Lonely at the top, Kdrama, Decisions, and Tiktok — Takeover session with Mmeyene

Hi, hi. Welcome to the first newsletter of the year, and funny enough, it's not from me. So, backstory. Last year, I talked about how I want to introduce new segments or “things” to the newsletter.

This is one of them, the second one will come later, and funny enough, the two of them were supposed to be launched at the same time, but, earlier this year, I started overthinking it.

I was like “how do I know this will work the way I've envisioned it in my head, what if it doesn't work”, yada yada, so I just decided that “welp, there's only way to find out”, and here we are. I'll talk more about this in the later newsletter by me, but let me focus on today.

This type of newsletter will be known as a ✨ Takeover Newsletter ✨, because that's what it actually is. My guests will be taking over the particular newsletter and you'll be reading from them instead of me. Perspective, perspective. It should be fun.

Today's guest is Mmeyene Usoro and I have actually interviewed her for my blog once (you can read it here). I think she's fun and interesting. I laughed at various points while editing it and putting it together, and that's why she has to be my first guest. Enjoy!

Hello and welcome to Who wants to be a Mmeyene?! Or isn't that what you signed up for? Fine. There's just a way you say “millionaire” to sound like “Mmeyene”. You are still on the right page.

So, hii. I am Mmeyene, in case you haven't figured it out already. I was interviewed by Grace recently, last year. Now, I'm writing her newsletter. This thing is making me feel very important o. It makes me wonder why. What has she seen in me? It's given me inspiration to do things. I want to do plenty of things. Superstar things.

I'm currently thinking of what to do with my hair. I don't feel like making it, but I also don't want to comb it and look for a way to style it every single day. Should I do my natural hair? It's been a while. Or should I just add attachments? Decision making. Ugh.

This is random, but I just remembered how our lecturer said that the people that bought his course's textbook should leave the class, and the ones who did not buy it should write his test.

I had the textbook, but none of my friends did. And have you met social anxiety? I was just standing outside and thinking of going to join them to write the test. The whole time, I was like: “Omo. True, true. It's lonely at the top.”

I think I squeal whenever it's time to talk about books. It's my regular programming. My reading life is not even going so well right now. I set a 100 book reading goal for the year, but I couldn't find a good book to start with.

I tried. I asked for recommendations, I searched and got more books. Omo. I started two books before I finally found THE one.

The first book—I wasn't really into it from the beginning, but someone had given it 5 stars and I wanted to know why, but I guess I wasn't curious enough.

The second book—I saw ‘fake dating’ trope, I ran to enter. That's how these people started sleeping with each other and talking about liking each other, only a few chapters in. No o. We don't do that here.

Honestly, I don't blame the books, I'm the problem. It's me. I just wasn't in the mood for them.

Then, finally, I found Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare. I cannot really say what it is that I like about the book. Magic? Brooding male lead? Quirky granny?

I can say that I did not like when the female lead was being condescending just because she did not believe them. Shey they'll give you an award for being realistic? 😂 The book was alright sha. 3.5 stars from me. Once again, I don't think the book is to be blamed.

When Reggie Johnson answers a job ad in the paper, she’s astonished to find that she’s not applying to work at her favorite card game, Spellcraft: The Magicking. Instead, she’s applying to be an actual familiar for an actual witch. As in, real magic.

The new job has a few perks – great room and board, excellent pay, and she’s apprenticing to a powerful witch. Sure, the witch is a bit eccentric. And sure, there was that issue with the black cat Reggie would prefer to forget about. The biggest problem, however, is warlock Ben Magnus, her employer’s nephew and the most arrogant, insufferable, maddening man to ever cast a spell.

Reggie absolutely hates him. He’s handsome, but he’s also bossy and irritating and orders her around. Ben’s butt might look great in a crystal ball vision, but that’s as far as it goes. But when someone with a vendetta targets the household, she finds herself working with Ben to break a deadly curse. Apparently, when they’re not fighting like cats and dogs, things get downright…bewitching.

