Back after my Hiatus:

Next Condiment - Mayonnaise

Ingredients:
2 egg yolks
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon sugar
Pinch Cayenne pepper (Dried/blended local hot pepper woks too)
4 to 5 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar
1-1/2 cups very light vegetable oil
4 teaspoons hot water

Place yolks, salt, sugar, pepper, and 3 teaspoons lemon juice in blender cup.  Hit the 'PULSE' button for 15 seconds (use low blender speed). Now, with motor running, slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup oil. As mixture begins to thicken, continue adding oil in a fine steady stream, alternating with hot water and remaining lemon juice. Stop motor and scrape mixture down from sides of blender cup as needed.   Pour into a jar with ta ightfitting cover.  Keep Refrigerated no longer than a week.

Salsera: Please shoot me your #. Moved & lost it.

They say wonders never cease.  I am dating a lovely Naija(!) guy who fits the bill.  He has been 100% supportive of my adoption process.  We will become one big, settled family on November 21, 2009 in Lagos. 

There are still (wo)men of quality out there, it just takes a heck of a lot of patience and the sweet hand of fate, !

Dear Sister:  Upon what foundation are you building the rest of your life?  Trust or Deception?  I'm not here to flagellate you, but please know this; when this Bobo finds out, believe me he will, that you lied to him on such a trivial issue, what do you expect next?  If you are really lucky, he'll find out before the wedding, not forgive you and leave you to make a fresh start with someone else.  If you are certifiably unlucky, he won't find out till after the wedding, when you'll then spend the next 10 -20 years trying to convince him you are a trustworthy person.

Personally,I don't see the need for fretting too much about discovery in this particular issue, but I would that you get off this desperate treadmill to marry at ANY cost. That's not marriage, it's prison where you become your own jailer.

I leave you with this quote;
Desperation is like stealing from the Mafia: you stand a good chance of attracting the wrong attention.
Doug Horton

This sounds like champagne taste on a beer budget.

If she is independent and able to take care of her own needs without outside help, (You or other would-be-'Bros'), then fine, go full hog with her. However, if she is not independent of You or 'Bros' then you're headed down a primrose lined path of bitter sorrow wrung tears & frustration.

My friend just signed divorce papers from one such as she in April after 9 years.

@ Seun

, the typee of morality they promote is too primitive to be useful to educated people.

I beg your pardon!  By 'Educated', I take it you mean those who have the ability to reach beyond the regurgitated 'sophia' of their 'teachers' and not just individuals who have a piece of paper that serves as an attestation to the fact that they endured uncomfortable college seats for x number of years. 

If the former definition holds true may I categorically then state that the morality of the 'primitive' minds remains the keystone of international corporate ethics or simply put, 'Primitive' morality ain't so irrelevant to 'civilized' times.  Disagree?  Please shoot me your phone # and I will be happy to discuss at lenght.

For a while I was disassociated from the Naija culture et al.  Nairaland has helped me reconnect.  I feel I am no longer as 'clueless' about colloquiasms and socio-politico happenings. 

Nairaland has its inept whippersnappers but also socially responsible savants erudites such as KathyEkiti, Naijaking & Balogun doing good things with their free Medical advice threads.

Nairaland: A true world mix that brings us back to the cistern of cultural relevance and 'irritainment'.

Thank you for a lovely relevant site.

Reading this post grieved my heart.  If only youth knew and old age could,

Dear Poster:  I beseech you in the best interest of your friends that you encourage them to seek counseling.  It would appear that they are a couple who have not yet developed effective communication tools or have since abandoned such tools due to personal resentment of the partner.

If they are newlyweds they are in the 'storming' stage of developing their union and thus should seek counsel on learning to 'fight the good fight', not just an 'I won' empty victory.   

Should they be a couple married greater than 5 years, then counseling is required to get past the 'contempt' stage so as to identify the underlying relational issues that are being exhibited by a power tussle over who gets 'Canaan'.  I wish you and them the best.

@Gamba & Titilaelae: My pleasure. I hope you enjoy it and make the recipe yours as you get more comfortable with the spices. Namaste.

