Items by Wambui

the mobius strip

• Kenyans- Take a Leaf

  Posted: November 5, 2008, 7:50 pm by Wambui

  It’s over- the US Election. Barack Obama is President. Kenyans dance in the streets of Nairobi. I’d like to think that they don’t just dance because he is half Kenyan, but because they have heard Obama’s message and it resonates with them. I would like to hope that Kenyan voters will take the message of hope and change [...]

• Entering Glum-free Zone!

  Posted: October 21, 2008, 11:52 pm by Wambui

  I am surrounded by people who permanently wallow in the deep, dark, depths of sadness. They could have a choice to be happy but they would rather frown. Some days we all feel somewhat down- I would know, depression is never that far away…it’s like my shadow, chasing me. But when I have a choice, [...]

• TMI Tuesday, and Other Titbits

  Posted: October 16, 2008, 6:29 am by Wambui

  A few weeks ago on a Tuesday, a few Kenyan MPs trotted out to announce how they had undergone circumcision (I’m assuming as adults). It was all a part of an effort to encourage men from Kenyan tribes that traditionally don’t practice circumcision to have the operation. I sat thinking “TMI (too-much-information) Tuesdays are here!” Here’s [...]

• Snobbery and Afro-Lurve

  Posted: September 15, 2008, 8:10 am by Wambui

  “My Sister! Where are you from?” The overly eager voice cries out to you as you walk through the shopping mall. Surrounded by expensive dress shops, beautiful people, mannequins strikingly posed, You can’t help but focus on his ill-fitting pants; the overly eager face, his almost drooling demeanour. You debate which country to choose in this moment.   “Somalia!” You reply. A [...]

• Getting the Mojo Back

  Posted: August 12, 2008, 9:01 am by Wambui

  After four glorious days in Seattle I’m back! It was so good! The city made me think of Montreal with the brick apartment buildings. I didn’t understand the point of Pike Place Market- what’s the fascination in visiting a market (especially when Customs rules prohibit the importation of certain fruits and veggies from the US into Canada [...]

• 10 Years On…

  Posted: August 7, 2008, 6:02 pm by Wambui

  The radio was on. Background noise as I lay napping on that hot August day. As the news came on, I began to blank out when the newsreader began to read the report of a bombing in the KENYAN capital NAIROBI…that was all I heard. I sat bolt upright, heart pounding and got off the bed, [...]

• Summer Joys

  Posted: August 5, 2008, 9:15 am by Wambui

  Growing up in Kenya, the sun was never this ‘big’ thing…it was just there. Omnipresent, always available, hardly a topic for conversation.The thing is, having lived this long in Canada, I’ve come to understand why the obsession with the sun! You don’t get that much sunshine here most of the time, or rather, it is [...]

• Making A Stand

  Posted: August 1, 2008, 8:56 am by Wambui

  I have spent this afternoon registering my disappointment in the Associated Press. There was a story on CNN.com re: the increase in child prostitution since the post-election violence in Kenya last January. There were names, pictures etc on the site that did little to protect the identities of the victims of violence and exploitation. The [...]

• A Little More Respect Please…

  Posted: July 18, 2008, 9:14 am by Wambui

  Why is it that Kenyan parents would trust their 30-something year old daughter to make important decisions e.g. relating to her career, what car to drive, how much money to save or invest, how much money to contribute to her parents’ upkeep…yet they cannot trust her to make the decision of the man she chooses [...]

• For When it Mattered

  Posted: July 10, 2008, 8:37 am by Wambui

  To: my friends, my family, random strangers I have encountered Whenever I did not ask Whenever I thought I could not ask Whenever I did not know to ask Whenever I thought I did not need it Whenever I knew I did not really need it Whenever I needed it. Badly You reached me You touched me You loved me You pushed me You called me You [...]

• Where’s the Love?

  Posted: July 4, 2008, 7:04 am by Wambui

  A few weeks ago I read about a ban on mourning and reporting about/from assemblies of the parents of children killed in the earthquake that devastated Sichuan province in China. They were asked to cancel a memorial for their children (no doubt for political reasons). I sat silent, shocked that any person would tell another how to [...]

• I’m back (yay!)…not that anyone ever knew I was gone

  Posted: June 29, 2008, 1:03 am by Wambui

  With the sporadic nature of my blogging habits, I can’t really say I was gone- more like I was just procrastinating 90% of the time these past few weeks, then I got really busy for the remaining 10% of the time! If something can be put off so that I can pursue any of my [...]

• All Creatures ‘Great’ and Small

  Posted: May 27, 2008, 8:41 am by Wambui

  Two stories I have read today leave me convinced that before the internet my life was very staid and dull. How did I survive without stories that leave me chuckling or in most cases gasping for breath at their hilarity?  Honestly, my days are much brighter thanks to stories of camels humping their owners to [...]

• Who’s Your Mummy!!!

  Posted: May 12, 2008, 3:10 am by Wambui

  My mother and I are not the world’s closest lovey-dovey mother-daughter team. If I actually told her explicitly that I loved her, she would probably roll her eyes and change the topic…or suspect that I was dying. We will never be winners in the ‘shining-example-of-mother-daughter-hood’ category. We are more like the world’s best mother-daughter acquaintances/sometime-friends. [...]

• Faster Pasta

  Posted: April 8, 2008, 7:38 am by Wambui

  This is the first actual recipe in what should be a series…if I can keep up the energy and remember to bring my camera to the kitchen (I’m no EGM, so it takes ages to get the pics just right…a real eye opener). I really love pasta because it is filling or light depending on what [...]

• Beer and Strawberries

  Posted: April 5, 2008, 1:57 am by Wambui

  Once, I found myself in the situation where all I had to eat in my fridge (that did not involve prep work) was beer, strawberries and feta cheese. My distaste for ready-to-eat, or waking up to line up outside the local brunch spot had come back to bite me because right then I could have killed for a [...]

• A Picture = 1,000 Words, 2 Pictures = 2,000 Words

  Posted: March 12, 2008, 7:01 am by Wambui

   When you think you have seen it all, the fashion world proves you wrong here are 2,000 words worth: A model displays Japanese designer Kazuaki Takashima’s manga-pattterned coat during 08-09 Autumn/Winter Collection at the Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo Tuesday, March 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) And, Martin Margiela’s shredded jeans:

• International Women’s Day- March 8, 2008

  Posted: March 10, 2008, 2:13 am by Wambui

  If you have wondered what this day is about, here’s a quick primer on IWD from The Official International Women’s Day 2008 website: […] Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. While there are many large-scale initiatives, a rich and diverse fabric of local [...]

• DRIVE Me Crazy!

  Posted: February 28, 2008, 7:31 am by Wambui

  Getting around Nairobi on any normal day always makes for an interesting story. There is always something happening around you that if you are not careful, you might end up becoming the story! There was a time when taking matatus was like breathing for me. As soon as I passed the driving test and got [...]

• What to Say?

  Posted: February 23, 2008, 2:12 am by Wambui

  In the days since I came back from Kenya I have suffered from a serious malaise about writing. You see, most times I write frivolous, light-hearted stories, or blog posts. The way things were (and remain) in Kenya, I did not want to be another voice muddying the waters, or to seem to be in [...]

• Wading Into the Fray

  Posted: January 1, 2008, 9:30 pm by Wambui

  We’re halfway there. Halfway to Nairobi. In a few hours we’ll leave Amsterdam and land in a city that I don’t recognize from the news online. People waving pangas, policemen all geared up and ready for battle…I won’t lie, I am scared about where we are headed. I’m mad as hell that we have a self-appointed [...]

Wambui's World

• Careers

  Posted: December 19, 2007, 7:22 pm by Wambui

  I read this interesting article today on how to avoid certain behaviors that lead to career sabotage. I realized that a lot of folks ...that I know are on the correct path to career sabotage.
  
  The number one thing that leads to career sabotage is not having a life plan. I usually call this a strategic plan for your life. I am constantly updating mine - I actually know its time to revisit my strategy when I start slacking off on my goals, become lax in my chores etc....the document that I created for myself is "business strategy' in itself. I write out my goals (long and short term) and break each goal into chunks that trickle down to my daily to do list. This way I know for sure that every day I am doing something that will lead me to achieving my long term goals. I incorporate a calendar and make sure every little chunks of my goal has a due date on it and I track it often. My strategy document also contains my vision and mission for my life. In short it keeps me focused. According to John McKee author of Career Wisdom "without a plan, we leave out successes in the hands of others who may or may not have time to look after other people's successes" (CNN, December 19, 2007) .
  
