It's All Good

Just Checking

2009-04-23T21:52:00.001-04:00

to see if anyone still happens by this blog. It's been so long, but life has
been happening. I've contemplated blogging again, but find that much people seems to be dropping off the blogsphere now that there is Twitter and Facebook. So this is just a trial entry

The Bucket List

2008-01-17T13:07:00.000-05:00

First before I get to the posting at hand, let me congratulate the Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Prime Minister Elect David Thompson and the people of Barbados for a victorious election win over the Barbados Labor Party and it's fareless leader Owen Arthur. Although it would have been nice to see the BLP make the historic 4th term win, these elections shows Barbadians and the international community at large that democracy is very much alive and well in Barados.

So we've all talked about when someone kicks the bucket..have you ever thought about where that phrase came from? Neither have I, but it's a commonly used one...so n' so done kick the bucket or when I finally kick the bucket...what a interesting analogy about death or crossing over to the other side. Well this new movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nichlolson is about just that. The Bucket List the story of two strangers who meet in a hospital room. They are told they both have 6 mths to a year to live. so stranger #1 Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) decides to write his Bucket List. A list of things he wants to accomplish before he kicks the bucket. I'll leave the stroy there, go see it and seehow it turns out.

But this leaves me wondering. what should be on my Bucket List. What's on your Bucket List?

OK let's see...

Ms. Camp Bucket list in no particular order

1- See my grandchild/children
2- Visit the Motherland
3- Visit Australia
4- Learn a new sport
5- Master a new language
6- Touch someones life in a profound way
7- Be at peace with myself
8- Open a Bed & Breakfast
9- Be debt free
10- Share the love

Life Lessons

2008-01-07T12:22:00.000-05:00

By Regina Brett The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

I got this in the mail not so long ago, and figuring that I've just turned another page in my cycle of life, what a better way to start a new year in so many ways.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you .

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get .

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

Make the best of the rest!

3 days and counting

2007-12-28T17:37:00.000-05:00

2008

Happy New Years !!!!

Happy Independence

2007-11-29T09:25:00.000-05:00

41 years and the broken trident is flying stonger than ever...

I say B I say BI say B-A B-A

B-A-R B-A-R

BARBADOS BARBADOS

Barbados, you mean everything to me

You are my tropical paradise

Believe me, I don't ever want to be

away from your wamth and your deep blue sea.

AMC Awards

2007-11-19T12:28:00.000-05:00

Well usually I am no fan of reporting what happened or din happen on the various award shows, yea, I watch them to see what's the latest styles in the wimmen and which ah de boys acting like fools wid their ridiculous outfits. I like to see who win in the various category, to see how I want to update my iPod playlist and that's usually it. Last night was no different. I wasn't even home to see the first half of the show, but what I did see of the second half left me pleasantly surprise. Most notably, Alica Keys performance. In my opinion she blew the show away. Simply put.

Now when she started out, I wasn't too much into the song, because as beautiful a song as it is, I'm just played out hearing it. It's on like every 3 songs in the radio stations playlist...but last night was different... she totaly rocked it with the reggae influence. I din know the girl had moves like that and boxie too. If yuh see gal dey doing de dutty whine and de bow leg flex loardeee. If reggae was to ever go mainstraim Alicia took it there last night. Chaka Demus and Pliers; Junior Reid and Beenie Man will sure have record sales boost after their appearnaces. It was a classic performance. see hey wha dem sey bout de performances.

Now I didn't see Rihanna performance, but I did see her accept favorite soul R& B and was glad that she beat out Beyonce ( still don't get the special appearance by Beyonce bit) and her father showing up in a basic hodrum polo shirt....WTH. anyhow back to the focus. In Rihanna acceptance, she told Alicia how she can so appreciate her performance..way to go, you were slipping on my charts, but went up two notches last night, also too, I distinctly heard the Bajan accent.. another notch, and her acceptance speech was decent, one more notch..

To close off my review..My girl Queen Latifa, did a beautiful jazz rendition off her latest CD and it was good the American Idol cast off Daughtery and his crew..walk home with 3 awards. All in all a good showing of what I don't usualy critique.... Now I hope itunes put the perfomace for download.

Veterans Day

2007-11-12T16:24:00.000-05:00

We remember all those who serve with dignity and honor in our Armed services.

If you are ever in Wash DC, do check out the National Mall and see the various memorials. It's such an awesome sight.

The Vienam memorial. The most controversal, yet most known and most visited memorial.

The newest addtion to the mall.. sitting between the Lincoln Memorial and the National Monument is the WW II Memorial such a beautiful sturcture.

Tucked away to the side of the Lincoln Memorial is the Korean War Memorial...

and the one least known but dearest to me is the Women's Memorial in Arlington National Cemetary

Picture Day

2007-11-01T15:21:00.000-04:00

Halloween in the Groves

It was a blast, need I say more !!!!!!!!!!!!

The Haunted Day

2007-10-31T16:16:00.001-04:00

Potpourri

2007-10-26T15:30:00.000-04:00

Lordee ah whole wee dun gone and not a stroke I ein type...is bare slackness dis... so here is de week in review.

Free Money - I still hey waiting fuh de check dem was suppose tuh send me from ABC Company. Wunna remember in muh last post ah did suh fussy dat dem call and tell me that dey have check fuh me... but I nuh see check yet, I gine wait another few days and if de mailbox still empty, I gonna haffi use massa fone and mek a call tuh fine ah whey dem sey mi check is.

Weekend Review - Last weekend, Ho Hum, nothing to write home about. This weekend. It raining cats and dogs now, so ah dona know, but I helping to organize this community family fun day so I should have something of interest tuh sey bout dat. Yuh know when yuh put free food together wid de community children wha does happen. We even got free games and prizes.

Speaking of prizes: Today I went into the Family Dollar store to pick up some small lil cheap gifts to give the children. We already have some top prizes, so we just wanted to add a little more to the pot. Anyhow, why it is that I in de $1 store and evathing I see costing $5,$9.99 and eva other price. It call de $1 store cause we expect tuh pay $1 fuh evathing not $5. Some things did even costing $12.99 all this in de damned Family Dollar store.. Why dem din just name it de Family Discount Store..chupse.. Well I did find one two lil things tuh mek de pickeney dem dey feel good. Hopefully all this rain would go away and de children will have a good time tomorrow.

Hot Topics - Let's see what's making news. Opa Loka ban on baggy pants I must say I agree wid de ordinance, cause I tired ah looking at deese fellas musty boxers, I doan show dem my sexy undies and I ein wanna see dem dingy boxers either.

The California Wild Fires changing the landscape of West Coast. The state of Cali can't get a break atall if it ein de fires, then there is the threat of earthquakes... With over 1 million people evacuated from their homes, many with nothing to go back to, We can only pray for them. A good sign today is that theSanta Ana winds are gone, so releive is on the wa. Maybe the weather system that is sitting over S.Fl need tuh find it's way to the west coast.

Picture Day - Twenty yrs ago this month, this handsome fella hey made his grand entrance into this world. Lordee looka how time flies. All I remember from that Saturday morning was "Did you tell her that she has a boy" then muh hubby come pushing dis swibbly looking white baby in muh face.... LOL he ein turn out to bad 20yrs lata

Awards Day - So who gets the Bamma Award this week. Oh yes, this couple hey You mean tuh tell me dat dem culdn't find sumwhey else tuh have duh argument? chupse.

But the Hustler Award goes to Bernice Heslop Yuh can't blame she atall cause I would probably do de same thing too...cha.. In de end de fellas still in court fighting ova de settlement she ghi de ex-husband.. greed is something else yuh. Meanwhile she living confortably and ein tekkin on de two ah dem....

Well the weekend countdown is officialy on..less than 1hr to go before I get Happy.

Hump Day

2007-10-17T12:29:00.000-04:00

Wellit's the m iddle of the week and half way through the day. 2 1/2 more days till the weekend, but who's counting.

Big Brother is Watching

The other day I walked into the house and there on my answer machine was the following: This message is for Mrs Campfyah, This is Ms ABC from the Department of PQR company calling. We have a old check here for you from yrs ago and we want you to call us at 1-800-555-1212 to update your information and cliam your check. Well first I had to replay the message a few times tuh make sure I got it right. I don't remember such check or the circumstances surrounding it, but I do remember the Dept of PQR. so I jot the number down with the intentions of calling first thing the next morning.

Next morning come and before I get down to doing Massa work, I first got do Campfyah work, so I pick up massa fone and mek call tuh 1-800 number. It nuh cost massa nuttin so doan fret.
so I go thru de whole automated bit, before I cud finally find a live person. Five or more mins later I talking to a Ms DEF from de central office. first thing she gonna tell me is tuh give she de
account number. I say woman I ein got no account number, so she ask fuh muh life history, mother, father sister, garndmother, aunt, uncle alla dem names, date ah birth, etc. tuh see if I is who I say I am and den she gonna sey but Ms Campfyah, that account been long closed. I say yes, but allyuh have mone fuh me. Ms ABC call me last night and tell me so and I wants muh money. So she put me on hold again fuh another 10 mins ( I hey thinking... look peoples, massa soon come fi he fone, I gots work to do hurry up wid de dough). After she come back. she want tuh verify more stuff before she tell me yes, we got a check her for yu from since Adam was a lad. I ask how much? she sey $$$.00 I sey that's what I talking bout. free money. Then she put me on hold again fuh another 5, then come back and sey Ms Camp, your check will be in de mail within de next 24-48hrs.

So I ask the lady on the phone, how did you find me. she say, girl wid de internet, anything is possible. Well dah is true, but I say, when dis business was being conducted way back then, I was Ms Woodfyah and not Ms Campfyah. Since then I live outside de country fuh a good few years. I also said that my current info is listed in Mr Camp name and not mine...well lo n' behold, she tell me anything is possible and if we determined tuh find sumbodie we will... Well there is a thing fuh yuh nuh.. so I wonder who else out dey looking fuh me...ley muh check and see if ah tek out anybodie in muh past or who else might owe muh some more dough.... All in all it's good that duh track downa poor girl and me and help a sister out wid some free money.

Weekend Update

2007-10-15T16:46:00.000-04:00

What a gloomy weekend here in S. Fl... no beach activities this weekend, but it was good eough all the same.

Friday Night - Movie Night -

Why Did I get Married? If you havn't seen this movie as yet, then go see it. Tyler, Janet, Jill, Michael, Richard and the crew just rocked that film and the ratings were there to prove it. $21.5 million on opening weekend. The brotha is going to the bank. Here

is a brief synopsis of the movie. Personally, I think it's a girlfriend movie, hence leave the man/hubby at home but you be bold and take him along with you, just be prepared for a heated discussion afterwards if you do.

So the movie sure did make up for the lack luster sun of the weekend.

another movie worth mentioning. American Soldier - an african film..good plot with tiwst and turns. So there goes the weekend.

How was yours?

Alive Again

2007-10-12T16:47:00.000-04:00

Well it'st time to revive this failing blog. My mind wants me to shut it down, but my passion tell me to keep it alive. What passion? you may ask. well it's the passion of expression. Expressing my thoughts on things worthy and not so worthy, things of interest and thought provoking and just the passion of reaching out and interaction with the few blog buddies/readers I have. so what the hell, I'll make another attempt to keep the writing going.

I'll reoganize my thoughts and isses of the blog. so each day will be focused to a particular subject.

Monday - Weekend update

Tuesday - Hot Topics

Wednesday - Hump Day

Thursday - Picture Day

Friday - Awards Day

Sat & Sun (up for Grabs)

So being today is Friday lets start with
the bamms sof the week.

Marion Jones....Girl, you could have saved yourself the embarrasement and money and go ahead and admit that you was drinking the juice. Now you wait till you are broke and married to my Bajan boye to bring him down with you. You are such a bamma. Would you have wanted Oba if you were still swimming in your millions and glory? But why retire now, you were already washed up since the last olympics..but hey everyone deserves a second chance and I'm gonna give you yours.
However you get to replace all that gold with my Bamma of the week award.

Black Out Thursday

2007-09-20T13:03:00.000-04:00

ank kicking in the rat race... so wha happening. So much that I wanted to write about but just can't find the time. I think the news media is having a field day wid all the stupid celebrities out there.

First there is the Hollywood 3 Stooges (Lindsay, Paris and Britney) Need I say more. How can three yung girls wid so much money be so caught up.

then there is the stupidest black man on the Planet. Oranthal J. Simpson AKA You stupid azz.. yea, you did it even if you didn't this time, we gonna say you did just so your stupid azz would be
in jail for safe keeping....

Now my real reason for writing today is to pay homage to the Jena 6 boys. now so much attention is focused on the stupideness in the media that the real issues have been overlooked and here we are in the 21 century having to organize civil right marches and protest. Go figure.
But in addition to Jena, there is the hate crime in W. Virginia.. (gotta find the story) WTH is happening to our peoples.

Tiyadh

2007-09-06T22:28:00.000-04:00

de days are getting longer and the blogs are getting sparser...but what can you say

Since my last entry, Hurrican Dean came and did his thing, then Erin whipped through Texas

followed by Felix who did dixie in Central America and Henerite is yet to follow..whaloosss we in de midst of the season...it will be my first in South Florida and yes, I getting as prepared as I can cuase I ein wanna see nuttin like Wilma or Katrina...how many more days to go before it's over???

So how have I been spending the rest of my summer...well I hang out wid deese two heartbreakers here...

It was a blast....I didn't do much travelling after Disney and work has been killing me...so until next sighting...ally yuh enjoy

Time to Breathe

2007-08-16T12:35:00.000-04:00

I still trying to recover from the Disney/Universal madness....
naah dah nuh ture..ah still hey just a tad bit busy wid some new adventures
none of it picture worthy doh...
How wunna enjoying the summer??

Praying for my CARICOM possee as they brace for Hurricane Dean.

Can somebody slap me

2007-07-30T17:54:00.000-04:00

for doing 5 theme parks in 2 days with 4 crazy teenagers and a lil boy dat bounces off the wall.

Please tell me and Mr. Camp never to do such madness again. No matter how good faith we trying to show de family.

Animal Kingdon

Epcot Center

Universal Studios

and finally.... Islands of Adventure

The Big Apple

2007-07-18T20:34:00.001-04:00

is home away from home. I had a really good time hanging out with the family. took mostly family pics ...see hey the two addition carrying on the family name.

Scrubs the Mcdaddy..mekking vicious pass at the pastors daughter

"come hey sweet thang"

McAlexie wanting tuh know when grub gonna be ready...my man always looking out fuh he belly.

DC Part II

2007-06-29T11:34:00.000-04:00

Not much more to say other than how I truly enjoyed the trip to DC. Combining work and pleasure sure isn't a bad thing at times. I'll be in the Big Apple next week and looking for some new adventures to share with you. But in honor of the upcomming 4th July holidays here is my attempt at being partriotic in pictures.

The World War II Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery and Tomb of Unknown Soldier

The view from Lincoln Memorial looking down over the reflecting pool. this was about 9PM and so many people were still there enjoying the scenery.

Well I'm off again... To all the yankees, Happy Independence and enjoy the fireworks.

Chocolate City

2007-06-20T21:26:00.000-04:00

DC.. yup, that's where I've been hanging out this week playing tourist, and enjoying running around the national monuments. So since being here I've also noticed all the changes in the city, especially around the government buildings and the National sights. For one thing, there are police, security gurads, secret service, you name it all over the damned place. then they are barriers, barriers, and more barriers. It was absolutely amazing. DC has become like a fortress in distress, everybody tensed and secured behind their bullet proof glasses and steel iron barricades. But all in all, I'm still enjoying being back in the city.

When living in a city, you tend to take forgranted the beauty of said city and such was the case when I worked in DC. Yea, I would take my daily run down pass the White House on my way to the National monument or the Lincoln memorial. Let's face it, when you are out running on your 1hr lunch time, you don't have time or want time to be sightseeing, monuments, buildings or

statutes, which I notice that DC also have a lot of.

You get out, do your run and back to the daily grind. But it's a different perspective when you play tourist like I've been doing this past week.

It has been a fun and exciting adventure. This morning, I ran from my hotel, up to the National Monument, then down to the Lincoln Memorial and around and pass through the Vietnam Vet memorial..how patrotic seeing that 4th Jul is right around the corner. In all it was about 3mls. I also passed by the new WWII memorial, which I have a little story to tell (no pictures as I don't run with my camera)

Now on the first day when I was reaquainting myself with the area, I passed by the memorial and though to myself, hey, a new monument that I hadn't noticed before. So I kept rnning/walking wondering, how is it that I used to pass by this area and never noticed this particular memorial....huummm..s.o this thing puzzled me the whole exercise trip to the point that I needed to pass and look at the reading of it..that's when it dawned on me... duhhh it's the new WWII memorial erected in 2004... no wonder I never saw it before cause it wasn't there when I would run by the area...now that settled my curosity. I also see what I think the the ground breaking for the new MLK memorial, but we shall see.

Obrigada....

