When Love is Gone

My ex was my first real boyfriend. I met him when I was twenty-one and in my third level in university. I was doing my internship with a bottling company and he was an Engineer who had just joined them after his national service. We bonded quickly and became firm friends. I went back to school after my mandated two months and we tried to keep in touch through emails, text messages and phone calls. Along the line, these channels dried up to a trickle from both sides. One day, he called to tell me he had just bought a car and would like to visit me in school. I was then in final year. I agreed and we fixed a date.

He asked me out officially that day and said he would want us to think of marriage. I was surprised but happy. I liked him and felt he would make a good husband. We courted throughout my service year and I was lucky to get a job in the same city as he was. By then we had been together for almost three years and I had known him for almost a couple more. He spoke to my parents and they were happy for me. We did the first step of the marriage process and moved in together to save on costs in the city. Everything was going on well and I was dreaming of a wedding within the year.

My ex came back from work one evening and said he was tired of the relationship. He didn’t see himself with me in the long term any more. I asked if he was cheating, if there was another woman but he denied it. Strangely, I believed him. He said he had remapped his life and wanted to travel abroad to study. I said I would come with him, I would wait for him but he refused. This was the end he said. He would be moving out in a week and I could do as I wanted with the rented flat. No question could get any better answer from him. I was angry. I ranted and railed at him. After that, I cried and wailed. These were still angry tears. I couldn't believe it. When I felt like hitting him, I knew I had to leave the house. I stormed out.

I needed to let it out but who could I talk to? Not my parents certainly. My thoughts were so jumbled. After going round in circles, I called my closest friend and confided in her. She was in shock. I was also still in shock. I felt numb. We talked for a while but could not figure it out. I went back home to find the beans I had been cooking for dinner burning. My ex had also left the flat. We had almost set the house on fire but that was not my major problem. I was consumed by thoughts of our relationship. I relived the years, the months, the days. I agonized over every minute, every word, and every action. It had not really hit me, not yet. I was overwhelmed but looking back, I had not even begun to truly feel what a breakup meant.

I was hoping we would get back together. I kept thinking and saying "I don't know what I'm going to do. What am I going to do? Where am I going to start? This cannot be the end." My friend had encouraged me not to think about that, to just get through the next few days. But it wasn’t that easy. I was almost as good as married. I had known my ex for over five years. That was more than half of my adult life. I felt anchorless and lost. My whole life seemed to have been jarred off-course and I was floating with no clue in which direction to head or where to land. I waited for him but my ex didn’t come back. I thought I wouldn’t but I must have fallen asleep at a point. I woke up to a lonely bed with a tear-soaked pillow.

I got to work dazed the next day and spent most of the day chatting on yahoo messenger with my closest friend. She didn’t try to cheer me up because I told her not to bother. I went unto facebook and changed my status. What I did was remove the option of relationship status completely from my page. Don’t get it wrong, it wasn’t that I wanted everyone to know, not at all. I wanted to use that to see if it would bring my ex back to his senses. I told myself this was just a quarrel, a tiff, an ill wind that would soon blow over. It wasn’t possible that my ex was willing to throw so many years down the drain. I kept shaking my head throughout that day that I almost developed a crick in the neck. After work, I dallied in the office delaying the time to go home and also thinking of what to say to him, strategizing.

Finally I walked out and got on the bus. I remember sitting down and beginning to shed tears almost immediately. I couldn't stop the tears. I pulled out my sunglasses and put them on. The tears just trickled out steadily and I tried to stem the flow with a tissue jammed below the glasses. It was almost dark so I did not get much attention from the other passengers. If I did, I didn’t notice. I was lost in my own world of pain. That ride was a blur. When I got home, I tried to eat but had no appetite. I don't remember eating much that first week. I do remember looking at the clock or my watch several times and at different points in time. It would calculate the hours and days and minutes and sometimes even seconds. I knew it wouldn’t change anything but still, I couldn’t help doing it.

Four days later my ex moved out. That was three days earlier than he said he would. That day I had come back from work to see that he had started moving out his things from the flat. I was confused and fear began to really sink it’s clutches in me. Next to the fact that he hadn’t eaten any of the food I made sure was ready for him, this was the biggest nail in the coffin of my hope. I just couldn’t let him go just like that. I made sure I stayed awake till he returned at almost midnight. It was the first night we were speaking since the breakup. I asked him to reconsider. I cried, I held him, I seduced him. Yes I admit it, I forced myself on him and we made love. It was after that that he moved out.

He admitted that though he was still attracted to me, it didn’t change anything. When he walked out the front door, I literally felt my heart break. That night, I emailed a handful of close friends to tell them the news. I called my mother and broke down to her. She tried her best but there really was no consoling me that night. I remember wondering if I should go to work the next day. What reason would I use to call in? I get paid sick days but don't like to lie. I was heartsick. True, I was physically sick to some extent - I felt like vomiting and I did. I heaved out everything in me and at the end I was empty and completely exhausted.

I did become sick and ended up not going to work for the next remaining days of the week. I didn’t even step out of the house for those two days and the following weekend. My friend who I had first told came to stay with me. I kept bursting into tears at every turn. It wasn’t pretty and I’m still very grateful to her. Looking back, I don’t know what I would have done if she had not been there. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. I was falling apart right before my eyes. I kept telling myself to snap out of it. This was my first relationship and I told myself that I was not special. People suffer breakups all the time and get over it like swatting away a fly. By that Sunday, I decided to go to work the next day. Life must go on.

I dressed well that day. I had recently had a makeover with the help of my friends. It was possible that I had noticed my ex withdrawing and that was why I had my friends help me in shopping for new stuff a couple of months before then. But that was all in the past and had not helped any. I refused to think about him as I primped while getting ready for work. When I was a child, my mother always said that dressing up when you’re feeling sick or moody made you feel better. With this in mind, I put on a yellow skirt and a red blouse. I put on some nice jewelry, topped it with my best wig and headed off to work.


TO BE CONTINUED...

*pictures from Google images.

A Hook line for A Heart to Mend - BlogFest

Thanks to Bryan of the Time Guardian Blog for hosting the Logline/Hook line Blogfest!. So what's a logline? According to Bryan;

A logline (also known as a hook line) is a single snappy sentence that conveys the gist of your story. It’s one of those things that sounds so simple and clean when it’s done right, yet can be a royal pain to create.

Think of it this way: if working on your query is a necessary evil, then you can consider fashioning your logline to be a high-pressure condensed form of that hell.

I think this is a very interesting blogfest because it doesn't call for much writing whether excerpts or new writing. But after hanging up my blogfest boots, I had to come back to do this one. Why? Well I have this book out and apart from the blurb, or the synopsis, I don't have a hook line for it. So this may be the best opportunity to do this and hear what people have to say. But this is not the hook line, lol. OK Here goes...

1. Emotionally scarred Edward is Mr. Ice to all his friends, that is until he meets Gladys, who is even more stubborn than he is and who will fight to the end for him and their love.

2. Newly arrived in Lagos and with a chip on her shoulder, Gladys accepts the help of wealthy but mysterious Edward Bestman, saves his business empire and mends his heart.

3. The relationship between Edward and Gladys had withstood all the usual pitfalls but will it survive the takeover of his business and the secrets of his illegitimacy?

4. Chief Okrika believes he will destroy his enemy and rival by taking over his financial empire, how was he to know that in the process Edward Bestman's heart would be mended by Gladys, his fiancée?

Just Wright (Movie Review)

May contain spoilers...


I saw Just Wright with Queen Latifah, Paula Patton and Common last weekend and I liked it. The plan was to go see Robin Hood but what with Queen Latifa and her personal adverts, I changed our mind. She's one of my favorite comedy actresses and she did not disappoint. You may not agree with some of the things that happened in the movie (I know a lot of women still swear by the unwritten code that you do not date your friend's ex) but the chemistry between the main character, Leslie, and her love interest was off the charts. I had tears in my eyes for them at times and was happy in the end, you know..."and they lived happily ever after." Though I have to say that if it were Cupid's Risk, I would have rewritten that last scene. I want uninterrupted declarations of love biko, yes ke, lol...

So this review here gives a good synopsis. "Just Wright follows love triangle between three people. Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is a physical therapist who just can’t quite find a guy. She’s always looked at as the perfect friend as opposed to the perfect mate. A huge New Jersey Nets fan, she has a chance meeting with all everything NBA point guard Scott McKnight (Common) that leads to the ultimate invite: to his upcoming birthday party. Taking along her godsister (and gold digger wannabe) Morgan (Paula Patton), McKnight falls for her on the spot and dashes the quick chemistry the two had initially. After tearing up his knee, and Morgan’s subsequent departure, Leslie is there to pick up the pieces and help get him back onto the court in a contract year. When they fall in love, and Morgan comes back, McKnight is left with a dilemma."

To be honest, I didn't think Common was great in the role, at the same time I have to consider that he had a script and a director and so maybe that was what the role called for? Common is a fine man, eye candy I call them, and in very good shape. He fit right in with the other real life Basketball stars in the movie (all fine men too :):))and made me remember my teenage years when I was an avid follower of NBA's I love this game. However, he was quite bland and never had any internal conflict to show why he fell in love with Morgan and it wasn't also clear why he chose Leslie over her in the end. Except maybe she made him laugh, healed his knee and got him back in the championships. :(

I would have liked to know which type of woman he really preferred, and this could only have come from his self examination of what works best for him. A sort of personal growth which is almost compulsory in writing but which was a bit lacking in the movie. But where Common slacked, Queen Latifah and Paula Patton (BTW she's Robin Thicke's very pretty wife) were capable of filling the gap. Latifah as Leslie shines, she friendly, lovable and was actually the one that carried the romance in the movie. She was the one that made me smile, laugh, sad and almost tear up, lol. That woman is a true star. Her on-screen chemistry with Common was off the charts. It starts off platonic, and we see it morph into something more before our very eyes.

I give the movie 3 stars out of 5 which is what most of my rom-coms get except the very few that make it into a 4. I love romance but when it comes to movies especially cinema, I'm a big block-buster chick. Ride or die baby, while we wait for Prince of Persia, lol.

Finally, we had this game when I was a die-hard Mills and Boon reader and I have also heard people ask. After reading a romance novel or watching a rom-com, we will predict how long the couple will last. So if you've seen Just Wright, how long do you think those two will last? As for Leslie and Common's character, I give them 6months. Harsh eh?

You, what was the last rom-com you saw and how long do you think the love interests will last together. OK, I'll go out on a limb here. If you've read A Heart to Mend, how long do you give Gladys and Edward? Infact, chose your couple from a movie, a book or even from your real life, what do you give those your colleagues sleeping together? LOL....I'm waiting for your answers o...

Have a nice weekend my peeps...:):)

Iphey will be Kidnapped! ...by His DarLyn

Did all that really happen, Chinedu thought as he drove away from Iphey's place, who would have thought I could get so lucky today, all thanks to Iphey herself though. He loved her with all his heart and right at this moment, considered himself the luckiest man alive. That woman is really the best for me, he grinned to himself as he drove. The strains of Celine Dion's have you ever been in love filled the car as he switched on the radio, could not have imagined a better suited song for the moment, cupid is really up to something.

He started thinking, where can I take her to for a real proposal? It was great that she had accepted his mother's ring in a small eatery but he wanted to do more for her. She deserved the best of him and more. Just as this thought was playing in his head he heard his phone ring. He ignored it till he got to his street, then he quickly pulled over to pick the call thinking it might be Iphey. It turned out to be an unknown number, but since he had parked the car he picked it anyway.

"Hello," he said into the phone as he set up his brakes.

"My guy where you dey?"

It was Habib at the other end. "Oh Habib, this dude you no go kill me o. This is not the number
you talk say I fit reach you on now?"

"Nedu wait, just listen to me. Where are you? Are you sitting down?"

"Habib you are scaring me now, what is it?"

"Iphey is in danger," Habib said, "I know you've said I should leave you out of this one but..."

"Dude forget that, tell me what is happening, what's wrong? I just dropped her at her place now I'm even not yet home," he had subconsciously headed home based on the plans he was trying to make for another evening with Iphey.

"You remember the contact person I told you about sometime ago," Habib asked.

"One James person," Chinedu interjected.

"Yes him," Habib confirmed. "So it turns out he was at Iphey's place some months ago..."

Chinedu swore under his breath, "to do what, does Iphey know him?" All these Chinedu asked all at once. His mind was already joining the dots together but he did not want to see it. This was the woman who owned his heart dammit!

"Damn, damn, damn!"

"Calm down," that was all Habib could get into the conversation as Chinedu was on an overdrive worked up about danger to Iphey.

"I swear Habib if anything happens to Iphey I will kill that guy, who is he by the way?"

"Will you just hear me out," Habib shouted. "My James is the same as her brother-in-law," Chinedu heard faintly as he put on his ear piece.

"Iphey's brother-in-law is the same as your informant?" he asked Habib to be sure.

"Yes he is. I only found out the other day when he mentioned his family for the first time. His wife is Ngozi and he is scared for them. Things are beginning to get ugly."

"Hey dude, back up one second please, so you are telling me that this James fellow you have been working with is Iphey's brother-in-law so why are you just finding out now?"

At this point, Chinedu finished plugging in his hands-free set and did a U-turn to head back to Iphey's place. She was not going to be out of his sight from now on. If her life was in danger then he would protect her, with his own life if need be.

