Book Review: The Bite of the Mango.

This book made me cry it was so epic. Both triumph and tragedy. It won more than 10 different awards. The main character, Maritau Kamara had experienced more at the age of twelve than most people can experience in a lifetime. She had been through way more than what she deserved. She was a war victim who had earned the well deserved position of a UNICEF Special Representative.

Mariatu was born and raised in a small village in Sierra Leone called Magborou, and had a huge family. She was quite content with her simple life in her village. That was of course before the rebels had attacked. They had abducted Maritau and two of her loved ones. Soon she found herself with her arms chopped off and running to another nearby village where she had hoped rebels weren't located.

On her way there, poisonous snakes, dogs, and all kinds of deadly things had jumped out of the bushes in front of her. They barely even phased her, as long as they weren't rebels.

Halfway there, she had run into a man who she had hoped wouldn't do anything to her. Luckily he wasn't. He guided her to the nearby village. There, they cleaned the crusted blood off of her, and told her to run as fast as she could to a place called Port Loco. Unfortunately, that was the rebels' next destination, however, she had no choice. So she made her way there for help.

I'm not going to recite what happened from there, otherwise I would be giving away too much. As Americans, we would be going to a hospital the second even a deep cut would get into our arms, and it would be sewn shut with stitches. Can you imagine being 12 years old and running from village to village through woods and encountering dangerous wildlife after your arms had been chopped off? This is just one experience story in which happened to be published. Mariatu was just one of the many people who had gone through all of this. So much more had happened to her than just her arms being cut off.

I'm telling you, just read this. You won't regret it. It is by far, my favourite book of all time. She is definitely my hero, and I want to name my next kitty after her. ;]

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No Entree, Exit Only.

Today was pretty nice. I had a teaspoon of balsamic with two beets for breakfast! Yummy! Then went off to Miromar in Estero with my grandma. I found one of the only descent accessory boutiques outside of The Village/NYC. There is where I found the most awesome necklace ever! I just had to have it. So me. Lookie!

On the ride home, the nauseating smell of Wendy's lingered in the air. Luckily I had applied "Sea Island Cotton" body scrub to my hands in the Bath & Body Works. Therefore I could just keep my hands practically up my nostrils to avoid the stench.

Then, all I could hear was the crinkling of a greasy paper bag. Thank gawd for my iPod! The blasted Something Corporate saved my life. Then I hear chomp chomp chomp munch munch munch om nom nom nom as more and more fries were being shoveled in. Then came the chicken sammich. That smell was even worse because of the mayo. -Funny story about mayo, actually.

Dream Sequence Time! A group of friends had force-fed me fast food (hooray for alliteration: friends force-fed fast food), and I had gotten food poisoning from the mayo. I kept bringing stuff up, and it was never ending. I thought I was going to die in the dream. I kept throwing it up, and caughing it up. It was so nasty. End Dream Sequence!

I don't understand how people can even think about fast food without getting grossed out. It's disgusting. Do you KNOW what it's made of? If it's not fresh out of the ground, from a tree, or plant, or natural in some way or another, it's not food. Period. (Chocolate is may biggest weakness, however...)

I would love to live in France. America's small is their supersize. How ironic, that's my supersize as well.

Also, explain this to me: Why is it that when people who have my figure (a few pounds or so overweight) decide to go on a strict diet, people yell at them and tell them that it's not healthy. What about the fat ones who love getting bigger? Why is that any different? That's America. I'm sorry to be here. I need to go somewhere like France where people will support me rather than put me down for this.

I've lost 6 lbs since the weekend! I've been so good! Not good enough though. I'm yet to be at my goal weight. I have about 9 more to go! Yayy!

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Surrendering Me Booty!

...to the scale!!

My plan:

♥ Only consume 300 calories or less per day. (2000 calorie diet is such bullshit. Why do you think the average American is overweight? Consider the excessive amounts of calories consumed.)
♥ Walk at least 4 miles daily.
♥ At least 200 leg lifts on each leg daily.
♥ At least 600 crunches daily.
♥ If salivating, chew gum.
♥ Espresso and water only. No other beverage. Tea is the only exception.


