Humor - Bellyful of laughter

The Burglar….

July 30, 2015July 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

”Why?” I moan in despair to myself.

“Why didn’t I arrange for his assassination?” I ask in perplexed wonder.

“Now, he has got the best of my lot.”

”The one that I saved for the best moments.”

”My cultured one!”

”My thoroughbred of the highest pedigree!”

”The one that makes onlookers utter goodness me in divine visual pleasure.”

”Oh why?” I moan yet again in distress.

”All my efforts to get her away from him, just came to naught.”

”The first time he visited, I knew he was trouble.”

”I moved her away, in a bid to separate the two and divert his attention.”

”Yet, lovestruck was he.” ”He kept visiting, again and again.”

”And my malleable, cultured one sat pretty in her revered position.”

”Waiting for the right time to come down from her esteemed pedestal.”

”To entertain the rich and noble.”

”Oh why?” My seething frustration goes up a notch.

”Why didn’t I take her away to a hidden destination?”

”Why didn’t I simply get rid of that vagabond?”

”That good for nothing, never do well!”

”Now he has run off with her!”

”Not even a morsel spared for me.”

”That RAT!

”He stole my Moose Cheese.”

Image Credit: Nu borrelia

Creative Writing

Whispering Hope…Flash Fiction

July 29, 2015July 29, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha30 Comments

I have been gone for ages and as I draw closer to that wooden bridge, my thoughts race along with the increase of my pulse.

Would you still accept me as I am? I wonder. My limbs torn up from shrapnel’s of an explosion; my sights no longer what they used to be, but still as bright within my heart. As we slowly trundle past the bridge, the sound of the waterfalls are melancholic melody to my ears.

They wring vivid memories which had kept me warm during the dark days. Of carefree laughs and frolics under the spray of the fall. Of long walks and whispered dreams.

Scott’s unmistakable excited barks and your rum whiskey tones, float to me.

I am home.

In response to the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers Prompt flash fiction

Image credit: Etol Bagam

Inspiration - Motivation

From pain to prayer…

July 27, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

What do you do, when each day seems like a struggle?
What do you do, when you are weary?
What do you do, when you are depressed?
When you are feeling ugly with negative emotions?
And everything around you seems to conspire to make it worse?

What do you do?
When the internal turmoils seems as if they will eat you up alive, from within?
What do you do when the anguish of your pain makes your eyes turn red?
And you feel like having a tiny switch button that you can turn on and take it all away?
So that you can experience blissful silence,
All your blues taken away.

Your vitriolic pain, your shame, your ugliness, your addiction, your anger, your depression, your fear, your bitterness, your mental anguish, your lack….,
All taken away at the flick of a button.

Your family have failed,
Your friends have failed,
The system has failed,
It all doesn’t seem right,
No human love seems enough,
To erase how you feel. That addiction has you in a choke hold, But you lack the will to stop,
That abusive relationship is killing you,
But stay in it you must,
No lover of yours, can fill the empty void inside you,

No booze, no drugs, no sex, no form of addiction, seems to help you out of the rabbit hole,
Hurt and pain of feeling lost are your steady companion,
Your grief hanging like a heavy cloak,
On your bowed shoulders from dawn to dusk,
Further pulling you down.

Yet you wear your smile,
Hiding your struggles behind the mask of your face,
Which is falsified like a clay cast,
You are trying to be strong,
Pretending to be strong,
Losing the essence of your authentic self, as each day goes along,
Pervaded by the feeling that you are not enough,
And that you can never be enough.

You float like a listless buoy, cast on roiling seas,
BECAUSE you seek for constant validation of fellow man,
Forgetting that he or she is equally fallible,
A mere human like you,
Bogged down by his/her own struggles, inner turmoils and pain,
Who cannot endorse neither the wind, nor the dust they were made of.

Ponder on the courage that you have to get up everyday.
The courage to face that job, to shoulder that pain, the hurt, the hunger, the loneliness, the lack, the emotional upheaval, the addiction and all the extra baggage.
Where do you think it comes from?
It comes from no other source; but from within you.
And you can do better
You can build that courage
Into a resilient dam of an over-comer.

