The week ahead

The week ahead promises to be an exciting one.

1) First, I have to take a blood test some time this week, most likely tomorrow. I am scared. Frightened out of my mind. Not because I have engaged in any risky behavior, but because I am hypochondriac like that.

2) My sister is graduating from Yale next Monday (not tomorrow, but the 24th) and I am flying out Friday night to be with her in New Haven. I will also be spending some time with her fiance, apparently. I don't know the guy much. They started dating about a year or two before I left Nigeria in 2004, but for the past 6 years I have hardly been back to Nigeria. I went back in 2006 for my visa status change, but that's really been it. I have spoken with him on the phone a couple of times, but these are usually awkward conversations filled with small talk and nothing particularly interesting.

3) I am going to Oklahoma for the July 4th Weekend celebrations, to spend time with a childhood friend. Her name is Ekenem, and we have been friends since we were in creche. Probably for 20 years. Really lovely woman! Honest, God-fearing, beautiful, talented. It'll be great to see her again after 6 years! We talk on the phone and on Skype, but it'll be awesome to see her again.

4) I talked with an old University pal who is now in London. We chatted on facebook. It was great to hear from him again and see that he is doing well and having the time of his life. Really cool dude, too.

5) Two of my good friends from Nigeria are getting married next year. Congrats to them. There is an increasingly small pool of my crew that's unmarried. It's alarming.

6) Nobody talks about my sister's wedding anymore. It appears noone in the family wants to go there. I haven't brought it up either. It's exhausting, but it remains the intractable elephant in the room: it's still there, we can't escape it and we must address it.

7) On Friday, I bought a nice netbook online, about 40% off, thanks to the perks of working for my employer. I was very happy with that! I really like my new job and the company. It's awesome. I have a meeting with my boss on Monday, to talk about the way forward for the team. I'm looking forward to that.

8) Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are going to play the Madrid Open Finals in a few hours. I am really looking forward to that, and I'm unquestionably cheering on Rafa Nadal, as I really like his style. Roger Federer is the Greatest of All Time, but Rafa's game is really exciting to watch, methinks.

9) I will receive a new bed on Thursday May 20th. I bought it on Friday (a day I apparently went on a shopping spree). I am really looking forward to that, to be honest. I've had an air bed for the better part of 2 years, so this is my first real bed. It cost $1k, including the frame, head board and all that fun stuff. I have to finish cleaning my house to prepare for its arrival.

10) Hells Kitchen starts up again next month, from June 1. I like the show, as well as Bones, CSI and the morning chat show The View.

11) I need to get cable ASAP. The French Open is coming up, as is the World Cup. I absolutely need to get cable right away.

Anyhoo...


I hope the week turns out great! Enjoy your week!