The next decade....what's in store?
Musings of a yamfooted traveller still trying to shake off those last 20 pounds as she treks across the Caribbean
Just finished giving the shipper the stuff for home, after emptying all the boxes, re-packing what I'm sending to Jamaica, and filling up a large garbage bag with stuff I really should have thrown away from August 2001 when I left.
People often ask me about my writing, how come I'm doing what I'm doing for CaribbeanCricket and I tell them that I've always written stuff. Diaries, snippets, even started on my life story.
I found a very discoloured piece of paper, two in fact, with some writing on it. I'll re-type the contents first, then tell you what it was all about.... actually no...you can tell me what you think I was writing about in April 1985 (pssst, that's nearly 20 years ago!)
Well, well, well.
Things are shaking at the International Youth Conference Task Force offices at Oceana Hotel.
No I don't mean Shakey's, idiot!
DOCUMENTATION
That's the newest hotspot for youngsters working as various things.
Messengers, liaison aides etc.
But what, .....just what is the attraction there?
It seems that there is a certain kind of Zerocks display.
This display is making the hits with these youngsters.
It's exciting, spectacular and even, one could say, handsome.
More about the Zerocks display.
It's certainly frank, intelligent-looking and of course, willy.
They just love it.
The youngsters that is.
They go as often as they can to view the Zerocks display.
However, there seems to be a certain kind of defect.
This defect occurs on the fourth finger of the left tentacle.
It seems that there is a gold substance there.
The theory is that it was depositied by the woman who owns it.
The Zerocks display, that is.
Well, well, well.
It seems that the Zerocks display will go with the conference.
So from all the youngsters who so much admire this handsome display,
it's........"so long Zerocks, and come back soon. We're looking out for you."
I left Grenada in 2001 to go to school. The intention was to go for a year. So I left some stuff with friends. It's going on 3 years now, so I thought I'd better sort through the things, give away what I don't want anymore etc.
Well, I just opened two boxes and thought to myself "what was I thinking?". Some things in there that I should have thrown away at the time, or given away.
It took me being away from the stuff for nearly 3 years to realize that I really didn't need all that junk.
One prized possession in the stuff I've unpacked is an autographed picture of Desmond Leo Haynes.
Dr D, if you know who that is, I'll give you a prize!
Trini story #1
Met a guy on Sunday at cricket who asked what was I doing later, would I like to go to a fete with him. As I don't get out much, I said sure. He gave me his number and told me to call him at about 7pm.
Because I am me, I called him at 7pm on the dot. He says he will pick me up at about 8:30pm.
I don my clothes (wasn't looking bad at all I must say) and wait. And wait, and wait and wait. I start calling his cell from about 9pm....no ansah!
I'm a patient person. He was coming from way in the East, so I say give him time.
Well, 10:00pm came and I called and got through. Hear dis nah. De fella who was supposed to come fuh he, aint come, so he now get a next somebody to drive he.
Ok, that's reasonable. But the next thing floored me. He asks me "so, would you like to still go?" Now he is talking to me from a car on his way to the fete!! I'm thinking to myself 'so what woulda happen if I neva call yuh?" But I said nothing. I said "well you invited me, so if you want me to come with you, then you can come and pick me up".
Truth be told, I really wanted to go to the fete, but if I didn't I woulda tell he carry he muddah's ass and galang.
Well I'm glad I didn't cause the fete was GREEEEEEAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT, FANTABULOUSSSSSS, FANTASTIC....... Music was A1, really really good. I saw the host here in Grenada last night and told him just this.
Ok, your verdict on that one?
Now for Trini story #2
Went to one of the Aliens Hotel in Trinidad to say hello to my old buddies. One guy had promised to take me out when I was there working, but he just didnt show up and yaddah yaddah yaddah. So I told him last Monday that he had a final opportunity to redeem himself.
He said of course, what do I want to do? A movie? Nope. How about dinner? Yup. I then asked him if I was to put on my nightie....hint hint...are you going to not show up like last time? He says no man. I must get ready for about 8:00pm.
