My Olympic Experience

I had been so psyched up about this year's Olympics that I promised myself not to miss the opening ceremony. I left the office around 8pm on Friday because I had to do some extremely important hand over. Since it was already late, I made efforts to beat traffic. I took a bike of N400 when I could take a bus of N100. Luckily for me, immediately I got to the bus stop, I got a straight bus to my area, though I was sandwiched like fried eggs in the middle of a sliced Agege bread. I was tempted to wait for another bus but missing the opening ceremony wasn't part of my agenda, so I sandwiched happily. Traffic was OK. I got home at exactly 9pm. Immediately I went upstairs, I heard the loud shouts of 3, 2, 1....aaah! It was the countdown to the opening ceremony! I quickly removed my jacket, wore another top and ran to the living room.    

My high points:
The first performance which told the story of England's history from slavery ending with the Olympic symbol. The rings glowing with reddish/yellowish light raining down from them...a sight to behold! Really pretty and brilliant performance!
When James Bond came for the queen: he still looked like an action figure and the queen...très ravissant! Those puppies were supper cute too! 
Jumping from the helicopter: I gasped. Then I saw her in the Union Jack print parachute gliding down with the James Bond song playing. The queen sure is still agile.
The solo performance by the woman in a blue gown singing a hymn  (can't remember her name). I think the title of the hymn was 'Abide with me'. Anyway, she sounded like an angel. Her voice was crystal clear and calm.
Then there was the passing of the torch: love the fact that the challenged were allowed to be involved. The guy who went on his knees to propose to woman under the eyes of the world hmm...Nigerian men! I reserve my comment. Also David Beckam on the speed boat looking steaming hot!
Some parts of the parade: I started with Greece, the bubbly Argentinians looking all blue, some African countries about two of them with their traditional attire, I was waiting for my country...tick tock the clock went and all went black. Till my father woke me up to go the bedroom. I had slept off on the couch, ouch! I missed our great Naija..ooooh! I was told that they were lively and flamboyant in their green and white traditional attire. I also missed my best friend, Mr Bean...excruciating! I know!
I missed many other parts because I had to have my bath and eat something.
Anyway I love what I watched. No one was left out in the ceremony. The children, the challenged, celebs and regular people like you and me. It was indeed a great event.

To work or not to work?

To tell you the truth guys, I didn't feel like blogging. I had a very stressful week and I told myself that this weekend would be a weekend of rest to regain my lost strength. I didn't feel like doing my personal work or anything called work. 

Do you know what I felt like doing? Nothing, absolutely nothing...the funny thing was I had just had my nap but I felt like lying on the sofa in front of the TV. 

So here was I, I had work to do but every cell of my body wanted to laze about. What did I do about it? I was realistic. I asked myself if I had rested enough already, the answer was 'not really' which was the truth. We are not machines, we can't keep working round the clock without resting. If we do, a breakdown is certain. So I pampered myself a little. I laid on the sofa, turned on the TV, and just relaxed. After which I went on to do my work. In the end, I felt great. 

Now this question goes to you...
What do you do when you have something important to do but you just don't feel like doing it? Do you give in to those lazy feelings at the expense of your work? Or do you get realistic and get your work done? 

The latter is what achievers would do...

My Saturday

Hi friends,

My week was so busy that I didn't have the time to compose a blog post for this week, so I decided to share with you how I spent my Saturday.

* went online did some browsing, checked out some web pages I saved and deleted unnecessary files that cluttered 'my documents'. Also chatted with a very good friend via Mark Zuckerberg's baby...Facebook.

* did a little house cleaning.

* had a delicious breakfast of yam and egg.

colourful egg right...and very sweet yam. It tasted as if there was sugar in it

* read 3 chapters of Joel Osteen's book Become a Better You and one part struck which I'd love to share and I quote

a must-read

''I heard someone say that the wealthiest place on earth is not Fort Knox or the oil fields of the Middle East. Nor is it the gold and diamond mines in South Africa. Ironically, the wealthiest places on earth are the cemeteries, because lying in those graves are all kinds of dreams and desires that will never be fulfilled. Buried beneath the ground are books that will never be written, businesses that will never be started, and relationships that will never be formed. Sadly, the incredible power of potential is lying in those graves.' 

* sorted my laundry and looked for what I'd wear to church. My short purple gown with my flat purple sandals. 

* had my lunch.