Cheese:  Step II

1 litre pasteurized milk  (Store bought Ultra Pasteurized milk, will not produce a creamy cheese)
1 tsp lemon juice /vinegar
½ tsp salt (optional)

1- Bring the milk  to a gentle boil.
2- Add the lemon juice/Vinegar
3- Reduce heat
4- Stir until the milk is completely curdled. (About 3 Minutes)
5- Strain the mixture through a single layer of kitchen towel or clean cotton material.  Fold over cheese  (Save whey, cheese water, to make another type of cheese)
6- Place cheese, still in cloth, in a sieve/colander.
7- Place a plate on the cheese and add weights (Example, 2 filled bottles of water or two 16 oz cans filled with water)and let sit 20 -60 minutes
The longer the period with weights, the drier the cheese becomes and thus goes from Cottage cheese to Feta, though technically, Feta is made from sheep’s milk.
8- Store in the refrigerator for a week or so.

As you become comfortable with this basic cheese recipe, feel free to customize yours.  A favorite of mine is to add chopped nuts to the curds while still wet.  I leave the weight on for 45 mins then serve on wholegrain flat breads drizzled with honey.  Can someone say Yum O! Also don't be afraid, if you have aceess to it, to try cheese with goat/sheep's milk which have richer flavor.

Cheese:  Step I

Here is a simple recipe for making your own cheese. 

When I lived in Lagos I bought milk from the Fulanis at Iddo Market.  In Abuja, you may buy from Wuse(?), Market.   Since you will be making this from raw milk, Nunu(?), from our local cattle herders, we need to talk about pasteurization (The process of killing the little buggers in raw milk that can make you ill). 

Below is an adapted, Me-tested how-to from eHow.com

Boil empty milk bottles or other durable containers submerged in water for 10 minutes to disinfect them. Alternatively, you can place the milk bottles or other glass containers in an oven preheated to 212 f/100c for 20 minutes to disinfect.

1- Pour raw milk into the top of a double boiler if available or just use a regular, (not heavy bottomed), pot.  If using a double boiler fill the bottom section with water.

2- Place a metal-stem thermometer into the milk to monitor its temperature. Keep the thermometer from touching the sides or bottom of the double boiler so you get an accurate temperature reading of the milk, not the container.

3- Heat raw milk to 145f/62c and keep it at that temperature for at least 30 minutes. In the abscence of a thermometer, please bring milk to a steady mid simmer.  DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL.  Stir  to avoid burning and to maintain an even temperature.  (For a faster method, heat the milk to 165f/74c for at least 15 seconds, stirring constantly.)

4- Put the top section of the double boiler/ pot that holds the heated milk into a pan of cold or ice water to cool the milk. Continue to stir.

5- Cool the milk until it reaches 40 degrees F or below.

6- Pour the pasteurized milk into the disinfected containers. Cover and store in the refrigerator.

You can keep pasteurized milk stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or alternately freeze in little batches and use as needed.

No, just add to your basic mix.  The action of vigorously shaking along with the vinegar will cause the natural breakdown of the granules.  You may choose to adjust the sugar to taste.   Let me know how it goes!

Hello:  Just sitting here and thinking of how friends/family who come to visit from Naija tend to stuff their suitcases with 'common' foods in addition to their outrageously expensive 'baffs' and 'iteles'. 

To that end I figured, I would provide simple recipes with easily accesed ingredients.  This for both common condiments and foods whilst also providing substitutions for not so common western ingredients in popular recipes. 

I hope this will conserve precious 'forex' for your next trip out whilst wowing your dinner guests with your table fare.

Let us get things going with a common condiment: Ketchup and a killer mango pie which is a delicious alternative to apple pie.

Ketchup:
1 Can De Rica Tomato Paste
1/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp Ground cloves
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (Ground dry pepper) - Optional
2 Tablespoons Vinegar
Mix all together in a jar with a tightfitting cover and refrigerate.

Please note: This contains vinegar and sugar as its only natural preservatives, consequently should be used up within two months.  As you get more comfortable making your own ketchup, feel free to experiment by adding different spices to the basic recipe above.  I will like you to share your culinary adventures.


Mango Pie.
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ginger (You may use minced fresh ginger)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 a lemon/lime
2 tbs Cornstarch (uncooked pap), for thickening
10 avg sized Mangoes (Slightly ripe yet firm.  Peeled)
Basic short crust pastry. (SCP enough for a 14 inch pie)

Preheat oven to 400f/200c/Gas mark 6

Roll out SCP into 9 inch pie pan or oven proof dish
Mix the nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, butter and 2 Tbs cornstarch into the sugars.
Slice the mangoes into medium sized wedges, toss in bowl with sugar mixture and place into pie crust.
Pack mangoes tightly in a concentric (circular)pattern
Squeeze lemon/lime over mangoes
Roll out pie cover with rest of short crust pastry. 
Cut 4 decorative holes in cover for venting so your pie does not explode.
Place on pie and pinch to seal tightly. 
Reduce oven temp to 375f/190c/Gas Mark 5
Brush top of crust with a mixture of 2 tbs of evaporated milk and 1 tbs of water.
Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar.
Bake for about 35 minutes. 
Serve slightly wam with Ice Cream

As you get more comfortable making this basic pie, feel free to experiment with other local fruits.

Also Visit  Forums / Food / Re: Learn To Make Your Own Ketchup! Costs Less Than Excess Luggage:

Recipe with most readily available ingredients to those in Naija

To make the clarified butter or Ghee for an authentic taste:
1 - Cut the butter into pieces and slowly melt over low heat. Water in the butter will evaporate, whilst milk solids will sink to the bottom of the pan. Froth will rise to the top.
2 - Skim froth from surface.
3 - Carefully ladle or pour off clear melted butter into another container, leaving the milk solids at the bottom of the saucepan. You may also choose to strain the butter through a single layer of clean kitchen towel.

Note: Please make sure your fillings are cool or at least room temperature before adding to pastry triangles


The below recipe taken from: www.cooks.com

INDIAN MEAT SAMOSAS   

2 tsp. fresh ginger, grated or 1 tsp. ground ginger
3 sm. cloves
1 lb. ground lamb or ground beef
2 lg. onions, thinly sliced
1 tbsp. ghurum masala (add the ghurum masala after the curry is cooked by stirring it in before serving) (Obirin's substitution: scant dash of nutmeg, cloves or allspice)
1 tbsp. curry powder
1 tsp. salt
Oil if needed
Cooking meat filling (follows)

FOR PASTRY:

2 c. unbleached flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. oil or clarified butter
1/2 to 3/4 c. water

Sift flour and salt together. Make a well in the center of the mixture and quickly pour in oil and water. Stir briskly until combined, gradually adding more water if necessary. You should aim for a slightly moist dough that sticks together.
On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic, cover with damp towel. To assemble samosa, break off pieces of dough (leaving what's left under the towel and shape into balls. Roll each ball into a circle about 1/10 of an inch thick and 5 inches across. Cut the circle in half. In one side put filling, fold half of the half circle over to make a triangle. Seal by brushing a bit of water along the edges and pinching it together with your finger. Heat 2 inches oil in a skillet or pan to 375 degrees. Put in samosas and let it fry to a golden brown on each side. Then drain on cloth or paper towel and eat.


MEAT FILLING:

Crush ginger and garlic. Combine all ingredients in a large skillet or pan and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a bit of oil if meat is too lean to grease the pan. When meat is well browned, drain off any excess fat, set aside until ready to fill pastry.

VEGETABLE FILLING:

3 med. potatoes
2 carrots
1 c. fresh green peas or 1 (8 oz.) pkg. frozen peas
2 to 3 tbsp. oil or clarified butter
1 c. onion, finely chopped
2 tsp. fresh ginger, grated or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 lg. cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp. coriander seeds, crushed
2 tbsp. fresh coriander, finely chopped (opt.)
2 tsp. lemon juice

Peel potatoes or don't as you wish. Boil potatoes and carrots until both are soft but still firm. Cut into small cubes about 1/2 inch square. In a separate pot, cook peas just until tender. Meanwhile heat oil or butter until a test onion sputters upon contact with it. Add onions, ginger, garlic and coriander and saute, 6 or 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Mix in the lemon juice and the cooked vegetables, gently adding peas last. Heat through then set aside until ready to fill pastry.

