LIFE HACKS

Life can be difficult, I have come to learn how to make it easier over the years. A hack a day… or two keeps the doctor… or bottle away.

The calendar.

Most Africans don’t believe in the calendar guide for reminders and what not. See the calendar helps you see all events at once so that it’s hard for you to plan more than one event a day on the same time slot. I activated my calendar on about two months ago, safe to say I have never missed a meet since then, and… am always the first one there. Most smart phones have a calendar app already installed so all you have to do is learn how to use it. Get organized.

What to do with your old calendars; what I have learn over the years is that Calendars, especially those smaller desktop versions have the coolest pictures, and fittingly so because, i am sure those companies work hard to ensure that the pictures used are meaningful, and needless to say timeless. The DIY pro will be happy to hear this, recycle! I made this beautiful desktop clock with old wall clock bits, an old plastic container and a calendar pic. You can use them to make cards, bookmarks, frame them for beautiful wall hangings.... tear down older months and get creative!

 The salt remedy.

Do you watch Supernatural? The series, it’s been running like forever… beside the point, so according to the show, salt is used to line doors and windows to ward off evil… well mine is less creepy… so I live in a very wet area, borderline swampy, so especially on rainy seasons [NOW]… my worst nightmare comes to pass. No, it’s not evil!!! SNAILS! I hate those slimy things, so I learned that if I line the threshold of the doors and windows with salt, I can effectively keep them out. Do not forget the drains; bathroom and kitchen. See your life get easier already?

A salt gaggle can help with mouth sores and a salt soak with fungal and bacterial infections.

Moisturizer.

This tip is especially for the ladies. Moisturizer is Lotion, for the Kenyans in the building. So you spend about 300-500 shillings on an average cost 350ML bottle of lotion that lasts a person about two months, okay… those stats are of me. Then you spend about the same amount on a 50ML container of face moisturizer with a fancy name because you believe that your face needs special attention. What I have come to learn, whatever goes on your butt, can go on your face. Same person, same skin. Only difference is that the face is  exposed to a lot of things i.e. radiation, dust, cold… etc. thus the need for a layer of protection from the elements. A good lotion can save you from all that. Vitamin E in the lotion is good, a base product that is natural and safe. Scrub your face with mild scrubs like once a month, just before your cycle. Note that if you have coarse bathing sponge or scrubber thingy for showering… don’t scrub your face. You do that every day without knowing it, may be the reason why your face has pimples because it’s constantly irritated. Oh, and change your showering sponge often, because those things collect dirt and germs.

Fun fact; ‘siyangu’ is Luhya for the scrubber thingy for showering (not sure about the spelling – born Tao!)… Which translates to NOT MINE in English, I wonder why it’s called so, maybe because after so many uses they look so bad no one wants to own up that it’s theirs!

Running fearless

So I recently picked up the fitness thing that hit a lot of people this year, so in August 2015 I started running four times a week. If you know Kasarani, in the outskirts of Nairobi, you know that there are no paths to run on, so my running partner and I have to run on the main road, and endure the stares! And dodge cars especially public transport vehicles. But what is most annoying is the people who will always find words to tell you. Some things people say, you feel like they don’t have a filter! It’s utterly infuriating… so this one time I ran with my cousin from the army and he ran in his army clothes! And NO ONE SAID A WORD TO US…soooooo, I came up with a new strategy, I got myself camouflage pants for my four day a week runs, if fear is the only way to scare off on-looking rattle mouthed commentators who  have a lot to say and do not have the courage to run themselves, then so be it. They think am in the army… i.e. FEAR TACTICS!!! HAHAHAHAHHA *^{EVIL LAUGH}.

That’s all for now. Thanks for the read, don’t forget to share.

PS; say a prayer for Paris.

Nekh.

