manicure AND Pedicure
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? About to complete a 2 yr managerial residency
26. What did you want to be when you were little? A writer
27. What is your best childhood memory? Sitting at Daddy's feet
28. Piercing? Ears only
29. Ever been to Africa? Yeah, I'm from there.
30. Ever been toilet papering? No
33. Been in a car accident? Yes, twice
35. Favorite restaurant? Maggiano's
36. Favorite flower? Tulips.
37. Favorite ice cream? Vanilla
38. Favorite Fast Food? McDonald's
39. How many times did you fail your drivers test? Once
40. From whom did you get your last e-mail? My Boss
41. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Macy's
42. Bedtime? Around 11.00pm
44. Last person you went to dinner with? Can't recall.
45. What are you listening to right now? My co-workers in their offices
46. What is your favorite color? Blue
47. How many tattoos do you have? None
48. Favorite magazine? Oprah's

Its My Birthday

2007-04-10T19:59:00.000-05:00

Its my birthday tomorrow. I have a project presentation on Thursday unfortunately so I cannot celebrate till this weekend. What I have got so far? A pair of Crocs, nail polish and a great shirt all from the pharm techs. Wait, I also got a coupon to the hospital cafeteria.

What I want? Someone to donate $100 to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in my name. Oh well, thats ok, I can do that all by my self.

Y'all have a great day

Whats "Croc"ing?

2007-04-01T23:44:00.000-05:00

I got a pair of Crocs flip-flops from one of the techs. Hmm, lovely! Now I know what the fuss is all about. About 90% of the nurses and other associates in the hospital wear those fugly shoes all around in such bright, bright colors. I always wondered why people were wearing those things

Now I know

They are so comfortable! You feel like you are getting a foot massage when you wear them. I have being living in those flip-flops (at home) for days. Before, I would try to wash my dishes in 3 secs so I could go sit down in my living room. But now, I take my time with the dishes cos my feet are so comfy.

Hmm, can't stop "croc"ing y'all. Can't stop.

Mixed Feelings

2007-03-29T19:45:00.000-05:00

Hmm ... the "mixed" girls are gone. I'm a little miffed at these cyber-bullies that won't let people be. Now, don't get me wrong, the "yellow pawpaws" really weren't to my taste. For one, none of them were good story tellers. They had stories ... but just didn't know how to TELL it! The words just came tumbling out. There was no mystery, no chronology and I still cannot place their ages or what (if any) they did for a living.

I know, I know they were anonymous but their stories always ended up leaving me more confused than before I read it. I kept thinking "...oh wait, so Ejector is bisexual or is Legz?" Confusion can be frustrating. And who did "I.F" stand for? Uh ... I am so not kidding, that blog was perplexing but anyways ... I'm sorry they are gone.

The thing about blogs is some of them you don't agree with. For me, its those blogs by females that dwell solely on sex. They have mind-blowing sex everyday, all the guys are tall, dark, handsome, rich, fabulous... yes oh I hear una

Sometimes, I wanna comment and say 'get a grip, please" but my conscience bothers me. I mean, what right do I have to tell anybody how to live their lives? At the same time, when is it okay to caution someone that is walking down a dangerous road? I don't know

I saw a post about someone who wanted to get into the habit of going a whole day without food. When I glanced at the comments (this was a few wks back, maybe something has changed) nobody ever said "No, don't do that! thats dangerous!" Everyone was commenting on something else.

Anorexia is a disease of the mind. Once you get to the point where you can control your mind to go several days without food ... you might not be able to shut that control off. Nicole Richie comes to my mind, she was a little chubby true but the media and co made her push herself to a place where she could go without food for thats and voila! look at what we have now, a bag of bones that has to hire nutritionists to find out why she is not gaining weight (oh, I can tell you why!)

All, these comments that always encouraging people to engage in bad behaviors make me wonder. Are these cheerleaders living the same kind they are supporting or they have the philosophy "live and let live" or are they hypocrites disgusted with the conducts but wanting to appear nice so they jejely type something encouraging?

NaijaBloggers, shine your eye oh! Be sure that you know the difference btw vacuous praise and people who really want the best for you.

Anyway, thats my spiel. I hate preaching but damn, its my blog. But sorry to see the mixed girls go. I wish them luck (anonymously)

A Taste Of Your Own Medicine

2007-03-19T13:04:00.000-05:00

To BabyLove

You may have given me my first kiss,
but you don't own my heart
You may be the sweetest thing on this planet
but saccharine sweetness of you don't taste good to me
You may be a light
but you've only brought me darkness

I have waited for you to grow up
to feel what I felt
I always kept in touch
though we were oceans apart
I thought we were meant for each other
guess I was dead wrong

Your long periods of silence were unacceptable
Your lies were unacceptable
Your selfishness was unacceptable
Your immaturity is unacceptable

I know we made no promises
but the connection was there
I know you never cheated on me
because we have never been a couple
I know I should never have hoped
but hope I did ...that one day we would be

Now we're only a few hours apart
but we might as well be separated by lifetimes
because I don't feel you, want you or need you
Now the tables have been turned
maybe now you'll get a grip
because I don't want your calls, emails or love

Now you want me to maybe read your mind
sending emails that say everything, yet nothing
but I'm never going to say the words you want me to say
If you want me, you'll have to say it
be a man and step up to me
if not, then step off

Your words are too vague
Your hesitance too annoying
Your calls too frustrating
Your praise too generic

I'll say it if you don't
I'll be your lifelong friend
I have known you all my life
I'll never be more than a friend
I know you don't deserve me

Shopaholic Created

2007-03-18T17:38:00.000-05:00

I have't felt much like blogging these days. I'm not sure why but its ok. The urge to write comes and goes. Nothing much happening, my hospital wants me to stay. They want me to work the evening shift. Not a bad idea. Not quite sure what I want to do yet.

I have applied to Georgetown Hospital but I haven't heard from them. And I am still thinking of this whole NYSC thingie so lets just say ... I'm open.

Hmm, blogs, blogs, blogs. Interesting to see what has been going on in bloNGville. So many sex-themed blogs. Nothing wrong with that really but sometimes ... I wonder.

I guess the most hilarious things about the blogs are the comments! So many anonymous comments . Example "@the first anonymous before the second one, what do you mean blah, blah, blah" Nobody can even be bothered to make up a name at least so there are 16 anonymous posts, nobody is sure if there are 16 individuals or what. Its really funny.

My take, regardless of what people write in their blogs, if you can't be man/woman enough to reveal your identity (blogidentity that is), you need to stay quiet (and thats in my nicest voice)

I'm really loving the summer clothes this year, I love polka dots and the fabrics this year ....wow! I'm not really into clothes and shoes (or maybe I just didn't have the money) but this summer, I have been swiping that card quite a bit.

Well guess what, I'm worth it!

My 31st(gasp!) birthday is around the corner, I think I will get an overpriced bag for myself. Just because I can, I guess. This will be the only time I will be getting these overpriced designer stuff (clearly, I'm not a big fan).

I have definitely had a trying year this year and I overcame a lot of obstacles so I'll be celebrating in style.

How was your weekend?

Nilla's Spin: Nigeria Discussion Series

2007-03-16T09:26:00.000-05:00

Nilla's Spin: Nigeria Discussion Series

I think we've hit rock bottom. And if we haven't, then we have only a few more years left to hit it. A nation that preys on itself in every sense. Where all manner of depravities come to roost (... okay sue me for telling it as it is)

The mere mention of values is enough to get you the backward head jerk like 'where in the world is this fool coming from?" Its all gone, there is no need to for detailed stories of how immoral our beloved country is. I'm comfortable that we all have seen, heard and lived enough stories to fill plenty of books. As the saying goes, "Been there, done that"

But wait.

Is that how our story ends? Do we crash and burn, never to rise again? Or do we get a "do-over"? Don't we get the chance to start afresh and show what we are really made of?

I think we do

But this new story starts with you and me. Its time to get serious. I have been following this discussions carefully and I have read lots of good ideas mostly business and I agree that we have to definitely to establish ourselves economically.

But the one thing that I think we have pushed to the back or failed to notice as we talk about business organizations is the fact that most of these major business entities start with a value.

For example, Sam Walton of Walmart was determined to to build a line of discount stores that would provide even more value to it's customers than their competitor - KMart. His vision was to not only build the best value discount chain ever, but to employ a "family" of employees (associates) where he would enrich their lives.

Bill Gates stated early on that his goal was to put a PC in every home; it wasn't to make billions - it was because he truly saw the potential computer applications and how they may help educate, entertain and enrich people's lives.

Walt Disney's past is filled with vision and dreams of making people happy, improving the world - making money became important ONLY out of necessity of realizing his dream of improving the world!

Other examples include Sears' commitment to trusting the customer. (From the 19th century onward, any product could be returned to the company with a money back guarantee, which engendered great trust in both directions, enabling booming sales, and, the great success for the firm that followed.)

Apple Computer's belief in the values of solving problems of society. (The company created the IPod player and ITunes online music store to overcome a conflict between those who sought to download copyrighted music for free and the music industry which sought to protect its artists and its revenues.)

Marriott's values of systemization and standardization. (The company created a standard model hotel, and then duplicated it hundreds of time around the world, enabling it to grow incredibly fast, and become the leader of its industry.)

When we examine the lives of famous people, we often see how personal values guided them, propelling them to the top of their fields.

This leads me into my message for the day.

I think for there to be a collective change in our nation we need to make some individual changes. Firstly, I think its time for us to have values.
What is a value?

A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful. Whether we are consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set of personal values.

Why is it important to know what your values are?
Simple. So you can make better choices.

People who don't know their values tend to wander around, bouncing from one thing to another, trying to find themselves. They're like puppets, pulled along without any clear direction.

Knowing your values helps you:
Follow a clear set of rules and guidelines for your actions. You’re less likely to take the easy way out or chase after short-term gains at the expense of your long-term goals.

Make good decisions. You quickly know what are good choices for you and what are not.

Find compatible people, places, and things that support your way of living.

Live with integrity. Integrity here doesn't mean honesty or honor. Integrity means wholeness or completeness - being a whole person.
Nothing left out. Being true to yourself

There is a saying that if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for everything. With values, we have a core, a reason for living. The value may be as simple as concern for others or as ambitious as world unity but we got to have something, its worth everything!

We can talk all we want about the changes we want to see take place in Nigeria but its not going to happen if we are not prepared to change ourselves. Now hear me, I said "change ourselves", not other people.

Let's NOT start with the corrupt policeman, lets start with keeping traffic rules (gasp!), doing an 8 hour job when we go to work, taking time to put our trash inside trashcans, not on the floor! Need I give more examples? Its on you and me to change our world.

We can't keep putting new wines in old vessels, its not going to work. An average Nigerian wants the Jeep, the fancy duds, plenty of throw around money, the big air conditioned office but yet, there is rarely any talk about working 16 hours a day to get all that.

We have to get our values straight. Not everyone is going to be a millionaire or close, thats why the word "poor" exists. Because it describes a state of being.

Did you say "thats not going to make a difference"? Well I beg to differ. One person CAN make a difference, can influence another person to change and lead to exponential change.

We all have to remember that NO country is devoid of corruption,immorality or negativity but the fact is countries have learnt to excel in spite of that. Because they have people that still have core values, people that will not support wrongdoing, people that will take the trouble to stand ...or even die for their beliefs

Does change sound impossible? Maybe it is, maybe not. But remember, according to Napoleon Hill, “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe - you can achieve.”

