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
Some one close to our family passed away a few days ago. He was 91 or 92, so lived a long life. His wife transitioned before him, in 1992.
If you remember reading this blog in February 2004 and March 2005 and seeing that I went to Mandeville, he would be my evening company at dinner if the other members of the household were out. I'm a very patient person, so even when, in the later years, he would repeat stories, I would still listen.
And ask many questions I would too. I am fascinated by changes in societies and lifestyles over time, so on my prompting, he told me how it was when he was a young man, having just finished teacher's college, all the various places in Jamaica that he was transferred to, how he met his wife, how he wooed her, about catching the train downtown after she visited (or maybe he was the one who would come to Kingston). Just fascinating. You could tell that they had real love for each other.
He was a stalwarth of the ruling party, so there were stories about early political life as well. Very enriching and I enjoyed the talks we had immensely.
After I would come back from Alpart, he would ask how the day went. We would share the newspaper, I would encourage him to walk, even if it was to the gate and back, so he could get some exercise.
I am glad that I got to spend those two cricket seasons in Mandeville. His transition was brief and peaceful. I suspected it would have come soon, when I heard, while I was in Jamaica, that he was not eating. That's always a sign.
This brings the question about transitioning.
If you had a choice, how would you like to transition? I know that if my parents showed signs of slipping away, I would be at their bedside morning noon and night, no matter where in the world I was. It actually terrifies me to be away from Jamaica, for that reason alone. That's why I go back so often, so that if there was a sudden transitioning, at least it would not have been more than four or so months since I last saw the family.
I would be holding their hand, letting them know that I was with them in spirit, even if they couldn't feel me physically. I felt badly that no family member was with both my grandmothers when they passed. If I can help it, I won't let that happen. The finality of the physical transition just dictates that you're there to say your last goodbye.
Well, I tell you. The mind is certainly a strange thing.
The other night I could not sleep. Went on the internet, chatted on the cricket message board, asked for suggestions are to how to get back to sleep. Decided in the end to have some peanut butter and low sugar jam (one of the best snacks ever!). Took a Cataflam, cause the lower back muscles were feeling 'a way'.
Well that certainly knocked me out....and I suspect it caused me to have the weird dream.
I am preggers, I go into labour. Guess who is delivering me? My sister (she has had two kids) and her vet friend. Guess what I spit out about an hour later. Sextuplets! And they are in individual sacks like puppies! But wait....they are puppies!
Yamfoot gave birth to six puppies. But I have to say, after they came out, (and it wasn't painful), I felt this feeling of euphoria. I guess this is what mothers talk about. But I am promising you that my experiencing these feelings will only happen in my dreams!
After the previous post, it was a bit timely that the chair that I was just sitting on broke! Is my many pounds to blame, or just old wood?
Well at least I didn't fall *buff* to the ground. We have to be thankful for small mercies don't we?
These past few days have been horrific for my eating. I broke down and bought ice cream, albeit low sugar ice cream at 80 calories per serving. It would be good if I could stick to the serving size though, wouldn't it?
Well, with The Curse arriving today, I will put down the nyamings (bought some more of that lovely delicious whole wheat hops bread this morning....nice and juicy and succulent like me) to PMS and hope that the next couple of days, I will be able to pull things back in line. Thankfully I am sleeping in the hotel from this evening and returning home on Monday, so that should cure things.....I hope! October 22 is fast approaching!
Things always work out, don't they? I would have booked to go to Antigua today to watch the two matches in the Stanford 20/20 tournament.
But the fare was exhorbitant; add that to one night hotel accommodation and that would really have been too much money to spend for one night.
Turns out that I wouldn't have got to see any cricket! The rain fell today and both matches were called off. I would have left Antigua at 5:45 tomorrow morning, thereby missing the re-scheduled matches at 3 and 7 tomorrow afternoon/night.
So consider the costs not spent a saving!
Whenever I have to go to Kingston, I take LIAT 370 from Grenada to Barbados. The flight normally arrives at 7:00am, allowing me sufficient time to connect with BWIA's flight at 8:25am.
Well, I go to book my flight to Kingston in October (what's happening in October????) and find that dem nuh change di flight fi go thru Kami's country.....to arrive in Barbados at 7:30am!
This means I have to book the American's airline, Caribbean Star. I am very firmly a Caribbean minded girl, and like to support the regional enterprises. I must mention that once you book far in advance, LIAT is cheaper by far.
For example, the fare GND/BGI/GND on LIAT would cost me US$157.50. On Caribbean Star, it is US$205. A whole $50 more.
I've just sent off an email to the new LIAT CEO Mark Darby talking about what is good at LIAT, what needs changing, and why dem change the $^&#&%)(%* schedule! I don't suppose they will change back the schedule just for me, or put me up in a hotel in Bimshire the night before, so regrettably I shall have to book Caribbean Star which can get me in to Barbados by 6:50am.
