I’m too lazy to write much today, so instead I decided to do a Wednesday Win photo spectacular…

win #1 sparkly clean flat

It’s been over two years, and I still haven’t gotten over the feeling of coming home every Wednesday to a calm, clean and organised flat. My floors sparkle, everything smells nice and even my clothes closet and shoe cupboard are all sorted. It’s like having another mother, honestly don’t know how I ever survived before Debra.

win #2: return of the killer pointy toe heels

Another benefit of Debra Days is that last week after she sorted my shoe closet out, I was reconnected with my favourite pointy toe heels. These shoes are trashy-cool, with scuffed leather and everything – my gay co-worker says I need to wear them out, and the straight guys at work call them my ’sexy shoes’. They have just the right height heel; comfortable but smart… with a kinda scruffy vibe. I dunno, they just work.

win #3: crisp, cold zesty white

Considering the fact that I’ve been working flat out since Sunday, and my return to gym and running, I decided that Zesty White was in order. I don’t care what the wine snobs say, Woolworths do a damn fine range of budget wines, and I will keep loving my Zesty White and Reckless Red – it’s cheap and far from nasty… can’t go wrong with that combo.

win #4: pretty pink nail polish

After a few weeks with back toe nail polish, I have moved over to the pink side. I found this great polish at a shop in China Town, ridiculously cheap but really awesome. Pink toe nails make me happy, it’s hard to explain. I’ve had a love-love relationship with pink almost my entire life, and even now it just makes everything seem rosy and cheerful. Especially when it’s shimmery, hehe.

win #5: new chinese duvet set

I also found the most divine duvet set at China Town, in soft polycotton blend with beautiful rose embroidery. It’s too hot to put my duvet inside it, but the cover is just right for summer – light, silky and the most heavenly shade of duck egg blue… with just the right blend of Chinese kitsch to give it an edge. I think I need a pink one too, and at under a hundred bucks, I could probably get a green one while I’m at it.

Today has been intense… I’m feeling a little overwhelmed even. From office politics to cool opportunities and plans, to a few home truths being realised, to my mom doing something so cool for me that it made me want to cry – quite a day! Still, I feel good. I can’t shake this sense of growing up and coming into my own… maybe it’s the big three oh looming ahead, but I feel like I am finally starting to enjoy this journey and bugger the destination.

How was your Wednesday?

do you feel lucky, punk?

Phew, what a week this has been so far – and Tuesday isn’t even quite over yet. After working Sunday away in the heat, Monday was a tad bit bleary but I managed to pull myself together and get myself to gym. Today was cooler, and another good gym session followed yet another busy day, to come home to more work. I’m getting used to firing on all cylinders now, it’s my innate workaholic tendencies, haha.

A few random thoughts for the day…

* Shakes are rather gross but still drinkable with water instead of milk. I’m budgeting though, and since I down them quickly anyway, I don’t think it matters much.

* Because I have to say this again, Blueprint 3 is quite honestly the best Jay-z album like everz. Can’t get enough of it, and have added to my running playlist too, stoked!

* Talking of running, I plan to get up early tomorrow and have a run before work. Whether or not this actually happens is anyone’s guess, but I have plans after work so best I rally myself into getting up on time.

* I hate the treadmill, tolerate the bike, love-hate with the cross trainer, but just adore the stepper. I don’t know why this is, but I get to stop angrily as I think about random things and plot work ideas – I like that.

* The one day I forget a towel (seriously have never done this before) is the day that I sweat like a pig, and the day that suddenly the roll of paper towels is no longer by the water fountain… epic fail, but I managed.

* I finally got around to checking my Google Analytics reports for roxb, and was pleasantly surprised to see the level of traffic – over 60% of this was from search engines, and I did a grand total of one post during the time frame of the report, so clearly I must be doing something right.

* There is just too little time in the day, and the more I have to do, the more I start to feel like I am about to overtake myself (don’t ask)… I have too much to process at the moment, and all of my thoughts seem to try and jostle in front for my attention, it’s rather disconcerting.

* Tomorrow is my favourite day of the week, always good stuff to look forward to on Wednesdays and I just KNOW that this will be a good one somehow (trust me, I’m a copywriter).

I am so tired I can hardly see straight, and it’s going to be an early start to another long day. Oh and I might add, I can no longer access my blog from work, so if I don’t reply to comments, it’s not me just sommer ignoring, it’s the powers that be.

I got a million ways to get it
Choose one (choose one)
Hey, bring it back (bring it back)
Now double your money and make a stack

Hold up, freeze

~ Jay-z – On To The Next One

I got hold of Blueprint 3 today (yes, only now) and I’ve been playing it to death. Being a huge fan already, I’ve loved Jay-z long time. From the So Ghetto days and the Hard Knock Life early days, this dude just brings it every single time. Of all the songs on the album, this is my favourite. Call it an anthem for the single types on the road to success and self-actualization. Call it another song about cars, chicks and money. Call it what you want.

