On The First Day Of 2010

My readers, friends, and family asked of me, "What do you want for your birthday?"

Oh, come on!  You knew the day was coming; you knew I couldn't celebrate my birthday without giving you the list, the birthday list, the one you have been secretly, unconsciously dying to have.  Yes, that list.  In my usual manner, I have taken the pain to put this oh-so-verastic list together.  You're going to love it!  You're going to be eager to just buy, buy, buy.  Of course, I'll gladly let you buy me more than one gift.  Unlike last year's gift list, this one is not full of perfumes.  I think that's what happens when you grow up.

The List:

*** Update: Number 21 has been purchased.
*** Update: Number 10 has been purchased.
*** Update: Number 9 has been purchased.
*** Update: Number 17 has been purchased.

1.  The Nikon D90.  Ever since I saw Ashton Kutcher in the commercial, I have wanted needed this camera.  Oh, I can only imagine the kind of chemistry we would have.  12.9 megapixels of beauty.  Picture courtesy of Best Buy.

2.  Toyota Rav-4: It was a tough decision, but I decided to only add the Rav-4 to my birthday wish list this year. With the state of the economy, I thought it'd be rather insensitive to ask for a Range Rover.  I'm quite understanding, I know.  Picture courtesy of Toyota dot com.

3.  Motorola Cliq phone (in the winter white color): Both of my phones are a sorry sight.  My blackberry has gotten so bad that it now deletes my call records and text messages.  It's so old that instead of Blackberry, it now reads Blacky.  Picture courtesy of T-Mobile.

4.  Blackberry Bold 9700: I use two phones; they're both equally pathetic.  Trust me.  They're pathetic.  So, this Blackberry will replace my second phone.  Picture courtesy of T-Mobile.

5.  Sony Cyber Shot:: Why do I need this?  Because the camera I own is a D-SLR, so I can't just throw it into my purse and go anywhere I want to.  Sometimes, I'm somewhere and I want to take a picture for the blog, but there's no camera - except the phone camera, and well, I'd rather not use the phone camera to take pictures for my blog.  Picture courtesy of Best Buy.

6.  Sony Reader - Touch Edition: I have tried not to cave into this new technology; I have tried to keep doing the paper thing, but goodness, this is so much lighter.  Picture courtesy of Best Buy

7.  Kindle Wireless Reading Device (From Amazon): I actually prefer this one.  But, of course, I'm totally understanding and flexible. I'll gladly take either the Kindle or the Sony Reader - not both - but I do prefer the Amazon Kindle.  Unless you insist, of course, but please don't.  One is fine, really. Picture courtesy of Amazon.

8.  An external hard drive - 500 GB (Toshiba).  Considering how much I write, it is a shame that I do not own an external hard drive.  Yes, that means that nothing - absolutely nothing - is backed up.  So, if Nwoke Ocha were to decide to pack up right now, that would be it for me.  Picture courtesy of Best Buy.

9.  Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe: Believe it or not, I have never, ever read this book.  Sure, I know the story, but that's just because I watched the movie (with Pete Edochie starring as Okonkwo), and of course, many are the things that have been said about this great novel --- and the one who wrote it.  So now, I want it for myself.  Picture courtesy of Amazon.

10.  The Lion And The Jewel by Wole Soyinka: Nope, have not read this either.  *sigh*  Picture courtesy of Amazon.

11.  Cuff Down Ankle Boots from Bakers: These Western boots are made for walking.  I want to walk in them!  Who is buying?  I wear a size 9, BUT let's be safe and go with a 10.  Picture courtesy of Bakers Shoes.

12.  These peep-toe pumps: I don't know this obsession I have with peep toe shoes, but it's gotta stop.  Okay, it doesn't have to stop right now.  I just love them.  What else is there to say?

13.  I want to carry this bag.  Enough said.  Courtesy of Macy's.

14.  Liz Claiborne Marietta sunglasses: Simple.  Not too flashy.  Me likes.  Picture courtesy of Macy's.

15.  A/X Armani Exchange Sunglasses: I love, love, LOVE these glasses.  I love them better than the previous one (number 14).  I can just imagine myself on a hot summer day.  HAWT!  Picture courtesy of Macy's

16.  Efuru by Flora Nwapa.  This, too, is another book that I need to read.  So who wants to help mama?  Mama being me, of course.  Picture courtesy of Amazon.

17.  That Devil's No Friend Of Mine by J. D. Mason.  I love J. D. Mason.  I think she's a brilliant writer.  I don't remember the name of the first book I read from her, but I loved it.  I have loved everything from her since then.  Picture courtesy of Amazon.