2007-06-17T00:36:00.001-04:00

to everyone who says that they read the blog, not that I'm convinced but it's much appreciated.

Still on blog vacation but wanted to share some of my recent trip to Sao Paulo with you.

what a huge and beautiful city...This is the view out the window to the Apt I was staying.

A walk in the park and a view of this beautiful lake. It's also where a little boy on his bicycle ran me over, well he fell, my leg got the bruises..on my first day in the city...

I saw these two interesting ducks, never seen any like them before. I missed the shot when they were doing their mating call, male duck with wings spread out and chest push up....

A typical Brazilian meal made of corn, I even drank corn juice...how interesting.

There was a lot of eating and more eating going on..Food was excellent

Of course we did some shopping and sight seeing

It was a wonderful trip. I took over 250 pics. Will definitely have to visit again.

Oh lest not forget the variety of semi-precious stones, they had to drag me out of this store

Obrigada means Thank You in Portuguese.

Summer

2007-06-03T22:21:00.000-04:00

This blog is on Summer Vacation as of today !!!

Actually it may be on pernament vacation due to lack of interest and lack of readership!!!

Keep Your Eyes up

2007-05-17T13:12:00.000-04:00

that was my motivational quote this morning as I was taking in my walk over the Biscayne Bridge. In an effort to change up my routine, I like to drive over to Biscayne island and then walk over the bridge to the mainland, as opposed to my morning 3ml walk around the marina. It's a good 2.5 walk round trip, nice breeze blowing and mostof all the scenery, calm waters and the view of downtown Miami not to mention the treat of being able to go swiming after my walk.

so this morning weights in hand, Ipod pumping I set out on my walk. On the trail, you pass bikers, runners, walkers of all ages, and when you look below you see the fellas fishing. Just a nice relaxing or enegerzing workout however you want to view it.

So I'm doing my thing and minding my own business on my return trip when I realize that the knees acting up and beginning to hurt. So I thinking Lordee Camp yuh getting old. Nuh sense in trying to run this last lil bit, just mek it thru de walk. I see dis old fella run by me. I notice dude cause my man running in some swim bikinis and he top obviously he got de same idea in mind as me, finish yuh run/walk and go jump in de water..I doan pay he much mind, I hey concentrating on de hurting knees and trying tuh get back ova de bridge.

well 5mins later old dude runs by again, but this time he slows down and says hello. I respectufully responded wid how yuh doing. Is when dude tell me, Keep your eyes up, that way you will straighten yuh back and ease de pressure of the weights pulling you down. You see old dude had check me out when he passed by and then as he was coming back behind me he saw that I was leaning in my walk, so he wanted me to straighten up my form and lift my eyes up, hence improve my posture as I walk. I was quite appreciative of his lil advice and he ran off and I straightned up. He was doing laps on the bridge, so again as he passe by he winked gave me a thumbs up and said Keep your eyes up.

That bit of motivation was good enough to take my mind off my aching knees and finished my walk. Not to mention the swim in Biscayne Bay was also a nice refreshing end to my morning workout.

Love Is....

2007-05-13T16:26:00.000-04:00

Having your child spend Mothers Day with you...

Waking up and calling your mom to wish her Happy Mothers Day....

Having your brother text you to wish you Happy Mothers Day.....

Sharing Mother's Day blessings with your Best Friend.....

Having Mr Camp, present me with a rose during chruch for Mothers Day.....

Love is family and friends on Mothers Day..

Hotlanta

2007-04-30T16:29:00.000-04:00

What a lovely weekend I had in Atlanta. I visited the

MLK Center,

The Aquarium,

The Centinential Park,

The Underground

and worshiped at Ebenezer Baptist church.

That was the photos, two related stories related to Hotlanta to come.

S Fl weekend

2007-04-24T12:07:00.000-04:00

Well another beautiful weekend passed in S. Fl. I was rather busy most of the weekend, as I attended a nice dinner dance, had some irie food and good dancing vibes. But I realize I getting old as two dances and the old bones was ready to throw in the towel.

But throughout the weekend I mangaed to get some shots for your viewing pleasure.

Bayshore Park...looking out over to the waterway where the curise ships dock. Notice I had to throw in de Barbados promo at the bottom there

Another Bayshore waterway shot.

Island Vibes, a book written by a promising Bajan author on display at an exhibition

And this being S Fl. there is never a dull moment in entertainment ..so we caught this gentleman in a lovely dance with his partner.

So that was the weekend. How was yours?

sights

2007-04-18T13:11:00.000-04:00

I have tons of photos fighting for space on my computer, so I figure that I'll be sharing some of them with you guys. It's also a look into my happenings here in South Florida. So here goes starting with the

Chihuly Glass dispaly

Citron Tower White Tower

Some theives has stolen two of these magnificant red reedes. each valued at over 20,000. Last I heard they are yet to be recovered and this is the second time they have been stolen.

Carnival Boat Niijima Floats

The Sun Glass Garden

The chihuly display has been in the Tropical Garden here for a while now and I always wanted to see it, but it was quite costly, so I passed but recently, I got the oppotrunity when there was another display in the Gardens and they offered you to see both displays for the price of half this one. I jumped ont the opportunity and it was well worth it. Enjoy

My Hibernation

2007-04-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

is over It's about time I get back to the blogging world. I missed writing eventhough
I din't have much to write lately. So I reeling and coming again.

My sympathies goes to the victims and families of Virginia Tech, May thier souls rest in peace.

Should I or should I not

2007-02-28T14:06:00.000-05:00

That is the question I havea for blogger and blogging. Over the last few days, each time I attempt to log into blogger to update de blog, blogger wanting me to switch to beta. In order to switch to beta, I have to sign up for a google account. Well as fuh now, I ein too interested in having another email account, so I been staying away. Sofuh right now, the blogs gonna be much more scarse and infrequent until I decide if I wanna switch to beta or just give up de whole blog thing altogether. I seeing quite a few ah de regulars jumping ship and moving on to Wordpress, or their own domain, some even throwing in the pen and calling it quits. I between two minds.

One is that I doan have much tuh write bout nowadays, so wha is de sense..tuh write just tuh write..naahh I doan think so.
Then it's the pressures of life, somethime I am so busy that I ein got time fuh muhself farless a computer, so hence the lack of updating.
Then there is a time for everything, and I just realized that I've had this blog for almost 3yrs now. who would have thought? Maybe it is time to move on to other things

But then again, I like blogging and reading the blogs of my fellow peeps. Although I've yet to meet anyone through blogging (not that I di it to meet people or I setting out tuh meet anyone) I like the connection I get through the blogs I read. It seems like I have met you Kami , MaddBull and my TO buddy Jdid and this is just to mention a few.

folks like Brotha Buck have gone on sabatical and Ms Princess has thrown in the pen,Dr. D just disappeared offf the scene, he didn't even say ciao tuh his readers,of course there are still many good readers out there like Leon and Kingston Girl to name a few that just add to the reading pleasure.

So you see how you can easily get hooked so, but I'll surely continue reading and commenting on your blogs, but when Blogger no longer allows me to update without switching, then I'll have to see you around the way.

2007-02-15T22:02:00.000-05:00

Did I miss Valentines??? Naahh, not one bit, but for those hopeless in love, I hope you all got what you were wishing/hoping you'd get with whom you wanted it with. Mr. Camp and I enjoyed a night at the movies.

I promised you that I'll give you more details of the past photo. That's my new daily office view..niice nuh, a clear shot of the Hwy, and the airport in the background. I can watch the planes take off and land and do a traffic report if I want. Then in the calm of things, I can watch the water life in the lake below..such a view helps make the work day past a little faster and easier when the stress of work get the best of you.

I ventured into new terrority of executive training, so it's keeping me very busy, Never a dull moment. But it's all a learning experience for me and something that I've though of doing for a while now, so let's see how things progress. So life is taking a lot of new turns and challenges. And so some things gotta fall by the wayside, so it's be the blog. I'll probably just do a once a week thing, like if I ein been doing dat already. But just something to kep it going. so until next week. enjoy the view

Damned Blogger

2007-02-11T14:59:00.000-05:00

It be damned blogger to totally eat a nice long post I had just written
So until I feel like rewriting it agian enjoy this view and the weekend. I'll tell you more about the view in the upcoming post.

Super Bowl XLI

2007-02-04T16:17:00.000-05:00

Indianapolis Colts vs Chicago Bears

Less that 200 mls seperate these two teams who will battle for football supremamcy in less than 2 hrs. Game day is here. fire up the BBque, not outside though as it's been raining all day in South Fl. chill the brews and set the Tvios to record the commercials, it's game time.

You didn't think that I was a football fan,did yuh? Well really I'm not a big fan. I'll watch a game or two, but don't ask me who plays on what team and dear not ask me any stats, cause I don't know. but yes, I do watch the superbowl.

It all started when the all grown up Tall One was just a little one. we'd sit on the floor and bet against each other as to who will win. It was abonding thing that came grew with us. Tall One is all grown up and more into basketball than he is to football, but we continue the tradition. So it continues with Mr. Camp. and tonight will be no different. Mr Camp and ironicaly Tall One, is on the side of the Colts, that leaves me goig for the Bears. Let's see who reigns supreme for the

Two black coaches, history in the making. Two geat teams. What else can I say. When it's all said and done, one team will reign supreme for the year. Who will it be. Well since I'm on the side of the Bears, i'll have to say, Go Bears, Go!!

South Miami was alive and jumping this weekend. south Beach closed off and the parties were in full swing. Last night however, Mr Camp and I opted for the free bash at Biciential park, followed by the massive fireworks display. We went out on a cruiser and had a birds eye view of the fireworks off the waters... Tonight, it's just sit at home relax infront of the tube and watch the battle for Super Bowl XLI suprememcy!!!!

2007-01-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Trying to keep up with life and blogging at the same time ein easy, but I will continue to try. Not much of significance that I can share with the blogworld happening in Camps life, but a lot a go on... The sister veanturing out into some new things, and things looking quite positive so far...butI not gonna say much just in case.

Anyhow to keep my face alive, I saw this article in the paper this morning and although it showing muh age, it sure takes you back to the days of yore.... I know some of my CARICOM bloggers can relate to the days of growing up less than priviledge on the islands. Children nowadays doan know dem kinda things.

On a followup note. Jdid mentioned in my last comments about Bajan fat porks...a seaside delicacy in Barbados . They are white and fleshy on the inside and have a rich purple or deep red skin As far as we know they only grow on the beach and in Barbados in particular they only grow in two specific areas.

Well peoples, do have a wonderful weekend and remember the times of the pass whent he pressures of life began to call on you. shoting gutterperks, rolling rollers, pitching marbles, flying home made kites, eating fat porks, kowns,julie plums, ackees, goosberries, june plum, thiefing mangoes gauvas, breking cane..just sit back and relax those days are gone and yet to come again....a stroll down memory lane.

Life's Guilty Pleasures Part 2

2007-01-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

ahh sometimes it's the simple things in life that makes it worth living. Anyone that knows me know that I like all the color, feel, look and most of all taste of the local treats, so I was well in heaven when Mr Camp bought these back for me from his recent trip to the homeland. I'm sure my N. American readers don't have a clue as to what these are but my CARICOM possee can attest to the simplicity and pleasures of eating dunks....as we call them in Barbados. so , what are they called in the other islands?

All the buzz

2007-01-14T16:41:00.000-05:00

was well worth the hype, I talking bout the much anticipated. Do I need to add a name here?

yes, the movie was well worth it. Now I didn't get to see it 2wks ago when it opened on Christmas Day...lordee yuh believe dat C'mas was two weeks ago, time nuh fly fast doh... anyhow, like I was saying, I didn't see it on opening week, but I did manage to see the movie twice in one week. Now that is a record setting first fuh me. Usually I go see movie once and that's enuff fuh me until I see it on cable. But This was worth seeing it twice. buth here is de thing fuh yuh doh.

First time seeing de movie was wid a sister friend. so we dey in de movie sitting and just ah chatting up a storm..why??? cause having lived thru de Mowton era of boy and girl groups we cud relate so much to the characters. First let me say that Jennifer Hudson deserved every award she has been nominated for. The girl can blow plain and simple. So my sisterfriend and I were there in the movies and thought that we were watching

the lifestory of Mowtown. The movie was well Mowtown represented The correlations between the various singers, groups and acts was so Motown. The singing was surperb in every Mowtown sense. So throughtout the movie, we were relating to the storyline, the characters, singing along with the songs and just enjoying a movie well done artistically as well and creatively.

My second chance of seeing the movie came with a latin American friend...totally different perspective. Although I enjoyed the movie just as much, I spent some time explaining characters, roles, correlations ect. The whole Diana Ross and the Supremes was prevelant throughout. You know it is said that the Original Dreamgirls the stage play was actually based off Diana and the Supremes. But it was just a different feel, she didn't know the Mowtown history or the Dreamgirls one for that matter, but I still enjoyed watching it again and doing some explainations along the way.

Well all of the hype is surrounded by the girls, Jennifer and Byonce...but let me say the men played their parts too... Eddie Murphy showed that he can still act and sing, A good comeback for him may I add.. remember his hit song Party All the Time from back in the 80's?? Then there is Jamie Foxx doing what he's been doing so well. the supporting cast did their thing too and must get the credit due them. Personally, I think that Jennifer should have been nominated for best actress over Byonce, but hey..we know how it goes in Hollywood. Byonce Listen is the best Ive ever hear her sing and y'all know I ein no Byonce fan atall.

So overall, I look to see tomorrow that either Byonce or Jennifer walks away with the golden Globe, I wish one of the fellas were nominated also, but yuh know yuh can't have too many blacks being nominated fuh dem lil statues so, we gonna settle fuh wha we get.

Life's Pleasures

2007-01-09T17:51:00.000-05:00

Life Simple Pleasures, just makes you forget about your
worries at times

Yes, taking us back to the days when life was so much simpler. I was invited to a friends house for dinner over the weekend. Our friend has his own version of the island in his back yard. As you can see, the yard leads down to the lake that flows from behind. suffice to say this waterway makes for fertile ground and our friend has taken advantage of such grounds. So while small talk was flowing along with the brews, we went to check out what the land has produced for the year and here we were treated to treats of all treats...Fresh cut sugar cane., wha more can a fellas ask for in the great US of A, than tuh walk out in yuh back yard and cut some fresh cane and get to sucking....Ahhh the simplicity of life.

Next year we gonna be treated tuh picking we own tamarind as the tree was well on it's way, along wid de sour sop, and pawpaw trees.....yes, some people can just live in the best of both worlds.

The herbs selection din doing too bad either

New Year New Beginnings

2007-01-05T22:44:00.000-05:00

The first post for the new year. A new year in many aspects as I also celerated a Birthday a few days ago. Yes, I'm getting older, should be wiser, stronger and healtheir, but I'm not so sure about those. The older part is there however. It seems that the biological clock just kicks in the day after a B-day and all the aches and pains associated with that age come instantly. No slowly adjusting, no one step at a time, no easing into the age. Just bam..yuh turn XYZ age or in my case ova 40 age and ova 40 issues come at 12:01am. Lordee...life nuh easy atall.

Anyhow, I'm glad that I was able to see another year 2007 and another birthday ova 40. Not much people mekking it to that milestone nowadays, especially when I hear in de news that the first homicide for the year was a 17yr fella that get shot in he own mother garage. so seeing ova 40 is a blessing from Above. Thank you Lord. May I live to see many more.

No New years Resolutions. I usually don't make any. It's a waste of time for me, so why bother. But since I celebrate a B-day so close to the New Year, I usually make new birthyear goals. Access what I did in my last year and what I can do in this year to better my life as I ein't gettin any younger. I certainly don't want life to pass me by and say I wish, I coulda ,what if. No I not going to be sharing those goals wid blogsphere. Dem some personal ones.

Of course, they gonna be the original and ongoing goals...

Health & Fitness - Yup I did 4 for 4 this week at the gym. might even make it 5 if I make it there tomorrow. I done give up on the weight lost thing, if it go it go, if not as long as I doan gain, I not fussin and complaining.

Spiritual Growth - Been doing steady on that. Need to be more focused on the Good Book and read more but yea, i talk the Almighty daily and been on track with that conversation.

Professional Growth - need to do some major adjustments in the professional arena and that I'm currently working on. I'm contemplating a career change, something totally out of my box, but it's a let's see if it can happen kind of deal..More to come on that.

These are just the major issues facing me for the new year 2007. Not major but enought to keep me focused and occupied throughout the year

So as my calender say, Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so I intend to

Live life passionately, Laugh until muh belly hurts and Love unconditionally.

To My blog peeps

2006-12-31T16:53:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2006

2006-12-20T15:05:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Kwanzza

All the best for 2007

Well the holidays are officialy upon us. Hope everyone gets their shopping done without stress and hassles. Remember, not to over do things cause you still have Jan right upon you and rent to pay, car note to pay, babysitter to pay, gas, light, water and oh those credit card bills to pay... so make wise choices this holiday season. If yuh can't offord it.. just leff it...nuh need tuh brek yuhself trying tuh ghi eva tom, dick and Harry or Mary, sally and Jane.. Dem would just haffi do wid a Merry Christmas and call it a day. Enuff Sed.

Now that de shopping outta de way, what bout helping those less fortunate.... spread some of the Christmas cheer....give tuh de fella beggin on de sidewalk or walking in between de car. .doan just turn yuh face and roll up de window..de lil dollar yuh give he or she ein gonna kill yuh..doan worree wha dem gonna do wid de money, dat not your business, dat fi dem and duh savior tuh deal wid. How bout de fella ringing de slavation army bell or any other chartiable donations... give a little and receive a lot.

Also, mek it yuh business tuh go and get some salvation, either Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or as we West Indians would sey on Ole Year's Night ..but sometime during de season go and really see what the season is all about. Yes, if wunna naah remember it all about Jesus. He is the reason for the Season... I know some ah y'll think it did only bout the bling and how much you gonna get, but yuh wrong....

So my dear folks, peeps, brother and sisters of blog land. I might not get back to wish you all the best for the season, so here take it now. Enjoy, be safe, don't over indulge and May all of God's good blessings follow you into 2007 and stay with you.

Diaspora Vibe

2006-12-12T17:57:00.000-05:00

It's good to see our people making their mark in the art world. Diaspora Vibe a collection of Arts by some young well know and not so well known names in the Art world. The show was in the Gallery of a Jamacian woman who gave up her lucrative corporate world career to follow her dream. Give a shout out to our peoples and view some of their work

Art is accepted in all forms and fashions

December

2006-12-07T16:44:00.000-05:00

Well this is it, the last month of the year. 2006 has all of 21 days left in it, can you imagine...wha it seems like just de other day, we were all saying Happy New Years and all that good stuff, then we were talking about Spring and Easter, next it was summer and now looka we jumped right over Halloween and Thanksgiving and right into Christmas..De year done gone and we still hey, Thanks Goodness, I hope we all still hey, cause in dis time, some ah we coulda be gone and de rest ah we won't know cause we is just cyber friends... Wunna eva stop to think about that though. What if something serious happens to one of your regular cyber friends? You know someone you correspond with via email, IM your blog and never met and then one day you just stop hearing from them. You have no real name, no address, no telephone number, just a email address. How would you know if that person is still alive or not. Huummmm, things that make you think...anyhow I not going down that line today, it was just a passing thought.

So what have Camp been up to...well actually, I've been quite busy travelling with Mr Camp. You know I told you all that Mr. Camp got a lil promotion upon coming to this new site, so he been travelling around his jurisdiction..doing gree n' meets, and other kinds of things so, so Ms Camp been just tagging along with him. Along with that we been doing a lot of Indepedence activities and it's just been go-go-go. But we winding down for the holidays. The children will be in town for Christmas and we plan to have a nice family holiday on the mainland with the children. this will be the first one in a long time... So I gonna go out and get the tree and do all the fancy decorating stuff .

Enjoy some photos of my recent trips.

A Milestone

2006-11-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

Well I better be a day early than a day late, so let me wish all my Bajan bloggers and peepers
a very

Happy Independence

It's been a long time, but we enudured and overcome..

We getting older, stronger and wiser, so here take this poem and come drink some sorrell, eat some conkies and celebrate our big day tomorrow

We Is 40 Now

Man, you see de colours
Boy, you check de scene
Woman, look all around yuh
Girl, dis is not a dream
All de smiling faces
Hearts filled with joy and pride
We showing we excitement
Both inside and outside
Come, join de celebration
From stern up to de bow
Nuttin’ can stop we party
We is 40 now

Barbados, Bim, De Rock
Wha’evah name you call
We rise from colonialism
And now we standing tall
We build a solid nation
Wid people as de base
Education de foundation
Each one in dey place
We made great strides, uh tell yuh
And all can see how
So join we in de anthem
We is 40 now

Look at we citizens
De high standards we does set
Professionals, musicians, tradesmen
Athletes we can’t forget
On de world stage standing
All de touristes come to see
De best place to live and do business
All o’ we natural beauty
Wid open arms we welcome
No good we disallow
Come, join de celebration
We is 40 now

Wid de vision of we fore-fathers
And for our children’s sake
In unity we’ll face de future
De best of it we’ll make
Under God’s good guidance
And loyalty in place
We’re sure to find strength and confidence
Fuh every challenge we will face
So to you, Barbados
We make this solemn vow
We’ll work fuh anuddah 40
Starting hey right now

Written by Philip St. Hill, Copyright

Gobble Gobble

2006-11-21T23:07:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving week here in the great ole US of A. The week where we eat to our hearts delight, and then madke the mad rush to the gym the following week in an effort to loose the lbs in order to fit into the christmast party or New Years Eve dress..Go figga!!!!

Well I was going to boycott Thanksgiving, Christmas and the whole Holidays 2006, but with the urgings of Mr Camp and some visitors, including de pickeney dat home fuh de holidays, I give in and bought the smallest turkey I could find....mind you 12 lb turkey nuh small in my book. so the menu is set, the guest list checked, and tomorrow night, I'll join the masses and be cooking up a storm. CARICOM folks, be glad yuh not have tuh be a part of this madness.

Wha else happening...Camp near freeze she tootsie off this morning lordee, it was cold and de temps suppose tuh gt colder tomorrow... I woman wanna guh back tuh Arepaland LOL!!

So much madness happening in de new dat muh head spinning....
who cares bout Brittney and K-Fed break up..it's about damned time
Bobby & Whitney---about damned time
Who cares about the TomKat wedding..it ein like it's his first and what de azz is de religion of sciencetology?
OJ..damned right he did it and good for FOX as much as I loathe that station for pulling the plug on the interview and the book..

Lots more to come back to, but right now I gots a turkey to defrost...

Gobble, gobble...

Gym update...a girl is trying to do her thing... I havn't loose any lbs as yet, but I did do my routine yesterday and today..I'm trying.

No Pain

2006-11-12T22:45:00.000-05:00

No gain and much pain I'm in right now. After months of preparing to move and moving and settleing and all kind of excuses, I had not seen the likes of a gym or even my morning walk. Well yuh know de results of that would be significiant weight gain, and gained I did. Well I though I was cool. you know how it is living in denial....Oh the weight will come off ...oh, it's only a lil extra 5 lbs ..oh I iz ova 40 now, I'm entitled tuh a few cusions hey and dey...and the excuses went on, until one morning/evening I realize dat a certain clothes or outfit ein fitting nuh more and Camp has increased a dress/pants size..But I still in denial.

Well all of that came to a screeching halt the other day. I walked into the gym and signed up. I signed up for this Jump Start program...and got weighed, measured and body fat analysis....wow..talk about shocker. It's a lot more dan de lil extra 5lbs I though I gained and the body fat % is way out of control....girl, you over weight and out of shape. Yo gots a long way to go to get back in some sorta shape. I got a diet and workout program. complete dis as follows and in about 6 weeks you should loose 15lbs. Sounds like a plan. It took me longer than 6 weeks to put it on, so taking it off in 6 weeks sound feasable.

So I had my first workout session with a trainer. 40 mins of cardio maintaining my heart rate of 130-140. Sounds easy enough, but believe me, it nuh easy atall, especially when yuh outta shape. then off to the resistance training 50 mins. 2 cycles of a series of exercise targeting all body areas..dem too nuh easy. We worked the legs, butt, arms, chest, stomach and evathing in between...whaloosss...I gots a long way to go...dem gonna be de longest 6 weeks ah ever live.
But I survived day one. I went to day and put in my 40 mins of Cardio and actually I did a lil extra 10 mins fuh good measure. do some abs and I did out fuh de count fuh de rest ah de day.
Tomorrow now is another session wid de trainer..lordee help a sista.

So one week down, five to go. ..help Camp reach her 15lb weight lost goal..can I do it..I don't know but I sure gonna try. I ein even mention the diet part....I gotta work on that issue, so ley me just deal wid de exercising first... I'll come back tuh de diet in a future write up. I gine and rest these old bones fuh tomorrow training session.

Mentida, mentida

2006-11-03T15:19:00.000-05:00

OK, so I lied, I said that now the computer was up and working and the boxes all packed away that I'll be posting more frequently...what a sorry liar I am...but hey, I din mean to lead yuh all on so. I mean a sister just trying to get her feet wet in her new surroundings and things just getting outta control. Nuh time tuh sit and smell de coffee. So what has Camp been up to lately, well a whole lot a nothings and a little bit of everything.

The other day, while in the supermarket, I got to thinking that I have written about my readjustment to life in the mainland. I guess that I've been so caught up in living the life that I just didn't think of writing about it. so let me share some with you folks.

For one, The Malls, Boh oh boy, am I ever so glad to see a normal regular mall again... A mall accnored by major stores such as Macy's, Sacks, Penneys ect. A mall that have real stores to shop in aside from the mini botiques that got 3 shirts and 4 pants on a rack sell yuh de pants fuh $600. So yes, I'm back in shopping heaven with sales and bargains and chocies, choices, choices.....stop the madness.

24 Hr shopping and Superstores. Super Walmart, Super Target, and the various 24 hr shopping. Can you imagine, when ah gt vex at Mr Camp, I cud just tek de car and go up in Target at 1 o' clock in de morning and shop tuh muh hearts desire... and if ah still vex ah cud run ova tuh Wal-Mart and den stop by Walgreens or CVS and then come home..chuupse, wha yuh sey...the mianland is rocking fuh a sister now.

Choices, choice and more choices. Man I was in the basic supermarket the other day and din wanna come out...but wha suh fancy bout being in a supermarket..well let me tell all wunna, so been having it at yuh finger tips fuh suh long now. the choices and varities in food. I had so many choices tuh choose from ah din know whey tuh go or do. cha... fresh food, cooked food, pre packaged all kinds ah things, and tuh mek matters worse they got a Fresh market ova by me, pure organic and exotic foods, right up muh alley....Man it's just great.

What else...ley muh see..OK Just the total order of things in general. it's a country that functions (key word here is function) and just to know that I can walk into the post office and mail a letter widout any hassle and beleive me. I been in the post office a couple times already ah mean anybodie went into de US post office lately... man dem got all kind ah mailing paraphenila in dey, fancy card boxes, different pictures, styles, ah box or package fuh eva occasion possible, then when yuh ask fuh a book a stanps, yuh got choices tuh choose from..yuh think dem easy in dey. I can easily write a check and pay my bills, no need to stand in nuh long line fuh days on end. I can walk into the bank and be out in 5mins or less.. damned amazing. I have gotten so much business done over the phone by simply calling the 800 number... no such feature in Caracas. Geezes, yuh ask again how it feels, it feels damned good. The little things we take forgranted.

So yes, Camp getting quite reaquainted wid life on the mainland. The weekends are jumping. I happen to live close to a popular entertainment area, so me and Mr. Camp can just walk to the movies, or dinner and chill for the weekend I mean in Caracas we did too, but here it's different, we got choices. We can walk in our neighborhood, or we can find something else in a neighobring community..not a lack of choice atall. Yes, sisteren and bretheren..Camp is enjoying life in big/little city America.

{{{{{{Buurrrrrr}}}}}}}

2006-10-25T15:46:00.000-04:00

Where in the world is Camp??? Sumwhere trying to stay warm...OK it eint that bad, but there is definitely a change in the weather. Not the weather I just left in Arepaland sleeping with windows and doors open, no sirie, Camp was quite snuggled under Mr. Camp this morning and looking tuh hoard all the covers too. I dragged muhself outta bed and got to the days work, but not widout ah few chupse and face push up kinda thing. But then it dawned on me, Camp yuh nuh have winter clothes, no long sleeve sweaters, no jacket, no non-cotton/linen pants. Dem cotton /linen thing not gonna make it through the winter. I need to go shopping....yuippie.. Any excuse tuh ask Mr. Camp fi de American express platinuim...OK de Wal-Mart credit card and go do some damage. This is definitely gonna be an experience tuh chat about in months to come. Hey not that it's new to me, but after living in Aprepaland for 5+ yrs, you get used to the forever 80 degree weather, wid a slight drop to 70's at night during Dec for about a week or two.

Now let's see what else is happening. Not much you know..the news is getting crazier and crazier as the day goes by. When you thought you heard one I can't believe that story, another one more amazing comes along. I just can't keep track... scan the US papers and feast yourself on the thrife that happens in this country I think that Jdid's one take the cake though.

What about the whole Madonna adoption scandal Well she will be telling all on Oprah today. What can you say? I will say though that I have no pity for Madonna. Now don't get me wrong, I like Madonna and all, woman got guts like noone else, but tell me why the Material Girl gotta go all de way to Malawaii to adopt a child. She already has one of her own, OK, there are plenty children both black, white, hispanic, african and everything else here in North America that needs adopting and yet she goes all the way to the Mother land to take one. Go figure. I guess it's the whold celebrity thing. Bradjolina did it and so must Madonna and a whole host of others. I got issues with this.

Anyhow, that's my little rant and rave for the day.

Geeze

2006-10-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that it's almost been a month since my last sighting. Well that's how it goes when you are getting settled into a new environment. Anyhow Camp and Mr Camp are here and doing well. We are pretty much into a regular routine, so my sightings will be more frequent in the days/months to come.

In my last post, it was hinted at that we should do a where in the World is Camp..Hey, I like that, a guessing game as to where on the mainland Camp is. But I promise it won't be an indefinite game. I figured that I shouldn't be worried about the malicious people that make it their business to be all up in my business. So eventually I'll reveal our whereabouts and go on with life. I have other things to worry or think about than the people who are taken up with Mr. Camp and my life in a negative way. Having said that......

So my blog buddies. Life is coming along pretty good in our new surroundings. We are pretty much settled in the house. Our neighbors hosted a welcome to the neighborhood wine and cheese party for us last night. It was such a kind gesture on their part. It made us feel welcome considering that we are the only chocolate colored people in the neighborhood. So all is good for now. I'll play catchup on reading and responding on your blogs and the picture posting will resume, now that the Camps are sporting a spanking brand new computer. We continue to travel, so I'll do some more picture posting.

Until, then You guys been great checking oin on me.. un mil gracias

Conchele

2006-09-22T16:46:00.000-04:00

House hunting in these hey parts as town is a bytch...man can you believe. Either you pay smaller mortgage and move out into the country wid a damned 1 1/2 commute to your job, or you pay a big azz mortgage for a small 2X4 in the city....damned, seems like Arepaland din too bad afterall. Well we settling fro the 2X4 in the city, cause wid gas prices as they are these days, the commute, wid gas and stress gonna kill we faster and than a gluck. The sad thing is people paying for the 2X4's and as fast as the developers build dem, dey getting sold. I was downtown my city today and all ova de place high rise buildings gine up, 2 bdrm condos starting for as they quote "little" as $500,000..wha kind shyte is that????

As my fine bloggers can see, I'm still being incognito about where exactly I am, because I know that there are people who make ittheir business to maliciously read a sisters blog and do vicious things, so the least I put or reveal, the least they will get their hands on..so bear with a sister.

So Mr Camp and I are slowly settling into the new gigs. Trying to learn the place and get aquainted with little/big little city American life. Life here is diffedrent than in Arepaland, but we are adjusting. Mr. Camp got lots more responsibilities and soon from now, I'll be back into to the traditional workforce. so things are moving along. I'll be back full forced as soon as I get rid of the many boxes and paper that line our halls and rooms.. but I just wanted to check in with you folks.

Hola mi amigos

2006-09-06T13:11:00.000-04:00

Just a quick check in. Well Mr. Camp and I are officially done with Arepaland. We are now back in the mainlaind. Specific lotation still TBA. We are setteling in pretty good. Don't have our furniturnings, but that will come by the end of the month.

So we're using public library computer. Just wanted to let you all know that Camp is still alive and well. So keep good until next posting.

muchas gracías

2006-08-03T19:37:00.000-04:00

I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the email about rat crap in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet towel with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the samereason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (PennyBrown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receivethe $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I can't enjoy a good Latte from Starbucks anymore because they WOULD NOT send any coffee to that poor Army Sgt who requested it.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like awater buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking a man along to watch thecar so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make theseproducts are atheists who refuse to put "Under God" on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with aperfume sample and rob me.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial anumber for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda,Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

I no longer worry about sudden cardiac arrest, since I can now cough myself back to life instead of wasting time calling 911.

I no longer have any sneakers -- but that will change once I receive my free replacement pair from Nike.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

Thank you too for all the endless advice Andy Rooney has given us. I can live a better life now because he's told us how to fix everything.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 I dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

If you don't believe this post at least inform 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician, who is a lawyer.

un viaje

2006-07-31T12:20:00.000-04:00

A journey well taken. A journey fulll of memories and experiences. A journey lived with vigor and excitment, but as with any journey this one too must come to an end.

This journey started over 5yrs ago when Mr Camp came home one day and says,
"honey pack your bags we're going to Venezuela".
I sey "whey??? what we going do down dey, we doan know nobodie down dey and don't dey speak another language".
But Mr Camp in his infinite ways, says "Campie doan worry, Venezuela gonna be good for us and we good for Venezuela."

