Notperfectdotcom’s Weblog

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So after I found him, I sent him an email asking if he remembered who I was and immediately he responded. He was pleasantly shocked as I because I had no idea this guy would even remember who I was. He was the class jock, and I was the geeky girl. I assumed I’d have to go into major detail to remind him of me. Little did I know that was not to be the case. He said he had been looking for me for a good while now and I told him, I never use my real name on the internet. I go by my alias and if you look that up, you’d find me on a few pages here and there on Google. (mainly my marathon race results).
So we got to chatting

Him: !! I can’t believe I’m talking to you, I’ve been looking for you for a long time
Me: really? Are you sure this is who you think this is?
Him: yes, is your maiden name ********
Me: Yes, still is but I hardly use my real name on these type of sites
Him: this is great, so where are you now
Me: I’m in MD and you?
Him: I’m in London, I’m studying here, been here for 5 years
Me: oh good, are you going back to Nigeria anytime soon
Him: No, I’m planning to come to the US in October
ME: Oh really? Where?
Him: I don’t know yet

Him: Did you know I liked you in school
Me: (didn’t respond because I didn’t know how to respond to that)
Him: You still there
Me: I remember I had a crush on you too, but you had eyes for Y instead (Y is the friend I was “close” to) Backstory: I told her I had a crush on this guy, she hit on him and they dated until we graduated)
Him: yes she told me you liked me, and I liked you too
Me: She told you?????? (she told him??? She told him??? 15 years, a 12yo son, countless relationships and a great boyfriend later, why am I pissed as heck at knowing she told him?)
Him: yes she did
Me: Then why didn’t you say anything??
Him: I was shy back then

So obviously me and this dude have very different views of that moment in time.
First off, he was the MOST POPULAR GUY in school, I was tall, skinny and completely geeky, so quite naturally I reached for the one dude way out of my league. I don’t remember that much about him but I won’t particularly describe him as shy, shy he was most certainly not!

..to be continued…
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I finally caved and joined Facebook!!!

My cousins from London were in town last week and we all met up with them at my mom’s house in DC. My sister had already been corresponding with them for several months via facebook and I always sent them my regards through her. But seeing them again after so many years made me want to maintain contact with them. I hadn’t seen them in 15 years, during those years their Father, my uncle died (he’s the one I blogged about in my B’day post) and provided the opportunity for me to reach out to them but I didn’t. Anyway, so I caved and jumped on the facebook bandwagon.

Right after I added all my British cousins, I went looking for my old HS classmates. When I was in HS in Nigeria, I hung out mainly with 4 other girls, two (me and one of them) were particularly “close” (“close”: bare with me, I’m making a point), two of the other girls were just as close and the one remaining girl got along great with everyone.

Years after I got back to the states, I happened upon the sister of one of the other girls and she told me my friend passed not too long after I left. (I blogged about my dear friend right after I found out about her passing). I remember my friend being sick all the time, when we all went through puberty, she was the only one that didn’t, they said she had a heart condition and even hinted that she didn’t have much time in this world. Still it was a complete shock to me when I heard she passed. So naturally, after I added my cousins to my facebook profile I went searching for the remaining girls. Women are harder to find because some of them change their last name after marriage. But one of the girls (I don’t know how) was able to link her maiden name with her married one and I found her. She was the one closest to our friend who died. I was elated I found her. She still looks the same, she has three beautiful kids and two more on the way and her hubby is a knockout. So far I was impressed with FB.

I couldn’t find the other girls, but I did go looking for this guy
I wrote about in my reader’s manual fact #70, and guess what? I found him too! We exchanged emails and chatted on FB. We had a LOT to talk about. Indeed we did! Did I mention, I finally see what all the FB fuss is about?

I’m not a fan of long rambling posts and I’m guessing neither are you guys, so I’ll spare you and post details about my chat with the HS crush tomorrow.

Naturally I’m majorly paranoid, it seems as if everytime I blog about my past, it somehow becomes my present. This even happens when I think about someone from my past. Are my psychic abilities becoming stronger as I grow older??? Should I start thinking and blogging about winning the Mega Millions lottery more often?? Cos in my present status (unemployed) it certainly can’t hurt!

