Thank you, Michael

As the world mourns the death of an iconic figure, I find myself remembering the old days when I danced to his songs in a small town in the middle of Africa.

I'm first to admit he wasn't my favorite when they were Jackson Five. While my friends went ga-ga over Marlon, I thought Jermaine was the hottest guy in the whole world. There was something very regal about his bearing. But the talented Michael couldn’t be ignored. By high school, I was a fan, watching his videos religiously, copying his dance moves…even taught his moves to other girls at high school, lol.

So two days ago, out of the blue, I got a call from a girl I knew in high school and college (University of Nairobi,main campus, left, and the library, right).

She tracked me down after she heard of Michael’s death, knew I’d be mourning with the rest of them. Don’t ask me how she found me after twenty odd years, but modern technology is such an amazing thing.

So thank you, Michael. Because of you, I’ve reconnected with a friend from high school and will soon get in touch with the others (Go Ngandu Girls, class of ’95, A-levels). Maybe you rest in peace now.

That Time of the Year, again.

End of school year and beginning of summer is a crazy time for my family. Dance review is here...photo day, dance rehearsal day, dress rehearsal day, followed by two nights of performances...sigh. If it sounds endless, believe me, it is.

I won't be able to write jack until this is done...another sigh.

My two at swim camp are hating it...expected it (evil chuckle). They text me two to three times a day to complain about food, the dorm(I think they expected a hotel-like accommodation), too much swimming (it's a swim camp, duh?)....

Don't point fingers and call me a bad mother. My text messages are very enouraging and supportive but on the inside I'm, like, mua-ha-ha-ha-ha... They must learn to get outside their comfort zones, suffer through things, and this is such a prefect opportunity.

Summer's here

Summer is here, yeah!!
Imagine kids lazing about or hanging out with friends, riding their bikes outside, playing in the backyard or in the pool...generally entertaining themselves. Utopia, right?


Wrong! Summer means driving children to camps that don't last longer than three hours, staying in the pool until your eyes hurt from too much chlorine, trips to the zoo or the park under sweltering heat...sigh.
I love my kids, I trully do, love spending quality time with them but I hate summers.



This year, my oldest two are off to a swim camp for two weeks. Are they thrilled about it? Nope. They hate us now but maybe someday they'll thank us, I hope. But, they will be together, away from their bratty younger siblings (their words not ours) and they'll get some first-class coaching from NCAA coaches (our bargaining chip, not that they care...kids).




Then they're off to an iD-Tech camp on computer programming/film and animation/gaming. Since they're both into art and computer graphics, they're looking forward to this. We had to sweeten the swim camp with something, right? But the tech camp is totallyworth it. Kids who've attended them rave about them. Click the above link and find out more.





Maybe this summer won't be so bad.