Naijaking1 & Balogun:   What you are doing here is awesome!  Thanks for taking the time to give back. 

Sadly some of the questions posed appear to underscore the inefficiencies/inefficacies of the Naija Hcare delivery system.  I'll see if I can get my OBGYN friends and relatives to join you as I see quite a bit of associated questions/situations.

Keep up the good work!

'I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.'

Abrakson: I applaud your guts and honesty. I've got over 9 friends, (male & female), who met their spouses or Girl/boyfriends online. It takes grit and determination to stick it out but I believe you have both. In spades.

Be prepared to be ridiculed by some, but don't knuckle under.

I wish you the very best of luck.

Happy New Year Spoilt! Don't have your e-add. so will keep it spare:

Met Salsera in NYC, really nice lady.

Hope you had a wonderful trip.

@ Poster:

There was a RCCG parish on Roosevelt Isl in the city.  Unfortunately, the listed number is disconnected. There is one however on SI which is easy to reach by ferry or bus.

The churches below are in the city & are good teaching churches;
Times Square Church - Multinational, (A few Nigerians in ministry leadership roles)
237 West 51st St. corner Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Tel: 212-541-6300
Directions:http://www.tscnyc.org/directions_to_tsc.php

Abbysinian Baptist Church - Historical African American Baptist Church
132 Odell Clark Place (formerly 138th St.)
New York, NY 10030
Tel: 212-862-7474
Web:http://www.abyssinian.org/index.php?l=1

If you are also here by yourself here is a nice Christian coffee house for fellowship and fun. Just take the ferry from the Bowling Green Area straight to Staten Island
NEW HOPE CAFE
1031 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
(718) 876-7680

My opinion/counsel is strongly in line with Salsera's.

Here are the facts:
She is over 18 &,
She was aware you were in a relationship &,
She had unprotected sex with you &,
You don't love her &,
You have a GF who still loves you &,
Whom you love.
Where in this equation do you fit Baby Mama?

Too many people have rushed in to correct (?), minor(?), mistakes and turned a hole fire into a full forest fire. I've seen too many friends in really sad states due to these types of pressurecooker situations.  The real, true pressure is just for a little while whilst you stand your ground, all others are noise and steam.  However if you knuckle under now, you'll be knuckled under for the rest of your handsome life.

Put your chest out,
Gird your loins, (Figuratively and literally),
Be a father to your child, whilst in-utero and later,
But under no circumstances promise to be an emotional support for Baby Mama. 

As for Papa Baby Mama, steer clear until he fully comprehends you'll be standing your ground.  Being aware, of course, that your name will always be preceded and followed by a curse word or two until his daughter finds someone to marry her.

Remember Friend, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Good though your intentions may be today, they will turn to be a slippery  primrose path to a living nightmare.  Unless Aliens change Human's genetic psychological makeup tonight.

Outside of the benefit to the (female), sexual partner, I am not sure I have a very strong opinion on this.  That said, the Pro-Snip movement seems to have stronger backing from independent medical sources than Contre-snip.

Please see links to articles from Mayo Clinic one of the top leading independent research organizations in the States.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/circumcision/PR00040

In addition, the official American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) brochure on circ, appears to fall just shy of an endorsement for which the association was criticised by its Contre-snip members.  The Assoc stood by its 'benefits of circumcision list'
http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Circumcision.htm

The only strong backing I see for Contre-snip  is from Johns Hopkins which links up with the Australian Contre-Snip organization, CIRC.org, whose strongest argument seems to be based on the bioethics of circumcision without the chief participants' (babies), permission.