Whatever one's values, when we take them to heart and implement them in the smallest details of our lives, great accomplishment and success are sure to follow.

Interested in understanding your values
http://www.selfcounseling.com/help/personalsuccess/personalvalues.html

LET ME ASK YOU A TOUGH QUESTION
What will YOU do for your country?

Rock Bottom: Nowhere Else But Up! (Nigerian Series)

2007-03-16T09:13:00.000-05:00

I think we've hit rock bottom. And if we haven't, then we have only a few more years left to hit it. A nation that preys on itself in every sense. Where all manner of depravities come to roost (... okay sue me for telling it as it is)

The mere mention of values is enough to get you the backward head jerk like 'where in the world is this fool coming from?" Its all gone, there is no need to for detailed stories of how immoral our beloved country is. I'm comfortable that we all have seen, heard and lived enough stories to fill plenty of books. As the saying goes, "Been there, done that"

But wait.

Is that how our story ends? Do we crash and burn, never to rise again? Or do we get a "do-over"? Don't we get the chance to start afresh and show what we are really made of?

I think we do

But this new story starts with you and me. Its time to get serious. I have been following this discussions carefully and I have read lots of good ideas mostly business and I agree that we have to definitely to establish ourselves economically.

But the one thing that I think we have pushed to the back or failed to notice as we talk about business organizations is the fact that most of these major business entities start with a value.

For example, Sam Walton of Walmart was determined to to build a line of discount stores that would provide even more value to it's customers than their competitor - KMart. His vision was to not only build the best value discount chain ever, but to employ a "family" of employees (associates) where he would enrich their lives.

Bill Gates stated early on that his goal was to put a PC in every home; it wasn't to make billions - it was because he truly saw the potential computer applications and how they may help educate, entertain and enrich people's lives.

Walt Disney's past is filled with vision and dreams of making people happy, improving the world - making money became important ONLY out of necessity of realizing his dream of improving the world!

Other examples include Sears' commitment to trusting the customer. (From the 19th century onward, any product could be returned to the company with a money back guarantee, which engendered great trust in both directions, enabling booming sales, and, the great success for the firm that followed.)

Apple Computer's belief in the values of solving problems of society. (The company created the IPod player and ITunes online music store to overcome a conflict between those who sought to download copyrighted music for free and the music industry which sought to protect its artists and its revenues.)

Marriott's values of systemization and standardization. (The company created a standard model hotel, and then duplicated it hundreds of time around the world, enabling it to grow incredibly fast, and become the leader of its industry.)

When we examine the lives of famous people, we often see how personal values guided them, propelling them to the top of their fields.

This leads me into my message for the day.

I think for there to be a collective change in our nation we need to make some individual changes. Firstly, I think its time for us to have values.

What is a value?

A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful. Whether we are consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set of personal values.

Why is it important to know what your values are?

Simple. So you can make better choices.

People who don't know their values tend to wander around, bouncing from one thing to another, trying to find themselves. They're like puppets, pulled along without any clear direction.

Knowing your values helps you:

Follow a clear set of rules and guidelines for your actions. You’re less likely to take the easy way out or chase after short-term gains at the expense of your long-term goals.

Make good decisions. You quickly know what are good choices for you and what are not.

Find compatible people, places, and things that support your way of living.

Live with integrity. Integrity here doesn't mean honesty or honor. Integrity means wholeness or completeness - being a whole person. Nothing left out. Being true to yourself

There is a saying that if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for everything. With values, we have a core, a reason for living. The value may be as simple as concern for others or as ambitious as world unity but we got to have something, its worth everything!

We can talk all we want about the changes we want to see take place in Nigeria but its not going to happen if we are not prepared to change ourselves. Now hear me, I said "change ourselves", not other people.

Let's NOT start with the corrupt policeman, lets start with keeping traffic rules (gasp!), doing an 8 hour job when we go to work, taking time to put our trash inside trashcans, not on the floor! Need I give more examples? Its on you and me to change our world.

We can't keep putting new wines in old vessels, its not going to work. An average Nigerian wants the Jeep, the fancy duds, plenty of throw around money, the big air conditioned office but yet, there is rarely any talk about working 16 hours a day to get all that.

We have to get our values straight. Not everyone is going to be a millionaire or close, thats why the word "poor" exists. Because it describes a state of being.

Did you say "thats not going to make a difference"? Well I beg to differ. One person CAN make a difference, can influence another person to change and lead to exponential change.

We all have to remember that NO country is devoid of corruption,immorality or negativity but the fact is countries have learnt to excel in spite of that. Because they have people that still have core values, people that will not support wrongdoing, people that will take the trouble to stand ...or even die for their beliefs

Does change sound impossible? Maybe it is, maybe not. But remember, according to Napoleon Hill, “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe - you can achieve.”

Whatever one's values, when we take them to heart and implement them in the smallest details of our lives, great accomplishment and success are sure to follow.

Interested in understanding your values?
http://www.selfcounseling.com/help/personalsuccess/personalvalues.html

LET ME ASK YOU A TOUGH QUESTION
What will YOU do for your country?

Friday Five:12345!

2007-03-09T20:48:00.000-06:00

What is one thing you always have with you?
My glasses
What are two things on your night-table (or next to your bed)?
My bible, my phone
What are three things you learned in the last seven days?
1.Its all about who you know
2. Anxiolytics help for patients in pain
3.Keeping a guy at arm's leg makes him want you even more
What are four things parents always have to tell you?
1. Clean your room
2. Why do you keep losing stuff
3. Help your sisters with the chores
4. Leave that book and come and eat
What are five things you paid for in the last month?
1. Car note
2. Two pants
3. Earrings
4. Hotel room
5. Wristwatch batteries

Make Like A Balloon And Rise Above It All

2007-03-08T16:44:00.000-06:00

I'm the Administrator on Call this week and its Thursday and it hasn't been bad and I'm grateful. Its been a long week. "They" finally allowed me to send my project to the Review B. for approval and we have to submit it to the conference by the 14th. I'm stressed out seriously, sometimes I feel like I'm being frustrated on purpose. So many things going on, so many things going on. The real life is so different from school.

As my friend puts it, "Its not about how smart you are, or how hardworking you are, its all about how your personality meshes with the people you will be working with" How true. Some people get away with so much while others get hauled to the carpet for any little mistake.

The schedule has so many empty spots, nobody wants to work. I have been calling and asking people but nobody. I guess thats one of the disadvantage of being well paid, they don't have to work more than 40hrs to make a decent living. Lucky them!

June seems so far yet is so near. I'm ready to leave.

Its rough but I'm gonna make like a balloon and rise above it!

Breakthrough Ideas For 2007

2007-03-04T22:38:00.000-06:00

Wow, its been almost a week since I posted. Didn't mean to wait so long but certain things came up. I have been meaning to share this article from Harvard Business Review published in February of this year.
There were 20 ideas considered the breakthrough ideas and I found a couple of them very interesting

1. The Accidental Influentials: Even the name sounds so right! Alright, this is a theory by Malcolm Gladwell in his book "The Tipping Point" that "social epidemics" are driven in part by the actions of a tiny minority of special individuals, often called influentials, who are unusually informed, persuasive, or well connected.
Its intuitive, right? I mean think Oprah, Paris Hilton (yes, her!)and other people who can influence the popularity of certain looks, brands, or neighborhoods.
Well, Peter Dodds and Duncan Watts argue that even the most influential people can't interact with that many other people to be solely responsible for causing this global cascades (the widespread propagation of influence through networks). Instead, they believe for this two step flow communication to work, there has to be a critical mass of easily influenced people each of whom adopts for example a look or a brand after being exposed to an influential.
Is that cool or what? Alright now, all you easily influenced people, looking whats happening. Y'all are causing social epidemics.

Anyway, I really liked that.

2. Brand Magic: Harry Potter Marketings
Instead of seeking to build immortal brands that generations mature into and then out of, companies could create brands around a given cohort of customers. As these customers mature, the brand would evolve with them. The aim would be to match the needs of these cohort at any moment in time. This is called "Harry Potter marketing" after the fictional schoolboy wizard who grows older with his readers.

I'm kinda liking this concept. What y'all think?

There were a lot of ideas in this article. I liked it

Sell! Baby, Sell!

2007-02-27T16:56:00.000-06:00

Ahh! Florida! It was so delightful. I think they will make me an offer but if they don't, I know exactly what I will be looking for at my next job interview. They really wanted me, I could tell. At least, Kuldip and MH(the director) really did.

The most memorable moment for me was when MH said "Stella, if the pharmacists that will be under your supervision want me to hire you, I will do everything in my power to bring you here. I will make you an offer that will be commensurate with your experience and your job description" That statement alone made this long, stressful two years of residency worth every second.

I really enjoyed the visit. At first I did not want to go cos I had never planned on living anywhere else but d.c but after talking to Kuldip at a conference in dec, I really liked him.

Sunday was cool, I got to Florida around 7pm and checked into the Ivanhoe Sheraton. Well, tried to check in at least. They did not have a reservation so I had to pay. I was a bit frustrated but I knew it would be taken care of so I did not worry too much.

Took a shower and got on the internet to catch up with happenings. I practiced answering interview questions then went to bed by midnight.Got up by 6:30am and got dressed. Went downstairs to check out and I saw this actor but gosh! I cannot recall his name to save my life!

I forgot to eat breakfast (well, I assumed they would take me out to breakfast :)) but we went right into the interview. Started with a tour, then I met with 2 of the clinical specialists individually, then went to lunch with Kuldip and MH.
Then I met with 3 groups of clinical staff pharmacists, pharm techs and some more clinical specialists.
Finally, I met with the management team. Funtastic!!!!!! MH is great. Talked about supporting me, mentoring me and helping me to advance my career. He even told me that there was a Nigerian community here (I pretended I did not know that already)because he wants me to have a life outside of work and all that good stuff.

And to think I did not even want to go!

Well, at the end of the day, Kuldip drove me to the airport and I came back home. It was nice. Everything went well ... I think

Solomonisms

2007-02-24T14:45:00.000-06:00

I'm off to Florida tomorrow for yet another job interview. I'm not really feeling this job interview but I'll go because the guy I spoke to was really cool ... and they are paying for everything (airfare, hotel, food) so why not?

But before I go, I'll leave you with some Solomonisms aka "practice tips" from DKS

1. Anticipate!
2. Be careful of the WIIFM (pronounced weefim)principle. WIIFM = Whats In It For Me
3. The "interruptions" are the job(s)
4. Attitude is 80% of life
5. Results not rhetoric
6. Never (x 13) give up!
7. Its not the thought but the action behind the thought that counts
8. The greatest mathematical formula ever invented is the compound interest formula
9. Do business in the hallways
10.Let your question/statement ratio be high (because you should never stop learning)

I hope y'all are having a nice weekend. Stay outta trouble!

A Never-End Day

2007-02-21T23:26:00.000-06:00

Man! Today has refused to end. I woke up by 4am and tried to go back to sleep, eventually waking up by 7:30am. Oh my! Rushed, rushed and managed to reach work by 9am. Luckily, DKS was not yet in so I chilled for a few minutes. As I was about to go get breakfast, DKS called. Sylvia (his secretary) picked up the phone, spoke to him for a few minutes and then told me KS was waiting for me in the library.

So I went up to the library and after getting some breakfast, we got to talking. A little more about finances, some practice tips as usual and then we watched some VHS tapes about Initiatives for Health Improvement.

We went back down to the Pharmacy and I joined the other residents to watch yet another VHS tape about med errors. In the midst of the whining and complaining (who really wants to watch that?) one of the VA residents said "Maybe the management student (pointing at me with her pen)could watch it and give us a brief overview. The girl sitting next to her whispered to her that I was not a student. The other resident sitting across from her said "she's a second year resident"

I just laughed. I was already a resident when that particular idiot rotated through my hospital 2005/06 so she knew me very well. As a matter of fact, the idiot got kind of huffy because I had to cosign her note in a pt's chart when she was a student. Imagine! I don suffer

Anyway, I looked at her and said "I'm sure she did not mean that" looking her straight in the eyes, I was waiting for her to say something. I was gonna jump over the table, grab her by her stringy, oily hair and land her a few hot slaps!!! (If only :)) She did not open her mouth again

After that oh, I still had to staff the pharmacy at my hospital so I went there like 3pm, no other pharmacist was there but me so I dug in and started putting in orders. I was as tired as hell! It went pretty well until toward 10pm when it all fell apart

The big mouth tech was gossiping about one of the pharmacists that was sending her kids to some special school (like a finishing school or something) and the statement that stuck to my craw was "and it ain't like she got it like that, she be complaining about money all the time" by the way she was telling the other pharmacist, not me.

I was like "please if education is her priority for her kids, whats it to you?" She tries to come all up in my face. I wasn't having all that! I just shooshed her. But I was sure to tell her to mind her business.

See, thats what irks me about some colleagues, they just blow things out of proportions, maybe the lady has said a thing or two about money and this yeye tech is making it seem as though she's in the woman's wallet. I was so pissed

But I'm alright now.:) I got over it.

Its All About Building Relationships

2007-02-20T20:05:00.000-06:00

Between the Old Fart Administrator and DKS, I think I've heard that phrase a thousand times. Interestingly, they are both very good communicators, extremely diplomatic and so exciting to work for. My boss must be a man!!!!!

So DKS and I discussed this book he gave me to read "An Excellent Financial Life" and talked about mutual funds, IRAs (traditional and Roth) and 401(k)& 403(b), Apparently, Roth IRA(s) are my best options cause I am young (ha! ha!) and they do not have as many limitations as the other IRA. And you invest in this AFTER you have maxed out your contributions to your 401(k)plan.

One thing I just found out, the number of years you have to be vested in a company to leave with your 401(k) contributions + the company's contribution differ from company to company. Wow!!! I did not know that.

Well after that enlightening conversation, I walked into the conference room and Jeopardy was on! The P4 students and a few residents were starting in, as well as the preceptors. So I joined the female team appropriately named "the hormones" and the guy team were "the chromosome Y" Okay we were not too original but what the heck?

Man, the chromosomes Y whooped us! The calculations, the trivia, they were rolling. We lost so bad, it was not fair. But we learnt a lot ... Lucentis is a new drug for macular degeneration, alendronate in the bone hangs around forever. Pepto-Bismuth can turn your tongue grayish-black. Interesting.

I got one question right. I have been beaming all day :) Fanconi's Syndrome can be caused by outdated tetracyclines. Coincidentally, DKS asked me that same question later that day.

I have been out of the loop with the prospective residents interviewing at our hospital but I have seen a few candidates come through the VA. They handle theirs a little differently even making lunch for the candidates (read: the VA will not pay for the lunch!) I thought that was hilarious

Reminds me of a phone conversation DKS had one day when his secretary had gone to lunch and he was manning the phones
DKS: Hello, this is DKS, how may I help you
Person: Hi, can I speak to Dr. R?
DKS: Sorry, he's not available, can I take a message
Person: You may not know me but I was calling to give Dr. R my match number
DKS: Oh, I know you. You are from St. Louis
Person: Oh!
DKS: Yes, I remember you. You had a very strong interview, the buzz is on about you here
Person: Oh thanks
DKS: Ok, I'll give your match number to Dr. R and hope to see you soon
Person: Bye

And he barely spent 5 minutes with this girl! He has an excellent memory. So scary

Picture Perfect

2007-02-18T10:56:00.000-06:00

DKS's secretary Sylvia whose son is a missionary in Zimbabwe sent her these pictures How To Get Hot Water
Zambian Venter Trailer
Toyota Cowrolla
Manica Post

Our Love Story

2007-02-14T17:04:00.000-06:00

It all started when we elected Cecil as our class president for 03/04. Cecil was the right person to be president because he was very hardworking, proactive and really on top of things. Now our class was the shiznit, unlike other classes with all their rivalry and cliques, our class was a fun loving hybrid of african-asian-african-american people. We knew were in there to do well and obtain our degrees but that did not make people unnecessarily competitive or hateful. We really flowed together.

You could read with the ethiopian group, african group ... infact, I can't even say there was any pure geographical group. It was not uncommon to see a Nigerian, 2 Iranians and 1 Asian doing everything together (don't kill me Larry for talking about you), we had nigerian, ethiopian and senegalese group, we had our greek fraternities in the house (one ubersmart and the other more bubbly)repping all shades oh. It was really beautiful

Back to the story, one day in February Cecil called a meeting for guys only. Of course all the ladies hung around to find out what the meeting was about. Well, they all lied when they came out about personal business of Cecil's.

Oh please! We did not believe them at all but we could pry nothing out of them so we had to let it be. Hmm, come val's day oh, as we were about to enter the class for Applied Therapeutics by 3pm and everybody was playing it was going to be quick so we could go on home, we saw rose petals by the doors leading to the classroom. Shuo! Whats going on here? I wondered as I entered the class jejely to take my favorite spot at the back of the class (where I could easily sneak out into the computer room and play chess)

Next thing radio appeared and Anita Baker's "Sweet Love" started playing and all the guys walked in all dressed up to the nines! Talk about hunks!!!!!!! I was feeling those fine-as-hell brothers, all 26 or so of them.

They started handing all the ladies roses, we were all screaming!!!! We screamed down the house abeg. Sotay people came to see what the ruckus was about. Music was playing, we had our roses, we gave them all hugs and life was beautiful.

I think that was my best Valentine's day ever. It restored my faith in humans oh. Cecil and co. thanks for making my day on that Valentine's Day. The day was off the chain.

Hope you all had a good day. Mine was okay. M called by midnight to wish me a happy day. Of course I did not tell him I'm not a big fan of valentine's day just in case so we talked and later hung up. Then later today I got an email from Babylove. Babylove hmmm..... I'll blog about him another day

The Love Doc's In!

2007-02-13T15:41:00.000-06:00

Well, love is in the air so I am going to show some love to some naija bloggers. Now y'all inspire me but some posts I call memorable ... just cuz they creep into my thoughts sometimes and thats not easy considering all the blogs I read

NYSC 101
I thought this was a really informative post on requirement needed for completing the NYSC for those that are interested

Blogging- The Things We Do
I thought that was really hilarious. I haven't googled how to get your blog noticed, I however plan on doing that. I have also never asked anybody to add me to their blog roll. Other than that, I am guilty as accused!

I'm not really attracted to Nigerian women
I thought this was interesting. Not trying to open any old troubles though

I have a few more that I can't dig up right now.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Cracks In My Sidewalk