So we packed our bags and off we came. Got to venezuela with all purity and innonence.
First week in the country Mr. Camp need to leave the mainland for a meeting andI stayed behind unpacking suitcases and getting settled. Got a call from Mr. Camp, saying Campie, they going to be a big march/protest tomorrow, so try to stay inside and close to the house. Well since Campie did new to the country, Mr Camp din need to worry cause I din going no whey anyhow. So Campie watch through the window all the marchers passing by, and thought Oh how cute. Little did I know that was going to be the first of many marches/protests to come.

And hence the journey started. Welcome to Caracas! Welcome to caserlasaros!! Welcome to political upheveal! Welcome to mass demonstrations and marches! Welcome to a culture so similar but also so different than your own! Welcome to life the Latin American way!!

The first six months in Caracas were the most interesting to say the least. There was political tension between the FEDECAMERAS (the labor union) PDVSA (the gas company) and the government. FEDECAMERAS & PDVSA consisted of the business leaders and the top leaders of the biggest income source of the country PDVSA. All of whom are disatisfied with the way the governemnt is operating. So they stage these massive stikes/protests all over the country. The momentum kiks in and a stike that is scheduled to last for two days ends up lasting for 4-5 days.

Well the boiling point came when a planned strike during December the height of the holiday season meant to break the gov't down ends up lasting 2 months. Imagine, the middle of chirstmas and all stores closed, supermarkets only open for 3 hrs each morning and some not at all. All malls and shopping centers closed. The country is at a stand still. But the gov't still not breaking and neither is FEDECAMERAS or PDVSA. The country in an uproar. Finally, after 2 mths, the business owners feeling the pressure, decide to break and open up the financial sector of the country...but all the same marches are being planned.

Then on a fatefull day in April of 2002, it all exploded. A planned march, rumors of a coup, the country and normally bustling city of Caracas is ireely still, people who are out and bout hurries to the safety of their homes. Busses, trains, taxies all fulled to capacity... something is stirring. something is going down, violence is brewing... around the early evening the country is at a standstill, noting is moving.. everyone are glued to the TV sets to see what's happening. Well it finally happened. Members of the opposition group and senior military officials (many says backed by the U.S CIA) stormed the Presidential Palace Miraflores and a full fledged coup was the order of the night.

For the next two days, Caracas and Venezuela was a literal battle field. militant members of both the President party and the opposition were in gun battles with each other at the various marches and protests. It was a dangerous place to be. Roads were blocked, tires burned in the street and anarchy was the way of life. The coup lasted all of 2 days and then by some miracalous feat, the President was reinstated.

Well for the next year or so, life was touch and go. The normally strong economy of the Bolivar dropped drastically from about Bs 765.00 to the US$$ to over Bs 1000.00 and it all went down hill from there. International companies were pulling their people out, cost of living was steadily rising, various business were closing, the marches continued, the burning of tires, street blockages and disorder became the norm. But through out it all we stayed and preserved.

As life began to return to a sence of normalcy, we settled in and tried to enjoy as much of it as we could. We travelled to many different states. The country has a lot to offer, it's vast and beautiful. It offers sand and beaches on the Carribean coast, desert in the west and Amazon jungles in the south. Caracas is flanked by the magestical Avial Mountain range to the North and on the other side of those mountains is totally different landscape. We tried our best to explore some of all that Venezuela had to offer and we were not disappointed. We saw some of the most amazing types of living and the contrasts had to be seen to believe. The rich are filthy rich, living in mini mansions while the poor are dirt poor literally living in mud huts. The interesting thing about this country is that is has a very small to non-existence middle class.

We meet some good friends, we adjusted our ways and thinking. We accepted that they would be somethings we just would do without. We understod the politics and how things worked or didn't work around here. We immersed ourselved in the culture and the language and just do our thang until our time to leave came.

Well guess what??? Our time to leave is here. We have just about 20 days or menos left. It was quite a viaje indeed. We lived through the best and the worst of times in this country. In a few days the packers will be here to pack away all our memories and cart them off to our next destination where we will begin a viaje nuevo. I don't know if that journey will be as exciting or interesting as this one has been, but we'll see when we get there. It will be sad to say goodbye or hasta luego to many of our friends. We've made some lasting and impressionable friendships. We've had some experiences that can only be lived here in Caracas. We lived a life that was beyond our expectations. We can leave saying Gracías a Díos we made it through and It's All Good.

That also goes for this blog. It's been a good journey. Little did I know that when I started this 2yrs ago accidently in trying to post a comment on Jdid's blog that I'd stayed for so long. I'm by no means the most gifted writer out there in blog land. Actually, I might be amongst the least gifted, but it was fun anyway. I don't know if I'll continue to blog after I reach my new destination, but we see how things flow when I get there. I know that I'll continue reading yours. So until our paths meet again, I'll say that It's been All Good.

Ah Veces

2006-07-17T22:16:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you does just have to smile at de things or situations you does encounter.
take this weekend for example. The hubby been needing to get his eyes checked for the longest time. Well yuh know men, when dem get pass a certain age. Dey go into denial about the physical ailments of aging...so hubby been putting off the eye checks, until last week whenI finally persuaded him go and get them checked professionally.

Well hubby went and got the check, Dr. says he loosing his ability to focus and give him a prescription. Now here is the gist of the story. hubby went to a highly recommended eye clinic. Supposedly amongs the top clinics in the area. Knowing his professional status, the Dr. writes up the prescripton and suggested getting them filled at said clinic. According to Dr., prescription and lenses gonna run about Bs1.4 million. or about $600.00. We figure, that's a little steep so we gonna do some shopping around. We inquired wid some freinds who got glasses, where to go and about how much it cost ect. Yet again, we get recommended to another eyeglass place to purchase the frames and get the perscription filled. It's a chain of stores located throughout the city

So this weekend, hubby and I off to one of de stores located in the center of the area close to us. Not exactly the most upscale part of town, actually it's de part of town where de so called upper class and upscale people dare not venture, but hey, wo sey we upper class or upscale so off we go into the store. First we walk in, and look around...we gone tuh check out some frames only tuh find out dat all de frames pun lock down, nuh seing nuttin unless one of de workers get them for yuh. OK nuh problem. We get some attention and tell de fella dat we got this hey prescription and wanna get it filled. After asking some questions, he leff we gone and come back wid some glasses in he hand.

My man ein ask we wha kinda frame we want or give we de option of choosing a frame, he went and choose for us and like he went in de back wid de hand me down frames and dig out 3 pairs and come give we. Afta Mr. Camp put on de first frame..I neear most dead...frames from back in de 50's yuh hear..OK dey mighta be from de 80's but dem sure weren't from de 2006 style catalog of frames. I ha to stop e right dey and look at de fella, I say Mr Man. my husband hey does work in a suit evaday, he gots a decent job and does work amongst a certain caliber of people. Can we please get a set a frames from like de year 2000..... Ok he gone again and come back wid another set....Still dem nuh do..I had tuh ask...wait..people doan get tuh choose wha frames duh like fi demselves..

Meanwhile now, he gone again whiles we looking around at de frames. Hubby meet up upon a former collegue ah his, actually she noticed him first. Then hubby and this woman start tuh speak english and meanwhile she translating in spanish tuh she children, so Mr. Man now figuring out dat yes, hubby ein lying, he do have a job of a certain caliber and he ein de average bottom ah de barrel fella dat would frequent de store. Next thing my man whole attitude towards de hubby done change, all of he sudden he calling hubby Mr. hubby and gethe keys and got to the top ah de line frames in de show window. So in a flash so, hubby went from trying on Bs 50.000 frames tuh trying on frames Bs 900,000... ah nuh lie. When hubby try on de frames, he sey yea, ah like deese, I had tuh sey, but yuh like de price tag tooo. frames costing near $500.00 and dah din including de prescription. Well afta, we look around and try a few more in he likings, we finally settle fuh a pair at a reasonable price (much less dan de Bs, 1.4 million dat we were quoted originally) and den get a free pair ah sunglasses too.

De thing is that when we walk in de store we did a a bottom ah de barrel black couple dat coud barely afford a set a frames and when we walk out we did de same black couple dat dem wanted tuh buy de most expensive set... Why?? because bottom line is we did black and until dem hear we speak english and realize dat we din natives, dat based on we skin color dem wanted tuh determine wha kind ah frmes we could afford. All me and hubby coulda do when we walk out ws tuh shake we head and smile.

Si la Vi

2006-07-14T10:22:00.000-04:00

LETTERS DEAR ABBY ADMITTED SHE WAS AT A LOSS TO ANSWER

Dear Abby,
A couple of women moved in across the hall from me. One is a middle-aged gym teacher and the other is a social worker in her mid twenties. These two women go everywhere together and I've never seen a man go into or leave their apartment.
Do you think they could be Lebanese?

Dear Abby,
What can I do about all the Sex, Nudity, Fowl Language and Violence On my VCR?

Dear Abby,
I have a man I can't trust. He cheats so much, I'm not even sure the baby I'm carrying is his.

Dear Abby,
I am a twenty-three year old liberated woman who has been on the pill for two years.It's getting expensive and I think my boy friend should share half the cost, but I don't know him well enough to discuss money with him.

Dear Abby,
I've suspected that my husband has been fooling around,and when confronted with the evidence, he denied everything and said it would never happen again.

Dear Abby,
Our son writes that he is taking Judo. Why would a boy who was raised in a good Christian home turn against his own?

Dear Abby,
I joined the Navy to see the world. I seen it. Now how do I get out?

Dear Abby,
My forty year old son has been paying a psychiatrist $50.00 an hour every week for two and a half years. He must be crazy.

Dear Abby,
I was married to Bill for three months and I didn't know he drank until one night he came home sober. (What a shocker!!!!)

Dear Abby,
My mother is mean and short tempered. I think she isgoing through mental pause.

Dear Abby,
You told some woman whose husband had lost all interest in sex to send him to a doctor. Well, my husband lost all interest in sex and he is a doctor. Now what do I do?

Enjoy your weekend!!!!

entonces

2006-07-07T10:17:00.000-04:00

Well, no apologies necessary. I was just as busy as can be and now getting a chance to breathe. So let me jump right on in and give an update on what's been happening in Camps world.

First it was and still is World Cup fever. This is football terrority and everything comes to a standstill when football is playing. The other day I wondered into a store during a match and had tuh beg de fella tuh tek 2 mins and service me. Anyhow 2 more games and it's all over. So I was red white and black for the Soca Warriors, then they got the boot, I went for England, them too got sent home and then de ultimate defeat of all defeats was when host team Germany got taken down by 2 goals in the very last two minutes of the game... What agony. Last Saturday, I was on France side to beat Brazil, not that I'm a big fan of France, but because too many commentators was biased against Brazil and felt that they couldn't be beaten. Let's not forget the good showing of Ghana, first time into the World Cup and then to make it to the second round..too bad they had to face such a power team as Brazil. Now I have t choose between Italy and France...ahhh, I'm just not sure who to side with...Maybe I'll go for France.

Apart from World Cup, I've been also doing some travelling along with a lot of farewell lunches and functions. Lots of people have been granted parole from Arepaland this summer, so we are all jumping for joy. A good friend is off to Iran, another one to Cuba, One has left to Brazil and one to Nigeria and yet another one is on her way to Qatar.... so many international places to choose from for our next vacation spot.

So now it's all about cleaning, and packing...getting in all the medical appts and just getting things in order for the big move. So just a little update of what's happening.

having some issues wiht the photo loader....so no pics today

um momento

2006-06-19T16:40:00.000-04:00

taking a blog break..

football fever

tiredness

nothing of interest to write

busy preparing to leave

doing some last minute travels

life

hasta luego

2006-06-09T12:18:00.000-04:00

Well all good things must come to an end, and so has my vacation. It has been a glorious 4 weeks running all over the place. I did so much travelling on so many various forms of transportation. It has all been a great experience. The highlight of my vacation has been hanging out with my yute and having him drive me around. Can you imagine, a few yrs ago, I was fussing up a storm because he attepmted to start my manual car without my permission and ended up with my car ontop on another which cost me a $250 ticket. Now he's confidently driving me around in his big SUV. Boy time flies and our children go up infront our eyes.

So I head back home tomorrow to areapaland. The warden has signed our release papers, so well be out on parole soon. Actually we have a date, but I'll hold off on giving that. We going into a witness protection program, so daon ask whey we going....yuh know dey gots malicious?gypsy (nosey for the North Americans) people who reads a sister blog and willling to turn us in at any chance.

Anyhow, your next sighting from me will be back from Arepaland. Thanks for the readings, I'll give more vacation updates when I get back in between processing our release papers. Enjoy your weekend and stay dry. It's been raining non-stop around here for the last two days.

Fin de Semana

2006-06-03T15:55:00.000-04:00

Playa Aguita, MArgarita VE

Just something to hold you thru de weekend
Took this beauty in CT last weekend..ahh the life
of having such as a weekend beach house

Verano

2006-06-01T00:47:00.000-04:00

Well the summer vacation is coming along pretty good. Kinda better than I expected. I'm still in NY and enjoying every bit of it. I've been doing some travelling along the I-95 corridor including hiting as far up as Boston and also down to the Nations Capital. I still have another trip to make before I make my moves out of the U.S of A later on. Yes, I am taking pics along the way, It just that I forgot my docking station at the crib so I'm unable to download anything. I will have some stuff on disc that I can post within the next few days or so however.

So far I'm rediscovering NYC and I'm amazed at what a culturally rich city it is. The other day I took the train down to the majestical Grand Central Terminal Now, I'm by no means unfamaliar with the famous landmark. A few years back when I worked in NYC. 49 St /Grand Central was my morning subway stop. But like the average NYer, it was my duty to hussle my way to and from work, so taking the time to enjoy the beauty and atmosphere of Grand Central was not on my redar. This time was quite different, as I intentionally and leisurely took the time to enjoy the refurbished ceiling of the terminal, not to mention the great shopping and dining.

From Grand Central, I walked leisurley down to Bryant Park. As much as I've heard and know about this park over the years, it was actually my first time ever going there. The park is located directly behind the NY public library. I got there right around lunch time and it was great. People of all races, religions, profession, creed and most of all status from the gardener to the CEO were all just out sitting or lying on the lawn enjoying the beautiful afternoon having lunch or a nap.

I continued my stroll down to The Crossroads of America. Once again, a place that I've visited on countless occasions, but nonetheless it was still an enjoyable and pleasant vist this time around. What was most satisfying about the tour was that I was going at it solo. No one to rush me or interrupt me. I was on Camp time and Camp time alone. Where is the hubby you ask? Well he's off to another country handling some business.

I finished off my day with a walk down to Macy's 34th. Most of us know the stats of this icon. The largest Dept store. It's 10 floors and takes up the entire block of 34th St between 7 & 8 Aves. It's a massive store and for all the yrs that I've been in the NY area living ,working or visiting, I don't think that I've ever been throughout the entire store and my trip there last week was no different.

So there you go that was just one of my cultural days in NYC. The next day was day 2 of Fleet Week and a whole set of new discoveries in the small 23 square mile of what is known as New York City. Tomorrow I have a another tour planned, but this one I'll reserve for another blogg, hopefully it should be insightful.

Manzana Grande

2006-05-19T13:27:00.000-04:00

The travelling Camp checking in from the Big Apple. I've just stopped in to visit famiy and friends and to hang out witht he newest addition of our family Justin aka Scrubbs.

Before, I rant and rave about the Big Apple, let me share a few pics from our Lime Ladies Margarita retreat. Brazil proximia ano nos vamos.

So, I havn't been getting much of a chance to blog, and I know that I've been neglient in dropping some lines on your blogs, but I have been reading when I get a chance. But I just wanted to reach out to the Brooklyn, Queens bloggers/readers and say if you are interested in a NYC/Bajan or Caribbean blog lime, drop me a line at Dbajan03@yahoo.com. I'll be in the NYC area for another week or so. It would be nice to meet some of you, like Brooklyn Babe, Slow Metomorphis and some othe the other readers.

NYC is a trip and lawd, I got lots that I can blog about, but I'll leave that for another time. Let's just say summer isn't even really started as yet and the people are bugging.... well until next sighting.. I hope I get to meet one or two of the NYC bloggers.

Viajando

2006-05-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

otra vez. Yup, I'm travelling again. Margarita was great. We had such a great time. It was truly an awesome and inspiring time spent with the ladies. At the end of our retreat, we agreed that we'd attempt for Brazil next year. I have lots of photos and will share them, but right now, I'm travelling again, so I can't get to post them.

As our great escape come closer to the end, we are maximizing our time seeing as much as we can and wrapping up our business here in Arepaland. So the hubby and I will be on travel for the next month or so. Blogging will be quite sparse. I'll make an effort to check in as often as I can like I'm doing now.

So enjoy the summer and keep reading the blogs.