Scientific/Medical Reasons to Circumcise According to Medical Journals:

• Eliminates the risk of phimosis, which affects 1 in 10 older boys and men.
• Over 20-fold decrease in risk of invasive penile cancer, which has a high fatality rate or requires penile amputation.
• Uncircumcised men have 1½ – 2 times the risk of prostate cancer,
• Circumcision reduces by up to 5 times the risk of the man’s female partner being infected by chlamydia
or getting cervical cancer (which is caused by human papillomavirus).  PROTECTION FOR HIS FUTURE SPOUSE
• If not circumcised soon after birth, up to 10% will later require one anyway for medical reasons.

Refs:
http://www.gilgalsoc.org (The Gilgal Society)
http://www.aboutcirc.info (Dr. Cox)
http://www.circumcision.com.au (Dr. Russell)
http://www.circumcisioninfo.com (Dr. Lacock)
http://www.samkuninmd.com (Dr. Kunin)

Sparta:  Unbelievable as it may seem, you are not alone.  There are lots of professional ladies like you, some older, who have refused to succumb to the new age morality.  You are not weird, neither are you a walking saint.  You are a lady who knows what she wants out of life and is unwilling, for either religious or personal mores to back away from her stance.  I applaud you.

That said, hating men is counter productive.  I believe strongly that the universe sometimes catapaults destructive agents out of our lives 'specially when we are at our most oblivious/vulnerable.  I bet you've encountered at least one who, if he had not moved on after your 'No Pre M sex' might have eventually become your Waterloo.  Rather than hating guys, begin to thank the good Lord for moving those guys along in order to clear the path for that wonderful someone who will be yours and no one else's.   Please continue to enjoy the company of your guy friends.  Someone is bound to notice the Gem of measureless worth that you are, not simply because,as you put it, you are a V, but for all the other components, V inclusive, that make you a truly wonderful person.

Be encouraged and pay little credence to the 'Job-Advisers'

Seun: Not quite. Pork is now considered 'The Other White Meat' after chicken. The new food tech innovations have made their meat leaner and thus more favorably viewed by nutritionists than standard red meat.

Do Nairalanders know of existing Piggeries in Nigeria able to sustain supplies of at least a thousand, (1,000), pigs a day?

One more question, can anyone provide me with data or data sources on existing animal processing plants in Nigeria? 

I thank you for your time and references.

Hello,

I don't know anything about this topic but I was intrigued enough to do some research.

You may wish to contact the IDRC. They sponsored a snail rearing project (Project Number 920034),in Nigeria back in '93 and may still have rollover development funds .(http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-83060-201_920034-1-IDRC_ADM_INFO.html)

Here is also a link to a document (http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/NAP/03-137.pdf), developed by Sonya Begg who seems to be a leading expert in international snail farming circles based on the frequency of her name on snail farming documents.   There appears to be quite useful information contained therein. 

In case you can't access the doc, I'm posting her contact information as shown in the doc, (Australia), below:
Mrs. Sonya Begg
Snail Farming Information Service
2 Sunrise Way
ORANGE NSW 2800
Ph: 02 6361 8104
Email: snails@netwit.net.au

I wish you all the very best!

Hi Everyone:

My cousin's wedding was a blast!  Saw lots of people I'd not seen in years.  I did go stag after all.  Sorry Spoilt, could not think of anyone from the garden party, younger or older, with whom I wished to spend a whole evening.  Also, didn't want to put any poor souls through my Aunts' /Cousins' baptism of firepepper questions.

Social Bottomline:  I didn't meet anyone I like and honestly folks, I think I'm done.  I completed my psych eval test on Wednesday which is a precursor to my final evaluation as an adoptive parent.  I like my life, I'm content and should the good Lord decide that I'll get that which I seek, the better.  Though something tells me it may not be Naija , 

I thank you all for your time on this thread and should there be any changes, I'll be sure to communicate it to those whose email/phone numbers I have.  I learnt a ton via this posting and made some neat friends.

Take care all and God bless.

PS:  I've unhidden my e-add for the next 6 days for those who would like to be kept updated.

'Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.'
Romeo & Juliet, ActII, Scene II

'Aunty' Spoilt!  