  Not keeping you skill set current is another major reason for career sabotage - with the business world as it is today, ever changing and more competitive than ever, it is imperative to stay "on top of your game". Best believe if there is someone in your department or group that can do what you do better, your azz is at risk. It is for this reason that I resolved to what I call my results driven career path plan - I work for corporate world like I am a business selling my services to them. I resolve to stay with the company for a term no longer than three years. Within those three years I will do all in my power to advance to a new position or department, or take on a major additional role every year. Basically I make sure I exceed expectations each year and move on to something else more challenging. Right before the three/ two years are up - I start getting myself out there with another organization....I have a list of organizations that I want to work for...I'm crazy like that...LOL
  
  Failing to deliver results is another way to sabotage ones career...like I said above....the goal is to create realistic achievable goals then work your hardest to knock their socks off with outstanding results that exceed their expectations. Its like show.biz......its all about the ratings..no one wants to hire or even retain staff with low ratings.....that's just extra baggage...
  
  Confusing efficiency with effectiveness - People people people - they are all human, CEOs, CFO.s basically all levels of leadership within an organization are made up of red blooded people....communicating in person is always the best, people remember you better by associating a face with a name.
  
  Irreplaceable myth - no one is irreplaceable - by now - EVERYONE should know that.....
  
  Do not be a know it all - learn to ask questions. this keeps one in the know additionally new ideas are generated through communicating with others through constructive discussions that arise when people ask questions
  
  The writer also discourages surrounding yourself with brown nosers. For obvious reasons you will never really get their real opinions - surround yourself with people that are honest and not afraid to state their opinions about matters in a constructive way.
  
  Toot your own horn....I often "blow my own trumpet" - not in an arrogant way but in a way that lets others know of my teams successes and the role that I played in them.
  
  Losing perspective - stuff happens - it happens all the time - life is not perfect.... true leaders have the ability to maintain their perspective regardless of the roadblocks they encounter along the way. I remember one time in my old organization - a colleague received an award for employee of the quarter and his team received team of the quarter for a project that the company spent tonnes of money on but the client decided against going with our company for the job. They got the award because the team was highly dedicated, maintained focus and cohesiveness despite having the deal with a myriad of issues including dealing teams across geographic boundaries, obviously different time zones with the potential client, across several lines of service to deliver a solution that portrayed our company as being seamless in providing solutions. Wouldn't you know it - the company built a center of excellence around that solution.
  
  I love such articles - they remind me of the stuff that I am made of....
  
  Ta!
  W

the mobius strip

• Vaulting Horses and Growing Pains

  Posted: December 19, 2007, 5:06 am by Wambui

  I ache all over. My fingers are bruised and bloody, my brain hurts from trying to figure out what the nutty designers at IKEA had in mind when they designed the new office chair I bought…it took the inhuman strength of fractious (nearly tearful) frustration and yes, hint of rage, to finally get the damn [...]

Wambui's World

• Baack

  Posted: December 18, 2007, 3:15 pm by Wambui

  Got caught up with life.....tooo many things happening at the same time...good stuff all of it...I forgot what an outlet blogging was to my life.
  
  Highlights since the last time I posted...lil man is doing great. He graduated to swatching by himself...no longer scared of the imaginary monster. He spends alot of time in his room watching movies and throwing "parties" for Mr. Cuddles, Telie.t.ubies and Tw.eet.y bird....they seem to have tonnes of fun - I hate cleaning up when the fun is over....
  
  Work is good. things are slowing down abit due to the holidays but i am sure they shall pick up pretty soon.
  
  This month I have gone to a bunch of parties....my new thing is to network as much as possible...stay in the same organization in the same role for two - three years but change organizations every 5 years. In todays corp.world - it is neccesary to do that in order to grow and fastest way to move up the chain (i'm fiercely ambitious like that!). (Note: I have edited this paragraph)
  
  My mu.mmy us here - has been here for three weeks - needless to say my azz has grown so lazy - I havent done housework the entire time she has been here.....i tell you - i am living the life! I have also gone out every Friday and saturday , sometimes even thursday night....im a party animal all over again - then again i keep telling myself that I am networking...LOL...
  
  I havent done my holiday gift shopping yet - Ive done my tree, bought dishes to serve my dinner for my third annual holiday dinner on Saturday....even came up with a menu and this year - it does not involve nyama.choma(bb.q) - I know I have keny.an blood running through my veins but by golly - there is only sooo much meat one can handle!!! So I told everyone that I am making dinner - all of it by my dam self....told them to consider it an extra xmas gift from me - crazy azz family....i luuuuuvvv dem tho!
  
  W

the mobius strip

• Giving It Up

  Posted: December 16, 2007, 10:52 am by Wambui

  Some days I’m ready to just cave, give in, and give ‘It’ up Never before though, have I come this close Never have I gone past mere thought and actually filled out the forms. Tonight, I’m not ‘this’ close, I am giving ‘It’ up. Can I ‘lose’ something that is my essence? I am really just a pretender these days when [...]

• Jamhuri yangu?

  Posted: December 8, 2007, 8:36 am by Wambui

  Heading into the holidays, Jamhuri day celebrations will be the start of the festivities. Many Kenyan communities across the world will probably do something to mark this milestone. Being too young to have stood and watched the new Kenyan flag be hoisted for the first time, I can only imagine the thrill that must have [...]

• Milestones

  Posted: November 27, 2007, 10:56 am by Wambui

  30 years = 10 957.266 days At midnight (literally- I was born at midnight), I’ll head into my 3rd decade of life! Regrets? Nothing major, just stuff like: - I never learned how to dive (the swimming gala trophy at my primary school was named after a girl who dived into the shallow end and cracked her skull…’nuff [...]

• What is

  Posted: November 24, 2007, 11:11 am by Wambui

  Hope… Counting down the days till Montreal, Nairobi Drooling over the menu at Pêche Pêche, Mesquite Dreams of a kiss long delayed Imagining my grandfather’s face on a hot January day Cheering on dear ones in the August house race Bliss… Managing (against all odds) to get your friend on the same 23 hour flight Knowing that almost all your friends will be [...]

• Beautiful Girl…

  Posted: November 7, 2007, 9:51 am by Wambui

  I knew a girl once She made me laugh all the time I think I made her laugh as much Many a day and night did we spend on dreams/boys/music/food/laughter Always- laughter! We were usually on the same wavelength Words were not always necessary Some people thought that she was over the top Some people thought we were sisters (not!) Some people thought she [...]

Wambui's World

• MFKR!

  Posted: November 2, 2007, 6:24 pm by Wambui

  It just hit me!
  
  Your cookie cutter pet names makes me totally sick! Mirra ??????????? huh ? come again ???? Who-TF!!!!!
  
  U better not call me no more dude!!!! I hate you!!! And I miss you like crazy.
  
  All my love,
  W

the mobius strip

• The Ex-Files

  Posted: October 26, 2007, 8:00 am by Wambui

  I was watching a random TV show where the characters were discussing whether you should tell the person you are in a romantic relationship with about your former partners/lovers/dates/flings. It was one of those comedies where all the responses are witty/smart/cute/cliché and long after the laughter had died, I was thinking about the ex files. Here’s [...]

Wambui's World

• New Me

  Posted: October 25, 2007, 4:19 pm by Wambui

  Most of you that know me know that this year had been full of ups and downs for me. Mostly ups though. I havent had a chance to blog about what changes have come with my new life, well I told you abt my new place - I LOVE IT!!! it is sooo the place to go and relax. Well - our lifestyle has changed alot too. We can now actually go on REAL vacations - like for real!!! I cant wait for lil man to get a few years older coz mama needs to go to di.sne.y!! Next month we begin our annual camping trips and this time I am done with the tent thing - I want a full blown cabin in the woods for a whole fr.ikin week! Ya thaz right - a week - I want to go skiing ....mostly - I just want to wear ski clothes...LOL.
  The other day - there was a cold front in Htown. well it happened like in the middle of the day and I was one of those parents that took their kids to sch in shorts and sandals - coz we all know htown weather changes every 2 seconds - well I was WRONG!!! My child had to stay indoors all day coz it was freaking cold! SO the next day I had a rude shock when I found out that he had grown 2 inches taller and none of his pants could fit. Luckily I had a size 4T adjustable pair of Jeans that I folded up to fit him and took him to sch. That afternoon I took off to go shopping for my child. You should have seen BD "Why are we doing this? there is no way he could have grown that tall" (WTF) anyhooo so off to s.ea.rs, m.ars.hal.ls R.os,s we went looking for 2 heavy jackets, 4 sweatsuits, 4 jeans, long sleeved shirts, 2 formal church type outfits (coz apparently its not appropriate to wear sp.i.derma.n or pow.er.ra.n.ge.rs shirts or pants to church) - WTF! anyhoo - at one store, I actually saw an outfit complete with leather jacket (for real) for a 6 month old - WTFFFF!!! I mean for real - it was like almost 40 bucks........somethings I just will never get. Everything that lil man wears to sch or sleep - I but from tarjay or wMart. shirt no more than 4 bucks a piece and pants not even 10 bucks because first of all- he plays in them all day and gets all sort of nastyness on them, then second, he only wears them for that season coz they grow like frikin weeds!!!! anyhoo - bottom line is I dont care how much more money I make, the stuff he wears to school and play, and sleep all will come from the same stores. The other stuff I just bought - thats for other events.
  