BY CHOOSING NOT TO WALK ALONE!
The journey is harder when you walk alone,
BUT WHEN YOU CHOOSE GOD
Through Grace and Mercy
Through Faith and Hope
He leads you to Victory
A step at a time, out of the rabbit hole
A day at a time, to joy and peace
BUT ONLY IF YOU BELIEVE…

BE still and know that there is GOD.

Uncategorized

Should Woulda Coulda

July 25, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Shoulda Woulda Coulda.”

It’s a no brainer right?
Pretty easy to say;
I shoulda;
I woulda;
I coulda;
Gotten more exercise;
And left the tin of biscuits alone;
Now I have;
400 and something calories;
Stuck on my hip line 😦

Creative Writing

Bonding with you…

July 25, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

The value of a man’s word should be worth it weights in solid gold.

As part of my Blogging 101 fulfillment and as a way of bonding with you (my friend and audience), I have to create a stream-lined feature, so that I can attract you like bees to my blogging petals 🙂

I had to meditate on this for a while, because I am my own worst critic and would want to do my best to keep your keen interest.

Even though my answers are not cast in stone, I am old-fashioned enough in my thinking, to believe that our words are almost promises made to each other.

So, after much mulling with the ideas teeming in my mind, I decided to start with these features for my blog and build on it as time goes by.

A. A bi-monthly short story or flash fiction will be featured.

B. A monthly book review of all that I assimilated will be delivered at the end of each month and in this aspect, I would welcome reading suggestions from you in particular.

C. My poems can be sporadic and will come when the light bulb in that corner of my brain switches on, thus, my mangled regurgitation’s will also grace the board.

D. My motivation and inspire musings are for weekly ingestion.

E. A bi-weekly dose on the Tip for the day will float through the cyberspace to your corner of the World.

F. Serialized projects that I work on, will feature as well. More information will precede any of the projects before it starts.

G. Random thoughts and happenings around me, will decorate this space a whole lot.

H. I am thinking of a Question and Answer feature. Not sure how to go about it yet. Any ideas, someone?

Okay. Now, let me go and set my calendar.

Be kind to yourself and stay blessed.

Creative Writing · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Inspiration - Motivation

10 things to Love me or Hate me…yOu’ve got to feel something…

July 25, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

A fellow blogger whom I enjoy reading her lovely articles Whereshappy invited me to do this LOVE/HATE exercise chain, so that you can take a peek into my quirky, murky mind.

Whereshappy, thank you for asking me to participate in this. It means a lot to be positively thought of by someone else.

In a short synopsis, I shall let you in, in a bit to see the 10 things that I Love and the 10 things I love to Hate. If you don’t want me to nominate you (I have eyes that see through, into your mind), just click on the like button 🙂 and run along. Thank you for reading…

1. I LOVE being a mother; hassles and all. It’s a wonder that I did not turn into an old woman living in a shoe with a brood of twenty. The fragrance of freshly bathed baby is just awesome, but when they turn into terror toddlers, that is another tale entirely. I HATE the thought of my brood flying from my coop, and that would happen one day; it’s just the way of life.

2. I LOVE that I have grown to love myself a whole lot, crooked feet, warts and all. Without pretense or trying to sound hyperbolic, the truth is what it is. The older I get, the more in love with myself I become, but I do HATE the thinning hair line and the effect of gravity in some perky places 🙂

3. I LOVE honest people and HATE two-faced humans. You never know which side of the face to talk to, or to slap some sense into 🙂

4. I LOVE or should I say adore books; and I HATE the fact that there is not enough time to read them all.

5. I LOVE to chat; even with total strangers (weird right?) but I HATE it when they want to follow me home and live off my couch.

6. I LOVE to dance and I HATE the fact that I sound like Donald Duck in the shower 🙂

7. I LOVE to travel, seeing new places, learning new cultures and meeting new people, but I HATE the downsides of living out of a suitcase; it short circuits my brain.

8. I LOVE colors every single one of them. They bright colors perk me up and make me happy, but I HATE having to choose them carefully in order not to risk looking like a Christmas tree or the rainbow lady. Sheer waste of time.