2007-02-12T20:58:00.000-06:00

....Continued

"Mrs Chimeezey, you are now free to go, the charges against you has been dropped" said the little white lady as she opened the cell door. I did not even see her, I was lost in thought. I still could not believe my husband had left me to spend the night in jail. He hung up on me when I had called from the jail phone and refused to pick up on the other occasions I had called. My heart was cold, I knew right then that I was leaving him. The son of a bitch had the nerve to treat me like a slave after I had been so good to him. Borne him two kids and everything, oh! not even hell could contain the war that would erupt as soon as I got home. No sooner did I get home that I saw my husband leaving the house in his SUV. As soon as he saw me, he turned back and went to park in front of our house. I totally ignored him and went to my room and started throwing clothes into my suitcases. To my surprise, he did not say anything, only standing at the door and watching me. As soon as I had packed enough clothes, I ran to my sons' rooms and started packing their clothes too.
"Oh, you are not going anywhere with my kids, don't you even dare!" Emeka said as he came over to where I was and snatched Ebere's shoes out of my hands.
"You don't want to start with me, Emeka. You better stay out of my way" I screamed at him
."No you stay out of my way, you prostitute!" he said "you ingrate, how could you do this to me?"
"Do what to you? What did I do to you?" I asked
"I can't believe this, you look me straight in the eye and ask me what you did to me? what you did to me? So you don't know what you did to me, right?" Emeka said, with an incredulous look on his face.
"I am a human being Emeka and I make mistakes ok? That still gives you no right to lie to the police and have me locked up" I said
"What did I do to you Juliana? I really loved you, I gave you all I could and still you persist in embarrassing me in front of the world" Emeka said slumping his shoulders in dejection
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Emeka" I said sitting down on the bed in Ebere's room. Luckily, my sons were at school so they did not have to hear all the ruckus between their father and I.
"Three months after you came here, Juliana you slept with my cousin, why of all people my cousin John?". As soon as he said that, my heart sank. Oh my God, no wonder his behavior towards me changed. I cannot believe that stupid idiot told my husband. What was he thinking? Ok, I admit, I did have sex with John on several occasions when Emeka was on call but that wasn't my fault.
And as a matter of fact, I have come to this decision about me. I have a high sex drive and thats that. I was created that way and I can't help it that when a man touches me, I start shaking with passion. I was made that way and thats the simple truth. Almost every night Emeka fell asleep before he even hit the pillow and that left me unsatisfied. Well one night, Emeka was not supposed to be on call so I had made plans for a quiet intimate dinner. I bought candles, some aphrodisiac bath oils so we could soak in the bathtub together. But then he called from work and said they needed him and I was so upset, I was literally quivering in anger. I hung the phone up on him. About 10 minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I went to the door, checked through the peephole to see who it was. It was John, Emeka's cousin.
"Hi, John" I said, opening up the door for him.
"Hi, Julie, where's Emeka" he asked as he sat down on the couch opposite the TV set.
"He's still working" I said "would you like something to drink?"
"No, thanks. I'm fine" he responded "but there is something I would like to ask you""What is it?" I asked, curious.
"Well" he said moving closer to me "is it okay if our niece from Nigeria stays here for a while. I thought Emeka was going to be here so I could ask the two of you together. She's only 19 and she needs somewhere to stay and she cannot stay at my place because its too far and she has no means of transportion."
"Thats ok, she can stay with us" I said, shrugging.
"Thanks" he said rising "I have to go now"
I walked behind him to the door and as soon as he got to the door he turned abruptly
"By the way ...." and he bumped right into me because he did not do how close to him I was standing
"Oh sorry" he stammered but he was still standing to close to me, I could feel his breath on my face. There I was in my pink satin robe, under which I was wearing next to nothing and I could feel his warm, warm body next to mine. He kissed me on the lips and it felt heavenly. I was ready for love and love I gave to John. Well, maybe not exactly love but the sex was one of the most animalistic I had ever had. We started kissing and touching each other and somehow managed to get to one of the guest bedrooms where we tore off each other's clothes and went at it. You could have heard my sighs of pleasure from a mile away and he kept talking to me calling me all kinds of love names because he enjoying the sex so much. John did not leave until 5am the next day and Emeka came back around 7am, tired and just headed for his bed. And as all these memories rushed back, I was so enraged that John could actually tell Emeka about that. What did he hope to gain by that?
"Emeka, I'm not going to stand here and argue with you, you can call me any kind of name you want to but just remember one thing, if you took care of your business at home, I would have had no reason to go outside" I said pointing my index finger at him
"Yes, I know its my fault, it has to be my fault because you just cannot face up to the responsibility of any action of yours" he retorted
"Ok, thats fine too but I have to leave so just get out of my way so I can pack my babies' stuff" I screamed at him
"You are not going anywhere with the kids, Juliana" he replied calmly. I continued packing up all my stuff and carried as much as I could to my Benz which I drove off and lodged into a motel 6. I tried to call Ben from there but he was not picking up his phone. I had not seen him since the cops picked me up at the motel 6 and I was kind of disappointed that he hadn't called or emailed me to ask about my well-being.
Three days later, I decided to call his house. On the third ring, a female voice answered "Hello"
"Hello" I replied "can I speak to Ben?"
"Who is this?" the voice questioned, suddenly becoming hostile
"My name is Juliana and I need to speak with Ben" I replied
There was a sharp gasp as the other end of the line and the voice said slowly" I can't believe you have the nerve to call here"
"And why is that?" I asked with a total disregard. I knew it was Chigozie but I could care less what she thought at that moment.
"Don't you dare call my house again, you homewrecker" she said and hung the phone up on me. I called right back and we went at it
"First of all, you don't have a home with Ben, Ben is mine" I told her."Funny, but the marriage certificate hanging on my wall tells me otherwise" she said coldly.
"I don't care about no marriage certificate, I met him first, we were supposed to get married" I yelled at her
"Yeah, supposed to, but your horny little ass still couldn't keep from fucking around" she retorted
"You nasty mouthed woman, wait til I get to you" I warned her
"Look, there is nothing you can do, so please keep your disease-infested body away from my husband, my h-u-s-b-a-n-d, you hear?" she screamed at me and hung up the phone. I dropped the phone slowly and contemplated my next course of action. Chigozie had a lot of gall, hanging up on me like that. Clearly, she had no idea what I could do to her.
After all, Ben belonged to me first and I had more of a right to him than she did. And I planned on keeping my man. He had gotten away from the first time, it was definitely not going to happen again. Later that night, when I was sure the good doctor had gone to work, I went back home.
Amazingly, he had still not changed the locks. I let myself in and went upstairs to his study. In his study, my husband kept some chemicals and some drugs for emergencies and all what not. I grabbed a bottle of succinylcholine. Emeka had told me one time, that you could kill somebody with it and never be caught because it was hard to trace in the body. After taking the bottle, I let myself out the house and went back to the Motel 6 where I plotted my next move.
Though it was cold in front of the Starbucks Coffee, I waited patiently because I knew Ben would soon appear from the building across the street. A couple of minutes later, I saw him.
"Ben, Ben" I called out to him, waving furiously. He turned, saw me and stopped. I quickly ran over to him and he enveloped me in a big hug
"What happened to you, honey?" I asked him "you never checked up on me"
"Hmm, Juliana, you have put me through a lot of things in my lifetime" he said slowly. Pulling up my face gently, he asked me "What is going on with you? You need to take more control over your life or else....
"Or else what?" I asked him, daring him to mention the unmentionable
"We need to talk seriously ok? Ben said. I walked with him quietly to his grey Honda Accord and got him beside him. We drove to the Comfort Inn that was a couple of miles up the street.
"I have something to tell you" Ben said gently holding my two hands in his. He brought them up to his mouth and gave them a quick kiss "This can't continue and we both know that, we are hurting too many people"
"We have to think of ourselves too, you know. We are in love" I replied firmly
"I know that but we both married to other people" he said "too many people are going to get hurt by this"."Do you know" he continued "your husband was parked less than a quarter of a mile away from where we were that day. As soon as the police drove off, he came in with a bunch of Mexicans wielding leadpipes and they beat me within a inch of my life"
"What!" Are you serious?" I asked
"Yes I am" Ben replied "and so, thats how my wife found out everything and we now have a lawsuit pending against your husband"
"Oh! my God! I cannot believe this" I said shaking my head. Emeka's behavior was just appalling!
"So, Ben continued "its with deep sadness I have to cut off this relationship because we are hurting too many people including ourselves"
"Oh Ben, please don't say that, I'm nothing without you. Why can't you get a divorce, be man enough Ben, I have left Emeka for you. You should leave Chigozie for me" I told him
"Okay, I have no problem with doing that but its going to take a little time ok?" he responded lifting my chin so that I was standing face-to-face with him. That day, we made love numerous times but as he slept, I looked at him. I did not for a second believe that he would leave Chigozie for me so I was determined to take matters into my hands. I quietly took his keys from his pants that he had hung up in the closet and dashed out to the hard ware store that was in the shopping mall opposite the motel. I was out of breath when I came back but luckily, Ben was still asleep and I put his keys back into his pocket. Around 3p.m, he woke up and with a quick kiss, he dashed into his car and left for home. I still needed to find a right time when only Chigozie would be home to carry out my plan.
The opportunity they say favor the prepared so when the opportunity cropped up, I pounced. Ben called me a couple of weeks later at my cousin's house where I was staying temporarily that he was going to be in Nebraska for a week and I could join him if I wanted to, I took the address of the place he was going to stay and promised to join him. He left for Nebraska on a saturday so around 12midnight that saturday, using the copy of Ben's keys I had made, I let myself into Ben's apartment. Everywhere was quiet and I stood still for about 5minutes to get used to the darkness and I made my way to the nearest door. The first door was clearly a children's bedroom because I could see toys everywhere on the floor. I quietly closed that door and tried the next one that was about two feet down the hallway. This bedroom looked more luxurious than the previous one and I assumed that was the bedroom that Ben and Chigozie shared. Well, I did assume correctly because I could see somebody's body presumably Chigozie's on the bed. Without even thinking, I went up there, grabbed a hold of her arm.
"Who's that?" she asked in fear. I held her tightly and tried to bring out the cottonballs containing chloroform, I was carrying in my pocketbook. She struggled but I held on tighter until I was finally able to bring out the cottonball, I pushed it down over her nose and before three minutes she was unconscious. I crawled back to the door to find the light switch and as soon as I turned on the lights I was back by the bed and I hurriedly injected the vial of succinylcholine I had into her arm and left as quickly as I had come.
Revenge was just a beautiful thing I thought to myself as I enjoyed the company of Ben in Nebraska. He had no idea what had happened back at home and honestly, I did not stop to think about his kids or anything, I just wanted to be with Ben and I did what I had to do to be with him. When we disembarked at the Dulles Airport in washington DC, we took different cabs home. Immediately I reached home, I told my cousin I was going to Nigeria for a while to figure things out and started parking again. She told me that Emeka had called several times asking if I was there and she had said no as I had asked her to do. I had no wish to speak to him. I missed my kids but right now I had no choice. I had to go to court and get the legal custody of my babies.
But I needed a little break first. I booked a flight for Friday so I could get enjoy the weekend in Nigeria, hopefully with my mother. "Wow" I said to myself as I walked to the empty check-in counter, "where is the long line?" I hurried up so that I could check in and get something to eat before the plane took off.
"Mrs. Chimeezey?" said a voice from behind me.I turned, I did not know that voice. It was a tall blonde white man in a brown suit.
"Can I help you? I asked him looking at him cautiously. Too many things happened these days at airports so I did not want to really speak to this stranger."Can you come with me please?" he continued
"Why?" I countered a bit irritated. I did not need all this disturbance right before my journey. I followed him a bit petulantly to a small office. "Can I see your passport, ma'm?" he said politely. I threw the passport at him and he took a look at it and stood up.
"Mrs. Chimeezey, you are under arrest for the murder of Mrs. Isokwe" he said holding up his badge.
"What?" my heart skipped a couple of beats, "w-w-hats are you talking about, sir?" I asked
"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may or can be used against you in a court of law" he said calmly. As I felt the cold metal of the cuffs going around my wrist again, I slumped against the police officer. Another officer entered the room and held me upright while the first police officer finished handcuffing me.
As they led me out of the office, I saw the crowd that had not been there when I first came up to the check-out counter. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ben lunge at me "Murderer! how could you, how could you?" he screamed and grabbed me by my hair. The police officers quickly restrained him and pulled him away from me. Then Emeka came up to me and in his eyes I could see a great sadness."How could a mother do this? How can you kill somebody else's child, how could you?" he questioned me and I understood then he must have informed the police that I took some succinylcholine from his refrigerator but how did they link it to Chigozie? Didn't he brag to me that succinylcholine was impossible to detect in the human body I wondered. I guess I must have been a fool to believe him and thats why I say I swear I didn't start out like this. Dirty clothes and hair all messed upand looking pretty stupid. I'm just a victim of circumstances.

Cracks In My Sidewalk

2007-02-11T19:50:00.000-06:00

Ok, this is an old story (circa. 2001)so I apologize. But my excuses are

1. I really want to blog tonight.

2. It was really busy at work today so I don't have any energy left

3. Looking at my stories make me feel like writing again, its been a while

4....Want more excuses? :) Cos I can go on you know

Your critiques are welcome (hmm ...careful now, stellagirl)

CRACKS IN MY SIDEWALK.
I didn't start out like this. I swear I didn't. Dirty clothes, hair all messed up and looking pretty stupid. I am just the victim of circumstances. I should never have listened to my so called friends.Take my advice, friends are good for nobody. It started when I was 15. Innocent,the guy that used to live upstairs always had me running errands for him and rewarded me generously. He must have been at least 30 years or so I couldn't really say because I never asked. One day after I had gone to the market to buy foodstuff for him, he grabbed one of my breasts! I screamed and he let go of me quickly but that day he gave me five naira. More money than I had ever seen in my life at once. From that day onwards, he would touch my breasts and then give me some money. Eventually he progressed to sucking on my nipples. That was really erotic but still I was scared I would get pregnant so I told him and he started laughing at me and told me all about sex. By the time I was 17, I was having sex with Innocent regularly. My parents never suspected anything and Innocent did keep me in style. He bought me nice clothes, my hair always looked nice and my friends always envied me because my parents were very generous to me too.

I dated Innocent till he got married when I was 19. Even after he got married, I still hooked up with him sometimes especially since I was now in a higher institution. School was a breeze because I had a lot of male friends who took me out dancing and to real fancy restaurants. When I was 22, I met this guy named Okezie. Okezie was a sweetheart. I have to admit, I treated him like shit but he always came back. He totally adored me, never a weekend would he not offer to take me to someplace new and interesting. Sometimes I went with him and sometimes I went with more interesting offers. By the time I was serving in Kano, Okezie started talking about marriage. I wasn't too interested because I had just met this guy Ben.