8 mujers y 1 espejo

2006-05-02T10:33:00.000-04:00

for 4 days in Isle de Margarita will be the venue for the 3rd annual Lime Ladies retreat. Yup, our group of dysfunctional wimmen from 5 different countries will camp out for our retreat starting tomorrow and climaxing on Monday. Two of these wimmen have flown in from the U.S.

Our retreat started 3 yrs ago when one of the ladies in our group said that she had never visited Trinidad or the Caribbean and always wanted to go. So we said, why not plan a weekend trip. Just the women, no husbands, no kids...and so a trend was started. We went to Trinidad for 3 days and tore the place up. We named ourselves the Lime Ladies after the Trini term for hanging out Liming.

Last year, we went to Colonial Tovar, a pictursque German village in the mountains of Venezuela.

As many of the members of our group are expats, and a few of us are leaving this year our choices for a retreat next year are exocit and exciting. We have the option of South Africa, Sao Paulo, Barbados, or Cincinnati, OH. We keep the group to a minimun of 8 and entry into our circle is quite selective. You have to be dysfunctional like us to join.

So off we go tomorrow, we've opted for the 4hr drive to coastal town of Puerto La Cruz and then take the 1hr Ferry ride accross to Margarita, we are taking our cars, hence the ferry trip. So my fellow bloggers, my bags will be packed shortly, the music and swim suit and sunblock are ready and I'll be off. I'llm ake sure to take some pics to share

National Heroes' Day

2006-04-28T15:54:00.000-04:00

In honor of Barbados National Heroes' Day I had intentions of writing a nice and informative blog, but I just got caught up with too many other things going on, but I still wanted to make the effort and honour our National Heroes. They may be a few, but to our small island, they are just as significant than any other.

In doing some research I also came across this quizz and tought it would be nice to see how many of the Bajan bloggers can answer the questions and in the hopes of enlightening some the other readers of our little piece of rock in the Caribbean Sea.

Of course many people know our most famous hero Sir Gary Sobers and them our infamous
Bussa

But there are many more, OK not so many, but more but enought to take time out and honor. Yes, there is also a woman in the midst. She looking too pretty but also fierce at the same time.

So my fellow Bajan bloggers, Happy National Heroes Day

Demesaido

2006-04-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

Well it's about time I pay some attention to this blog. But like the typical excuse, the daily hassles of life is getting to me, not to mention the work on the great escape. So, I've been quite negilent in keeping in touch.

Oh well, the Easter holiday came and went, nothing too significant to report on. The hubby and I didn't do much exciting stuff, travelling during the holidays don't excite us but we had a peacefull and reflecting time.

So much has happened since my last posting. I can't even kep up with the news nowadays. The US threatening war with Iran, I ein know wha dem looking for WMD's or just mass destruction of anything or anybodie who doan believe like they do. But I don't do politics, so I ein even going there.

There is the whole Duke Lacrosse team rape case. Was she or was she not raped. The verdic is yet to be determined. The whole issue is bringing the black and white racial issue to the forefront. I think that gonna be a sepearte blog by itself when the time comes.

Now the amount of violence committed by children is on the forefront here again. What could have gone wrong that this child could commit such an act. Three lives and a whole family forever destroyed.

So much news to write about so little time.

Wha happening in society today with the yutes? yuh can't go tuh school in peace without being in the danger zone . I wondering if we in Barbados or on the South side Chicago or South central LA.

Then to put a interesting spin on things making de news snakes in de grass, dirty n' slimy . boye Carew shoulda be alive to see he song come to life. (OK that's one fuh de Bajans). I neva would have though I'd see de day when Barbados got snakes loose bout de place. Whey de mangoose when we need dem????

Good Friday

2006-04-14T12:33:00.000-04:00

House still under rennovations but I hope to have it all finished by Easter. You know Easter signals the true briginning of Spring and we step out in our Easter best, bonnets, dresses, shoes, suits the works. It's the annual unofficial Easter Fashion shows at the various churches so I working on that deadline. Nevertheless, I just wanted to peek in and wish folks a Happy Good Friday.

Speaking of which. Any Good Friday traditions in yur part of the world? In Barbados we have a few as seen here in The Nation Some traditions remain diehard while others fade with the time.

I vividly remember the no going to the Beach on Good Friday. Boy that was a definite for the villagers, don't dare be caught near the beach. Also the breaking a fresh egg out in the sun at pricesly midday. whatever shape the eggs form is your destiny for the coming year. Eg. a ship or anything resembling a boat means you going away.

Of course there is the traditional, no red meat eating on Good Friday. Right now I got my fish all seasoned and marinating reading for a nice baking stuffed with some shrimp later today.

Then they wouldn't be Easter without kite flying on Easter Monday. and all throughout the season. But making those kites and having them sky high was the thing to do. Now, kites are commercial made, but in time gone by they were magnigicantly hand made by the neighborhood boys, and the competition was who could make the largest or prettiest kite. Not to mention the fellas who would let their kites fly at night. Ahhh the Good ole days of growing up in the Caribbean.

Happy Good Friday & Easter fellow bloggers!!!!

Discuple la molesta

2006-04-06T21:32:00.000-04:00

ah doing some spring cleaning

ah coming wid new curtains just now

ah gine put down some marle

ah just pay off de hire purchase fuh de furniture from Courts

Ah coming just now

Partying during Lent

2006-04-04T15:51:00.000-04:00

So much to do so little time. It just dawned on me that it's already the 5th of Apr and I havn't posted anything this month. But I want you to know that I'm still here digging out.

Saw this article in the De Nation yesterday and thought huummmmm bacchanal brewing between the Trinis and the Bajans over fetting during Lent. Boy times sure have changed. The yutes loosing their moral standards. But in all reality yuh can't put all de blame on the yutes, cause dem not de fete pomoters, dem just gine long fuh de ride.

Time was people respected the period of Lent, Nuh lotta banja( calypso) singing in de house, nuh cussing, nuh fetting...just a solem time for prayer and reflection. But it nuh so now, people fetting all ova de place. But why de Trinis mek sure that carnival finished before Ash Wednesday so to respect the season of Lent, and then go and do dixie in other countires. Double standars I would say. But like the Good Reverend says, it's the Barbados gov't that give de entertainers permission to come perform in Barbados. I say double standards on the Bajan government side too...

But I not gonna labor too much on this topic, just a lil sumthing to keep wunna going. Bajans and Trinis already got confusion ova de Trinis thiefin we flying fish, and buying up evathing in Barbados including de Barbados Nation Bank, now dem coming fuh Bacchanal on de Rock during Lent...what next...Lordee looka muh Trini friends coming fuh muh....

Lata peoples.

I Confess

2006-03-30T15:03:00.000-05:00

Recent events in the news this week had me thinking of a series of post or at least one post covering them. But as I was browsing De Nation this morning,

This hey article caught my attention so I decided to go for the lighter stuff rather than the heavier issues. Now I can't say that I agree or disagree with the woman, but she got some valid points on some ah de issues. Like this paragraph for instance "...The reason so many women end up disappointed and sad in love affairs is because our expectations are not fulfilled. This is a major burden many women carry because we were socialised from young to believe we should be treated in certain ways by men, and should receive particular courtesies as females...."We are taught men should behave in certain ways in relationships, and when this doesn't happen, we're devastated. So ingrained are these beliefs that though our love affairs fail based on these criteria, we continue from relationship to relationship with the same expectations, dreams, hopes – call them what you like.

This is so true. I know many women who are still unattached because they have these same set of criteria. Now don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being an unattached women, whether it be their choice or a failed relationship, but I often wonder about women who are unattached because some man did not meet one or all of these criteria and then she's left with a sour note in her mouth about men.

Take a friend of mine for example. A nice, well educated woman with the right assets in the right places for West Indian men and most men in general. My friend is unattached and guess some of the reasons why? First she wants a fella with the lighter complexion because she thinks that they treat women better than those of the darker complexions...go figure. So any dark skin brother that makes advances at her are dismissed simply because of the color of his skin.

Next, she wants a fella to do this, that and the other, but her actions towards him are totally different and I'm not speaking anything of the intimate nature. She wants the big house in the right neighborhood and the big car ect. The funny thing is that she want Mr. perfect to show up at her doorstep, but still yet if he does unannounced to surprise her, she has issues with that. But yet, she dosen't go out of her way to meet Mr. Perfect half way. Mr Perfect is to read her mind and be forbidden if he gets it wrong.

Now my girlfriend is of the child bearing age and is concerned that she's not married, don't have Mr. Perfect or the big house or car, she's wondering what's the deal with men. She's conceeded that she might be too old to have children. I had to tell her... my dear friend, in order to have a child you must be doing getting wid chile things... She still insisting on getting the light skinned brother to produce the perfect Leave it to Beaver family.

Back to the article. Now I think the woman in question might have gone a bit overbroad with her views. Relationships are a two-way street, you give, you get, you get, you give and sometime you give and don't get, othertimes you get without having to give, but lots of times it's the give and don't get. Accept it as part of life and maturity. Women in general do need to put away these misconceptions and expectations of what relationships should be and just accept your partner or potential partner for the person that he is and remember you get out of a relationship what you put into it.

Memories

2006-03-23T16:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday when I tuned into VOB to catch my daily fill of Afternoon Delight, I was surprised to hear the coverage of the Plus/Powerade Secondary Schools Athletics Finals at the National Stadium . Well that bought back some nice memories of my school days on the island.

Back in my time way back when the schools were yet to be intergrated, sports days were the days to treasure and look foward to whether you were an athelete or not. Now during the regular school year, I wasn't much of an athlete, but when I heard that sports day was coming, well I tried my best to get on one of the track & field events. I did get on two events, but sadly to say didn't do much to advance the team or my school. The one and only time I ever ran hurdles was at the National Stadium and I must say, my performance was horrid, but hey, I was on the team and if my school won, which at the time it didn't, I could say my few sorry points help contribute to the win.

Anyhow back to sports day. It was the day to officially "get on bad" aka misbehave in your school uniform. So on the morning we'd all get dressed for school and off to the stadium we go. Now it was the normal school rivalry, the top five (Harrison College, Queens College, Lodge Boys, St. Michaels Girls, & Combemmere Boys) against all the other common entrance failures. You must understand the Caribbean schooling system to understand that statement. But hey, I wasn't a member of the elite top 5. I was a Springer Memorial girl or as we were affetionately know as the Springer whore house. We were are the bottom of the common entrance train. That was until school sports day.

On Sports Day, all schools were on level playing ground. It was all about the fastest runner, longest or highest jumper. It was payback time for the academic under achievers, and pay back we did. So off to the national stadium we go to do our thing. Now if you ever see school children misbehave then was the time. Girls in the shortest and tightest uniforms allowed or not allowed. Boys in rude boye fashion and all schools joined together. It was also the few time boys and girls kinda mixed at the schools. So it was dixie time in the stadium stands. Lets not talked about what went on behind the stadium stands.

The deal was to get into the highest stands and shout the loudest, curse the nastiest and just be the worst that you can be while cheering for your school or particular favorite athlete and that we Springer girls did with ease and class. It was pure joy and entertainment for just a few hours of the school year. Then it was all over depending on who walked home with the glory of winning the national title.

The fun didn't stop there, it was just beginning as we walked the approx 2.5 miles or less to the bus stand. Bragging rights, fights, more cussing, and some loving and making out all happened in that short distance. Schools mixed and blended. Uniforms stood out. Springer popcorn blue dress againt St. Michael blue box pleats or Alexandria Light blue V-Neck or Parkinson green and yellow checkers, or Foundation yellow dress uniform. It was all about the uniforms. The boys were pretty much uniformed in kakhis with the exception of the color and pattern of the tie.

It was memories made for growing up in the school system in the Caribbean. It was good to hear and see that inter-school sports are still very much a part of the culture today and that underdog schools likeSpringer Memorial are still reigning topp dogs in school atheletics.
So much has changed, but so much remains the same. Memories, oh so good memories

vìaducto

2006-03-20T11:40:00.000-05:00

La mayor parte de la estructura del estribo del viaducto 1 de la autopista Caracas-La Guaira se desplomó este domingo, aproximadamente a las 11:45 de la mañana, en el estribo Caracas sólo quedan en pie tres columnas fracturadas y el desplome de la estructura provocó la ruptura de unos tubos de agua.

So many times we don't even realize how close we are to our demise. Take this situation for instance. This bridge is or shall I say was, the only way to and from the airport from Caracas. I never could understand a major city as Caracas and there being only one way to and from the airport. Well actually there are three, but one route, takes you over the mountains and you need a 4X4 and a stomach of steel to take the trip. The other route takes you through the barrios (shanty towns), up over the mountains and then down a windy mountain road, this also you need a stomach of steel and a couple glocks as it's quite a dangerous route to take. So that left the only solid or so we thought road. The viaducto.

The viaducto is actually a bridge. What people didn't realize that it was a rather high bridge that connected you to two mountain ranges. While travelling on the viaducto you don't realize that you are travelling over a bridge. After the bridge, you then travel through two tunnels and finally come out to the other side of the mountain ranges into Vargas state and on to the airport. The folks of Caracas knows that if you are going to the airport that you must allow youself ample time, because the trip can be as short as 35 mins or as long as 1 1/2 hrs depending on what happens to traffic along that road.

The history of the viaducto is that it was built to last 50yrs. Well I think this is year 50 of the structure. All along, the various governments or dictatorships, knew that the road needed to be maintained and eventually repaired or replaced. Well I guess they had other things to do than be concerned with the road, like dictating the country so it remained for the most part unmaintained. Well, withing the last I guess 4-5 yrs, they realized that the structure was sinking. Wow, wouldn't you know??? traffic 24/7, no maintainence and it's 45yrs old. So a hastily attempt was made to try to stabalize the bridge. But that decision came a little too late. So, they decided to shut the bridge down, and build a new alternate road. So how we gonna get to the airport? Yuh got two choices, over the mountain or through the barrios (carterra viejo) the old road. So off the people had to do until the viaje alternativo was finished.

Well, all kind of talk was in place as how to remedy the situation. But no solutions or decisions. Well, I guess as of yesterday the solution was made for them when the bridge finally collapsed. Luckily no one was injured, just the surrounding barrios lost their water supply. I could imagine the horror on the faces of the people that were treavelling the viaje alternativo, as it runs right along the viaducto on the other side of the mountain. So you can imagine the the rumblings, the mountain shaking and the dust and debris. The only thing left standing from the structure is the columns that use to support it.

Sometimes, things needs to be taken in their own hands if there is to be a solution and yesterday the viaducto did just that. Just imagine, how much our lives were in danger travelling over that bridge and we didn't have a clue.

Camindo en Sabana Grande

2006-03-13T16:13:00.000-05:00

It's a new week and another opportunity for new experiences, opportunities, some failures, some disappointments and hopefully through all of this some new perspectives on life. We have to take the good with the bad. It's what life is all about, living, loving, learning and laughing and in a lot of cases ignoring.

I started my week with a morning walk down a well know Avenue Sabana Grande. Now, this is out of my norm as my daily exercise is a 5K in a local park here. Anyhow, the last few days, I changes routes for various reasons. While walking, I listen to my music and just take in the scenes around me. But, I've really taken a liking to walking down the Grande. Why, well here is why. The stree is turned into a full fledged illegal shopping area. The are legitimate stores , but the buhenores (street vendors) take business to another level

Like the coffee man here on the right, it's Starbucks Caracas style. You see these fellas/ladies all over the place walking and selling cups of coffee ( a major food staple here). On the left is the entrance to the Blvd, part of which is for pedestrian traffic only.

A game of chest to start the day off to a good start. They have chest tables along the way and anyone can just sit and play. Or to the right you can have your sidewalk breakfast of arepas, empanadas, coffee, chorros, jugo de najarna..you name it, they have it.

Finally the vendors, bring all their goods and set up shop, see there to the left, and everything from tangas to the righ are on sale. What a sight to see in the morning. So that's how my week started. Hope you guys have a good one

Tengo gripe

2006-03-10T14:42:00.000-05:00

Felíz fin de semana bloggers---Happy Weekend!!

I don't know how happy a weekend I'll have. I feel either a cold or flu or some kinda virus coming on. the head aches, the body aches, and just the general sluggish and achy feelings. The weather here has been quite crappy the last few days. It's supposed to be the dry season, but we're getting all kinds of rain, cold and dreary weather.. Ok for the N. American folks, I know low 70's ein exactly cold weather but for we down in the Southern hemisphere, anything below 75 is cold, OK anything below 60 is real cold, but so far we ein get there yet. So, I'm going to jump under the covers and fight this thing.

Right now I'm here enjoying Afternoon Delight and enjoying the chat.
topic of discussion-- A mother writes to Sharon complaing of her son's girlfriend. He's 49yrs and divorced with 3 children. The girlfriend is 29, they've been engaged for 3yrs (I got issues with this part) anyhow... The mother complains, that the girlfriend is quite domineering. She demands that the guy can't go to see the ex-wife and kids without her present because she don't trust the ex-wife. She also says that the man must bring home the money and give to her. The man has to share his earnings between the, ex-wife, the mother, the children and the girlfriend. The mother thinks that with this kind of behavior that the her son should call off the wedding. So the calls, emails and faxes are coming in with many various perspectives.

