How To Stay Commited To What I Do

I stopped doing personal lifestyle blogging because of a few reasons:
1. It exposes strengths and flaws. More emphasis on flaws because that is what we people of the earth know how to spot and dwell on.

2. Consequently from point 1, it brings criticisms. Lifestyle writing raises discussion and of course criticisms. Criticisms can hurt a whole lot. I've had much gulp of it but I think my bullet proof shield has added more layers to suffice for the journey.

3. Commitment.
Because I've not wanted to share the flaws, commitment to lifestyle writing has been a whole lot of work.

When You Meet The One You Love

Dear Dre,

   How are you doing? It's been couple of days and I miss you already. I know you do too. Sorry about leaving you alone in school.
   Let's put the greetings aside, I've come with my relationship grunts as usual. This time is actually not about me but about her. Snap out of that homo thought in your mind; I mean her: the lady you'd end up in a relationship with. That girl you'd crush on harder than you crushed on me. I just hope she's like me, a better version of me and not a wild version of 'woman'.
     When you meet her, be sweet. Be the sweetest thing you can be irrespective of where you met because places don't matter in the long run. They are just for the story and amusement. You know I always wished I met the love of my life in church right? Yea. The story changed when I realized meeting in church is nothing if the guy is not as sweet as you wish him to be.
    Now, let me tell you how to be sweet. Give her all the attention and treat her like she's the only sperm that will give you that special child you want. Take her out to everywhere especially not forgetting to take her on a date even when she told you she loves it private, indoor. Its on a date that she gets to dress to look her best, preeminently because of you. She'd forever cherish it. You should also dress classy for her. I know you like it simple and casual but you don't want a rich guy from around the street to come ask your girl out in front of you.
    When she's all dressed, appreciate her. Be the first to tell her she looks beautiful, stunning, amazing. See, forget those talks we say in secondary school days that we don't need a man to tell us we're beautiful. We might not need it but we care for it. Our love antenna provides neat and colorful service when we are appreciated.
    Don't stop at appreciating her looks, appreciate the little things she does. You went visiting and she cooks, appreciate it. It's not your money she used and even if it is, it's not your energy or recipe. While you're being appreciative, daze her with gifts.
   I've got some other things to attend to so, I will drop my pen for another day. But, before I do, I know you don't have issues with sweet talking but I'd like to reinforce that you call her sweet names. Nne, maami, sweetheart, sugarplum, etc. And tell her you love her often. As commonly used as those words are, everyone loves to hear them resoundingly. In short, sweep her off her feet.
   There's more to do after but, know that the foremost way to keep a woman standing with you is to sweep her off her feet.


                          Yours weirdly,
                                 Dami.

The Beauty Behind The Madness

"The Beauty Behind The Madness"

I saw this on a friend's whatsapp status and I pondered on what could be his own madness. Possibly the hairstyle he cuts, often shaping his head in an oblong shape while the hair is left to grow as high as possible thus making it look like a cock's comb. And yea there's a song titled "beauty behind the madness".

One truth is; everyone has their own madness which only them and possibly a few folks see the beauty. It could be;

Define Your Relationships

Some months ago, I made a declaration of relationship with a friend and oh yea! There was visible growth in the relationship. We both knew our place in each other's heart and taking our seat in this place was so easy. In contrast to this, I recently met a good friend of mine who although without a defined relationship with, I missed while he was away.

Now that he's back, our crazy cycle is on it's spin again; over excitement for few days, a feeling of indifference catalyzed by ignorance of one's true stand in a relationship for the next couple of days, some weeks withdrawal from each other and eventually reconciliation. 

Comparing these two relationships and now being aware of how much definition and declaration of position goes in a relationship, I see the necessity for this to be done in every relationship. It helps control the crazy cycle; it helps both parties know that irrespective of what's going on in  the relationship, they can fight for their position and make things work.

The moment Jesus was baptized, there was a declaration of sonship, God said, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased". Likewise, as Christians, we were declared children of God at the point of salvation.

      "Romans 8:14  For all who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. Vs. 16  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."

Therefore, it's very important that you define your relationship. Eighty percent of broken relationships happened basically because there was no initial clear definition. You see someone as your best friend but she sees you as just a friend who she understands and thus is able to help when needy times arise. Don't put someone as the overall of your life when they just want company.

It might sound awkward to do but trust me, you don't want to not do it cause you don't want to be zoned unaware!

My Farm Diary: Week Three

Ring weeding of water melon

The third out of Eight scheduled weeks of farm for this semester is gone within the twinkle of an eye and seriously, I've been so favoured and I've learnt a lot. What happened in the third week?

My group was posted to the agro forestry and farm management unit. On Monday, we participated in the marketing of maize to market retailers and on the following days, we worked at the Agroforestry unit. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we were made to work on the watermelon farm where we did ring weeding I.e weeding about 2m round a plant. This is done when systemic herbicides are to be used for a farm with young plants. You weed a circle round the plant so that during the course of spraying, the sprayer doesn't have to go so close to the plant such that the herbicide might have contact with the plant and thus affect it.

On Tuesday, while others were weeding, Blessing(a group member) and I were scheduled to apply poultry manure on vegetables; Amaranthus and Cochorus olitorus locally known as ewedu. On Wednesday, we worked with the weeding team, on Thursday, we were allocated personal plots like the first week but this time around, we planted maize and joyfully, I can proudly say the maize I planted have emerged! And I know God will keep them till harvesting and I'm going to harvest a lot!

We planted using 3-4seeds per hole with a spacing of 75cm by 50cm which was the recommendation by our supervisors.

On Friday, we went back to our unit where we also planted maize but this time with the spacing of 75cm by 25cm and we applied NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer. Just when we finished and we were waiting for a lecture, the lecturer came only to inform us that she's not teaching us but we're having a demonstration on our tomatoes plot. At this juncture, we all looked at her shocked and jaw dropping.

See ya next week for a summary of this week's farm experience!  Love ya!

My Farm Diary: Week Three: Day One

So  far so good, yesterday was so much fun compared to other days of duty on farm. We worked at the farm management unit where we acted in the capacity of farm managers and sold maize to women who were intend to further extend the sales to the final consumers. The day started with the unit head giving us an overview of what it involves to being a farm manager hence giving us a first hand practical experience on the field. Then, we waited for the women harvesting who happen to also be the retailers and when they were done, we charger each person per quantity and size of maize harvested.

The most fun part was how the women were negotiating the prices. We charged the third woman a sum of #1200, she insisted on paying #600 which looked like a ridiculous bargain to me. We left her to meet about 40 other women only to come back to collect #650. A woman was charged #500, she offered to pay #400 but eventually paid #320 and I was wowed but you know what? That's what a typical Nigerian looks like. Women bargain ridiculously even when they collected money worthwhile from their husbands.

My Farm Diary; Week Two

Beef and Turkey unit made sense. That's where I worked last week and I can't afford to not write about it.

I went to Turkey unit first and you need to come and see these turkeys. The male called Tom which is usually recognized by it's  longer wattle compared to the female, hen and then, the young ones, poult even though there weren't any in the pen. Categorizing the turkeys, we have the exotic and local types. The exotics are those whose breed origin is outside the walls of Africa while the local breeds are the African breeds.

Talking about cattle, they can be categorized into three based on use; beef, diary and dual which can be used for both beef and diary production. We went to the beef unit where basically, cattle used for the production of beef are kept even though there were the muturu breed which is used for diary production in the ranch. We have the n'dama and sokoto gudali breeds for beef production.

At the turkey unit, the daily routine activities include, feeding and cleaning. Changing of litters is a routine activity done in like every two or three days depending on how messy the litter(wood shavings or other materials poured on the pen floor to absorb feacal wastes and to keep the environment quite warm).

The beef unit was quite stressful though fun even though I didn't participate in any activity there. The daily routine activity there also include cleaning of the pen where the workers packed cow dung and feeding. They are being fed with pastures which could be brought to them in the pen as 'hay' with high moisture content, 'silage' with low moisture content or they could be taken to the pasture where they free on the pastures on the field and this is kind of pasture is called 'soilage'.

On Thursday which was the slaughter day, we were taken to the slaughter slab where we witnessed the process of beef slaughter where the hairs were removed by scalding (use of hot water) and also shown the different parts of the animal.

That's the summary of all I did on the farm last week, I will do well to post this week's activities also.

My Farm Diary, Day Two

Is it just me or everyone?
Why is this week seeming to be so long?
How can today just be Tuesday?
Shouldn't it be Thursday already?
This were my thoughts as I walked down the busy street of Ede road where my hostel is.

My dad has been trying to teach me the habit of waking up early that I usually get scolded for oversleeping almost everyday but with this farm year, I think I don't need a teacher or trainer before I get up early. I got up from bed today at 4: 30am. I washed the dishes used last night, prepared spaghetti, fried plantain and swept my room and I was done with my chores by 6:00am. Since the night was somewhat short, I laid back in bed till 6:40am after which I dressed up, ate and ran off to school.

Unlike yesterday, the bus arrived early and so, I got to farm 8:30am, went straight into the farm centre to take attendance. According to our coordinator, attendance is a major part of farm year and I do not wish to miss a day. From there I went to my allocated plot which I could bare identify. Someone had uprooted the injured cassava that was there. I was scared because if that person happen to be the supervisor, I'm in for it but then I'm really glad the person which wasn't the supervisor did, cause it would have caused him to either scold me or give me a low grade.

"Dami, come over here."
"Oh! Blessing, what's up? You have something for me?"
"Yes."
It was Blessing, the owner of the plot before mine. She was at the other end of the field so, I went to meet her. Come on! You need to see how neat this girl's work is. She had packed all the weeds on her ridge and neatly placed them in the middle. At that point, I knew that if I didn't get an A grade in that course, it's either the supervisor is a deliberately wicked being or 'that's how God planned it'. That's always my consolation whenever I get a result less than my expectation.

Since Blessing already set a cut off mark, I got on to clear my own ridge as neat as hers even though there eventually remained some little sprouts I overlooked because I cannot come and kill myself. The motivation to work increased whenever people pass by our plot and make comments like _"haha! These people are over efficient o. Do they want to sleep on it?"Someone even asked if it was broom we used to sweep it.

I finished my duty around 10:30am  and I must let you know that Blessing was still working at that time. In fact while she who got there before me was half way done, I was already through even though I returned twice to clean again. Whenever I go back to check how far she's gone and I realize my plot isn't neat enough, I pick my hoe and cutlass and set to work again.

"Hey Blessing! See I'm going jor."
Even though I've said that twice before, I meant in this time around and so, I went back to the farm centre where we take lectures and rest. I thought we would be allowed to leave since some of us were done but as it was, the supervisor said no one should leave until it's 1:30pm. Different aroma of food filled the room, people taking lunch while we waited for 1:30pm. As for me, I'm a really great cook, if i bring my own food, everyone will want to dine with me because the aroma is going to be so strongly sweet so, while I wait, I lent an earpiece and continued the movie I was seeing the night before.

See ya tomorrow

Farm Dairy, Day One, Episode Two

After the bus paparazzi at the faculty this morning, we got to the farm centre few minutes to ten where we received a talk on safety from the deputy director. He spoke about ensuring to be in our farm suit and boot always. This will protect most of our body parts most especially the leg from being injured either by animals or our tools.

The professor ended his talk with a greeting from the director as he walked out of the room. Our farm coordinator came in with some A4 papers in which we've been grouped in a manner I can't fathom. Everyone listened attentively to the names of their group members while saying some sort of prayer in their subconscious like
"God please, let my group members be hardworking o"
"God please, let there be more guys in my group"
"God please, let my group members be better persons o"
I'm not a psychic or a kind of mind reader but I could tell from the countenance on people's faces and their reactions when they called each group out.

When names were called and people have a bad feeling about their members, they either stay silent or burst into a sarcastic laughter. As a person, immediately I heard Barry, Alfa Isiak and some other hardworking guys were in my group, I excitedly told Kemi, Olamide and Banke; my three friends "Babes, did you see that? My group is the best!" To myself, I said "JACKPOT!"

After grouping, we were led to the cassava field where we were allocated plots to work on. The plots were allocated by rows of heaps, one roll per person. We were to clear the weed in the cassava field.
"Excuse sir! Where are we to stop?" Someone asked and we got a heartbreaking reply, "Just keep going, you'd know where to stop, it's somewhere in the middle over there"
Hmmmmm, somewhere in the middle. Anyways, I started clearing at around 12:30pm and before I got to that middle, it was 2:30pm. Thanks to Barry and Alfa Isiak who helped me because at a point, my wrist was paining me from the swinging of cutlass, my palm too and I got blisters.

Farm Diary: Day One

"Farm is starting on Monday", I told my folks through the weekend.

In the dawn's tranquility while I was sleeping and dreaming of the movie I saw last night, I heard a voice "come and follow me to go and pee". I rolled in my bed with my eyes still very heavy; it's Ayoola, my bestie, she's been staying with me for a while cause there's no light in her hostel. I stay in a room where I have to share toilet and bathroom with my with my neighbors so, I have a potty substitute that I use in my room in the midnight rather than go all the way out. Ayoola doesn't like to use it so every night she's been waking me to follow her go pee outside.

As I roll in bed, I asked her what the time was, it was 4:00am Monday morning! I had set my alarm to 4:30am last night, with the hope of rising by 5:00am since I know I can't rise to the call of an alarm at exactly the time set. I'd still snooze it to like 20minutes before I finally get up. I got up to follow her and when we got back to the room I told her to snooze my alarm till 5:00am but to the shock of a Monday morning, I woke up to find out it was 6:12am.

I jumped up like WTF! I planned to leave home for farm as early as 7:00am of which by that time, I would have had my bath, cooked and eaten. What in heaven's name can I do with 48minutes? Well, Ayoola got up with me and went straight to cooking. We checked the keg for water but oops! There's none so I went round the hostel to tap some bowls of water. I took the water to her and tried to bath when I remembered we were going to eat just rice; No compliment? How awful!

I went out again, this time, in search for egg and yea! I came back with two eggs. I gave them to her and she made jollof rice and egg while I went to take my bath. I got back, dressed up without make up since we were told on the day of orientation that our make up and spray could be pheromones for some insects and if anyone does, I don't want to be a mating spot for some insects talkless of getting stung by bee.

Ayoola packed my food for me while I put some water in a bottle and set off to school. I got to the faculty to meet just a few mates at the park.
Where are they?
Where's the bus?
Did I just miss the farm bus? While I stood at the park with a blank face but a mind filled with panic, the other girls left for the Secretariat so, I picked my phone to make a call
"Hello Kemi, where are you?"
"Everyone's around the Secretariat, the bus hasn't arrived" said Kemi.
Oh! I sighed and headed towards them. Wait! I have my food in my bag but I forgot my spoon. Let me find a corner to work on this food before joining the crowd. Kemi is one of my closest friends in class. I don't do cliques but we are four ladies that move together almost every time.

Alright... I'll see you in the evening when I'm back so, anticipate.

Tada!

What Do We Call Life?

Fairly Unfair OR Unfairly Fair

Whenever I'm going away
I don't go with my dad so I don't get delayed
Cause he's never got license to drive on his lane,
I go my own way so he doesn't get detained.

When my friend is going away
She always has her dad, she's never delayed
His driver has a license to get on a lane
So, there's never a reason to get detained.

She knows not many places cause she's always in a ride
She screams and cries "I want to go alone!"
I know so many places cause I always go with tide

I smile and say "I wish to go with home"

She comes to me with thousands of naira
I go to her with kobo in a corner
She lives a life so filled with extras
I live a life filled with just essentials

The gift of life is inestimable wealth
Especially when lived in sound health
Though my friend never got beaten with belt
We both someday will lie in death

Life is so unfair; it gave so much to some
Life is unfair; some live in luxury
Life is so fair; it gave all to none
Life is fair; we all ain't in penury

We all are travellers with meres
Even when we pay our fare
Some get a seat so fair
Yet, some manage seats so unfair

The 'Why' Question In Every Heart

Why?

Why do we see a beautiful rose and pluck it?
Why do we pick something we love?
Why do we go out of our ways to caress the rose?
We do we flatter the ones we love?

Is that really love?
To behold and to touch?
To pick out of the garden?
Just to keep in a vase?
To allow it wither and die someday?

Just why?
Why pick the flower and put in a vase when you can transplant it in your garden?
Why just put it in the vase when you can nurture it in your garden?
Why get someone you love just to have them by your side with no treat?

A woman's nature wants love
A man's nature wants respect
Why get that person when you can't give what they want?
Did I hear you mutter 'goodluck for knowing that'?

Why pick a book off it's shelf if you ain't gonna read it?
Just to hold it and have it called yours?
Of course not!  You're going to read it.
So why get that person out of market when you can't study them?

Admire the rose, find a way to plant it in your garden[not vase]
Your garden is your heart, your vase is your side ]
Pick the book, read it don't just throw it somewhere.
Reading it gets it to your heart, laying it around leaves it by your side.

Unconditional love for her [even when it's like she doesn't respect you]
Unconditional respect for him [even when it's like he doesn't love you]

Don't keep that person wondering 'why'
Give them what they deserve
Treat them rightly.

SUBWAY SURFERS: Lessons From The Popular Game

The game is really about an artist, painter to be precise who is being chased by an inspector and his dog😃.

Painting a train is a way of publicizing the ability of an artist, the subway surfer but, he got caught and puts himself into the trouble of an inspector(an enemy). It's good to assume that the artist never expected an inspector to get him painting which is what happens in life, he just wanted to showcase his talent. ⏺

Can't I Just Ignore My Weaknesses?

I get worried and moody easily and whenever I'm in this state, no one is pleased cause I'll either turn their request down or snub them. This is a weakness I've been battling with for years of which I'm now confused of whether to keep trying to deal with it or just let it be and keep pleading with loved ones to endure.

Brian Deacon Not Jesus

So many homes have this 'Jesus' image in their house which they worship in some ways. I personally have one in my room. My dad got it a long time ago. It's really interesting to know today that, the man we see in the picture is Brian Deacon, The first man to take up the role of Jesus in 1979 film Jesus. Here is his biography;

Brian Deacon (born 13 February 1949) is an English actor. Although he appeared in films such as The Triple Echo (1972) and Vampyres (1974), he is perhaps best known for portraying Jesus in the 1979 film Jesus, which was made by the evangelical organization the Jesus Film Project. Deacon has also portrayed Heumac in The Feathered Serpent (1976, 1978), Frank Miles in the 1978 TV series Lillie, and appeared with his brother, Eric, in the Peter Greenaway film, A Zed & Two Noughts (1985), as Oswald Deuce .

RCCG ANNUAL FASTING SESSION IS HERE

This prayer and fasting has opened doors for so many which you could be among. Join this year's session and come out with testimonies.

PRAYER POINTS FOR 50 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER
11th JANUARY TO 29TH FEBRUARY 2016
THEME: YEAR OF HIS FULLNESS (PSALM 16:11)

Download the Microsoft Word or Pdf Versions of prayer points for the 50days fasting and prayer Here http://rccg.org/downloads/

Olamide's Speech At Headies Award Remains Trending

At headies award on the 1st of January, Olamide made this speech in lamentation to Lil kesh not getting the award for Next Rated Artist

MY DREAM

What if my dream is not be a great writer? What if my dream is not to be a great singer? 
What if i don't want to become a lecturer, I guess I'd be a business Jack. 
What if i don't want to get married to a loving man? 
What if i don't want to be a great mum? 
What if my dream is not my dream? 
Because my dream is to be a great friend, I will do my best to satisfy my friend and I will feel broken at every friend I lose; I feel i've not done enough. 
Because my dream is to be a great writer, I'll strive for my books to be read by millions and top New York Times and if it doesn't, I will die unfulfilled. 
My dream is to be a great singer, lecturer, mum, marry, be a business owner, I will do all I can to make my dream true because it is what I want. 
What if i have a dream is not my dream? 
What if my dream is true?

What if my dream is alive?

What if my dream is the Gospel?
The GOSPEL is someone's dream. The Gospel is Jesus' dream.
The Gospel is Jesus.
My dream is Jesus' dream and my dream is Jesus.
The Gospel will propel other dreams to come true.
I will make every other things possible because they make the gospel.
I will write great articles about the Gospel. I will sing beautifully about the Gospel. I will teach the Gospel. I will impact the Gospel in my kids. I will marry nothing less than the Gospel because that is my dream. I will strive to make it work and Jesus who is the Gospel is always there to make it work so I don't have to be heart broken or depressed. He will give me smile even at tough times and I will be all about him. I do not have to worry or hurry; the Gospel is already true.

I choose the Gospel, I choose Christ, I let go of other dreams. My desire is the Gospel.
#GOSPEL

LOVE THOUGHT

    Right here in the front seat of a small car I sit thinking about me. With my head rested, and raised a bit just as much to be able to see the sky,  eyes shut out scanning through my mind, searching for answers to questions like: How is life going to be in the next five years? What am I going to be doing? Will there be someone to call 'love'? 
     The question of employment has not really been a burden to me. That area of my life seems to have always been settled from onset, I could be bothered a times about how many lives would be impacted though but the area of love, my relationship with people around me has been cumbersome. At some times, it seems right but other times, it doesn't. It has become a big case before God and I even when I know he has promised me a great future, I still Wonder how that's going to be with the pieces of shattered me presently.
     Love comes and goes. I doubt if I still know what it is or maybe I've not even experienced it. I can hear a voice countering that, asking if I know what God's love feels like and thus making me want to compare God's love with other feelings I've had but most often it just hasn't been the same only but with few friends.
   The journey to Ibadan was a safe and peaceful one except for the petrol tanker that fell across d road and the Fire service men, FRSC and some other people were trying to pull away. I got home not to meet my aunty so I called her that I was home. While waiting for her to return from wherever she is, I sat at the entrance, brought out my phone to continue to think out on my blog.
  Just right there, I got this feeling that it is  going to make sense after all, as long as I can patiently wait while it makes faith. That love is going to come around and it is going to be great because its going to be with the right person and at the right time.

That was a little sketch though. Hope you got a drop of inspiration.

FINE

How are you?
Did you just reply with 'Fine'?
Seriously, I don' t think I can get enough of that word because the word is so often used and weighs so much. When someone gives you that word as a response, its strength always tell so much of its content and from experiences, I've gathered that the strength of this word can range from Very sharp to sharp, normal, and lastly solemn.
What does the strength of this word tell? It tells something about the speaker and here is my opinion:

Very sharp: This is often used in a conversation between disagreeing parties. A typical illustration is when a couple engaging in an argument and one of them is tired of driving one point around for the other person to understand, you get a very sharp FINE or GOOD! This word hits the other person to an instant mute state.

Sharp: This is often used when concord is about to be reached in a conversation. See the conversation below,
Girl: Let's take rice for lunch
Boy: Hmmmm, let's take rice and beans
Girl: Nooooo
Boy: Yesssss
Girl: But we ate beans yesterday, took bread and egg this morning and you still want us to take rice and beans for dinner. I don't even understand why on earth guys love beans...
(Boy interrupts) Okay... FINE! Let's go for rice.
The very sharp and sharp type are sometimes used in reply when one is in a rush. In this case, it doesn't tell much of the speaker.

Normal: This is used in absolute acceptance of an idea, in replies to close pals/loved ones. It is most often used when a person is in a happy, cool or peaceful state. It sometimes come with a smile or an emphasis. It tells that the person feels good.

Dull: This is usually below normal and you can tell that this person is not in such a great mood. There is probably something wrong somewhere. Atimes, you get this dull response when a person is just waking up from sleep or when they are tired.

Solemn: This is always basic. You can barely hear what this speaker is saying. Sometimes, he/she barely completes the word such that you need to move closer or ask from a distance if all is well cause the person's contempt is really weak.

The very sharp and solemn are extremes of acidity and alkalinity respectively. The sharp is acidic, dull; basic and normal; neutral.

Hope you enjoyed reading. Was just playing around though.