  Next post I will update on changes Ive made in my life.
  
  1,
  W

the mobius strip

• Adventures in Making God Laugh*

  Posted: October 13, 2007, 10:03 pm by Wambui

  After weeks of walking by my desk, eyes averted, ashamed that I haven’t written anything here (or anywhere outside of my head for that matter) in ages, I’m back! In what I can only call the irony of ironies, I landed another gig through a former colleague’s spouse whose company was in need of…you guessed [...]

Wambui's World

• Random Thoughts

  Posted: October 1, 2007, 10:44 pm by Wambui

  Ok - so I have been soooo gone from the blogging world I realized that Angry Black Man does not seem so angry anymore...has actually made me think about re-doing my blog. Just dont know what direction to take. I am definately at a place where I feel a bit more confident to share my pieces or poetry and writting that is based on grown.folks.bidness.....just not completely sure yet, so still noo.dling on the idea....
  
  Perhaps someone reading this can give me their opinion: Heres the thing, those pieces of writing are passionate, deep, raw and absolutely grown folks only type ...in a cleanway (nothing trashy) - the dilemna is this: me coming from a culture that does not talk about some stuff (noooooo! not what you are thinking....get your mind out of the gutter puhleaze!) feel somewhat shy about sharing things that to others would be considered raw emotion. Anyhooooo! Just me thinking....
  
  Its 5:51pm - I skived going to the gymn today - I want to have a mimosa and a samosa before I head home.......I really hate going into my kitchen on weekdays - its like a sin in the world according to me.....I however feel shy having a mimosa on a Monday so .......whatever....
  
  Peace, love and Mar.yJ.ane (LOL - I heard someone say thing over the weekend it just cracked me up!).
  
  1,
  W

• Change

  Posted: September 27, 2007, 6:35 pm by Wambui

  Its been a while...these days it seems as though I can hardly get enough time to email let alone blog. I cant complain though, I feel blessed.
  Did the grad thing, went on a weeks vacation with the guys, we all desperately needed it. Life can get crazy when we dont take the time to stop and appreciate everything and everyone around us.
  Recently, I forgave someone from my past. It felt so good appreciating the role that they played in my life. That is one part of my life that I know I have come full circle on - forgiveness. I harbor no ill feelings for anyone and feel very glad about that.
  I miss lil man today. This morning he dressed up by himself, I was so proud of him.
  My career is going great. I love it - the organization and the fact that they appreiciate me and my input.
  Dont have much else to post coz I am not the "zone" / mood. I have been doing alot of writing though - perhaps soon I shall get motivated (read: Brave) to post some of my pieces here.......speaking of which, need to go pick up Jill's new album today...cya!
  
  W

the mobius strip

• The Woman Who Forgot

  Posted: September 19, 2007, 10:32 am by Wambui

  Striding purposefully along Moi Avenue, Christine’s thoughts were focused on the meeting she had just left. Her client had agreed to a new contract for her services. Desperate, he had hardly quibbled about her fee, or the delivery schedule. Christine enjoyed earning the money, but the challenge of each job was the most satisfying thing [...]

• Props, Mad Plugs

  Posted: September 5, 2007, 11:07 am by Wambui

  A while ago when I visited Nairobi I kept vowing and declaring how, before I left, I wanted a skirt made of khanga fabric, or featuring khanga fabric. Now, I don’t have to imagine it…I can just log on and buy it. Run by two friends (you know the 3 degrees of separation typical of [...]

• D- is for Dowry

  Posted: September 2, 2007, 9:45 pm by Wambui

  Main Entry: dow·ry Pronunciation: ‘dau(-&)-rE Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural dowries Etymology: Middle English dowarie, from Anglo-French, alteration of dower, douaire — more at DOWER 1 archaic : DOWER 1 2 : the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage 3 : a gift of money or property by a man to or for his bride 4 [...]

• Attitude: Gratitude

  Posted: August 27, 2007, 7:40 pm by Wambui

  I woke up with a feeling of contentment I decided to stop looking at what I did not have To pay attention instead to the bounty of ‘gifts’ I have in my life I stopped a minute to acknowledge: I have more than I really deserve, enough of what I need I know that: There are things I will still long [...]

• Good Fences…Good Neighbours

  Posted: August 24, 2007, 9:56 am by Wambui

  The decline of any neighbourhood is gradual, slow, mostly unnoticeable until a new ‘normal’ is established. In the average Nairobi housing estate: first, homeowners tack on ‘extensions’ to their homes, so that each home stands out. A little castle or testament to the owner’s pocket depth and taste (or lack thereof), following which a ‘local’ [...]

Wambui's World

• Been Long

  Posted: August 24, 2007, 7:02 am by Wambui

  Ive been gone a while -so much has happened - its amazing when I go through my past blog entries and find that I have grown so much - a true testament that if you trully believe in something - it will come to fruition.
  We finally moved - I love my new place we have been here a week now - we havent had visitors yet - just family so far, so they really are not guests. Lil man is actually sleeping in his own room now!! I am soooo happy abt that. I love his room, even more than mine, partially because mine is still full of boxes. We both have patios that attach the two rooms together.
  Work is going great. Its just soooo amazing. I was laughing at myself when I got my business cards and all them electronic leashes that corp.amer has to offer......that was when it all sank in. Then it sank in some more that I actually had made a MAJOR career move because I am now in the Oil.&gas industry - its a whole other world - so Im having to take classes just to get me acclaimated to the industry - all paid for by the big boys of course!
  I miss my friends tho. Been so busy I have not had alot of time to myself or anyone else for that matter. Im glad I have my family though, they are trully my strength, my core support - without them I wouldnt have gotten this far.
  Its like 2am cant sleep, so doing laundry while blogging and then will embark on doing my nails. Lets hope that I dont start to get sleepy right at 5am.
  
  Hugs,
  W

the mobius strip

• The Music Edition…[1.0?]

  Posted: August 22, 2007, 8:51 am by Wambui

  The ‘Music Edition’ has been ‘pending’ for ages…finally it sees the light of day. I am a HUGE lover of music. My love of music dates back to childhood…I vividly recall the first time my father played a Mendelssohn symphony…I was instantly hooked…I would ‘conduct’ this symphony in my head. When we would go to [...]

• Placeholder…

  Posted: August 18, 2007, 12:49 am by Wambui

  I am the self-appointed queen of weird and quirky news a.k.a. the ‘diversions’. Most days at lunchtime, one of the managers at work will look to me for her dose of zany news. I love reading about human folly, government bungling and the downright weird. Since I’m due to loll about on my bed reading [...]

surviving the college years

• out and about

  Posted: August 13, 2007, 4:26 am by Wambui

  1. Although I spend a ghastly amount of time on the computer, this is not the cause of my headaches!
  
  2. I've finally escaped from blogger. Here goes my new home
  
  
  kenyangal89.wordpress.com

• taking a break

  Posted: August 3, 2007, 3:52 am by Wambui

  Okay people, so it seems that there are two possible reasons for my recent constant headaches.
  
  1. I am addicted to the computer and am consequently spending too much time infront of the screen.
  
  2. I have not been eating a balanced diet, which is kinda hard to do when the only live beings you put in your mouth live in the ocean.
  
  For the latter, I have slightly modified my diet - which just means making sure that everything I put in my mouth which isn't fruit has atleast 5 grams of protein per serving...the good thing about it is getting to eat Pizza with a good excuse: cheese has about 8 grams of protein per serving. Actually now that I think about it, I really like this high-protein thing, I mean I get to eat lots of dairy products without feeling guilty, i.e. icecream and pizza :). Speaking of Pizza, did you know you can call the pizza place and not order pizza? Seriously, I called just to order that cinnamon bread with icing which-is-soo-bad-for-you-but-is-the-one-dessert-that-tastes-soo-good-that-
  if-I-was-stuck-in-a-dessert-Island-and-could-only-pick-one-dessert-that-would-be-it... but back to the point here.
  
  For the former problem, well the only way to investigate this is to take a break from my beloved friend my laptop - which is the other thing I would take with me to a desert Island, as long as there was wireless internet and a power plug ofcourse. I mean, then I've got pretty much everything no? Bible- check. phone and email-check.TV and movies - check. What more could a girl ask for?
  
  Anyways, so yes, I have to stop spending 14 of my 16 waking hours on the laptop, which means I have to take a break from blogsville and all it's joys...maybe I will get some time to think on that resume no? Anyways, cuidense mucho (take care), eh? This probably won't last long, but I intend to keep through at least the weekend..
  
  
  Okay, so that was a very random post, I think it's the sugar rush from the cinnamon bread I just ate :).
  
  P.S. bloger and I have decided to call it quits but the separation process is taking longer than I expected, but watch this space for mi new casa, which as we say in spanish, will be su casa as well.

• Position Vacant

  Posted: July 31, 2007, 4:49 pm by Wambui

  Haiya. Aki, I disappear for one stupid weekend because my cabeza (head) will not stop hurting and what do I find? Ati inexcess has selected me as one of the top runners for his PA!
  
