no game

ok, this blogging thing isn't quite working out as i had originally planned, but i'm determined to keep trying. there's just so little time in the day! anyway, so long. it's been crazy busy with school--as usual, but i've been trying not to be one-dimensional and get myself out there and hang out and do stuffs!! and even though 2006 is officially the year of remaining ridiculously single (i.e, no more drama), i thought i'd let y'all in on my mis-adventures on the menz scene in cape town thus far. mind you, the views expressed in this email do not reflect the views of ALL the lovely ladies residing in cape town. this is just one negrita's point of view. thus far.

a. contestant number 1: guy who works at coffee shop
opening line: hey, you. come here.
me: what!?
him: come here i want to talk to you.
me: *staring in shock cuz the only person that tells me to "come here" in such a manner is my mama. and that's when i'm in trouble. and also when i was three*
him: [eventually comes over since i'm clearly not moving]. what's ur name?
me: [makes something up]
him: can i have ur number, maybe i can come see you?

DUDE! who ARE you? why on earth would i give u my number when that's all you've got? can you try a little harder? apparently not. so i didn't give him my number and he got all pissed off like i had just stood him up for a date. like, really really angry. crazy.

b. contestant number 2: the bartender
opening line: you have a secret admirer over there that wants to know where your from.
me: [looks around and sees no cuties, so sadly says]...rwanda. where is he?
him: i can't tell you
me: [ten minutes later, delayed reaction due to copious amounts of wine, i realize that HE is the secret admirer]
TWO WEEKS LATER
him: what's ur number?
me: [damn, no free drink?] first, what's my name?
him: i dunno. [doesn't even look embarassed]

nice. doesn't even care to know my name. i wonder how he was going to enter my number in the phone..."chick from the other time with the gin and tonic and the ample bosom". sigh. anyway, i got free drinks eventually and he made me laugh. nevertheless.

c. contestant number 3: guy dining in restaurant
this guy was awesome cuz he's hit on me TWICE without knowing it.
opening line: [grabs a seat from the adjacent table and brings it over to our table. both times, we are clearly in conversation and eating and not wanting to talk to anyone]
you know, i'm so sick of sitting with those guys...i just want to have a chance to talk to beautiful, intelligent women, you know? girls that have something to say.

please note: this line was used BOTH TIMES. ha ha haaaaa. wicked.

so the second time when he asks my name, i pretend to be really hurt and say "i can't believe you don't remember? don't u remember ANYTHING from last week?" and he just stares, cuz he totally doesn't remember that he's already been blown off by this particular group of ladies because he's done this routine THAT many times. now he has to come up with original lines so he looks nervous and scared. then starts talking about a book he's reading that he saw on oprah. niiiice. anyway, he got no numbers, DESPITE the sensitive-oprah thing. but i gave him points for being drunk enough to leave his lighter behind, which i promptly stole. the best thing about this guy was that when he didn't luck out with one girl, he'd move right on to the next. then when nothing worked, he began to talk about the difference in our cup sizes. class-ay!

d. contestant number 4--: the rest of them (ranging from business suit fellow to poet at open mic nite to dude shopping for nice shoes [bonus point!])
him: wassup baby/ma/lady/sweetie
me: [looks around] are u talking to me?
him: yeah. maybe i can come see you sometime? what's ur number?

again: WHO ARE YOU??? [please see the analysis of contestant number one]

please note that all the above have taken place all over the city, not just on campus, and these are men of all ages, types and sizes. the one thing they have in common, is no.game. i mean, at least send me a drink or something! or comment on the weather! or...something!

the thing is, i've seen it work on women all over the place, so i guess they don't have to step up their game, since it's working for them. but it saddens me that true gentlemen no longer exist. sigh. i am now listening to maxwell, so that all hope is not lost!

and that ends my commentary for today. and now, back to the ever-exhausting world of human rights. i shall become a recluse and a hermit until exams. but, apparently, i'm not missing much out there, so it's all good!

