Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.
Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with Grace, Strength, Courage and Confidence!
- Og Mandino
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
"If I were you..."
These were the most dreaded words at the Editorial Graphics Design-desk. They always came and caught us unawares just when our creative juices were either at their lowest or when trying out something that was out of the box. Graphic designers at the Design-desk always looked over their shoulders for he whom was fond of unleashing these words.
The best is yet to come but the best I have ever learned in my many years of graphic designing, were under his wing. He would brief you on the assignment at hand and also chip in if the workload was overwhelming. Slowly and gradually we picked up his idealism. He would give credit where it was due and criticism too with equal measure. He was a good mentor and boss for me.
He always encouraged us to read more, learn more and new tricks to the trade and to also update ourselves with the latest designing trends worldwide, for the wide world web (www) was at our disposal. All we needed was just to dedicate 30minutes to an hour of our daily routine work to that.
Any Editorial graphic designer that was under Kamau Wanyoike's wing would attest to it... LOL. To you Kama, thank you and may the good Lord continue to bless your mentor-ship and leadership strengths. I often find myself pulling a "If I were you..." on myself in line of duty, tihihi. With tongue in cheek, one Mosh could pull a Kama on us designers at the desk and we would laugh our hearts out. ;-)))))))
"You can only make the best out of life by knowing and understanding it. To know, you must fall back on the intelligence of others who came before you and have left their records behind." - Marcus Garvey
The best is yet to come but the best I have ever learned in my many years of graphic designing, were under his wing. He would brief you on the assignment at hand and also chip in if the workload was overwhelming. Slowly and gradually we picked up his idealism. He would give credit where it was due and criticism too with equal measure. He was a good mentor and boss for me.
He always encouraged us to read more, learn more and new tricks to the trade and to also update ourselves with the latest designing trends worldwide, for the wide world web (www) was at our disposal. All we needed was just to dedicate 30minutes to an hour of our daily routine work to that.
Any Editorial graphic designer that was under Kamau Wanyoike's wing would attest to it... LOL. To you Kama, thank you and may the good Lord continue to bless your mentor-ship and leadership strengths. I often find myself pulling a "If I were you..." on myself in line of duty, tihihi. With tongue in cheek, one Mosh could pull a Kama on us designers at the desk and we would laugh our hearts out. ;-)))))))
"You can only make the best out of life by knowing and understanding it. To know, you must fall back on the intelligence of others who came before you and have left their records behind." - Marcus Garvey
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Historic Event
With every race, there is always a victor and a loser. Ours was a two-horse race that was vicious to the end. A game of politics it was where the presidential race had been loosely referred to as a two-horse race, disregarding the other six presidential candidates. Just as in a racecourse, the placed bets and supporting fans are what keeps the game alive and lively. Anyone who’s a keen analyst could tell by the look of things.
Cord and Jubilee were their names. You were either corded or jubilant as a fan in this race. The tallying of the numbers took an excruciating five days! You could smell the tension in air and sceptical looks on people’s faces everywhere you dared to go. I say dared because we were cynical about the whole affair and going by what happened in 2007, we were not taking any chances.
Alie na macho huwa haambiwi ona. The local media did a tremendous job in keeping it as real as possible to all is viewers and listeners, inviting brilliant individuals to analytically break it down to us politically laypersons. Just as the tallying was being done, so were the horses gaining the numbers and even you as the layman could tell who the winner of the race was.
After an excruciating wait, five days later, IEBC finally announced the winner, everyone was literally jubilant! Naaah... whom I'm I kidding! Indeed the Jubilee guys were literally jubilant but the same could not be said of the Cord(ed) guys. You see, its the corded guys that are the most vocal and expressive. They definitely didn't see this coming. I feel sorry for the way things turned out. This thing called politics...
You have to play smart and strategic. If you were not smart and strategic enough to know that you can go far alone but you can go further with people, then you will notice that the individual who did invest on strategic coalitions, got more votes. It was all in the tyranny of the numbers!
