Annoyed

 Todays annoyance is that I found a great deal on Delta airlines ( and I had just enough miles - say 8k) and I needed 9k. So I checked my marriott account, asked my friend for some, he sent them to me and then I transfered these miles from my marriott account at the rate of 3 marriott miles to 1 delta mile.

Anyway now I have to wait for the transfer to take place.

24 hours later, no miles in my account, so I call delta, they say " oh both accounts have to have the exact same name and it'll take us 7 days to update your account."

So I call marriott, the agent does the name change and tells me he will do the miles transfer again but I should check in 7 days.

Something told me to check this morning and yay the miles are there.

I check for the flight, it now costs 18,000 miles.

I want to say I slammed my laptop shut and went about my day but instead I spent another 2 hours looking for a way.

Finding none.

and then taking a pain killer.

Off to study for my exam :)

Interesting development

 Turns out my employer had not paid my pension for the last two years. I know they just paid 2022 and knowing that I can get 25% of the money out now, turns out they are owing me a significant amount.

If you work in Nigeria, is reporting the company to pencom going to yield a viable solution?

Or should I just continue to beg them to pay. Ps- Its been almost a year since I left there.

Nigeria is such a strange place. 

Patchy Information

 Reading through my blogposts from 2017- 2019 lets call it my Dating era, and I can not believe I did not use more unique identifiers than - THE BOY. 

Jesus Christ I'm sure my blog can SEO rank first page for the word " Boy". 

Like half of these men I cant even remember them and they all seemed so nice and lovely with the lyrics they were always giving me. and I was so terrible in how dismissive I came across to them. Like yes I was uninterested, but surely there had to have been a better way than ghosting all of them so frequently.

Such a shame too, because asides T, Hercules, Sugar Baby and the 13 hour date boy, all the other men are like a blur. 

Who would have thought?

What the caterpillar called death, a wise man called a butterfly.

So many good things are still happening in your life, give yourself time.  And there is still still so much good ahead of you to experience.

Also shouts to Eneni for asking me if it was still just sex with Hercules, I think she figured it out waaay earlier than I allowed myself figure it out that we were really something solid.

Also even though it's been years now- almost 3- I CAN NOT BELIEVE I MARRIED HERCULES. Like we were on and off so many times - at least from my blogposts. Gosh. Also he seemed to always really like me, wanting to take me everywhere. and that hasn't changed at all.

I guess when a man likes you, he just likes you.

The end

Life Lately featuring The Alchemist

 I did a re-read of the alchemist and I was reminded why that is probably my best book in the whole wide world.

Every time I read that book, it feels like God speaks DIRECTLY to me. I can not explain it but it comforts me in ways that I don't think Paulo Coelho designed but that's what happens.

Lots of people say its hocus pocus, but I have learnt that its difficult to explain very simple truths to people. 

One of my things in the last few years has been returning to simplicity in a world that thrives on complicating things. That being said , I am happy that I read that book.

As I come to the end of Q1 2024, all I am filled with Gratitude. 

I also got a new job, which is greatttttt and now maybe I can take my art seriously. 

we will come back in 3 months to see where I have reached with that. I have also started looking at keyboards again. Perhaps this is the year I start learning how to play the piano. -AGAIN.

Anyway, I hope you all are well. 2024 has been firing good and glad tidings on all cylinders, and I pray that you are experiencing good things too.

Ps: Maybe its all the dogs here, but I am beginning to toy with the idea of repatriating one of my dogs to be with us in Canada. 

Because I have been playing with my neighbors dog and I WANT MY OWN.

Okay where is 2024 rushing to?

 Bruh I blinked and March is 10 days in?

We thank God for his many mercies o!

Honestly I'm super thankful because this year has been -YEAR-ING. 

But what does the good book say about deliverance from the many aflictions of the righteous?

If you don't know- its that they are delivered from ALL.

My school work is progressing splendidly well, I find that I'm torn between coasting and putting my back into it. Due to updates in my knowledge of the visa system I decided to extend my program but accelerate it so that I finish in the same time as everyone else who started with me in a longer program, thats how I ended up doing 8 abi 9 courses this semester, and by some stroke of luck- also working full time.

So when I say E CHOKE? 

But asides that It's been good o. We celebrated 6 months in Canada with a party, well it was also PJ's birthday and it was SUCH  A GREAT time. everyone was like- yall have been here only 6 months ke?

me- It's God ooo. 

And the wisdom to space out the prep for the party and missing classes for a day to make sure everything was kosher. 