LIAT, it's nothing personal.....it's just business....and by changing the schedule, you've just lost mine.
Night before last night, I was walking home pretty late...it was about 9pm when I left the pharmacy just down the road from where I live.
I have two options after I leave there. Either, turn left, walk up a very very very steep hill and then I turn on to my road...
or...
...Don't turn left, but rather walk up the road and cut through the open land on the main road that is in front of my house. Remember the lady who owns the land told me she don't want nobody walking through there, so several weeks ago, she refused my request to chop a pathway through it. So with all the rain, the grass grew high high, just as tall as me (5ft 8").
Night before last night, there was a madman near the open land, so decided to turn left and take the plunge and walk up the hill. Well the dogs in the house at the corner started to yap. That would normally not be a problem, but they set off a stray dog further up the road who would just not shut up!
So I took up the earlier offer of the occupant of the house with the dogs, that if I ever needed a ride up the hill I should call her. So I did and her sister came and gave me a lift to my house.
But the point of the title is this. The following morning, a little voice said to me "go and look at the open land". So I did, and there was a nice path cut out! That means no more walking up the hill, and past the dogs, for a few months!
Incidentally, yesterday when I was walking through the land, the man who lives next door to it and was the one who cut it, was outside and he said he was wondering if I wasn't coming back (I was in Jamaica etc for a week). So I asked him if he cut the path and he said yes, and that he cut it for me. I asked him if he wasn't afraid the lady say something to him, and that I had asked her if I could cut it and she had said no. Well he said "you must just do, and don't ask!" Well I guess I stupiddy! But I was so grateful for that. Makes the walk to and from work a little more bearable.
So a guest comes to ask for a special request last night when I was on duty. His colleague is going on a hike, leaving the hotel at 4am and wants to get some coffee and two bacon sandwiches to take with him. Yikes!!! We don't have overnight staff, so what do I do?
Told the guest "sure, no problem", then went and arranged to have things put in place (mis-en-place) so that I could do the stuff myself. Got up at 3:25 and was able to deliver everything he needed.
That's service! (There really wasn't the option of saying 'no'....that's a word we try not to use in the resort)
It was on this day in 1989 that I started my life as a working professional. Imagine that 17 years have passed since that day. How time flies.
Actually, it's more than one Jiminiy cricket that always find their way into my house!
They are very tiny, you cannot see them, but them mouth big nuh rahtid. One was in my room this morning and woke me up.
So when I do find them, I cup them in my two hands and fling them outside.
There are crickets and there are these creepy things called congorees (I don't think that is how it is spelt) but anyway, yesterday I heard something drop from the top cupboard in the kitchen. Went to investigate and there was this 4 inch fat thing crawling on my floor. I swept it up and threw it outside.
Then last night, I go in the kitchen to see an ugly large spider on the floor. I squashed it, then apologized to the dead thing. A lot of squishy liquid came out of it. Hmmm, maybe that was its poison? I live in bush you see, not that it is in the rural area....it is not. But there are open lots front and back of me as well as on one side. And the bush high.
Read up on the cricket
You know I like these things. I'm a 9.
Take the test and lemme know your number
THE DOCTOR, KING OF THE DANCEHALL, DUDE, GRINDACOLOGIST. LIVE AND IN LIVING COLOUR IN FRONT OF MY EYES........
The camera never lies. That is for sure.
We went to TGI Friday's last Sunday to celebrate some successes of my niece and nephew at school. Apart from the very loud music, the experience was generally pleasant and the food got good reviews from all.
After the meal, I asked my brother to take a picture of me. A full frontal picture. No turning to the side to create a slim illusion.
I can't say I was too pleased with what I saw. I'm in a size 16 jeans. I think I need to go to a size 12 for sure. Them hips bloody large. It's going to be starvation for me from when I get back to Grenada until October.
What you think about the photo? (Of course, I suppose I could look at a photo of me in early 2004 and be pleased....everything is relative I guess)
Short break to The Rock. Pilates and Yoga are on the agenda, and generally chilling. With these carjackings and daylight robberies I been reading about, I shall be spending a lot of time at Big 12!
Found a quiz through one of the Human Resource sites.
It's fun. Do it and see what type of cheese you are.
Cheese Test: What type of cheese are you?
I am a Cheddar Cheese!
It took Amelie Mauresmo a couple of tries to reach the Finals or Wimbledon and then to win it. She has been accused of losing it mentally when she reaches the brink of victory. That nearly happened to her in the semis against Grunter Sharapova but she pulled through.
It must be a relief for her. She told the reporter after the match that now, nobody can talk about her nerves.