I get ready for 8:00pm. (I'm really good at following instructions)
9:15 pm comes. I call. "Oh gosh Meeshell, I jes wrapping up a meeting now and I'll soon be there".
10:00pm comes. Again I call. He's at home. He's leaving now. Ok, home is about 40 minutes drive away so I give him some time.
He arrives at about 11:30pm! Naturally, nowhere is open at that time on a Monday, so dinner was Jerk Chicken beside Smoky and Bunty and a roti on the other side of the road.
It was pleasant though, I have to say.
But so you think it's a Trini thing, or these two men just wutlis?
For me, if I tell somebody a time, and I'm running late, I will call and say I'm running late. If I, like this guy, forgot that I had another engagement and would be very delayed, I would call and say I forgot this other thing, I'll be very late, do you still want to go.
But anyway, those were the tales. You take over now and say your piece.
I have to tell you about my experience with two Trinis, but not now, for it's late and I just got in and have to be up in 2.5 hours to catch my ride to the airport.
So stay tuned, then you can give your opinion on whether it's a cutltural thing or them just wutlis.
Stood too close to dem speakers last night at the fete I went to.
Music was boss. Danced nonstop....all part of the weight loss/ exercise regime.
Well it's bright bright sunshine here today in Port of Spain which will make my trip into town to buy fabric much more pleasant. When it rains here, the roads flood so badly that you can't walk on them.
I hope the deafness subsides soon.
Enjoy your week.
Well, my dears, luvs, dovecakes (a la Chester Francis-Jackson in his Social Circles column), twas such an awful start to the Eastern Caribbean jaunt that I had to write about it here
Pappa George, then to make matters worse, the match nuh rain out mah!
Steupps, as they would say in these parts. I don't know bwoy, I don't know wny I bother with this thing. The unpredictability of the weather you see. And Wednesday's match on Wednesday in Grenada also looks in doubt, based on the weather forecasts. Well, we shall see.
In the meantime, you can look at some pictures on Soppy Trinidad.
Tomorrow we had better see some cricket, damn it!
Can you imagine?????
We stop in Antigua on the flight down to Barbados today. People board, but the plain ent going nowhere. Then you hear "if there is a doctor or nurse on board, please identify yourself". Dr McCartney (one of the biggest cricket followers on Earth) was on the flight, so he went. Then some other people came on board.
What happened?
A family travelling with two small children, one of which seemed to develop an asthma attack on board and SHE HAD NO MEDICATION FOR HIM!!!! Height of irresponsibility I find.
So you know what happened? They all had to get off the plane in Antigua, incurring costs that I am sure they didn't plan for.
Now I ask you......
Anyway, arrived safely in Bimshire aka Barbados. Have an early rise tomorrow to catch a 7:35am flight to Party Capital of the Caribbean.
I'm off again for cricket (sucker for punishment but it's my only love at the moment).
Leaving Jamaica Friday 23rd April to see the One Day matches in Trinidad (2 matches), Grenada (my second home) and Barbados. Will return on Friday 7 May. My ins and outs look like this...
Friday 23 Overnight in Barbados
Saturday 24 to Tuesday 27 Trinidad (had to get some cloth shopping in)
Tuesday 27 to Monday 3 May Grenada
Monday 3 to Friday 7 May Barbados
While I'm away, I hope to be so distracted that I lose some more weight (last 2 week period spent in Barbados saw 6 pounds being left there)
Take good care and make each day of your life meaningful. Just to remind you of this, I've attached something which some of you may have seen already (originally got it from Miss P), which is guiding me right now.
Tonight was when they announced who would be booted off the show. This, after the American public called in to vote for who they wanted to stay.
Well, something's not right. If you look at my comments and the judges' comments from my previoust, you'd see that Carrot Top John was the worst singer, and Jennifer was up there. Well Jennifer got the boot, when in a previous show, she got the highest votes.
Strange things happen in a competition where the best singers are not necessarily the majority race in the 'great' USA. I say no more.
While watching American Idol, they advertised another of the Fox shows called The Swan, where they take, I guess, an ugly duckling, and do plastic surgery on her and she turns out, well, like a swan I guess.
I've watched some of those plastic surgeries on TV. The face jobs are pretty gross. Imagine them cutting you at the side of your face to do the face lifts. Anyway, I've always thought that if I had lots of money, I'd have one bit of plastic surgery done, and it's not liposuction (I'm content to huff and puff at the gym). But I always think that if I do that operation, God will tell me that I am ungrateful by inflicting me with a disease in that area.
It's not a matter of being ungrateful. It's just a matter of making yourself more confident by doing that one simple operation.
Watched American Idol tonight, that Fox TV show where they try to find the next singing sensation in America. I remember watching the very first series in 2002, where Kelly Clarkson was voted the winner (personally, I preferred Justin).
Didn
Have you ever looked at one? Long, lean, graceful.
I coulda had a body like that, if I had obeyed my mother at about age 12 and gone to dancing classes at Jamaica School of Dance. But no. I was too self conscious at that age, and quite frankly, I was happy with my piano lessons, so I opposed it. Bluntly told her I was not going. Defied her. My sister happily went and so of course, she is long, lean and graceful. What am I? Let's not go there.
Anyway, I did end up going to dancing for about 1 1/2 years, from when I was about 16, and it was fun. Would go back if there was time and money to do so.
Now last night, I had a weird dream. I won't tell you all of it, but one part was that I was a real journalist, I mean that was my paid job, and I had made an appointment to interview a ballerina with the New York Ballet Company. Yes, I was living in foreign. So the arrangement was to meet her at her pad, which I did and accompany her to the dance studio, and then the dream went on.
Now where is this blog taking you?
Tonight, I went to the gym and did a Pilates class. My first. Had wanted to do one from when I was in England but you had to pay. Here, it's included in the gym membership fee. Pilates uses the kinds of exercises that dancers use. Lots of slow movements with your body parts stretched out, all in attempt to get long, lean and graceful.
Some muscles that I didn't know existed were used tonight. Let's see how they talk to me tomorrow! I'll do this class twice a week. That should be sufficient to help in my quest to be long, lean and graceful.
I usually skim the pictures on the Death, Memorials etc page, just to see if I know anybody.
Sometimes, I might look at the details of a life that has transitioned, even though I don't recognize the face. So did that today with a lady who wore a pair of glasses. I read who she had left behind. There were brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. No kids. No husband. No "dear friend". Then I said to myself "hmmmm...ah wonder if that's how mine will read?"
Oh no, thinks a friend of mine who says my husband is a caucasian fellow waiting for me in Virginia, where I'm heading in August. We shall see.
Generally, they are more substantial than the weekday and Saturday editions, so I try to read them as much as I can.
But reading has been a problem for me. I never liked reading. It took too much time. I, like some scientifically proven % of people, prefer to hear things, than to read things. I would close my books after only a very short period of reading. And forget the literature books. Many went unread, including the very long Great Expectations. The teacher, Mrs Carter, thought she was smart and told us to write a chapter report and submit weekly, thinking we would read it. I read the first 3 or so chapters, then began asking my classmates what the chapter was about and wrote my chapter reports from that. Cheating? Maybe, but that book was tortuous. (dat spell wrong?)
So getting back to the newspapers. Everytime that I read them, I see an article with some important topic which I promise to myself to come back and read. You know what happens with that. Today, I decided I would stick with my intentions and read quite a few in the Gleaner. That's where it ended. The Observer saw me reading only the front page story about some murders that took place above where we live, plus the sports titles, then the Herald was fortunate for me to read the story about Peter Bovell and his Trini wife, and about Wavell Hinds coming back from injury.
But at least I read in the Gleaner about the economy and the things that Davis wants us to see as positive happenings in the country, about some households and how they struggle with making ends meet, Dawn Ritch's article, Hartley Neita's article and of course, the sports pages.