"Habib you can do better than this!" Chinedu pulled into traffic and checked his mirrors. "You usually would have found out everything about anybody you were working with seconds after they join your team!"

"But that is it Nedu, he is not on my team!" Habib tried to defend himself.

"What is happening?" Chinedu demanded, "So he is not also working for EFCC or what."

"That's exactly what I'm saying. He didn't have as much information as I thought and I preferred to leave him at the peripherals while concentrating on the bigger fish..."

Chinedy began to mutter, "This cannot be happening, I don't believe this..."

At this outburst, Habib who was already upset with Chinedu began to shout at him. "Will you just shut up? If you listen to me maybe we can still smoothen things out before it really gets bad."

That seemed to really shut Chinedu up so Habib went on, "Nedu, this is not like you at all. How can you be panicking like this. Some weeks ago, you were the one who told me not to involve you anymore in this case! What was your reason? You were in love and did not want the distraction..."

"OK, ok...I am sorry, let's cut to the meat of the matter, shall we?" Chinedu did not regret his earlier action. It had been to protect Iphey that he had begged off Habib's current mission. How was he to know she would be involved through another person?

"Maybe if you had not been out of the loop, you would already know everything," Habib muttered. "Anyway, James is in a lot of trouble with the Gang. He ran into hard times financially and made
the error of gambling with the Gang in hope that he would be able to settle the gambling debt already incurred. In the process, he went into business with T-shark, you remember the guy we found burnt to death some years ago."

Chinedu nodded as he recalled the events of about three years ago.

"Well it turns out that T-shark also had loads of gambling debt which he claimed his partner will pay off, partner being James. Apparently T-shark double crossed both James and the Gang and made the Gang believe James had more of their money than he actually does. So the gang has been after him since then. He abandoned his family after T-sharks death and went hiding so they don't get caught in the web..."

"Ok ok ok, Habib so how does this concern Iphey now?"

"Chill my guy," Habib said, "If you remember some months ago, Aisha kept going on about Iphey's car not being good, well she took a cab and it turned out to be the our James was driving, his way to make a living of some sort. And Iphey recognized him. He went to see her in a bid to allay her fears and keep her from looking for him or telling Ngozi. Wrong move...it seems he was being tailed. Now they've got pictures of Iphey at her house, office, and in the car at various places. They have been sending threats to James that if he does not provide their money by the end of this month he won't see Iphey again."

"Oh my God!"

"Indeed..." Habib agreed. "The plan is to kidnap Iphey. I think they know Ngozi too but for some reason think Iphey is his current girlfriend and knows where the money since she works in a bank and all. So she is in great danger at the moment..."

Chinedu could not bear what he was hearing, "Look Habib, I'm heading back to Iphey's place. What type of danger is she in? I know she is about to meet her brother-in-law James this evening..."

"I know and that is why I called. You have to keep her away from him!" Habib shouted. "We are planning a safe house for all of James family. I'm guessing that is what he wants to tell Iphey. I told him we would do the job but amateur that he is, he had to do it himself. And it's likely that they will be following him and will take the opportunity to take Iphey!"

"No way! I won't allow that." Chinedu's mind whirled. He sorted through his memory for the right people to involve in this, he would do anything to keep Iphey safe from harm.

"Listen Nedu, as of now I need you to take Iphey away to where ever you are sure she will be safe. If anything happens to her Aisha will kill me..."

"I will kill you first," Chinedu interjected, "why didn't you tell me all this before?"

"Well, you said to leave you out, remember?" Habib reminded. "But seriously, I didn't know the two James were the same until this evening. My James had told me his family was in danger and we were making plans. I put some officers to follow him and they came back today with the information that allowed me to put two and two together. You like that girl don't you?"

"No my guy that one was before. Now I know that I really love Iphey and I have proposed..."

"Oh wow..."

"Yes, I was planning another date for the whole shebang with friends before you called me. I should be in her place in a few minutes. Iphey knows my background but she thinks it's all in the past. How do I make her understand how well I still know the Gang and how deadly they are?" Chinedu asked.

"No o," Habib shouted, "you can't tell her the whole story yet. You know this case is not over. You could let her more deeply into what you do now and that you help us, that will help her understand the danger. Depending on the turn of things, then we'll let her into the rest. Iphey is a really level headed girl. Just help her understand. I suggest you get her out of her place as fast as possible."

"Ok Habib call me in 30 minutes. I think that gives me enough time to get Iphey out of her place..."

**********************************************


So yeah, the action starts. And we have just about four more chapters before the end of the series. I can't wait for how this works out.