So Blogland what is your take on this situation? Should the man allow his fiancé to tell him who gets his money first? Should the mother have a say in the situation?? What's your view on the man???

Feliz Día

2006-03-08T15:33:00.000-05:00

of Women...Yup, It's International Women's Day... Biggup to all the strong beautiful women out there. I didn't even realize it until a freind text me a message. Anyhow It's All Good.

Never a Dull Moment in Arepaland.-- So this morning I'm off to my walk. Normally I'd have gone to the park, but because I was running or shall we say walking against time today, I opted for a shorter walk, just to get the heart pumping. I walked down to the main commercial area. When I got there, I noticed a lot of people walking around in red T-shirts, and music blaring off the back of a truck. Right there, I knowthat's the sign of a Chavista Rally (Government rally) So I'm wondering what's happening. Well come to find out la señoritas y señoras are marching for Int'l women's Day. They are marching in solidarity against the war in Iraq, for better health and education for women and most interestingly against the US Embassy here in VE.

So the story goes like this; apparently Zulia State, a State in the western part of Venezuela where the oil fields are want to break away from mainland VE and become its own autonomy. There is talk that if Bush and his boys get them to break ties with mainl andVE and hook up with the independent Zulia state they'll have control of the oil, and the US can buy from them and forget about the rest of VE. Of course it's well known that the US interest in the country stems only form the oil it purchases from Chavez. If I'm not mistaken, the U.S gets 5% or more of it's oil from Venezuela. Given Chavez and Bush love-hate relationship with each other, a threat by Chavez to cut-off the oil supply to the US can cause major havoc in oil prices throughout the world and already has.
Word on la calle is that Bush has sent some of his peeps down here from the Embassy to support the folks of Zulia state in the seperation attempt. Well yuh know that Chavez eint having that. He won't allow things to go down like that. So animosity is in the air again. He'll give Bush and Condi a good cussing on his weekly Aló Presidente program which can last for up to 6hrs of non-stop ranting and raving by Chavez.

So today in honor of Int'l Womans Day, the women of the State of Zulia along with those from other parts of the country gathered together some over 2 milliones de firmandos (2 million signatures, I'm not so convinced that they actually had that many) and marched to the gates of the U.S Embassy to present them to the Ambassador. Of course you know that they weren't getting within earshot of him, but they made their presence known.

Like I said never a dull moment in Caracas. The sights and sounds of the march was quite interesting. Marching here takes on a whole different tone. Music, laughter, speeches and people whith all kinds of signs, clothing and everything else imaginable.

Dios Mio

2006-03-05T14:31:00.000-05:00

"Do not fret because of evil men,
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away."
- Psalms 37:1-2

This post is written specifically for Ms. Tee aka Bizzy Lickmun who within 24hrs of me posting my photo here on my blog, lifted my photo and is impersonating me on another malicious website on the Net.

God don't like ugly, malicious, vindictive, wicked, low-life, lying, deceieving people.

What goes around comes around and I will leave you in the hands of God to deal with.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Lent

2006-03-03T17:53:00.000-05:00

So we are three days into the season of Lent. The season remembering the 40 days that Jesus was in the wilderness. The 40 days in which Satan tried to temp Jesus to all sorts of things. The 40 days in which Jesus fasted to clear his mind and thoughts with pray and meditation. It's the solem and holy time of the year for those of us who practice the Christian faith. But what does Lent really mean to us??? Many of us decide to give up something during the season. The most common request you hear is to give up smoking, drinking, cussing, sex, lying and the list goes on. In the past I use to make those same request. Oh it's Lent, I'm gonna stop cursing, well mostly it was cursing, cause I really don't drink and I don't smoke. Lots of people include not eating meat for the season or eating only fish. But what are these request really about? Are they about the sacrifice as Jesus made or are they just artificial request and desires. Has anyone ever fullfilled their expectations and sacrifices during the Lent season? I'm sure that I've fallen short of mine in the years gone by.

This year however, I havn't made a request of what I'm giving up as yet. I guess you can say that if by now I havn't made it why bother. Well hey, it's better late than never. The effort is there, the thoughts and the sacrifice is there. So it's taken me a bit to think of what bad vice I have that I want to get rid of. No, I'm not a goodytooshoo but I'd rather give up something major than something trivial, so it took me a bit to think of. Am I going to reveal what I'm giving up, NO! it's something personal to me, so I'll keep it at that. So starting today, I'm giving up that something that's a vice of mine for the season of Lent and if all goes well, hopefully I'll give it up for good.

That's another issue about these 40 days between Ash Wednedsay and Good Friday or Easter Sunday. We endure the sacrifice of something and then what happens? I was making a joke to a friend of mine and I told her, It's Lent, I'm being a good girl, then she asked me a profound question. Then what happens after Lent??? Whoa, I wasn't thinking that far ahead. I'm just trying to get through these 40 days, one day at a time. But it was a valid question nonetheless. What will happen after the 40 days??? Do I go back to doing the same bad vice, do I continue with the sacrifice? What????? Well, I hope that I'll continue on my path of doing what's right. I hope that I don't return to my bad vice only to be making the same request again next year.

I'm not perfect, far from it to say the least, but at least I'm making an honest effort. So during this season of Lent, I'm giving up my bad vice. I've also decided to spend more time reading my Bible. I have a terrible track record in that area. I just can't or won't commit myself to the daily routine of morning meditation. In the mornings, I want to be under my covers fast asleep, not up reading the Bible or any kind of reading for that matter. But I'm making an effort to make bible reading and meditation a part of my morning routine. and that I started on the first day of Lent so, let me see how faithfull I can be in this regard.

So what are you giving up for Lent????

On another note. As per request from Courtney and R.I. here are the cornrows carnival style.
Photo deleted from other malicious people

Carnaval 2006

2006-03-01T14:05:00.000-05:00

Well Carnival has come and gone. It's Ash Wednesday, time to repent for all our sins and look forward to the season of fasting and scracificing. What are you giving up for Lent? I might take this topic a seperate one on his own. So before I give up anything let me release my sins of the carnival weekend.

Carnival here in Arepaland isn't the same as in the Caribbean. It's a 4 day weekend all the same, but people usually just flock to the beaches to catch as much rays as they can. Usually, no parade, activities or any of the flare we have in the islands. For the past couple years it was all about the political activities. Well this year, not much happening on the political forefront, so the municipalities decide to celebrate carnival. So we took in some of the activities.

The fellas looking too sweet huh

I still hey wondering if muh shim on the top dey dey got in some implants in de backpart dey or not. Check out shorty below.

On the other specturm, the peewees were too cute

Semana en pasa

2006-02-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

Lots going on, and the focus has been else where. So a quick review of the week

A sister went and changed the hairstyle. So Camp is now sporting cornrows....photos to come at a later date.
Got hooked on watching American Idol and Desperate Housewives. Can you imagine such mess. Hey It's all Good. Something to kill the stress of the week.
Been focusing on the great escape. BTW it's T-75 days and counting.
Carnaval weekend here in Arepaland. So it's a 4 day weekend. The beaches are mad crowded, so Camp and the hubby are staying put in la cuidad. There are some carnival activities, so we'll be out and about looking at them.
All else is going pretty good, not much to complain about. The focus has been our great escape, but remember I told you to keep it on the downlow. So I'll be in touch more after next week. Maybe with the escape update.
Sorry for the blog MIA, but don't give up on me, althought the post has been quite infrequent, Ive been reading yours.

Until next time--hasta leugo babe!!!!

Winter Olympics

2006-02-18T18:46:00.000-05:00

Day 9 of the winter games in Turin, Italy and I haven't seen much talked about the activities in and among the Caribbean blogging crew. I guess, the general premise is that hey, we folks don't dig cold weather sports. We ein much represented dey anyhow, so why bother?? Fair enough statement I might say. Usually, I'm a big Olympics fan, I watch both summer and winter games. I enjoy seeing the human interest clips on the athletes, their trials and triumphs to make it to the games. It's a personal achievement and many times a community one. I like to see the adrenaline of the players. The excitement and fear in their faces at the beginning of their event and at the same time, the joy and disappointment of missing that gold by a 10th of a second or even missing the podium by a 5th of a second. All your yrs of training comes down to a matter of seconds.

I haven't seen any of the games this year, just the news clips. The local network here that shows them are constantly being interrupted by cadenas (mandatory government information programs) So I'm a bit out of touch with the excitement of the games and what's taking place. I usually like to watch the Ski jumping, the giant downhill, and of course the ice dancers. The golden guys and gals of the ice comes next week, so I'm hoping to catch a event or two. Anyhow, a new clipping I saw last night caught my attention and I thought I'd post about it.

Bloggers meet Shani Davis

Davis began making history at age 17 when he became the first U.S. speedskater to earn spots on both the short track and long track Junior World Teams and accomplished that feat three years in a row in 2000, 2001 and 2002 . In 2003-04, Davis was the silver medalist at the World All-Around Championships and was the 1500 meters World Champion at the 2004 World Single Distance Championships During the 2004-2005 season, Davis won his third straight U.S. Long Track Championship Title, broke the 1500 meter World Record, and went on to win the 2005 World All -Around Championships For the second season in a row, not only did Davis make history earning spots on World Teams in both disciplines, he also made his first World Sprint Team earning two silver medals. In the 2005 Fall World Cup 3, Davis set a new world record in the 1000 meters and went on to win the 1000 meters a total of four consecutive times in World Cups 3 and 4. Also during the 2004-05 team, Davis was a member of the U.S. Short Track World Team that won a bronze medal in the relay event at the World Short Track Championships. Davis joins an elite group of speedskaters who have represented their countries in different Olympic Games as a long track speedskater and short track speedskater.
Update For the 2006 Olympic Games, Davis set out to accomplish what has never been done before in U.S. Olympic history: make both teams for the same Games. He finished sixth in the 2006 U.S. Short Track Championships, one spot short of making the team.
Well as of this posting, Davis has become the first African-American or in other words, the first black to win an individual Gold at the winter olympics in the long track for which he is the current world record holder. He is set to go for his second gold in the short track next Tuesday. Of course not without controversy amongs his fellow team skaters. Stay tuned.

I thought that this was a nice little story. Blacks making their mark in witner sports and at the winter olympics. I'm sure everyone remembers a few Olympics ago when the Jamacian bobsled team made their debut. Althought they had a poor performance, their story made more headlines than many others. Ironically, they are not represented at this years olympics, but the team is in Turin, doing promotional and marketing activites, to rais money for their next olympics. Call that classic, I'd say.

At the last winter olympics in Salt Lake City, Vonetta Flowers also made history as the first black woman to win gold in the two woman bobsled. She was the pusher, I'm sure there is a more athletically correct word for her position.
Flowers returned for her second full season after giving birth to twin boys August 30, 2002. Vonetta teamed up with Olympian Jean Racine and finished the 2004-2005 season ranked number four in the world. During the season Flowers brought home three medals (1 gold and 2 bronze). Vonetta and Jean also finished fifth at the World Championships in Calgary, Canada. Vonetta not only competed for the season but also was a mom as well as she along with her husband, Johnny, brought the boys on tour with them for the entire season.
Flowers became the first ever African-decent athlete to win a Winter Olympic Gold Medal after she teamed up with Jill Bakken to shock the world and bring home the gold at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Vonetta took the first half of the 2002-2003 season off after giving birth to twin boys following the Olympics. Flowers returned to the ice in January 2003 and teamed up with fellow Olympian Jean Racine and finished sixth at the World Championships in Winterberg, Germany.

I think if my counting is correct, there are 9 black athletes competing at the games in Turin, I can only wish all of them the best of luck, and maybe their success in their respective sports will encourage our younger brothers and sisters that all sports are out there to excel at and don't let stereotypical limitations stop them from pursuing their dreams.

Historia de me cabella

2006-02-15T20:16:00.000-05:00

It never ceases to amaze me how so many people (i.e causian folks) don't have a clue regarding black hair. Not only white people but some of my black or wanna be black sisters too.
Now since I've been here I've gone through a variety of hair styles. Most of them natural hair styles. and yet, everytime I change, it's the same dumfounded questions I ger.

Dreadlocks
When I first got here, I had mini dreads. meaning, my dreads were in the first year of life and just coming along smoothly. The folks here didn't have a clue as how to react to me. I got the stares, the looks, the touches, the questions, you name it and I got it. The dreads were a aburn tinted brown, not too long for ponytail and all the elegant upsweept dos, but with enough length to do some stuff with. so stuff with my dreads I did. Eventually, with the humdity, and mostly the harsh water, last of styling care needs my dreads took a beating and began to break and shed. I got fustrated and cut them.

Braids
I had to make a trip to the Motherland, and I promptly cut the dreads one day and put the braids the next, my time in the country was limited. Braids, long down my back. Do you think that my white friends realized what I did. They asked all kind of questions and I had a lot of explaining to do. From the first set of braids, I went through the variety. Human hair straight, human hair curly, kaneklon curly, straight, synthetic curly, straight, you named it I had them in. All the while people (white folks) thinking that it's my hair. They just couldn't understand the braid concept. No problem. All was going well until one day I took out my braids, and my hair had grown so much it was out of control and hard nappy as could be. I could hardly get a comb through it. So, me with my fast self went and permed my hair. Oh boy did I open a bag of worms.

Perm
So with a half done perm in an attempt to soften my hair, I had to go to the beauty shop to get it dried and put in some kind of order. First mistake. Folks here have no idea what to do with black hair. So my brother. He was as close to a brother as I could find. just blew dry my hair with a brush and sent me out the door. That works for straight wash and wear hair, but it don't gor for balck hair. We need oil, sheen, grease, conditiner and probably some mouse to keep our hair together. By the time I walked out hte door, so went my hair.

Again, I left and when to the mainland. Got a lady in Miami to hook a sister hair up, perm, cut the works. Wow I actually had some serious black hair going on, but reality was that I had to return to Arepaland and was going to need maintenance in a few weeks. Mistake #2 - went again to get same brother work on the sister hair, and did he not butcher my hair.. lordee I wanted to scream. So I decided there and then, no more messing with these beauty folks. It's back to the braids until I leave this place.

Natural Kinky Twist
Now this is where it got really coonfusing to the folks, because my natural twist was looking so natural, that they didn't know whether it was my hair or not. So I just constantly redo the natural twist, change the color every now and then and be on my way. Well folks thought that I was sporting dreads and complemented me on my hair all the time. OK no problem. A few time inbetween, I'd change to s straight braid or so, but mostly stuck with the natural twist. until now...

Natural Twist
A couple weeks before the holidays, I took my kinky twist out and decided not to put any extentions in my hair, just do a natural two strand twist and be on my way, let my hair breath for a while. Well that opened another barage of questions as to why I cut my hair and my dreads. OK here goes the explaining again. That went on for a bit. The I threw another curve to the situation

All Natural
I put a natural texturizer in my hair and blow dried it out. Talk about the head stares, the questions, the confused looks. I pulled it back into a ponytail, and attached a afro puff on the back. Lordee did I confuse people. So I've been sporting my all natural for about a month now. putting it in a variety of all natural styles. The novelty is waning for me now, so this weekend, I'll go back to some braids, but this time I'm going to sport some cornrows. Let's see what the reactions will be.

día de amor

2006-02-14T08:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentines to all the Bleeding hearts in blogland

I'm a bit busy and don't have much blogging time, but just wanted to send love out to all the bloggers, whether you are hooked up or not. Share the Love, embrace the day and just be thankfull that you are around Love in all shapes and fashion.

otra dia

2006-02-09T18:34:00.000-05:00

It always seems that when life is getting the best of you that the days just go by and you don't even realize where there are going. My blogging or lack thereof is a sign of my life just smoothly going by with or without me. Life waits for no one, so you must jump on the train of life and deal with the speed of the train driver, cause he's not stopping to wait for you. Now that I've gotten that out of the way. What's happening.

The tunnel project is well on the way. Today was a good day, and we made some progress with our great escape. Can't reveal any details as yet, but we digging along just continue to think of us and pray for us.

The weather here has been pretty good. Finally, it seems like the dry season is upon us. See hey de Avila as seen from the bedroom. Not a vivid a view as before but refreshing all the same. The nights are still a bit cool according to Latin American weather standards, but it's all good. You open the windows, get under the covers and get cozy with the hubby. Still have some issues with maintenece in the Apt, but nothing like the one we left before but we realize that's the story of our lives here in Arepaland.

So did anyone catch the Grammys last nigh? Yea, yea, yea, I know it's basically American music and not international, but hey Welcome to Jamrock won for best reggae, and he was looking quite dapper, with the two ladies at his side. He cleaned up well I must say. I'm still waiting for the breakthrough of a calypso category.

