All These Names That You Call Me…

December 4, 2015December 4, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

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You called me crazy
But I tell you that’s hazy
I just have lots of crazy characters
And lots of good friends
Who chatter in my head.

You called be lazy
And I said, Oh maybe
What’s the hurry
When my pillow
Is reluctant to let me go.

You called me fat
And I said no, not that
I just have extra layers of awesomeness
And I am built to last

You called me a dreamer
And I said, please add weaver
For I weave my dreams
While I eat fortune cookies and cream.

You called me a writer
And I said, that’s better
It seems I have to go chatter
With loads of characters
Under my hatter.

”Writers aren’t exactly people… They are a whole bunch of people trying to be one person.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Musings · Poetry/Poems

The Truth As it is 😄

December 3, 2015December 3, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

In my mind,

I run like an African Gazelle,

filled with grace,

speed and style,

while in actual fact,

I am a robust Heifer,

trundling along,

with a rolling gait rump,

also filled with grace,

style and attitude,

to make up for the speed.

Go ahead! Have a chuckle at my expense.

Image Source: Indy Pendent Thinking

A link to my neighbours/Community · Creative Writing · Fiction · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Love · Photographs · Short Stories

No Shoe Chromosone!..He Said, She Said…

December 1, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

Jennifer at INK and QUILL has invited me to participate in 5 day photo story challenge.

Thank you my fair lady Jennifer. I appreciate the nomination and I am excited to jump into this challenge!

Challenge Guidelines:

Post a picture each day, for five consecutive days. Attach a story to your image.

*can be fiction / non-fiction
*poem / short paragraph
*each day nominates another blogger

“Oh look! Isn’t that just gorgeous!” she said.

“Not another shoe!” He whined.

“It’s not just another shoe.” She emphasized.

“Can’t you see it’s lovely red and those cute buckles and bows.”

“They go quite well with my other bag.” She affirmed.

“Which other bag?” He asked in a half-hearted attempt to sound like he even noticed the bags.

”The red one with the purple and white trimming and the feathered straps” She responded offhandedly.

He looked utterly lost.

”Oh never mind! You just never bother to notice.” She chastised.

”How can I keep up with the 100 pairs of shoes in 20 shades of red, 50 shades of black and blue, plus a dozen other shades of colours not described in the colour palette along with so many bags?” He countered.

“How many shoes and bags does a girl really need?” He muttered under his breath.

She: Pursed her lips in pouting thought, he had lost her to shoe chromosome which he seemed to lack.

“Oh Come on! Be a darling and just hold on to these bags while I try it out.” She cajoled.

In a sigh of deflated defeat, he sank into the shop chair and prepared his mind for a round of appropriate admiring oohs and aahs!

I nominate Deb to join the photo story challenge. I look forward to reading from you if you choose to participate. Enjoy 🙂

Blogging · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Inspiration - Motivation · Musings · Success · The Daily Post · Writing

Yippee! It’s Over Now…singing a song

November 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha63 Comments

Tra la la la! Yippee!

I did it, Oh yes I did it!

I am doing a jig and a boogie-woogie at the same time 😉

I managed to finish the NaBloPoMo with a flourish.

Not a prompt missed.

Honestly, there were some mornings that I woke up and wanted to play truant, but the little effervescent encouraging voice in me kept prodding me to try, and this was in fierce contest with the little imp of discouragement that kept saying ”come on, just a day’s kicking back won’t hurt.”

It seriously, wasn’t easy trying to do this, coupled with other posts that I usually make, in essence, each day, I was posting 3 to 4 original articles per day.

Some of the prompts were fly by the seat of your pants prompt like The Daily Post; I love participating in The Daily Post because you just never know what the prompt is going to be all about, so it helps my thinking quickly on my feet.

Somethings did suffer a bit with all these writing and the very first one was my butt. This is my little ditty about a writers flat butt.

The second thing that took the flake was my book. Instead of a thousand words a day, I was limping in at 500 words.

Each night, by the time I read two paragraphs of the John Grisham that I am currently reading, I am out cold and I bet I was snoring too – mind you we ladies don’t snore, we just make delicate noises.

My hubby is too nice to tell me that I am snoring. He knows the side that his bread is buttered on *wink* if he wants his nice hot meals 🙂

Now to celebrate, I am just going to kick back for a couple of days; I will still post each day as usual; but not with the rabid intention of the past few days.

Where is my Irish cream and some deep tissue massage?

Hmm! I feel the relaxation coming on before the next upheaval.

Thank you for staying with me my dear friends and for all your beautiful support.

To persevere and to finish is really a good feeling 🙂

NaBloPoMo prompt – Monday, November 30

What do you like to do to celebrate an accomplishment?

Creative Writing · Fiction · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Short Stories

Fiona’s Friends

November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Which friends? Bob asked Fiona. He peered at her through his reading glasses with more concentration than normal.

Out in the country, their nearest neighbour was miles away.

Since her feverish bout, she has picked up queer habits, muttering to herself, getting into arguments with his mother, wandering off to the woods with a picnic basket and spouting nonsense thereafter.

The past few days were worse. She rambled in a silly fashion.

He shook his head sadly. Mother was right. Fiona was losing her mind.

Such dampening thoughts made him decide to go for a walk.

He wandered deep into the woods, enjoying the quiet and peaceful sounds of nature, but today he felt as if eyes were watching him!

Ever so often, he turned sharply when he heard the crinkle of twigs.

Just when he chalked it down to his disturbed feelings, the crinkles grew louder and a smiling, odd looking alien tugged at his trouser leg.

Have you come to play with us Mr. Ford? It asked.

He yelped in fright and raced back home. He was utterly speechless.

Inlinkz code

In response to the FFfAW photo prompt above. Thank you Etol bagam for the photo and Priceless Joy for this challenge platform.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Life · Personal story · Quotes For You · Writing

We Are Frowning Goats!…

November 28, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

In my young mind, when my grandma used Igbo (African) proverbs like ”no matter how much a goat frowned its face, its owner still had to take it to the market to sell’‘ I literally thought she was talking about her goats.

She used to raise some goats that were either sold or killed to celebrate special occasions, and I recall looking at the faces of the goats with curious eyes to determine how they frowned.

It took maturity for it to dawn on me that the proverb was meant to address issues that we were either dodging to do or were difficult to do, yet they needed to be done.

Maybe, I should liken myself to the frowning goat in the proverb above.

For the past few days including today; though today has been super-charged busy for me, I have found every busy reason to dodge sitting down and working on my book.

I know that I could find half an hour to squeeze in yet…

Well, I say to myself, the book will not write itself lady!

Get moving! No matter how many excuses made it still has to get done right?

Like my people would also say; ”if the child likes, he should play pranks all day, his portion to weed at the farm will still wait for him.”

I am sure there are other frowning billy and nanny goats as well as pranksters like my dear self, who are using all the bucking tactics available to skirt around the needful 😉 ‘fess up to your misdeeds and lets get it rolling.

Once again, izzyasabee thank you for the invitation to take part in the three quote challenge which I have concluded and will be moving on to the next round of invitation from Vincent Wambua.

I call on these gems of my blogging World to join the fun.

Thomas Dohling

Kat blogs

SarahC

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Life · Little rants · The Daily Post

If Only They Knew…

November 27, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

It’s a given that the most beautiful humans that I see once I wake up each morning are my family.

My dear Himself – if he is not out of town and our lovely blessings – The children. They are never far from me. Hmm, come to think of it, it seems a selfie holiday is loooong overdue; though I doubt if that vacation will be as much fun without them.

Without doubts, I love them very much and I refer to them as ”ndi nkem, nji eme onu” in my native language which means, ”my very own that I am proud of. My jewels of inestimable value.

However, they are not the ones that I want to talk briefly about right away.

The ones that I want to discuss lightly are those strangers that cross my path of life on this strip.

