I’d been sitting on a bunch of posts for a long time.
A lot of it I held back because I simply started to think a little too long, a little too hard. It is way past time and I’ve let myself get in my own way. I’m really not sure how to resume my blog but I can’t continue to leave it on pause. With that, I think I’ll start with a personal note. So here goes.
So I’ve waited a few days to get the new year new me blues out of my system. I’m not new, I’m not different neither so, we’ll have to manage. Oh, Kinda new Job though. That’s IBM in the image.
Yeah, I work there now.
So me, a whole me, Tolu 'There is rice at home' Arogunmati, waited in line for an hour, a WHOLE hour to eat food. Which food have I not eaten in this life that I will be standing outside? Outside in Canada cold for that matter. As I stared into the Montreal sky that fateful evening, I wondered;
Waow, wonders shall never end.
I know I've always been the overachieving type. I attempt things that are definitely over my head but the way I see it, I'd rather get the worst of the best things in life than be fine managing the best of average that I qualify for. The worst that could happen in this exam was that I'd fail. If I failed, I would still be in the same exact position anyways. But if I passed, IF by some Herculean effort I passed this exam, I would be on top of the world. That alone was worth the effort.
In honor of my friend in critical condition because of a drunk driving incident, I pray that you come out of it in one piece and that no one I know, love or care about gets into a life threatening situation over stupidity again. The pain, worry and anxiety about injuries and bodily harm to people we hold dear is far too great a burden to repeatedly carry. I'm praying for you, we're praying for you. Get well soon.
Alright this time, we talk about Debts. I feel like tackling this is the key to unlocking so much potential for a lot of new adults like myself. The more I think about it, I could argue that people in debt are the most generous people in this life, they are just giving it to the wrong people. These people work so hard JUST to give their money to financial institutions. If you think about it, the moment you create debt you've accepted to pay for something AND give your creditor (the bank) a bonus for it.
Once I was handed the keys to the Audi, I was excited to see what this little beast could do. It was going to be four awesome days of education in German engineering. I was looking forward to it's speed, anticipating it's change of pace, how fast could I go before having to consciously stop myself from enjoying it?
Once the aroma began to make my mouth water, I had to start getting my pounded yam ready. There was no way I could exercise patience this close to what I thought could potentially be greatness in my own kitchen. The whole time I was just ready to taste the goodness of God. Don't let me wait if I don't have to please.
So if by now you haven't noticed, I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where you don't think of snow. There was once a Nokia phone with a snowboarding game but that's about as much exposure as I had previously had to snow. Now that I live in Canada though, it is either embrace or despise it. It had taken too long for me to get into winter sports but this weekend I decided it was time, after all better late than never.
We the people of the North suffer from a natural inconsistency called winter. There is nothing I dread more in Canada than frigid sub-zero temperatures. I've survived 6 releases of this product of nature, suffice to say, this thing has terrible reviews.
For the first time though, I am not as afraid as any of the previous iterations. A lot of it has to do with having a furnace on wheels for the first time ever. I have never driven in winter so I am looking forward to this experience. I've bought winter tires for the first time ever as well. It was either that or teach my car to ice skate. The latter surely has no lived-happily-ever-after ending.
The next step to my preparations for winter; escape as much of it as I can. Seriously. I'm going on a vacation to Nigeria for just over 2 weeks. I haven't been there in 4 years now. I am so looking forward to some things; this is the part where I daydream about eating hot agege bread and suya immediately from the airport.
Every year, my winter militia seems more inadequate than the last. I have at least 5 sweaters and perhaps 2 overcoats as of last count but that infantry seems barely prepared for the war that is coming. I lost a faithful soldier one night in the wilderness that is downtown Ottawa and will be looking for a replacement soon. Hopefully that replacement brings major coverage to any gaps in my winter army.
My winter footwear stepped up its game recently, thanks to black friday Sales over at ALDO. My Timbs fought valiantly for me last winter, especially with all the job hunting I did last winter. So I think I'm covered there. My socks are also well stocked so I hope I don't get cold feet.
With Netflix & Chill no longer in season, seeing as winter effectively handled the "chill" , I believe the kids these days are into the #SeizeTheBae movement or is it "Cuffing Season"? One or the other, perhaps both. I have decided against this for this winter though, it is possible I don't have a choice but let's pretend I chose not to, okay?
Finally, I am thinking of getting a beanie and gloves. I will be looking for suggestions any and everywhere possible. Maybe wait for GQ to come through with some tips.
Cheers to the coldest time of the year.
It's a cold world outchea.