18.  Be Careful What You Pray For by Kimberla Lawson Roby: I love her books, too.  It's usually dramatic and family oriented, the kind of stuff that happens to regular people.  It's almost like a Nigerian movie, and by that, I'm referring to the good Nigerian movie, not the ones that insult our intelligence.  Picture courtesy of Amazon.

19.  God Only Knows by Xavier Knight. I have never read anything from this author, but something about the name of the book, and even the name of the author just makes me want to grab it and read it right now.  Picture courtesy of Amazon.

20.  Elaine boots from Baker's Shoes.  I really, really like them.  No, seriously, I like them.  Size 10, please.  Goodness.  I'll look so hot in them.  Don't you think?  Picture courtesy of Baker's Shoes.

21.  Caden peep toe boots from Baker's Shoes.  I have admired these boots from afar, and I have thought to myself, "Why would I need peep toe boots?"  But recently, I saw a pair of peep toe boots that I just couldn't stop looking at.  Hence, my new love for the peep toe booties.  Picture courtesy of Baker's Shoes.

22.  Lancome Teint Idole Ultra foundation.  I've been using this foundation since Lancome jazzed me in 2008.  After I bought their ridiculously expensive eye pencil, I took it back and bought this foundation instead.  It's been love ever since.  Well, I need a new one.  I need it in the Suède 1 (N) color (not to be confused with the Suede On color).  In the picture below, I highlighted the color, and by the left, where you'll select the color, my color is the one with the highlighted (yellow) frame (the last one on the leftest column).  Picture courtesy of Macy's.

23.  Nintendo Wii.  I don't remember if I had this on my wish list last year, but I know I've been wanting this for quite a while.  Well, here's your chance to do me good :-)  Picture courtesy of Best Buy.

24.  Sony - Xplod 52W x 4 Apple: The CD player in my car is crappy.  It's way too sensitive for my liking, but that's only the beginning of the problem.  It goes off right in the middle of the song, and I think it does it on purpose too, because it always waits till the song gets to my favorite part ... and then pffft.  It's off.  Picture courtesy of Best Buy.

25.  Sony Handycam camcorder: Wouldn't it be nice, if I could serenade you with videos??  Exactly!  So this is where and how this camcorder comes into play.  Picture courtesy of Best Buy.

26.  If you feel like none of these is expensive enough, I'll gladly welcome the cash you would have spent on a gift.



**** List will continuously be updated till June 30th 2010.  On June 30th 2010, the new birthday wish list (for 2011) will start being compiled.  Happy buying.

Happy New Year .... once again.

Oh, how could I forget?!  You need my address!

P. O. BOX 7893

Essex, MD 21221

United States of America.

This Is It

For 2009.

This year, like all the ones before it, has been unpredictable.  I want to tell you about how I had good times and bad times, how I went to bed crying and woke up laughing, how I got so frustrated so many times that certain things were not how and where I wanted them, how I sat in my car and cried to myself, and to God, and then, wiped my tears and came inside the house with a counterfeit smile plastered on my face because I did not want mom to be worried.  I want to tell you about how I stayed financially-challenged throughout the entire year, but somehow, I always managed to make it by, and at the end, I even had some change.  But I won't tell you these things.J

Today is the 29th day of December.  In two days, the year will be over.  Still, I am expectant.  There are things I asked begged asked and begged God to do that He has not done, and since, to Him, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day [2 Peter 3:8], I'll keep my hands open for His blessings and favor.

As I reflect on the 116 posts I put up this year - the post you're currently reading makes it 117 - I cannot help but reflect on the state of my mind when I put those posts up.  Here are some of them, in chronological order: I think about my post on February 2nd, the one where I celebrated my blog's anniversary by answering everyone's questions.  And I think of Valentine's Day, a day that started out being as plain as Thursday, a day I planned on staying home and saturating my mind with Nigerian movies that test and insult my intelligence, and a day that ended up being the best Valentine's Day of my life.

And I think about April 1st, and how I blogged about my engagement, the one that never happened.  I enjoyed the comments so much that I almost forgot I was not even engaged.  Sometimes, my ring finger feels empty, as if something is missing.  Strange.  How can it miss what it has never had?  And I think about May 7th, the day I blogged about the shoes that fit.  That was the day Mr. Shoes got his famous name.  I love the name, by the way.  

I think about the launch of my online radio on June 23rd, and I think about the fickleness of my voice and the anxiety of my heart, and I cannot help but smile at the overwhelming support I received that day, and all the days that have followed.  And I think about July 5th, and the emotions with which I blogged about the home-going of Mommy Shoes (Mr. Shoes' mom) who left us on June 20th.  It was with sadness, reluctance, grief, anger, and an understandable but questionable sense of betrayal by God that I put that post up.  

And on October 20th, I blogged about the 17-day fun I had with Mr. Shoes, the private resort he took me to, the Shawarma Pita I tasted for the first time, the almost-revolting tall cup of tea he made me drink because of my cold, and my inability to pass said cold on to him (Oh, I didn't mention this inability in that post).  And finally, on December 4th, I featured a few generous vendors who offered some wonderful discounts on their products.  It was my first time featuring vendors, and by God's grace, I'll do it again.

I apologize for the rather extensive post.  The point of it is to say Thank You.  Thank You for all your love and support, and to show my appreciation, I now present you - yes, you, dear reader - with this certificate of appreciation (click on certificate to magnify it).

***See you in 2010!  Happy New Year!!!***

All Things Are New...

2 Cor 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Lovely readers of Verastically Livin,' please excuse me while I get a lil serious. Yes, I know you're not quite used to this. But contrary to popular belief, Vera can be serious oooo.... ehen. This is a scheduled post. At the time it appears on my blog, I'll be in church, worshipping. What better way to bring in the New Year? Below is my public letter to God. Since everyone is on the internet these days; I figured God must be browsing Verastic.com every now & then, ey? [Yes, I'm still being serious].

*************** Clearing Throat*******************

Dear God,

2008 was something else. Honestly, I still do not know if I should call this a good or a bad year. Most times, it feels lukewarm. The highlight was the day I rededicated my life back to You. I can honestly say that life has not been the same since then. Unfortunately, since my rededication, I have done some things, said some things, and thought some things - all of which I should not have. But I have sought Your face after every fall. And I have hoped and believed that You have forgiven me.

I am sorry, Lord for everything I ever did to hurt Your feelings - and boy, do I have a long list of that. In retrospect, I realize just how very foolish I was. If I could, I would go back in time and undo so many things. Unsay so many words. And unthink so many thoughts. But I cannot. Honestly, what hurts most is the things that I have done. All those times I thought I was smart and grown, I realize now that I was foolish...and a mere baby before You.

I have been waiting anxiously - almost impatiently - for 2008 to end because the thought of it brings so much pain and sadness to my heart. You know these things, Lord. But I am hopeful that 2009 will be better. Ironically, the blessings and prayers I received in 2008 are the reasons I believe that 2009 will be better.

I am grateful for everything You did for me in 2008. For every time You were there to wipe my tears, console me, keep me company, guard me, guide me, listen to me, and even laugh with me, I am grateful. For every time You made a way for me and turned my mountain into an invisible pebble, I am grateful. I am grateful for the births (especially that of Busola's baby, Chidi and my cousin in Nigeria whose name I shamefully do not know), and even though I do not understand why I should be, I am also grateful for the deaths too.

I am grateful for my life. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful that You preserved me. I know that not everyone I started the year with is here today, but You oh God, have preserved me. And I have done nothing to deserve this. I am grateful for the life of the man that I am so in love with - my father. You cleansed him of that liver malfunction, God. When I asked him what would happen if it was not taken care of and he answered - like a true doctor - precisely, concisely, and a little too bluntly, "Ultimately, death," I thought my life was over. But my dad promised he was not going to die; he said he would live for me. I cried to You, and You, oh God restored his life. [Note to Funmi & Busola: Sorry I did not tell you about my dad's condition. It was just too much to talk about.]

I am grateful for my mom's life. Sometimes, I think of all she has gone thru on my behalf and I cannot help but break down and cry. I only hope to one day be able to spoil her the way I know she'd love to be spoilt: by giving her a few grand-children and then sending them all on vacation to Russia, so that I and my hubby can have some free time to frolic in the sun and possibly make some new babies. [Yes, I'm still being serious]. She is the best mother a girl could have ever prayed for. I trust You, Lord. I trust You to give me the opportunity to make her smile a smile that her face cannot contain.

So for 2009, oh God, I take all my troubles and I hand them over to You. Everything that has been troubling me, I hand them to You because I am powerless. My worrying can only get me so far; it has gotten me as far as it can, and it has not gotten me anywhere. By the end of 2009, I will be back here to give the testimony. You know the one, Lord. I thank You in advance for the message I will receive today. I thank You for the blessings, for the favors, and for the new beginning. I thank You in advance for helping me to publish my book in 2009. I thank You in advance for everything. I just thank You, Father. In retrospect, 2008 was a good year. But 2009 will be better. It will be great. Say Amen for me.


Happy New Year everyone!!! May 2009 bring you all of your heart's desires according to God's will. Amen. I'll be back on Sunday, January 4th 2009.