Today, I got the best gift ever and I had to share the photos with you of it. This amazing gift was given to me by my Colleague and Friend and fellow Foosball player, Tatz.
The reason I want to share it is not to make you envious (even though that might happen anyway) but to show you how generous he is! Thoughtful, generous and a person to look up to and take after!
This is what got me smiling big and getting curious looks from people around me:

Isn’t’ that cool? I absolutely love this gift because 1) It’s been themed around the first album of Paramore titled ‘Riot’ and 2) I fell in love with the personal touch he gave to it. I’m so happy I was the one to get it! Yummy! I feel blessed. I am lucky and very happy! And it’s all even done in my favorite colors: red and black! Look how well made it is. What a girl wants… I will send everyone I know to order designed shoes from this guy. Thank you Tatz, YOU rock! XOXO

OK, I'm sold. Bring it on,

[edit - details but no spoilers.] Damian Lewis fans all over the globe have been claiming that the show ‘LIFE’ was going to be where the actor made the transition from uninteresting puff into great and compelling tv.

It's too early to tell yet, but the first two seasons are easily & by far the best seasons I’ve seen to date. This show is different. It was 100% based around the central concept of the show which is of a cop framed for the murder of his friend and his family. As a result he’s been shoved in prison for 12 years. By the end of his 8th year he is found innocent and offered a huge settlement, in double-digit millions, and is also been placed as a detective at the prestigious LAPD. Each episode brings up lingering background subplots (the people who framed him) to the boil. And increases the darkness quotient of the show tenfold - we're reminded that, despite his reputation as the king of wisecracks, Lewis has a strong affinity for some great action scenes.

Best of all, his character really shakes things up and makes the central mystery more compelling. There's still a chance - maybe a strong one - that the show will immediately slip back into generic tv fodder. But the fact is that if two seasons didn't impress me I was going to give up on ‘LIFE’ altogether. I'm keen to watch the next season, no doubt at all.

I realize that I’ve become programmed to love everything that Andrew Chaikin a.k.a Kid Beyond puts out but this song takes the guy’s talents and general awesomeness to another dimension. It’s amazing how easily he blows you away with his bluesy vocals, beat boxing and live looping with “I Shall Be Free” (a big favorite for me). The track absolutely rocks in the most revolutionary of ways, it is a complete rush. Conclusion: I love this track in every way, although it isn’t the genre of music I’m used to listening to. Listen to it right away if you haven’t already. The track was featured on the show ‘LIFE’. Also, I hope that you die in a decent pair of shoes (you got a lot of long walking to do).

Why do people HAVE to get married???

One of my best friends in school got engaged yesterday and when a friend gets engaged, there's only one proper reaction: TERROR. Engagement is often the doorway to matrimony; the foremost reason of monogamy. And as someone who really despises marriage I would choose to prevent it or stay far away from it.
The fact that my twin and I are eligible young women in the ripe age of 25 means that at family gatherings we get a lot of advice from people we would try and avoid on the street if we saw them. They begin by asking about my job and then eventually bring up available men. Family friends’ sons, their son, sons of their friends, or ‘this-person-they-know’.
They ask us for our tastes in men: Appearance? Behavior? Aged or (yeah, I don’t get a choice in the other department). I say, “Money”, but they know me well enough to know I’m teasing. A joke to bury my response, for to disclose myself in this way is to reveal a weakness. So they tiptoe around the matter and ask me if I like anyone, imagining that if I tell them about a person I’m attracted to, they’ll be able to make out what person I’m searching for. It’s knotty, I think to myself, and reply with a sharp “No”. They ask me if anyone likes me. “No”. That’s even more knotted up.
Last week, my groom finder (yes, I have one. All thanks to my lovely folks) asked me how old I was. “25″, I told him, “Still, only 25”. “Well”, he says, “we’ll find someone for you now and by the time you’re 27 you’ll be all settled down. It’s time for you to get married. So don’t put this off”. He says a couple of Naga boys; he knows of, are looking to settle down with someone here. My older sister walks in and announces, “There won’t be another Naga in this family. One is enough.” Phew! Thank god for her big mouth. That ended the conversation for now.

My parents and their friends who regularly visit our home tell me that they want to make sure I don’t get involved with the wrong type of men. Someone who will take our money once we’re married, or force me to stay with him once he traps me with children. I want to tell them, that I hate the thought of having kids of my own, but I shut up because that could stir another riot. They go on to tell me that I need my parents full approval if I want to get married to someone and if I have someone in mind I should bring him to meet them, to make sure they’re okay with it.

I wonder; is love this easy for other people? Something others can control, when I can’t control it myself?

I get very nervous and fearful when I’m at the office nowadays. This is because I don’t like to admit to myself that something’s wounding me, but when I’m there, it’s a very real reminder that I have problems with my work.

I’m at odds on more than a few concerns but let’s not get into it. Moving on to the MUZICK!!!

Hailing from the streets of Georgia ‘The Dead Confederate’ has been making gorgeous rock/ psychedelic music for the last 3 years. Props go to my beautiful ears for singling out this band and today I’ll be playing you guys a track called ‘Rat’, that got them sup-ah famous this summer. With the huge exposure this track acquired, I’m sure they won’t have a problem earning fans. Their sound is brooding and melancholic, not in an overly bleak way but more so thoughtful and reflective. It’s definitely not music you’ll want to blast out in the car, but for those quiet moments in-between (best experienced on headphones). So, yea, I’m really digging it. You can count me as one of those who have utterly fallen for this band.

Food and Music

Yesterday, I went to F&B (Friends and Bacchus) on St. Mark’s Road with the music maestro, Tony, Runa and Ruan. I’m so glad my friends know where to eat and I get to partake in all the amazing food places they take me to. I’m wondering how much weight I’ve gained so far.

There were prawns, lamb, chicken, fish, pasta, steak poivre, bread pudding, caramel pudding, rum soaked chocolate cake, and chocolate mousse. So much delicious food that I could eat, now that I’m over the food-poisoning. I’m an awfully selective eater, but I greedily devoured everything that came across my plate (aside from one type of dessert, and skewed chicken). I’m not sure if it’s because the food is fresh, cooked well, or because I can’t cook food this well myself and have been without for a long time, but everything at F&B tastes so good. And these aren’t photos of all the food I ate. This is the reason why I love going out with Runa and Ruan, who are gourmands beyond me. And because they love trying new things, especially food related. Over the course of a few years we’ve been to many great little places such as this and in return I get a memorable meal and some great photos.






I think I’ve really developed as a photographer in the little time I’ve owned my first SLR camera. Looking back on a year of photos has made me realize that I’ve learned a lot, not only simple photography, but knowledge of my camera. I still have a lot more to learn though, especially with the way I take pictures in light, as digital cameras make it easy to get good shots without really needing to have an exhaustive comprehension.

I stumbled upon this track called 'Bringa' by Channel Two couple of days ago. And for some reason today I’m supremely frustrated with life {I actually know the reason. I’m still waiting for the chance to start my dream career}. For those of you looking to move to some good music on a Monday {or just looking to get in the mood} feel free to hear the track below. I have no idea what’s going on in this song but it’s very danceable, lovable and it’s a quasi crowd pleaser. I feel like this could easily be the background music to some trippy modern day after work special.

Ok, enough of me blabbering on and on. I’m tired, it’s after 7 in the evening and I was playing foosball at work all day. Have fun this week on whatever state or country you’re located at. Cheers, and come back often.

Show Me What I'm Looking For

The biggest crisis the world is facing today is people’s failure to do anything and that includes me, moi, myself as part of this problem: world, meet Ms. Negligent.