I’m calling it awesome, and I’m claiming it as a theme song for Marvelous March.

dicing to the death

The interwebs and radio have been flooded with reports of the fatal drag race in Soweto yesterday, where two out of control Mini Coopers plowed into a group of kids walking home from school – killing all four of them.

One of the drivers involved was local kwaito star JubJub (who is sadly rather talented, talk about a waste) who was allegedly pretty trashed on booze and cocaine. To add to the shit that this guy has caused, he is apparently not able to appear in court as he has been hospitalised.

I don’t even know what to say… drunk driving is bad enough on its own, but dicing is just plain retarded. Men in particular, especially after a few drinks, tend to have the attitude that they can get away with anything and live to tell the tale. The tragic part is that all the drivers came out of this alive, and the innocent high school kids they plowed into are the ones who had to pay the price of their stupidity. One of the boys was apparently a huge JubJub fan, which makes it all the more sad. Shleb or not, they should lock him and his buddies up and make an example out of them. Assholes should not be allowed to own cars.

And for those who still think it’s ok to drive after a few, maybe this will make you think. Designated drivers may not be the ‘cool’ thing to do, but it’s still better than killing someone by risking getting into your car after having a few beers.

Like most people who live in the city, I never drive drunk – in fact I seldom drive sober either. We catch cabs when we go out, or if it’s nice out and there are guys with us, we shlep up the hill – heels and all. Paying R20 to get to your destination is a very small price to avoid winding up like JubJub… something to think about next time you’re planning a big one.

not bad...

I had a few cool ideas for a post tonight, but after a seriously mehish day followed by a hectique gym session, not to mention the heat, I’m all out of ideas. Please enjoy Ryan Reynolds though, think he adds a bit of sunshine on an otherwise brain-dead and rather manic day.

Oh yes, I can however mention the following:

* I’m volunteering for the Cape Town Twestival, really amped to get involved and think it’s going to be lots of fun! If you’re keen to get involved, follow them and check it out, it’s going to be awesome.

* I managed to drag my lazy ass back to gym today, and not only that but I was there for about an hour and half. Some intensive cardio followed by a kickass toning routine courtesy of a co-worker (email me if you want details – it’s a good one!) and I was bouncing off the walls.

* Heard a very funny story about Hurt Locker, the movie that won the Oscar for Best Film and Best Director. Apparently the director is James Cameron’s ex wife, it’s pretty classic. Turns out 3D blue aliens aren’t enough, but at least Sandra Bollock got an Oscar for her movie.

* I should probably eat something soon, shakes, apples and cucumber (and left-over wasabi peanuts) probably don’t count as proper food. Although in this heat, it’s hard to eat much.

Seriously can’t think of anything else to say right now. Must grab something to eat, then time to buckle down to some work. No Ugly Betty for me tonight, meh but am focusing on the goals ahead.

Happy Monday, wherever you are and if you are in Cape Town, have a happy heatwave, haha.

*insert hippo joke here*

Seriously, The Marine has got to be the funniest movie I’ve seen in a while. John Cena has the muscles and the dimples, and possibly the moves, but that’s as far as it goes. Nevertheless, you know he’s going to take on all the bad guys and come out grinning, that’s just how it goes.

What I would like to see is a movie with the hardcorest of the hardcores, LL Cool J, Van Damme, John Cena, The Rock, Vin Diesl, Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Steven Segal, and maybe Ryan Reynolds (provided he has his shirt off throughout 90% of the movie). It would be like celebrity death match, except more awesome. The plot would be the stuff Oscar nominations are made of (or Razzies, who knows) – it would be about a whole bunch of wannabe heroes battling it out to see if the biggest ego slash hardcoreness can reign supreme. Spoiler alert: LL Cool J will win, purely because he has never been in a movie where he loses.

he's bad... but is he bad enough?

Because a movie can never be too awesome, it would be directed by Quentin Tarantino and filmed Anime style. There may be a femme fatale in it too, plus a ditsy wife or two (who would both be killed off early, allowing the hero to be freed from a life of inanity and pointlessness, and allowing him to find lasting romance with the seemingly evil femme fatale who is actually the REAL hero in the plot). This could be played by Demi Moore, or Salma Hayak.

our femme fatale

The ending would have a giant twist, and just about everyone would end up dead because we all know that only one hero can make it out of a blockbuster action biopic. Instead of running off into the sunset/away from the exploding world around them, the femme fatale would end up double-crossing the hero right at the last minute, and she would ride off in a helicopter after making him look like a chop.

knight in shining... swimwear?