9. I LOVE to people-watch (I am campaigning for that to become a hobby) and my latest peeve is that I HATE the new craze of everybody walking absent-minded with their heads perpetually bent over their phones, even in restaurants or on dates when they should interact face to face.

10. I am sure you are tired by now, so I can sneak in the last bit without anyone taking much notice. I LOVE sweet things, oh, I love food. I am a confirmed chocoholic. I have to practically hold myself from eating all the cake. I do manage to squeeze in some exercise for my well-being and I HATE the idea that I can’t just gorge to my hearts delight without paying the price. Simply not fair.

*PHEW* The end at last. Now I pass on the baton to my friends to continue the exercise. It would be nice to read about you. Enjoy.

My nominees are:

Image credit: courtesy – http://www.Oursecondlife.tumblr.com

Creative Writing · Humor - Bellyful of laughter

Not a bit of fluff you say…Veracity challenge

July 24, 2015July 24, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

*Sigh* How did I get roped into this?

I started my blog quietly, hoping to slink past some people, like a ship passing through the night, gone before you know it even came, but the Darkwriter had to see me and we became friends.

Oh well! Having fun is what you do with friends. How can I resist a challenge when the gauntlet has been thrown down?

In response to the Veracity Challenge to eliminate the fluff in writing, I pose this question with my tongue in my cheek – how can I write without the flowery, fluffy content of my literal expressions? Let me give it a try.

Ever After – The bones – this should have read; The dry and bare bones 🙂

Just Once
She came to visit
I saw her;
I loved her;
I married her;

Its been years;
Offspring as gifts;
Grand-kids in boots;
It’s as simple as that;

With the High’s and Low’s

Happy Ever After;
At last.

I think I have managed the shortest tale, I ever told without the flesh to the bones. I like it, but I would have loved to regale you with the meaty part of this gist. Now to the part of this challenge, where I get to pull on other people’s feet, I nominate Six bloggers below to give it a shot, however, do bear in mind that you don’t have to be nominated to give it a shot and also, there are no pressures on the nominees. I know I might be pushing some out of their comfort zone.

Do have some fun and kind regards.

Rules:

1. Write a paragraph without using a single adjective.
2. Keep the link of the original Veracity Challenge in your post (so that the creator of the challenge may receive a pingback)
3. Anyone can join the challenge, you don’t have to be nominated!
4. Nominate 6 Bloggers for this challenge

Shafali

Around Zuzu’s barn

Mirth and Motivation

Reuben Kerr lost son returning

Azhar Yousef

Whereshappy

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Inspiration - Motivation

To my dear young man…

July 23, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

It’s 5:30 am and I step into your room. I take a peek at your nice shaven scalp and peaceful face. You are still asleep. A gentle snore emits from your nostrils as you snuffle and adjust your duvet for more purchase of cosiness, my heart is full.

I rest on the door jamb for a while, staring at your silhouette that is cast by the bluish little night light on your beside stand; you have never liked to sleep in the dark, even as a baby.

Where did time go? I wonder in amazement as I look at my yet to awaken son. You will rouse from sleep, shedding the age 13 and rightfully 14 years today.

In awe, I drift just a little bit down memory lane, even as I ponder at the essence of time and wishing I could catch it and trap it in a capped bottle.

My high scholar son, since the moment that your wriggly, squalling, head full of hair and beautiful (dare I say so) tiny self was placed in my arms, till this moment, I have never ceased to gaze at you; never quite sure how I got so lucky 🙂 I have cherished the priceless moments of watching you grow, and will remember these memories as long as I live.

You have always been a bouncy, charming and happy child, even as a baby, you were just so peaceful.

Now, look at you! My strapping Six footer, towering over Mama, yet, just yesterday, you were stretching out your little arms to be carried. I watch as you learn independence, eager to assert yourself, no longer clinging to the tails of my skirt for everything, even though I catch myself dismayed at times with such speedy growth process, I remain a proud mama.

My Cordon Bleu chef, who whips up a la carte breakfasts to the delight of family and visitors; how did I get so lucky?