  For a minute, I was excited: I mean- top contender, added advantage, no way I'm going to lose this, no way, plus I need a job manze!Then I realized ati the deadline is in 11 hours, and even worse, I read 3 types of Crazy's resume
  
  Okay,so seeing as how I wasn't aware of this whole thing until today. And seeing as how I'm one of the few people in this world who hardly ever procrastinates, how am I supposed to come up with a resume in 12 hours that competes with that?
  
  But trust me if I had more time, I would have won hands down. I mean, athletic(which implies comfort in different weather)? check. comfortable in heels (and I'm not talking safari boots here)? check. Speaks four languages (which implies comfort in different environment)? check. I could go on but ..
  
  Given that
  1. I don't think accepting the job would go well with HWSNBNITB
  2. I don't have enough time to prepare a good resume,
  
  I desafortunadamente cannot apply for the position of PA this time around.

• Accepting God's love

  Posted: July 31, 2007, 2:30 pm by Wambui

  In the past few weeks, the sermons in church have emphasized the fact that we are children of God and we should view ourselves that way. It's really taken root in my heart to realize that God loves me and accepts me just as I am, coz I have numerous hangups for sure.
  
  I always had the habit of brooding whenever I'd do something I knew I shouldn't. I'd grow apart from God, thinking he's unhappy with me since this is only the thirtieth time I've made the same mistake.
  
  The amazing thing that is still marvelous to me is, God loves me anyway. Everytime you ask God to forgive you of your sins, he wipes your slate clean, even if it's for the thousandth time! The bible says he removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. I know, it's hard to believe that there is someone who loves us that much, I mean have you ever given anyone a tenth chance for the same mess-up?, but it's true!
  
  So what I've realized is, most of the time, it's our thinking that keeps us away from God. We sure can't imagine anyone giving us a sixth or twentieth chance, so we don't accept God's forgiveness and we turn away from him.
  
  There is a certain redemption and freedom that comes with realizing that God loves me anyway. You'd think it would make me just keep messing up because I know God will forgive me if I just ask him, but I find it makes me want to be better.
  
  I don't really know how to explain it,I think it's something everyone has to experience for themselves, but it really is liberating.

Wambui's World

• A Jumbled Up Mess

  Posted: July 29, 2007, 6:51 pm by Wambui

  I filled out my application for the apartment that i have been wanting to move to. I took it to the property and paid the deposit and fees associated, I cant wait to move on August 18. I love starting a fresh, gives me the chance to throw out the old mess, clear up stuff that i no longer need in my life and bring new stuff and energy into my life.
  
  Kitchen:
  
  Theres stuff in the cabinet under my sink - some of that isht needs to go, empty containers crowding up my space. Pots and pans are worn out - they need to go - I have no use for them. My pantry needs clearing up too - have stuff there that should be expired by now - been holding onto stuff for too long thinking that I will need it incase of an emergency - not anymore - heck no - need more supplies for my pantry.
  My refirdgirator is the worst - specifically my freezer - have stuff in there that is YEARS old - needs to go - My freezer is always full of stuff - stuff that i never will use - its frozen solid and sometimes I think no amount of heat can thaw that stuff out - so I need to turn that mof.o off and use a scraper and remove that isht and throw it out. I also have like a gazillion...ok perhaps 6 different types of cheese - need to go to - I love cheese but dang! not that much.....
  
  Living Room:
  
  Im only moving with my peaces of art and TV- everything else gets trashed/ donated.
  
  Bed Room
  
  Only thing Im taking with me is my computer and workstation, everything else goes. Even the clothes - only taking about 6 outfits and my jeans - everything else goes - even buying new undies the works. Same with my bathroom - only carrying lil man's and my towels.
  
  Patio
  
  Taking lil man's Jeep and c.o.p car - and my new patio set everything else goes to charity or and the trash.
  
  Dang! I cant wait to move on with my life!
  
  For the first time in my life, I am in control of my life. Its the most beautiful feeling ever.
  
  Forever,
  W

surviving the college years

• making ends meet

  Posted: July 27, 2007, 11:40 am by Wambui

  Got this in my inbox today, enjoy!
  
  Kibaki said "Wewe fanya kazi, na kazi ndio hio, na hio ndio iko. Kwani utafanya ingine gani?.Kiuks have given it a serious thought.
  
  ManyKenyans have been travelling abroad to seek
  green pastures. Many are nurses who eventually
  take their husbands with them. Unfortunately, these
  men can't find decent jobs and find themselves doing
  the rat race or funny jobs just to make ends meet.
  So one of them finds a job as a zoo attendant.
  But as there are not many wild animals in UK zoos, the
  institution decides to hire people and have them
  pretend to be zoo animals - dressed in real animal
  skins so as to keep zoo attendance figures up.
  One Kiuk happily takes up one of the jobs
  dresses up in a monkey skin doing all sorts of
  acrobatics swinging from tree to tree.
  As he is busy entertaining people, he accidentally
  falls in a lions den. The lion roars so loudly that
  the "Monkey" shouts MAMAA WEE!! NISAIDIENI!! NAFA LEO!
  Then the lion approaches the ALMOST DEAD "monkey" and says
  "Ni kii we urauga mbu ta mwana?" (why are you screaming like a baby?)
  
  For the resident the event on that day ticket
  sales almost doubled!! bcoz people thought it waz a
  unique thing to see a monkey chat with a lion.
  Yet till now, nobody knew that those animals were
  well and trully HOME BOYS!
  mmmhh. iko kazi.!!
  
  rofl. I don't know how much truth there is to this story, but it does bring up an underlying existing issue no?

• random 8

  Posted: July 25, 2007, 1:45 pm by Wambui

  I got tagged by....well actually I didn't really get tagged, I was reading I believe excess's random 8 and he tagged anyone who hadn't been tagged yet. and seeing as how I can't think of anything else to blog on...
  
  
  1. I think in Spanish sometimes...I think it's the effect of watching all this Spanish TV. I'm at the point now where I know phrases in spanish but can't translate them to English. I plan on learning French and Chinese,and maybe Russian. That way I can speak to over 80% of the world in their native tongue.
  
  2. I'm very picky about what I eat. I stopped eating eggs in third grade, avocados around the same time, and all meat except fish about 2 and a half years ago. Regardless, I eat quite alot, and I cook meat better than most meat eaters...
  
  3.I cry alot, even when I'm happy. I laugh alot too. I'm easily amused by the tiniest things, most people find it weird, but it's just the way I get through life.
  
  4. I love school and I plan on staying there my whole life. In the seventh grade, my math teacher told me I would make a good teacher after explaining some math to the class...of course at the time I paid him no heed, I had bigger dreams. I've come to realize that he was right...
  
  5. My idea of the perfect weekend is just a lazy day at the house, watching a good movie and eating good food. I feel very incomodo (uncomfortable)in most crowds/gatherings. I tend to come across as stuck up because I don't mingle away from my friends when I go out, but I'm just sheltered.
  
  6. I have pretty crazy faith in God, which I think is one of the reasons why I get what I want. I've never thought there was anything too small or insignificant to go to God in prayer for. I'm learning now that neither is there anything too big or impossible for God, and that has made my faith even stronger.
  
  7.Most people are surprised at finding out my age. I've always been quite mature for my age plus I'm also quite old fashioned in my thinking and most of my mannerisms.
  
  8. Apparently I grind my teeth in my sleep..found this out the hard way when my jaw started to lock in the morning or after long bouts of exercise about a year ago, still have to see a doctor about it.
  
  who to tag? I think everyone who reads this has already been tagged, so I'll stop the chain :).

• update

  Posted: July 24, 2007, 12:03 pm by Wambui

  Phew, the last 3 days have been pretty crazy so this post will be more like a rant.
  
  First of all, I hate airtran. For the third time in a row, they managed to mess my plans up yet again. I left school on Friday morning at 7:15 with a 10am flight scheduled to arrive in North Carolina at 3:15 including a 1 hour layover in Atl. Lo and Behold, on reaching Atlanta, my flight to N.C. had been delayed until 3:30, 30 minutes later it was delayed until 4:01. Needless to say boarding did not start until 5pm. Oh joy. So I end up getting home at around 8pm. Add this to the fact that on Saturday I had a wedding reception to attend in VA beach and still didn't have a dress..., let's just say I hate airtran.
  
  Second of all, HWSNBNITB happens to be the kind of person who keeps to himself and alienates the world in case of a problem. After almost 5 years you'd think a girl would get used to it, but somehow it always seems to irk me.
  Anyways, despite Airtran's attempts to mess up my weekend, i did manage to get to a store that hadn't closed yet and buy a dress for the reception , which was a really beautiful affair, the cake and the food were just amazing!
  Last but not least, infact this is probably the most important thing on this post, my project and presentation went really well!! The professor and my supervisor were so impressed with our work that we get a chance to continue working on it in the Fall! And the presentation was very well received too. The mostly Math and Computer Science audience was curiously attentive to our Statistics/Computational Finance talk for the whole 15-20 minutes, which was very pleasing to see. I must say, I felt very satisfied with the final result, it really showed 7 weeks worth of research. It's the first time I've done something like that and you know, I definitely see myself doing this 10 years from now :). The topic is quite interesting methinks, I will do a post on it soon as I can't summarize it in 2 or 3 lines.
  