The film would end with Viggo Mortenson or Paul Walker opening the private plane/helicopter door and ushering in the femme fatale safely inside. Then maybe all the slain heroes would rise again as zombies, and devour the hero as the helicopter takes off into the sunset.

Yup, I think that could work.

p-berg chillax photo by moi

First, I have to wonder why it is that whenever the hero of any action has his wife/gf taken hostage by the baddies, he somehow manages to lose consciousness? This is true in this silly John Cena I’m watching, and Timecop and numerous other skop skiet en donner movies. R-tarded to the extreme.

Anyway, it’s still hot in Cape Town and I have been working the whole day away. Things take twice as long, and it’s slow going to say the least. My fan works overtime, and is on pretty much all the time (Eskom be damned) and I am drinking water by the gallon.

This made me think of all the things needed in a heatwave…

1. A fan and/or air-con. If you are lucky enough to live or work somewhere with air-con, that is the bestest thing ever. For the rest of us suckers, a decent fan is essential to function.

2. Plenty of fluids. The non-alcoholic type is probably best, and obviously water and herbal teas are your safest and most healthy bet here, but since you’ll be sweating most of out anyway, you need to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.

3. Slops. I can barely bother with heels in the daytime these days, slops are just so much easier and comfier all round. My R25 P-berg specials with tiny shiny bits of metallic stuff on them are super comfortable and they look rather cool too, also they make reflective patterns on my legs.

4. Cold baths. Cold showers too of course, but seeing as how I have neither a pool nor a shower, lying in a cold bath with all my delicious scrubs, oils and other bath treats is my idea of bliss on a hot afternoon – the trick is to just get dressed without drying off, and then let you hair dry naturally as it spatters water everywhere.

5. Spritzers. No, not the wine ones (although those would be awesome right about now). I mean the spray things, filled with water or yummy smelling stuff. Mine is technically meant to be a sleepy time pillow spray, but it’s got lavender and orange and neroli, and it makes me happy AND cools me down, double awesomeness.

Of course, what I have really been craving most today has been ice cold beer. Not that missioning to Harley’s was an option in this heat, but still. It would have been nice… sigh.

And seriously, this John Cena epic on etv is pretty hilarious – Nip/Tuck’s Kimber, lots of muscles, wtf style plot and hungry alligators, it’s all happening.

lucky waving cat

After a bit of a swak Friday, I woke up this morning feeling a little weird. It soon became apparent that a migraine type of vibe was in store, but nevertheless I managed to get some work done before setting off to China Town with my aunt. I have a huge fondness for Chinese shops, it’s bargain hunting at its best… nowhere else can you find treasures such as Chirming Bird Pen Holders, lucky waving cats, cool hologram pictures with gold-plated frames, cheap makeup, awesome knock-off sunglasses and an assortment of weird, wonderful and just plain wtf clothes, shoes, handbags and jewelry.

My sister and I have an annual tradition on Christmas Eve day; we head down to the very depths of Gold Acre to the Chinese shops in town. These are hidden in the oldest and dodgiest part of town, and is quite an experience in itself. The Piketberg one is also good, and China Town in Ottery is one of the best options with loads of shops selling just about everything you can imagine. The food store one was pretty funny, the owner can’t speak or understand a word of English but they sell all sorts of amazing goodies from the classic White Rabbit sweets to vacuum packed nuts and pickled ginger and dried lemongrass.

I’ve never really been one for designer living much, unless it’s something I really want. Kitsch, cheesy, weird and interesting kinda does it best for me. This is what makes Chinese shops such fun, you get to find all sorts of random things, at ridiculous prices. Zef style shopping all the way!

hot hot hot

Watch, just as I finally get used to the heat in Cape Town, it’s going to ease and stop being so hot. I hope it at least carries on through the weekend, from here on out we will begin the descent into autumn and I want to max out my summer as much as I can.

Today has been a bit of a blur, very busy and what with lunchtime missions, various proposals and meetings, lots of writing and proofing and time whizzing by, it’s all just gone past rather quickly. It was hot when I went to work, hot at lunchtime and hot on my way home. With freshly washed and wet hair, and the fan on full, it’s bearable, just about. I just wish I could focus, lots to do tonight.

One more sleep and one more day of work, and I can be sipping on a cold pina colada and getting my Friday on. Can’t friggin wait.

so hot, so wrong...

* My sudden chocolate revival
* Nip/Tuck
* Celine Dion
* Strong wasabi peanuts
* Consistent good hair days (yes, I hate me too, hehe)
* Anti-diet success
* Heatwaves
* Sleeping in said heatwaves
* Fat free dairy products
* Getting my groove back

Nuff said. C’est la vie and all that jazz.