Okayyy, so I'm sure you guys are wondering why I'm on this "diet". I'm going to start modeling again, and I'm not at the "ideal weight requirement for my height". I'm taking this very seriously. Don't go trying to be funny rubbing food in my face. I'm sorry you're being a fat, rude, and ignorant American because you think it's cute. I am trying to decide whether or not to pity that. I respect people when they are trying to lose weight, therefore you should respect me as well. That goes for Tay especially. I didn't find it too amusing when you were trying to be funny before, "I'm eating a Pizza!". Oh yeah? Wait until I rub in your face how I'm accepted into badass places such as "Ladies of Metal" and "God's Girls". So shut yer face.


Anywho, the results are going to be amazing! It's not just for modeling. It's to better my ballet performance as well. I don't care whether YOU believe this is unhealthy or not. I want to progress more in ballet, and this weight will never allow me. It's impossible.

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A Shallow Dermis.

So everything I ate today was only in the 2-digit calorie zone. I consumed under 300 calories and burned off more than I ate. Minus 10 lb goal, here I come!

I did the same yesterday. I'm finally under 110. I'd better be around 105 by Wednesday.

Perhaps 100 by next week? Realistic: yes.

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Not a Completely Abandoned Ship.

Okay, so I'm no longer a part of my family. My grandmother is all I have down here. I'm okay with it in ways. As long as I have things planned out. I went job hunting the other day. I hope the salon calls me about that receptionist position. So exciting. Can't keep my hopes up though.

I also found out that my Arthritis pays for cosmo school! So I can get a descent job when I move up and be able to afford my own place without worrying about a student loan! Happy about that. Only thing is, I'll have to get like a pittbull or great dane or something... That, and a roomie. No way will I be living by myself.

Let's see... Yup. That's what's going down. It's a start. Then I can go to Matrix academy in NYC and do extra workshops and build my way up to owning a salon. Woo! Can't wait to see what I'll be up to three years from now.

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Out + Open.

I've decided to finally work on my memoir about my JRA experiences. I hope that when it's finally published people will be interested and it will make it on the shelves...

I would love to write a second book as well. I'll quest for interviews with victims in whom were diagnosed and make each chapter about a each person's experience. Quite an emotional adventure that will be. I wonder how many people I will be able to find. It's not the most common thing in the world.

I can start off with my friend Caiti. I was so happy to meet her while attending PCHS. I couldn't believe there was someone else like me sitting in the same room taking the same classes as me. I met her in journalism class. We ended up being in the same science class and we sat next to each other in Japanese II! I haven't talked to her in a while. I miss that cute 'n bubbly girl. =]

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Five Mile Adventure.

I finally went for a 5 mile walk today. First time in about a week now. Perfect breezy weather, the sky was beautiful.

I decided to take a different route today. I love seeing new things at new perspectives no matter where I may be located. I never backtrack or trace my steps. I'd much rather use my sense of direction and find a new more exciting route back to point A. I love just waltzing spontaneously. It really clears my mind of negative. I couldn't have done this today without listening to Coldplay's whole discography, and definately not without my best buddy Ollie.



I want to adopt him! I'm going to miss him when I move back to Jersey this year. I wish I could take him with me. That wouldn't be fair to Grandma or Knicki though. Knicki is Ollie's best buddy in his own species.

Anywho, I realize that these walks are what may be helping me beat arthritis. I'm really kicking its arse. It's been almost a month now since I've taken my meds. I didn't even really need them when I took the last dosage. I went from two shots a week. One of them 25mg and the other was 75mg. Triple dosage a week pretty much, to one-two doses every few weeks. I'm quite happy with how well I'm doing.