I think in my younger days, had they known about it then, I might well have been diagnosed with Reading Attention Deficit Disorder....RADD. (That's a new disorder, to go along with my P-MED)
The turn out wasn't great, but the few who were there had a great time.
I was thinking to myself how a soca band such as Byron Lee & the Dragonnaires, can get adults to do anything they say.
"Put you hands up, wave you flag in the air, come forward, push back". Everybody obeyed. Including yours truly.
But the high point of my evening, was seeing the nephew of one of my bosses while at the hotel, who was visiting from New York. You know one of those well heeled young men? That is him. He has a young family and is doing well in his working life.
I always laugh at these tips, but in case there are any women readers needing, wanting, longing to meet the man of their dreams, here are some tips from MSN
(as if it works!)
Now gentlemen readers, (the single ones), how do you react if a lady comes over to you and starts chatting to you first?
She's not being overly suggestive but say you're at a cricket match (I know who that scenario won't apply to!) and a lady comes over and says hello and starts to ask you questions on the game, about cricket, and then the conversation shifts to things other than cricket. Anything too forward about that?
Me personally, if I see somebody who I think seems like a nice person to have a conversation with, I am going to go over and talk to he. Yes, I know I said I was shy, but not in that way. That's thanks to the hospitality industry.
And oh, I got to go to the match in St Catherine afterall, thanks to Sis. And Lagga did not disappoint. Got 5 wickets for 23 runs (Dr D, that's very good!).
(no matter what the date tells you, this entry was made on Friday, not Saturday, the 16th not the 17th. this clock is wrong, wrong, wrong, and mi nuh know how fi change it back an hour)
That's why I like being down the islands (except Trinidad). Much easier to get around down there without a vehicle. The bus system in Barbados is EXCELLENT. Whatever nook or cranny you live in, you can get a bus close enough to where you live.
Now I'll give you an example of how inconvenient it is to be without a vehicle in Jamaica.
Tomorrow (Saturday) is the start of the domestic cricket season. I must have said that already in a recent blog. The big news is that Jermaine 'Lagga' Lawson (do go to the entry below to see of whome I speak) is now within the International Cricket Council's legal limits for bowling, after being out for nearly a year. He plays tomorrow for his club, St Catherine Cricket Club. Guess where they play? Chedwin Park. Far.
If I had a car, I would jump in it, drive out there, stay for as long or as short as I want, then come home, get ready and go to jump up at Pegasus.
If I were in Barbados or Grenada, I would call somebody who lives near me and ask them for a lift both ways. Not a problem. I could even take the bus. It might take a while, but I would reach.
As someone who was giving me a lift home from Sabina Park on Friday said, if I take a taxi, there is no guarantee that I will arrive at my destination in one piece. So true. So apart from the expense of a taxi, it's just not safe. Don't even talk about the bus.
Now, if by chance, one of the three persons with cars in my household is not going anywhere and I borrow the car, there is all likelihood that I might get a call saying "so and so needs to be done" which would interrupt my schedule.
Well I'll letcha know how this works out. Of course I could just stay home and watch the Kingston match on Sportsmax, but I really want to see Lawson bowl a complete innings. I've seen snippets of him, including the first ball second innings wicket he took at Cave Hill in Barbados against the Englishmen.
Ok, I'm rambling. Forgive me, especially if you're like someone who shall remain nameless who don't care too much for cricket.
Where's all the hype? It certainly has dwindled down since the first couple of years. Hardly any activities. I remember everyday from Sunday at Chukka Cove, there used to be something. Usually a blow out fete was the Monday, and on the Thursday used to be tent at Cinema Two and other things in and between.
I remember a particular year when Machel Montana was hot and sexy and in fine form (he get too swarthy now and those locks are unattractive).
Then there was Second Imij as it used to be called then, now it's Imij & Co with Michelle. Not me Michelle. Me couldn't 'bruk' up so.
