A gift in everyone!!

I have been plagued with some sorts of pimples, bumps, and all sorts of face-mares in the past few months. One faithful day, I stumbled on this website. I could not believe my absolute luck. All a girl needs and probably wants to know about beauty tips and all that thingy. You absolutely won't believe it. It turns out it was started a few weeks ago by a friend, but we never really keep in touch. Now, I am totally hooked.

Labor Day Weekend(s)

My first labor day weekend was the only Monday in 2006 I did not have to go for the very-boring maths class in Business School. I really whipped myself for not taking the waiver exam for that class. It was so basic, it was mind-numbing. Needless to say, a very uneventful labor day weekend.

Labor day weekend - 2007, I left for Philly on Friday. I have not seen my shool daughter in almost 10 years, I was really excited and looking forward to the trip. That was my first trip in Philadelphia and there was a wedding the next day. I love weddings!! even after my wedding, I still look at bridal magazines lustfully. Between 2006 labor day and 2007 labor day, I met Elizabeth and she was getting married on that Saturday. We drove to MD from Philly, missed our way a few times and finally got to the wedding late in the day. Got back to New York on Sunday and attended the Caribbean parade on labor day. It was so much fun!! Although the ever-terrified little girl in me prevailed, I left the parade before 6pm. I found out there was a shoot-out shortly after that. Thank God!!

Labor day weekend - 2008, DC ere we come!! Between labor day 2007 and labor day 2008, I have found a job, graduated from B-School, taken the CFA level 1 and started work. My best friend got engaged as well. Another wedding is approaching!! DC was fun, we did the museums and the historic sites. Back to NY on Monday and work the next day.

Labor day weekend - 2009, we went to atlantic city. For the first time since I got to the US, I went to the beach. Won $1.20, saw a circus show and did some crazy shopping. Nice to have a long weekend.

Married for 59days......

Yes, it has been two months since our wedding...... This is the first blog I am writing as a married chick and I have decided to write in third person singular. because I am writing about the "single lady".

The silent vibration from the PDA woke her from sleep. She reached for her notebook and rounded up the findings memo she worked-on before retiring to bed the previous night. She frantically finished packing, cleaned up the apartment and showed up at JNR for a five minute visit. In the spirit of loosing weight for the wedding,she headed to the gym for an hour session for the road. Three pm was the time to depart for JFK, as they were trying to load the suitcases into the car, the heaven opened and it rained furiously, they departed a rainy NY for Paris. About 28 hours later, they arrived Lagos, Nigeria; tired, sleepy and hungry.

Between the last minute orders, trying the aso-oke for the engagement, arranging aso-ebi for her friends and the dealing with Naija vendors; the zeal to eat has been completely lost. Between her heaviest and the wedding day, she has lost about 20 pounds. Yippie!!!!
And it was 16th of May, 2009; they were joined together in holy matrimony. The best part of the reception was dance! dance!! dance!!! Thanksgiving service was on the 17th and a karaoke session with Best Man and the 'yankee pps" after the thanksgiving ceremony. They visited their memory hangout "Chocalate Royale" and bar beach before saying their farewells to Africa. They stopped over in Paris, took a day trip to Begium and tried the real "belgian waffle with real belgian chocolate". The belgian dessert was the official end to the pre-wedding diet. Sexy was only back for the wedding.

Already a few pounds heavier!!

Blogspot & Facebook

Can you still have a secret with all the networking sites springing up daily.
Well, men still got their adam's apple, for women.... I am never sure where we are supposed to store all those secrets waiting to be told. Facebook came along a few years back and people started putting all sorts out there. Despite living in three continents and all the minting and printing. Posting anything mildly personal on facebook gives me the creeps.
So when I got tagged by a friend on facebook, I sat down to write the 25 weird things, but never put it there on facebook. I decided to upload it on my blog anyway. Some 25 things about me.