Ben was huh! I have no words for Ben. He was tall, dark and handsome for starters. Made mad money doing his 419 deals and was an incurable romantic. I was yet to meet anybody that could turn me on like Ben. He was so good in bed I could never resist him. I still remember one party we went to in lagos, he wanted me in the bathroom and boyfriend was so fine I agreed. We sneaked off into the bathroom downstairs where he immediately started sucking on my breasts. I loved the way Ben sucked my nipples; very slowly and with his tongue encircling my areolas next thing he was pulling down my skirt and and when he entered me, I must have reached heaven immediately. The orgasm was so fierce, I nearly screamed out loud. After the sex, we quickly rejoined others and as soon as we got to his house we jumped on each other again. Ben was unbelievable. We took trips to Obudu cattle ranch and Oguta lake, Every moment with him was well worth it. All Ben had to do was call me and I would come running. Our sexual escapades could fill books! Long kisses under the moonlight. Don't laugh, Ben was that sort of guy and I , yours truly was that sort of girl so it came as a total shock to me when he got married in 1992. My whole world fell apart! Though I never gave up Okezie, Ben was my main man, the person I hoped to share the rest of my life with. But he went and got married to this skank named Chigozie. I was totally devastated. His friends always say Ben married Chigozie because he caught me cheating on him. Ben never actually caught me cheating. I admit, I still slept over at Okezie's house on days I told him I was at my cousin Felicia's house. I mean, I was way too smart to get caught like that. I believe one of my useless , envious girlfriends told him. And I'm seriously suspecting Chioma Iloka because she is that kind of person. She always had an eye for Ben anyway. Still, I couldn't handle Ben's marriage to someone else so when Dr. Chimezie came calling from America, I was ready!

Dr. Chimezie was a 36 yr old man that resided in Washington DC. He was well spoken and very brilliant. He told me he got a straight scholarship from high school until he finished his residency. He was that good. Dr. Chimezie was really kind to me and it was pretty much a whirlwind romance. His parents really liked me and encouraged him to marry me. We got married about a year after meeting and six months later, I had joined him in Washington DC. Of course my friends were really jealous though they had all encouraged me to marry him but I did not care about them. they all were double edged swords, advising me to marry Dr Chimezie but at the same time hating me for my good fortune. Washington DC was definitely a far cry from Nigeria. I had to gain a sense of independence I had never really needed before. I also went back to school because Chimezie wanted me to. The world was my oyster so I decided to fulfil my dreams of becoming a lawyer. Back at Unizik, I had studied Economics and I was lucky to find a school that accepted my degree from Nigeria so I only had to take a few classes before going to law school. Tha was when all my troubles started. At first it started with little things. Doc complaining when I was 5 minutes later than I told him I would be to outright taking my car keys and preventing me from going to school. We really fought because I was not about to put up with that kind of mess. Though I had two kids, I still coped very well with my studies and many people were jealous of me and my family. But as for Chimezie, he really changed on me. I have no idea what came over him. I was very good to him as a wife. I cooked and cleaned and respected him but once in a while, I had to seek solace outside the home because he worked so hard. He fell asleep before he could even crawl into bed but he was still a very good father to his kids. Still, he left me unsatisfied sexually and honestly I was going to try and manage myself until unfortunately I met Ben again. Oh my God, I don't even know if I regret or am happy about the day I was reunited with Ben again. The meeting was innocuous enough. I saw him at a seminar that I required to pass a class I had taken in my sophomore year. Ben was still as charming as ever and I could see in his eyes he still liked me. He had his wife had 3 kids by then and they were currently living 15 minutes away from my house. I invited him and his wife to join my husband and I for dinner the following week. He declined at first but later he agreed to come for dinner with his wife the next week

"Mmm, baby that feels really good" I said as I sat astride Ben. He filled me completely. I could feel his dick up to my throat and I was so weak as waves and waves of orgasms washed through me. Ben was a drug I could not resist.I seduced him, I agree I did but I didn't know what else to do. I was totally fed up with Chimezie by then and Ben was too good to resist. We met at a motel 6 at the other side of town. As far as possible from both our homes as could be. But like the old saying, every day is for the thief but one day is for the owner of the house. It was an ordinary day, Ben and I had arranged to meet on the Motel 6 at Main street and I was really happy to see him because I had not seen him for about a month as he went to Nigeria to visit his parents and the sex was even more exciting than usual. Ben was in my arms sleeping when I heard a loud knocking on the door. I was not really alarmed expecting to see the desk clerk at the door, though why he could not have called on the phone, I did not know. My jaw almost dropped when I saw a policeman at the door, my heart skipped a couple of beats.
"Mrs Chimeezey?" the officer asked in an american accent.
"Yes, how can I help you?" I asked clutching my half open blouse to my chest.
"You are under arrest for driving a stolen car" he said
"Driving a stolen car?" I repeated after him slowly "how can that be? This car belongs to me"
"Is the car registered to you, Mrs Chimeezey? he asked me
"No, it is registered to my husband, Dr Chimezie" I replied coldly, I could now see where this was going. The policeman walked back to his car and spoke into his little radio. By then Ben had woken up and came to the door, panicking. I told him to calm down because I now knew my husband had reported the car stolen.
"Ma'm, a Dr Chimeezey has reported this car stolen" said the officer, walking back up to me from his car
"But I am married to him" I replied
"According to the doctor, the two of you had been separated for 3 months now" he said, looking down at his papers
"No, we are not separated" I said, now very angry.
"I'm sorry ma'm" said the officer and with that he started to place a pair of handcuffs on my wrists. By now, I was so pissed, I started struggling with the officer and before I knew it, two more policemen had arrived on the scene and that was how they took me away to the station, kicking and screaming.

TO BE CONTINUED

The 10 Signs of Blog Addiction

2007-02-10T14:36:00.000-06:00

10. You check your blog stats a LOT. You occasionally get up in the middle of the night and sneak a peak.

9. Your significant other suspects you are having an affair with your blog. Even when you’re alone with your special person, you do find yourself thinking what your blog might be doing right then…

8. You “mental blog” while driving or on the train, and sometimes even when you are alone in the shower.

7. You filter everything through your post-writing. You can’t watch a movie, see a play, read an article, or share a sweet moment with your child without thinking of whether it’s blog-worthy.

6. You suffer from “blog envy” when another blogger posts something juicy before you do. You suffer “comment envy” when said post gets 40-something comments – the jerk!

5. You “binge blog” 3 or 4 posts at once—only to feel guilty and empty afterward.

4. You ditched all your real friends for blog friends, because, well, “they understand.” You bypass Bowling Alone at the bookstore (who really cares?) while you reach for Naked Conversations.

3. You think, “I can stop at any time.”

2. Your lunch hour has become your “blog hour.” You keep a few posts tucked in your desk in case you need them during the day.

1. After 5 minutes of meeting someone really interesting you ask, “So - do you blog?”

Friday Five: Growing Up!

2007-02-09T19:57:00.000-06:00

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A pharmacist and a writer
2. Did you follow through? If not, what happened?
Partially. I am a pharmacist but I still haven't done much in terms of writing, just a few short stories here and there I have been asked to continue but ... right now, I have other things I have to deal with. (sorry guys)
3. Is your life turning out the way you thought it would when you were a kid? If not, is it better or worse?
I think my life is better now than as a kid. I got the chance of a lifetime and I haven't looked back since then. So yes, my life is turning out the way I wanted.
4. Paradoxes aside, if you could time-travel back to when you were 10 years old, what would you tell your 10-year-old self?
Try not to be so quick with your tongue. Enjoy your readings, they will help your maturity and self-worth some day.
5. Do you think the child you were, would like the adult you've become?
Yes! Fo' sure! I absolutely rock. Contentment and patience are my middle names. I have grown to cherish and respect people. Have maintained deep friendships while holding on to my authenticity.

.... And They Said No

2007-02-07T18:54:00.000-06:00

Well, the hospital I interviewed at, sent me one of those little postcards saying they went with another candidate. Man, my ego was a little bruised ... (I no go lie now) but I'm glad. The people were not nice at all so I would have said no if they had offered me the job. Its all about the "fit" people, don't ever forget it. You have to be a good fit for that company or you will have a lot of trouble.

Anyway, I will be going on the next interview in 2 weeks. I have this killer book (Knock 'em dead) from DKS that talks about everything you can encounter in a job interview.

Talking about DKS, hmm how about I walked into the office on Tuesday and saw a bunch of stuff on my deak with "Stella read, and lets discuss" I could feel a headache coming on but I braved it now ... no be me again? So I opened this stuff, I saw all these tapes dealing with communication skills, effective presentations, the whole works. I was in "Self-Help" heaven. By now, I think y'all must have figured out I absolutely love self help books, they really work!

A little story ... when I finished from high school or secondary school as we call it, nobody would visit me ...except for Amara, we were like 5 & 6. Omo, when I go hang with a friend, they tell me all the people that stopped by their house. Now granted, I wasn't exactly a social butterfly but I wanted people to stop by my crib from time to time. Well, I started looking inwards, now I wasn't exactly a bitch but omo, I spoke my mind oh ... sometimes too much. So I decided to change things and I happened upon a copy of Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people" and I read it and practiced and practiced and practiced and I saw changes. I was nicer to people, put a little bass in my voice when necessary. All I have to say is "It worked!!!!" I still don't have tons of friends (don't want to) but I have great friends and in general, people tend to like me.

So the moral of the story, self help books work. Give it a trial. Well, the first one I started reading really touched me. Its pretty old ... it comes with audiotapes but it sure did bring tears to my eyes. It was Earl Nighingale's 'Lead The Field". Good book, haven't had motivation so good in a long time I swear. Please get this book if you can. Awesome!

And Valentine's Day is coming. And I have a story about the best valentine day story. You will like, I promise
Stay tuned!

Three PDAs, Two MP3 Players, One Laptop And Still Technologically Challenged!

2007-02-04T17:25:00.000-06:00

This una technology tire me sef. Early last week, as I was strolling to my office, I saw an array of stuff (pens, candy, notepads etc) on display by the secretary's desk from one pharma company. Well, I took a pen, turns out to be a 3-in-1 stylus pen. It has a stylus, laser point and yes it is also a pen! As I headed to my zone, I just thought about all the stylus pens I have sitting in my house. That led into even deeper thinking, the 3 PDAs in my house. Good googly moggly!!!

How on earth? Well, I'll tell you the story in a minute. It all started in my last yr of pharm school when I realized I just had to have a PDA! It was ABSOLUTELY important to my education. I mean, there was no way I was going to be part of a multi-disciplinary rounding team without having a PDA equipped with drug information capabilities. So I got a PDA ... need less to say (does anybody still use those words?) I never got to shine with it because I was rarely prepared. By the time, I had popped out my PDA to look for "conivaptan", the attending physician had long moved on to another patient. Oy vey!

That was the first one. I got another PDA from the department because I was a resident, this PDA could not even be synced to our computers in the office. How does that happen? We called the IS (information systems) people tire, after that, we all stopped messing with that thing and started using our own PDAs.

The third and final PDA came with my office. This year, we had 1 too many residents so I got my own office space since we had an empty office. Well, this office had belonged to a manager so it came with a few trimmings like leather chair (which somebody stole) and the works.

The MP3 players are a story for another day and I swear my laptop has some extra features ... if only I knew what they were!

So as for the stylus pen, I used it to buy a few favors. Hopefully, I will not have a lot of problems when I'm the administrator on call because my A-team will come to the rescue.As a matter of fact, I went home and brought out my stash of pens and other goodies accumulated from different conferences and I gave them out to the A-team.

Now don't worry, I know they are nice small gifts for naija but I have another conference coming up in May so that where I will accumulate my stash for my trip to Naija before the end of the year. Thats why I can give away this stash

As for we get up to at these conferences in the name of getting their freebies ... you don't want to even know

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Oh No! Its Super Bowl Sunday!

