Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Fingerspelling

Here's a quick video I made earlier today.

I'm taking Sign Language and Fingerspelling classes this semester and I just learned the alphabets.

I've gone from being scared that I would never figure Sign Language out yesterday, to being really excited that I can fingerspell my name today.

The plan is to document my progress as I go along and I look forward to laughing at all the mistakes I'm making now when I finally become a pro.

It's all new to me and I still have a looooong way to go, but I'm giving it my best shot!

I signed a special message at the end of the video. Don't miss it ;)


Thanks for coming by again and again.
May your dreams come true.
xoxo

First Day of School... Second Year :)

Monday was the first day of the new school year.
It was also one of those days where nothing goes according to plan.

First I woke up late. An hour and five minutes late.

I rolled out of bed at the same time that Nathan's school bus was rolling out of the parking lot. Missing the bus meant I had to drive him all the way to his school in rush hour traffic, which was made worse by the rain, and then sign him into the tardy log at the front office. He had started school a week earlier than I did, so he wasn't late on his first day. That's what I told myself to feel better.

I couldn't afford to be late on my own first day, so I had to head straight to school. Going back home to take a bath wasn't an option. So, I showed up in class, all dressed up, hoping and praying that no one would faint or fall under the anointing of my perfume masked BO.

Class was okay, nice professor. He told us about how he had a surprise baby even though he had gotten a vasectomy several years ago. Apparently, his tubing somehow reconnected. Talk about life throwing you a curve! The story made me feel better. My less than perfect day paled in comparison.

As I waited for my next class, I began to write a post about my first day of school and the usual "how do you say your name" questions. I didn't finish before my next class though, so I left it in drafts.

My next class was NOT okay. I chose the "wrongest" Arts elective. Music Literature had me yawning barely 10 minutes into the class. After listening to a piece of music and hearing the professor analyze the melody, harmony, rhythm and bla di bla bla bla bla of it, I knew I was in the wrong place. Then she said we would have to attend four mandatory classical music concerts and write reports about them. Detailed reports about Renaissance, Baroque and all that. Between my Sign Language, Fingerspelling and Chemistry classes I'm also taking this semester, there's no way I'm getting into all that stuff I really don't care about. No time. I decided to drop the course, choosing to drive to the admissions office at the campus nearer home so I wouldn't be stuck downtown during rush hour.

I got out of class and into the car, got on the phone and I was so engrossed in gist, I didn't pay attention to my dashboard, until I noticed the car was kinda slow. I was out of gas! Thankfully, I had made my exit off the freeway and I managed to pull into parking lot, so I didn't get towed. A long walk to the nearest gas station and a ride back to the car from a Good Samaritan later, I managed to get some gas in the tank. Not without spilling some on myself, of course. Convincing myself that the smell of gas masked my pre existing BO, I headed for campus to find a way out of the music class that wasn't working.

The song and dance that I had to got through to drop the course was my next challenge. I had to go to the computer lab, then go see a counselor, who had me go back to the lab to fill out a form, then back to her and then to admissions and enrollment and then back to the computer lab. Three hours and $104 later, I had dropped the class and replaced it with another.

And then Alexis' teacher called. She was giving them a hard time and not listening. There was no way I was going to her school in the state I was. I was exhausted and I needed a bath. Badly. I asked her to give the phone to Alexis, who promised she was going to be good after a stern warning. Temporary fix. I'm going to have to figure out a way to get Alexis to stop acting out. All this Diva behavior must stop. Nobody got time for that. 

By the time I hit my bed at almost midnight after picking everyone up in, doing homework, feeding them, giving them baths, putting them to bed, laying everyone's clothes out for the next morning and cleaning up the kitchen, I was knackered. And exhausted. Then I tried to find my post in drafts and it was gone. POOF! 

I couldn't even find the energy to be angry.