Another super bright spot in my days is Bobby my neighbors dog who absolutely LOVES me.

Last week my neighbor said- I hope you have other people in your life as excited to see you as bobby is. And I was like- You should have met my dog Tiny. The absolute love of my life.

And YES, I am still always toying with the idea of bringing him home here. I know it sounds hard, but with God nothing is impossible.

So we move.

Just touching base to say I'm really settling in, I even filed my taxes, honestly the process seems super simple for all the noise that people make about taxes, but you know, when in Rome and that.

I've even renewed my US visa, one thing about the living here is that there is a youtube video for everything. most of them are in hindu or something but you get the general gist. 

Honestly God brought me here at the right time. 

I feel like in the last few weeks I've been having such vivid dreams, that feature so many strange people and when I wake up its almost like its hazy. Honestly God should speak to me let me hear his voice well one time.

Okay I hope everyone is well. I'm running back to completing my paper due at midnight haha.

Currently

 Listening 

Non-stop to Jelo by Young John & Pheelz

One thing about this song is that both of them were actual BTS guys ( producers) in the music industry and have now gone on to release bangers non stop. The lesson here is not to let anyone pigeon hole you into a box because of what you have done. There is still so much you *CAN* do.

Adupe fun eledumare

Adupe fun olorun oba

Na him give me the package

So make nobody come dey buga

Reading

Morgan Housel's new book called " Same as ever"

Life is lifing a lot right now so I am not going through this as quickly as I'd like, and honestly its not as interesting as the first book so its gonna be slow, but since I'm interested in knowing what is unchanging- I will finish it.

Feeling

Super grateful for how well this move has turned out. I can not lie, when people said moving will be hard I did not totally envision how hard, but the truth is that for us -God's yoke has been easy. and 4 months in, everyone is like OMG you are so lucky because wow, and truly I am so grateful

Also Feeling

COLD. I low key chose my city based on how great the weather was supposed to be and this week something called Arctic blast came through the city and its been minus kini kan. Had to buy a space heater on amazon prime ASAP. And it was not on my list of things I planned to buy in 2024. Anyway...

Expecting

Lots of great news, My amazon delivery, some difficult conversations with my editor about my book.

An easy path to settlement in Canada. Because being expectant is just the best way to be.

Honestly I am really excited about for 2024, I have more than a good feeling about this year, It just feels so much like the year where many things will come together. Like crystalize properly properly PROPERLY.

So my message for you this year is to GET EXCITED, Make big plans, then make steps on how to get them done, 2024 is a really auspicious year. Even the Chinese people have this to say about 2024 ( which is the year of the dragon)- To sum it up, 2024, the Year of the Dragon, encourages us to be ambitious, creative, and strong in facing challenges. By setting big goals, being imaginative, staying resilient, building good connections, and balancing our efforts, we can make this year successful- I mean.

Merry Christmas

 One thing about me- I'm not leaving ANYTHING to chance, Like I will plan my way around anything and everything and if things fall apart last minute I'd be like ah- God your turn, and he is like- I thought you'd never ask. and Boom - all things go my way.

All of this is to say I am having a SMASHING christmas szn. Obviously not as fabulous as what I'd have had in lagos, BUT this is def one for the books.

I have seen the christmas lights two cities away, had dinner and drinks with friends, then ended up at a bar in a casino and met the loveliest babe who promised to take us under her wings.

Then had a christmas party that was so much fun, we were literally the last to leave. It has been such a glorious run, I wanna thank me for making these plans and following through.

Merry Christmas to everyone, My skin is currently in shambles, for reasons best known to it, honestly at this point I don't know again- I'm handing it over to God because wetin?

Alsoooooo, my books I ordered black friday from lagos actually came, might spend tomorrow reading either one of them or maybe the alchemist.

One of the wildest things about moving here just feels like we have given ourselves permission to live the lives we want and now it is beginning to enter all the other area's of our lives as well. Crazy.

Another wild thing is- how much adjustment it takes to settle into a new country financially. And I don't mean like money to move, I mean learning the credit system, figuring out how investments work here, knowing what is a great deal on rates, optimizing for affordability in a city that thrives on information that is not easily accessible. And also knowing the opportunity cost of many things.

I'm also realizing my ability to get things gone- expertly, and its strange how my employer realizes this.

Perhaps I should really start looking for another job.

All of this is to say that as I'm sat in this chair, writing and looking at my foil decorations, I feel so happy, so thankful, so grateful that what is infront of me is soooo much better than what is left behind.

Merry Christmas everyone. May we all experience joy & happiness unlimited this szn!