Voting? No thanks...

 Presidential elections in Uganda are on Friday this week. I'm not voting.

The main reason why I'm not voting id because I really don't know who to vote for. First of all there are 8 presidential candidates - that's weird enough. But the truth is that the competition is really between these three:

1) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

This dude has been the President of Uganda for as long as I've been alive. He came into power 3 months before I was born. He helped restore peace (or so I'm told) and the country has been able to develop quite a bit in the 25 years that he has been president. I don't want to vote for him because I believe he has served his purpose and we need some change.

2) Kizza Besigye

This dude fought along side Museveni or something before he took over power but in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies so for now they are enemies. He is Museveni's strongest competitor but we all know how that will end.... Anyway, I don't want to vote for him because he seems a bit too angry for me. Granted, we're all not too happy with a lot of the things that are happening but I would like a president who is not so angry. (Not a very political reason but I can't help it.)

3) Nobert Mao

 This dude is currently the Mayor of Gulu, a district in Northern Uganda that has been greatly affected by rebels. The rebels have killed lots of people, abducted many children and displaced families. Mao is a Christian (thumbs up). He is probably the one I would trust the most because he has been a leader in Gulu and done a good job plus he seems level headed. The reason why I don't want to vote for Mao is he is in the wrong political party. In my very humble political opinion, his party is not strong enough to lead this country.

So, I'm not going to vote. We all know who is going to win the elections. All I can do is pray that all will go well and thank God that we get a public holiday on Friday! Yay!!!!!


(Photo credit)

Taxi misery...

If you are familiar with Uganda taxis you know that they are not the most comfortable nor do they offer the best experience. Sure they get you to where you are going it takes a lot out of you too. I don't like to use them. And though several of you may think I'm being a snob I'm sure deep down inside you don't like to use them either.

So, today I get into this taxi and seat myself next to the back window. I always try to sit next to the window just in case I need some fresh air. And boy did this window come in handy! A few minutes later a man came to sit next to me and boy was he stinking!!!!! I IMMEDIATELY stuck my nose out the window to prevent any unpleasant substances from spewing out of my mouth.

Soon after that another man got in and sat on the same row. As soon as he sat down he began to complain that his seat was wet. As is typical in a taxi, nobody paid any attention to him so he got up and left the taxi. The next person who sat in that seat did not complain that the seat was wet. That sent off warning bells in my head. We recently had bombings in the city and so for somebody to come in and try to make a show of a wet seat and then leave made me think that maybe he had put a bomb or something in the taxi. So, I mentioned this to the passenger who was in the seat and in typical Uganda taxi fashion he ignored me! Hmmm... Well, I started to pray real hard!!!! After about 15 minutes in the taxi I realised I was going overboard so I relaxed. (And in case you are wondering - there was no bomb or else I would not be blogging right now :-)

The next event really ticked me off. I handed the taxi conductor a 1000shs note to pay for the fare which was supposed to be 700shs (for those of you who are not so good at Maths - he was supposed to give me 300shs in change :)) 5 minutes later I ask him to give me my change before I get out. And guess what he said - "YOU DID NOT GIVE ME ANY MONEY!"
I was not amused by that little remark but I thought to myself, "Maybe he just forgot." So I told him I had indeed given him 1000shs and turned to the lady sitting next to me to ask her if she remembered this (because I know she saw me hand it to him) and guess what? The lady ignored me!!!!!!! At that point I was MAD!!!!!!! But then I thought to myself "It's only 300shs." And then I thought to myself (again) "But he doesn't deserve to have it just because he is lying to me." Meanwhile, I had missed my stop while I was quibbling. So I tell him to stop and as I get out I tell him that he should keep the money and that it will not help him in ANY way!!! And I stomped off. Quite dramatic huh? If only he cared!!!! Hmmm....

Well, I did not like that he tried to pull one over on me and I made sure that I took a mental picture of him. I will not get into his taxi again! And I mean it!!!!

Taxis....hmmm...... never been a pleasant experience for me.

Poetic Friday

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Long time ago I used to write poems. I haven't done that in a while and I've never published them (except in my notebook :-)) because I was never really sure of my poetry... Well, now that I blog I thought it would be nice to post an old poem every Friday and give a little background to it. I hope it will get me writing poetry again and I hope you will enjoy it too...

THE PLAY

In its beauty,

I boast.

In its stillness,

I rest.

In its gentleness,

I am meek.

In this life

I am merely a character

who changes with the scenes.

In its violence,

I fight.

In its agony,

I weep.

In its loudness,

I shout.

To me

Life is a play.

And I...

merely a puppet,

heeding to its will. 