My heart is beating so fast, I don’t know what emotions I’m feeling right now, whatever it is, it’s INTENSE.

Very few things move me the way this video does. The man in this video calls himself the “AIDS MAN” and is completely graphic. I don’t know who to be more angry at, the man, the girls whose lives he ruined, or the idiot who claimed this message is for black women only.
Warning: It’s a six minute clip and very intense.

Hey guys, remember that decent singing voice I told you I had? Well, Click here to listen

My calendar is currently open, I do Bar Mitzvahs (singing Jesus songs of course), Weddings and Birthdays.

You’re welcome!

Well I started….

and I finished…..

and some in betweens…..

So these pictures are teeny because they are the thumbnail versions. I refuse to pay $23.75 for the 8X10 package the marathon picture people advertised on their site. Afterall, I am unemployed and all.
Also, I can run up and down my street and have minime snap motion pictures of me, with my cheap camera and I won’t have to spend $23.75 to make him do that….well maybe $5 or so. That boy drives a hard bargin, especially when I start sentences with “…can you do me a favour”

Upcoming Trip: Our friends Kim, Marc and Jake invited us to Virginia for Redskins Beach day on May 17 and I accepted. Although I’m not a Redskins fan (yes I AM from the chocolate city), I’m game for any reason to abandon my unemployment worries if just for a weekend. At least that idiot Clinton Portis is not scheduled to attend the function. I swear that guy should be the inspiration behind the book, Stupid People With Money.

Anyway, It’s about 4.05am right now, I have not yet gone to bed and it’s like my body is taunting me saying I don’t have a dadgum thing to do tomorrow so it doesn’t need sleep. But I’m going to go take a nap anyway. A nap because I have to get right back up 7.00am to fix breakfast and take minime to school.
Goodnight People! (Or rather, Good Morning)

Being unemployed and all, you know I for one was twiddling my thumbs waiting on my check. So when I visited the IRS site and found out that I was going to be one of the first people to get mine’s via direct deposit I was ELATED. Transmitted no later than Friday, May 2, the IRS said.
Friday: Twiddling
Saturday: Twiddling
Sunday: (a gal can hope right??) Twiddling
Monday:..frustrated…

So this morning I did some minor research (as in call the IRS and ask them where the heck my DADGUM CHECK WAS???)

And you know what they told me?
That because I filed using H&R block, that I’d be receiving a paper check in about….TWO WEEKS!!
Apparently, if you use one of those turbo tax, HR block system thingamabubs, and they had your initial refund transmitted into their bank to subtract their fees first before re-routing to your bank, the IRS doesnt have YOUR direct deposit info, they have the HR people’s account info, therefore your check is being sent to you via mail.

In a way, I’m thankful, I’m unemployed and home to monitor my mail when the mail lady delivers it, because I don’t trust my raggerty neighbors one bit! On the other hand if I was employed I won’t be worrying about money so much….talk about bittersweet.

So now you’ve been educated, you may thank me for my extensive research and information delivery by donating to Abbie’s unemployment fund. Thanks.

Abbie’s strategy for 1/2 marathon running: When she sees one of these ……smile and pose. The End.

“…..what are they going to do? Fire you? by Melissa

was my deciding comment. Priceless! It would be something indeed if my company fired me again…lol
So I went with the Church T-shirt.
Then I got to thinking (Shaking my head in disgust), my company, a fortune 500 company, thought they were doing us a favor by giving us COTTON shirts to run in? Like seriously?? (Waka, Oloshi!)***
*** Only my Nigerian readers would understand this, for my non Nigerian readers, I wish I could translate, but I honestly don’t know what it means, I just know if someone wasn’t too pleased with you chances are they’d rename you Waka Oloshi***

Anyway, I was not going to wear a cotton shirt to run 13.1miles in and I didn’t know what to do with said shirt but this comment “……I would use the company shirt as a kitchen rag” by Afrobabe, helped me decide how to put the cotton shirt to good use.

I had one comment asking how long I planned to run in the marathon. And the answer is simple.
As long as it takes me to finish. Which yesterday was 2hours, 30 mins, 2 sore ankles and one banging headache.

To my dear friend GNg who wanted pictures, they are coming soon, but I warn you, this is one of the times I regret my inability to photoshop so those photos will be presented as is. You have been forewarned.