  Breaking News- At a gas station on my way from NC to VA beach on Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised to see that VANILLA COKE IS BACK! Vanilla coke is the one soft drink that will bring me out of my no-soft-drinks-unless-there-is-nothing-else-to-drink mode. that stuff is good!
  
  I haven't had a chance in the last 2 weeks to read blogs so I've got quite a bit to catch up on, but I've got some free time on my hands now.
  Ok, that was a pretty long post, hopefully it wasn't boring.

Wambui's World

• Who the Fkuc are you ????

  Posted: July 19, 2007, 10:57 pm by Wambui

  Excuse my french, but I'd like to know......
  
  So many of us walk around with an air, confidently speaking when we really dont know who he fakk we really are. I was talking to a gal friend of mine a few minutes ago, a ride or die type of friend who is going thru some stuff and I asked her who the fkuc she was and what did she want out of life, was she living an authentic life.
  Why are we so quick to lay blame on others or our circumstances when in reality, we put ourselves there in the first place. Why cant we be strong enough to realize when we are in deep isht, accept it as a fact and work from within ourselves to get out of the funk? Ive been there, blaming everyone and their grandmother for things that went wrong in my life, feeling sorry for myself and throwing full blown pitty parties for everyone who could attend.....in reality, I was shifting blame and running away from the real issues.Granted, Im still a work in progress, only now I know better not to blame anyone but myself for the things that i let happen to my life, its called taking charge and not letting life take charge of me. I realize that I have faults, that I can be a mess at times, but heck, I know that I am a beautiful mess and I love me for who I am. I define myself, just as you do you.
  
  W

surviving the college years

• Expectation

  Posted: July 19, 2007, 2:19 pm by Wambui

  Is the root of all heartache. I don't know why I never learn

Wambui's World

• Its Coming Together Now...

  Posted: July 17, 2007, 6:39 pm by Wambui

  Today is day 2 of my vacation and boy have I accomplished alot!! I found a new apartment. Went shoping for Objects d'art for it. Even managed to pick up a journal, met friends for lunch and squeezed in an hour at the gymn and took a ride or die buddy to the doctors.....that all happened yesterday!!! Talk about maximizing on a vacation.
  Today I got up, made bfast for the lil man, watched a kids show, gave him a bath, took him to school by 9am, hit the stored again and then came back home, took a nap and now I am here - giving you an update before I hot the gymn again at 4pm then meet a friend for coffee and book shopping at 5:30pm! Later on I have two papers to type up - all due tomorrow!!! Im just loving this.
  So it hit me, yesterday when I was looking for a place to live how the other half live! I drove around looking working off a list that the locators provided, I was shocked at the amount of rent folks pay - like waay over a thousand bucks - WTF!!! This is Te.xas! I caught myself saying - dang! I cant afford that - then it hit me - YES I CAN!!! I sooooo CAN!!!! (LOL) I guess my mind is still working off of my former paycheck....either way - I am not one to spend just for the sake of spending....so I settled for a place deemed luxury but still within a moderate price range.....in my opinion, in Htown T.X if you are paying anything over 1100 - then you need to be buying a house of condo or something - heck anything - even a shack as long as you are not renting it!
  
  I also went to look for a sch for lil man......I almost fainted when the lady told me WTF!!!!! Hence the reason my #1 goal is to raise him in Kenya - fking crazy private schools.....I wonder if they will give them golden crayons studded with diamonds? WTH! So, as much as I loooooove him, I need to go to the drawing board and come up with another option atleast to compare it with.....I can just see BD's face when I tell him...LOL. It will be priceless.
  
  Toodles,
  W

surviving the college years

• being a doer

  Posted: July 17, 2007, 3:00 pm by Wambui

  "The best way to do anything, is to do it. " ~Amelia Earhart.
  
  **Another Grey's Anatomy reference**In, I believe early season 2, after Meredith and Christina yet again take the most interesting medical cases from the other interns, Izzie tells George,"there are two kinds of people in this world, watchers and doers. Meredith and Christina, they're doers. you and me, we're watchers."or something like that.
  I think Izzie was pretty close. I've come to the realization that there are two kinds of people in this world- dreamers and doers. Really, the difference between the millionaire with a private Jet and the guy who has a good job, but makes just enough to get by? Well the millionaire, unless his wealth is inherited, he had an idea, he had a plan, he had a dream, then he went out there and did it. The just-enough guy? he had an idea, he had plan, he had a dream too, but he was too scared to do anything about it.
  Fear is crippling thing. It's hard to tell what just-enough guy is scared of really. Most would say that he is scared of failure, I say he's scared of success. I say he's scared of change. I say he cares too much about people's reactions to his actions. I know this for a fact, because it so happens that I am just-enough guy, or girl in this case.
  He who shall not be named in this blog (HWSNBNITB) once told me that I needed protection against myself. I'm beginning to see what he meant. I am my own worst enemy, I am the danger I need shielding against. The only thing between me and the sky is my thoughts, but it just so happens that the battle against oneself is the toughest one of all.

• "Too sexy for my bus," woman told

  Posted: July 16, 2007, 11:40 pm by Wambui

  Ok. this is too funny to leave out
  
  

  BERLIN (Reuters) - A German bus driver threatened to throw a 20-year-old sales clerk off his bus in the southern town of Lindau because he said she was too sexy, a newspaper reported Monday.

  "Suddenly he stopped the bus," the woman named Debora C. told Bild newspaper. "He opened the door and shouted at me 'Your cleavage is distracting me every time I look into my mirror and I can't concentrate on the traffic. If you don't sit somewhere else, I'm going to have to throw you off the bus.'"

  The woman, pictured in Bild wearing her snug-fitting summer clothes with the plunging neckline, said she moved to another seat but was humiliated by the bus driver.

  A spokesman for the bus company defended the driver.

  "The bus driver is allowed to do that and he did the right thing," the spokesman said. "A bus driver cannot be distracted because it's a danger to the safety of all the passengers."

  source
  
  2 days to the finish line!

• phonecard

  Posted: July 13, 2007, 12:21 am by Wambui

  If you read this and know where I can get a good calling card that won't make me want to smash my phone into a million little pieces, please help :)

Wambui's World

• Tomorrow is my last day!!

  Posted: July 12, 2007, 8:13 pm by Wambui

  I did it !!!! I signed the offer and great one it was - I am proud of myself for what I made them provide!!! I didnt even believe that was me talking !!! Also, I turned in my resignation.
  
  I am so excited - it feels so good to finally be done. Tomorrow I will go into the office to pack and turn in computer, keys, tokens and badges and my soon to be former boss is taking me out to lunch, have happy hour plans after that and then I have one WHOLE week of vacation!
  
  Next week will be spent looking for an apartment and school for lil man. Also plan on shopping coz I need to spruce up my wardrobe (FUN!!!) and getting a new hairdo! YAY!!!! FUN!!!!
  
  So I am signing off today, once again on a happy note.
  
  Toodles!
  W

surviving the college years

• random number generator

  Posted: July 12, 2007, 3:27 am by Wambui

  
  1 - The number of weeks I have left until my final presentation for the research I've been doing the past 7 weeks.
  8 - The total number of hours of sleep I've gotten since I got up monday morning.
  12 - The number of excel workbooks I've had to fix for my data analysis
  500 - The number of rows in each of the excel workbooks I've had to fix
  20 - The number of hours I spent extracting data for the 12 workbooks.
  9 - My level of mental tiredness on a scale of 1-10.
  7 - The number of missed calls on my phone in the last 12 hours.
  
  3435549 - The level of satisfaction I will feel after all this is done on a scale of 1-10.

Wambui's World

• You kissed my tears away, then gently lifted me up...

  Posted: July 10, 2007, 3:01 am by Wambui

  You kissed my tears away, then gently lifted me up from the bed and walked me to where the full length mirror stood by the door. We stood there, our nakedness illuminated by the moonlight. Then you quickly flicked the light switch. Instantly, my hands covered my stomach, I couldnt bare for you to see my scars. You pushed them away and told me to let go of that deep breath i was unconsiously holding to tuch my tummy in.
  Gently you ran your fingers though every stretch mark on my body all while whispering into my ears " You are so beautuful, baby your body is amazing" I opened my eyes just to be sure it was I you were speaking to. When I did, your eyes were adoringly staring right back at me in the mirror. I let go of that deep breath I was holding.....unconciously.
  

  You asked me why I was so shy and uncomfortable about the way I looked. I told you why...as a mother, those stretchmarks are a testament of the time that I carried a child. With such stern passion, you asked me never to refer to them as scars, you called them a rites of passage, a testament of a miracle I was chosen to bring into this world and that i should be proud of them and of myself for being the bearer of such a great miracle. I cried again, this time because i felt beautiful and I knew that I was truly loved.
  
  (c) Wambui's World
  

  
  

  
  

• I havent been good at updating this lately - so mu...

  Posted: July 9, 2007, 5:48 pm by Wambui

  I havent been good at updating this lately - so much has been going on!!!! Good stuff!!
  
  I got a job offer from a great organization, I am currently in negotiations for the compensation. I am even more excited about leaving my current organization - this change has been waaay overdue. I will miss the friends that I have made here though!
  
  Anyhow, change -I am loving it ! It is absolutely empowering!! I have recieved such positive vibes and feedback from everyone - including my proffesor!! He said and I quote "You are going to go places, you have the attitude and personality that motivates others, you are articulate and proffesional" Geeze!! I almost passed out! I feel soooo very blessed! And I cant begin to tell you what all this has done to my self confidence, especially after the isht tha tI have gone through in the past two months. ANyhooo - wanted to share this bit of goodnews - hopefully this afternoon or tomorrow I will have signed the offer!
  
  Be good!
  W

surviving the college years

• venus - goddess of the grass.

  Posted: July 7, 2007, 8:15 pm by Wambui

  
  I heart the game of tennis. Not only do I play as often as I can, I also watch the game whenever possible. I'm a "true fan" - you know, the kind that will get up at 4am to watch the australian open due to the time difference. The kind that prays when my favorite player is fighting it out, telling God "if you let her win this one time, I won't eat all day tomorrow", or "if you just let him win this one tournament, I will not watch tv all week." The kind that cried my eyes out when Serena lost a heartbreaker at the year-end championships to Sharapova after Wimbledon 2004.I know any die-hard sports fan has done something similar at some point, don't lie.
  The funny thing is, somewhere in the other side of the world, another person is saying the exact prayer, only for the other player!
  Anyways, earlier today, Venus Williams won her fourth wimbledon title. She was ranked 33, and is the lowest seed to win wimbledon.
  
  The girl moves like a gazelle, getting inconceivable balls back, and she hits it hard too. Who doesn't want this bod? And no starving yourself involved girls!
  
  I have to admit, I was quite teary eyed after Venus won today. She's been through so much this year - missing the first 2 months of 2007 with a wrist injury. People were beginning to talk about retirement - she's 27, which in tennis players terms translates to 60. Wouldn't you love to have such a career? There are disadvantages though, you pretty much dedicate your whole life up till then to your sport and don't usually get to enjoy a normal life. But if you're going to win $1.39 million for 2 weeks work...
  Anyways, Miss. V. says that she was inspired to win Wimbledon when she saw Serena win the Australian open earlier this year. Serena entered Australia ranked 81 in the world, and no-one expected her to make it to the 4th round, let alone win the whole thing.
  
  Today Venus was too good, bringing her opponent to her knees.
  
  literary.
  There were a few tense moments, but finally it was over.
  
  
  This woman's smile when she's happy is contagious. The trophy- appropriately called the "Venus Rosewater dish", is one of the most beautiful in tennis. It's so priceless that they don't let the winners keep it after the trophy ceremony- they inscribe their names on it though. The winners get a smaller replica.
  
  Venus is argurably the best grass court player of her generations. She has been in the final of Wimbledon 6 times, winning four
  
  and losing two to lil sis, who was nonetheless happy for her in her win.
  
  It's amazing how much self belief these two women have in themselves. It's quite inspiring actually. The story goes that in January, after Venus saw her sis unheraldingly win the Australian open, she sent a text message to a good friend on tour that said "I'm going to win Wimbledon." 5 months later she lifted the trophy. But even then, it was a tough, long road, and the joy of accomplishment was visible today.
  
  
  Fittingly, Venus won this in the first year that Wimbledon is offering equal prize money for both men and women. She has been the biggest advocate for this issue among women on the tour, travelling to meetings with the ITF (international tennis federation) while she was injured as a player representative.
  
  
  So here's to you Venus. 2007 Wimbledon champion, goddess of the grass, and queen of Center Court, Wimbledon.
  
  

• what is love?

  Posted: July 7, 2007, 4:40 pm by Wambui

  Love is patient, Love is kind,
  It does not envy, it does not boast,
  It is not proud, It is not rude,
  It is not self-seeking,
  It is not easily angered,
  It keeps no record of wrongs.
  Love does not delight in evil,
  but rejoices with the truth.
  Love bears all things, believes all things,
  hopes all things, endures all things.
  Love never fails
  
  Love makes my world go around :).

• night owl

  Posted: July 5, 2007, 6:06 am by Wambui

  Every class had the one kid who fell into one or both the following categories:
  a) never paid attention and was always getting into trouble
  b) never did their assignments and hardly ever studied
  
  Obviously, there are countless such students, but the thing with this one is that, despite the above, he/she always made the best grades come exam time.
  
  My mom used to tell us of the one during her schooldays. His name was Kamau and while at school, all he literary did was talk and sleep. Nonetheless, Kamau is always #1 in the class... Private investigation of "the secret" behind Kamau's genius leads to his sister, who for fanta orange and half a loaf of bofulo,or however you spell that (unsliced bread), reveals that while Kamau messes around and sleeps all day, he wakes up a la uno de la mañana (1 am) para estudiar.
  
  I think I'm turning into Kamau, minus conditions a and b. I just seem to be the most productive in the wee hours of the morning, which all amounts to me getting little sleep and numerous naps. Thank God I can afford to do that at this stage in life. I don't know if I should just stick with it or if I should discipline myself to be productive during the day (I tried para 2 semanas then I regressed, I hear it takes 3 weeks to form a habit though, hmmmm...)

• you want I get

  Posted: July 4, 2007, 4:15 am by Wambui

  One of my favorite tv characters is Mrs. Kim, a short but tough Asian woman who plays the role of a strict Korean mother in my used-to-be-favorite-but-don't-watch-anymore show, Gilmore Girls. I hate how contract issues force a show to completely change the story line of a show and usually cause it to turn for the worse. Take Isaiah Washington's firing in Grey's anatomy for example..actually that's not a very good example, they can do without him so never mind.
  
  Back to the point, Mrs. Kim - favorite character -. So in Gilmore Girls, Mrs. Kim runs an antique shop in a compact space, which means customers are always breaking stuff. Everytime something breaks, she always tells the customer "you break you buy".
  
  I have a knack for finding random, interesting stuff on the internet. I'm a follower of the "you can find anything on the internet" movement. Like I just found Oceans 13 online, no typo there. I don't know why I spent enough money for shrimp lo mein to go see it :).
  Anyways, seeing as how
  a) I have a knack for finding stuff on the internet
  b) I'm always on the internet, and
  c) It's summer and I need a challenge,
  here's my proposition: "you want I get." Really, if you have anything you want to find on the net but are having a hard time or simply don't have time at all, ask me and I'll do my best. Be reasonable though. Que piensas?

• practice what you preach.

  Posted: July 1, 2007, 3:13 am by Wambui

  So this is a story that my dad always tells us, and every time I laugh so much it literary hurts.Unfortunately i think it's one of those that's funniest when told in kikuyu, but I will try my best!
  
  In this one church there was a pastor who loved to preach on the second coming. Every sunday, his sermon had to include the phrase "karumbeta nigakahuhuo"- (the trumpet will be blown). and he always reminded his congregation to be prepared.
  A certain mischevious boy was a member of the congregation. One sunday, our friend decides to have some fun. He gets to church earlier than everyone and climbs a tree just infront of the door. He waits patiently...first song, prayer, announcements, second song, offering, third song. Finally it's time for the sermon.
  The pastor begins preaching on his topic but as usual switches to his favorite subject:
  "Karumbeta nigakahuhuo!" on cue, there is some backup- "Poo-poooo!"
  Ai! Confusion galore, lakini no cause for alarm just yet - maybe the pastor is trying a new way to get his point across eh?
  The pastor, confused himself, repeats his point. "Ndamwiira, karumbeta nigakahuhuo!"
  - again, " Po-poo Po-pooo Po-pooooooo!"
  Woi! Andu makimenya Jesu niacoka. Everyone makes their way out the door because ofcourse they aren't prepared to go just yet!
  The pastor himself joins the parade and starts making his way out. Lakini on his way out, right at the door, his robe is caught by a nail. Haiya; everytime he tries to run, something pulls him back.
  Our poor pastor comes to the only feasible conclusion, it is his turn to go! Lakini he has some unfinished business in town just yet, so he looks towards the sky, and in a loud voice he pleas; "Mũraika Gabrieri, ndagothaitha ndekia. tondũ ũmothe ndiíharíirie!"
  
  While looking up he spots our friend, who is laughing so hard by this time that he drops his trumpet.
  
  moral of the story? As the boy scouts and girl guides say "Be Prepared"

• phonecard help!

  Posted: June 30, 2007, 4:34 pm by Wambui

  Ok. Estoy oficialmente harto de tarjetas del teléfonos! (I am officially fed up with phonecards!!!)
  