Ryhianna was definitely missing, I though she'd be there for her first show, but I guess her peoples probably think that she's not ready as yet. I was sure that Ms Kami was going to do the fashion police for us today, but seems like she burned out and fustrated with all the violence happening in the schools today.

I saw a few choice picks. Like Ms Eva here . It takes that special body to pull off such a number. Geeze when I drop another 100lbs maybe I'll try a number like that. Of course we couldn't miss Ms Terri here who stole the show from everyone. The girl got guts and she actually pulled it off. They were some other hit and misses, but let's not dwell on them. The performances were nothing to shout about. I especially admired Madonna. After all these years, the Material Girl, still got material and stamina. You gotta give her the props for enduring as long as she did.

Another performace that took center stage was Jamie Foxx and Kyane West Golddigger. Now I like Jammie as both the comic he is and actor, now emerging singer. I am in no way a fan of Kyane. I think the brother has issues. I havn't really heard the song Golddigger, but heard
much about it. However, last night performance on the point. I was really feeling the step show imitation. Hey it's the HBCU graduate in me... forgive me if you are not a proud graduate of a Historically Black College or University Bowie Bull Dawgsin da house...oooppsss forgive me... flashback. Where was I?? Oh yea, so the performance was nice. I was totally appalled at the 1970's pimp look he was sporting with the red shirt open down the chest and big medallion. Oh where did I stach that photo. Oh I couldn't even be botherd to save it. Also the performance of Mirah Carey, Cristina with Herbie Hancock and Mary J were worth mention. Overall decent show. Let me not forget to give the props to U2 for song and album of the year. Bono still doing his thang.

el dia de lunes

2006-02-06T16:39:00.000-05:00

It seems like Monday comes faster than anyone can think of. But it's the sign of the times and we roll with the punches and the days. It also seems like the blog possee are posting fewer and far between, call it life catching up to us, but it sure is different than the days of gone, when most everyone posted almost daily. Another sign of the times.

So how was the weekend? I must say, that for the first time in a long time I had a pretty nice weekend. Friday was chill night with the hubby as usual. Sat, was the usual chores and middling about. Sat night we had una boda (wedding) to attend. What a lovely wedding it was. One of our Hatian bretherin married a local latino. Well let me tell you, the brother pulled out all the stops. We were quite impressed. The young lady was elegant and regal with a simple strapless dress adorned with a small cascade of roses on the side. The brother was stepping to the nines in his white satin tie on white shirt. Two beautiful flower girls, one moreno the other negreta dress in blue just stole the show. The activities took place in one of our 5 star hotels here. They were married by the poolside with a reception following in one of the salons.

Elegance and class was at it's best every step of the way. A Saxaphonist (resembling Kenny G) serenaded us as we waited for the bridal party, and also accompanied the bride the short walk down the isle. After the simple ceremony we were escorted into the hotel, where upon arriving at the salon, two photographers stopped each person/couple and took their photo. Inside the salon, the tables were absolutely beautiful in white on white. The finest champagne and Scotch greetedg every table. Then there was a live band performing smoothing dinner tunes that just took us back in time.

In no time dinner was served and what a spread it was a spread fit for a king. Food as far as the eye can see, dinner was a buffet and nothing was missing. Every type of meat/fish necessary, salads, cheeses, frutis and the list continues. The dessert table had about 40 different types of cakes and pastries and everything was so elegantly arranged. We were left speechless as we ate to our hearts content and our bellies busted. After dinner, it was another band for the salsa and menrenge dancing and then another live band for the reggae and calypso. We danced until the wee hrs of the morning. Talk about a classy affair. That indeed it was.

So after waking up with a hangover on Sunday and stumbling into church half sleep with a headache, I spent the rest of the day sleeping it all off and realizing that I'm not as young as I used to be anymore and the body ached all over. Then it was up to see the Steelers win Super Bowl XL. Great game. So now, I'm here to start the week and continue my with my great excape. 94 days and counting.

Unrelated item
I had the pleasure some years ago of wrapping my arms around these precious locks ...Ohhh boy...I was in heaven then. Yes, Camp luvs a man wid some nice dreads. There,now you know something else about me.

Fin de semana

2006-02-04T11:15:00.000-05:00

I hope this works. Just a little someting to pass the weekend

fin de semana trivia (1472K)

GUESSTHESONGTITLE_1.pps (1472K)

cien dias y menos

2006-02-01T17:08:00.000-05:00

That's right, as of today the hubby and I are on our 100 day countdown. Hip, hip horraay...yes, we getting excited, we getting mentally ready, we getting prepared to be assimilated into the real world. A world of normalcy, a world of order, a world of getting things done when they need to be done, sin hassles, stress, confusion and most of all greasing sombodies palm for doing something that they should be doing in the first place.

So yuh thinking, But Camp, you didn't tell us that you got your release papers. Welll..ahhh we havn't gotten them YET!. But we planning an escape if we don't get them by a certain date we got in mind, we got the escape planned to happen within 100 days from now. Hey, great escapes takes planning and time, so we planning an organizing things. Now don't ask about we escape plans, yuh neva know who lurking in blogsphere and might sell we out. So ley we keep this info on the downlow between you and us...shhhhhsssss.

So I just want to inform my peeps about the great escape, like hoodini, Winston Hall and all de other fellas who jump ship from Alcatraz or walk outta Glendairy, Camp and the hubby got big plans tuh jump ship from Caracas and soon. So let the countdown start...more to come on the escape plans soonn.... until then work must be done...digging tunnels with nail files ein easy yuh know.

Patillia Amarillo

2006-01-30T15:10:00.000-05:00

Well looka hey, last week done gone and now it's not only a new week, but de ending of the month. Just a few days ago, we were all celebrating Christmas and the New Years, mekking new years resolutions, promises ect and two-twos yuh turn around and the first month of the year gone already...Time sure flying fast once yuh enjoying life or yuh getting older..take yuh pick from one of those. BTW how the resolutions going?

So how was your weekend???? Mine was pretty good. It started Friday with a retirement luncheon. Our receptionist at the office retired after working for our company for over 17yrs. This was her second retirement. She retired at the jolly young age of 85. Imagine that retiring at 85. and if you saw the lady, she is so full of spirit, love, joy and all the pleasantries we could shower upon her. We surely will miss her. It was a luncheon filled with tears, memories and laughter and some good food and vibes.

Speaking of the food. It was prepared by our resident chef, another masterpiece. A woman who has never visited the island of Barbados, but who can cook a mean Bajan dish of rice n' peas, curry chicken, fish cakes pumpkin fritters, flying fish, shall I go on..the woman can cook some Bajan food plain and simple. OK back to the topic at hand. te weekend.

On Friday night, we went to a Quiz night held by the British folks here. Oh what fun it was. Last year our team came last, this year we came 4th out of 9 teams hey, we getting better. But it was pure fun. Lot's of questions we had no idea of the answers, but what a learning experience.

sabado, was the regular, sleep in late, hit the supermercado, panaderia ect. and just chill the day away. domingo, church and more slumber. So you saying, yuh ein understand the title and all de rambling hey, OK.. senility setting in so bear wid me.

patillia amarillo (yellow watermellon) On Sat while doing the shopping, we bought our usual frutis, veggies ect. Watermellon is always on our list, so we stopped by the veggie market and bought our normal patilla rojo. then off to the supermarket to get the other stuff and what do we come upon una patilla amarillo. What a rare sight. I was just looking so fresh, sweet and juicy. So I insisted to hubby that we buy it also. Yes, I know that we already purched the red one, but I woman have a love affair wid me stomach and wanted the yellow one also. so inna de cart it go. Got home and unpacked the groceries but left out the patilla amarillo.

No sooner than all the alimentos was packed away did I dig into the patilla. talk about sweet and juicy. It was well worth the purchase. I ate almost half of it right there and then. The other half was used to make juice for breakfast on Sunday.

I juiced the rind, seed and flesh, nothing was left to waste, added a inch of fresh juiced ginger and whalllaaa. What a pleasant refreshing juce it made and such a lovely color also. Juicing is a natural in our home as we don't buy commercial juice anymore. But I think that's ah whole other post by itself.

So another week, payday and another Bs1.00. Times ruff inna de yard, but de countdown tuh parole coming soon. Enjoy and take it easy.

Inspirational

2006-01-27T09:20:00.000-05:00

Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old University lecturer. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said: "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While, it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves that is the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups.""Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change." "Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."So, don't let the cups drive you...enjoy the coffee instead and the weekend

Hump Day - míercoles

2006-01-25T19:41:00.000-05:00

Midweek, it's been a busy day today and I feeling too lazy to blog anything of much significance, so I stole this neme and decide to run with it. It kinda give you an insight to who I am... shallow, I know, but what the heck

Four jobs you've had in your life:

TWA Airlines Ticket Agent ( pay sucks, but great people skills & travel benefits)
Cashier @ Mickey Dees, My very first Job
Telemarketer- Lasted all of one week
Photographer

Four movies you could watch over and over:

Mo Betta Blues - Denzel was just too sexy in that movie
The Best Man- Good cast of characters
(Can't think of more now)

Four places you've lived:

Barbados - Birthplace
South Korea- Cultural eye opener
Germany - absolutely loved it
Waynesville, MO -Talk about hick town USA

Four TV shows you love to watch:

Cambemios Espousas Wives Swap (Both the US and British versions)
Third Watch (why was it cancelled)
Familia de Negocios (People&Arts follows the lives of a family who runs a mourtary business)
Deperate Housewives (Gotta love those ladies)
Tortamundos de viajes ( A travelling show)

Four places you've been on vacation:
Russia
Amsterdam, Holland
Istanbul, Turkey
Austria

Four websites you visit daily

www.nationnews.com - Barbados daily
www.yahoo.com
www.jdidthoughts.com - Biggup mi bretheren
www.cnninternational.com - gotta stay updated with the world

Four of your favorite foods:
Thai cusine
Caribbean cusine
Trini doubles ( the best there is)
strong fresh brewed coffee ( hey everyone gotta have a vice)

Four places you'd rather be:

On the beach in Barbados
In a spa getting a massage by a hunk of a real man
In my bed snuggled on a cold day
OK, well that's only 3 places

Four albums I like best ( I adjusted this title)
Gladys Knight - One Voice
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Long Walk to Freedom ( South African capella group)
Beres Hammond - Love has no Boundaries ( Beres voice & lyrics is just to sexy)
Various Artist - Take up the Cross (Nice Reggae gospel)

OK take your shot at it or ask any questions. Enjoy the night

No puede ser

2006-01-24T18:59:00.000-05:00

estoy en comunicado con el mundo desed mi casa. Yes. I can speak and write from muh house again. I't only taken 4mths to get international calling service and a month plus to get back my internet. Good Lawd almighty, it feels good, to sit in the comforts of mi house, listen tuh WWW.98.1theone.com and just relax.

So how things transpired. First, the phone service. After all the months or calling, writing, visiting and complaining. I have a good friend, who has a daughter that works as a consultant for CANTV. My friend, tired that she wasn't able to communicate with me via internet, related my dilema to her daughter. the hija said for me to send her an email explaining the problem and she would fwd it to the proper peoples. Well, I rushed out to the nearest internet cafe and got to writing. Two days later, I received a call from a CANTV employee. I again explained the situation to her. She gave me some assurances that she would solve the problem. After a couple calls to check somethings, she called me this morning and told me that the service would be functioning and sure enough it is.

The thing is that it was a simple fix, but for whatever reason, the people at the bottom, the technicians just couldn't fix it. The problem was that the phone has a special service on it from a previous owner that needed taking off. simple as that. Pray tell me why the technicians couldn't see that?????

The internet was another simple fix, if only I could have gotten a technician to come to the house to fix it, but hey, if they couldn't do a simple fix at the office, how would they have fixed the one at the house. Anyhow, the security fella for our Bldg, was aware that we were having problems. so he arranged for one of his buddies, who works for CANTV to come and sort us out. We saw him on Sat while he was at the Bldg sorting out another tenant. we spoke to him and he came today. Did some checking, and in two-twos the problem was solved. Of course you know we had to give him a little someting on the side. but hey that's the way things work around here. you want something done, you get the technician to do it off the side and fix him up...

So now we have both internet and international calling capacity again.. Man yuh doan realize how much you use and depend on the internet until you don't have it. Goosh what were we doing 10yrs ago. How did we survive and communicate. It's amazing the impact the internet and WWW have on our lives. We really live in a technological word and don't even realize it.

So my peoples, I'm back. Thanks for hanging in there with me. Give me a few days to get caught up on the blogs, update the links ect. and I'll be back in full force soon.

Buenos Tardes

2006-01-18T13:26:00.000-05:00

Campfyah just passing thru to say hi to all the peeps. Not much going on in Arepaland.
same crap, excuses from the service companies just a different day. But God is Good
and we lean on him to help us through. I´ve been on a constant in my daily walks in the park. The speed is building up and so is the endurance. Maybe I'll see some positive results in the body soon. My aim is to do two laps around the park running. It will be a 5K run, so far I can do two laps walking waith some intermitient running. But it's a slow and steady start. Better than nothing. The morning work out keeps the spirit up and the adrealine running.

So with out any fuarther nonsense to write about, I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here.

Estoy aquí

2006-01-12T15:14:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm still here struggling along in Arepaland with no connection in la casa, pero todo esta bein. Nuh use fretting and complaining, cause ah see no matter what we do, dem nuh come and resolve de issue. So I just passing thru to say hello, and wha gine on. I see much people taking blog breaks and regrouping demselves and thing so. It's all good, we all need tuh do wha we need tuh do to survive.

Not much happening in Arepaland, well one or two things ah happen. Main thing is that the one and only route to the airport from Caracas is closed. Imagine that? ah big city like Caracas, and it only got one route to the airport, which is a 40 min drive from the city to the coast where the airport is located. Well let me clarify that. It actually has two or three way, but one one direct and relatively safe route. That is the La Guira viaduct which is a road build over a bridge and thru two mountain ranges.

Well it's been said that the bridge/road had been build to last 50 years. For about 15 or so years now, it's been known that the bridge needs fixing/repairing/maintaining, but none of the powers that be, saw it fit to pay attention to this matter until in recent times when the bridge started sinking. Literally sinking. So now it became a matter of emergency. They tried to fix the bridge while still allowing traffic to flow, but that also became too dangerous and the mountain that supports the bridge also started to shift, so the decision was made to close the road indefinitely while they fix the bridge and build an alternate temporary road.

So now to get from Caracas to the airport, people have to literally go over the mountain or take an older road which is much more dangerous, that's why people stopped using it in the first place. A 40 min ride to the airport is now taking up to two hrs and the taxis offering to take you there are charging as much as $150 per way. If you have a 4X4 you can take the mountain route, or just risk taking the old route. Wunna think life hey easy..well, well, well, wha we gonna do?

Evathing sky hght expensive, there are shortages of some essential food items as the truckers have to risk their lives on the old way at night. The old route is known to be plagued with robberies, killings, kidnappings all sorts of things and many of these crimes are committed by the same security forces put there to protect the society. Life in Caracas is never a dull moment.

What else happening in Arepaland? The political scene is pretty much quiet. Elections coming later this year, entonces vamos a ver (we shall see).

In world news, the pilgrims at the Hajj, gone and done it again 345 and rising dead in stampeed at the stoning of the wall ritual. I heard on the news that the Muslims believe that the people who died there will be considered martas as muslims desire to die in Mecca. What can I say. Every year there is tragedy at the Hajj.

Anyhow, just wanted to shout the bloggers and say stay strong and keep writing. I love to read your blogs. Until next internet visit. hasta luego.

Este Año

2006-01-05T10:23:00.000-05:00

the year running by fast enough. Just the other night we were singing Happy New Years and now de year already 5 days old and I turned a year older. Actually I glad it's only a year, cause I was giving muhself two yrs til de hubby put me in check. Yuh see alheizmers setting in already. Whey de time going aready. Wha yuh can't even blink yuh eye nowadays. Boy ah tell yuh, oh to be young again.

Well for me, no New Years resolutions. Actually I stopped making them long time ago, cause nubodie never keep them, so why bother. I had some aspirations fuh de year, but them is aspirations that continued from last year. If I have to make one set a resolutions, is that me and the hubby get outta dodge before the middle ah de year...Lordee it's time fi we to go. But for the most part no resolutions, just hoping to stay strong to my faith, be kinder to people, help a fellow man in need and work on improving the financial situation a bit more. Also working on getting healthier.

But something this year has taken my interest. the year just start and allyuh notice the amount of tragedies we have already. Ice rink roof collapse in Germany. 14 dead. Miners trapped, 12 dead and don't talk about the controversy surrounding that. Iraq continues on the path of destruction. A suicide bomber strikes and 35 dead. Pakistan and the terrible winter conditions and something like 10 dead. and to top it off mud slides in Indonesia and over 250 dead. Gosh, how much more can that island nation take in the wake of natural diasters. Although the mudslide isn't natual diaster as much as it's a result from illegal logging.

Now if things continue like this, what we gonna say about this year. These things really make you think and with all these occurances, we really need to seek higher spiritual belongings. Things looking real bleek. But I didn't come to depress you today, just to say hey but looka all that gine on doh.