1. I love cheesecake. Yummy!
2. At every point in time, I always have at least a hundred unanswered questions. Old habits die hard.
3. I don’t know how I swing it, but I seem to pass tough exams easily. Despite the fact that I worry myself to death a few days before writing the exam.
4. A few months ago, I used to take naps at the movie theatre. “Quantum of Solace” was so boring; I took another nap after the nap.
5. Back in those days, I used to dance Salsa. Yes o, I learnt a brand new dance.
6. My favorite Broadway show is still Phantom of the Opera.
7. This one is absolutely weird; my tear glands are out of tears. Confirmed by an optician. I obviously over-cried when I was growing up. Fogerrit, I still cry.
8. I refused to believe I am afraid of heights. It’s very weird because I never realize how afraid I could be until I get up there. Believe me, I practically die every time.
9. I am scared of dogs. Very very scared. Big, small, cute, special needs whatever. I am sure Karen is still having a laugh.
10. I don’t like cooking, although I know how to do it very well.
11. I used to dream of being a model and an actress as a child. I feel there is still a chance of being discovered.
12. Watching TV has never been my thing, although I watch it a lot these days thanks to LB.
13. I started keeping a journal as far back as 2001, last year I upgraded to a blog. Yippee!
14. I started my first book about seven months ago, can’t remember the story line anymore.
15. There are eight different sides to me. Even I am shocked as to how many different "faces of Tade" are out there. I can’t forget a face, at the same time I can’t remember a face.
16. I have only taken a driving test once in my life, and I failed.
17. Once I discover a song, I have to play it until I can’t stand it anymore. The current victim is “American Boy” by Estelle.
18. I love playing with my belly button. I know...Disgusting.
19. I always believe I can take on a little more, so I end up with an impossible schedule…..running from pillar to post. I don’t know who I am trying to impress with a packed calendar.
20. I am always on my side. As selfish as it sounds, I am always right, even when I am wrong. It is a thing of the mind.
21. I used to think 24 hours was too long a day, now I think I need about 6 more hours.
22. I don’t like winter – it is too cold, I don’t like summer in the U.S either. I totally hate sweating.
23. In a weird way, I feel very proud I went to the same school as Denzel Washington. Show some respect!
24. My favorite motivational book is “Who moved my cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. Once the cheese is gone, I am outta there as well. A sophisticated reason to appreciate my flee-ing feet syndrome.
25. Above all, I am totally blessed. I thank God for my life. I always find favor in unlikely places.

I will probably put this on blogger a million times before facebook.

Let the countdown begin!!

The wedding is 41 days away, can u believe that!!! I am panicking!!!
I went to the bridal shop to fit last Saturday!!! What a day! I spent the first 4 hours of the day trying to find an appopriate undergarment for my dress. Finally, I found something I think could remotely work somewhere in Mt Venon. So, we headed for the bridal shop (myself and Mrs O'). I can't say what I felt when I saw the dress, but I got into the dress and let the fitting begin.
It turned out that the back of the dress is absolutely transparent. We were shocked, I don't know how come we could not remember that about the dress. Guess, we have to roll without one. So so sad.

It seems the expenses keep growing, my body is beginning to ache from all the spending. I finally found a music band to play at the wedding. Not sure I was to use the MC sha. Now, we are talking sovenirs....uhm uhm. This will surely happen once in my life. Still need the last minute discussions to make sure things are rolling fine back in Nigeria.

I am beginning to calm down a bit about the name thing, not there yet, but I am close. I still have a few unanswered questions, any ideas?

It's hightime

Ok, the real deal is here and I am trying my utmost best to pretend it is not that close.
I am scared to bits about all the little things, but my latest worry is just the weirdest. I am practically having a meltdown regarding the fact that I have to change my name. Can you believe that? It actually started in my subconscious, I ordered the personalized items as "Tade & Badmos".. don't ask me. I did not even see the error when the favors arrived. Pretty sad!!
The good news however is that I got my dress, one whole month earlier. It is unbelieveable!! and the registry and mini -website is beginning to take shape. I uploaded one of our official pictures on there, just waiting for the invitations to come. It is actually fifty two days to the wedding.. ah ah ah, o ti de tan oo.
Father, help us.