  Seriously, I buy a $10 phonecard and I'm told I have an hour and 20 minutes to talk. Exactly 44 minutes later, that annoying automatic voice has the nerve to give the message, "you have, one minute remaining". Por Dios! (I timed it, more than 10 times!). And don't even get me started about customer service. Given my sensitivity to rudeness, I honestly can't deal with those people.
  So if anyone living in the US has found a better deal, help a sister out por favor. I'm really fed up with being ripped off!
  
  p.s. - i've noticed there is another wambui in blogosphere, so maybe I should change my display name..don't have any ideas presently though.

• three and a half languages

  Posted: June 26, 2007, 9:30 pm by Wambui

  For the past year and a half, when someone asked me how many languages I spoke, I would say three and a half. The three being English, Swahili, and Kikuyu, and the half being Spanish.
  Today if you ask me how many languages I speak, I will still say three and a half. However, the half language is now Swahili. You heard right, I speak Spanish better than the national language of my country.
  My Swahili skills have deteriorated to the point of embarrassment. Last week I went to the bank,and the teller just so happened to have lived in Kenya for six years. When he saw my last name, he said "Jambo". Imagine I had to think about the response, and by the time I finally figured out what to say, he had moved on to the next subject!!
  
  I really did make a 99 on my KCPE Swahili paper, really.
  
  In my defense, I don't have anyone to speak Swahili with. With the family, I speak Kikuyu, with my friends I speak English and Spanish. I read everything in English and Spanish. Even with my friends from school in Kenya I speak English. This has to do with the fact that in school, we were only allowed to speak English, for fear of corrupting our Swahili with sheng'. I'm sure that if I was to go back home today, I wouldn't follow a conversation between my peers.
  
  I'm going to be learning French next, but I really want to refresh my Swahili. 2 weeks in Nairobi and I'm sure my Swahili will be back to normal, but that's not happening this year. And even then, I'd at least like the response to "niaje" to come automatically...

• blogsurfing and reading

  Posted: June 23, 2007, 11:53 pm by Wambui

  Recently I find myself reading blogs for even a few hours everyday. I even now have a "blogs" bookmark for the blogs I enjoy the most, now at 15 and counting! It's just so fascinating to read about life through another person's eyes. So many lessons to learn and laughs to lighten up my day.
  Reading blogs has translated into my return to reading. With all the reading I have to do for class already, leisure reading for me has been sporadic in the last year. But now that it's summer and I have a lot more free time on my hands, I've started to read again. I just finished Jane Austen's "Persuasion" and I'm re-reading Pride and prejudice for the second time - the first time since I watched the movie.
  Whenever I see previews for a movie, I look it up to see if there's a book with a similar title. I usually like to read the book before I watch the movie, partly because I don't like suspense, and partly because I like to form my own image of characters.
  At present, I can't think of a book-based movie that I thought was better than the book. "Gone with the wind" and "Pride and Prejudice" come close. And when I watched "A walk to remember", I cried almost as much as when I read the book.
  For me, the superiority of reading comes in the fact that my mind is allowed to wander. I'm allowed to form my own image of the characters and it's easier to "read between the lines".
  I suppose this is why I can find so few movies that live up to the book, I already have an idea of what the characters should be, of how things should play out. It's a bias and lack of objectivity I'm not willing to part with.

• au revoir thiery

  Posted: June 22, 2007, 8:54 pm by Wambui

  
  they pushed Henry away :(

• thicker skin

  Posted: June 22, 2007, 12:40 pm by Wambui

  In grey's anatomy season two, there's a scene where Addison asks Derek "Are you done? Hurting me back I mean, coz if you're not then I need to special order some thicker skin or something." (if you are not watching grey's anatomy you are missing out.. I won't ruin it for anyone who's still watching or plans on watching.)Watch all 3 seasons of Grey's online here
  
  But back to the point, I am highly sensitive to rudeness. Seriously, even a hint of rudeness will hurt me to the verge of tears or even make me cry.
  Like once when I went to the library and realized I had forgotten my school ID so I couldn't enter. I didn't have another form of ID with me and the front door lady, who had seen me at least twice a week for the whole semester, even waved at me sometimes, simply said "if you don't have a card you can't go in" and went back to reading her newspaper. I had to try so hard not to cry after that.
  Or when I called domino's pizza to say my order was messed up and the manager tells me that "that's the order we got from the internet and so that's what you got." Mind you it was a telephone order! But that's what technology will do for you these days. my order was probably taken by a stay-at-home mom in the middle of nowhere:
  exhibit a : "the long-distance journey of a fast food order."
  exhibit b : "a job that is virtually stress free"
  maybe she got distracted by her kid and put in my order wrong, who knows? I don't care if it was my own fault, that does not warrant the domino's rep reason to be rude to me about the messup. An "I'm sorry but there's nothing we can do about it" would have sufficed just fine thank you very much.
  
  
  So small experiences like this that shouldn't affect me end up doing just that. I realize that there are some people out there who are just rude, and I should just ignore them and get used to it, but my special order of thicker skin is taking a while to make. Until it gets here, be nice to me :).

• Taking advantage of Sprint

  Posted: June 20, 2007, 3:30 am by Wambui

  So I can't believe I didn't post on this before, but after reading a sprint-users forum, I most definitely got Sprint to start nighttime minutes for all the calls on my plan (3 lines) at 6pm. Here's the exchange: (I did it but phone is not under my name).
  
  =============================================================
  Question: I have been with sprint for about 3 years now and have gotten the whole family on the plan. However, my sister has been having trouble with the line ###-###-####. She recently moved to Texas and as a result, it's 6pm when it's 7pm on the east coast, where most of her friends live. Is it possible to get free minutes starting at 6pm at no additional charge? Also, she has recently been having a lot of dropped calls and I was wondering if you could do anything about that? Thanks for your service.
  ==============================================
  Dear Kamau wa Njoroge,
  
  Thank you for contacting Sprint. I will be happy to assist you regarding the 6 PM option and dropped calls.
  
  I have added free 6 PM Night and Weekend Minutes option to your plan effective immediately. Now, the Night and Weekend hours on all the lines on your account will be:
  
  - 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday; and
  - 6:00 p.m. Friday until 7:00 a.m. Monday.
  
  Dropped Calls:
  ************
  
  I apologize for the inconvenience caused to due to dropped calls... (I really am strangely having dropped calls just in this one building I'm staying at but that's not the point of this post)....
  
  Kimei arap Kimei
  Business E-Care
  Sprint
  "Where our customers come first!"
  ------------------------
  
  
  Another trick is to get the benefits of SERO (Sprint Employee Referral Offer),use the email of the customer service rep who replies to your query. smart huh? SERO is muy awesome. For example, you can get 3 voice plans with unlimited text and 1250 anytime minutes for $50 a month,and get a razor for $20...not bad, huh? :) All sprint employees can refer an unlimited number of people, so don't feel bad.
  SERO is easily available for new customers and current sprint customers looking to add a line on to their plans. If you're not in these categories, it gets a little trickier, but with a little patience and cunning it can most definitely be done. I'm going to try it out, if I'm successful I will post.
  There's a whole list of success stories on SERO, free minutes at 6 and more on the sprintusers forum. The things companies will do to keep the customer happy :). I've seen more success stories through email, although it can be done on the phone if you find the right representative. If you don't have sprint, I can't find anything of the sort online for you,sorry. Tenga suerte! (Good luck)

• I want to vote

  Posted: June 20, 2007, 2:46 am by Wambui

  This year I will be eligible to vote for the first time. However, being that I live abroad, it will not be possible to exercise my constitutional right.
  My living abroad does not directly imply my ignorance on issues concerning and events happening in my home country. My lack of physical presence in Kenya does not imply an inability to impact change or a lack of influence.
  I fail to understand why Iraqis living abroad are able to vote, but Kenyans, whose statehood is in a much better state, are unable to.
  I am (or I will be by November) a Kenyan of legal age and I should have the ability to exercise my voting right, no matter where I live! And why is the electoral comission of kenya website not working??
  
  Some interesting articles:
  It's high time we went for brain gain
  Kenya, diaspora has deep pockets to build country
  
  I was doing some research for my project in the economist earlier today and came across this interesting article in last week's issue. This quote struck out at me "'Tribe still beats class'". Sad but true huh?

• they do exist!

  Posted: June 18, 2007, 4:12 pm by Wambui

  So it turns out that there are some nice guys out there. Really, there truly exists a group of male homo sapiens that treats women with respect,sees more in women than their physical assets, guys who keep promises and don't cheat on their girlfriends/wives, guys who value a woman's opinion..you get the picture, right? guys who stick with her as she works out her issues, even when it hurts them. Apparently they really do exist!
  