But speaking of which, there were some old soca tunes on the radio a little while ago, and I was entertaining the niece and the nephew with a lil bit of "wukking up", so maybe I have it in me.
So far, I've taken in one Mas Camp. That wasn't bad, except for the band Krosfyah which was not good at all. I will go to the fete at Pegasus on Saturday. But mi nuh know how mi and dem a go wuk it out.
Why?
Cricket is playing. Almost nothing comes between me and my cricket. No, it's not no Test Match or anything like that, just the new-look Senior Cup, now called the Supreme Ventures Super Cup. The match that will be televised on Sportsmax this weekend is between Kingston and last year's winners Jamaica Defence Force at Sabina Park. Other matches are...
St Catherine at home to Westmoreland
Lucas at home to Boys Town
St Elizabeth at home to Melbourne
Kensington at home to Manchester
You see that.....this post started out with a carnival theme and end up with cricket. Well perhaps for me, Cricket = Carnival.
Boy, I'm really on a roll tonight. The exercise got me pumping.
Anyway, I was just googling myself under Yamfoot and Michmac and found
this nice welcome that Dr D had given me in August when I first started.
Now I didn't ask the question at that time, but how did you discover my blog?
Ok, I think it's time for bed now. And please substract an hour from these blogs. As Ryan had set this up for me, the time reflects NY time.
Decided to forego Dr Mansingh's lecture on Injuries in Cricket this evening to go to the gym.
I normally go to the gym in the day, either mid morning or mid afternoon. So going tonight meant different faces.....the faces of the employed! The first face I saw was of an older gentleman, who when I walked in one night stopped me and said "oh my gosh, what a pretty face, can I work out with you". I don't know what he had been smoking bout him "pretty face". Well saw him again tonight when I was signing in. He was leaving but said as soon as I came in, that suddenly he has found energy again.
The fella followed me into the cardio room, watched me jump on the Eliptical Runner and asked if I wasn't going on the treadmill so he could go on the one beside me. No, I don't do treadmills. And I figure he CAN'T do Eliptical Runners. I continue with my warm up, telling him that I really prefer to work out by myself. Hint, hint. He left me saying "I'm not gone, I'm outside".
After leg work in the weights room, well I didn't use any weights or machines tonight, did some other type of leg work, I went back on the Eliptical Runner to end the gym session. I decided to do 20 minutes or burn 200 calories, whichever came first. Just as I had reached the mark (coincidentally both came at the same time), Zip Fm started to play some Quad-like music. You should hear me singing away.
In walks a nice looking dude and starts to bounce to my singing. He goes to talk to his friend (Dr D and MB would say "bredren" - that must be a George's ting!) and then comes over to my machine and looks at my digits. Then he says "Oh, I thought you were singing from words off the screen" or something to that effect.
Chit chat for a bit and then he leaves. Well, 20 minutes long gone. I ended up doing 30 and burning 300-mash calories.
I'll have to arrange for him to come by next time. Give me motivation to stay pon it long.
I'm going to write a story for the website on this, but let me tell you a lil bit about today.
Reached in the middle of them calling each bowler and showing them their action in slow motion. Messers Benjamin, Service, Haynes and the Big Man himself Mr Walsh were the ones going through with them. Using the principles from last night's Bio Mechanics lecture, they pointed out to each how by changing just a little thing, they could become better. The chaps took it in good stride. This was the first time they were going through anything like that.
I must say that all the gentlemen are very good with the youngsters. Service was a Maths and Physics teacher before, so that serves him well in this role. Benjamin has some very good teaching skills and Mr Walsh is very very motivational and gentle.
Now the high point of the day was seeing Lagga. De bwoy could dress. You should have seen his shoes. Two toned biege and brown matching perfectly his top. The individual analysis was going on in the dressing room so that's where I was. That's also where Lagga changed into his practice gear. I shut my eyes (didn't you know I'm shy?????).
I remember having a conversation with him and some of the other Jamaica players, while in Barbados and it was interesting to hear them talk about the various 'sizes'. I was in shock and asked them if they undress in front of each other. Yup. It's no biggie (well, for some, that is!).