I can't count how many times I deleted my Spotify in December. First of all, I wasn't feeling well, and in times like that, I cannot foresee myself listening to music. Is it just me? And, also, I just felt like deleting it.

I downloaded it again on the 1st of January when we (my siblings and I) wanted to clean our rooms. Omo. We played a lot of Shallipopi and Odumodublvck. And if you're judging us for that, I judge you. Why you no go like Shallipopi? Why you no go like Odumodu?

Then, Victony and Crayon's Ohema. I know I just like that song because of the ending where all those artists sang. It's like a cameo. 12 cameos! And I always say: “cameos are from heaven”, they have to be.

I can't choose my top songs right now, but I like hearing Angel Numbers/Ten Toes by Chris Brown. Maybe it's the “you look happier now” TikTok videos.

Just like with the books, I was also looking for the perfect movie to start the year with. (This all sounds rather sentimental). The perfect Kdrama, to be specific.

Did I mention that I'm a Kdrama Ambassador and that I watch Kdramas for a living? I was thinking of starting the year with My Demon, but it's going to finish airing on the 20th day of January, and I don't feel like waiting until then. I don't watch ongoing dramas.

I started Private Lives; a 2020 Kdrama, starring Seohyun and Go Kyung Pyo, and that was enough reason for me to tap on it. I just finished watching it, and I love it. I love the characters and the whole conning thing. I've always liked watching shows about con artists.

Now, I want to recommend some of the 2023 Kdramas that I've seen. Form a queue, everyone.

• Nineteen To Twenty is a reality show that I thought was a drama until I finished and checked online. I was completely hooked while watching this show, it would be very wrong of me to not share it.

• Destined With You is a cute drama where the ML mistakenly drinks a love potion that the FL made for someone else. It's funny and adorable.

• A Time Called You is a time travel drama and I love it so much. It is not something that can be easily explained. You have to watch it to know it.

• My Lovely Liar is this drama where the FL can hear lies. As in, you lie to her and she hears a ‘ding’ sound in her ear. With the way human beings lie? Do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?

• True To Love is funnyyy. Watch itt.

• Twinkling Watermelon is everythingg. Everybody should see this, for real. Because of it, I feel like learning sign language. I've not even finished Korean and Spanish.

ML - Male lead. FL - Female lead.

Please, how do they make it on TikTok? I don't know again. My friends and I—we started TikTok. Here's the link to our page: Winsome Five on TikTok

People that do TikTok, they try o. I've not even started, but e no easy. But we'll run it sha. Believe and follow us.

There are many things I want to do this year—my year of performance. I will do them, yes. I just want to do everything, and I don't know where to start.

Pray I find my way. Kori bamise. Writing? Acting? Shey should I even code? Right. A laptop was the hindrance. Omo. I'll do it all still. Let me do what I can now.

Do it all. Do all that you want to do, when you want to do it. Also, always do people back. I had mentioned that in the interview as a life philosophy, 😂. Don't let them get away with shishi!

Fighting! As in—화이팅!

Now you see why I wanted to have Mmeyene for this new segment, she's really funny and I love how she expresses herself.

The part where she said “Omo. True, true. It's lonely at the top” is still making me laugh, because something happened one time and that was the exact thing I said. I'm not even going to lie, you might see Mmeyene again, before the year runs out. So, if you're not yet subscribed, subscribe!

Anyhoo, let me know what you think about this new development, chat to me. I have a lot of things to say, but I'll keep them till the next newsletter. Hopefully, I don't forget.

How's your new year going? Mine has been progressing rather slowly and well, just there, true true, January lasts for a hundred years.

• Book Review: Party Favors by Sariah Wilson. Read it here.

• Solid Literature is solid, regardless of genre — An Interview With Chinonso Nzeh. Read it here.

• Book Review: Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent. Read it here.

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