Congrats kid. You've been around for a long time and you've obviously worked at your game. First the Australian Open, now Wimbledon. It must feel special.
I never played any sports, so I have no clue what a victory like this means. I do, however, know what it means to earn a Masters degree with distinction and being one of only 10% who did the same thing!
Now I already say I aint no football expert. I aint know didly squat about the game and tactics and who playing good and who doh playing good.
But after watching the last 30 minutes of the game, I have to say that the win was thoroughly deserved. That goalkeeper Bufon or whatever his name is, must get any amount of money he asks for after this. But also the defenders, cause the Germans only could get possession of the ball for 43% of the time.
But the stats tell you that Italy had 10 shots on goal. They were more accurate. The Germans only had 2. So there you have it. It's Italy vs ? If it's France they play in the finals, then I speak both Italian and French, so I can chant in either language.
Well, not really.....
It's funny you know. I did three semesters of Italian in England and all I remember is uno, due, tre, buon giorno, buena cera, la cena, and ciao. That's not good enough really, for a person who is supporting the team.
Well all I really do need to know is the uno, due, and tre, for 1, 2, or 3 is the number of goals that Italy will score in the finals!
Just finished watching the Italy vs German match....well the end part of it actually.
It was nice to see the big Germans sob after the loss. Our West Indies players should try that more often. It would make the public more sympathetic towards them! Losing obviously meant something to the Germans. You wonder how much it means to our players sometimes.
I was scared that the match today against Germany would have gone to penalty shoot out, but my Italy prevailed and here we are in the finals!!
Two goals. In the last two minutes of the game. What luck! Go Italy. Whichever one you meet, Portugal or France, we will be ready!
Taking the time off to have two and a half days of cricket, only for the West Indies to lose in three days! My two and half days would have started on day two of the match.
Cho. Well at least the wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin redeemed us and we lost by 49 runs in the end. Brian Lara wants us to keep the faith, but Skipper, I telling you, it's hard. Why we couldn't show application in our first innings like the Indians did in theirs. If we had, I would have had at least a morning of cricket tomorrow.
Now I have to find other things to occupy my time! Anyway, it's on to exciting 20/20 cricket later this month. Looking forward to some fun cricket.
I've gone on and on about how beneficial Pilates has been to me. Here is a little blurb about what it is. Got it from SparkPeople.com.
Pilates
An exercised-based system, Pilates connects the mind, body, and spirit. Its goal is to improve flexibility and strength, creating a balance between the two. Participants gain and develop body awareness through different poses and stretches, which target specific muscle groups.
The overall goal of Pilates is to make a toned body without adding bulk, while lengthening the muscles. Many individuals have found it improves their coordination and relieves stress. Although many exercises can achieve this, Pilates is an interesting way to reach these goals.
Pilates focuses most on the "core", a group of muscles that is often ignored and underdeveloped, including the back and abdominal muscles. In the process, it improves posture and eases back pain. Unlike cardiovascular activity, which tends to emphasize the legs, or weight lifting, which often emphasizes arms and legs, Pilates will create a balanced body.
This is a great exercise program for both beginners and those fitness buffs alike. It’s something that can be tailor-fit to anyone’s specific fitness level, adapting as that person becomes more skilled and flexible. Since it’s low impact, Pilates can assist the rehabilitation process for certain injuries. It’s a great way to become more responsive to your body. It may even create more fluid mobility throughout the day, not just during the exercise session.
Exercise Extra: Pilates appears to be a new exercise trend, a new craze. Actually, this system has been in existence since the 1920s. Pronounced "puh-LAH-teez," it is named after its developer, Joseph Pilates.
It went just about as planned. Woke up, did my water therapy, had Go Lean and All Bran with ripe banana and raisins, and headed for the market.
Boy, I never thought I woulda had to get re-acquainted with the market...
They been trying to refurbish the market for years now. Finally they did it and it re-opened the other day. Today was my first time there. It's like a maze. And the aisles are so narrow you can just about visit the stalls on the perimeter of the square. Difficult to reach to the vendors in the middle. Was looking for Theresa, one of the vendors who I normally stop by, but didnt see her.
Bought apples, melon, lettuce, oranges, avocado, tomatoes, limes, ripe bananas, paw paws and I think that was it.
Then drove to the bakery to get a special shape bread that I like. Whole Wheat Hops bread they call it. Food Fair gets only a few bags and by the time I reach there it always finish, so decided to go to the source.
Came back home, had a cheese and vegetable sandwich, moved one of the beds from the room to the living room and there I vegetated until after Mr & Mrs Smith the movie finished, and I went to drop something at the hotel (I have rented a car for the weekend), and then the supermarket.
Now it's bed time. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better cricket watching day. I have to confess that I didn't watch much of it today because they were playing so badly the West Indies.