, and please call one of those hot young men. i'm telling you. call!,

I did call one today and I've just returned from an unscheduled 'date'.  Took the poor dude Salsa dancing midweek!  Crazy stuff I know but, I'd had that kind of a day and it was good to let my hair down.  Verdict?  Not for me, but I sure know one of my friends with whom he will get along.   I'll set them up once I get his okay.  Eh, I've got nine couples under my belt, can't just seem to make mine happen.

Uncle Chiekezi: 
I hear you loud and clear.  There does seem to be a dearth of avenues for quality people to meet.  Your experience highlights the fact that 'good on paper' does not mean 'good in actuality'.  In my response to Monkeyleg on July,10,  I referred to 'mai tory' well here it is;   I got introduced to this guy with whom, by the 3rd encounter, I felt strongly things would not reach an enviable end.  We had no core common interests other than our love for Christ and even there we appeared to differ on certain key doctrines. So I decided, in the spirit of honesty and fair play, to let him down gently so some deserving Lagos/Abuja Babe would have a chance.  The road to hell they rightly say, is paved with good intentions: *Self-depreciating laughter*

The next week he sent me almost a whole box of Christian books, by American authors, from Naija.  I called to thank him kindly and to let him know it was not necessary.  Dear readers, that was the beginning of 2 long years of trying to shake this gentleman off.  Even my Aunt, in whose house he had seen my pic and requested to be introduced, called him,spoke with him, 'cause it was becoming an embarrassment to her.  If anything he intensified his deliveries and visits to the States.  I advised that I didn't believe he was being a good steward of what the good Lord had provided to him as I could get most of the items much cheaper here, if I was so inclined and why not call rather than hop on the plane 'every so frequently?'  Did it make a difference?  Saaam!  He started calling at odd hours of the night/day etc,  Luckily I moved into my new house in another county so I got my dad to subscribe for my new phone #.  The phone calls ceased but the presents continued.  Then he wrote letters on how he had dreamt that I'd presented him with 2 twin sons, how I was embarrassing him before his friends and church members, (whom I had never met!), by not returning his affections  etc,   That did it!  I had had enough, so I filed a police report and contacted DHL, his courier of choice, and reported harassment.  'Cause I was also going to the FBI if DHL didn't do anything about it, they promptly notified him that they would no longer deliver anything to my address from him.  They also threatened to stop doing business with him.  This would have jeopardized his livelihood as he is an exporter of sorts who had some form of transportation agreement with the company.   That was when the nightmare ended.  To be on the safe side, my brother also filed formal complaints  with the other international courier services.

You know what I found inexpressibly sad?  The above was a guy most ladies would have given their eyeteeth to meet; he was gorgeous, and had all the trappings of a successful man, but he had become fixated to the point whereby anything outside that scope was unacceptable. 

Nwoke, at the end of the day, the proverbial ,(Desperate soul), knife cuts both ways.

Imani
Thank you for your insights.  I agree that flexibility is key, however not to the point that the individual is no longer recognizable as an entity.  I may be wrong, but I'm not sure a person of emotional stability seeks a mirror image or an acquiescent mirage. 

Re 'angel' helping to fly: However expansive the wings on a bird, it is designed to carry that bird and prey, no more.  Any attempt to carry another of the species spells disaster for the one being 'carried'.  I believe firmly that you accept a person as a whole or not at all.  My late Grandma used to say 'You can stand his/her morning breath or you can't stand his/her morning breath' 

Promise72:  I thank you for your attentions.

Spoilt Welcome back, I see you really do mean to see this through to the 'Altar indeed.  Hope you've got enough Geritol/St John's Wort to wait it out.

kindly clarify the fulani-wannabe thing too. why would she try to front as a fulani woman?  So did you get any guys to put your number on speed dial? hope so, glad you acknowledeged the younger men. i am proud of you.  .  you'll be suprised how younger guys go where the older ones fear to tread,

Re 'Fulani', that was a cultural reference to 'Herder'.  Darling, I didn't have any discussions with her other than the perfunctory greeting. 