After the analysis, it was time to go on to the practice pitch and start to do remedial work to correct the flaws and make them more efficient.
Fascinating stuff. A day well spent.
MB, not sure about Lawson's return, but when I interviewed him in Bim, he said he was good to go. I guess the selectors waiting to hear reports of how he performs in the Supreme Ventures Super League which starts this weekend.
Click for a picture of Lagga.
No cars were available when I was ready to go to Sabina today, so called Candy Cab. An older looking gentleman came pronto, then he started to drive and that was something else.
I just pictured him in his youth, swerving in and out of traffic like, well, a taxi driver. He kept speeding up, then having to stop suddenly. When I couldn't take the feeling that my recently eaten omelette was going to be up-chucked, I turned to him on Deanery Road and said....
"Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?"
He replied "No"
I said "Do you realize that you've been consistently driving above the speed limit?" We were in a 50 km zone and he was going about 70. He said no he wasn't and that there was no sign saying what the speed limit was. I told him where it was, but of course he was too busy zipping along to see it. We reached the one in the corner by St Joseph's hospital, then he slowed down and said "Ok mam".
Did the little lecture thing, that driving slowly saves lives. When I got out of the car, I re-iterated it. After all. Him mussi wan' kill off people pickney dem. Can't have that.
That's what I've become. After two decades of merely watching, I've decided that I need to take things to another level and learn the intricacies of the game.
The writing that I've been doing for CaribbeanCricket has allowed me the opportunity to do just that. Last night, as part of a piece I am doing on Philip Service, I attended a lecture for fast bowlers on Biomechanics, which is basically how the body works.
For those of you who might be saying "who's Philip Service?", he is the West Indies Cricket Board's Developmental Officer for Jamaica and the man responsible for working with fast bowler Jermaine Lawson over the past year. Lawson was found to have an illegal bowling action and had to do remedial work in order to get back into Test cricket. Service was the man working quietly behind the scenes to achieve this. And he has. So the website will be doing a piece on him.
Last night's lecture is part of a 4 day camp for promising school boy fastbowlers from the rural areas. The camp is being run by Service, along with former West Indies fast bowler Kenny Benjamin from Antigua.
Today will see me going down to Sabina Park during the day, and going back this evening to a lecture to be given by Dr Mansingh who is chairman of the WICB Medical Panel.
....That's how long it took the great Brian Charles Lara (Dr D, you do know who Lara is, don't you?) to break a world record. He did it first back in 1994 at the same ground in Antigua and he's done it again, very soon after the Australian Matthew Hayden (ok Dr D, I don't expect you to know who Hayden is!) broke Lara's record earlier this year.
Now I think many people would have hoped that his 390+ runs (they are on lunch break now), could have been divided up into 3 hundreds for each of the preceding 3 tests, to change the complexion, and results, of those matches. But we take them wherever we can get them, and surely, surely, this must motivate the rest of the West Indian batsmen to step up their game for the One Day matches.
My brother has just walked in and noted that Brian has broken the record on his, Patch's, birthday. As if that is significant.
Now it's time for a late breakfast (ackee, yam, plantain, fried dumplings, hot chocolate - then left over anniversary cake from the parents' 40th yesterday) before heading off to the gym.
Yes, the gym on Easter Monday.....for I want to break my own record too, also set 10 years ago, when I went down to the lowest weight I've been as an adult. I have a far way to go though....48 more pounds.
"It can be do".
That's a bloody long time for two people to have to be with each other. That won't happen to me, especially since I'm already '30 buff' and not looking to go down that road at all.
I say 'why bother get married?' Why not just 'shack up?'
Sorry, you'll have to keep your comments to yourself. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
This would sell like hot bread I tell you. See the time of this post? Well I've been up for an hour or so, after having one of my dreams.
Here's how it went. In two parts.