#the trend.... Appreciating the lesser film maker

Hey guys...
So am watching #the trend and this lady Anita Nderu is pretty awesome... She thinks before talking and she deserves to be on the the show.
On other news.... I know that I love live action movies but do you think that Hollywood is pushing the envelope a little too much... So in the last decade we have experienced live action from Marvel and DC comics thing... To watching chipmunks... For those whom don't know.... They are like cute rats... Chipmunks singing! To ninja turtles coming to live... Its been a crazy couple of years with technological advances I.e. motion capture what what.... I love this age. This is the perfect age in film. Think about it. There are just enough guys with the tech to lie to you proper... Imagine an age when everyone had the tech to do a 3D film... Sema monotonous! So find a way to appreciate the good old 2D.
#@LarryMadowo yes the arts should pay more in Kenya. I don't plan to work in any other industry. Truth.
Back to what i was yapping about... Film.... I also needed to talk about the independent films. Indie films are the steppingstone for all the great film industries. Any film enthusiast will tell you that their now favorite, most awesome film makers started from making low budget indies. The best part about Indie films is the level of creativity... See the thing with such films is that the film makers are not controlled by corporate giants sited behind designer grand desks who speak in dollar bills.... A non-film maker can never make decisions concerning film. Consider this.... An engineer (big ups to KQ technicians and engineers!) Running a hospital... Disaster! Same thing with the film industry. Bana... Kenya film commission fix this!
All I'm trying to say is that Indie films are the backbone of true film. Unlimited creative minds not hindered by corporates. So more than once in a while... Make your way to the nearest theater and look beyond your blockbuster and see that little film maker who spent all his savings making that film and see what you are missing out on.
For more information on Indie films and film news all together check out Indie Wire. Together let's make indie films the new trend.

Have a wonderful weekend. Stay safe.

Nekh.

Brighter 😊 #smile

Hey guys... And ladies,
It's been a crazy couple of months. Kenyans we have been through a lot... A lot of death, lost a lot. But I choose to talk about the positive. Look to the beauty in all that we have.
There was the coolest engagement ever... Sharon Mundia got engaged in the most beautiful original way. We than her man for laying down the law... Literally! Now wanaume have to step up or step out 😁.
The schools' drama festivals took place recently. I'm glad to say that Kenyatta University totally killed it and my girl Sara Masese did us proud. An original play, Queer theory based was the key to their success and a brilliant team of young and eager minds. If this is the future of Kenyan theatre... Then sign me up!
Avengers!!!! Okay have you watched the new sequel of the film... Spoiler alert... Thor's hair is longer 😉. Marvel is doing great! My friend and I were talking and we love the DC comics and Marvel battle for supremacy. DC comics did me good with Arrow and Flash. It's been a crazy season. If your forehead is glued to a television like me you know what I mean. Can't wait for fall.
Am done with course work!!!! Research is all am into now. Hang out at the library like a pro. Opened a studio for my design... Growth is the best medicine for the broke. Working hard like a boss b*. Am working on a website... Gifted to me by a client. I love my life... 😊 # blessed.
So my people. Borrow a leaf and live a positive awesome life. Peace please.
Nekh.

Theatre; learning from the greats; Konstantin Stanislavsky

One of the most influential director of the visual art to this day is Konstantin Stanislavsky. He came up with Method acting a technique used to date by actors to prepare for them for roles the are about to undertake. There are acting schools world over that apply method acting exclusively in there training curriculum.

During then production of a play Depths of Life, later renamed The Depths.... Konstantin and his peers Simov and Nimorovich-danchenko went to Khitrov market, where a group of intellectuals who transcribed art worked... The lived in little rooms and drunk a lot. They were located in the depths of unsavory environs. But still the went there to learn of their roles.... Mainly to understand the trumps of Khitrov market.

The most brilliant thing about these pioneers of modern day directing is their dedication to the art. See directing is both managerial and artistic. Beyond managing the craft itself .... There is the artistic bit where the director picks a script,  analyzes it... Here the director may alter aspects of the script to suit his audience, for example the removal of sexual connotation - bowdlerization. Or even flip the script on you the audience in terms of structure... Then there is the bit where the director decodes the tone and mood of the work of art.

Other Major duties of a director include design aspect and inspiration, couch actors and avail themselves to dress rehearsals, previews and opening night.

See the art to a real director means something. Theater is a profession that deserves more than a part time allocation of resources.... Majorly time.

