Perspective

not so-Super Rugby.

2011-02-21T09:31:00.000+02:00

This weekend was going to be something special. The Cricket World Cup and Super Rugby tournaments began and I had planned to make the most of it. Equipped with my seasons pass for the rugby and my girlfriend in tow, it had all the ingredients to be memorable. However it panned out to be one of my worst sporting weekends ever.

Saturday morning started well. I woke at 6am and completed my chores (for the lack of a better word) before the first match kicked off. It turned out to be the best of the weekend and my experiences could only get better. As for that match, I didn't expect the result, but it was a great start to the tournament. The Sharks will have their work cut out this week and I'm really looking forward to the battle against our old enemies: The Blues.

I was all set for my first match but before jumping into the car; I noticed that my left rear tyre had lost some pressure. Finding your tyre flat at 7pm parked somewhere on Umgeni Road is not an entertaining scenario, so I decided to go swap my car with my sister and have an incident free evening. Annoyance levels started increasing since I was going to be late due to this detour.

After picking the car up it begins to rain. The prospect of sitting in uncovered seats with my girl friend who will probably start to complain that "her hair is going south" is starting to irritate me. Having difficulty finding parking and having to walk a kilometre to the stadium in the wet is also adding fuel to my fire. I really don't feel like being there.

We finally get to the stadium and the light drizzle has now become a constant shower. With all these minor issues on my mind, I'm still thinking of my car that is parked at my sister's place. I have a leaky roof so I'm imagining the wet carpet smell that will welcome me when I get back. Im also wondering how severe the problem with my tyre will be? Hopefully a plug tomorrow solve the problem, although finding a reasonably priced place on a Sunday morning might be an issue. What if the side-wall is pierced? Lets not think about it now.

Inside the stadium and the showers continue. We start by getting something to eat but more displeasure arises as its its way overpriced and slightly old-ish in taste with no sauce to camouflage the staleness.

By now I have had enough; walking through screaming hormonal teeny-boppers infuriated me even further so I suggested we just go home - 8 minutes after the game had begun. This was my record for leaving early, beating the previous half time exit in a Sharks vs WP Currie Cup fixture 3 years ago. Watching it at Home, in Comfort and in HD seemed so much more appetizing. (I would later find that the Sharks game was not broadcast in HD).

I've complained a lot in this post, but it was just temporary; just a platform to vent my frustration at the time. I feel bad for my girlfriend who had to experience me in my misery. The tyre was fixed, the Sharks did win and I will be there next weekend so my ranting and raving was much ado about nothing.

Betting blues

2011-02-18T21:31:00.000+02:00

As is common knowledge, sport brings major enjoyment to my life. The next best thing to actually playing the game professionally (and getting paid for it); is watching it. Obviously the more you watch and immerse yourself in it, the more you begin to feel like you are an expert in it.

This led me to sport betting; as a fan or a human being, the feeling of being right about something can hardly be bettered - and that is how i start betting. I wonder if its more than a coincidence that "better" has the word BET in it. First I started with Soccer 6, the harmless game where you predict the results of 6 matches. If you correctly predict each match, you walk away with your share of the pool. Apparently the highest payout was R92 000; with average payouts around the R5000 mark - did i say it costs just R6?

In these times of recession; this was the perfect opportunity for me to make some money. I've been doing this for 2 years now, probably spending a maximum of R1000 (or less) on this. I've managed to win twice or thrice, with winnings reaching almost R8000 - so i didn't do too badly.

This however led to more betting. not just soccer 6, but tennis, rugby and any other sport I could wager on. Again, i was not spending hundreds and thousands, but the small R8 bets sure begin to add up. I'm especially a fan of Live or in-play betting; where you place your bets as the action unfolds in front of you; with the odds changing according to the match situation. This is probably my favorite illicit activity.

Now for then the pits: Horse Racing. Horse Racing is on all day, almost everyday...so what better way to waste my time, whilst getting my adrenalin flowing. Of all my betting activities; I've fared the worst here. My complete lack of racing knowledge certainly contributed to this predicament. I think I've spent (lost) close on R500 (again small change); but the time period between my deposits has started to decrease; which is why i have decided to STOP. You get intelligent gamblers and impulsive gamblers...and i think that I have fallen under the impulsive type. Within an hour, a quick R100 is lost .... or won; but lost within the next hour.

This is the reason for this post : before I DO learn more about horse racing and before I get even more involved... I want to quit horse race betting... So let this post be a reminder of this resolution. Easier said than done though; I'll keep you posted.

U2

2011-02-17T08:20:00.000+02:00

U2 are in the middle of their South African tour and I've been inundated with with status updates, photos posted and news articles about them. Almost 100 000 people watched them live last Sunday in Johannesburg, about 20 of my friends among them. I however, was not one of them.

I made the decision to skip the concert when it was announced late last year. With Faithless performing a week before them, two trips to JHB was out of my budget. Besides, I'm not the biggest U2 fan any more. I did listen to them regularly while in high school with my favourite tracks being Wild Honey and In a Little While.

I wouldn't say I've since regretted my decision to skip the concert; but I would have liked to be there too. Witnessing this grand spectacle would have been something to remember\behold. Spending over 18 hours in a queue feeling the excitement, anguish, agony and elation just increased the thrill.

I have been very fortunate to attend some of the major events that have hit South African shores, so missing this landmark event does feel a bit depressing. Also most of my appearances are sport related (FIFA World Cup, Cricket, Rugby, Soccer) so some diversity would have been welcome.

But as I say this and start to 'mull' over it; financial restraint was the blame. I have to pick my battles wisely as my cash supply is not endless; and seeing U2 live did not make economic sense.

There are further highlights down the road though. The Super Rugby season is about to kick off and I will be there. Also, Armin van buuren will be in town, as for that I will make the pilgrimage to JHB. It cant be compared to U2 though, but anyway, Life Goes On.

Credit

2011-01-29T09:30:00.001+02:00

The banner above is from cricinfo. I cut it from one of their downloadable wallpapers which I've been using as my desktop background. Its me paying homage to the Proteas who probably won't win the upcoming Cricket World Cup, but I'm just letting them know that we're behind them. Thanks cricinfo, but the banner became mine since I've been using it for over a year. Just like my friends who've claimed ownership of my books and games borrowed in high school.

I'm highly critical of DSTv. High prices, countless repeats, buggy [slow, crap, flat] decoder software but your Drifta product is brilliant. I won't be missing another sports event again. Now hurry up and get your blackberry software up and running. Maybe I'll dedicate a post on this or Supersports EMO ads later.

Herschelle Gibbs and his accessibility deserves mentioning. Maybe because he is becoming irrelevant as a sportsman, but @hershybru is a revelation on twitter. One of our most talented sportsmen...ever, is so reachable by his fans. Yours truly is now the owner of his last ever ODI shirt and a few other goodies [eg his oakley sunglasses] due to his giveaways on the social network.

I'm officially a student again. I've signed up with Mancosa and I'd like to thank my Credit Card for that.

And lastly, thanks to mobile blogging. I could not have done it without you.

what happened to 2010

2011-01-27T15:51:00.000+02:00

I managed to NOT post for an entire year. With 2010 being South Africa's biggest year on the world stage [arguably], I'm a little disappointed that I have no blogging memories to look back upon.

It was probably my most eventful year as well, with plenty of personal tragedies, firsts, lasts and other unforgettable memories.

2011 is here and I'm not going to post on my new resolutions or goals. In fact, I'm not going to pressurize myself with each post, mulling over better words or phrases. Im just looking to advance my life in the right direction: that's God, Work, Fitness and $$$

And i have thrown away my faulty blogger template so I feel its fresh again....until its stale and another year goes by.

Any BB blogger apps? Im gonna check after this but if you know, please direct me.

Take Care.

I'm not even gonna call this a comeback...

2009-12-02T15:26:00.000+02:00

No this is not to be confused with a country song; its just my attempt to get back on the blogwagon.

I think it is a sad day when writers choose not to write, for whatever reason it may be; and even if its better for them - its still a sad day for their readers [i hesitate to say followers].

I say this from my own experiences, after certain writers who I gallantly followed, decided to put down their pens. Blogs are beautiful - sometimes better than facebook, as it provides a different arena for my entertainment.

I haven't stopped writing altogether, in fact - I'm employed as a writer; a spec writer, but a writer nevertheless. All my efforts are focused towards creating a specifications document, but the truth is that I take more pleasure from a good blogpost, than a good document. With that in mind, I have loads to share - not necessarily for you, but for my own guilty pleasure.

9 months have almost passed since my bold proclamation of my goals for the year. Unfortunately I've achieved little, but with great enthusiasm, I will start again.

Speak to you later.

[Scene 1] : I want to be doing something I love ...

2009-07-07T11:25:00.000+02:00

My last year as a registered student was in 2004. Five years on and I am fully integrated in the work force. God willing I will see another 50 (at least), which led me to seriously consider what I am supposed to be doing.

While still at school, the track: Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) was played constantly on MTV and VH1. Based on an essay by Mary Schmich called "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young," many of the words still resonate in my head today. For the purpose of this blog post, I will quote a few lines:

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Well, I was 16 back then; and I thought that by 22 I would be well on my way to doing what I wanted to. I'm 10 000% grateful for my current employers and the opportunities afforded me, but I seriously can't see myself being a Spec Writer for the next 30 years onwards. I know its important to excel in any area that you are placed as Luke 16:10 decrees: "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones." but one can't settle for mediocrity and live with a list of "could-have-beens".

Life is all about maximizing - and I'm in the process of devising a plan concerning my career objectives. I see endless examples of people making money in areas of their expertise and enjoyment. Something dealing with Sport is my first option - so I'm looking at ways to be employed in that field because it is something that I love.

[More in Scene 2]

Gone

2009-06-25T13:30:00.000+02:00

South Africa and its Crime Rate need no introduction so I'll skip right to the gist of this post.

Yesterday after having a reasonably constructive day - I was informed that our house was burgled. Most of the items stolen were mine and included my camera, laptop, PS2, cell phone and jewellery.

It's very frustrating and annoying that people actually commit such crimes. To forcibly enter someone else's premises and take things that have been acquired through hard work and patience is almost unforgiveable. Only God knows what they will say on Judgement Day.

This is the 2nd incident I have been through this month. First my bag was stolen at an airport; somewhere between Kimberley and Durban - and now this.

South Africa has been in the news lately for a few high profile robberies. First the Egyptian National Soccer team and then the Brazilians had money and items stolen at their hotels. I also ran into a tourist who just complained that some expensive items from her luggage had disappeared.

Anyway everything in life is temporary so it's a good idea to start investing in things that are more eternal. I just wonder when we as South African's can live a safe life here. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful, wonderful country, but certain factors just make me want to leave.

Kevin Pietersen, I’m following you outta here.

Confed-Up.

2009-06-18T14:58:00.000+02:00

The purpose of this blog update is just to vent. Lately, things have not been going so smoothly for me: Work, Life, Finances, Appearance, etc.

The biggest blow, however was that I will not be attending the Confederations Cup match between Brazil and Italy. Due to some Internet Malfunction or my complete negligence; I was awarded the wrong tickets - Brazil vs USA instead.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to make the trip for this match so my R700 has gone to waste. I was not able to sell them either, so it's just made me so sad; and I haven't mentioned the plane tickets that I bought already which have no use. Anyway I'm done complaining. As you may have noticed, I haven't updated in a while - just because I don't want to use this platform to nag and depress myself anymore than I already have.

It's so very easy to get carried away by the things that are going wrong at the moment. If I had to list them all, it would make for a dreary blog post, and one littered with self pity. I just think that the old adage of not looking at a glass half empty, but rather half full, is so true, yet we(I) fall into the trap time and time again.

I was a bit despondent today, for various reasons, but now I think that its looking good again, cause I've changed my attitude - or maybe its because I have less than an hour to go at work, and one more day to the weekend :)

Profile Pictures

2009-05-06T07:43:00.000+02:00

Public figures, celebrities and other prominent personalities have a direct influence on our daily lives. Some, more than others hold a dear place in our hearts. Obviously, there should be a limit to how much we esteem them, before we being to border on obsession.

For me, I have always had my favorites, and once they are officially recognized as my beloved, I sometimes make a public proclamation confirming this, as is testament in this blog header.

Facebook is another platform where I promote them. The greatest gesture or tribute that I can make, is by featuring them as my profile picture. I've been a Facebook user for over 3 years, which is more than 1000 days and only on 12 different occasions, has my profile picture featured celebrity/public figures.

The Honor Roll is as follows:
1. Hansie Cronje (2)
2. George Bush* (2)
3. Seth Cohen*
4. Ryan Atwood*
5. Derek Zoolander
6. Woody [Toy Story]
7. David James
8. Laura Bush*
9. Ryan Giggs*
10. Roy Keane*
11. Kevin Pietersen
12. Alex Ferguson*
13. Arsene Wenger*
14. Cristiano Ronaldo

() number of appearances
* indicates profile picture shared with another personality.

As you can see, sportsmen are featured most regulary with 8/14.

The next best tribute is a mention in my status message, but I will leave that for another post.

Profile Questions

2009-04-23T13:52:00.006+02:00

I regularly receive these Q&A lists, which I normally pay little attention to, but this time felt that it would be a beneficial to share some information on myself to the blogging community, as many don't really know me at all.

You've probably received an email of this sort, so I am sure you know the drill. This one was labelled: "The 2009 edition of getting to know your Friends;" so here goes:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:15am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Hotel for Dogs
4. What is your favorite TV show? Gossip Girl
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Pro-Nutro
6. What is your middle name? David
7. What food do you dislike? Brinjal
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? My own mp3 compilation
9. What kind of car do you drive? Polo Classic
10. Favorite sandwich? Cheese and Mushroom
11. What characteristic do you despise? Pride
12. Favorite item of clothing? Football Jerseys
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Amsterdam
14. Favorite brand of clothing? Guess
15. Where would you retire to? France
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? 21st
17. Favorite sport to watch? Cricket
18. Furthers place you are sending this? The World Wide Web
19. When is your birthday? 5 April
20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night
21. What is your shoe size? 11
22. Pets? 2 Cats
23. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I'm a work in progress
24. What did you want to be when you were little? Pastor
25. How are you today? Feeling good, 9.5 working hours till the weekend.
26. What is your favorite candy? No specific one, but any would do.
27. What is your favorite flower? Protea
28. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Nothing
29. What is your full name? JD James
30. What are you listening to right now? Chairs creaking.
31. What was the last thing you ate? Baked Beans Sandwich
32. Do you wish on stars? Nope
33. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Dark Blue
34. How is the weather right now? Clear Skies
35. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? Joey Reddy
36. Favorite soft drink? Fanta Grape
37. Favorite restaurant? Don’t have one
38. Real hair color? Black
39. What was your favorite toy as a child? Some car.
40. Summer or winter? Summer
41. Hugs or kisses? BOTH
42. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
43. Coffee or tea? Coffee
44. When was the last time you cried? During Marley and Me.
45. What is under your mattress or bed? 2003 Far Side Calendar
46. What did you do last night? Watched a movie then football.
47. What are you afraid of? Losing
48. Salty or sweet? Depends what it is, otherwise sweet.
49. How many keys on your key ring? 3
50. How many years at your current job? 262 days.
51. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
52. How many towns have you lived in? 4
53. Do you make friends easily? When I am in the mood to.

If you managed to read through the questions and answers, can you tell me:

How similar are we??

some nuggets

2009-04-21T22:40:00.010+02:00

It's been a busy time in South Africa with two elections underway. Tomorrow morning, the polls open for the most hotly contested general elections since 1994. I've registered to vote, although I am still unsure of where my vote lies.

I do know that it is not with the Independent Democrats as their leader, Patricia De Lille expressed her interest in regulating online freedom of speech in South Africa, calling on the government to crack down on Internet blogs and social networks.

"Another worrying development in cyberspace is the abuse of blogging, which allows anonymous individuals to post defamatory comments about anyone they choose, without the legal consequences they would face in other more reputable print and electronic media," she was quoted as saying.

I'm also undecided in the other election, South African Idols. Apparently they are down to the final 3. The only contestant I was familiar with, got voted out last night so my I'm in no position to make a decision there either.

Last weekend was a particularly sad one for me; in terms of sport. Every single team I supported, Lost; with the two most devastating results being: 1. Man Utd losing in the FA Cup, and 2. the Sharks surrendering to the old NZ enemy, the Crusaders. As my trusty friend says: "It doesn't pay the bills."

On a more positive note, April is a month littered with public holidays. Tomorrow is a holiday and so is next Monday (27th) and Friday(1st). I could get really used to 4 day working weeks.

And finally, Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin has just scored his 4th goal of the night, to all but end Liverpool's title hopes. It's been a fascinating game, Liverpool 4-4 Arshavin; a premier league classic.

bx-????

2009-04-17T15:45:00.003+02:00

I have hit a barrier. For a reason beyond my understanding, I cannot make ANY changes to my blog layout, without this error message (below) popping up. I've searched Google and Blogger Help, but neither have been able to help me. The only reassurance I received was that most blogspot users face these problems during a template change or when deleting a widget.

Apparently these blogger error codes have no specific significance. They are simply unique codes, which identify each point of termination. There is no Error Code Index list, database, or any descriptions of the different error codes(or at least my one).

This is really hampering my blogging; as you can imagine, it is really frustrating not being able to implement changes or perform quick edits, which i really need to do.

Anyway, I don't even want to think of the worst case scenario...

edit: even more frustration - the picture is not uploading now :(

Safety First

2009-04-16T13:55:00.007+02:00

It is estimated that at least 250 million occupational accidents occur every year worldwide of which 335,000 result in death. Companies now have a legal obligation to protect their employees as poor health and safety leads to illness', accidents and significant costs for the business.

Today I was approached by management to sit on the Health and Safety committee at my company. I felt honored to have been given this role, although my selection was not due to my brilliance or potential, but rather to fill the gap, left void by the more senior staff who have more important things to do with their time. However, I quite like the added responsibility, despite how insignificant it may be. So much so that I'm set to attend a certified First Aid Course as well as go for (my personal favourite) Fire Marshall Training.

Only when I attended my first meeting, did I really realize the importance of safety in the workplace (see stats above). Numerous accidents occur because of: Inadequate Maintenance, Poorly designed equipment and the most important, Untrained Employees. I, in my new role hope not to witness any accidents, but since life is a complex system, accidents are inevitable.

Perhaps the best way to prevent accidents is by not doing too much work. Confucius stated, "The man who does very little makes very few mistakes." In other words, The guys who don't do anything can't get hurt!

Maximizing the Easter Weekend - Part 2

2009-04-14T08:59:00.002+02:00

The weekend flew pass and I didn't get a chance to post. Overall though, maximizing was the name of the game and now I await my next long weekend which is due to arrive before the end of the month.

Johannesburg was great. The initial commotion and stress that accompanied our arrangements threatened to derail my plans, but fortunately all went well. Although I maximized my time, I am glad to say that I did not go insane or overboard with any of my leisurely activities. E.g. In my 10 hours of attendance, I only had 2 drinks.

The CokeFest experience was memorable along with the 1200km that came with it. I added Oasis, Panic at the Disco and Snow Patrol to my list of live acts that I've witnessed and hopefully next year The Jonas Brothers also join. I also made use of Formula 1 Hotels, an international group renowned for their high standards in over 1650 budget hotels across the globe.

Back in Durban, I experienced the tranquility and freedom of living alone before I concluded the Sunday dancing the night away. Overall, It was a good weekend; I haven't really described much in particular, but for those involved with me, i look forward to the next one.

Maximizing the Easter Weekend - Part 1

2009-04-09T07:11:00.006+02:00

The month of April, along with it's numerous public holidays, continue. This Easter weekend sees me go up to Johannesburg for the 2nd time in just over a month. Unlike my previous trip, which was planned well in advance; this trip has been hastily arranged with little time for breathing, rest or relaxation.

I am going to JHB to attend a 12-hour rock festival, The Coke Zero Festival 2009, which features OASIS, SNOW PATROL, PANIC! AT THE DISCO as well as a few other bands. Notable absentees include The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Bullet For My Valentine who withdrew at the 11th hour, making this festival more like a JokeFest.

Normally I wouldn't make such an effort to go for a festival of this genre, but I've realized that I have more to gain from tagging along for the experience, instead of sitting at home doing nothing spectacular. We are fortunate to have this Friday and Monday off and I will be back on Saturday so I bet I can have the best of both worlds plus I feel a bit sad leaving my two cats behind, but I will definitely make it up to them.

Anna and Tiger

turning 26

2009-04-07T08:05:00.004+02:00

The four-day celebrations to mark my 26th birthday are officially over. I'm usually not one to make a hullabaloo about it, but i rather have a quiet, intimate time, where i self reflect and make dreamy wishes for the new year. However, this past weekend saw me being involved in an abundance of activities, some spectacular and some downright unnecessary.

To start my weekend off, I worked a half day and proceeded to go watch some international cricket where South Africa were up against the old enemy Australia. 12 years ago, these teams met on my birthday and I attended the game and often reminice fondly. I planned to re-enact those moments this year and everything went according to plan, except for the result. South Africa failed miserably. This did not damper our moods and we scurreled off to Durban's premier Indian club, Cape to Cairo.

On Saturday, I managed to go for live rugby, where the Sharks did much better than the SA cricketers and beat New Zealand's Hurricanes to go top of the table. On Sunday, my actual birthday, I made a long awaited comeback at church and there really is no better place to be than in the House of the Lord :) We later went to watch Man Utd miraculously beat Aston Villa and that was even more important than my celebrations itself. A visit to my local district followed afterwards, and the birthday was now officialy over.

To cap off the festivities, day 4 was Monday and I was fortunate not to have to go to work. So I visited the beach, old friends and relaxed, getting ready to take on the world for the year ahead. Overall, I got most of the things I wanted, except for a minor little wish, but anyway there is always next year or even Christmas to start hoping again.

In closing I would like everyone for contributing to a fantastic weekend. There are literally too many names to mention, so thank you everyone and this includes friends on different continents, blogs and absolute unknowns.

Milestones

2009-04-03T07:22:00.005+02:00

In the blogging community, we've been celebrating a few milestones recently. Mich has made her 100th post, Bon Don her 200th, MJ has a hamster, Sauron's half done with his MBA, Far has only 2 days left at school and I am about to celebrate my birthday.

April Fool

2009-04-02T07:28:00.003+02:00

Since yesterday was April Fool's day, I had to be extra vigilant as to prevent myself from falling prey to a few practical jokes and hoaxes. Thankfully for me, I was not outsmarted on any occasion although I did come close a few times.

Google, my trusty sidekick was used to verify any report sent my way and there were a more than a couple. Some of my colleagues were on such a high alert that they even managed to 'Not' believe a few legitimate news items because of the obscurity of the tale itself.

One such incident was a report involving the astronauts on the International Space Station. A Russian cosmonaut has complained that he is not allowed to use his American colleagues' exercise bike or even their toilets. People are getting pretty selfish up there too. There are also rules which prevent them from sharing their food rations, and I would imagine that this is particularly painful for the Russians as it is believed that the US astronauts generally had the tastier stuff. I guess this might be the real reason for the toilet saga - You don't eat our food so you can't use our toilet either!

Anyway, I was informed about this outer-space-stand-off from a colleague who shared it publicly with the rest of us only to be greeted with laughter and slight embarrassment that he was so gullible to have believed this April Fool's Hoax. However, upon investigation, I found it to be true although I didn't publicize it so he could save face.

Unbelief is pretty common on this day, and sometimes real issues are often ignored and believed to be fake when they are entirely true. Two serious cases were:

Marvin Gaye being shot and killed by his father on April 1, 1984.
The Aleutian Island earthquake tsunami killed 165 people in Hawaii and Alaska in 1946. People drowned because they originally assumed that the tsunami warnings were an April Fools' prank.

You can have a look at the Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of All time here.

And finally, I know an aspiring blogger who is about to celebrate a century of posts. To commemorate this, she is giving away a prize for a girl and a guy. Take a look at her blog and enter now. Originally I thought this may have been an April Fool's Joke but it's 100% authentic. I've entered and so should you.

General Update

2009-03-30T15:28:00.005+02:00

I rolled out a few changes to my blog last week, and so far, I'm pretty happy with the results. I still have a couple issues that need tweaking, but I'm putting them on hold because I find myself getting so involved with these alterations, that the work that I'm getting paid to do, takes a back seat.

(Aside: I said back seat, not out the window!!)

This was the case last Friday where after just completing another adjustment, 4pm arrived and my working week was over. For the next 63 hours, work would be the last thing on my mind and I tried to figure out what I would be doing all weekend. Well without any laid-out plans or expectations, the weekend was very well spent. It was a throw-back to the late nineties, where I spent a major portion of my time watching sport.

According to SA's leading sport broadcaster and mobile phone operator, 2009 is the year of the fan and I say it's about time.

Fans spend an enormous amount of time following their favorite teams and for South Africa, the next year and a half is going to be special. FIFA World Cup 2010, Confederations Cup, Indian Premier League Cricket, British & Irish Lions Tour and numerous other international events that need no mentioning will be hosted here. The fans are a pivotal component for these events to be successful.

I was fortunate to also attend another rugby match this past Saturday and the whole occasion was very enjoyable, with my team winning. My 3 other friends also had a blast and we are looking forward to hopefully attending the next game this coming Saturday - if I can manage to get free tickets again...

The sport genres that I have not been able to witness live yet, are cycling and golf, and with Tiger Woods winning again and Lance Armstrong on the comeback trail, I hope that someday I will be able to see it for myself.

what if...

2009-03-19T14:27:00.004+02:00

So I was driving home last night, alone and in the silence of my car, with only the sound of the engine, the breeze and passing cars to entertain me. I drive alone most of the time, and in this time I am able to reflect on my day and the state of the many situations I am in. There are times where I turn off the radio and listen to my surroundings, getting carried away in my thoughts.

For some reason yesterday I kept thinking about "What if..."

I had a job opportunity which I declined last year that could have shaped my life very differently. The job was 600km away in Johannesburg (JHB) and I was a whisker away from accepting. As fate would dictate, I accepted a job in my hometown and this is where I am now, but I couldn't help but think about the enormous change I would have gone through, had I made the big move (like most of my friends) to the City of Gold.

As independent as I am, I am very sheltered. When I compare myself with my fellow 25 years old's, I have it quite rosy. Moving to JHB, would have definitely changed this and given me added responsibilities that I would have had to contend with. Eg. Every morning before work, I walk into my living room where my breakfast and lunch is already prepared. All I do is wake up, shower, dress and then I am ready to be on my way. I do not perform many chores, run errands, or have any other responsibilities at home, except for the general upkeep of my room and car. I don't even attend church regularly.

That's why I think about Jo'burg. It intrigues me. This was a real example of me choosing my own path and my path influences who I am today.

Often daily, we are faced with decisions that will impact on our future, yet sometimes we take it so lightly. I'm not feeling guilty for having comfort or regretful about my decision to stay in Durban, but I just sometimes wonder, "what if i did things differently??"

R 'n R

2009-03-17T12:05:00.005+02:00

After the hard night on Saturday, and a long day working on Sunday, I decided to spend more time at home. The signs of fatigue were clearly evident when I looked into the mirror at the La Lucia Mall's public toilets.

On weekdays, I normally spend around 9-10 hours at home per day (+-40%). This is clearly not enough as it includes the hours that I am asleep. Without sufficient sleep and rest, the following symptoms may be experienced: (many of which I can relate to)

daytime sleepiness and a lack of energy
loss of motivation
poor concentration
difficulty making decisions
feelings of depression

However, since returning home from work on Sunday, till now, I've spent 60% of my time in the confines of my home, recharging and rejuvenating my body. The difference in how I feel has been remarkable.

I watched a movie for the first time yesterday in years and was pleasantly entertained. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, starring Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman, might have been aimed for the younger generation, but there were invaluable lessons intertwined in the plot. I tend to enjoy these type of movies more than the average 25-year old male with my favorite movies including Toy Story and Chicken Run.

I could get very used to staying in from now on, but somehow i doubt that will occur. It is the social aspect that I enjoy and need to find a balance so I can get both. With an 9 hours at work & 9 hours asleep, I'm looking for an ideal way to spend the remaining 6.

9 months

2009-03-12T10:04:00.010+02:00

We are well into 2009 and apparently this is the year of Change. So with 9 months to go, I'm deciding to make a concerted effort to change and keep to a few resolutions. Its my new baby and today was conception.

I am going to use a baby's development in the womb as a guide to my development, and hopefully by the end of the year, I would have achieved my goals.

Areas I want to address that are closely linked:

My Weight - This is a massive area (literally) that requires attention. From being comfortably in my weight bracket, the past 4 years have seen me enjoy life a little too much and everyone can see it. All required is some dedication and perseverance from my side and getting over my procrastination.
Smoking Cigarettes - I've weaned myself off it considerably, but still require a further push to completely eliminate it. Shortness of breath doesn't help when you trying to exercise either.
Find a Partner - By the end of the 9 months, I will be well into my 27th year. I think the time is right. Without giving too much away, this goal might just be achievable. I was once told girls don't like kissing an ashtray so this relates well with #2.
Have a Baby - not a real one ;-) but another life changing resolution.

Obviously, Change is not so simple. With any pregnancy, there are several symptoms that are normally experienced and I anticipate sharing a few symptoms with my pregnant female counterparts. Skip this if you have the propensity to throw-up easily.

Symptom		Reason
Frequent Urination		With an increase in water consumption, the body flushes out excess fluids.
Fatigue		I am not a fan of exercising and strenuous workouts, so after hard work out sessions, you can bet I'd be feeling it.
Bloating		Foods such as garlic, cabbage and beans are known to cause bloating. – however, since they are good sources of fibre, I intend increasing my intake
Nausea		Nausea can be experienced for a number of reasons: If an exercise workout is too intense or has been stopped too abruptly, dehydration or exercising on empty stomach.

So anyway, that's the plan. I'm feeling lazy already after this blogpost, but at least I won't have to experience Breast Tenderness, Missed Periods or Cervical Softening ....

Current Affairs

2009-03-11T07:47:00.012+02:00

Instead of the usual devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis to alarm us, recently (and throughout time), the news makers have been corrupt, dangerous people who are getting away with murder (not literally) and more.

Some of the biggest headlines worldwide were reserved for the 19 year old artist and actor, Chris Brown. On February 8, He was booked after being involved in a brutal fight where he allegedly punched, bit and choked his victim until she nearly lost consciousness. As we all know, the victim was identified as Rihanna, his popstar girlfriend. After all the mayhem that ensued, they reconciled and it is now reported that they are recording a duet together. Further reports indicate that may have secretly married.

Closer to home, the name of businessman Schabir Shaik is far from unknown. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of corruption and fraud. Miraculously, on 3 March he was released on medical parole after serving just two years and four months of his entire term (where much of the sentence was spent in hospital conditions anyway).

This outraged many as the sight of a guilty man going free spoke much of our justice system. To qualify for medical parole, a prisioner is normally in the last stages of a terminal illness. Whether the Parole Board correctly applied the provisions of the Correctional Services Act, is being beyond me, but opposition political parties have labelled it as "parole for pals" or "a get out of jail free card".

I was originally irritated and angered at this trend, but realized that it will continue for as long as I live. However it is important not to follow this example and maintain our clean living.

These two cases illustrate the words of many throughout history:

"O LORD, even if I would argue my case with you, you would always be right. Yet, I want to talk to you about your justice. Why do wicked people succeed? Why do treacherous people have peace and quiet?" Jeremiah 12:1

Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend with thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinners' ways prosper? and why must Disappointment all I endeavour end? Gerard Manley Hopkins

I'm listening to a caller on the radio saying that we live in a country were accountability is not required. Thus the reason for increased crime and corruption. Things will continue to go downhill unless a change is introduced.

Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:4

Makes you think doesn't it???

a little turbulence

2009-03-05T14:28:00.006+02:00

I am trying to keep to my resolution of not complaining, but today is proving particularly difficult. I'm unsure of what exactly caused this irritable mood, but it has lingered for the past 8 hours and judging from a few status updates on Facebook, I'm not the only one.

Tomorrow we visit Johannesburg to attend one of South Africa's biggest parties - H2O. There are quite a few of us going and I'm sure it will be extremely enjoyable. The excitement of my fellow travelers is increasing exponentially, but me and my moods lag behind. I attended H2O last year and the experience was unforgettable, so I have no doubt that this year will be no different.

Anyway, Irritation causes Stress and Stress causes Damage - Damage to your entire body. According to Medical Research News, "stress causes deterioration in everything from your gum's to your heart and can make you more susceptible to everything from the common cold to cancer." Imagine how many ailments can be avoided if we handle our stress appropriately. The truth is my stress is only trivial, having realized this from Google where I discovered the Top Ten Stressful Events as compiled by a trusted non-profit resource, http://www.helpguide.org.

These are:

Spouse’s death
Divorce
Marriage separation
Jail term
Death of a close relative
Injury or illness
Marriage
Fired from job
Marriage reconciliation
Retirement

I have not experiences any of these setbacks today - so why am I stressing and getting irritable? This list brought me a different perspective; and alleviated some stress when I recognized that the troubles of others are more serious than mine. My mountain is a molehill. All i think I'm lacking, is a little bit of sleep. Posting is therapeutic or maybe its just the time. My office hours are over and I'm not feeling so prickly anymore. So if you feeling moody and it is not related to the top 10 as listed above, it's time to get over it.