Everyone else, thanks for commenting. You guys helped me decide. (see I do value your opinions)
Thanks again!!!

The issue in short sentences.
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There’s a marathon coming up.
My company paid for me to run in the half.
They gave us company T-Shirts to wear.
I also belong to our Church running club.
Since they are runners, most of the Church group also signed up for the same marathon.
They gave us Church T-shirts to wear. (Which I wasn’t going to wear on race day, just on our weekly Monday runs)
All of the other Church runners are wearing Church T-shirts on race day.
I got laid off.
Which T-Shirt do I wear??

I, personally, want to wear the Church T-shirts, because, firstly they aren’t cheap and are not made of cotton. (Cotton absorbs water). Plus it’s an excellent way to show people that we are not just fuddy duddy Christians who don’t know how to have fun. BUT. Even though they told me to pack my stuff and get the heck off their property, I’m technically still employed with my company (until June 23) and THEY paid for the marathon. So, do I wear the cheap cotton crap they gave all the employees running in the marathon or just go with the Church?

I do want to clarify that the reason why I’m torn is because I’m not bitter at my being laid off. I realize that this is a perfect opportunity for me to get closer to God. Whenever I go through difficult times, it seems God’s voice gets a lot clearer and anything that allows me to hear him better is a great thing. I also know that God has a plan, my company, my old boss and I are all players in God’s majestic Orchestra, He conducts, we play and ultimately beautiful music is heard. I don’t question his motives just because I cannot hear all the other instruments that are supposed to be played with mine. All I know is the music, my style or not will be perfect for his purposes in the end.

So. What is the ethical thing to do. I value your opinions a lot (not really, but I am telling you want you want to hear so you can comment), so if we can fix this by Sunday (May 4th), the day of the marathon, I’ll appreciate it.
Thanks!!

I’m sitting in my living room looking like I have a permanent hanger in my mouth, watching the cast of Sex and the City on Oprah. Being that this is one of the very few occasions I would watch Oprah (The fact that I now have plenty ‘O time to watch Oprah is not the point people), I actually made an appointment to catch this particular episode. I cannot wait for the movie. Me and the girls (including you Alicia) must make a girls night out of this. It comes out May 30th. Mark your calendars.

(Sharing a quote from my lovely book, a gift I got from Alicia)

The man who carries a cat by the tail learns something that can be learned in no other way

……….Mark Twain

Dear ladies and gentlemen, this unemployment business I’m so open about and willing to share with the internet, I have not yet shared with my family.
Please sit back, get comfortable and enjoy this email exchange between me and my sisters. My initial email to them was asking if they were going over our youngest sister’s new house.
Cast of characters;
Shade (pronounced like the singer Sade), Me, Jummy, Tut.
____________________________________________________________________________________

From: Abbie
To; Jummy (CE)” ,
shade ,
tut ,
date: Fri, Apr 25, 2008
subject: Hey girls
mailed-bygmail.com

I’m taking off this friday and the whole of next week, so call me at home if you need to reach me. I have too many vacation days and must use it before I loose it.
Jummy and Shade, are you guys going to Tut’s on Sunday??

–
Take Care
Abbie.
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(Jummy our third sister’s response below. Like me, she’s serious once a blue moon)

On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 AM,xxxxxxx, xxxxJummy (CE) wrote:

Let’s see, she lives 5 mins from me, I’ll perhaps, maybe, probably show my face.
Abbie Can I have some of your vacation time? God said be a cheerful giver.
Tut I need $200. God say give and it will come back to you with good measure.
Shade I got nothing on you since you got no freaking Job.
______________________________________________________________________________________
(And my subsequent response to her response)

Abbie to Jummy, Shade, Tut
show details Apr 25 (5 days ago) Reply

Jummy, I forgot that your convenient babysitter lives right round the corner!! lol
See you guys sunday!
Why is shade not responding to emails, don’t tell me she finally *gasp* got a job??
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I flat out lied people. I should have told them I was being forced to take “vacation” and I had the nerve to make fun of my older sister for not having a job. By the way, that older sister is starting her new job in two weeks. Now the blunt of their jokes is going to be me!! Freggin Karma that…..(rhymes with witch)