2007-02-03T23:29:00.001-06:00

So thats whats the fuss was all about. It was so hard to get somebody to sign up to come in to work on Sunday.
I guess my first inkling should have come when the secretary faxed a prospective candidate's resume to the VA and included where my oga Kpatakpata and DKS would be having dinner with the candidate. Well DKS was so concerned with "supper time" as he called it and I just could not understand why.
Finally he asked me "what time is the play off tomorrow?"
Me: "Play -what?"
DKS: "The Superbowl"
Me: "Oh! I have no idea."
DKS: "Well, I don't want to go to dinner with the candidate and miss the game"
Me: "Huh, I'll call C.(the secretary)
DKS: "Maybe you can take the candidate out so I can watch the Super Bowl"
Me: "Eh ..." (trailing off cos I couldn't think of what to say)

Finally we called C who told us they would be eating in a restaurant that had 2 large screen TVs and then DKS was finally pacified.

As for me, I got roped into working cos of this yeye Super Bowl thingie as nobody was willing to sign up but thats ok, sports is not really my forte. I get Monday off though and then Tuesday starts with an eval with Oga kpatakpata. I can definitely live without that particular meeting.

Anyway a practice tip from DKS ...
"Remember the inverted triangle - What is the problem?
How best to solve it
Who best to solve it

Seacrest out!
I've always wanted to say that :)

Friday Five: On The Line!

2007-02-02T18:59:00.000-06:00

1. How much time do you spend online in a given weekday? What about the weekends?
A lot of time. Since most of my work is done online, I spend upwards of 10 -12 hours online daily. For weekends its even longer ... as long as I'm home, I'm probably online
2. What time(s) of day do you go online? Is it the same every day?
I tend to be online during the daytime, rarely in the middle of the night and its the same every day
3. When you first get online, what do you do first? What sites do you visit every day?
I check my email (groupwise, yahoo &hotmail). I visit www.fggcowerri.com and www.nigerianbloggers.com daily
4. How many online journals/blogs do you read regularly? What are some of your favorites and why?
As many as I can get to. Pretty much anybody who is listed on www.nigerianbloggers.com
Fav
www.hyenasbelly.blogspot.com : Very articulate and funny naija chica

5. Other than reading e-mails and journals, what else do you do online?
Shopping, chatting, research, play games on Yahoo, banking and reading eBooks

Fire In Ya Belly!

2007-02-01T20:26:00.000-06:00

So I started today at the VA with DKS and it is cool. Went through the whole access code and password, fingerprinting stuff for the better part of the day. I accompanied him to an OFA (Old Fart Administrator ... as one of my ogas would say) meeting. Quite different from our own meetings. But it was great. After lunch, he gave me some books to read and some practice tips. Let me tell you, DKS is the king of practice tips. "Fire in your belly" he likes to say. I'll try to put down the daily practice tips he gives me as I remember. He's like "write this down, this is a practice tip for you"

But my day did not start so easy oh. Firstly, there was this whole noise about snow the previous day an we were suppose to have a 7am meeting before going to the VA. I work up by 5am, no snow so the meeting was still on. I set the alarm for 5:30am an I work up by 6:23. I bathed and got dressed in like 10 mins. I guess that excuses the soap suds I had in full view in my ears. These yeye Southerns, they will never tell you things like that. Luckily as I was applying small pancake to my face in my office, I saw it and removed it.

I was supposed to give a small report at this meeting, Oga kpatakpata gave it to somebody else. No wahala sha. I'm just glad its over ... hopefully

Anyway, back to DKS he gave me 4 books to read
1. How to get your point across in 30 seconds or less
2. The 7 habits of highly effective people
3.Principle-centered leadership
4.Knock 'em dead 2005: The Ultimate Job Seeker's Guide (wish I got this before last my interview)
You can see I have my work cut out for me. Anyway I love reading motivational books ... yes I'm a nerd. So f**king what? Are you just finding that out?

As for my January goals, I made some and missed some. I will be putting up Feb's goals soon.

Speak Of The Devil

2007-01-30T11:26:00.000-06:00

... and you'll get a job interview offer! Well, not from the devil literally, its from Kuldip! I talked about him yesterday and today the first thing I saw on my groupwise was an email from him to come interview for the position of a pharmacy supervisor. How exciting!

Like a better hospital, they will be taking care of airfare and lodgings which the hospital in DC did not do. Anyway, its a known fact that most of the hospitals in DC can do with more money. He also asked me to let him know if there were any places I would like to see while I was there. Hmm ... did somebody say Disney?????

The issue now is when do I want to go. I no go lie, last week's interview left oh girl with a coldsore and scared the bejesus out of me. The grilling was intense. And that came from a third rate hospital sef. This one that is a topnotch hospital will probably skin me alive. Well, I'll fix it for the 3rd week of February.

Maybe a long weekend, interview on Friday and come back on Sunday. I don't want to interview on Monday, the whole week will be messed up for me. Anyway, I'll decide later.

True Lies

2007-01-29T13:58:00.000-06:00

I guess one of the things I have always heard and believed about myself was that I am a laid-back person. I don't really stress out over things and I'm not a drama queen. That much is true, I think but something I have just decided to be honest to myself about is that, I don't deal with stress effectively.

Guess what I do when I'm stressed? You guessed right the first time around! I eat. A soda, cookies and anything sweet. Thats not a very good way to deal with stress my body tells me. So how then should I deal with stress? I hate yelling at people cos I feel so, so guilty afterwards. I hate panicking and running around in circles but I don't know good practical ways of dealing with stress.

Of all the people I have talked to in a while, Kuldip is somebody I will remember for a long time. Kuldip is an assistant pharmacy director in one of these sunny states. He also accepted a management position right after his residency. I remember asking him how he felt on accepting his first position considering he had little personnel management previously. He admitted it was tough but one thing he said stuck in my mind. "You have to get yourself ready mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually." I know this sounds dramatic, but I see where he's coming from.

Its no secret that lots of people bring their personal problems to the job. The expectation from the people that report to you is extremely high, it takes so little for you to lose your respect with them. I would like to bring energy to any department I work in because I truly believe in pharmacy. I love the fact that I am helping people get better. I also truly believe that people give more if they are appreciated for their efforts. Or am I just an idealist? Only time will tell I guess. I wish I had a mentor I could talk to.

I guess this interview I came back from just opened my eyes to the gravity of my new responsibilities and also the fact that I'm a little in the dumps today.

Back in Barbeque Town

2007-01-28T18:45:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I'm back! I had fun in the Chocolate City, now its back to business as usual. Not quite looking forward to work tomorrow but ...thats a necessary evil. I hate checking my groupwise when I'm not at work cos I'm not at work but something tells me to check it so there will be no surprises tomorrow.

I really had fun in DC. Did not quite realize how much I had missed it. One thing I not miss though was the snottiness. In Memphis, all it takes for a conversation to start is eye contact. Omo, while at the African store stocking up on goodies, I smile at somebody when we made eye contact, man the stony stare I got back in return almost made me jump out my skin. I was like, "girl, u are no longer in Memphis, so keep your country act to yourself."

Next week, I will be starting with DKS who is a director at another hospital and I'm not really as excited as I thought as I would be. I think its because I have a lot of work to do and I don't want to be gone for so long.

But I remember Camille (my best resident) felt the same way last year when she had to go to ASHP in Bethesda, Maryland. Well, she tried to wriggle out of it but the lady at ASHP was like "but I've already planned our month together" so she had to go. Well, the month went by really quick cos I saw her one day and was like "you're back!" and she was! Sporting a huge engagement ring that almost blinded me cos her baby had proposed to her as they drove down to Maryland. I love that story. Can't wait to go to the wedding in March!

I have this huge cold sore on my lip. I get cold sores when I'm stressed so its because of that interview ... I think. Can't find the Blistex, really don't want to go to Walgreen's to get one. I guess I have to.

Friday Five: Hardly Working

2007-01-26T10:45:00.000-06:00

A lil' more about me
1. What do you do for a living?
I am a "baby" pharmacist - no more a new grad fresh out of school but still testing the waters in many areas professionally

2. Would you characterize yourself as a hard worker?
Nope, but I think I work SMART. I know what I need to do, sometimes I don't want to do it but if I have to, I will do it.

3. If you have you ever had someone work for you as a subordinate or have lead a project, do you think you were a good boss? Why or why not?
Yes I have had people work for me or with me on projects. I am a good boss but I respect them well enough to let them do the job on their own but at the same time, I will stay on top of things.
4. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Why?
Writing comes to mind, followed by teaching kids. Writing is soul-baring activity, its almost like having an out-of-body expression. You can see yourself from an observational point of view. And teaching kids, what can I say, kids are absolutely adorable ... well sometimes

5. What job do you think most prepared your for the working world?
My job now as a resident - I'm the weird position of being between two spectrums of activity. After this period in my life, I will be one or the other so this has been an opportunity for me to see many varied opinions
****************************************************
Update on my interview
What can I say? I was thoroughly grilled by everybody. It was an all-day affair. Well, let me back up a little. My trip to DC was pretty uneventful. Immediately, I got to my friend's house, I started working on my presentation which was incomplete.

First yawa, my friend's PC did not have Microsoft powerpoint, it only had this Corel stuff that is so unfamiliar, well it did not even have Corel presentations, which is like powerpoint. I lugged out my laptop which by the way has Corel too so I rarely ever use it for my presentations.

Well, I had to this night ... so I worked on it, worked on it, then I lost my work ... which I had not saved properly! It was 3am in the morning, I hadn't slept, nothing. I seriously thought about rescheduling this damn interview but was like, I'm already here, I have to be done with this.

So I started again and finished by 6am. Took a shower, went to HU computer lab, pretended I was a student (you know, flashed my old ID at them)got in and did some final revisions. Then I took a cab to the hospital by 9am and had some time before my day commenced.

Wow, after the HR person spoke to me about benefits and stuff, it was on!!!! The director told me point blank, "I think your biggest challenge will be proving yourself to the pharmacy staff" Wow! so on that note, we talked a bit and then I met the nursing staff leaders, they too grilled me ... me I answered well too, I don't know if my answers were the kind they were looking for but me sef, I talk abeg. I have been around the block a few times, I know what the deal is.

Then I went to lunch with the director, then I cam back and did a 20 minutes presentation and after they had asked me all the questions in the world about my presentation, we got started on the interview. They grilled me no be small (the director said my face was red when she came to get me haha, blackie like me turning red, you can imagine but I hung in there)

Then the last stop, "ndi ama-alas" thats igbo for the owners of the place popularly known as the technicians came in for the final grilling. Guys let me tell you something, the techs can make or break you. I assure you. Them guys will fuck you up if you are not careful but they didn't know they are dealing with the original sweet talker. I have all the techs in my hospital wrapped around my finger. I'm not kidding.

And that was my day in a nutshell.... hmm I left out the part where I boarded a cab at Rhode Island metro to go to my friends house which was not too far (it was really cold) and I got this drunk idiot for a driver. I did not really notice he was drunk but he did not have change when we got to my friend's house so we drove to a liquor store, I got some change ... and some smirnoff ice and hopped back in the cab.

Yeye man demanded his money, I gave it to him cos I was so tired. Then as we were going the fire trucks blocked 2 streets, the idiot now refused to take me home. I said abeg use another street now, he was so drunk he was just slurring all over the place. I saw a police car and I got out the cab and went up to them. To cut a long story short, lets say Driverman will be cooling his heels in jail tonight and I got my money back.

And stellagirl walked home.

Race And The African

2007-01-23T10:17:00.000-06:00

This morning while I was going to get some hot water in my office, I decided to browse through some journals. This article in Annal of Internal Medicine caught my eye. Basically it discusses the impact of race on physicians of African descent. I know, I know ... thats old news. I admit I'm not a physician, I'm a pharmacist but as I browsed through the article, I saw many issues that were applicable to me.