I'm attempting to take a more natural approach (once again). I've been drinking tea everyday and eating nothing but salads. Of course I'll cheat every now and then, but who doesn't? These fruity waffles my grandma just made are just sexquisite by the way!

Sexquisite Berry Waffles w/ Passion Flower Tea!

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Overboard.

I awoke today at my dear friend's residence with the taste of stale menthe lingering on my tongue and salivating over a salad. It hasn't even been 24 hours since I've eaten a veggie, and I already feel as if I'm going to die from what I have consumed. I've devoured about 3 days worth of my fat and calories all in not even 12 hours. I ate four servings of Ramen (1200 calories right there), some cookie dough (don't wanna know), and two lender's bagels (EW. Not even worth it). I'd better attempt to run a good mile (even though I can barely run a quarter. How pathetic. It's worth passing out to burn all of this off).

I feel so weighed down. I don't understand how the dude went through with the Supersize Me documentary (he barely made it). Speaking of which, McDonald's stopped selling supersize of anything! That made me soooo happy! I guess that documentary worked. If only more people in the states would participate in something to help stop obesity. That guy is truly a hero. That American flag banana hammock he was wearing really stated who he was doing the documentary for.

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Cutting Technique I Just Used in Mum's Hair.

It's in Japanese. You don't have to listen. Just watch. =]
Scroll to about 4:20 and watch passed there.
That's the technique I used. Her hair has less weight and is much more managable now.



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The Showers.

Johnisha called me last night. I was soo happy. She had the baby! I'm officially a godmother now. He was born on the 8th, but they didn't have a phone for a while. So that's why I just found out. I don't care though, I'm just happy Mr. Braden Jacob is finally out exploring the world! I hope I get to see them soon. Last I saw her was at the shower. She moved to West Virginia, but should hopefully be coming back with him soon. I sure hope so! :D

I can't believe I slept this late today. 2:45! That's reeeedonkulous. I took a shower that barely woke me up though. It made me awake just enough to write this blog. Perhaps I'll have some black tea with a biscotti. =]

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Melodies Royally Capsized.

Is it me, or has music been fucked royally? Whatever happened to nominations for best orchestral or best raggae performances? I didn't even bother wasting insufficient amounts of energy by running the TV last night for that shit. Not killing those polar bears over something that was once beautiful, completely murdered.

First off, Beyonce... Oh boy. She was great! ...Ten years ago when Destiny's Child was a group of four and her voice was somewhat drowned out by the other three. Long before she married Jay-Z. Where did he go? Oh that's right, he retired a 5th time and came back for attention. That act of yours is quite old Jay-Z, and that goes for you too Eminem. We know you guys suck and need to work a little harder for a year before your horrible attempts at releasing something new.

Secondly, Lady Gagawd Awful, she was epic before that false persona alter-ego bullshit. To me, she was co-captain of female inspiration music (for Regina Spektor clearly is the captain of that ship). Mainstream society had to take that position away by convincing her to turn into this psychotic being who thinks she can waltz into public with these hideous and disturbing beyond drag get-ups she calls outfits. She needs some serious rehab to get her old self back. Hmm, Amy Wino gave in for a while. She wasn't half as bad either. In fact, she was amazing. At least she admitted she had a minor problem when she wasn't half as much of a hot mess.

Nas hit it completely with his single "Hip-hop is Dead". Way to go Nas. Keep doing what you do, and don't ever change. You and Kelis both inspire me so much.

As for those damn Black Eyed Peas... How many people in in charge of the record label did they have to have sex with to get where they are? Honestly. They truly suck balls (...and everything else they had to suck to get to this point). ...Literally!

As for the Best Metal Performance, kudos to the failboats who managed to do something right! I'm not a fan of Judas Priest, but at least they have talent. End of story.

Not really the end yet, actually, for there is a bit more to cover. Just this conclusion really. I spent a bit of time comparing the winners during the past years. I realized it was the minute Lil Wayng put out was when it all got sucked into the abyss. Such a sad ending isn't it? Makes you want to cry.

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