Most mornings, after my folks, the next batch of people I always run into are the friendly porters who I think are from Pakistan and Philippines and because these ones have been friendly, I have not yet cast them as villains in any of my short stories, just Mr. PT who I turned into a nice portly porter in a short series that I am writing.

They are followed by other folks from wherever, whom I meet sometimes in the lift, on the walkway, if I am taking a brisk morning stroll or at the children’s school and so on.

They consist of proud Emiratis and Saudi Arabians, the fair Russians, the Ugandans, the Ethiopians, lots of Indians, more Filipinos and Pakistanis and others that I am yet to discover where they are from.

Sometimes they reward you with a mere upturn of their lips in a forced smile (usually from the more western ones) and a lot of times with a glare of a look.

There are two particular fellows I love to cast as villains in my mind.

I meet them mostly at the neighbourhood gym where they hog the machines like cyborgs and get so annoying with their showing off exercising skill – my green jealous eye is wiggling here.

Hear me out, one of them sweats over the machines and does not bother to wipe it down after use. Urrgh!

The other one runs on the thread mill at an unbelievable speed and his heavy footing makes so much noise, that I can virtually see the tongue of the poor machine hanging out as it pants in exhaustion while holding on to dear life.

Thankfully, I tune them out with my headphones and just enjoy turning them into imps and ogres in my mind.

I am still searching for the character to cast as a shiny hero that will slay their monstrous behaviour and turn them into pumpkins.

The Daily Post The Luckiest People

Who was the first person you encountered today? Write about him or her.

Family · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Inspiration - Motivation · Personal story · The Daily Post · Tips for the day · Weave that Dream · Writing

If I Teach You Something, Will You Reciprocate?…

November 26, 2015November 26, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

There are things that I do often and quite enjoy doing. A lot of these things are physical and some are not.

I cook every day to keep myself and my family well nourished. One of the dishes that features in most West African homes is Jollof Rice. Maybe, some day, I will share the secrets of Jollof with you 🙂

I dance a lot too. Not the gymnastic, acrobatic tumbling all over the place, but I dance virtually everyday to the tunes of my music of the moment. However, I guess except I turn to you-tubing, I may not be able to teach you much about my dancing.

I write ever so often. I don’t bother tallying the amount of time that I spend penning something because writing to me is akin to breathing, laughing, reflecting and crying through my fingers.

I have been known to write on serviettes or tiny bits of receipts to catch that fleeting thought – and you need to see me on the days that I am scrambling through my bag trying to find that little piece of tissue on which I wrote something 😉

I actively search out ways to maintain a balance of my inner peace of mind in a chaotic life.

I am not a religious fanatic, but I am unapologetically a Christian.

At most times, I am a peaceful, humorous, friendly, loving and hopefully a kind human.

Let me share with you the little things that I do to create peace within and around. Maybe, we share somethings in common:

I dwell on positive thoughts – even if it is just one thought that I meditate on each day.

Walking or finding an hour to exercise either very early or much later in the day. It clears the cobwebs in the head and helps my health as well as the waist line 😉

Those thoughts that bug me, I write them down and them take time to tear the piece of paper into bits. Its a way of releasing and letting go for me.

Sometimes, wacky it may seem, I go into the bathroom, face the mirror and just speak my mind, make faces …

I say my mind if someone has hurt me and I move on. I let go of grudges as quickly as before I go to sleep.

I am always quick to apologize if need be. No need aggravating and dragging an issue that can be quickly nipped in the bud.

I doodle, draw and reflect as I draw. The doodle in the picture was my last work done two days ago.

Writing happy stuff.

Searching out amusing things to read or watch and laughing out real loud. I like people who can make me laugh.

Having a date with myself at least once a week. It could be going to the park, spa, museum or as simple as a cafe alone.

Rest when I am tired (still working on this though, because sometimes other events overtake my intentions).

Honesty is a key in life that I don’t compromise on and practice. Especially in my relationships.

Talking to people and not just family and friends. Total strangers too.

Minimized drastically the amount of time spent watching TV.

Keeping away as much as possible from negative and toxic conversations.

Working consistently towards my passion and financial goals.