Firstly, the difficulties in identifying and engaging role models and mentors. To digress a bit, I have often wondered why 90% of african pharmacists worked in retail settings. I mean, thats not necessarily wrong but its pretty much a dead end career (in my opinion) because you could work in that store for the rest of your life. After more than 5 years in such a setting, hospitals are reluctant to hire you because there is little clinical skills used in the retail setting and to work in a hospital, you have to be really careful as many of the patients are acutely ill. On graduating from school, I decided to pursue an administrative track so I had to complete a residency (or two).

The funny thing is that, there are so few african pharmacists in any administrative positions and its not so easy to talk to these other people because they really don't understand where you are coming from.

An editorial on this article summarizes it thus
"In brief, the physicians who participated felt that race permeated their experiences in the workplace, shaped their interpersonal interactions, and defined their institutional climate; their responses to racism ranged from minimization to confrontation; that the healthcare workplace is often silent on the issue of race and that these experiences can result in "racial fatigue," with personal and professional consequences."

One of the interviewees states "Race influences the personalities of Americans much more deeply than for Africans or other people not born in this country. As an african, my primary mode of identification is not race, still most people see me and for them its race."
How apt.

Many of the recurrent themes, I found very familiar: pride expressed by only patients of colors during encounters, feeling invisible at work, isolated and lacking of supportive mentors, frequently omitted from information networks and social situations, undervalued work and involuntarily "cast" into race-based roles in the workplace.

I guess the only thing I did not quite like about the article was the fact that only 5 of the 25 participants came to the United States as adults, that to me being the core Africans (no disrespect meant to anybody) I just wonder what difference our thicker accents etc would make to the results.

A Free Lunch, Many Questions Asked.

2007-01-22T17:37:00.000-06:00

Today was another day of tour guide duties. Two potential residents were interviewing. The girl was really working my nerves. Had something to say about everything. Luckily, I did not have to do much with her so I basically concentrated on the other candidate who was really sweet.

Thank God he did not have too many questions for me at lunchtime cos I would have told him to shut it! (just kidding) And as for me, I wasn't really in the mood for that tour cos I had just got fussed at. So it was short and sweet! Anyway, wetin man go do now

DC will have to be a road trip. I want a scenic journey. Eat and sleep all day. Cos when I get to DC, I start running around again. Long hours but I'll be fine, I think. But this people na wah, they haven't sent me an itinerary, nothing. I have no idea what my day is going to be like. I really have no idea either what I'm supposed to know. This is crazy.

Worst thing, I'm not really qualified for the position I think but if they want to interview me, I'm fine with that. I did tell them that I was just about to complete a specialty residency in administration but that hardly qualifies me for an "assistant director of pharmacy" position but the lady assured me it was just a name change and formerly it was titled "pharmacy manager" so I guess its the same thing.

I have sought advice from my mentor P.W. Strong woman she is, she's about the only A.A director of pharmacy in this area. I will have a rotation with her in March and hoepfully, I can get to know her better.

Still in my office. I will be staying late today to work on my presentation. I really hope it goes well. Wish me luck.

Tour Guide Day 2 and A Few Shenanigans

2007-01-21T18:37:00.000-06:00

I always try to blog about today, not previous days but today I am just going to just go for it and talk about whatever. Firstly, this whole tour guide thingy is not really working for me. I have become better at it (I always tell myself, if I ever decide to have a change of career, hey, I can always be a tour guide!)

But I had to laugh at myself on Friday about my behavior. Well, I told the secretary to include the other resident A so we could tour together. She did that but A's oga came to me, all smiles (you know this fake type) telling me A had to go on rounds etc so I should do it alone.

Omo, I cussed her out (... in my mind) but I agreed. She now gave me the resume for this prospective resident, I saw DC on it, I immediately perked up and was like "oh nice, he's in DC" And that was how I got excited about taking him around our pharmacy areas.

Two of his co-residents are HU grads like me so it was cool. We talked about things, I think I gave him some cool advice and you know, we will see after the marching program if he will come here or not.

Of course the best part is when we have to rank them according to who we want to come her, we all take a vote and talk about them, its so funny. All the current residents are thinking, "wow, was this how they were discussing us last year before accepting us?" I mean, its not like we say mean things or anything but we comment on their recommendation letters, their personality etc. Its really funny.

I have 2 people to tour next week and I get to go to lunch with them too. That part is fun I think. They get to relax a bit after being grilled (or lightly sauteed with butter as one of them would say) by the rest of the interviewers. Then they get to ask us questions and see if they want to come here or not.

By the way, I need to email the guy from DC to see if he had a safe trip home. Clearly he made an impression on me. :)

Friday Five: Shop-A-Holic!

2007-01-19T17:11:00.000-06:00

Knowing me a little more ....

1. What are your five favorite stores?
Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, ShoeBuy, Sephora's, Target

2. Is there any store you absolutely hate going to?
Hmm, I'm not a big fan of all these stores that sell only really small sizes

3. Do you pay with cash, credit, debit, or something else?
I pay with cash, credit, debit. Anything I have on me, I pay with.

4. Do you prefer to shop in person or online?
Online! Makes my life so much easier

5. In the last six months, what single purchase has been the most important to you?
My Nissan Sentra

The ChickenBone Journalist Of The Year

2007-01-17T11:26:00.000-06:00

Ok, not exactly an awe-inspiring award but guess who got it in 2006, our very own Uche Nworah. As I was taking care of business yesterday (surfing the web) I saw this short story by him. Extremely engaging story. I have also seen a lot of his work on NigerianVillageSquare and I think he's a very remarkable writer. Well according to the Chickenbone Journal, his new book will be coming out in March of this year and I think it will be an interesting read. Let's go out there and get copies of his book

Its Official. Your Girl's A Tour Guide.

2007-01-16T10:05:00.000-06:00

Chai! I don suffer. I opened my groupwise this morning and saw 6 or 7 appointments for me to accept. WTF??? When I peruse this appointments, they want me to take prospective residents on a tour of the hospital especially the pharmacy areas.

Whats irritating me the most is that I don't have any business with some of these prospective residents. Why can't the present resident take them on those tours? I guess they have seen the jobless one.

As far as I'm concerned, if you take them out to lunch, then you should take them on a tour of the hospital areas. I already have 3 administrative residents to take on tours and to lunch.

That makes sense because I am an administrative resident so I can answer their questions about the residency from a resident's point of view but I know jack about the goings-on in cancer so why am I taking the prospective Oncology resident on a tour????? Omo, I am calling A. who is the Oncology resident now to ask her why she did not take the prospective resident on the tour. Nonsense and ingredient!!!!
***********************************************
I have just found out that I have to give a 20 minute presentation at my job interview next week. Man! I did not quite expect that. The topic is mine to choose but it will probably be a good idea for it to be about management. Hmmm

I got a call from Walgreen's Memphis district manager and when I told him what I wanted he says "we might have something for you" I almost burst out laughing. Might? More like "when can you start?" if you ask me.

Big Booty Judy!

2007-01-14T14:13:00.000-06:00

Yeah, thats me. I mean, what can I say? It is true. Just a little while ago, I wrote something about weight loss and I backed off again. Well I did start using my expensive cloth hanger (treadmill) again which is good. I used to say "I don't have time, I don't have time" but lately I have realized that I spend at least 2 hrs or more reading (drumroll please) blogs. Yes, very very good use of my time but what can I say ... its addicting. I'm knowing more about people than I ever wanna know sometimes.

So back to exercising, its interesting how it gets a little easier to be on that treadmill with time. First day, I cursed at Mickey D's, IHOP, Wendy's and Mama Twins Faze 2 in DC for leaving me with the huge booty I have now.

You know, I'm not talking about 5 -10 vanity pounds, I'm talking about she-looks-like-she's-five-months-pregnant, thunderthigh, how-can-anybody-be-so-big kinda pounds. So I am working on it and I'm pretty sure I'll meet my January goal of 5 pounds.

Roland, my personal trainer has given up on me. I must have gone to only 2 sessions. I have to start back up again. I'll much rather get the trainer that will come to my apartment. I looked into that and they asked for $1,500 up front. Damn this residency!!!! So anyway, its a new year. I'm gonna go for it. Yes thats a lot of money but its for a good cause, my health and you guessed it ... the MAN!!!!!!

Time to work that out. Stay blessed.

Work It Out Baby, Work It Out

2007-01-13T09:42:00.000-06:00

This is for all the up and coming members of the U clan living away from home. Now I hope y'all know Big Brother's delegate known as Big Sis is watching y'all. Now you know I love y'all, respect y'all and cherish y'all.

I have a piece of advice for you though, its your time, make the best use of it. Now I know that sounds very trite, you've heard it a million time. Well maybe there's a reason people keep repeating it. Because its true!!!!

Lil' mama talking about going to Med school, you've been in a community college for 3 years .... you need to work it out

Young playa, congratulations on your engineering degree. Whats that you say about Med school and Ph.d? You need to make up your mind on what direction you want to take ok? Like I say, work it on out!

Hey Red! You haven't seen the inside of a classroom in ages. You are only 17. Baby, I know there are a lot of issues with your dad but in the long run, its gonna be you bearing the consequences of these bad decisions you are making right now. Honey, I need you to work it out

J cutie, I see that anger and resentment in you. Best believe, it ain't about nothing. He can only hurt you if you give him the power to. You need to reconsider these steps you are taking right now. I know the ladies won't leave you alone and you don't have to be a monk either but please go ahead on and work it out

C-Boy, I must admit I was disappointed when you dropped out of college. I'll give you the fact that I haven't asked you whats going on but you have to work it out. You have to!

The rest of the A-team, you know yourselves, taking 3 credits every semester isn't gonna cut. You need to work it out.

Now, don't get me wrong, you must not have a formal education to make it in this life but you have to have a plan and a passion and be ready to push it!
Its a new year, Big Sis will come swooping down very soon. You need to stay prepared. You need to work it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday 5: Ultra Positive!

2007-01-12T22:50:00.000-06:00

In what way is today better than yesterday?
Its a day nearer to the end of my residency program
In what way is this year better than last year?
This year is better than last year because I have figured out the answer to a question that had bothered me for a very long while
In what way are you better than you were six months ago?
I am more pro-active and more organized than before
Besides technology (because that’s so easy), what’s better about the world today than the world you grew up in?
The world today is better because I have more freedom to express myself, to indulge in activities that please me
In what way will you make (or have you made) someone else’s day better, today?
I made the long awaited call to a loved one

Success Is Laudable But Oh! The Journey To Get There.

2007-01-11T15:46:00.000-06:00

I guess something I do that I find interesting and I guess other people do it as well is to gloss past people's struggles and only focus on the success part of it. For example if I meet a rich surgeon, that last thing that will probably come to my my mind is what it much have felt like to go through all those years in school and residencies, fellowships etc. I immediately think, "Wow, that guy must be making a fortune!" Which he probably is but that's besides the point.
I thought about this today when I heard somebody I knew had quit his job after being there less then 6 months. Interestingly, this was the same person that was like "Don't quit, don't quit" when it was becoming unbearable for me. Now, don't get me wrong, he did the right thing by encouraging me. I would have done the same thing if I were in his shoes. But how come he's quit his first job as a pharmacist when he was the one doing all that encouraging? Now to cut him a little slack, the place he was working at, very very snotty. You had to look a certain way, live in a certain part of Memphis, and talk in a certain way. He neither looked, talked or acted the part. So they made his life miserable. Also it could be because he could afford to pick and choose but right now I don't have much of a choice because if I walk away, I don't get my certificate. However, it still stings a little when people are flippant about your situation.
"Oh, you can do it" they say "Its not a big deal."
"Yes, it is a big deal" I feel like replying or even screaming
Its not easy to put yourself in someone else's shoes, I've realized. Hopefully, from now on I can learn to empathize more with people instead of being quick to say something flippant when they narrate their stress to me.

