Learning...

I've missed blogging, what with all the writing and editing and living that's been happening. Also, a lot of learning for me in this new year. I'm just learning that strawberry yogurt is an excellent (and guilt-free) quencher when you have the munchies at just past 1am, as is now the case.
I've also made note, that some of us weren't born to be pawns, and if we're treated that way, then we will leave the chess game and make our own way across the board games of life until we find our own space to breathe, to grow, to be.
And of course, even though I believe that everything in life happens for some or other reason (often not immediately understood), we have to pay attention to how life seems somewhat randomized, that we will collide as atoms do and that's one of the most beautiful realities about this whole business of living.
PS: This is a one a.m ramble. And at second read (I refuse to edit this!) it does sound a bit heavy and vent-worthy. But. I'm looking forward to an exciting year and a string of new projects and opportunities. More learning. More being me. More of this and that. More writing! And endless love.

Belly of Fire, the anthology that waited patiently for me to pick it up from the shelf of 2010's busy schedule, is on the road to being born. Yes, like a pregnancy. Speaking of which, I will be an aunt sometime soon.
And as of this week, I will be lecturing the Feminist Theory course for Hons students in Sociology at Wits University with Daughters are Diamonds as core text alongside Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex. Accompanied to this is an exciting reader of fabulous material to be discussed in the seminars. The possibility of a play (if the department agrees) and a film to be reviewed by students. It's strangely satisfying, being back at my alma mater. And surreal at the same time, walking around the old haunts, remembering things I may have inadvertently forgotten.
I'm all set for an interesting year ahead.
That's the certainty that is my companion for now.
Good night, blogmites.
xoxo

ridge road, ukzn and first years like me

After aeons of time, I am a first year at university, again. As of Monday this week past, I have ambled into my new post as lecturer at UKZN's Howard College with much amusement and comforting ease. Aside from having to painstakingly negotiate the undulations of Ridge Road that threaten to bite bits off of my car every now and then, and course packs that need pulling together and outlines for course material that glaringly require my every attention, the embrace of the oceanic air all around me and the reminder of it's promise of feel-good energy from my office view of the harbour, have me in the most wonderous of spirits.. yes, I miss home somewhat; family, friends and Johannesburg traffic share the beat of my heart and the flow of blood in my veins ;) drama aside though, I have in my entourage the writer's soul and the creative spirit of the painter. And together, we plan on turning the next five or six months into quite an adventure of colour and metaphor! Life's fiction, sure.. but it's time to turn it into a movie. And I know for certain Whose got my back! The Writings on the Wall.. :)

Here's to the spirit of enthusiasm and the lure of all things magical!

Shafs