Our contributor is His DarLyn of a testament of love, life and living. She describes herself as an ordinary girl with His extra-odinary love. A young lady making her way through life, love, work and all. You know how it is said that perfect love casteth out fear? I love His DarLyn poems, talking about the love of God especially this one.

I fear what I see
I fear what is hidden
I fear what is assumed
But all the fear feeds on
is my imagination
I refuse to be cowed by fear
I refuse to be crowded by fear
I refuse to be conquered by fear...

You know where to find me (BlogFest)

So Roni Griffin of the Fiction Groupie is hosting the Let's Talk BlogFest. The main rule was

On Tuesday May 18, post a short excerpt on your blog of your most sparkly dialogue scene (no, I'm not talking about Edward Cullen). It can be anything dialogue-heavy--a laid-back chat, an all out argument, a flirty conversation, two friends ribbing each other--whatever. The options are endless.

Most of you know I prefer dialogue as my means of telling my stories so really I was spoilt for choice. In the end, I chose an excerpt from my WIP, Ghost from the past. Those who have been following will recognise the characters. This is ten years later. Enjoy...

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“Please answer this truthfully,” Efe begged in low tones. “Did you really mean to marry me all those years ago?”

“Of course I did.”

“Were your parents in total support of your plans?”

“You know they were.” He was puzzled by all the questions. He’d taken her to meet them after all. “My father may have had his issues but he was still fond of you and wanted you for a daughter-in-law.”

“Then I don’t understand. Why did they tell me you didn’t want me anymore? They took back my engagement ring and said you never wanted to see or talk to me again.”

Kevwe recoiled. “Why would my parents do that?”

“I’d like to know that too.” She stepped back a little and tapped her feet on the graveled surface of the car park. Now that the tears had stopped, she began to feel her attraction to him return. But better to face the matter at hand.

“Efe, I’ll understand if you chose to any other reason to explain why you abandoned me but please don’t take my parent’s name in vain. Maybe your friends convinced you that you were too good and beautiful for a lame man or whatever.”

“How could you have bought such a lame idea?” She rolled her eyes at the pun. “I could never have abandoned you! Your parents said they had convinced you of my unworthiness but you wanted them to pass along your message. Your father broke the news to me and your mother was there too.”

“Stop this!” Kevwe snapped. His anger began a slow burn. He knew she and his father never got on but the old man could not have taken matters into his hands like that. His mother in particular knew how close they were and really liked Efe.

“For crying out loud, I almost died when I learnt you left me! Don’t make up these stories now.”

“Are you calling me a liar?” Efe queried in disbelief.

“Do you expect me to call my parent’s liars then?” Kevwe shook his head in vehemence. He wouldn’t be moved on this.

“Efe, you can’t play with my intelligence like this.” She couldn’t come out of the blue with one cock-and-bull story and expect him to accept it, hook, line and sinker. “Don’t think no one would refute your statements...”

“Kevwe, I think I know what happened. Your parents must have lied to me and maybe to you too…”

He didn’t wait for her to finish but continued. “Listen, my parents stood by me through it all, especially my mother. When I wanted to give up because you, Efe, you were not there, she sat at my bedside throughout the night and spoon-fed me herself. When the POP itched, it was my mother that scratched it for me.”

Kevwe was jerked out of the dark past to the present by the sound of Efe blowing her nose noisily into the handkerchief in her hands. He bit his tongue and turned his head away. After blinking away the clouds, he faced her again.

It broke her heart to hear him talk about his accident like this, and she had not been there. She raised a face covered with streaming tears up to him. “That must have been horrible time for you. I can’t imagine the pain you went through…”

“So you can understand why I don’t want to hear any bad word about my parents. They were there for me while you were nowhere to be found…”

“Kevwe, I didn’t even know you had an accident!” She shouted finally in frustration.

There was a moment of silence after her outburst before Kevwe sneered. “Please, don’t tell me you weren’t aware.” He hissed through his teeth. His parents had said she was informed. “My father sent several messages to tell you about it and when you finally came, you handed back your ring. You said you couldn’t marry me, couldn’t manage a man who’d be crippled for life.”

“That’s so not true!” Efe was lost for words. This was worse than she thought. “Kevwe you know me better than that.” She had loved you with everything that was in her. She would have stood by him through whatever.

“Pardon me, but I didn’t see you by my side when it mattered most.” He was dismissive, but then turned intense again. “Where were you when the pain became overwhelming and I cried like a baby? Where were you when the physiotherapist insisted I had to walk? When I had to learn to walk again with crutches, were you there to encourage me? Were you there?”