Another sumptuous meal of beans and garri in a cute plate and bowl

* listened to a radio talk show I love so much, Business Hour with Martin Udoghe (please pardon my spelling if I did not get it right) and some other interesting, inspirational and educative programs.

* finished typing my article for our church's children's harvest brochure. I normally write articles for our church's harvest brochures for which I get commendations but I felt particularly honored when one of the committee members for this year's harvest personally asked me to prepare and submit my write up for this year's magazine even before officially announcing it to the church. (No good work goes unnoticed)

I will post it for your reading pleasure after it is published.

* cooked pepper-soup with turkey and catfish with my mum. One of the catfish was still alive and it suffered for not dying quickly. Ate it with yam and palm oil-the native way.

* removed the hairpiece I fixed 3weeks back while watching a captivating movie on my laptop, Mirror mirror based on the story of snow white and starring Julia Roberts. 

and for those who were waiting for my final decision.........................drums rolling tadatadatada............................I'm so not getting a BB!

I will definitely get one but not now.

Luv u all friends!

My 1 week free trial BB

A friend of mine has been trying to convince me to buy a BB for months till date but I don't know, I just haven't felt the urge to buy one. He has told me about the advantages especially in terms of communication. He tells me I'll be better off with one and so on... 

Out of our usual 'BB chat', an idea was born. It was about him giving me a BB which I would use for a week to see if I would change my mind and actually get one.
 

Sides of the story:
Good side: He got me BB torch yeeiii!!!     
Bad/sad side: He forgot to give me the charger.
Annoying side: It took ages for the web version of my blog to load (though it loaded eventually).
Great side: I got to the compose page of my blog.
Infuriating side: I copied the post I drafted via my gmail but couldn't paste (need help!)
...and the bad side reared it's ugly head: The battery is flat.
To be frank, I was actually feeling the phone but let's wait and see..., the end of the week will tell. 

Till then kisses people...muah!

Three important lessons for everyone

I was really touched by the gospel reading of today that I said I was going to share. The gospel was taken from Mark 5:21-43 and I got three important lessons from the reading:

1. Don't let obstacles distract you from achieving your goals
When Jesus was trying to get through the crowd to get to Jairus' house, the woman with the issue of blood decided to touch the hem of his garment believing she would be healed. There was no laid down fact that touching Jesus' garment brought healing. She believed and went for it, but she had to pass through the thick crowd to get to Jesus. She had a target (to get healed) and didn't let anything hold her back. She made her way to Jesus (and I am very sure she would have receive some criticisms from the people in the crowd as she forced her way through them), touched his garment and got healed.
2. Stay away from negative influences
When Jesus wanted to heal Jarius' daughter, he made sure those who were laughing left the premises. He didn't perform the miracle in their presence because they had contrasting goals. The disciples and the parents of the damsel wanted to see healing but the others didn't believe she could be healed that is why they thought it was ridiculous when Jesus said she was sleeping and laughed. Jesus didn't waste precious time trying to convince them to believe, the result would convince them. He did away with them and did what He came for.
3. With God all things are possible
While Jesus was speaking with the healed woman, one of the rulers informed them that the damsel had died and there was no need to bother Jesus. But Jesus said to him, ''Be not afraid, only believe''. I don't think I need to expatiate on this further, the words speak for themselves.
 

Well, with these three important lessons in mind, nothing can or should stop you from bearing the best of fruits with the seeds God has planted in you. God created you for a purpose and you don't have to rack your brain trying to figure it out. Set goals for yourself and take each day as they come by making the best use of your time and of the opportunities each day presents. Always do your best and be a source of blessing wherever you are.  
Remember, when you walk with God you are like a seed planted by the riverside and watered by God himself. 

What a dramatic reunion!

On my way home from work during the week, I bumped into a friend from secondary school. She was exchanging numbers with a guy when I saw her, so I caught her attention by saying, ''is this what you do? exchanging numbers with a guy at the bus stop?'' She saw me and screamed with delight. We hugged and did a brief catching up. 

Then she introduced me to the guy with her and I included the phrase 'my secondary school mate'. I guess he didn't hear the secondary school part when he mentioned his university.  As an ex-commando that she is, my friend emphasised 'se-conda-ry schooool' with whole hand gesture. He expressed his amazement with the wide-eyed-o-shaped-mouth expression. We talked about jobs and I found myself acting the ambassador for my organisation (still in awe that I could do that-feels good though). 

