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
Was just about to call Loraine, when the telephone rang.
"Hello, may I speak with Michelle please"
"This is she" (you must never say "This is her" because "her" is a possessive pronoun - learn dat)
"Hi Michelle, this is Guyanese Doc, letting you know that the referral letter to the Cardiologist is ready"
What time was this? About 9:15pm.
I said...
"Guyanese doc, you call patients on a Sunday evening? Don't you have a wife and a daughter and another kid on the way?" (jokingly)
He said yes, but he still has work to do and his patients will cuss him if he doeesn't call him. I told him that that is cruel, and that I wasn't one of the patients who will curse, but I do appreciate the call anyway. We chatted some more about the cardiologist and an ultra sound on my mammaries that I have to do. (Just checking, you know).
I know gynaecologists' patients don't determine when dem pickney going to born, but outside of that, a doctor should take time for himself. But I thought that was nice of him anyway.
He actually writes down the name and contact telephone numbers for ALL his patients. He did it when I went a few weeks ago, and I said "but you wrote it last year". He said he got a different book......a bigger one!
(Ah sorry for Mrs Guyanese Doctor)
Next week Sunday, on Day 3 of the last Test match in the Caribbean, I will be on a plane to Trinidad.
I am going to do a course review for an exam to certify me as a Certified Hospitality Trainer. I had decided after I undecided to go to school last Fall, that I had to concentrate on building my training business so this is one of the things I am doing.
The course is free (normally cost US$450) because OAS is sponsoring it. Why it had to be clear in Trinidad I don't know. But I shouldn't complain because it gives me an opportunity to hop over to Grenada for a couple of days to see how the hotel's reconstruction is going, and discuss matters relating to the training that I will be doing there later this year.
So I will be away from Jamdown for two too short weeks. Will return on the 19th.
Until my departure, I have a project to finish, an article to write and a couple of interviews to do. So I will be mighty busy and so forgive me if I don't get time to read your blogs and drop you a line. I'm doing something constructive!
A couple weeks ago, they sprayed the area and we got some relief.
Now with the recent rains, and the many plant pots my mother has around the house and yard, the mosquitoes are back with a vengence.
I sitting here at the computer, and it's like my body is on fire and is not even a man causing it!
We tried to see this UK movie about a Jewish boy who befriends his Jamaican neighbours last week, but it was pouring, which made me reach home late, then the tickets were sold out.
It was part of the week of European films being shown during the Film Festival.
Well fortunately for me, they ran it again tonight, and I went with a friend who plays cricket (Princess P bailed out at the last minute over 'unforeseen' circumstances) and he enjoyed it immensely. So did I. Very hilarious.
Also very sad to see the reality of how non-English people were (are ?) treated by the English. But the Jamaican characters were really played well. I guess the lead guy - Delroy Lindo - is a Jamaican. His accent was too good for him not to be.
Maybe two years ago I wouldn't have had this encounter, but this beautiful Jamaican girl named Nadine Willis is a rising star in the international modelling world.
If you haven't heard of her, she was an exotic dancer who was discovered by one of the top local modelling companies, then carried abroad and within weeks, she was as busy as a bee.
Here is a picture of her.
Click here
and here is an article on her
Click here
Anyway, as I was entering the hotel (she lives at the Pegasus when she is in Jamaica), she came out of a car with her daughter, whose name, I think is Tatianna. Her father is a European bloke (who is not around) so the daughter is mixed.
Later, I was up on one of the bedroom floors (I'm doing a small project there) and out comes Nadine and her daughter from their room. The daughter says to me "do you know today is my birthday?" So I wished her happy birthday. Her mom said something to her, I can't remember.
Then I caught up with Nadine (they were walking towards the lifts) and said to her that I read the feature on her in SHE magazine (a lovely Caribbean magazine out of St Lucia) and it was lovely. She said thanks and proceeded to motor along to the lift while I did what I had to do on the floors.
Make up artists and fashion stylists are great people! You would not have looked at Nadine that day and been able to tell that she is an international model. But she takes really great photos, and apparently people like to work with her. No diva-esque attitutes.
You go girl.....from not being able to provide for your daughter except by showing your body, to being able to more than provide for her....by showing your body, but in a more respectable way.
Today is a holiday here in Jamdown - Labour Day, so like last year, we took off to the Holiday Inn. But unlike last year, this year was not very good. Will be writing an article about their poor attitude towards the customers.
Loraine called me today to tell me that my photo website was voted one of the two Websites of the Week in the Daily Gleaner.
If you have a copy, it's on D8 in the Business section. Unfortunately it is not online, but see below for what it said. The article is entitled 'Blogs, bloggers and blogging" and starts out by talking about what a blog is, then has lists of a few popular blogs, then has the section Websites of the Week.
Here's the blurb...
"Cricket fans who didn't make it to Sabina Park for the recent One-Day Internationals between the West Indies and South Africa can view dozens of photos from both matches at 'Yamfoot's Photo Gallery'. The photos include close-ups of players from both teams, the pitch and spectators, with each picture having its own sentence or paragraph of text describing the scene.
The site also features photographs from previous regional cricket matches, including the recently-concluded Carib Beer Series."
It was written by somebody called Sandor Panton, in association with the Gleaner Online. Go check it out if you have a printed version of the Gleaner today, Wednesday 18 May. Page D8.
If you remember around this time last year, I posted about my visit to the 'Guyanese' doctor (gynaecologist). You remember the spiel he gave me about obesity and chronic illnesses? Well I got it again this year.
Now after going out on Saturday night and having many people.....including my brother (that's huge!) compliment me on how slim I look, I wondered what he talking 'bout! Well I guess 215 pounds on a 5 ft 8 in frame counts as obese in the chart books but I don't look obese (so I've been told). Shouldn't that count for something?
Anyway, I had another 'can't sleep because of chest discomfort' episode last night and it came up during the visit. He thinks I should go to a cardiologist and he also thinks I should see a psychologist. I could just see the 'chi-ching' sign when he said all that!
So those two referrrals will be to see if it's all in the mind, or it's in the heart. We shall see. Right now though, I have to go get ready to deliver a training session, which I would rather not, because I am not my usual perky self.
If only I could call in sick.....
I went out. That's a big thing. I think this was the second time for the year.
Met up with some friends at the Grog Shoppe at Devon House. The group included one who is living in New Zealand, and later, we were joined by one of my friends from UWI Nassau who is now living in Jamaica.
I observed that there were quite a few people there. Haven't been out on the Friday night scene in years. Normally if I go out, it's on a Wednesday because I go to the disco and that's when they play my type of music.
Didn't turn into a pumpkin, as I made it home before midnight.
If any of you watched the One Day match between South Africa and West Indies which took place in Barbados yesterday, you would agree that we performed pathetically.
But I am not surprised, really not surprised.
And I am very happy that I did not decide to waste money this year travelling around watching the team.
He diagnose me online. Says it is called costochondritis, so I will tell mi docta dat Dr D say is dat!
I was just reading up the symptoms, and they sound very familiar.
Do you think like that? I do.
So today when I heard the birds chirping outside my window, I sat up and took notice, cause you just never know. Today could be my last day.
That is especially true with how my chest is feeling and how I have been feeling for the past few days. Definitely not normal. Have been taken tablets to address muscular discomfort because that is what it is thought to be.
How about an Xray? If could do every Xray and test that there is, I would. I wouldn't want you all to be saying after the fact, "if only". If I were living on my own, I would go to the hospital. But you know, you don't want to alarm people.
When it is difficult to articulate how exactly you are feeling, how does the doctor make the right diagnosis? So Xray and tests are best, I think. I liked my doctor in Grenada very much for that. If he wasn't sure, he would send me to check it out.
Go to my gallery for pictures from the 1st One Day international cricket match between the West Indies and South Africa.
We lost.
So if you don't hear from me until next week, you know why.
...and I think I almost crossed it the other night. Can't recall which night, but I was ready to go to the hospital.
Went into bed at about 1am. I had left the dog out (we normally lock them up) and she was barking all night. (I can't sleep in noise). So I there tossing and turning. From lying on my back to lying on my side. Then something in my chest (the section where the heart is) felt like it went 'pop'. Next came a burning sensation in my left arm.
So I sat up, then felt heart started to beat fastser. I stood up, and swore that things were just not normal.
The thoughts that raced through my mind were "lord, look how I going to dead tonight and cricket is this weekend! Wonder what they going to say at my funeral?"
I dragged on proper clothes (one cannot go to the hospital in one's night dress) and went into my parents room, woke up my mother and told her I was feeling ill. Pops woke up too. By this time my body was shaking. It felt like I was having an earthquake inside my body.
Teeth started chattering. Parents told me to lie down. It felt worse. They went for two 81mg aspirins and some milk, then called the doctor (mum's sister-in-law and my godmother). She asked some questions, one of which was was there any headache which was not. She suggested it could have been a panic attack.
Was I thinking about anything? Nope. I free as a bird, enjoying my life immensely. I could have some more money, but nobody pitching me out on the road, so that is not a major concern.
I was also instructed to take some Frisium to calm me down (she wanted Valium but we had none). Took that, the dog still barked, so I didn't sleep.
The next day, apart from a headache from lack of sleep, I was fine. The next night I slept like a log. The next night, same thing.
So beats me. But I tell you, I felt that was my last nigth on Earth. I was frightened.
Was surfing, looking for the logo of Wolmers Boys School when I came across Graduates.com. Pretty neat. So I signed up both for my primary school and high school.
Here is the Jamaica page. (Yes, me is partial. The non-yardies reading this, just go to graduates.com and at the very bottom of the page it says 'browse schools'. A list of countries will come up. Choose yours and see if your school is listed).
Well actually my nephew found the tape recorder. It was squashed down in the couch in my sister's room.
Phew!