“Is one country justified when it sticks it’s nose in the dealings of another?" I'd reply with this question: Is one family justified when it sticks it’s nose in the dealings of another? My response is, ‘not an iota whatsoever’, for the most part. But if you notice a person exploiting a kid, I’d imagine you would be entitled - and more significantly you would be expected- to do something about it. Similarly when a country is tormenting and persecuting it’s own public I’d imagine that it is the concern of other countries to try and put an end to it. I'd include countries like Tibet in this.

My blog finger has been itching so I’ve decided to post from work today and I'm just going to waste it by writing about music as usual.
I blame metal. Everyone's parents used to say that rock & roll is just noise, and the metal’lers were silly enough to believe them. I used to love serious riffing as much as the next person but honestly I'm getting queasy of it.
You've got to hear music by this band called ‘Carolina Liar’. It’s nowhere close to being the best single there is around but it is pretty good and I've got to admit a preference for the single "Show me what I’m looking for". The rest of the album, ‘Coming to terms’ is solid too and the lead vocalist, Chad Wolf’s vocals blend so smoothly with the song. Frankly everyone should get hold of a copy of this track ‘Show me what I’m looking for’ and turn it right up now!

It's nice to know that there’s still some great music coming out of this world!

I’ve realized that the only thing that can make me feel better in times of my frustration is to show a bit of love.

Love to all my beautiful friends and blog readers (please comment).

Love to all my wonderful work-mates - never had real love for my work-mates before.

Love for Foosball. *yay!*

Love for those I have lost.

Love for those I still have.

Love for those who I have temporarily misplaced.

It is getting cool outside.


The day began with such promise. I woke up before the alarm and felt rested enough to get out of bed rather than wait to hit the snooze button as usual. I found myself running ahead of schedule through a combination of, a) feeling rested enough to not take an extra five-minute standing nap at the sink, b) picking out today's wardrobe before crashing into bed last night, and d) being at my stop so the driver wouldn’t have to wait.

Then my day started to crash harder than the stock market.

The powers that be had me fooled at first. As soon as I finished my breakfast at work, my stomach started feeling weird. Images of me dying flashed through my head but I managed to work through the pain and the discomfort of it all. And then I thought to myself, "So much for getting a lead on the day." The muscle spasms in my stomach stopped for awhile so I put a little bounce back in my step telling myself that it could only get better from here! Right?

I walk into the pantry to play a little foosball and none of the newbies were crowding the table. Woohoo! A colleague and I are at it for three straight games and we’re having fun. The glass doors open for the longest time then slams back shut while a bunch of those wannabe newbies walk in. All of them grab a bar each and the volume in the room suddenly started to ascend. I look at them with that "You couldn’t leave us for just another minute?" look on my face. But they continue playing, regardless. I walk out of the stuffy room, head to my cubicle and remind myself not to play foosball when the newbies take their scheduled breaks.

I sat back down at my desk, and took a breath. Clearly, the worst was behind me and I could get on with my day. Perhaps I'd make that important call now. Person’s busy. Of course! I've decided to drop all expectations for the rest of the day at work and let the chips fall where they may. Let go, blah blah blah.
And the lesson I've learned today is: Never rush your morning or it'll screw you more than you want it to.

Last day with my team and I don’t know if I’ll get the time to blog or surf on facebook like I used to because the new process is quite a nanny, which is probably just as well 'cause daily break-time blogging scratches that working itch and takes impetus away from giving the job my whole attention.

It’s Bat for Lashes again. Has anyone who reads my blog ever had an opinion about this artist? Do I even care?

If I was ever going to try and make it as a ***star***, I think there are two things I would do. The first is to pull out all the stops and make a really hot track like the one below, and the second is to get someone like Natasha Khan who'd make me look good by association.

That aside, Natasha Khan is friggin hot - distinctive, non-imitative, catchy, weird and cool. Her flow is relaxed, her lyrics are dexterous, and the beats are slick. The sound is soft and smooth and very ‘Aimee Mann’, that’s what my friend says. I kept returning to this track by Bat for Lashes called ‘What’s a girl got to do?’ and it kept growing on me and now it's one of my favourite early morning songs. Go figure.