Out in Vancouver alone

It is 1.13am EST Monday/10.13pm Sunday. I have been in Vancouver for five days????? Whao. The last time I checked; I promised I would not go away by myself anymore. But this is different. I miss my baby sha.

I arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday, right on schedule. I am totally surprised how much I have changed since I started work. I sat on a six hour flight totally at ease. My restlessness seem to have reduced by 50 percent. Awesome!! So I jumped in a cab and told the cabbie my destination, then decided I needed to go to the bank as well. Meanwhile, it was after I finished at the bank that I realized that cabbies charge u 10 cents per second in Vancouver. The Ijebu/accountant in me sprang into action, once I got to the hotel started looking for subway maps. By the time I settled in, it was about 3.30pm EST, I was starving. I found an african/indian restaurant and ordered something to eat. I ordered spring rolls for appetizers , they were yummy.

I got back to the hotel, took a nap and when looking for the skytrain station in my neighbourhood. It turned out to be a short walk. Not bad at all. The next morning, I dressed for my appointment and hopped on the train. Twenty minutes of nice, smooth uncrowded train ride, I was in the west end of the city. I joined the queue to go into the embassy and I realized my brain was zoned out due to zero caffeine, I definitely can't talk to a consular officer in that state. I ran into the starbucks on the same block, ordered a caramel macchiato and took a sip. That was good!! Back at the embassy queue, holding unto my lil life saver.

After visiting the embassy in Nigeria three times, and the one in London once; Vancouver was easy-peasy. I was out under two hours, the actually interview was about 1.5 mins or less. Thank God for favor. Although I almost could not sleep, the last time I had an embassy interview that was 5 mins long, the guy changed his mind after I left. Thank God it did not happen this time. Lunch on Thursday was sushi, I was beginning to feel the excitment. I wandered around the west end for some time and went to see the look-out at the habour center. Scary and Nice.

Picked up my visa the next day and decided to go the famous chinese garden in Chinatown. It was definitely easy to get around the city, finding lunch that I could deal with was a challenge. I finally settled for a Japanese take-out somewhere in the heart of chinatown, little did I know it was recipe for trouble. After lunch, I took the long bus ride to Stanley park hoping to see the aquarium. Ofcourse, it was closed, can u imagine??? It was barely 4.10pm and they claim Vancouver is a city. So I took the same loop back since it is passing through my hotel to get to Metrotown. About 30mins into the ride, I started feeling very weird. It really felt like the on-set of a migraine, but I noticed my lunch was sitting in my tummy for the past 2 hours undigested. Long story short, had to hop-off the bus to puke all of it. I am sure the street cleaner on duty would have cursed endlessly while trying to get it off the side-walk. Eew!

It was just Friday evening, still have about 5 more days to go. I got back to the hotel and went to look for good old Papa John's pizza, my tummy deserved something familiar. Saturday was much fun, took the West side sightseeing tour around Vancouver. So I got to know what I saw all round town the previous day. I forgot to mention I made it to Gastown on Friday before heading to Stanley Park. The Gassy Jack guy, who founded Gas town was a charter box. There was an ugly statue of him right in the middle of Gas town. The famous steam clock was broken, although it still makes a lot of noise and steam. We made it to Granville, an island in the middle of the city by midday. I took a boatride around the false creek, and found some really decent restaurant for lunch. After the tour, I decided to go to the Capilano suspension bridge!! men, what was I thinking. Found a couple of ppl that were interested too so we shared a cab. I still don't know what I was thinking, because I was 110 percent afraid of height. Kept my eyes closed all thro. It is a beautiful bridge anyway. I heard it has not failed in 120 years. 