If the greats like Konstantin found time to go to the darkest corners of Russia to find the inspiration to the roles and characters they were portraying and directing... Why shouldn't we put aside our hubris and walk the fine line between real life and art.

Research is key in the arts which many of us lack in and thus the aspects of mediocrity in  production we showcase... Patience in the arts will ensure success.

Note that I do not claim to be all knowing guru in this... But I read a few books... Practitioners in theater have to read wide, research their characters and take time to learn them in order to depict accurate depictions.

I feel a change in the industry... An appreciation of native culture is slowly sipping back to mainstream media... Am glad. At least my kids will know what it's like to be African. The kind of research I advocate will lead us back to our ancestral homes.... Back to learning our mother tongues and writing scripts on that.

I can not wait to see us Kenyans embrace not so new but almost forgotten approach to theater and the arts in whole.

Nekh.

I Could Never

I could never stand tall enough
I could never breath hard enough
I could never walk long enough
I could never be strong enough.






I could never change fast enough
I could never be that that you needed
I could never be your hero
I could never make you proud.





I could never fight long enough
I could never heal fast enough
I could never win if I tried
I could never try cuz I can't.






I could try to live as I am
I could try to make you understand
I could try to be this new form for you
I could be this new me for you.






I could work hard enough
I could make you understand
I could never love you any less
I could ensure we are forever.




Nekh.

2015 so far...

I like this year... May be flying the coup before hatching but am having a great time.


So far... Most things have gone alright to great. I am going to start from the very beginning... I had a great 1st of January.... Had a nice situation with a guy I thought was absolutely out of my league. Which was awesome... But silly me, I did not get his contacts. It was awesome to get all my butterflies up n going... Yeah me!


Another awesome thing... Mmmmm. Oh,I had a really great interview about over a week ago. Thumbs up, If all goes as planned in my head... I get the job and I will be sorted for life! Nice pay, good insurance... I could pay my students loans... Travel! Set up a savings plan for my little minions to be... 😁. That would be awesome... Patience...


Oh I called it... Okay I called it to my family and friends... Still counts. Dakota J's career. I remember I was like... "This shades thing may either break this chic's career or totally skyrocket it." It seems like things went toward the positive for her. Even before the release of the film... She has become an almost household name bagging nice collection of roles my fav is her in Need for Speed.... Love the brunette by the way... Totally makes her eyes pop...if u have no idea what am talking about... Pick up a magazine... Relax, you work toooooo hard.... Or... You are just not in the know. It okay... All God's people. I will not judge you.


Another awesome thing is that I am about to start my project for the masters degree that am doing... When I finish course work this March... Doors will begin to open finally and I gotta say I feel very blessed to be able to do this now and at this age. Am glad that my family has supported me all this way and I can't wait to repay a favour.


This year has just began and we still got 11 months to take a risk like Dakota J, meet someone like I did and not mess it up by not taking his number, appreciate family and friends... Mend broken relations... Plan smart , live, and love. Don't let this near infinite window of opportunities pass you by.


Nekh.

Big Ass Can of Warms

As a child who comes from a broken home I have come to learn that every time my parents get together... Shit literally goes down.
A can of seriously smelly rotten gag inflicting warms is let loose and I wonder why.
More than once I have prided myself of being a civil being but my polished.... Or sort of polished nature goes out the window and I wonder... Do I fall in the same bracket, the bracket of the likes that can never let go of the past... Those still haunted by their pain... This still scalding in fires of foregone relationship... Is the ex that much of a pain in the ass or is it just human nature to stick to what hurts rather than remember all the good times. We claim to love to be happy but always aim at the underclass... Machete in hand ready to battle even when none is there.
I have come to learn a thing or two from my large, dysfunctional family, utterly annoying family, it will never be perfect... I just have to learn to let go of the past and forget as much as I forgive.
Nekh.

Hey guys,
Welcome to 2015. I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy new year.
My year started with a bang! Literally... I started this year on the sandy beaches of Diani... Crossed at least three things off my bucket list in a morning... I gotta say am achieving dreams this year!
I trust your year will be awesome. Best of luck.
Nekh.