LIFE OF A BOB

Dream on

2012-05-24T13:29:00.002-07:00

I heard a story that changed the way i looked at how ideas work
A man woke up late in the night, with sweat on his brows. He had a bad dream (a nightmare), it that dream someone was trying to kill him, the person claimed to be from the future. Rather than that man go on his knees and bind the evil spirits like any Nigerian religious man or woman would do, he took his notepad and pen and started writing the dream out.
That man was James Cameron. The movie turned out to be Terminator.
I can only imagine if it was my country men that had that dream he would get his bible out and pray though the night till either it was morning, or he had lost a lot of sweat (no offence to anyone).
But the reality is simple
1. James Cameron is not dead (at least not yet)
2. The dream (the nightmare) only served to motivate him to do something.
3. Terminator is still one of the biggest franchise all thanks to a nightmare.
Many might disagree with my illustration but the reality is simple, we are so ignorant of the problems out there that we can't see how we can capitalize on getting the solution.
It all starts with an idea
A idea is just an idea, until it is put into writing, it remains a thought, insignificant and just plain clouds int he sky.
It is the effort to drive that idea that makes the difference between a successful idea and failure.
Just like a dream, once we wake up it starts to fade away fast unless we consciously try to write it down.

Someone once said to me, that all that could be invented has already been invented. I disagree with him, because there will always be nightmares and problems out there.
It's up to us to either write them down and fix them or simply ignore them and allow our ideas to fade out like a dream that has not been written down.

25 tips on Driving in Lagos

2012-03-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Although I am not the author of this article, I find it hilarious and even mostly true

Found this on NVS...hilarious and so true of Lagos motorists
1. When in doubt, accelerate!
2. Be prepared to ram anything stoping you wearing uniform in Lagos (police, traffic warden,FRSC,
Kai brigade, fire brigade, VIO, lastma, lamata, laswa, even lawma sef)
3. If you get caught by any chance, DO NOT allow them to enter your car, if they happen to get in
DO NOT drive from that spot (vere off traffic & settle 5hun), and if they don’t agree, form calling
your uncle who is in the army (believe me it always works), never follow them to ANY sort of
office except you wanna pay X10
4. Never give police or VIO your original particulars (whether expired or up to date)
5. Danfo drivers believe they are immortal. NEVER yield to the temptation to teach them otherwise.
6. Okada riders have a pact with suicide, avoid them like a plaque
7. Avoid BRT buses in all ramifications, they have NO brakes
8. Taxi cabs (oko asewo) should always have the right of way, all of them have been driving in
Lagos for 25yrs.
9. Never, ever, stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.
10. The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see.
Grab it. Survival of the fittest you may say!
11. Learn to swerve abruptly. In Lagos , potholes (and sometimes car-holes) are put in key locations
to test drivers’ reflexes and shock absorbers,( I saw one man fishing in one of the potholes last
week).
13. Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork, except you want to spend ur whole
saturday @ the panel beater’s place.
14. Morning rush-hours are equivalent to Lagos grand prix (who gets to the junction first)
15. There is no such thing as a short-cut during rush-hour traffic in Lagos . Everybody might be
inclined to take that ’short-cut’.
16. When asking for directions, always ask at least 3 people. Lagosians ALWAYS claim to know
every inch of the city – even areas they’ve never been to.
17. Use extreme caution when pulling into service lanes. Service lanes are not for breaking down
the traffic, but for speeding, especially during rush hour.
18. Never use directional signals, since they only confound and distract other Lagos drivers, who
are not used to them.
19. Similarly, never attempt to give hand signals. Lagos drivers, unused to such courtesies, will
think you are making obscene gestures to them. This could be very bad for you in Lagos .
20. Hazard lights (popularly called “double pointer”) is not, (as commonly
supposed) used to indicate a hazard. It is a warning to you that he is a bonafide Lagos driver, he’s
headed ’straight’ and as such, will not stop under any circumstance. Take him extremely seriously
especially if he backs it up with a continuous blast from his “horn”.
21. At any given time, do not stand on the zebra crossing expecting traffic to yield to you, or else
you will have to explain to the on coming traffic whether you look like a zebra.
22. Speed limits are arbitrary figures posted only to make you feel guilty.
23. Remember that the goal of every driver is to get there first by whatever means necessary.
24. In Las Gidi every spot is a potential bus stop. FRSC and LASTMA know that too. It is in their
constitution.
25. Above all, keep moving. Even with a flat tire!!!
HORNING IN LAGOS
- ‘Horn’ when someone executes a dangerous manoeuvre.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re about to move off.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re about to overtake.
- ‘Horn’ when someone is about to overtake you.
- ‘Horn’ when turning into a road.
- ‘Horn’ when emerging from a road.
- ‘Horn’ back when someone horns at you. It’s considered good etiquette.
- ‘Horn’ when you hear a chorus of horns. Don’t worry if you don’t know what all the ‘horning’ is
about.
- ‘Horn’ when you’re happy.
- ‘Horn’ to the beat when you’re playing music in your car.
Good luck, as you expeditiously navigate through Lagos
NO TAILGATING ALLOWED

A Simple Taxi Ride Home

2012-03-18T22:55:00.002-07:00

I was on my way home one evening, I had decided to take a taxi home rather than using a motocycle popularly called okada, Taxi's over here are cheaper than taking a
bike ride. I went to the motor pack, asked about which was going towards my street, When i approached the car, i noticed two men sitting at the back seat and one woman sitting at the front; The average taxi cab takes four passengers at the rear and one in front. It beats the time i had to be sandwitched between three fat ladies at the back seat. We waited for the forth and final passenger to arrive and then we set off, the ricketty Datsun or Opel (I am not sure of the make and model of the car anymore), hey besides most Taxi drivers over here use either of the two for reasons best known to them.
The Old rickety car could barely move faster than the average man could run, (am not kidding) as we went on, nothing eventful happened, nothing extra ordinary happened; Only the notice of the direct contrast i see the average time i watch a cable TV movie.
While over here our cabs may be ricketty (at least some of them) and used more like public buses, on TV, it looks fine and flashy.
As the Taxi crawled on, Nothing eventful happened only the look of tired market men, a teacher and the taxi driver. Knowing the risk involved in taking a quick and crazy bike ride was the only comfort as i was eager to get home, I can not compare this small town to the high and mighty Lagos or Abuja city where traffic builds up and where people practically have to get off their cabs and buses to walk home. I am however grateful, that however slow the cab ride was, I got home in one piece to write this here.

The Onion Ring

2012-03-04T07:06:00.002-08:00

I want to be fresh as the Onion ring.
To be one of many people but yet fresh
Yes, fresh as the Onion,
how bad can it be?
To be crisp on the outside
and yet Make people cry when they cut through you.
To be an Onion,
That's what I want to be.
To be less demanding on the environment
and yet people can't imagine a world without the onion.
To have multiple talents both cooked and used raw.
Just like the Onion ring.
That's what I want to be.
And if the world, knew me,
They would realize,
that am not of the environment
I am just what I am,
The Onion ring.

On the hook

2012-01-31T01:33:00.001-08:00

On the hook I woke up one-morning feeling I had done someone wrong, I had left a friend on the hook for too long I don't remember how we met back in school, I don't even remember who introduced Sarah to me; the only thing I remember is she liked me a lot but I had no feelings for her none what's so ever. I did what cowards do back then; I left her on the hook. She called me all the time, but I did not call back, and when i did call back, it would be to because I felt guilty for not calling her back. She told me her story her personal stories, but i never shared mine; So today after three years i woke up feeling bad, wishing i had the stomach to let her know back then that i had no feelings for her and that she was a great girl and would find someone who was better. But i did not do that, rather i had stuck my head in the sand wishing the whole situation would go away. I had been wishing I would find someone who liked me as I am and when i found one, i felt i had no feeling for that one. But here is where the real twist comes; The day i woke up feeling bad for her what the day i realized that i was also on someone else's hook; Her name (not her real name) is Sarah. This girl had the same name as the girl three years ago, I called her a lot but she never called me back, i shared my personal stories but she shared none. Realizing how wrong I had been, i decided to call the girl I had feelings for and set things straight and tell her how I felt about her. As the phone rang I calculated the worst-case scenario and the best all in my mind. The words came out wrong in my mouth, by the time the phone conversation was over, i was banging my head on my table, literally. I paced up and down the room hoping i had not destroyed the one thing; her friendship. I went to bed early that day hoping i would find an excuse to explain what happened during the phone conversation (maybe i can claim i was drunk or even half asleep when we spoke). The next morning I was clean, sober, and praying to God to fix what i had broken; and then she called back.

Life is like Building a Christmas Tree

2011-12-31T09:40:00.000-08:00

No jokes, Its like that; My parents, younger sister and I arrived Ibadan, Nigeria about two weeks ago and several days after that my mom wanted me to put up a Christmas tree. (yup, the one "Made in China"). So, we got to the store brought it out and started to assemble it. First is the Stem, it has anchor holes where the branches are, all marked with letters. This is done so you don't put the wrong branch (which are also marked with letters) in the wrong anchor. While assembling it, I remember asking myself how on earth will this skinny looking tree come out full? Such is life, how can you and me who are skinny stems come out so full and awed at? But with time and effort, and a few mistakes here and there, the tree came out fine, then we added the Christmas decoration ornaments and lights and bam ! The tree was looking full and good. In our lives we may sometimes feel our efforts are never enough, our dreams and beliefs too skinny looking and underestimate ourselves. But like a Christmas tree after decorations, stand back take a full look at what you've accomplished. I promise, you will be wowed. I hope you had a full Christmas and hope you enjoy every minute this New Year has to offer. Happy New year

The Hamattan Dairy

2011-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

The dry season is back, the chill and dryness can never be forgotten and almost never missed,I am already missing her - the rainy season of course.
This weather with its gentle wind blows dry and irritating dust. The weather - she creeps all over even in closed quaters, creeping through holes and vents, welcoming herself into your room without your request.
Her friend, the fog that comes stares you in the face, chosing to block from view your sight as though telling you that your future is unclear as the new year coming, serving as curtain blocking your present from the future, the past on the other hand is past and plain when you look back, but some what obscured by what we want to believe.
The chill, oh that wicked chill comes in the morning to harass you, he gets under your skin quickly causing an allergic reaction to anything cold and if you think a cardigan will fix your problems in the long term wait till the noon breaks.
And then the sun shines so bright and yet you can still stare at it. It looks like a disk, a plain white disk but the heat, yes that heat makes you wish you had
beared with the cold in the morning; the cardigan becomes a burden to carry, an ackward burden, while your mates unbutton their sleeves to allow air through you look like a bear in the desert sweating it out. He also mocks you accusing you of not keeping tidy cause your hands and feet are white
as though you never washed them, your face peppered with dust and your hair a shade lighter that what it is, oh sun.
So you remove the sweater thinking its over but wait till evening breaks, when the sun (a shell of itself) goes down, then cool weather sets in again asking you if you missed her and circle begins again.

Bob's Musing (My sister's wedding)

2011-11-07T12:08:00.001-08:00

The big day came like any other day, my sister's introduction was set for 12.00, I was up from 6.30, my dad was pacing as always commanding the troops concerning food, drinks and transport to the area.
He did not trust any one to do things right.My father's best friend wanted my dad to relieve some duties to me. He had told me to put me in charge of delivering the program to the event, My dad could no longer trust me to keep his phone safe (at least that was what i taught after an incident that happened earlier).
The plan was simple, get the event programme into his car, he had introduced me to his driver I had even collected his number to make sure that he did not get lost and made sure he had gotten something to eat in the morning. by 10.00 things were looking frantic, everyone was getting dressed, the bride has in the process of getting made up, the bridesmaid were all dressed and getting their picture taken and here i was not dressed, not even had a bath. I got my act together and dressed up. 11.30 my dad was sounding the alarm to get everybody out. I got to the driver, then i was told to get some of the bridesmaid to the venue and then return back home.
I did not have any idea about the venue and neither did the driver, fortunately
I had passed by the venue several days before, so all I had to do was back track in my mind and do a bit of guess work.
We got there on time and returned home. By the time i got home the house was empty. I was upset, I had just wasted time for nothing, i got a call from
my uncle asking me where i was, I told him i was at home, he then reminded me that I had the program in the trunk of the car.
As I was about to set off for the event centre, another call came in asking me to enter the house and get the bride's bag upstairs I tried the main door that lead to the living room that linked to the second floor but it was locked. My dad's friend had found his way back from the venue too.
I found my cousin and my aunt who had been left behind, My cousin found another route into the house. it was not locked so a ran up the stairs, but the doors to the rooms were locked too, we searched the window seels for the keys, found them and opened the door to a room. My dad called me, he had also forgotten to get the proposal scroll. In a yoruba traditional wedding, the proposal scroll is very important, it sort of sets the requirement for the marriage without it, the wedding will not be complete.
I got that and then got the bag, the bag was no joke, it was as heavy as a ton. It's the bride's travelling bag, a simbol of the bride's willingness to go with the groom and the groom's family.
I got help getting the bag into the car by another aunt. By the time we got to the venue, my dad had called me a total of 7 times (am not joking, the dude wanted details as were going to the event center).
The event centre was a yellow colored building with a red roof, good parking space. we got out of the car after parking the car, rolled out the bag into the center. Le Chatau, crudly meaning the Fortress, but this was far from what my dad's friend would call a fortress. None the less it was a very large event centre and an expensive one. The inside was cool and well lit, with decorations flowing around it.
one the left side sat the family of the groom in their lilac green and one the right side of the event centre were the bride's family in their burnt orange atire
the aile was carpetted red which led to where the bride and groom would sit for the event, my brother seeing how tired and fustrated i was with all the helter skelter
helped me roll the bag to where it was needed. The program was quickly distributed by my aunts. My brother hinted that he and his friends were sitting at the top row seats we had the birds eye view of the traditional wedding.
No am not going to bore you guys with the whole event, but the after party what where all the action happened.
There was um mm, well booze, and lots of booze. My brother, his fiancée, his friends and some of mine all hanged out together. I don't drink, it's odd to me to see what that poison can do to people. After a few glasses of Alcohol that eventually emptied the bottle of Smirnoff vodka, one of my brothers friends started dancing like a lunatic, I did not know he was drunk.
I got to use my two left feet in dancing, i delegated my cousin and her friends to teach me how to dance. What a comedy it was,it was fun.
I had time to talk to my family friend, i had not seen her in a long while, i heard later that one of my aunt taught she was my girl friend.
Hen, she must not find out. I expressed myself and how I felt about relationships, She told me to stop stressing about the whole deal, she is right, maybe am going to fast, and asking for more than any girl wants to chew too soon. Am taking it as it comes from now on.
The next day was my sister's white wedding, I was on the grooms men train, my first.
Since i had not gone for rehearser i was clueless about what to do. so i took it as it came (hope no one noticed how clueless i was about the whole event).
That night was another party,more drinks and more drunk dudes, girls let me give you an advice, if you ever see a guy dancing too much stay away from him cause he is probably drunk.
Me and my too left legs were still dancing to imaginary tunes and flapping my hands as though they were wings.
We all had fun in our own ways. The pinnacle of the day to me was the talk i had with my father's best friend. He told me that my father is a caring man, he may not show it the way i expect or want but he cares. I always knew he cared, Maybe I am just being selfish when i should be appreciating what i actually have.
In the end, the wedding was not just a new beginning in my sisters life, It was also an opportunity for me to get answers to some questions keeping me back.
I want to use this opportunity to Congratulate my sister and her husband, I wish them a happy married life.

Do you remember your Dream?

2011-08-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

When the chips are on the ground and things look so bad, when nothing goes your way and it all looks so bad, do you remember your dream? Do u really remember what you want your life to be?
It's easy to make ideas about life when young and idealistic, when things are bright and we feel we can carry the world in our bear hands.
I have dreams, of leaving a legacy, being a corparte giant someday, to have a corporate tower like Trump Tower, ruling the world from a Christian point of view and telling others that yes, even christians can be rich.(Right now,I know it sounds cheesy and vain); To bridge the Technological and finacial divide in this country and this continent,and to give others a chance to join me on the top of the financial pyramid.
That sounds like a long time ago for me, right now, I have no job, still live with my parents, failed my Cisco Certification exam, got my previous certificate expired.
It all sounds bad, (am sure worse have happened to others) but in my stand point this is not what i feel my life should have turned out.
Am supposed to be a tech genius, who does wonders, has Job offers flying at him at the speed of thought. Who is busy fixing problems and not being the problem.
Oh I wish that was true about where I am today, I know I have made some accomplishment like this blog and some other minor stuff but I don't feel I have done much or gone as far as I can;
However how pessimistic i may sound right now or self inferior i make myself look
in my heart i have a dream, i remember it.
My heart is waiting to accomplish the dream, however long i have to wait. I pray to God to give me the chance, will and strength to make an impact on the country, continent and planet I call home.
Today i have a question for you, When the chips are down and things look bad, do you still remember your dream?

FIVE DAYS IN ABUJA

2011-07-25T13:55:00.001-07:00

Am loving Abuja right now, capital city of Nigeria; It seems like everything we (Nigerians) want our country to be (with the exception of cost of living).
The bright lights and broad roads, all too uncommon in many other parts of this great country of ours.
I needed motivation to get to the city and i got a boost from an old friend. He called me a week before to tell me he would be having an interview in Abuja.
I agreed to see him in Abuja but had no idea how to even get there or who i would stay with.
Coincidentally, a family friend came over for to finish off a course was returning back to Abuja. I asked him if i could go and stay with him and he agreed.
The journey was brief with several stops and road block. (After several terrorist bomb blast security have been tightened)and as my friend said "they are looking for Boko haram as though it is written on their foreheads". One and a half hour later behold the city of Abuja.
That night, family friend took me on a tour of the city, Grand Mall, Cedi Plaza and all the high rises on the way, I wish i took a camera to capture the elegance and flash that the city had. It's a shame that the reality of how fast this city is growing, and yet some parts of my nation lack even an iota of development.
The next day, I called my favorite cousin to see what he was up to, he invited me to a program that he and his wife were hosting.
with little knowledge of Abuja street signs and map, my family friend drove me to the program.
I was late, I got there just as they were finishing the program, we met outside. Sanya man !!!! he called, Guy you are getting bigger i replied.
He admitted with his smile. You missed the program, he said. I could not the right excuse to defend myself so i just shrugged off.
The hall was still buzzing with after program activity. The program had been a sucess.
I congratulated him, helped him packup some of the stuff, we joked a little about not being able to spell some words (Seriously, there are some words in the spelling bee compitition that i could not believe sixth graders spelt) I said hello to his wife and inlaws. The reality of having someone close to you get married never really strikes you until he or she can't really done somethings he used to do before.
After the venue had been cleared out, we went for a walk, I told him about my plans and my lack of plans or ideas. I wish I had more time to talk he has been a role model to me.
we (That's my cousin and I), drove some of the organisers to their homes, and then he took me to his place. A big house, with even a bigger rent to pay
You can't stay in Abuja if you don't have a job, it's too expensive man.
The best part of my day with him came that evening, he drove some of the program organizers to the car park, and when he left the car his son started to cry his mom tried to pet him but he refused to stop, his dad came back and picked him up, and that was it; That was all he wanted. My cousin had strong bond with his son. His son slept in his arms. Thats something i want my sons and daughters to have with me.
The next day was a sunday, I was to meet up with a coulege and friend at church, as usual i was clueless about how to get to the church so i decided to meet him after
church. We settled some issues at hand, talked about what we were up to, gossiped (a bit, yes even guys do so).
That night, i went to SilverBird Cinema to see a movie with my sister and her date (I hated being the third wheel) i guess i have to get used to being that for now.
Once the movie was over (11.00 pm) he drove me back home, through wide but lonely roads. Fear of bomb blasts and terrorists attack has turned this great night city
into a ghost night town. Maybe I am wrong about that, in defence of the city hey, its sunday not friday.
I spent my monday, going around the city with my family friend. I went to his site to see what he was up to, found a cool unsecured WIFI spot to browse and update my
status.
Later that night, I went to meet up with Tim, the guy that brought me to Abuja in the first place, it was a shame that i could not see him on tuesday because i would
be leaving early. We had a few laughs but time was not on our side and traffic was building up. We said our goodbyes and that was it.
Tuesday was a very short day in Abuja, I packed by bag, and left.
On the road home, I reviewed the City i was leaving, the opportunities are high, the cost of living is also high but all in all i love the city and would not mind living there if the Job and Situation pushed for it.

What happens when we fail ?

2011-06-16T12:19:00.001-07:00

What happens when we realise we have failed, in academics, in marrage, or in our careers ?
It could not have hit me harder, as the computer paused and printed out my exam scores, "We are unfortunate to anounce that you have failed the exam" and that was it. All my 7 months of work down to a blip on the screen, failure.
So what happened afterwards, Firstly I could not believe it, even when i knew it was no mistake, then the realisation that it was true and then sadness. After leaving the exam venue, I asked myself, how do I tell my mom and dad about this ? how would they take the news after considering how much money they had put into me writing this certification, I was expecting words of disappointment from my father's lips, the last time I had "disappointed him was not far from his memory", my mom called me while i was on my way out, she asked how was it ? i told her what a typical Nigerian would say. "Thank God"; I was praying in my mind that my mom would not ask more questions about the issue, at least not by phone, Bad news is not good said on phone.
Next after sadness is the question of what went wrong, I asked myself what I had done wrong, but that did not solve my problem not at all later that day i saw her (my mother) I wispered what had happened in her ears, I did not want to tell my dad at least not yet. My dad does not take bad news well in cars.
My mom's reply to my confession was simple, well you just have to do exam again.
I was not the best answer but the reality is that thats just what i needed to do, start over again.
Ultimately what happens when you fail, is that you get an opportunity to start all over. and that may actually be the best news anyone can ever get. Why is that ? well its an opportunity to Win.

Oh, about telling my dad about my failure, well it was not so bad, guess he was too tired about the journey and knew I really put in my best.
He told me one can not appreciate success if one has never failed.

The Closing Chapter

2011-05-23T04:01:00.000-07:00

As i sat in the taxi cab one fine saturday afternoon, my mind drifted away, to times past to when i was a little younger, i picked up my phone and tried calling my favourite cousin, now a father and husband and worker (The regular man), his phone rang and rang and there was no answer from him. He must be busy
I said to myself. Things had really changed since he got married and fathered a daughter, back when he was in university, i remember the "good old days", when
he would come over to see my mom and dad, and then us, we hung out together, my fondest memory of him was when he took me to see a video game arcade center for the first time, that was when i truely fell in love with games. we all hung out together. I would not even be writing if not for him.
Wow, how times had indeed changed, but he is not the only example of how things moving around, my sisters are all grown up now, none having my time anymore.
Back when we were growing up my elder sister and i would fight and bicker over the smallest of things, she had all the authority in the world, now a doctor and about to wed i must confess i really miss her and my brother.
My brother and i would hang out together he was my one true friend and protector when i was growing up and as selfish as it might sound i wish time would rewind just one more time so we could hang out.
But none of those are going to happen anytime ever.
As a chapter in my family ends and new ones begin, i really wish (selfish as it may sound) that we had more time to connect before time and new perspectives make us strangers to each other. Me the strangest of them.

The chapter is closing for the better, that am sure of, i will try to make myself valuable to these new chapters as much as possible, the story has not ended it will only get better. As much as i want to go back am sure things, better things are ahead, new stories and experiences better and much more fun than video games
and arcades.
To my sisters, my brother and my favorite cousin, i truely truely wish them will, am sure from time to time we will hang out but not as individuals in a family but
as families.

Everyday Experiences are extra ordinary experiences

2011-05-23T03:45:00.000-07:00

Last week i went on a short drive with my uncle to Abuja to pick up my Mom who was at the airport, she had travelled for a special renunion / wedding so we set out just after nine in the morning. I packed my book (cause am still studying for a professional certificate) hope that i could read it on way to the airport and back. The journey was an excuse to get out of the house and get some fresh air, and maybe even enjoy the sights and sounds of the Federal Capital Terrotory. On the way i could not help but enjoy the sights of a country so blessed, last week in the news, war was still waging in Libya, an earth quake ravaged Japen was eager to save the damaged economy and slumping stocks of the Japan Power Electric Company, a flood was waging
through the Mississippi in America and Osama's friends were just about voting for a new leader on their so called war against the west.
And here i was, i an car on the way to the airport, nothing extra ordinary happened on the way, nothing out of the blue, and to me that was what was the extra ordinary thing.
At the airport, we tried to find a spot to park the car, cars were well all over the place, seems as though many were returning back from the weekend here i did not see poverty or at least not the poverty you see everyday on the streets.
It felt as though i was watching a nollywood movie in where everybody (in the movie) was either rich or well to do and professional.
It was not the image i had felt i would see in the airport, and especially in the local wing of the airport.
Finally after going round the car park, we found a spot just in time to park the car. I called her number to know if she had landed, i got a reply so we went to the arrival section of the airport. We were made to wait outside, that is where i saw another senario.
Just like us other Men, Political Attaches, women some with children were also waiting, in hope that their loved ones and bosses would come out.
As i looked around i saw a man with a name written in a cardboard paper waiting, a men in well tailored suits, younger guys in T-Shirts and jeans and ladies in all sorts of atires waiting for someone to come.
After a few minutes (give or take), people came out one by one out of the airport, relieved to be back on the ground and looking to see their loved ones
or co-workers.
Finally my mom and her friend came out of the airport (i was not expecting a friend to be with her) only to find out that the young lady that had been
standing in line beside me was her daughter (you don't say!!!!).

Out of the whole experience, i learnt one crucial thing, every ordinary day is just as extra ordinary one just has to be greatful to have it just as it is.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

2011-05-23T02:40:00.001-07:00

In movies, most teenages we watch start their civil disobedience with well kind of crazy stuff - a tatoo on the body (somewhere others can not see) a nose perse something small and discrete. Seems all to them that it's a cry for freedom or should i say making a dissision for themselves. Others go out and come back late deliberately and choose some sort of risky behavior since the world is at their fingertips.
But then there are others out there, others who feel they just have to wait for this so called freedom to come, those who believe in honor and values who don't necessary get treated well but have to accept what comes to them just as it is.
Timid and humble as they are most posses a hidden problem and believe me theres is more than what those on the wild ride get. They bottle their emotions and their desires in the hopes of keeping the peace in the family, their opinions never really matter cause it's none existant and if in a family where dog barks to get what it wants, then they just have to fend with the leftovers.
The question on my mind about these is simple, should they giveup their honor and take a more aggressive stance and the risk of trampling on others to get
what they want or should they just wait on......

THE HOPE & TOAST RECIPE

2011-05-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, i really really disturbed a friend of mine to write this cool article for me, so enjoy.
==================================================================================
Sometimes it just ‘kills’ you doesn’t it?: How do you know that all those dreams, all what you hope to be, all you want to accomplish and the desires of your heart would be granted?
I mean what if we are living in a fool’s paradise and twenty years from now………yeah you know where I am going.
It ‘kills’ me too sometimes! Doubt, fear (of the unknown), anxiety and worry creep behind my back sometimes. I’m so certain that this is everybody’s experience at a particular point in life (if it isn’t so y’all can email me or drop something on my facebook wall so I can seek professional help.lol!)
I need not tell you that this feeling and its questions are regular visitors in our minds especially at this point in our lives when we are most ambitious: young and the world is ours for the taking, right?
Let’s talk about HOPE. Now this is not some self-help concept. I know that the word HOPE is a common term in our everyday language, but the word HOPE I’m talking about is the one that features very prominently in the New Testament of the Bible. In the original language in which the New Testament was written (Greek), it is the word Elpece and it means: to anticipate usually with pleasure; expectation or confidence.
I believe strongly that what connects our present to our desired future is this HOPE (Elpece). Wait a minute, what about faith?
In the past four weeks, I have discovered that I’m in love with toast (last April/May it was Diet Coke). So for breakfast, I like to spread some butter across my bread and put in the toaster and in five minutes or less, ‘my love’ is out (fast and easy to fix). I had never given much thought to the butter, until it finally hit me today: what makes my toast so great is not the temperature or the crispness of the bread but the butter in-between (talk about an example of awesome revelation)!
It’s that way with Faith & Hope. Faith is the toast; Hope is the butter that makes it so great even though we don’t see it. So really Faith is the concept but Hope is real-deal in between. “Now Faith is the substance of things HOPED for……………” (Hebrews 11:1 kjv, emphasis mine).
God is a God of hope and all he wants is for us to trust him. Heard that before, right? Well here’s another dimension: Romans 15:13 tells us that God fills us with joy and peace in believing. Now we all could use some Joy & Peace. In the context of the passage, Joy simply means a calm delight; Peace is simply quietness and rest. A combination of this two is irreplaceable.
God knows that sometimes we get worried and anxious especially when our current reality is far from what we crave for. For example, we believe God for a university degree and we’ve just failed our third entrance exams, as a lady you trust God for a family, you aren’t even married and you’re not exactly very young anymore, to mention a few. In those moments, Joy and Peace by the Power of the Holy Spirit (power of the Spirit of God) carry us through.
God NEVER disappoints. Sure, we might not get what we desire immediately, but in between God would correct our motives, calm our anxiety and make us develop character and in the end always delivers more than we asked or imagined in the first place (Ephesians 3:20).
So when those creeping questions and fears come, what do we do? We tell them to get lost (literally), we speak out our testimony: God is working it all out, everything is alright and Joy & peace is our portion by the Power of The Holy Spirit.
It is not our responsibility to create peace and Joy in our lives, they come as we release our concerns to God, and trust him. Some of us hold our questions and fears very dear (unintentionally) in the name of caution or being realistic. But we’ve always lived that way and much hasn’t changed, has it?
Let’s all make a switch! Embrace God, trust him with EVERYTHING including our dreams, our plans and our innermost desires no matter how weird they might sound to the rest of the world, just tell him and trust him. At the same time, don’t go killing yourself for all the answers, just live one day at a time trusting God, maintaining the right attitude and giving whatever God has placed in your hand your best shot.
If you ever forget all these, just make some toast and as you eat it, you’ll remember the lesson (trust me).

While I was Asleep.......

2011-04-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Guys, well its been a while, oviously alot has happenned since the last time i wrote on this blog, the world finally shifted from me being the centre,
things around the planet seems to get harder and harder. Me as person and i hope you too have felt this, i realise that my problems are no big a large
scale than the problems going on around me. While i was still brooding anger at my dad for example, for not alowing me to touch is ride, wars and revolotions broke open over northern
Africa and the Middle east, a civil war was and is still raging in Ivory Coast (i always wanted to go there when i was younger), One huge earth quake and
a tsunami and another huge tremor shocked Japan (another great place i wanted to go, when i had the money).
And finally it hit me.... the world was not and never is about me.
Thats not to say that i taught it was about me in the first place, but all i have written all i have felt as a person has made it look as if it's me in the center, well no more (at least till i think of something else to put there).
For now, well please keep praying for these countries like Japan, (the heart and soul and Manga comics, original makers of Transformers and all the cool gadgets we love), Libya (people are suffering, and their leader has gone nuts),
Ivory Coast (Their ex leader is too comfortable in a chair he is not supposed to be in even when he is now out of it, and their new leader is beginning to go crazy).
Guys.
Finally once again (this time i really don't care what religion you are)
Pray for them all and if possible give to charities like the Red Cross or others that support their cause. Don't do it out of sentiment, don't do it because of you, do it because you really want others to be in the center and not you.

In your Prayers

2011-03-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

I just want to scribble a short poem, its been a tough week and month for many people rather than me bother you guys about my life tonight i want you to think, and pray

I your prayers today
I your prayesr tonight
Pray for a better day
Pray for a swifter night
In your prayers today
In your prayers tonight
Pray for others
Those you love
Thoes you don't give a dam for
In your prayers today
Today the world changes
Pray for it
Pray for strenght
Pray for Love
Don't be selfish
Pray for countries
Pray for leaders
Whatever you do
Just keep praying

Drive, but not angry just pissed

2011-03-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

Several days ago i attempted to get a driver's licence, since i don't have a national Identity card, or an international passport (at least not yet), the only good source of identity is the National Driver's Licence. My uncle escorted me to get it, he taught it would be an easy feet; besides he said in his day all you needed to do was show up, talk to the Road Safety official and then get a licence.
Fortunately or Unfortunately (I don't know which should come first), things had changed. I was told to get certificate from a driving school to show that i had completed the driving course. No problem, i said in my mind besides, i had gone through the course, i had not just gone to collect my certificate.
My uncle and i drove down to the school to get the certificate. I was told to fill in my full name and he would start to process the certificate.
Then for a certain reason i still do not understand, he asked if i had actually finished from the driving school, then he decided to check their records.... he could not find my name on it.
I was embarrassed, cause i knew i had finished from that school; but as far as the man was concerned, i had not come to the school before.
Then one (Over sabi) or I know it all teacher started asking me about road signs and took me to see some drawn on a board, if you saw the road signs drawn by a quack artist, believe me you won't have known they were road signs at all ! i tried them and well failed them or at least to him i failed it all.
He too felt i had not gone to a driving school. So he challenged me to start a car and reverse it... i did that, then he told me to move the car forward, and i did
that too, but the car stalled.
In the end, i got the certificate, but not the licence.
Am angry at my dad for it, I had asked him to let me collect my drivers licence and certificate when i had finished the driving school earlier but he had refused he refuses to let me drive his cars or even practice with his Honda Accord (His precious baby) and the only time i get to practice is just to reverse his car but not
outside his gates.
Otherwise am stuck with a station wagon with stiff a steering which my uncle uses most of the time..

PISSSSED

Dilema

2011-03-02T04:46:00.000-08:00

Guys am in a fix, a tough spot, i trust that your advices will at least give insight into where i am right now. Am in a spot where i have to make a decision stick with it. This is it, am out of Youth service and am back home, i have ideas and plans and am working towards getting something done. But the thing is my folks want me to work, get some experience and am good with that. I times are harding and things and slow around here. My folks want me to work anywhere but i feel that if i work anywhere i might lose my goals and stick there. I know that it's just a feeling, i know getting work is top of the priority.
What do you guys think?

VINDICATED

2011-02-21T05:31:00.000-08:00

One fine evening while i was at work, i had a visitor who needed some documentations we had done for a program earlier, i sounded like an easy feet to do, i told him to come the next morning for copies of the documments.
That same evening my boss saw me making the documents and said nothing about it being wrong. I did not know it would be the beginning of what would end as a crazy service year.
The next morning my boss, called me in along with the other Nysc interns and told me to pack up my stuff and move to the next department and that my services were no longer required. I felt the world shake inside of me, a million questions were flying allover the place in my mind. I just found a sit and sat there, I pleaded and others pleaded for me, eventually he agreed to keep me.
But it was not over, things got bad, and worse. I got complaints about my handling of things (Yes some of which are my fault), i got shouted at, again and again. but then things worse again,I was accused of being tribal, that i only did jobs for a certain boss and not for others. I was judged even without me knowing my jurors, it got so bad that i practically begged for time to pass
for me to leave with whatever was left of my sanity or self worth, my self esteem was in an all time low. I was given more and more to do and my other coleges did not seem to help out. One was good and could not stay for long and the other awe full and lazy.
Several times i had been frustrated, and blamed for even their mistakes (the other interns).
Things could not get more worse than that for me.
About a week to my finishing my service year, i learnt the truth. One of the other interns had been putting poison in the mind of my bosses.
He had sold me out many times, and made it look as though i was not doing anything at all.
I also learnt that my bosses knew it was poison and decided to simulate the negative effects that i may learn several crucial lessions.
The saddest part is knowing i had been betrayed by someone, who i really wanted to take my place but was just plainly jealous and envious and was trying to make all the faults even his look as though they were mine.
At my sentforth, I has vindicated and rewarded for my actions even before my enemies. I was honoured by my boss, the one who said i should be moved to another department.
All my bosses, wanted me to learn two things.
1. Whereever you find yourself working, there will be different types of bosses, so who will want to make you and other who will want to break you into pieces.
2. Your colleages even your friends can betray you, some will sell you out to look good, but even so, someone is looking at you and waiting for you to either rise to the occation or fall like the walls of Jericho.

She said "no"

2011-02-14T01:52:00.000-08:00

I had not even asked her how she felt about me and i got the feeling she would say no; Hey at least she did not break me into pieces and i did not have to damage the friendship i have with her, or even my ego (if i have any).
Let me start from the beginning ; We first met about a year at NYSC Camp, i had detached myself from my crew of friends and was sitting next to her preparing for the lecture program to take place. I had brought a book along just in case that lecture became boring she showed interest in the book and thats how we started talking and became friends.
She got posted to Minna and so was i, things looked good. But my hopes of pushing the friendship halted, our focuses were diverted; we both became executives in our fellowships and i sensed her focus to be more on her duties than anything else.
I tried keeping in touch with her, and after a while things went south; we hardly saw each other or called. I had feelings but could not find the right time to express them. There was never a right time, at least that was the excuse i gave myself.
Now the programme is over, now that our posts have been passed to others, i felt it was the perfect time to say how i felt. we talked, I asked her when she was leaving, we spoke about our plans after the service year. Then i indirectly asked her what her focus was, and to no supprise i found out she had no plans for anyother plans other than friendship. She said no !!!!.
Did i feel sad initially, sure (there goes my val plans). I am stronger, better and observant than I was before.
The world has not ended for me, on the contrary we still keep in touch as friends
and who knows, may be she likes me just as i like her but has no plans now.
To all of you guys who thinks the world a sad and lonely place, this is to tell you that you don't have to feel alone today, go out and give yourself a treat, because in the end when he or she says no to your feelings and desires, you will still have two friends you can hook up with, God and yourself. I intend on giving myself a treat girlfriend or no girlfriend.

Happy Valentines day.

Tress hold

2011-02-05T07:23:00.000-08:00

Before i go on to bicker and complain about my current fear, i have to tell u, am no ordinary person,I might look average but it is not so. And am sure neither are you GUYS that read what i write.
It's just less than a week from my passing out from the National Youth Service Corps, i am on the tress hold of going from a student graduate to a graduate looking for a Job (gee am not so excited about that honestly); boy that does not sound in any sence right especially in a country where millions are graduate and unemployed it looks like a very long queue from where i stand (as if it's not happening everywhere in the world).
As i said earlier am not ordinary, not by a long shot and neother are you. How do i come to this conclusion ? It's simple, the spirit in you makes u very unique and special, the one your spirit listens to makes you more than an ordirany person.
The bible tells us that we (Those who have accepted Christ) are more than winners, and are kings,Gods representatives on earth.
The job hunt might look tough, hell might break lose on and on again and I may feel sad and bothered but all I have to do is remember who i am, ride the storm and swim to shore as God being my life guard.
But guys come to think of it, lets say by outright luck, I don't get that cash flowing job what do i do ?
Its simple, make one for yourself, yup, Its easier said than done. but i am still confident that i can do that too.
The bottom line is this, What is God's destiny for my life, my family and my career ?
That should be the starting line.

Better

2011-01-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

I want to be Better
Better in my work
Better in my relationships
man and God
Better at being better
Better at ... everything
I don't want to look back
after a long life
Thinking i could have
done things better
It has to be now!!!
Better has got to come
and keep coming.
But then things look up
rather than down.
Better is up there
amongst the stars.
I want to be Better.
It starts from today.

2011 Resolutions

2010-12-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

Here is at least what is supposed to be my new year resolutions....

1. The most important of all is to know God more; am really slacking in my lifestyle and swinging back and forth but I want to go steady and build my relationship with him.
2. Get a Job; It just had to be no. 2 I need a job!!!!! and i mean it,so i need to do some stuff to make me worthy of a good job.
3. Get out more; And I mean it, its not fun been "the home boy"
4. Dig deep into myself; I am still learning about myself and want to know more.
5. Be more knowledgeable about things outside my boarder.
6. Travel more.
7. Keep the friends I have close, and still have room to make others.
How many of these resolutions can i keep ? not much but i think its a shot am willing to take.

December....

2010-12-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

Its that time of year again, where we say oh gee, the year is all gone. Its that weather in the sky over here when you can look at the sky at noon and not go blind. (Yes i mean it but don't try it and don't say i told you so).
Its the month of accessing the year that is almost spent, and projecting into the future to see what can and must be done......
It's a month that death does it's bills and joy and sorrow mix in thesame cup to give a bitter sweet taste. Bitter because of what could have been done and did not achieve and sweet cause of what has been accomplished.
How does bob fit into all these? what have I achieved this year?
Many, i've been able to graduate, I have made friends, i have seen my cracks my weaknesses, I have loved and crushed and been in love. All in a year, i have been alone, and amongst many.
I have been cheered and mocked. I have stood my ground for causes and i have been moved, i have fallen and risen and fallen and risen again.
I know have known how it feels to be a father, and a brother all at thesame time.
I have tasted tragedy and pure bliss all in a year
I have been knocked down and raised up, By God I haven been broken only to be put back up. I have laughed and cried.
I have seen disappointments and tasted sweet victory.
It has been a very beautiful year indeed.
As the weather changes in January heat to july rains and back to the ghostly hamatan that looms in November and December and then back to the heats of January again
I have been privileged by God to see it all.