She stared at him with tear-soaked eyes till he stopped. She fished in her handbag and thrust a business card at him. “Call me when you’re ready to listen. I think we’re done here.”

As she passed by him, he grabbed her by the arm and twisted her round. They stood panting and staring down each other for a long minute. Efe broke the spell.

“Please let me go, you are hurting me.” She hissed.

Kevwe’s hands loosened and then finally dropped off.

Efe whispered furiously at him and then ignored his call as she walked to the idling car. Kevwe stared till they left the complex and then turned to stalk back into the building. Her last words echoed in his head. “Again, if you’re serious about hearing my own side or my version of events, you know where to find me.”


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So what do you think?

ps, the Just Wright movie review is still coming.

Radio Interview and Word Verification

Listen to internet radio with Anjuelle--Author/MFT on Blog Talk Radio

I am very much looking forward to appearing on a radio show today, Monday, May 17, 2010. It is called Book Talk, Creativity and Family Matters and is hosted by Anjuelle Floyd.

Call in time is 1 pm PT, 2pm MT, 3pm CT, and 4pm ET.

The call-in number is: (347) 215-7740.

The link to the show page is HERE

The format is fairly laid back. I will be asked questions aimed at encouraging listeners to purchase my book rather than giving spoilers.I will also be given time to discuss my process for writing, how I came into writing and any other pertinent information I want listeners to know. Tune in if you want to catch up with me.



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In other news, so what did you guys do last weekend? We went to see Just Wright, I'll give a review in the next post. In the mean time, have a great week people and enjoy!


So most of you now know about the Balderdash word verification meme which I started last week. Like I said, I intend to host the meme every Monday for the rest of the month. I am still hoping that some of you will send in entries to be GUEST BLOGGERS! I hear some of you ask; What does that mean? How do you play? The answer is very simple indeed.

1. Write down all the word verifications you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.
2. Pick your best five (or so) of them and come up with an authentic sounding definitions for them.

Like last week, I want everyone to be involved. So I have turned on my word verification again. When you leave a comment, include the word Google throws at you and make up a definition for it. If you are given a real word, make up a more interesting definition than the usual one, lol.

Here goes nothing.

1. Ningsty: (n)
i...social networking for pigs.
ii...a dirty ning page

2. Undsot: (V. tr) To sleep under the table while drunk.

3. Comoti: (easy peasy) get out of here! :):)

4. Eiklickr: (n) A professional job. A window washer by licking

5. Haaedlun: (Adv) Origins obsure (lol) big headed.

Picture Saturday - Northwest African American Museum, Seattle

As usual, the pictures of me will be going down at the end of the day. By the way, no mind my infrequent pulling of these supposed-to-be-regular memes out of the box.

Is the sun shining in your corner of the world? Well it doesn't do so often here but small small, Mr. Ball of heat has been making it's presence felt. Not that it is that hot, but to fulfil it's other function of light, it can get blinding.

I look like a ghost up there, don't I? LOL...

We had just come back from an outing to the North-West African American Musuem last weekend when I decided to play with the camera. Below is some pictures of the American experience for African Americans and a special display on Ethiopia and their migration to a new land (there are a lot of Eastern Africans in these parts and most are subsumed into the AA subculture). Enjoy.

Spend the rest of her life with him? ...by Tisha

Iphey looked up briefly in shock to see Chinedu waiting on her answer, half in anticipation, the other half as vulnerable as a child. His eyes glittered like lightning but held Iphey’s gaze and waited for her to do something, anything to show that this was what she wanted too. Iphey gazed into Chinedu’s eyes for a second or so and then she fluttered her own eyes shut to hide her confusion, nothing prepared her for this. Being with him was everything she had ever dreamed, in the short time they had been together, she had come to depend on him so much, she had tried to hold back many times in case it was not that serious and things did not work out but Chinedu had a lust for life that was contagious and what he wanted he got. He did all he did with passion, a quality sometimes alien to her except where work and family were concerned.

When they went out together, he was always the center of attention wherever they ended up. His full throaty laughter made her heart soar and then made her smile every time. She had tried to maintain her routine so that he could be a part of her life and not take over her world but many a times she would find herself listening for the sound of his car, the distinct slapping sound of his Joe Blogg shoes and the jingle of his keys. He invaded her space slowly and consequently her life. She could not deny how his eyes lit up and her heart jumped in her chest every time he turned up at her doorsteps and she looked forward to his warm embrace, she could hug him forever. Why could she not spend the rest of her life with him?

She weighed her options. It was true they had only been seriously dating for three months but their first date had been in November last year, six months ago. From that day, he had been making inroads into her emotions, her mind and her family. The fact was that if every thing worked out as planned, she would be gloriously happy and content but if not, she would never ever forget him. She would be torn and having her heart broken would be an understatement. She would forever miss his presence like a part of her; her soul most likely would be fragmented, forever lost to her. Her family, friends and her work would suffer because she would be unable
to ignore the loss.

She glanced up at him and wondered if she was willing to risk her life with him like that, who was she fooling, it had long been out of her hands, only the decision she would make was in her hands. Her lashes flirted with the silken texture of her face and her eyes widened with complete openness not caring who could see the naked emotions on her face. She saw the possibilities for all the good that could come and she saw the dangers flash before her eyes and she knew this was the moment she had been waiting for all her life.

"Babe? he called, "please don't keep me waiting too long."

She looked into Chinedu’s eyes, hers solemn and quiet, stretched her hand across the table and grasped his own. She looked into his eyes steady and sure, his features beautiful, they could be hard edges one moment and then suddenly soft and compassionate. She looked at his build, he was well toned all over with not a layer of fat, all pure muscle or at least that is what all the ladies say. He carried his brown slacks and neutral colored shirt like a work of art; he swore
his hair short and simple brown leather strapped Calvin Klein watch.

She searched his face, her mind wandering, praying to see the future, to see if he would hurt her, how much he would hurt her. What gave her the courage to go ahead was this: he was a man of integrity with strength of character and a heart full of courage, she looked at him from the corners of her eyes the way only a woman could watch and knew, this was the only man for her, a man comparable to her; they fit like a perfect waltz in all things. She turned limpid pools of her brown colored eyes at him and knew exactly what her answer would be. Yet when she spoke, her voice little more than a whisper.

“Yes.”

Chinedu met her soft gaze then but his face was hard, as if ready for battle prepared for whatever came, even a negative answer.

“What did you say?” he asked in a strong voice.

“Nedu,” her voice lifted an octave higher, “I love you and I’ll marry you,” she ended smiling.

She saw relief in his eyes and barely glimpsed his lips descend towards hers, she did not wait for him to land but met him halfway as their tongues dueled and clashed with the force of the attraction they felt one for another, absolutely unimaginable.

She was a bit taken aback and gasped as she felt like he consume her whole, she was vibrating from head to foot at the power behind the kiss they shared and could feel the desire pumping through her veins, she felt Chinedu deepen the kiss again and she made a move quickly as she placed her hand on his chest to stop him.

“Nedu…” she groaned in half surrender “We are in a restaurant...”

She tried to glance around but her gaze was caught in his. He kissed her a little slower, nibbling here and there and then he withdrew, removed a black object from his pocket then knelt in front of her, opened the box gingerly to reveal a simple silver band, nothing setting it apart, except for the fact that he was the one giving it to her.

“This is my mother’s…” he smiled “I have been carrying it around for the last few weeks hoping for a perfect time to give it to you.” He smiled simply “This is not an engagement ring, I didn't know I would propose today. But it is a gift to show you that you're the only one for me. As it is, I don’t think there will be a better time than this,” his voice was a whisper by this time.

Her passion-darkened eyes had filled with surprise he talked and now as slipped the ring he held in his hands to her already outstretched hand and unto her finger inch by inch, a strange calm came over her. Then the enormity of responsibility the ring on her finger placed on Iphey’s shoulders hit almost immediately. She had entrusted her heart, soul and mind to him with seven words, to the one man who had a chance at breaking her heart and she, though her logic tried to point her in another direction, refused to pick another, how difficult was it anyway?

“Nedu…” she whispered in fear and awe, "your mother's?"

"Yes and I want you to have it. You will be the mother of my children and mine too." His smile spread joy over her heart and she wrapped her fingers over the simple ring.

"I love you Nedu, thank you for this."

"I love you too." He punctuated this with a kiss.

Her phone began to ring almost immediately.

“I should have switched this off …” she muttered apologetically as she glanced down at her Nokia BlackBerry “…Oh, it’s James my sister’s husband and I need to take it.”

"Go on," Chinedu waved her ahead. "I'll go settle the bill."

Iphey smiled at him and admired his backside as he walked away. And then she focused on the phone and what James was saying.

"You want to see me? Can I come with Ngozi? No? OK, where? Alright, I'll soon be there."

She hung up just as Chinedu returned. "I have to go home now. James wants us to meet."

"No problem, I'll take you there if you want?"

Iphey was grateful for all his help so far in locating James but now she felt she should do this on her own. She had to speak sense to James to return to his family and best if he wasn't defensive already that she came with someone.