Here's what I tweeted






Yeah! Bring it on!
I will deal. And win.
I plan to come back to this post whenever I feel like I'm getting overwhelmed. There are days like Monday, and then there are days like today where it was smooth sailing for the most part and I had enough time to (re)write this post.

Thanks for coming by again and again. May your dreams come true.
xoxo

Sunday, August 18, 2013

This Time Last Year

Last weekend was a tax holiday, perfect time to get everything the munchkins need for the new school year. As I went from store to store, ticking off items from my shopping list, I remembered the events of this time last year.

What was supposed to be a quick shopping trip for Alexis and I, leaving the boys at home to bond, ended up with The Hubs calling 911 when we hadn't returned at almost midnight.

I was sure I blogged about it and I came looking for a post I never wrote. I was pained. I couldn't remember the details. I was sure I shared it though, so I checked my Twitter archives and I was super excited to find my tweets from last year.

I found a picture too.
The Hubs took this picture of Alexis and I as we left for the mall.
Mini Me and I, off to do what girls like to do...Shop ;)
Thanks to Storify, I can share the story here, one year later, as I tweeted it

Blogger feels more permanent than Twitter and it's where I should chronicle my stories. I really should post more, I know... There's so much going on in my life that should be documented. Stories that will fade into distant memories soon...

This girl needs to fix up and quit making excuses.

*Note to self* Stopeeet Gbemi! Stopeeet!!!

I'm writing this from a happy place. I'm learning not to let life's external pressure mess with my mind. I've not mastered it yet, but I'm definitely getting better. God's got me. If I believe it, I should live it. A lot has happened since August 18th 2012 and today, exactly one year later, I am reminded that I have a lot to be thankful for. I take none of my blessings, especially the ones that money cannot buy, for granted.

I'm grateful for, and to you, Debola.
When I count my blessings, I count you twice.

This Time Last Year

This Time Last Year


Lemme tell you the story of the missing phone and how my husband called 911 cos he thought I was missing



    I ran into an old friend at the mall and we had such a great time catching up, I lost track of time...

    ...I called The Hubs as I rushed to the car and he said I could take my time cos he had put the boys to bed already...

    ...I dropped the phone on the hood and bundled sleeping Alexis and all the shopping in the car and drove off, forgetting it there...

    I was about 5 minutes from home when I ran into traffic, so I reached for my phone to let him know. That was when I remembered.

    20mins away from the mall and not sure how soon I would make it home cos of the crash, I thought going back was a better option, so I did.

    Pushed the pedal to the metal and made it back to parking lot. No phone :(. Used the Mall Cop's phone to call, phone was still ringing.

    Made a report, searched some more, nothing. By now, it was past 11 and The Hubs was worried cos he kept getting my voicemail.

    He called my friend I was gisting with at the mall. Found her number on my BB. She said I had left. He was worried and called 911.

    Then I showed up. The way he held me when he saw me. I must confess, I felt special. :P

    He called 911 to report my return and as I sat on the stairs watching this man say "my wife is back", my heart swelled.

    I cant describe the feeling. I'm grateful that I have someone to worry about me.

    I don't have parents to worry about me, but he more than makes up for it. I do not take it for granted.

    911 dispatcher: describe your wife. Is she small, medium or large? Debola: Err.. none of the above. She's chubby.

    I'm not going to wait for the people I love to die before they know how I feel about them. Are you?

    Memories... That's all we'll be left with... It's totally up to us to decide if they'll be good or bad.
  • Of course, I got teased for tweeting my "cool story". I lovvveeet, lemme not lie, or as we say on Twitter, TBQHAF!

    This one from my dear "Komole Bot" was one of the ones I liked the most.

  • -_- @Abyurla: Cool story sista Gbemi. Missing 3week old Android turned love story



  • She's right... I'm a love lover... grateful for every day I get to experience the awesomeness that love is. Living, loving and laughing, making the best of today, because tomorrow is not promised. 

    Thanks for coming by again and again.
    May your dreams come true
    :* :* :*