Congratulations are therefore in order to the son of Jomo, our founding father of this beautiful nation called Kenya. In his acceptance speech he acknowledged and commended his deputy, one William Samoei Ruto, an equally brilliant young lad with whom he promised to work with as a team and deliver what they promised in their manifesto especially in the first 100days in office!
While quoting the last verse of our national anthem,
"Let all with one accord,
In common bond united,
Build this our nation together,
And the glory of Kenya,
The fruit of our labour,
Fill every heart with thanksgiving." , our eloquent, brilliant, sharp and smart political scientist and economist oozed confidence as he concluded his speech. He's equally an excellent orator as he did not read out his speech but spoke from the heart. Yeah right, he had four days to rehearse it! tihihi... ;-))))
To you Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the fourth President of our beloved country Kenya, under a new constitution have our promise to work together and indeed have won a place in the Hall of Fame, just as The Script & Will.i.am sang, not forgetting Kenya too earned has also earned its place at the Hall of Fame!
...and to this historic event, join me in three cheers to Kenya, "Hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray!"
Cord and Jubilee were their names. You were either corded or jubilant as a fan in this race. The tallying of the numbers took an excruciating five days! You could smell the tension in air and sceptical looks on people’s faces everywhere you dared to go. I say dared because we were cynical about the whole affair and going by what happened in 2007, we were not taking any chances.
Alie na macho huwa haambiwi ona. The local media did a tremendous job in keeping it as real as possible to all is viewers and listeners, inviting brilliant individuals to analytically break it down to us politically laypersons. Just as the tallying was being done, so were the horses gaining the numbers and even you as the layman could tell who the winner of the race was.
After an excruciating wait, five days later, IEBC finally announced the winner, everyone was literally jubilant! Naaah... whom I'm I kidding! Indeed the Jubilee guys were literally jubilant but the same could not be said of the Cord(ed) guys. You see, its the corded guys that are the most vocal and expressive. They definitely didn't see this coming. I feel sorry for the way things turned out. This thing called politics...
You have to play smart and strategic. If you were not smart and strategic enough to know that you can go far alone but you can go further with people, then you will notice that the individual who did invest on strategic coalitions, got more votes. It was all in the tyranny of the numbers!
Congratulations are therefore in order to the son of Jomo, our founding father of this beautiful nation called Kenya. In his acceptance speech he acknowledged and commended his deputy, one William Samoei Ruto, an equally brilliant young lad with whom he promised to work with as a team and deliver what they promised in their manifesto especially in the first 100days in office!
While quoting the last verse of our national anthem,
"Let all with one accord,
In common bond united,
Build this our nation together,
And the glory of Kenya,
The fruit of our labour,
Fill every heart with thanksgiving." , our eloquent, brilliant, sharp and smart political scientist and economist oozed confidence as he concluded his speech. He's equally an excellent orator as he did not read out his speech but spoke from the heart. Yeah right, he had four days to rehearse it! tihihi... ;-))))
To you Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the fourth President of our beloved country Kenya, under a new constitution have our promise to work together and indeed have won a place in the Hall of Fame, just as The Script & Will.i.am sang, not forgetting Kenya too earned has also earned its place at the Hall of Fame!
...and to this historic event, join me in three cheers to Kenya, "Hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray!"
Friday, March 8, 2013
Hitting the shower
I don't know what it is with showers that makes one unleash their vocal prowess! ;-) When one hits the showers, you automatically become that super star who releases those beautiful ballads. Honestly, showering becomes fun. You lather and scrub yourself well and throw in some funky dance moves. Talk about taking showering to a whole new level!
I have been told, NO!... I know that I murder songs! tihihi... I just can't seem to release that sweet melody. But my daughters on the hand, boy oh boy can they hit a note! Just listening to them sing tells you that there's talent right there. Each has a particular strength, bass, soprano, alto, you name it, they can comfortably hit it!