Re: Speed dial, I don't give my #s so, I took theirs.  Haven't called any yet though.  Too busy (19,000+ miles and counting in 46 days), and a little wierd about calling XYs with blatant 'Romeo' stamped on the cranium.  I do have a cousin's wedding coming up though so I may, in the tradition of harassed Singles everywhere, call one to stave off my Aunts' inquiries.  Or go stag.  It really is what it is.  I am single.

my eyes don't even dare stray when i am with oga lest my chop money be revoked!

  You crack me up. 

Salsera

This 'ad' seems to be working.

  Sis, Ad indeed- I hope if I put one up it will be more focused.  When are you going to complete the attempt started in July? 

Welcome back Chiekezi.  Hope you feel better soon.

It's 3:20AM, time to get back to my not-as-interesting preparations for tomorrow's meeting.  Gonna be a bloodbath, need to ensure mine isn't mingled therein. 

Bottom line: Each breed indeed has its dominant character;the Pit Bull Terrier (Pitt),was bred for fighting 'sports' whilst the Rottweiler (Rott), was bred to be a guard.

That said, the level of agression in a dog/cat/horse/flea is often directly proportional to the amount of early socialization and/or  interaction with us humans.  We don't expect kids to learn proper social manners without guidance and loving discipline yet we unrealistically expect our pets to be model creatures without due, consistent investment of time and money.

I've had Pitts, & Rotts that I have let loose with my toddling nephews who obligingly drooled, slobbered on the poor dogs and in some cases, used both breeds as body pillows during naptime at Auntie's.  Conversley, I've fostered yorkies, (<15Llb dogs), that I would not allow even in adult company- more rabid and mean tempered than a one-legged pirate at a two-step dance

Please refer to these links if you are truly interested in learning more about both breeds:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbull.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/rottweiler.htm

p.s. Long distance relationships don't work

I disagree.  It depends on the parties.  Mine failed: He cheated.  My sister's and cousin's worked out perfectly. 

Jaylinaa
I cringed when I read:

i don't know how i'd be able to sustain the relationship witout hitches.

No one party should bear the entire responsibility of sustaining a relationship.
&,

i dnt just want to loose this guy.he meanz so much to me,

.  Honey, if he is as into this relationship as you are, then you have nothing to fear.  However it would appear that this may be slightly lopsided.     Please truly speak with him.  Who knows, by so doing you may find he is not all you think you want for the long haul or that your concerns are baseless?  Best of luck in school.

Salsera  Welcome back!

chiekezi,  finish the ad abeg!

This is also open for my 'sisters' to finish.  Just a fun exercise to see what we make of it.

I'm glad your reunion went well.  Anyway in the Yoruba/Latin of my late Grandma 'Sunkumus Riranmus'  (Tears ought not hinder sight), I hope you placed your calling cards in strategic hands.   I'm glad you didn't suffer any of the indignities I went through last week.

Today's luncheon was like day to night when compared to last week's fiasco. It was a very nice crowd, couple in their late twenties baptizing their adopted child from Naija.  It was very beautiful and the group was a cohesive one. 

I strutted in with my Tequila-Lime chicken for the grill.  (I'm practicing for our Ladies grilling contest this upcoming weekend).  We ate alfresco as it was a Barbecue and there was no herding!  Several conversations going on in the garden; from the usual politics to 'solarizing' homes in Naija.  Very relaxing.  Spoilt will be happy to know that I actually acknowledged the compliments of a couple of the obviously younger (<30 y/o), guys instead of my usual pooh-pooh of any such attentions in my directions.  (I'm on the slightly petite side so it usually takes a wee bit for some to believe that I'm at least 3-4 years older than some of them).  I sure did have a relaxing time and was back home with enough time to enjoy the rest of my Sunday.  Phew-Thank you Lord for compensation!

PS: Two couples from last week's shindig were there too: The 'Fulani'-want to-be hostess and one who had 'God forbid it' my statements re divorce.  I said my hellos then efficiently and expediently moved on to another part of the garden to avoid any aggravation/'irritainement' .