  
  In other news, ati my roommate dropped her keys down the elevator shaft....seriously :)

• enjoying life

  Posted: June 16, 2007, 1:44 am by Wambui

  Today I had fun. My friends and I went grocery shopping and had a little adventure when we almost missed the metro and had to run as fast as we could while carrying pretty heavy groceries. Then we went and watched Ocean's 13, which I must admit was much better than I expected. Better than the first two for sure IMO. We had another little adventure while crossing the streets to the movie theater. The kenyan in me just crossed when there were no cars in the vicinity, aki you should have seen the look on my friends faces! Apparently they're scared for being arrested for Jaywalking!!! Only in America do you get arrested for crossing the street because the pedestrian light says stop, who cares if there are no cars within eyesight? But after thinking about it, the law is the law, no matter how stupid it is, so I will try my best to obey all pedestrian traffic laws from now on, no matter how stupid I think they are.
  Then I finally found a Subway in this place and I got my first taste of my beloved veggie delight in over a year!!
  Let's leave this post with happy thoughts :)

• stupid

  Posted: June 15, 2007, 2:34 pm by Wambui

  I did something really stupid. You see, I'm kinda the queen of pushing people away. At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do. I thought it was what I wanted. It hasn't come back to haunt me yet, the person involved hasn't found out yet, but today the stone began rolling downhill. I realize now that this isn't what I wanted, and although I'm pretty sure the person involved will forgive me, I'm not sure I can forgive myself. Also, it's easier to just let things go awry than face the truth. urgh, i hate email.

• an accomplishment - of sorts

  Posted: June 14, 2007, 12:29 pm by Wambui

  I ran 3 miles (~4.8 km) without stopping for the first time today. Outside, not on a treadmill. I don't care that I was running at a slow pace (32 min --> almost 11 min/mile), I ran the whole way. Then I finished a paper that's been giving me headaches for the past 3 days. I'm thinking this bodes well for the rest of the day:)
  
  In other news, I think I may be checking my email a little too often. Lately I've been checking it at least once an hour when I have internet access. I'm glad I don't have a blackberry coz my bill would be sky high.

• TAGGED - RECIPES

  Posted: June 14, 2007, 2:35 am by Wambui

  Ati I've been tagged for a recipe. So ignore the last post, that does not do justice to my cooking abilities. And I say that with confidence, and not pride. God knows I've come a long way from my first cooking experience. I remember it vividly...
  I was in standard 5 and my cousins, as usual, had come to our house after church to watch walker texas ranger and hang out (man those were the days). This was the first time we were home with no adult, and I saw that everyone was getting hungry. So I decide to make rice.
  There were 6 of us, and I didn't know very much about how rice cooks. I knew you always put more water than rice though, so I boiled a whole big sufuria of water. Then it was time to put the rice in. I took my cup and measured -- one cup for Jimmy, one cup for Maina, one cup for Sam.... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 cups of mchele into the sufuria. You can imagine my surprise 20 minutes later when the lid popped off the sufuria because there was no more room for the rice...
  
  asi fue (and so it was)
  
  I will post a recipe when I can remember a good one I make at home :).

• 7meals for $7

  Posted: June 13, 2007, 8:39 pm by Wambui

  I love to cook. I don't know if many teenagers out there do, but it's actually one of the things I really miss about being home. Cooking on a college student's budget, i.e. my parents' money, is a different matter. I don't have $2 to spend on a vegetable stir fry packet, or on all the different spices that make food taste oh so good. So this summer, I'm learning the art of improvisation.
  
  One staple food in every college student's "pantry"? Ramen noodles. After looking up a bunch of ways to spice ramen noodles up, I tried my own with the ingredients I had. Here's what I came up with, food enough for 3 meals, 2 if you're really hungry, for less than $4. Can't beat that :)
  
  1 can sliced mushrooms ($0.39)
  1.5 cups frozen peas and carrots($0.79 for the whole bag ~3.5 cups)
  1 tablespoon butter ($0.59 for 4 sticks, each 6 tablespoons)
  2 packages ramen noodles (3 for $1)
  soy sauce ($0.99 a bottle)
  salt and pepper to taste
  
  1. Boil the peas and carrots in 1/4 cup salted water for about 10 minutes. Drain
  2. Cook ramen noodles according to package directions but don't add seasoning. Drain, add a teaspoon of soy sauce and mix in.
  3. In a pan, sautee mushrooms in butter for about 4 minutes, add peas and carrots and salt to taste.
  4. Mix in noodles, add soy sauce and fry for a few minutes.
  5. Eat and put the rest in the fridge for lunch tomorrow :)
  
  I also added some ginger to the butter before adding the mushrooms ($1.39)
  
  
  It's not the best stir fry I've ever eaten, but it definetely tastes better than the money spent on it.
  
  Another improvisation: Saturday I cooked about 12 chapatis (all the ingredients cost about $3 and they're enough for 3 batches of chapatis), bought some frozen spinach and kales ($0.79 a bag, each enough for at least 2.5 meals), and I still have 3 chapos left.
  
  So there you have it, enough food for at least 7 meals, all for about $7, plus you still have ingredients left over for future meals. :)
  
  I know this sounds like a redundant menu, so later I will post on how I make 7 different meals for about $20.
  
  
  Seriously :)

• height obsession

  Posted: June 12, 2007, 1:21 pm by Wambui

  I don't know why I'm so obsessed with my height. All I know is that for as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be 5'7". I am 1.25 inches away from my goal. Everyone tells me that I'm at a good height, that tall girls don't get guys, but I don't care. I want to be 5'7" and I will drink as much milk as I need to to achieve my goal. :)

• i'm back

  Posted: June 11, 2007, 5:59 pm by Wambui

  I can't believe I haven't posted in over 4 months. Let's see, I finished freshman year of college and now I'm back in school doing research, let's call it an unpaid internship, lakini the experience is priceless.
  
  When I was at home for a few weeks after finals, I found Esmeralda online. I don't know if you guys used to watch that show, you know, the one about the poor blind girl and rich handsome guy who fall in love, but his family won't accept her because of her position, except they were actually switched at birth coz the girl's father only wanted a male heir.....I remember everyone in my family used to watch it every Sunday at 8pm.
  So I found Esmeralda online, and watched the whole thing (137 episodes but I skipped like 30-40) in about 2 weeks. All I have to say in my defense is that my spanish has improved tremendously.
  
  After finishing with Esmeralda, I started to watch La Usurpadora (the usurper), the one about the woman who pays a look alike to usurp her place in her house for a year while she goes off and has an affair....I kumbuka that one used to come on at 6pm on Sundays on KTN. But then I moved over here only about 10 episodes in...I finished that one, (99 episodes, skipping about 15) in a week.
  
  I was going to start this other one called Cuando Seas Mia but I didn't like it very much, plus it's 237 episodes and I do not need another distraction from work (I download them from the internet).
  
  
  Anyways, all this telenovela watching has got me thinking, do people's actions stem from what they see in soap operas, or are soaps based on what happens in real life? Because to be honest, there are some crazy people in this world. As crazy and twisted as all the drama in the soaps is, I could point out a real life situation where something similar has happened. Anyway, more on that another day.
  
  I must add that I can't stand American soaps, but these Mexican ones are a different story. You know why? Because latin soaps COME TO AN END! How long have days of our lives and passions been going on? I was flipping channels once and passions was on, and one of the characters who had died was in the show! and that's all i have to say about that.

• back to school

  Posted: January 7, 2007, 12:51 pm by Wambui

  I must say, flying is not as fun as it used to be. I still look forward to it, but packing is such a drag! Especially when you go home. I came home with 2 small bags and my laptop, I'm leaving with the same 2 bags and my laptop plus another bag twice their size. However, unpacking is even worse, my record time for unpacking is 5 weeks. However, I'm determined to get it done as soon as I get back to my room. We'll have to see about that.

• college

  Posted: November 15, 2006, 3:52 am by Wambui

  College is hard... what else is new.
  Really though, I knew college was hard, but I always figured that i worked pretty hard in high school and I'd just have to kick it up a notch to survive in college. Wrong! I'm having to kick it up 2 notches and then some...
  All this work in college leads one to a career. So the way I see it, one should find that one goal that is worth all the friday nights at the library, all the missed tennis practices, something worth the 10 hours of sleep in 3 days. Because if you don't find that one thing, then you just spend all your time in college wasting time. I'm trying to figure out whether my goal is worth it, I'm pretty sure it is, but I have to concretely define it in order to be certain.
  Anyways, 2 midterms kesho, one Thursday morning, problem set due Thursday and spanish paper due Friday, and my body doesn't want to cooperate. Oh well, greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world, I may not have the physical strength, but spiritually I am strong. In my weakness I am strong because God's strength and might is manifested in my lowest moments. His word says that
  "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
  So I won't worry about how unprepared I feel because God knows I tried my best.

• FELIZ CUMPLEANOS

  Posted: October 26, 2006, 5:25 am by Wambui

  I am seventeen years old.

• sad

  Posted: October 4, 2006, 1:29 pm by Wambui

  I don't know if sad is the exact word for it but there must be an adjective to describe the feeling when you get five hours of sleep and you still feel like you overslept....

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes