Bless!

Do you remember YOUR first day of school? I'm not asking about high school. I'm talking about the very, very first day of Grade 1 (or Standard 1, for those in South Africa old enough to remember 'those' days).

Well, bless, my niece started Grade 1 on Monday. Yes, the academic school year starts in January down south of the equator. And apparently the young angel has already made enough of an impact on her teachers that they have called my sister to tell her how the young blessed child is such a "helping star".

Wow, her first day of Grade 1. That makes me feel really old. But still, bless.

Just a little off the back, please

Tomorrow I shall be having my locks snipped. Not too short, mind you. Just enough to stop the ends from looking like barbed wire. And also the back is getting kinda lengthy, much like a baby mullet and those are not cool.

I'm proud to have a head of thick tresses. But what's the point if you don't look after them, right? A trim every six weeks, a treatment every month, some good hair products occasionally, and voila, healthy shiny hair - the stuff of shampoo commercials.

There's something to be said about having someone run their fingers through your hair. I imagine it's exactly what a cat feels when you pet it and it starts roaring with pleasure. It's soothing, relaxing, and enough to just almost put you to sleep. So yes, I'm looking forward to it.

I have a lot to prove

Sounds a little narcisistic, I know, but hey, what the hell, it's my blog. I'm back on the job hunt and changing my resume (or maybe I should say "tailoring my resume" to each of the positions I am applying for has made me reflect on myself and my abilities.

What am I really good at? I like to think I can write. I'm really good at spending time on the internet. But I've applied for a position as a business development person with an architectural firm, and I've been called back for a 2nd meeting. I have never worked in business development before. Where the hell does one start?

If I got the job, would I have something to prove to myself? Hell yeah, to myself AND my employer. At this point, I shall gladly take advice from readers on how to solicit new business for an architectural firm.

The thing about being a temp worker

The thing about being a temp worker is that it's not permanent.

Now I realize that sounds redundant, but in actuality, it makes perfect sense. Because nothing is ever actually permanent. No one stays at their first job for their entire lives. So it's hardly a permanent situation. But we call it that.

All that said, my temp assignment came to an end today. Way back when I was first hired, I was told it was a temp position and that it could last anywhere from a week to a few months. It lasted four months. So while I have until the end of the week until I have to say 'goodbye', the new job hunt started today. A quick call to the temp agency and now I wait. well, not really wait because I have an interview with another temp agency on Monday and another phone interview for an in-person interview I had about two months ago on Wednesday. So hopefully something pans out. It always does.

Foul & grumpy

Today I am in a foul and grumpy mood. I do not feel like being witty and smart and funny. That requires too much effort of which I do not have much today. So I shall wallow in my foulness (that suddenly sounded very gross) and grumpiness until such time as I feel like smiling again.

Happy New Year, my ass!

Church on Christmas Eve

It's not all that often that I go to church. Maybe once a year. And Christmas Eve is usually that once a year. So this year I trotted off to the Sixth Presbytarian Church in Squirrel Hill. Here it is:

It was a nice service - as far as services go. Some carols, some readings from the Bible. A nice over-all Christmas feeling, and that's what I was hoping for.

Hope you all had a super Christmas/Hannukah/Eid and that 2010 brings you much health, happiness and prosperity.

My "friend" in Ghana

This was in my email's junk folder. For the life of me I can't imagine why it would be in my junk folder:

"Dear friend, (he calls me friend but I don't know who this fella is)


My name is Mr. Ahmed Owusu a branch bank manager here in Ghana. After several official enquiries from the foreign trade office of our Chambers of Commerce and Industry, I decided to contact you directly for assistance. (of course you did, because I'm a financial big shot)

I am interested to transfer in your country through your assistance. I am in Ghana presently and I have the sum of Fifteen Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars which I would like to transfer into your account and invest in your country if possible. (15 million? pocket change, mate)

I made this money (US$15,850,000.00) out of my branch office excess profit for the 2007 fiscal year. (are you telling me the truth? this sounds like some shady business dealing) I choose you because I cannot be directly involved for I am still working with the bank, I hope you can understand my situation and assist me to receive and invest this money properly as this is my only hope. (oh I totally understand, why on earth would you want to transfer it here through a bank anyway? they will only charge you fees) You will get 30% of the total fund as commission for your sympathetic co-operation while 70% will be for me. (30%? you are too generous. I'll tell you what, I'll do it for free, out of the kindness of my heart - my early Christmas present to you)

Please kindly get back to me ASAP.

Best regards,

Mr. Ahmed Owusu."