CANTV update----No Update....dem nuh even look pun we yet tuh ask wha gine on...Hopeless set ah people dem wha Cable & Wireless looking like angles now hearing my CANTV worries. So I still hey beggin scotch in ah internet café until CANTV figures out wha dem doing or suppose tuh be doing.

So peeps, ah just checking, soory ah can't get to read and post as much as I usually would, but I been reading and trying to catch up. Until next visit. Stay cool, calm, collective and positive with yuh New Years Dreams and resolutions.

Wazzz UP peoples

2005-12-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

You lovers of the English language might enjoy this . .
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."
It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen.
We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning.
People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so............ Time to shut UP......!

Oh...one more thing: What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night? U-P

Felíz Año Nueovo

Hola

2005-12-28T16:32:00.000-05:00

Just passing thru. Connection at home still nuh connected. Called my infamous CANTV this morning and got a whole lotta long tawk...so we still waiting fuh some kinda a ction tuh fix things. But in reality we know that nah ah come nuh time soon, but we have faith and hopes.

Christmas was good and quiet. Church in de morning. Lunch at me J'can friend in de afternoon and all was irie. Lots of food drink and some serious dominoes and board game mainly Caymonopoly. Yes, we yardiee friend got a sister that live in Cayman ova dey by Madd Bull, wonder if de two ah dem ever link up each other. anyhow, de sister bought de Cayman island version of monopoly and whopped our behinds in the game. It was fun.

After all de eats and rinks, we went home and relaxed. The hubby had Monday and Tuesday off, and we just chilled and relaxed. I tried out my newest additions thanks to the hubby of getting me a expresso maker. I'd been eying this gadget for a while now. so I was pleased that he got it for me. Hubby liked his gifts and assortment of things so all is cool and irie

So I just wanted to drop by and wish you all a Happy New Year and pray that Camp get back online at home soon.

Felíz Navidad

2005-12-23T13:22:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all the bloggers out there.

I probably won't get to post again before Christmas. In true Caracas, Venezulea, Latin American style when one thing is fixed the other is broken. Our door bell which rings through the phone line wasn't working for quite sometime. it got fixed yesterday and now the internet connection which is also through the phone line isn't working, this is the same phone line that we have yet to get international calling service. We are so annoyed, we just can't be bothered. The sad thing is that with Christmas being the weekend, and Monday and Tuesday holidays and then the New Year, it will be sometime before we can p`robably speak to anyone about fixing the phone line or the internet. So here I am contented to sit in an internet café. Such is life.

Anyhow things can be worse, so I'm thankfull this season for all that I do have. Today, I went with some ladies from my church to a Leprosy hospital/home. When you see such things, it really makes you put life into perspective. We went and gave out toiletries and some small bagds of goodies. We sang some canciones de navidad and tried to lift the spirits of the people. Many of the men and women were in wheel chairs and this was their home. They had nothing else not even families. I did not take any photos because I didn't want to make the people feel uncomfortable. It wasn't so bad, but it also wasn't such a plesant sight seeing how the people looked. Really disheartening.

What amazed me was how needy people are. We took two large bags of bedroom slippers. They were from the Marriott hotel, the basic cheap cloth ones that Marriott gives to their guest. So the guest that left the used ones behind, the staff at Marriott gave us to carry to the prisions, hospitals, charities ect. We were amazed at how many pairs of slippers they were, but would you believe how the people grabbed at those slippers and I'm not talking about the sick people. I'm talking about the staff at the place. It was simply amazing at how such a simple thing and everyone was grabbing and searching through the bags to get two or three pairs of slippers.

All in all we did our good deed for the day and the season. Hopefully we'll get another chance to do some other good deed before the season ends. Our church usually makes these trips to the prisions, children's homes, ect. I heard to visit the women's prision is an experience, so I'll go on the next visit.

Well my café time is drawing to an end. Do have a very wonderful and blessed Christmas to one and all. Remember the reason for the season and share your blessings with those less fortunate.

Mierócles

2005-12-21T19:43:00.000-05:00

Well It's mid week and three days until Christmas. It's now or never, get in the spirit or let it slide. Whatever you do, just be at peace with yourself and your actions. So as noted in my last post, the spirit just isn't hitting me, so I'm at peace with myself this year, knowing that it isn't that way every year. However, I did do my part and contributed to the spirit. I baked some coconut bread today and got some sorrell soaking so there, you see, I'm not a total scrooge after all. I did all this stuff while listening to some Socca parang and Sparrow Calypso.

OK, talking about baking and christmast, let me get in something about the infamous christmas fruit cake (too lazy to look for photos). What's the deal? All the time you hear the stories about the fruit cake and not wanting to be the recipient of one. I never knew what all the fuss was about as I was never one to receive one. First, I know better than to be taking anybodie fruit cake when I know that my mother busy baking one for me. You see my mom is master baker of Bajan black cake. Yes, I'm boasting. My mom, bakes the famous rum cakes for weddings, parties, birthdays, ect. She is always baking, so I gonna boast on her cakes now. I've yet to hear someone complain about her cakes. Anyhow I digress, let me get back to the Christmas fruit cake.

I was the luck or unlucky reciepent to receive on this year. Why me? Hell if I knew, Now I got my cake all neatly wrapped in foiled and some pretty wrapping paper. OK, no problem. I opened and the smell of the rum was killing me...man one whiff and I thought I was drunk, but on closer inspection, and when I did regaining my senses then is when the problems sit in. Man all I see is a whole heap ah big chunky fruits staring me in me face. Then I cut into de cake and the knife ein wanna cut atall...the cake all gooey and to make matter worse, it falling apart. I sey well, looka muh crosses, nuh wodner people talk bout theese infamous fruit cakes. Cause that is all it is, fruits smuched together wid some rum.

What happen to grinding and soaking de fruits, all up to three months ahead ah baking dem, wunna remember Jdid post?? Yuh gotta grind de fruits, as a matter, I just got finished talking to my mom and she tell me that she going to grind some fruits to make a cake sometime in Jan. You see, you grind the fruits, then cook them, then soak them all ahead of baking them. Making a fruit cake is an art, that takes time, not just throwing some fruits with rum in a pan and putting it in the oven. Then when you are finished baking the cake, it's all about letting it cool, all the while soaking it with some more run and not just any kind of run, it has to be the good stuff. So it's not the quantity of rum you use, but the quality.

Anyhow so back to my fruit cake, well I tasted a piece of it and decided that was enough for me. But being the person that I am and don't let good food (fruitcake) for that matter go to waste. I decided to share the joy. I gently cut it up into three big chuncks and gave them to the security guard and conseigre of our building. the other pieces or crumbs, I took to an office party and what was left of that, we gave to some homeless people. So people, enjoy your christmas fruit cakes....

Have a wonderful Christmas just incase I don't get to blog again before then

Semana de Navidad

2005-12-19T09:33:00.000-05:00

It seems like I just dropped off the blogging scene. Well that isn't exactly so, just like most other bloggers, life is just happening and blogging is taking a back seat. People going on vacations, many busy shoping, cooking and preparing for the holidays and me just relaxing and chilling. I've decedided to boycott Christmas this year. OK, call me the grinch who stole Christmas or the Scrooge but I'm just not doing Christmas this year. Let me explain why.

My first boycott comes from the fact that we didn't expect to be still here for Christmas. We are long past our departure date and still yet to get word of our pending exit from here. It was our hopes that we'd be celebrating Christmas with our children in our new post/home wherever and anywhere except here in Caracas. We will now be celebrating our 5th Christmas here and we are not pleased at all. So I think the fact that we are still here is contributing to me lack of enthausiam for the holiday season.

We havn't put up a tree or decorations. Why? Why should we. We have no little ones in the house. We don't plan to do any entertaining and we don't need the hassles. We don't go over board with the gifts and excessive spending. A gift or the hubby, one for me (maybe if the hubby remembers) and the mandated gift from the office gift exchange. We got the Tall One his gift thanks to amazon That completes the gift buying process. I must say that I've yet to visit any of the Centro Comercials (malls) for the season. OK, I may go today to get the gift for hubby.

I've also decided that there won't be any whole heap and cooking and stuff like that either. The hubby has requested that I make some coconut bread and that I'll do. I've already purchased a Christmas fruit cake, compliments my Jamacian friend and thanks to another Jamacian counterpart, we'll be crashing at her for Christmas Day lunch. So there goes my christmas plans.

I guess I've summed up my enthausiam for the Christmas Season. Part of my boycott may also come from the fact that the past few months has been filled with activities and I am just tired, mentally and physically. The over commercialism has also gotten the best of me. I'm Christmas out. I was seeing decorations since the beginning of November.

I wish all the bloggers The happiest Christmas and Holiday Season ever. Just remember the reason for the season.

See you soon
Felizé Navidad

Updates

2005-12-14T13:35:00.000-05:00

It seems like my blogging time is just falling by the wayside. Sometimes it bes like that, when you have a lot to say, but not much time to say it. So just to keep thing rolling along, let me give you some updates on what's happening.

Since Friday night, I've been going non-stop. First was a holiday piano recital for an organization that I work with. It was wonderful. two female pianist played duo performances, just watching them on that piano together was inspiring and a great way to start the holiday season. Then it was off to a low-down christmas party and farewell for one of our collegues. Two ends of the spectrum. The christmas part was full of ethnic foods, the drinks were flowing and so was the music. We presented our collegue with a parting present and she was so touched that her hubby accepted on her behalf. That's the nature of this business. We meet great friends from all corners of the world and then have to say good bye to them.

Saturday was spent busily preparing for the Kermeese. An international bazzar that is held yearly by the diplomatic and other international organizations in Caracas. The funds raised from the Kermeese goes to support over 25 various childrens charities in Caracas and feeds approx 200,000 children a day. It's the biggest fair held annualy and yes little ole Barbados have their representation there. Sunday was the bazzar and it was an eraly morning getting prepared and selling all day long. It was tiresome, but quite successful for us, as we have our clientle and we do our best to promote the island as much as we can. The Bajan ladies were decked out in their national colors and we did Barbados proud. Monday was spent in reccuperationand rejuvenation. Yesterday we did the post Kermeese house keeping and today I'm proud to announce that Barbados donated over Bs 2,000.000.00 or approx $1, 500.00 to the charity organizations.

Well, you might say that $1,500.00 ein no real money, and it's not, but considering that we are a small country and we donate more than many countries twice our size, says a lot for us. Also mentioning that many countries or organizations are not able to participate, because they don't have the resources or the product, or simply don't want to participate. So Barbados did well. Note, that sum was after we took out our expenses for the fair. Good work for one day.

Now it's on to christmas and the hype surrounding the holiday.

Of note. I'm fasting today. It's a first for me and it's killing me, we'll not killing me but I'm seriously starving and can't wait for 6:00P to come. 3 more hrs to go. I had breakfast and that was it, nothing else except water. Then silly me decide to go grocery shopping and buy all the things that I like, but can't eat right now... Why am I fasting????

Well we have a lot going on in our little pray group. Mainly one of our members brother-in-law is seriously ill and in hospital for the second time. Another member herself had some surgery done today and then there are some marriage issues with some couples. So we decided what better way to rally and pray for each other than by a one day fast and constant prayers. So for all who have issues, with health, family or otherwise, we are praying for you today.

Viernes

2005-12-09T08:22:00.000-05:00

A St. Phillip Areal view. St. Philip is the largest and most eastern parish in Barbaos. The views are almost as spectacular as those of the East Coas.

Since returning from vacation, I've hit the ground running and today is the beginning of a very busy weekend, so a quick post and some photos. I hope things calm down for me after the weekend.

Looka alla de food from de Sin Philip possee carnival.

Then there were the lights of Independence . Bridgetown did looking too pretty Blue, Yellow,Blue lights all ova de place. Sorry I din get no roundabout lights.

And to cap off the post with a beautiful romantic St. Philip sunset. You would think that I come from St. Philip, actuall, I don't. I'm from Christ Curch..but St. Philip took the honors on this trip.

Enjoy your photos and the weekend.

Estoy aqui

2005-12-07T18:23:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to say hi all and yes I'm back. Vacation is over and so are the funds. I came back with sunburn and all. Can you imagine the sister nursing a sunburn?...OK.. such is life. The vacation was very productive. We did a lot of non-vacation things, but they were all for a good cause and we ein't complaining much. We did get in some beach time and lots of family time, so all in all a nice two weeks. Now we are getting ourselves physically and mentally prepared for the upcoming holidays. All travel is on hold until early next year. Hey a birthday is coming up, so I might sweet talk Mr Camp for a quickie trip somewhere, but we'll see.

So I havn't had a chance to o much blog reading, so I'll play catch up withing the next few day and try to put in a few post. I have a few in the works fromt he trip. Until then It's All Good to be back in blogland.

Hasta Luego

2005-11-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

See alla yuh later, it's vacation time for Mr & Mrs Camp. We are off to the homeland, to enjoy the flavors of some flying fish and Cou-Cou (the national dish) Drink a few (best beer bout de place), hole ah serious VSOR Cockspur or Mount Gay (the oldest rum in the world) and just enjoy the pickeney/niños y familia. It's well over due.

The last time we wer on the homland together was more than two yrs ago when we spent a lush 6wks or more. Other than that, the hubby went in for a quick 4 day stay to do some business and I bummed a ride earlier this for a 2 day visit. Man I din even get tuh see de sea during dis visit. too much to do wid too little time. So No we plan to really relax, desfutar la familia y los niños/juvenos adn pretty much chill for the 2 wks or so we gonna be there.

We mekking a pit stop in San Juan, so I woman gonna mek de mujuers happy and put a dent in de debit/credit card. It gonna be de only U.S. stop before the holidays. Yuh know we can't use our $$ account debit or credit cards here in Arepaland. Foreign curreny controls. people real vex bout such happenings, but we've gotten use to it. So any chance we get, we do as much damage as de cards ca handle.

So peoples, as I'll be in de cuntry parts ah Barbados, dat's be all up SinPhillip, by Culpepper Island fuh de Bajans, and I won't have regular access to computer, I won't be stopping by too often. So fuh de next 2 wks or so, stay good and doan drop me off wunna list as yet. Like Arnold says I'll be Back.

Lunes

2005-11-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

Blogger gets on my last nerves at times. Just when you write something, save ait or not save andready to post, blogger eats your stuff and spit nothing back in yuh face. I looked at my blog and decided that it's high time that I update the links section. Delete some that are no longer active and update those who leaves comments and those who are good reads. but blogger decide not to be cooperative today and everything I update the template, It just won't save it or post it....telling me foolishness that the page can't be found. I did it three times and each time, blogger just cancels it out. So I'm just going show some respect to a few peoples.

Some bloggers I like to read and yet to update in my links, here goes, to Diva good reads. Cynple it took me a bit to figure out your name, but I see nothing cymple about your writings. xquizzyt1 girl, you are all of that and more to read, I always get a good laff at your frankness. Princess Dominique keep going woman I wish I could register for some of those prizes you give away, but I'm in Areapaland and they would never reach me. For the fellas, K.G & Revolution Island I'm catching on to you guys. Luke Cage, you always leave comments. I love your artistic site, but the comic book characters are just beyond me, but I still appreciate your luv. I know there are more, but I just don't have the right words, and some are still to new to comment.

So when blogger stops messing with me, I'll link you to my site.

So what's happening in Arepaland??? Not much, same ole, same ole rain, rain, rain...OK. well we didn't have much rain over the weekend, so I guess we are beginning to dry out. But the clouds are hanging over and threatening more rain. The weekend was pretty cool. Mr. Camp and I went and limed at an old Bajan couple living in Arepaland for the last 40 plus years. They had pretty much the whole Bajan community (all 10 of us) over for a relaxing evening of old talking and good food and booze. Sunday was church times two, as it was the annual Thanksgiving service with a taste of American Thanksgiving afterwards. This is where our church invite the english speaking diplomatic community for the service and the U.S ambassador give the presidential thanksgiving address. Well there is some issues amongst the congregration about this address, because our church is an international church with over 20 different countries represented and some people feel dat dem no need tuh hear de American president thanksgiving message. Anyhow, I eingot no comment.

After service, we served turkey snadwiches, wid cranberry sauce and pumpkin fritters. Apple or pumpkin pie served as the dessert. Well yuh know how it is when some people see food. I was well tired yeterday, as I baked one of the turkeys, and then sliced it and was part of the kitchen crew, serving and cleaning. It was all Good however. Yuh gotta deal with these things from time to time. Some people just wanna eat and find fault while others doing all de work.

On a lighter note, We filled up the Dodge Caravan yesterday. 45 liters of petro for Bs. 4,400.00. The official exchange rate is $1.00 = Bs, 2.190.00. Go do de math, but doan shoot me after. In other words, we filled up for someting like $2.50. Wunna see now why Chavez, doan tek on Bush. Petro bout hey good and plentifull.

Well this is ashort week for me. 48 hrs and counting until vacation starts.