They keep asking me where they got their vocal prowess from and I tell them it must be from me! Ha ha ha ha... yeah right?! Imagine its true, it is from me. My lineage. My paternal grandma, whose also my namesake, was quite a musician and a composer too! She was quite some lady. On my hubby's side, naaah, no one. They are still puzzled as to why I just can't seem to get the notes right. There are some genetic inheritance that skip a/some generation(s) you know... this must be one of them. ;-)
My God you should hear my daughters sing in the shower! ...save for Nratili. They really hit those notes and whatever song it is that they fancy at that particular time, the rendition is superb! You can hear that she has at that particular moment owned the song, playfully singing and enjoying it, all at the same time.I know with guidance and fine tuning, they can go places.
Speaking of which, why haven't I recorded them doing so? I actually should! ...yeah? Guess I just get carried away with the singing and dance along to the tune and just happy and proud as a mum. Try it out today, in the shower, see whose the song murderer in the family? Any feedback for me?
I have been told, NO!... I know that I murder songs! tihihi... I just can't seem to release that sweet melody. But my daughters on the hand, boy oh boy can they hit a note! Just listening to them sing tells you that there's talent right there. Each has a particular strength, bass, soprano, alto, you name it, they can comfortably hit it!
They keep asking me where they got their vocal prowess from and I tell them it must be from me! Ha ha ha ha... yeah right?! Imagine its true, it is from me. My lineage. My paternal grandma, whose also my namesake, was quite a musician and a composer too! She was quite some lady. On my hubby's side, naaah, no one. They are still puzzled as to why I just can't seem to get the notes right. There are some genetic inheritance that skip a/some generation(s) you know... this must be one of them. ;-)
My God you should hear my daughters sing in the shower! ...save for Nratili. They really hit those notes and whatever song it is that they fancy at that particular time, the rendition is superb! You can hear that she has at that particular moment owned the song, playfully singing and enjoying it, all at the same time.I know with guidance and fine tuning, they can go places.
Speaking of which, why haven't I recorded them doing so? I actually should! ...yeah? Guess I just get carried away with the singing and dance along to the tune and just happy and proud as a mum. Try it out today, in the shower, see whose the song murderer in the family? Any feedback for me?
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Stairway Window Ledge
One of my best childhood memories was when my dad came back from a trip to France. I think I must have been seven or eight years old. I woke up on an upbeat mood. I was so happy and anxious at the same time as I patiently sat by the window looking out for him. The minute I saw the car pulling up the driveway and my dad alighting, I quickly jumped on my feet and in a split second I was at the door and running down the stairs of our apartment block.
Midway down the stairs, I tripped and fell down with my chin hitting square and hard at the ledge of the stairway window. Because of the speed at which I was going, you can only imagine the impact! That impact resulted in a open split chin and a deep tongue bite! Gosh! The pain was excruciating!
As basic instinct would have it, I immediately let out a sharp shrill of pain and cried out loud! I sat there for a few seconds to comprehend as to what had just happened. I then remembered why I was running down the flight of stairs. I shot up immediately. Tears, mucus, blood stained and all as I called out "DADDY..." Dad on the hand was startled by the spine chilling cry and ran up to the entrance of our apartment block.
We met just at the entrance at the start of the stairway. The look on his face was that of a worried parent who is equally sorry for the accidental hurt I had just incurred. You can only imagine the tears, mucus and blood on his clean clothes! All these are immaterial to a parent whose baby has gotten hurt, especially at that impact at which it all happened.
He held me in a tight embrace then pulled me back to see the extent of the accident as he soothed and comforted me, all at the same time. When he saw the deep open wound on my chin and tongue, we immediately turned back to the car that dropped him, straight to the hospital. I was taken in at the Emergency Casualty entrance and received a few stitches after cleaning and anesthesia of course.
When we finally got home a few hours later, I had already calmed down but was spotting a swollen chin and tongue. I was still high on the thought of seeing and receiving my present(s) and that kept the pain at bay coupled up with the dose of painkillers. My elder bro and I anxiously waited for our presents. My dad first gave us clothes but the show stopper was two real-life sized white toy doves! ...with a remote control!!!
Boy oh boy you shoulda seen how our eyes lit up! The sight was magical! They were as white as snow and just the thought of buying white toys for your toddlers begs the question, "What were you thinking...?" It must've excited him too and just couldn't imagine the same for us. He took us through step by step on how to operate the doves to fly while moderating the speed and finally let us try them out. Excitement nayo!!!!! :-)))))
That moment, right there, is one of my exciting and unforgettable eventful childhood memory! I still spot the scar on my chin and tongue as a constant reminder of the events on that day. In all honesty... All this is an effort to distract my mind off the election tallying results! Funny yeah?... ;-))))
Midway down the stairs, I tripped and fell down with my chin hitting square and hard at the ledge of the stairway window. Because of the speed at which I was going, you can only imagine the impact! That impact resulted in a open split chin and a deep tongue bite! Gosh! The pain was excruciating!
As basic instinct would have it, I immediately let out a sharp shrill of pain and cried out loud! I sat there for a few seconds to comprehend as to what had just happened. I then remembered why I was running down the flight of stairs. I shot up immediately. Tears, mucus, blood stained and all as I called out "DADDY..." Dad on the hand was startled by the spine chilling cry and ran up to the entrance of our apartment block.
We met just at the entrance at the start of the stairway. The look on his face was that of a worried parent who is equally sorry for the accidental hurt I had just incurred. You can only imagine the tears, mucus and blood on his clean clothes! All these are immaterial to a parent whose baby has gotten hurt, especially at that impact at which it all happened.
He held me in a tight embrace then pulled me back to see the extent of the accident as he soothed and comforted me, all at the same time. When he saw the deep open wound on my chin and tongue, we immediately turned back to the car that dropped him, straight to the hospital. I was taken in at the Emergency Casualty entrance and received a few stitches after cleaning and anesthesia of course.
When we finally got home a few hours later, I had already calmed down but was spotting a swollen chin and tongue. I was still high on the thought of seeing and receiving my present(s) and that kept the pain at bay coupled up with the dose of painkillers. My elder bro and I anxiously waited for our presents. My dad first gave us clothes but the show stopper was two real-life sized white toy doves! ...with a remote control!!!
Boy oh boy you shoulda seen how our eyes lit up! The sight was magical! They were as white as snow and just the thought of buying white toys for your toddlers begs the question, "What were you thinking...?" It must've excited him too and just couldn't imagine the same for us. He took us through step by step on how to operate the doves to fly while moderating the speed and finally let us try them out. Excitement nayo!!!!! :-)))))
That moment, right there, is one of my exciting and unforgettable eventful childhood memory! I still spot the scar on my chin and tongue as a constant reminder of the events on that day. In all honesty... All this is an effort to distract my mind off the election tallying results! Funny yeah?... ;-))))
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The deciding vote
I was so high in spirit as hubby and I went to vote at our hometown, down at the coast and prayed for journey mercies. We arrived safely and set out early to go cast our vote. We had each registered at different polling stations though within the same county because we had two candidates to support, and common knowledge dictates that one vote CAN make a difference.
Upon arrival at 7am in the morning, the queues were already long. People had gone to the polling stations as early as 4am! just so as to be the first ones. Talk about being patriotic! The sun had risen and the rays were subtle. Guys at the queue were advising each other on the order of the queues. The voting was happening in streams according to the first letter of your first name.
There was disorder left, right and center as the queues grew longer and the sun's heat grew stronger. There was a lot of queue jumping and confusion as guys grew more impatient and anxious which is typical in controlling of large human gatherings. A lady was anxiously walking towards a different queue when she suddenly fainted! I think her body couldn't take it any more as it succumbed to the coastal heat, long hours on the endless queue and as most of the other voters, on an empty stomach!
If I thought Nairobi was hot, boy was I in for a shock! The coastal heat was just too much! It was like being in a sauna but on open space with more humans, vegetation and buildings! Luckily I had had breakfast but the thirst was drying up my throat faster than the sweat trickles. I kept sipping water to hydrate myself and the spaghetti top and skinny jeans underneath my buibui equally helped. Good thing I didn't dress heavily as I would have succumbed to the heat too.