Help! I'm A Nigerian ... Get Me Out Of Here!

2007-01-10T15:05:00.000-06:00

Okay, I admit I have been known to have many pre-conceived notions (I merely consider them strong opinions) but I think this one I'm about to share is valid. As far as I'm concerned, many Oyinbos suffer from obsessive compulsiveness. I mean, there is such as thing as too much detail! The new storm brewing in my world is our upcoming transition to Computerized Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE). In a nutshell, this means physicians instead of writing their orders, enter them directly into a computer. Then the medication orders come to us etc. Well, this means there has to be a lot of uniformity across the system cos different health care providers have different meanings for same things. So somewhere along the lines nursing leaders decided that medication should be input to be given at the next hour. They were warned that meant nurses would potentially have to be administering medications to adults every hour of the day! They insisted. Now we are about to go live and its going crazzzzzzy, I tell you. To me, Oyinbos are always going for perfection. They drill down into every minute detail. Don't get me wrong, detail is good. That is a quality I feel I as a Nigerian, I don't have enough of but gosh, the detail I see here is huge. We take months and months to solve issues. A single question always becomes a project and so forth. Wish me well, my phone will be going off the hook from next week but it will die down ... eventually.

To Bidil Or Not To Bidil?

2007-01-09T16:16:00.000-06:00

I must admit there are days, many, many days I hate my job. But some things happen that make it a little worthwhile too. Take this case of the big fight over Bidil at my job. Now Bidil is a combined product antihypertensive. It is made of isosorbide 20 mg and hydralazine 37.5 mg.
Bidil became famous when it was shown in a drug study to be more effective in African Americans (it was effective in all patients but a subcategory African American showed the most benefit)
Now we have all heard how hypertension in African Americans is more resistant to treatment so this finding was quite a bit of a big deal. Bidil however is not carried by my hospital pharmacy and we usually substitute isosorbide and hydralazine when we get an order for Bidil.
The problem however is that the strength of hydralazine in Bidil is not on the market so we substitute hydralazine 35 mg for 37.5 mg. One of the medical directors threw a big fuss over it and brought it to the pharmacy and therapeutics meeting for it not to be substituted. Well, the pharmacists in the meeting were angry cos Bidil is expensive for patients to buy and what some of them will do is not buy their medications and when they are ill, they will come to the emergency room. The MDs were like "out our business! what we prescribe for our patients outpatient is not your problem. Let us deal with that."
So pharmacy was outvoted and Bidil was added on. The next month, it was discoverd that this medical director was a paid speaker for Bidil so it was brought up at the next meeting (as well as many backup ... that 7am meeting was the most attended I have ever seen til date)
Now its not that you cannot be a paid speaker for a drug company but you have declare it beforehand. So he apologized and the discussion began. Needless to say, oyinbo tore into him trying to humiliate him. He was outvoted this time.
I thought that was wrong but .... wetin I fit do? So now, we are still substituting for Bidil which is ok, not a big deal in terms of effectiveness but that meeting na wa. Things get as them be oh for this obodo oyinbo.
Now let me get back to stuff. Stay blessed.

"Excuse Me, Am I Good Enough To Be Me?"

2007-01-08T13:58:00.000-06:00

Just this morning my oga sent me a mail about the self-evaluation forms she had asked me to complete by Friday. I must admit I just hate, absolutely hate, hate, hate those self evaluation forms. Talk about vagueness, subjectivity and wordiness! Oh my God! Those forms were designed specially to punish me, I believe.
Well anyway, I'm filling them out (most of them I checked "satisfactory progress" ...its my world, best believe it!)and I realize I do not understand many of the concepts and in less than 6 mths, I'm supposed to be a specialist. Every line on the forms had me going "hmm, did I do this, have I participated in this?" Honestly, I have no idea.
But then again, I guess the point is for me (... and my oga) to see very clearly what objectives I have yet to met. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Life!!!!
I can remember a resident complaining about these damn forms when I interviewed but I guess I did not really understand what he was trying to say but anyway, what cannot be changed must be endured. I guess its my time to endure. Peace out!

Hook Me Up, Please!

2007-01-08T00:51:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, I was on my favorite website when somebody mentioned SOS Husband so Stella girl got to work. Called up fellow Howard University alumni. Never mind that some of them I hadn't spoken to since we graduated and I asked if they were dating. Ok, I know you want to know what business I have (being single myself) with hooking somebody else up ... well none but it was fun. Thought it would be fun to yank somebody's cord.
I guess I got a taste of my own medicine when 2 of my girls decided to hook me up! I'm seriously gelling with one, the other ... hmm the jury is still out on that. But Ntefon and Vincentia, what can I say? Good looking out girls!
Anyway a word about my favorite website. Be warned! It is tres addicting. Don't say I did not tell you. Stay blessed!

"What Do You Do All Day?"

2007-01-04T15:58:00.000-06:00

I got asked that question today and I realized I have no idea what I really contribute or the impact of what I do to the organization. While this question was asked in jest, I can understand why nobody but me (and my ogas, hopefully) can understand how I spend my day.
So what do I do all day? It all depends ... on my mood, the deadline and if I am interested in the project or not. You see being a management or administrative resident is really different from when I was a pharmacy practice resident. My day was really defined. In the morning, I come in, pick up the most current patient list and look through the medications the patients are getting especially the new admits. I check their labs and stuff to make sure we are not adding to their misery but putting them on a medication that can worsen things. I go on rounds with the team (lasts for 2-3 hrs, oh my poor feet) then I go back to my office to do a few things before meeting with my preceptor in that afternoon. I go over all the patients with my preceptor, get asked a lot of questions (which I never know the answers to) and then solve some medication problems on my patients if my preceptors finds any I did not see. Sometimes, I have topic discussions with my preceptors if not, then I get to go back to my office to do more stuff (there is always one project or another)then go home and read a little (emphasis on little)
Now as a management resident, my oga (any one to all five of them) give me projects and a deadline. Then I am left on my own. I try to meet with my oga like 3 times a wk oh but sometimes I can't.
Well the end result is that it can be hard for me to prioritize my activities. I have learnt to make daily notes and put things on my task list so I will remember to do them.
So Ms. O, thats what I do all day. Today, I worked on loading a medication list for our mental health facility's automated medication dispensing machine. Later I met with a fellow resident who I am working with to start a protocol in our emergency room where pts who with suspected pneumonia get one dose of Zithromax within 4hrs of them coming to the emergency room. I also attended a 4 hr meeting with the Pharmacy Directors of all the hospitals in our health system.
You know what? I think I did a little work today. I actually did. Pat on the back for me by me. Stay blessed y'all.

Steppin' my game up!

2007-01-02T18:01:00.000-06:00

My man Joe told me last week "Stella, I'm gonna quit messing with you by the end of this year"."What?" I screamed "And you are just telling me? I only have a week to step my game up!" "Yeah, that right" he replies gloatingly "only one week to step your game up." "Jeez, this is serious" I said to myself. So I did bring him a gift today. Hopefully I have stepped my game up enough for him. I really need Joe in my life. As a matter of fact, everybody need a "Joe" in their life.
Who is Joe? Joe Hill is one of the kindest people I have met in my life. When I first stepped into the pharmacy, a brand new pharmacist; Joe was one of the first people to put me at ease. When I had no idea if we mixed Azithromycin in normal saline (salt water) or dextrose water, Joe was there to rescue me. Who showed me the East wing, Tower wing, Sherard Wing and Thomas wing of the hospital? Joe.
Who taught me how to open up the narcotic vault to dispense narcs? Joe
Amost everything I learnt and other residents learnt were due to Joe. Though a pharmacy technician, Joe is as smart as they come. Never wanting to see us rookies embarrass ourselves, he always anticipated our problems and solved them before we even asked. I am so grateful to him for making my shifts in the central pharmacy a blast. Staffing only 4 shifts a month makes it hard to do order entry because there are all kinds of twists and turns, rules and regulations to remember. And the nurses and doctors calling to ask all kinds of questions doesn't make things any easier but its a necessary evil.
So you can see why I needed Joe. Now, the residency is winding down but I must comment that the pharmacy technicians here are really the best. Last week we were doing the "chicken noodle soup" dance. Thats how comfortable I feel with them. When I'm on call, I get so much love from them. No call ins, they take care of problems. I really respect their maturity. Though I'm younger and less knowledgeable about the workings of the pharmacy, they never ever backtalk when I ask them to do something. And in return, I never disrespect them. I love them to death.
Who is your Joe Hill?

A Rose By Any Other Name

Feel The Fear ... But Do It Anyway!!!!

Blogging Is Soooo Easy

Wedding Websites

When You Leave .....Love ad nauseum

Happy New Year *wink, wink*

Christmas Love

The Way I Am

In For A Penny ...

Believing The Hype

J And The Monster

Smile Chronicles: Brace-Face Alert

Bug Chasers and Life in General

Smile Chronicles: We Need Some Teeth To Work With

Five on Friday: You've Got Talent

Smile Chronicles: The Black And White Of It

Like Hot Water For .....

Smile Chronicles: Tongue Thrasher Alert!

Overstepping Your Bounds

I Need A Galpal

Smile Chronicles: The Appointment

Half A Story: Honey & I

Genesis of the Chronicles

Happy Me Birthday

Happy New Year!!!!

Dang!!!!

Still On Shaky Feet

Finally

You Know You Are From Memphis (Part III)

Oh Oily Butt!

Wait Until My Money's Right

You Know You Are From Memphis ...

You Know You Are From Memphis ...

Dear God

Don't Send Money To Nigeria!!!!!

The Old Woman Who Lived In Her Shoe

Welcome To My Bizarro World

The Dirty Thirty Meme

The Ultimate Challenger

Belle For One Night

Random Musings

Going Dutch

...Been A While

Wait 'til The Weekend

Who Killed My Baby?

The Haunted Elevator

The Best Decisions

Living La Vida Loca

My Free Implants

Lala And The Renaissance Man

Why Does It Bother Me?

If

Been A While

About Me

Its My Birthday

Whats "Croc"ing?

Mixed Feelings

A Taste Of Your Own Medicine

Shopaholic Created

Nilla's Spin: Nigeria Discussion Series

Rock Bottom: Nowhere Else But Up! (Nigerian Series)

Friday Five:12345!

Make Like A Balloon And Rise Above It All

Breakthrough Ideas For 2007

Sell! Baby, Sell!

Solomonisms

A Never-End Day

Its All About Building Relationships

Picture Perfect

Our Love Story

The Love Doc's In!

Cracks In My Sidewalk

Cracks In My Sidewalk

The 10 Signs of Blog Addiction

Friday Five: Growing Up!

.... And They Said No

Three PDAs, Two MP3 Players, One Laptop And Still Technologically Challenged!

Oh No! Its Super Bowl Sunday!

Friday Five: On The Line!

Fire In Ya Belly!

Happy New Year wink, wink