What Became of this Little Ball of Emotion

I feel like I left the blogging community for so long that it has isolated me. Blogger confirmed that by asking me for my password when I logged it, which it never does. So thanks for THAT vote of confidence!

I'm a little ball of emotions today (the little voice in my head is asking me when I'm ever not a little ball of emotions, and in response, I say "shut up"). I'm seeing my hunk of a lover this weekend (hi boyfriend) so the butterflies are beginning their descent even though I'm only seeing him on Saturday. I'm stressed because I'm hosting something at my house on Saturday for a friend's eighteenth. I can't say what (yet) as it is a surprise, but as soon as the weekend is over I will reveal all! Last, but not least, I cried at school today (yes - at school) because I wrote an essay that got me all emotional. I wanted to share it with my adoring fans. **bows**. Just kidding - hi mom.

What the elephant in the room should have kept to itself

It couldn't have been more than eight years ago - a split second in cosmic time - but it truly feels so long ago that I wouldn't be surprised if such a time in my life existed simultaneously with Adam and Eve.

It was a frequent occurrence in my life: days spent at my grandparents house. I loved everything about them and their ivory-walled mansion on Glenwood Drive. I loved that the little fence that stood, taller than me at that point in time, and guarded our property from all sides, was lined with jasmine which you could smell as soon as you turned into the driveway. I loved that it didn't have an electric gate like most houses now, and then, but instead, a two-doored rusty-hinged gate that was locked shut with a padlock every night, the moment the sun set. I loved that the same troop of dogs always greeted me with their familiar wet noses. I loved that my granny always made the best food no matter what meal of the day it was. I loved that the house always seemed to grow secret passages in preparation for my next visit. My absolute favourite thing was that the house never had a dull moment. It was always filled with happy family members, good food and more love than most people know in a lifetime.

On my return to my childhood home, I'm not pleased with how it makes me feel: old. There are no more wet-nosed happy-tailed dogs - not even one. Neither of my grandparents are standing at the front door to see their grandchildren into their home. The pool that my whole family used to spend hours in is now green from neglect ion. The corridors are empty and even the jasmine is gone.

I suppose it was always there - the inevitable. It was in every corner of every warm room. It was there, watching us as our family of eight - sometimes more, depending on who was visiting that weekend - sat around the dinner table with full stomachs and happy hearts. It was with us on our adventures into the secret passageways and into the forest-like garden at the bottom of the house. It was the elephant in the room; the unopened letter on the counter.

Thus far, I have had the most spectacular life and I don't hesitate in thinking that it is going to get even better, but there is nothing I would give up these memories for and, if I could, nothing would stop me from reversing time and replaying the first ten years of my life until I'm too happy to remember how to miss something this much.

9GAG, Idols and Living Life One Item at a Time

School started today - big life-stifling bleb. Cue my rose-colored glasses: on the bright side, it was my very last first-day of high school. Ever. Cue beer-goggles.

I have some great stuff for your guys - entertaining, even!

I found this video on 9GAG the other night (I know, don't give me that look. I have a problem. It's almost as big as the current obsession I have with Brickbreaker. Must. Reach. Level. Twenty. Three.).  I thought it was awesome because, really, when we're honest with ourselves, who hasn't done this?!

The second video I have for you guys, and the one I'm bursting at my seams to share is my friend Dominic Neill's audition video for Idols South Africa. In recent news, he has made it to the Top 18 contestants. I can't (can't... or won't) tell you how many times I've watched his audition video, but he just has this style that I can't say I've seen in anyone else. This is a fairly popular song, but he performs it with such enthusiasm, rhythm, passion and with a truly South Africa heart, that I'm sure no one else has even considered such a cover before.

In my personal news - I was able to cross off the sixtieth item on my Life List  this weekend - bartend! I snatched up the opportunity to get a job at the club myself and my friends often find ourselves at, and my first working night was on Friday! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it - it was too sick - and I feel edgy using such a colloquial word on my blog but, really, nothing else will fully describe it. I loved the vibe from behind the bar, I loved serving the drinks and I loved that my friends sat at the bar forcing everyone who bought from me to give me a tip (thanks guys **wink wink**). I do have the best friends. I'm working again this weekend. Oh, and, plus, I'm earning a fair amount of money. It's a students life!

Stroke Identification

If I had a million lives to live, I would definitely choose to be a doctor at some point. However, I highly doubt that life works that way and so, I introduce to you:



"STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a party, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. (they offered to call ambulance)

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid’s husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.)
She had suffered a stroke at the party . Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Some don’t die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. It only takes a minute to read this…

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke…totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Remember the first three letters of "Stroke", S, T, and R, these are the three steps. Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now, doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions :

S * Ask the individual to SMILE ..
T * = TALK. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (eg ‘It is sunny out today’).
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the ambulance and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

NOTE : Another ‘sign’ of a stroke is
1. Ask the person to ‘stick’ out their tongue.
2. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

A prominent cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

And it could be your own."