HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY to CHAMPERING HEATHENS!!!!!!

Ok, so I have been waiting at the building’s entrance for a good three hours now. Where the hell is the Moët truck with my birthday present?? Hey? HEY??

Today is the one year anniversary of blog http://champsheathen.blogspot.com/

It has been one year of this mild public publishing of my thoughts. Ramblings and venting, aware’ing and explaining, questioning and shouting. And a whole lot of words typed.

It all started out of sheer boredom. My brother sent me a link & said, “You probably know this chick”. I opened up the page to read her confessing that she must be a nymphomaniac. I am still concerned about my brother’s perceptions of me!

I read for awhile. Got to know the blog space. And got inspired enough to “Create New”. I didn’t have any intentions of where this would lead. After awhile I was impressed fifty unknowners were reading my daily thoughts. Who on earth were these people?

I started off with friends from TwoFlower, who has long been sucked back into reality through the portal of theses, Another White Boy who seems to dash in & out of here, and Tash. Gradually, Jamaloni, Peas, Muddle, Fly* with his great insight, and darling dirty Rev became regular commentators. And definitely helped a Friday pass with what seemed more like chat rooms of cheeky filth than blogging comments towards the subject.

The first blogger I met in person was darling fish-face-pulling Buzzing Fly. Her photos showed faces from my Jozi life of years back (as did Sauve’s). Who was pulling fish faces at some party I randomly crashed the night before Women’s Day. We still have gangster hat photos to prove this. With which we managed to bribe Dave. Who still owes me his bed & a night out at the most expensive jazz joint when I finally get to London!! And hell, if he also ever gets back to London it seems.

To think where I was a year ago. Wow. How life has changed. Thank whatever energy or old guy with white beard that be. (One person reading this might feel a bit sad with such a statement about last year’s state of daily affairs. But I miss YOU chickie!! Muchos. Obviously. Also, I know if I don’t say that, I’m gonna get some high heel thrown at me. Or worse, she will NEVER EVER send those mms’s of an ex-colleague’s hairy strip-teasing bod. Send them. NOW!)

A year later:
*No longer do I have to drive through passport control to get to work;
*No longer am I made to feel like a hell-bound heathen of almighty over-sexed substance-abusing disenlightened proportions;
*No longer am I tearing nails down a metallic wall in boredom and guilt and frustration;
*I have re-established one gorgeous growing group of mates – suitable for all occasions;
*My doc is a little less stressed about me;
*My travel does not involve forty five minutes down to a township (which I am missing) but will soon involve a flight to West Africa! FINALLY my French is going to come to the use for which it was intended!....well, other than landing frenchies;
*I am content and I smile these days and fight & shout a little less. I am less emotional, and less worried about myself;
*I have not adopted any street children, despite attempts;
*I now have an excellent collection of champagne…gathering dust as I toy with sobereity;
*I am in love. Still. Even though others have come & gone & been passed around. And I will still attest to that being an example that “love at first sight” is possible, despite the last two months of arguing with others about this topic.

This blog has led to:
*Living up to my commitment of making more people aware of HIV-related issues & helping those people with questions;
*Living up to one goal of bring public awareness to an issue that many women face but never really do face, or speak up about;
*Mates, virtual and real enough, to poke or harm with tequila, of such diversity & support & love & laughs & all & all it is incredible and gratifying…and would be a little more gratifying if some of them were more willing to help me out with certain, uh, present hormonal issues;
*Refinding my love of writing;
*Finding the necessary motivation to write regularly, which I have been seeking for 8 years now;
*Rediscovering my ability to think & debate worldly & inner topics;
*Forcing me to be more on top of things (interpret the last word as you like);
*One soon-to-be published article in a popular mag (!!!);
*Possible ventures that did not take off;
*Possible ventures that should take off;
*Inspiration that is leading me to be busy morning, noon, and night;
*Mates and not-so-mate-mates being able to keep up-to-date with my daily self.

It’s been good. It’s been very surprising. I highly recommend it.

But enough of this. If you are not gonna deliver the champagne, then can I at least have something from Dolce & Gabbana for the blog birthday: