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To Keep One’s Head While Everyone Loses Theirs a.k.a. The Absurdity of Political Correctness.

Published by Osemhen

I think the Westerners may just have lost the plot. About a month ago, a Christian couple in the UK lost an adoption bid in court. The judges ruled that precisely because they were Christian (read fundamental, traditional, politically incorrect bigots), they would no longer be allowed to adopt children in the UK. They feared that the couple would discourage homosexuality in their children, and might stifle any budding homosexuality tendencies children in their charge might develop. *Shrug* Not my business. Note to self: don’t try adopting children in the UK. Then about two weeks ago, the Australian Human Rights Commission, front runner for everything ‘politically-correct’ decided that gender could no longer be restricted to male or female. Check it, they now have twenty-three (23!) different genders. That’s right. In Australia, you can be transgender, trans, transsexual, intersex, androgynous, agender, cross dresser, drag king, drag queen, genderfluid, genderqueer, intergender, neutrois, pansexual, pan-gendered, third gender, third sex, sistergirl and brotherboy. (I just googled ‘neutrois’). Or you could be boring male/female. 😛 I’m not even going to …

Clearing Out My Head…

Published by Osemhen

I’ve started, and discarded many posts over the last week. Laziness, ennui, hormones, sleeplessness, blasted writers’ block (thank God for whoever coined this term) took over and had me all sorts of cranky. This week, however, sanity prevails. Maybe it’s the prospect of Lent (starts tomorrow for Catholics). Maybe it’s the realization that the end of March marks the end of the first quarter of 2011 and my resolutions are on a downward slope. Need to tighten that belt, let’s go. One of the things I wanted to blog about was the definition of success. I’ve always balked at the automatic association some people make between success and wealth: to be successful is to be rich and if you’re not rich, or if you’re poor, then you’re unsuccessful. I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly doesn’t ring true about this definition. Maybe it’s the fact that it makes success too mercenary. I mean, if I’m a thieving senator, am I successful? (Don’t tell me I’m a successful thief!) If I inherit a billion …

How To Blow Your Budget Without Even Trying…

Published by Osemhen

Every now and then, a twinge of conscience, an account in red or a well-meaning (or not!) adviser – friend, relative, busybody article, banker – will prompt you to do something meaningful about your budget, or rather, your inability to stick to a budget. Don’t do it! A budget is a dumb idea, it always makes you feel bad. And me? Me, I’m on your side! Blowing budgets is art; a form of self-expression… (and I am Picasso, TRUST ME!) You ready to take this leap of faith into previously unplumbed depths of poverty? Let’s do this! At the beginning of the year, in true I’m-serious-about-this fashion, make a resolution not to blow your budget. This is the easiest part, and made easier by the fact that the holiday season has depleted all monies and driven you seriously into debt. Plus, it’s the beginning of the year! Time for new beginnings and all. So by all means, go ahead and resolve to budget. It makes blowing it that much more bitter-sweet! Then, using one of …

My All Time Favourite Beauty Tips

Published by Osemhen

Drink lots and lots and lots of water. Water is, usually, free. And it does this whole detoxifying and rehydrating thing that just makes your skin glow from inside out, something all those $437 creams can’t. Black eyeliner and clear lip-gloss are so in! Don’t ask me how or why but I think they give you a timeless exotic-ness. So go easy on the rest of the makeup, keep it simple. Exfoliate your face once or twice a week. Any good scrub will do,  just make sure you read the label to confirm you don’t react to any of the ingredients (I react to alcohol, for instance). If you aren’t sure, why not go natural? Mix a little oatmeal (a tablespoon) with hot water to form a paste, add a dollop of honey, spread on your face and massage in for  about a minute. Voila! Clear skin. Lose the expensive facial washes. Mild soap works best for your face. I recommend baby soap, or Dove or Ose Dudu (black, native soap). Avoid using your body …

Sister, Sister

Published by Osemhen

I’m a first child, with all the responsibilities, attitudes and whatnot that comes with. I am responsible for my siblings, the one they look up to, the one who has to have all the answers, the one who has to push them to achieve, because if I can so can they. I am the one they run to when it all hits the fan, the one who can clean the mess, frighten the boogie man and make it all better. They believe I can do it all. The problem begins when I believe it too. When I believe I’m Superwoman, and that my primary duty is to make it all go away. And then I torture myself with guilt when I fail them, and blame myself for their every mistake, disappointment or sadness. Where do I draw a line? Should there be a line? Where do my responsibilities stop and their need for to be independent begin? Just the thought of trying to draw a line provokes shame at being disloyal. I have no answers. …