Well, the most intriguing thing happened when a pretty lady walked up to us and pointed at the guy screaming these exact words 'you, you, is this what you do, insulting girls you don't know? yada yada yada.... My friend and I were shocked to discover that it wasn't a joke. The strange lady was yelling at this guy, pointing fingers and he was yelling back, causing a scene.

She claimed he paid her a compliment but she refused to respond since she didn't know him. However, instead of minding his business, he decided to insult her by calling her a she-goat among other insults. He claimed she called him a he-goat first.

They went back and forth on the he-said-she-said thingy causing people to stare while some tried to intervene. 

All of a sudden, I came very self-conscious and realised that we were at Ikeja bus stop along the railway. I said to my friend 'please let us leave here this is Ikeja bus stop'.
The lady then said he would have a car accident bla bla...and walked away.
He said she was a witch and was going to get her. 

I told my friend it was getting late and we had to go home.
So I said aloud to my girlfriend 'let me have your number' and he said ok. I replied with the speed of light 'NOT YOU, HER!' (why in the world would he think I would want to have his number?). 

I parted ways with my friend while he went to look for his 'girlfriend' to continue his chick fight.
It was so dramatic that I checked myself to be sure it was not a plot to rob me. On seeing that I was 'complete' I looked around for a candid camera.

Life is too short for you not to do things you love...(good things please!)

Last night, I went into the kitchen to prepare my dinner, but something strange happened. As I was taking out the oats from the container with a spoon, I felt a strong urge to eat from a deep bowl. Out of reflex, I said it out loud, ''I feel like eating from a deep bowl!'', at the same time demonstrating with the container of oats.

Immediately, I went into the kitchen store and got the deepest bowl that was within my closest reach....an old blue cooler

As I was preparing my oats, my sister who was also in the kitchen told me that I wasn't serious; but I replied her subconsciously, ''life is too short for me not to do the things I feel like doing (good things I mean)''....and voila my oats...

yum yum yum...same oats, different experience! I savored every spoon and I felt so good.

 
Although this is an almost insignificant event but the moral of my story...(admitting that it's not so easy) always try to live your life as you dream to live it. It doesn't have to be perfect, neither do you have to wait for the perfect moment (because it might never come). Use what you have/your present situation to your advantage, make it work for you, take it one day at a time...and most importantly, I Luv U!

As a footnote, here are my favorites bowls which I mostly use for fruits and cereals...featuring them so they don't get jealous. 

Wedding turned comedy show

I went for a wedding last week Saturday with the reception held in a very classy and pretty hall. It was the wedding of my senior (more or less a school-mother) in secondary school. Well, I don't want to talk about the solemnity of the wedding or the beauty of the reception but about something else that baffled me. 

The MC for the reception was a comedian and he did not just do a very great job but he overdid it. He did it too well that at a time I forgot I was attending a wedding reception (I actually thought I was at a comedy show) not until he announced that it was time for couple to cut the cake. He just kept on talking and cracking jokes, delaying other events.

It became so bad that guests (including me) started murmuring that they were hungry while laughing simultaneously. He just took over the whole programme. The couple's dance dance dance with friends and families came up while the food was being served. No one dared to stand up for the sake of the food not passing their table, since we were all famished and had laughed out our stored energy. This was at about 4.30pm. They just danced all alone till very few individuals went out to dance with them. 

People were not given the opportunity to give short speeches about the couple. The chairman of the event wasn't even given the honour to say anything. It was all about the emcee. The couple...totally in the background...

My advice to singles who wish to get married; please for your wedding reception employ a professional emcee and  if you want, a comedian to lighten things up and/or other side attractions like live performances by musicians, dancers etc.

How to get over those depressing mood swings?

Sometimes you just feel down and can't seem to lay your fingers on the reasons why. Some other times you wake up sad, lacking motivation to start your day. Sometimes your mood switches like a light bulb from enthusiastic to gloomy. It happens to all of us, male or female, young or old, black or white and it is very normal. No one can be 100% happy every time. 

Moodiness is one of the numerous emotional states humans must feel, but it becomes a problem when we let it get the better part of us which could lead to depression. All emotions can be controlled and managed, so is depression. Depression doesn't just start in a day, it is caused by an accumulation of unchecked moodiness. You don't always have to take out your aggression on an innocent person or on your belongings, overindulge, hurt yourself or worst, take your life. You can and should actually nip those mood-depressing feelings in the bud because bottling such feelings without addressing them is the major cause of depression, and no one is immune to it. 