At least the elderly, the sick and women with babies were allowed to jump the queue, to go cast their votes. All in all, it was an exciting feeling for having participated in this year's deciding vote. Now the anxiety of watching how the tallying of the cast votes begins as we each pray and hope with bated breath!
Upon arrival at 7am in the morning, the queues were already long. People had gone to the polling stations as early as 4am! just so as to be the first ones. Talk about being patriotic! The sun had risen and the rays were subtle. Guys at the queue were advising each other on the order of the queues. The voting was happening in streams according to the first letter of your first name.
There was disorder left, right and center as the queues grew longer and the sun's heat grew stronger. There was a lot of queue jumping and confusion as guys grew more impatient and anxious which is typical in controlling of large human gatherings. A lady was anxiously walking towards a different queue when she suddenly fainted! I think her body couldn't take it any more as it succumbed to the coastal heat, long hours on the endless queue and as most of the other voters, on an empty stomach!
If I thought Nairobi was hot, boy was I in for a shock! The coastal heat was just too much! It was like being in a sauna but on open space with more humans, vegetation and buildings! Luckily I had had breakfast but the thirst was drying up my throat faster than the sweat trickles. I kept sipping water to hydrate myself and the spaghetti top and skinny jeans underneath my buibui equally helped. Good thing I didn't dress heavily as I would have succumbed to the heat too.
At least the elderly, the sick and women with babies were allowed to jump the queue, to go cast their votes. All in all, it was an exciting feeling for having participated in this year's deciding vote. Now the anxiety of watching how the tallying of the cast votes begins as we each pray and hope with bated breath!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Final submissions
Presidential candidates are on their last lap of campaigns urging and enticing voters that each is the best candidate for the job. Some of the manifestos are wanting and practical downright unrealistic! Wow! Politics is indeed a game of chess! Where the pawn is the most favoured piece!
Each candidate is spreading the message that the loser should concede and swear in a new president and government without a repeat of what happened five years ago, when Kenya was marred by the post elections violence that left scores of innocent people/citizens displaced, dead, injured and a country full of hatred and unwanted bloodshed.
The campaigns are at their final pitch as the elective candidates each spreads their final homestretch submission to the Kenyan voters. May the best candidate win and to my fellow Kenyans, there are better times ahead for this country for it is upon you to exercise your democratic right to vote. Vote wisely! Vote peacefully!
Let it be for the welfare of you as a citizen and not the political individual!
Safari ya Kenya kuwa mshindi imewadia, na msafiri ni yule aliye bandarini! Turnout in large numbers and vote for your future!
Each candidate is spreading the message that the loser should concede and swear in a new president and government without a repeat of what happened five years ago, when Kenya was marred by the post elections violence that left scores of innocent people/citizens displaced, dead, injured and a country full of hatred and unwanted bloodshed.
The campaigns are at their final pitch as the elective candidates each spreads their final homestretch submission to the Kenyan voters. May the best candidate win and to my fellow Kenyans, there are better times ahead for this country for it is upon you to exercise your democratic right to vote. Vote wisely! Vote peacefully!
Let it be for the welfare of you as a citizen and not the political individual!
Safari ya Kenya kuwa mshindi imewadia, na msafiri ni yule aliye bandarini! Turnout in large numbers and vote for your future!
One day to go...
Its just one day to voting a new government under our new constitution. The fever pitch is so high and the tension is worrying! The supermarkets are overflowing with customers as they are stocking up on everything. Daily utility products are the first to vanish followed by lifestyle products and luxury products are the last on everyone's list.
At this moment, every shilling counts. You need to save for the unforeseen future, the uncertainty that lies ahead of us. The media is awash with peace messages. Vote wisely and don't let politicians implant seeds of hatred for your neighbour. You have all along lived in harmony together without a tribal bias. When all is said and done, the winner will be your beloved country Kenya!
At this moment, every shilling counts. You need to save for the unforeseen future, the uncertainty that lies ahead of us. The media is awash with peace messages. Vote wisely and don't let politicians implant seeds of hatred for your neighbour. You have all along lived in harmony together without a tribal bias. When all is said and done, the winner will be your beloved country Kenya!
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