I went to Whistler on Sunday, stopped over in Britannia beach (it's a ghost town with no sand, i still wonder why they called it britannia beach). Shannon Falls was beautiful, the only thing I can say about Squamish is eew!! We stopped at the 2010 Ski Jump location as well. The snow was picture perfect. Whistler was not as exciting as the road trip to Whistler cos I don't ski. I probably need to start that soon.

By Monday, I was sick and tired of Vancouver. It did not help that the food has not agreed with me. I finally discovered the famous British "Nandos'. Whao, what a relief. On my way back on Wednesday, yippee!! did I mention they make you pay two taxes on most things??? That sucked.

Down 2008 memory lane..........

I was watching the famous Time Square Ball drop on TV while trying to shake LB out of his sleep. I can't believe it is just a few seconds away and he was asleep, he kept murmuring I am not sleeping. After about 18 hours trying to make it back for the new year in New York city, LB finally arrived from naija 20.00 hours on the thirty first of December 2007. Thank God for journey mercies.

2008 was the year I finally hit my scary age. It did not help that my birthday was on valentine's day - the whole valentine thingy started right after the new year's day. By first of February, I was close to letting it all out. Two friends of my friends BSchool were having a birthday bash for themselves on the second of February, one of them a few light years younger than thirty. I was trying to convince LB to come out with us - still the most difficult duty ever - and right there and then I realized how far I was from the entries in my first journal. Through some sort of hormonal tinted glasses, I concluded my life was over - thirty and not married, not exactly a size that can fit into my dream wedding dress anymore. For the next week, I could not care less if everything else fell apart. You can guess who was getting the brunt of my frustration. With the benefit of hindsight -which is fast becoming 50/50 - I realized my body was probably over-producing those hormones that magnifies PMS.

By the time val's day finally arrived, I had managed to drag my PMSed body out of its nastiness. Even had a super-awesome birthday lunch with my girlfriends at an up-scaly French restuarant, went to see a movie in the evening, Cuban lunch the next day and finally my first broadway show for my thirtieth birthday. A few days later, found an extra extra old friend through Nigeria friends.com and continued as if we never lost touch for twenty years.

At this time, the legal representative of my future employers were on my case. God bless the paralegal assigned to my case, he bugged me to death. I was supposed to leave for Naija in a few days and I was schooled as to the risks. I totally can't complain. I had fun in Naija anyway, spent a little time with everyone. I even saw a dumb movie although I can't remember what it was anymore.

It is April 1, my petitioned has been filed and my body was still working on Naija time. Spewing out e-mails and deliverables at 4am in the morning...it was super fun while it lasted. One faithfully Thursday, like a sleeping beauty, I went to bed at 7 pm and woke up on sunday. Yippee, Sexy is finally back.

BSchool was done by 17th of April, and it suddenly hit me like lighting, I signed up for one weird exam that required at least 250hours of my time. It was six weeks a way. Still managed to enjoy being done with school for a few weeks by sitting on the house phone for 12 hours each day (the best days of 2008). Then it was my graduation, it was fun although Fordham still managed to upset me. After graduation, I started a 14 hour day reading session for the CFA exam. A few days to the exam, I reached the limit. Cried for a few days and made peace with the worse that could happen. So, I showed up for the exam anyway.

From this point, a few of what I was upto got documented cos I started my blog. In a few words, I can recount the past months. I walked the Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan Bridge, failed a driving test, went to Ikea, had a guest from hell, moved apartments, started a new job, went to D.C, learnt a few new phrases, my boy became the first black president of the US -"Yes, we can", got engaged, started my wedding dress search and lost my engagement ring. I am still hurting from loosing my ring, so I would not be blogging about the lessons yet.

Drawing the close for the year, I worked earlier in the day, and went for the watch night service.
I pray His light will be my guide in the new year. Thank you Jesus for a wondeful 2008.