While I was in high school I often felt like i was just going through the motions of life. You know - doing what everybody thinks you should be doing at that particular time so that you don't look or feel awkward. That's why I wrote this poem.I felt like only the things around me controlled how I felt or behaved and I had no control over it. But the Lord taught me to see things His way and I lived happily ever after :-)

I hope you enjoyed the poem. Let me know what you think. Enjoy your weekend.

Oh wow!!!!!

I got an award!!!!!!! From Kathy at Lovelace Files!!!! Thank you so much Kathy. Love ya! This is a sweet surprise - especially since I'm so new to the blogging world.

Now onto the award rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award 

2. Answer 10 questions*

3. Pass it along to three blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy*

4. Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award

The Questions:

1.  Why did you create this blog?

I started following blogs last year in September. Lovelace Files was actually the very first blog I ever read. As I kept following other blogs I began to want to write and since I was newly married I had something to write about and I thought why not? So far it's so much fun and I'm learning a lot from many of the blogs I follow. 

2. What kinds of blogs do you follow?
I follow blogs on marriage, motherhood and cooking. Those things are very dear to my heart.

3. Favorite make-up brand?

I love Rimmel London eye shadow. I also like Mac concealer and foundation but I don't use them as much.

4. Favorite clothing brand?

Hmmm... I don't really have one. Maybe Bhs or Marks and Spencer.

5. Indispensable makeup product? 

 Victoria's Secret lip gloss.

6. Favorite color?
PURPLE!!! The colour of royalty :)

7. Favorite perfume?  

'Vera Wang' by Vera Wang. I'm a perfume freak but this particular one blows my mind!!!!

8. Favorite film?  

I can't pick one so I'll list the movies that I've recently watched and liked. The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, SALT, For Colored Girls, Takers.

9. What country would you like to visit and why?  
France!!!!! I think it's the most romantic place in the world.

10. Would you rather forget to put mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face? 
Mascara. I don't use blush.

I am passing on this award to:

1. Jessica at From Marriage to Motherhood. This lady inspires me. She is so creative and her love for the Lord is a real encouragement to me. She blogs about being a mother and a wife and everything in between. I want to be just like her when I grow up :-D
2. Faith at Life.Love&Marriage. In my opinion, this blog keeps it real. She's married and blogs about life with her stud-muffin hubby. I love reading about her life and the way she sees things. 
3. Sommer J at A Mama With Flavor. She is super creative in the kitchen. Many times I wish I was her so I could whip up something yummy for my hubby. She is, indeed, a mama with flavor!

Hope you get some time to check out these blogs. It's worth it.

Thanks again Kathy. You made my day! :)

Weekend recap

This is a good movie.

My husband and I bought it in September 2010 but we had not watched it. And quite frankly, I wasn't looking forward to it. But it surprised me! We watched it on Sunday while we were having lunch. Wonderful acting! Angelina Jolie did a wonderful job! I wonder if there really are people like that in the CIA... hmmmmm....

I got to see my babies too!!!!!!!! Oh I missed them soooooooooooooooooo much! And oh how they've grown. Here they are...

He has 2 teeth!!!!!!

Look at their sweet smiles!

On Saturday evening, we went to see my godmother.

She lived in Uganda for over 40 years and worked as a Maths teacher before she retired. She drove my mum to the hospital while she was in labour with me. During that time, the current government had just taken over power and there were road-blocks everywhere. You could only get past the road-block if you had a green sticker on your car. She did not have one. But she put my parents in the car and made sure she got through all the road-blocks till she got to the hospital. She sends me a Christmas gift every year - it doesn't matter in which month I get it but I get it anyway. I admire her a great deal. Her love for the Lord brought her all the way to Uganda, away from her family and friends, for 40 years, to spread the gospel and to touch the lives of her students. A real inspiration.

And of course, I cooked :-) At my husband's request, I made pilau. Pilau is a rice dish cooked with meat and spices. I did not use meat but the spices are the most important thing in this dish. Here the ingeredients:

• White rice
• Onions
• Pilau Masala
• Hot Water
• Salt
• Oil (vegetable, sunflower or olive - you decide)

*I did not put any measurements because it is all relative. It's just rice - with a twist :-)

Chop up the onion and fry it on medium heat. 

 Fry until the onion begins to get burnt. Seriously. This will hep give the pilau it's brown colour.

 Add pilau masala. This gives the pilau it's unique flavour. don't put too much though otherwise it will make the rice bitter.

 Add the rice and fry for a bit.

 Add a double portion of hot water and cook normally. I put mine in the rice cooker. The water should look brown once you put it in.

 All done :-)

 My husband made the passion fruit juice as usual and demanded that he has his picture taken too :-)

Have a lovely week!!!!