I am walking to a place - maybe a hotel - when I see a soap opera type character, oldish man, maffia looking type. Coming in the opposite direction is Bo Brady (ever watch Days of our Lives? He's a fixture, and a cop). Bo shouts out to maffia type, let's call him Michael Meira. Michael swings around, takes a small gun from his chest pocket and fires two shots at Bo. Kill him dead. Then as I am the only person around, and therefore a witness, he pops one at me too, but it misses and he doesn't shoot again.
Now this happened in the USA, and it turns out that this is not real life, but part of the soap opera. So long and short is that I was an actor in the soap!
The second dream is a tad more complicated.
I am in a hotel again (you can tell I like hotels) and I see my friend who is a BWIA senior pilot. He invites me to have Room Service dinner with him, which I do, and then I say to myself that before the crew checks out tomorrow, I must remember to give him the money for the dinner. (I don't have a problem paying my way).
The next morning early, comes the pick up time for the crew. I am on the crew bus. Then I remember that I haven't left the money for him, and he is not on the bus. So I beg a drop off, in the parking lot of another hotel. Same time, I hear one of the other crew get a call to say that Lisa's Aunt (Lisa is a crew member), has just sent money to the hotel for her. By this time, I was hightailing it across hotel car park, not knowing where the hotel I had been staying was.
I buck up a rasta man and ask him directions. Says he, "it's three trees away". Huh? He points to two tiles with tree patterns, and then another real tree across the road, and there was the hotel. The Savannah Hotel. That's really in Barbados, and this dream started out, I think, in Antigua. But that is how dreams go.
As it turns out, when I get back to the hotel, I buck up Lisa who took a taxi back. I told her she could have walked since it was near. She said she had a problem with her shoulder so couldn't carry her bags. We go up in the lift together and end up in nowhere particular.
Meanwhile, back at the front desk, I discover that there was a food voucher there for me from BWIA. You see, I had overnighted in that country - wherever it was - in order to get back to Jamaica, and the airline gave me a meal. I enquired if it covered Room Service, ready to dole out the extra. But there was no charge.
And btw, there was no sign of my pilot friend. He kind of vanished into thin air!
Right. That's a wrap! Cause this sure sound like the movies to me.
Dr D reminded me in a comment on the Two Thumbs Up post that I had an entry entitled "Who needs the Quad".
I was contemplating going either to The Deck or Waterfalls tonight, but I have a paid writing assignment due next Monday, so thought it better to focus my attention on it. Plus I went to the gym today (2 hours) so don't need no more exercise today.
Two sets arrived today! Sabotage!
This after I boasted to Mark, an instructor at the gym, that I had lost 12 pounds. He asked from what period. Smart guy, cause if it had been from say May last year, 12 pounds would have been insignificant. When I told him it was from January this year, he heaped praise on me. Then I asked him how I could lose a further 10 pounds in two months. Said he "keep a food log, do 3 days low calorie then 2 days of normal eating to trick your body".
Normal eating does includes bun ent? Come on man, it's Easter. It's tradition.
IT'S FATTENING YAMMIE.
Ok, so I confess to having a one inch square out of my niece's slice after dinner this evening. Guess what? That brand don't taste good at all. So it will not be difficult to forego the bun.
I'll let y'all know how it goes.
Where else can you go and see the following in the same place :-
A West Indies cricketer, a Minister of Government, a Senator/MP/Deputy Party Leader, an international model, a well known University Professor (with a girl who could pass for a schooler!) and a GM of a notable financial company?
At Quad of course - the night club recently opened by the operators of the defunct (and soon to be un-defuncted Cactus) and Asylum aka the Madhouse.
On Tuesday, I decided I was going to go Wednesday night. That's when they play my age group music - 70's and 80's. Sis opted out, however Galliwasp accompanied me but left early as she was not feeling the vibes. I decided that I had not yet used up my $500 entrance fee so dropped her home and returned solo.
Had texted (what's the past tense of 'text' as in on cell phone?) a friend to say I was there and coincidentally he was over at Hilton, so he came over with his uncle who was visiting from England. Had some company for a good while.
