Thursday, November 25, 2010

Breast-Slapping in the City of Accra

Office Female #2 said at lunchtime today that she was in a trotro 7 years ago, when a suckling baby decided that its mother's breast was not the solution to its crying. The choosy baby disengaged without warning, causing the milk to squirt freely over other passengers' shoulders onto Office Female #2's sparkling shirt. She says she was more upset by the smell than the stain (she says the smell of breast milk is not adult-friendly). Well, what did she do to mother and baby? Nothing. But she felt like slapping the baby quiet, and then slapping the offending breast back into the baby's mouth!

Cheer-Me-Up Music

Musica comprimida - Compressed Music
When life is just not ticking well for me, and I think music will provide the missing beat, I don't listen to only one genre. I hop from hip hop to hip life to country to soft rock to lover's rock, to jazz to classical. Then I get bored and find the 'clock' elsewhere.

700

For the first time, I missed the milestone. I put up my 700th blog post today.

I'm feeling mellow about it all.

But thank you dear readers for coming for the ride.

<3

6 Things I'm Looking Forward to This Weekend

The creative-writing workshop on Saturday

Hanging out with Lil Girl each day

Hanging out with MsUnderstood on Saturday

Nani's birthday on Saturday

Writing Ch. 4 of my open secret

Sleeping in the daytime on Sunday


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Exotic Cranberry Juice

I spilt a dollop of liquid soap in my juice jar. Before you think I was washing it, it was an accident. The problem with the soap in there was the cranberry was already there. Not expecting visitors, and working eighteen hours for money, I put the cap back on and poured myself a glass. The rest went into the fridge. It’s turning out to be exotic cranberry juice.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Reflections on the Arrest of an Infamous Criminal

I see two cops walking down the street. They stop to help a crying child. They cross the street with an old man. They stop a loafer to ask questions. They blow on a whistle and run in the direction of trouble. They arrest a pickpocket and push him into a waiting car. They caution a driver who’s driving too fast, and arrest another who took the hard shoulder. They hand over at five, and another pair takes over. As I go home, I see a bigger group patrolling my area, in the outskirts. I drive leisurely. I feel safe.

Not in Ghana. I wake up from my dream. Not the Ghana Police. Many of these things do not even take money to do!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Insist That The Police Do Their Work Well

I cannot tell whether the British structured our police force to be automatons carrying out orders instead of investigative thinkers. Case in point: a road accident is reported. They charge you with a provisional offence (couch investigations). Then they ask you to go away while they investigate. How could they have charged you with a provisional offence without even going to the scene of the accident? Mtcheew! It is our civic duty to insist on a high standard of professionalism from the police. Do not be afraid of them. Remember, the more they bully you, the more mistakes they make. The more procedures they breach. Keep your calm. Speak the truth. If they have done a shoddy job, the law will come to your aid (in court). I HAVE YET TO SEE A MORE PATHETIC SIGHT THAN A BUNGLING COP IN COURT.