My Mr. Fix it, ready to help mum with any technical stuff that stumps my imagination (and this happens quite often).

I admire your caring, protective and helping hands towards your siblings especially your younger brother who adores you so much. You are a blessing to our family.

I watch in amusement when you shy away from a mummy’s hug in front of your mates and I do enjoy your chuckles when you watch mummy do her dancing antics.

Today, I promised not to give you a lecture 😉

I thank the Lord for your life and pray each day that you will be safe and free from harm.

I pray as you turn into a full-fledged teen, that your mind is guarded by God’s peace.

That you would chose right from wrong, standing tall, proud and strong.

May the right spirit be renewed within you everyday, with wisdom, with integrity of heart and uprightness.

May the hand of the Lord continue to guide you as you gradually inch your way to manhood.

May your days be long and rich in faith, love, joy and kindness.

You teach me things that I did not know before, such as parenting, and that does not come with a manual and you make me glad to declare that you are my son. It is a declaration of love, pride, joy, fierce protectiveness and sometimes anger and despair.

To you, my dear young man, with a heart overflowing with love, I wish a very marvelous and happy 14th birthday.

Mummy.

Creative Writing · Inspiration - Motivation

Get inspired by the neighbors: Blogging 101

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

I haven’t written in days, not because I don’t want to but for reasons that I cannot even put my fingers on. It seems I am having withdrawal syndrome from a whole lot of stuff. Traveling from one place to the other does have its highs and lows and I think my low kicked in sometime last week after a days trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, coupled with living out of a suitcase, so I lagged behind on my Blogging 101 assignments. Well, the saying that it is better to be late than never applies here, so I am going to play catch up right now and hope that would kick-start my writing juice and other stuff as well.

I made friends with some of my good neighbours in the blogosphere, paying visits to several abodes and sharing my thoughts on their timelines and articles. I paid a visit to your cyber abode, Disarmed by Love and your warm welcome made me feel at home.
I ate and drank as you invited, listening to your words that teemed with wisdom and motivation. It was a very good visit. I felt that I had run into a kindred and gracious spirit and with that warm glow I left, knowing that I shall visit again.

I made a pit stop at http://patternsofsouldevelopment.com/ his in-depth perspective in analyzing some things we tend to overlook with the wave of the hand, made me think a bit deeper and left me with new knowledge. We bantered quite a bit, gleaning off each other. I taught him how to say DALU – which is a gracious thank you in my native language. He is also a keeper.
For some fun and color which I love so much, I flitted around quite a bit, like a hummingbird from one blog post to the next blog, perusing the beautiful and lively photos of: https://mariajanssonphotography.wordpress.com/, http://kevinhotter.com/ and https://whsimphotos.wordpress.com/

They made me wish I was a better photographer.

They were simply captivating and inspired me enough to take nondescript photos that were going to nowhere (like the one above this article).

Creative Writing · Humor - Bellyful of laughter

Dance with glee…a chance to be silly

July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha15 Comments

I love to dance,
Indeed, I do.

My blood thrums at the
Rhythm of musical vibes.

Anything that beats, gets a rise off me

But, hold on!
Don’t be mistaken when I say that.

Don’t you start thinking of
Ballroom dancing, Waltzing, Tango and the likes.

For sure, these are such fine footwork.

But I am more into the demonstrative Afro Pop,
Waist rolling, Eye rolling, Expressions and
staccato moves. Almost like a war dance that borders on dodgy.

I think that the twirls and frills of the fine footwork,
Are more reserved for the delicate that
Can twirl and toss themselves at the click of your thumb.

Me! If you know me at all,
Almost an African Amazon,
Not small by half a mile!

I chortle in laughter when I visualize myself,
Trying to Tango, in my Bou-bou or skirt.

It would probably be like an Elephant stumping through a China shop,
And breaking the ten toes of my partner and more
Phew!

A bead of sweat breaks on my forehead,
At such a thought 😉

Now let me go and rest, after such exertion of my mind.

P.S. Enjoy the music below, courtesy of YouTube.