n*


Currently listening: Now
By: Maxwell
Release date: 21 August, 2001

no game

chasing justice

i remember four years ago, standing in line, waiting to get my law degree and wondering what wisdom i had gained, after all. i remember thinking that if i had to sum it up in one line, i would say that i have learned that the law has little to do with justice. it was definitely a reality check for someone who had gone into this field driven by the motivation to help those who could not help themselves...to bring justice to those that did not have the tools to go searching for it themselves....i was fueled especially by the aftermath of the Genocide in my distant home. fueled by faces of of those that did and did not survive--especially the women and children whose eyes told stories most were unable to express in any other way. i knew they would never be able to feel retribution..and that no one would be able to bring back those who were killed physically as well as internally. and so i set of--rather naively--in an attempt to find away to bring justice to these people.



five years later, i'm more realisitic than optimistic.i'm trying not to lose hope, which is why i'm still pursuing the ever elusive justice through international human rights law. but the more i study, the more i emerse myself in the intricacies and complexities of this area of the law, the more confused and lost i get. like with anything else, there are highs and lows, and there are days when something happens that makes me want to give it all up...and then days like this, when i feel like this uphill struggle will somehow, someday, eventually yield something.


i'm doing research right now on extradition and immunity for heads of state who have committed massive human rights atrocities and crimes against humanity. in most cases, immunity affords them protection from being prosecuted for acts committed during their time in office.but things started to change after the Pinochet case. although, in the end, the politrickin usurped the justice--the whole incident was still a step forward. and maybe if tiny steps continue to be made, there'll be a time when we'll be able to pull ex-dictators out of their beach villas and make them accountable for destroying the humanity of their people. until then, it's all about the small victories.



peace....

chasing justice

break-ups to make-ups

Procrastination and I have been in a serious, semi-committed relationship for years, now. We were casual friends in high school, but things really got going in my first year of University. Ahh, we had some good times back then! Were now very comfortable with our relationship, very used to each other. With Procrastination, I don't have to pretend; I don't have to look cute; I can exert minimal to low effort, and everythings cool! No drama here, y'all. We just kickin it (tm Love Jones).


I have to admit that I have wandered at times, flirting with Ambition, Drive, and (ooh) Work Ethic. But those were just flings, I was gon' get right back! And I did. I am realizing though as I get older and allegedly wiser, that the relationship isn't quite what it used to be. I mean, I'm having a good time and everything, but--truth be told--I dont think I want to be in this thing for the rest of my life. I mean, I'm getting older, and I really can't continue like this. I need stability! And I've noticed that since I am currently attempting to finish my Masters in one year, I have precious little time for Procrastination. In fact, any time we spend together these days results in subsequent anxiety attacks and unproductivity (sic) of ridiculous proportions. And I can't afford that! It's holding me back, really. And while I've always known that; and while people have warned me about it time and time again (hi, mom!), I think it is finally time that I did something about this. I have to move on. It's for my own good. Plus, I've kind of had my eye on Discipline over there for a while (*winks and waves*) and I'm thinking of introducing myself.

And so, I decided to end it with Procrastination, once and for all. I tried to do it this morning, you see. Woke up at 7am and glanced over at the pretty multi-coloured study schedule I had made last night (Discipline passed by for a few minutes), but then Procrastination hit the snooze button on the alarm (it IS Sunday, after all) and we hung out all day, slept in a little, had a really good breakfast, cleaned an already clean kitchen, arranged my music collection, made countless cups of tea while studying, and then--just as I was about to go through with it, Procrastination suggested that I should write a blog entry since it appeared as though I had a lot on my mind. But, I swear, y'all, I'ma end it right after I finish this last sentence...and maybe have a cup of tea (you know, to clear my mind)ooh, I also have to do the dishes. but, right after that!

Currently reading : The Way Forward Is with a Broken Heart By Alice Walker

Release date: 03 October, 2000

break-ups to make-ups