The music was happening, really happening. The DJs were playing all the right stuff, in all the right order. Was on mah feet for nearly 4 hours. Natch, this morning my legs are feelling the effect.
Now I had on a wedged heel pair of shoes. I observed many with stiletto heels as high as 5 inches (thank goodness I am fairly tall and don't have to bump up my height with them things), who by the end of the night were walking with bent knees. Surely that can't be good for one's back. I know definitely it not good for the uterus. Many were tilted last night.
The dancing was my exercise for the day, because after spending 2.5 hours at the gym Tuesday, I figured I should rest Wednesday to allow muscles to recover. The self conscious me wouldn't allow me to unleash all of the 'bammer type' moves that my body is capable of (just by dint of me being a rhythmic black ooman!). Watch out for when the shakey factor on my girth and butt diminshes. Skettel in yuh pweffen. (The 'pweffen' is, I think, a Trini phrase. Picked it up on this cricket website.
I was thinking last night that I am really a very cheap date, cause all I had was two glasses of water. I'm trying not to have anything after dinner, but unfortunately, because of how my legs were feeling, when I got home circa 4 am, had to eat a little something in order to down the Voltaren.
So my verdict on Quad is Two Thumbs Up. (Where are those similies when you need them?). Must go on a Friday night next to see how that vibe is.
Must go out more. Period.
Especially since the figures are going down, down, down.
I started the year at X pounds. In Orlando, I carried a pair of jeans which I could not wear because it felt like my middle was being cut in two when I put it on. So I used the time while there for the week, to get into the gym, ride the bicycles and so on. I figured that the end of 2004 was not going to come and find me how I started.
Back home, I continued doing exercise. Walking at the Dam, then joined the gym. Before I left here for Barbados two weeks ago, I was weighing X - 6.
Remember the post about the lying scale? Well turns out it not too lie at all.
Came back on 'The Rock' today, and did two laps at the Dam this evening, then, in order to validate the scale reading in Bim, I drove to the gym to weigh on that scale. Got to keep things consistent ent?
Well, well. Stepped on the scale very confidently. The result? I now weigh X - 6 - 6!
For all the math brains from primary school, you would have worked out that I've lost 12 pounds in the 3 months since I started the exercising again. I need to now aim for 5 pounds per month.
It's the cricket you know that did it. No, not because I stopped eating because I was depressed from the 3-0 results so far, and the impending whitewash, but because when I am at cricket, I'm distracted, and I also walk up and down A LOT.
For example, in Barbados, everytime I wanted to use the potty, I had to walk down two flights of stairs and then walk back up. I had to go seek interviews which also involved stair climbing. I walk across the field before play starts too. But more importantly, I don't think about food.
Fortunately, I only have to negotiate 2 weeks on 'The Rock' before I travel again for cricket (yes, sucker for punishment). And you know say is Easter, that mean nuff bun going to be in the place. Lawks. Give me strength to not come face to face with the bun, or it's all over!
Well pictures really. If you didn't read it, click here for a photojournal of what the Zoo has come to.
Imagine my delight therefore at reading this article in today's Observer.
We look forward to good things with this project, and hope that like so many others, it doesn't fall by the wayside.
The English supporters that is. Here's a picture of the temporary stand in which most of them are seated.
First a picture of the empty stand....
Now the full stand. This picture was taken when Graham Thorpe reached his century. If you look closely enough, you will see that the English supporters are cheering.
See what we're up against?
Only two centuries scored so far in 3 test matches between England and the West Indies. Devon Smith in Jamaica at Sabina Park and now Graham Thorpe at Kensington Oval in Barbados. And I saw them both live. Boy, that's something to tell my children and grandchildren....if I was planning to have any!
But on aside, these English supporters are making watching cricket here difficult. They are loud, singing the same 'song' over and over again.
Hopefully we will soon get rid of England....only one more wicket to go and they are still behind our low score of 224. Then the noise will subside, I hope.