Avoiding the spirit of envy and jealousy as much as possible and giving myself a hard telling off once I see the green eyed monster rearing it’s ugly head.

Accept those things that cannot change and leave bad memories in the past where they belong.

Learning to be more patient and tolerant with family, friends and everyone else.

Trying to focus my mind on what needs to be achieved at the moment and living in the moment and keeping it as simple as possible.

These things translate to my inner peace which leads to external peace. What one does not have they cannot give.

So what will you teach me today? I am listening 🙂

The Daily Post prompt Teach your bloggers well.

We all know how to do something well — write a post that teaches readers how to do something you know and/or love to do.

Family · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Personal story · Photographs

Chef Extraordinaire…personal

November 26, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha29 Comments

Bending over to stoke the firewood, blowing at it with gusto and fanning the crackling flames till they lit; putting kerosene into the stove and lighting it’s wicks with an ignited single broomstick; manipulating the gas cooker to lower the heat from burning the beans or rice while I snatched a quick five minutes read in the bathroom, were my early forays in the kitchen. I was caught young!

Naturally this has gravitated towards keeping my brood and my dear Himself nourished over the years and I believe that in most homes this is usually the case – the mother automatically assumes the kitchen chef position.

I certainly know the way to his heart by keeping his tummy nicely sated with good tasting yumminess 🙂

It has been my primary responsibility over the years and I dare say that I can whip up a decent meal and efficiently too.

Since that is the case, it goes without debate that I am the best cook in my domain.

However, there are have been days that Himself develops a desire to become a culinary artist and Myself simply puts up her feet and watch’s my kitchen transform into an operation desert storm 😉

I don’t mutter a word of discouragement so that the waves of culinary want-to-do will hit more often.

I simply go ahead and enjoy eating every bite whipped up by Himself, with a deep hum of appreciation and a sink load of dirty pots and pans.

Do you enjoy whipping up some yummy stuff or is there a Himself in your life, who is a culinary artist turning your kitchen into an area hit by a thunder storm?

NaBloPoMo – Thursday, November 26

If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving today (or even if you’re not!), tell us about the best cook in your family.

Blogging · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Musings · Quotes For You · Weave that Dream

I am Jacqueline Of All Trades and not a Boring Bumkum!..

November 25, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

How would you feel if you are at a cocktail party or any social gathering, where several chit-chats are going on in small circles and you are stuck with a Mr/Ms Know-it-all, who is busy spouting boring bunkum over a singular topic that would probably put you to sleep at the get go; no matter how much you try to steer them into a more interesting topic?

Your ears will twitch and strain in a giraffic eavesdropping attempt to catch morsels of discussion going on across the room, where every body looks animatedly engaged, while you nod in mindless agreement to phrases and lip movement’s of a conversation that lost your attention 2 minutes after it started

I bet you, once you think it is polite enough, you would definitely find the quickest and possibly a dumb excuse; usually a visit to the rest-room always comes in handy, then make a fast get-away, only to slink back in and go over to join the merry crowd who are laughing off their heads and having a swell time.

I definitely don’t want to be that boring bunkum that you want to escape from!

I love to know bits and pieces of this and that, even if I don’t know all of them with the proficiency of an expert, at least let me know enough to hold a sensible, intelligent and entertaining discourse.

Certainly, there are people who are designed to be experts in physics and geology and what not but, I am simply not one of them!

My interests are so diverse that sometimes I wonder when on Earth I am going to be able to experience doing them all!

Serious consideration on making a bucket list as long as ever, is currently on-going on my part, so that I can start prioritizing those things that I want to do or learn to the best of my ability and for my own pleasure.

Maybe it is due to my spirit that seeks to find beauty and fulfillment in everything that I see that pushes my desire for a bit of knowledge of diverse things.

I would rather have a spicy and flavorful life of bits and pieces of knowledge than a staid, cold custard of expertise.

NaBloPoMo Prompt – November 25, 2015

Do you think its better to be a recognized expert for one thing or known to be really good at a lot of things.