"No thanks," Iphey finally replied. "If you can just take me home?"

"Sure."

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Like I said the last time I love the direction of the closing of the series. Even I couldn't have predicted it would end like this. Now we're entering the eye of the storm, so brace yourselves. There is danger everywhere and I have to warn you that we may lose one or two people at the end of this. Anyways, leave your comments and vote for the next chapter.

Our main contributor is Tisha. You all know Tisha, she has contributed before and continues to surprise me with her poetic writing and good internalizations. Apart from the last bit, this is strictly her's. Show her some love please at her entry on Naija Stories.

Till the next time, have fun peeps. Enjoy the coming weekend.

Mr Handsome Guy (Poem) + Update

(Comment Verification has been removed)

Hey, Mr. handsome guy
You can’t really be shy
For you seemed so fly
Whenever you come by

With the magic you wove
In our own secret cove
I readily swore by Jove
Nowhere else to rove

If it were not for the fame
Or to keep a good name
I’ll never play any game
But wholly be your dame

If my burdens you’ll bear
Then all your calls I’ll hear
We’ll have nothing to fear
Love will last many a year.


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Hi peeps, how's your week going so far? I hope you like the poem, it was written tongue in cheek and I hope you can see the lighter side of it as well as the more serious bit towards the end. That is what love is for me...fun and depth. What about you?

In other news...I've been a bit busy with Naija Stories but I have to say I'm proud of how it's turning out. GO OVER and check it out. Anyway, before I digressed I wanted to say that my WIP manuscript has been suffering from neglect. I intend to focus again as of today, so expect an installment in my next post. I might actually show off from the second draft, we'll see.

Enjoy the rest of your week and I'll see you over at yours soon.

ps, Have you been waiting for an autographed copy of A Heart to Mend? Do you want to see Myne Whitman? Do you live in the MD/DC/NY area? Stay tuned...

Balderdash! Word Verification Meme

Some of you may have heard or played the word game Balderdash, well there's a blogger version. I first saw the Balderdash Word Verification meme played on this blog by the Petty Witter. It piqued my interest and after a few clicks I got to the originator, Sheila at Book Journey. When I read this on her blog, I thought someone had opened my head and written what they saw there, lol.

Ok… I admit it. I am a comment junkie. I love – love ♥ LOVE ♥ to read blogs, the discussions on books, author interviews, bookshelves, great bookish stories and adventures….

but along with loving to comment comes the ever dreaded endless… (dun dun dun dun…scary music) word verification.

I know it is a necessity… I get that. You leave a comment, chances are you going to be word verified. Yet being a comment junkie… it slows me down. So to make this a bit more enjoyable… I came up with a plan.

And her plan was the Balderdash word verification meme which has become quite popular that some bloggers do it weekly. For the month of May, I intend to host the meme every Monday. I am hoping you will play along with me so I will be accepting GUEST BLOGGERS! I hear some of you ask; What does that mean? How do you play? The answer is very simple indeed.

1. Write down all the word verifications you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.
2. Pick your best five (or so) of them and come up with an authentic sounding definitions for them.

But to make this more exciting, I want you and everyone to get involved. So I have turned on my word verification. When you leave a comment, include the word Google throws at you and make up a definition for it. If you are given a real word, make up a more interesting definition, lol.

These are my own top 10 captchas and their funky definitions.

1. Jocontac: (n) A joke on a tack
(v)When you make a joke from a tack pin.

2. Garbio: A garbage bio. Look at it from three ways;
a) the biography of garbage
b) a biography that is garbage
c) biography of a garbage man.

3. Cavable: From the french word Ca'va. The reply is usually bien.
(n) one who can reply positively to the referenced question.

4. Fowlsway: Is this the sway of a fowl or it's way? I go with the first since we have catwalk right?
(n) A way in which a person's movement imitates that of a fowl.

5. Fingster: This gives me naughty ideas of what one can do with their fingers but I'll desist.
(v) To give someone the open palm with five fingers outstretched. You know like "waka"?

6. Jauntru: From the word Jaunt.
(n) A true life account of a person's jaunts in life.

7. Undenses: From the word dense - to make more stupid (yeah I said that, lol)
(v.tr) To make someone less stupid.

8. Dercobbl:
i - (v) To remove the cobbles on a street.
ii - (n) A handmade shoe

9. Zintux: A tuxedo of the highest order.

10. Ringbeau: This one is very obvious right? No?
(n) A beau who comes bearing a ring.

If none of the above words or meanings made any sense to you, then welcome to Balderdash! LOL.

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend and mother's day for those in the US. Have a great week everyone.