The fantastic news is there are simple steps to help you get over those depressing moody feelings. So follow me 

1. Identify the feeling: When you feel depressed or moody, be sure to be able to identify it and be able to say 'I am moody'. If someone else notices your change in mood and is open enough to tell you, you should be able to accept it without getting angry. It is that mood when nothing seems  to interest you. The mood when you get so easily irritated and flare up at the slightest irritation. The honest truth is when you do not know what your problem is, you won't be able to find a solution to it. So first of all, understand your emotional state and be able to identify the feelings when they come. 
 

2. Analyse your mood: Make a mental record of all likely events that might caused your present state of mind. Scrutinize events that took place between your last excited mood and your moody state in chronological order. The changes that occurred, the people you interacted with, your thoughts, something you did, in short, anything that might have provoked the mood switch. You could do this with a trusted friend or by yourself, whichever works for you. Now you know the main reasons why you are moody.
 

3. Address them one at a time: Take each as a problem and try to solve each one. Problems could be: not knowing what lies ahead of you when venturing into something new; or pains from past events or achieved goals. You might not have an absolute answer to all, but you'll have a sense of direction. After doing this, you'll definitely feel relieved. The bad mood may not totally disappear but it will definitely subside.
 

4. Confide in an understanding friend: A problem shared is half-solved which is very true. Confide in someone you trust. By sharing how you feel and your problems to a trusted friend, you'll realise that your problems are not as bad as they seem or are not even problems in the first place. You might also get to know others who have passed through something similar and scaled through.
 

5. Do something you love: This helps you get distracted so you don't keep thinking and getting moodier because addressing each 'problem' doesn't automatically erase the feelings they have provoked to vanish. You have to make conscious efforts to stop your mind from dwelling on those depressing thoughts by doing something you love, something that you'll get engrossed in. This step is important because it is so sad that after people have found solutions to their problems, they still allow their minds to keep feeding of those depressing thoughts, thus sinking deeper into  the pool of moodiness instead of being happier. So do something you really love that captures or commands your utmost attention.  

6. Motivate yourself: You have a dream, a clear picture of what you want to become. If you have written out, go to it, read it, meditate on it and let it inspire you. If you have not, start asap.    
 

7. Don't expect a magical change: Don't think that when you sleep and wake up, you will automatically feel better. You have to consciously work on yourself because your mind loves to wander and it always will. It is a gradual and  continuous process, but it definitely works. You are in charge and in control of your thought processes, so anytime your mind begins to dwell on depressing thoughts or provoke moody feelings, you know what to do. Try it anytime you are down till it becomes part of you. 

Share the word because vital information not shared is 99% wasted. Till you hear from me again, have a splendid week.


Please don't forget to like my Facebook page by clicking the facebook like button on your top left thanks or follow me on twitter @frediliamomodu One love!

Ahhhh!!! I didn't ask for this!

Something happened to me when I was little, in primary school to be specific. It was during one of my long holidays which I usually spent with my maternal grand parents (God bless their souls) in our big family house. I had this deep siesta one afternoon and I slept for 'God knows how long'. It was so deep that when I woke up I thought it was morning.
I went round the house wishing those you were in the house 'a good morning'. They laughed at me as if I was a stand-up comic. I checked the time and saw that it was about 3pm. Then I noticed that I was not wearing my pyjamas and my aunt was asking me what I wanted for lunch. I had to go back to my bed, lie down and convince myself that it was just a deep sleep. Just for the record, sleeping beauty must have been so messed up in the head when she woke up! A hundred years..., puurrrleeasse!!
Anyways, the funny thing was last week Sunday I told myself that I would make that event re-occur because my body needed soothing deep rest (which we all know from Health Education is sleep). So I laid on the sofa in front of the TV at about 11am, going in and out of sleep till about 2pm (snacks and lunch in-between) only to fall asleep for about 2hrs and dreamt about an old friend I met on Saturday scolding me that I loved sleeping too much. I woke with SHOCK boldly written all over my face. Whaaat! I didn't like it one bit!
It sort of bothered me that I spent the whole of Monday asking my colleagues how long they usually slept for during the weekends.

A cute pix of me at night when I went to use the restroom