Happy Ole Years!!!

How was your year?

I think I had a pretty good year with volunteering for the ICC Cricket World Cup in March and FINALLY getting my house in November.

Hopefully it's only more good things to come for 2008. All the best to you and yours and see ya in 2008!!

Merry Christmas!!!

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

JOYEUX NOEL!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Have a safe one people!!

Oh Christmas Tree...Oh Christmas Tree...

I love my tree.

I've had this 5ft tree for eight years and it's served me well.

The first year my tree was just lights, poinsettias, and the beads.

Every year I try to add some new decoratios to the tree.

I also put the tree up on a box to make it look taller.

This is the last year for my tree :( as I want to upgrade to a taller 7.5/8ft tree next year.

I'll be hitting Excellent Stores for the 50% off Christmas Sale this year to get my tree (hopefully) at half price.

On the something day of Christmas...

I've lost count now but the house in finally starting to look passable.

The Christmas tree is up...
I've bought all my gifts...
Most of my gifts are wrapped...

Just to finish up the house and we good to go!

Merry Christmas to me!

Bought this baby for myself this weekend. :D

On the 8th day of Christmas…

The boys’ room has been painted and is looking great!
The bathroom has been scrubbed clean.
Everything else in the house is still upside down.
My tree still isn’t up yet.

On the 11th day of Christmas...

My house is still upside down...

With only 11 days to go til Christmas I have found myself in a position where, as we Trinis like tuh say, I eh put away meh house.

The living/dining room is littered with all my boot making paraphernalia, materials to make my centerpieces and my jewellery making stuff, along with a myriad of clothing to be folded and put away.

I have subsequently locked off all boots/centerpiece/jewellery making activites, with plans to start the putting away process this weekend.
And with the boys out of the house at camp for the weekend, I'm hoping to get a lot done.

Renovation on the house starts early next year, so there'll be no painting, just a through clean, sweep and mop.

The Oracle is no more...

Imagine my surprise when making my blog rounds this morning to find this post by Saucy.

Hello Everyone, well it is with a heavy heart but still steely eyed
determination I write to tell you the 'The Oracle' is officially off for this
carnival.

I want to thank each and everyone of you for the support you have given to
this venture and also offer you an explanation that I believe you more than
deserve.
Before I go on let me inform you that this 'failure' for me is a wonderful
thing, it strengthens and tests you to see just what you are really made of,I
could go into a corner and weep, but instead I am even more determined now, I
have a story to tell and no matter what obstacle is placed before me (feel free
to test that theory out), The Oracle will take her place firmly in Trinidad
Carnival!! maybe not this year, but she is coming and when next you see her, you
will understand her evolution.

I had to double check The Oracle group on Facebook, because I was in total shock.

I am a firm believer in "nothing happens before its time", and I just want to tell Aaron not to give up hope, and when is fuh you...is fuh you.

Much love to Aaron and The Oracle team and Gnothi Seauton.

BTW Aaron, my son WILL NOT forget...trust me...he done start work on his designs for 2009 already!

Mama dat is Mas!

hiSo this morning I was making my early morning rounds checking emails, blogs and websites, and decided to randomly click on The Oracle website.

Just in case you've been under a rock or are new to my blog, The Oracle is a new mas band this year, who from the moment I saw the sneak peek of the costumes on Saucy's blog, made me throw my Carnival plans out the window.

Anyhoo...so this morning I clicked on The Oracle website and see a link "Designer's Portfolio".
Clicked further to see Carnival Designs, Louis Saldenah '06-'07.

Wow. Just wow.

Some beautiful sketches of mas.

Here's just a few that caught my eye this morning.

Wha??

outside a construction site ...... on Diego Martin Main Road (opposite Starlite)

This is yet another email from Dee...

When las yuh see de BLIMP? ..

A friend of mine sent this email to me (I eh know why she eh start she own blog yet)


It's good to reach to work on a Monday morning and get a good laugh.

The BLIMP is back!!! (sigh of relief) ..... fuh real ..... ah see it (an ah hear it) ...... dis morning (yes, Sunday morning) ....... in de west ...... it circle and circle and cirlce ...... fuh about 45 mins ....... actually it wasn't circles nah ..... it was more like lines ..... straight lines ..... cuz it was just going back and forth .... back and forth ...... east tuh west ..... west tuh east ...... I think maybe it picked up the clicking of
my camera ..... and was trying to pinpoint where the disturbance was coming
from ..... cuz yuh know it high-tech like dat !!!???? ....... but back tuh de BLIMP itself ..... aka ....... AIRSHIP ...... aka ....... DIRIGIBLE ....

..... why dey didn't give it one of those more serious sounding names??!!! ....... so at least it coulda have ah hot name ...... tuh go wit de "hot air" ....... an odda dan dat ...... it eh no secret ...... dat in dis country ...... alotta tings dat start wit de letter
"B" ...... jus BAD! ....... like ...... B-mobile ...... and ...... B-link ...... so why ....... B-limp ....... it was destined to be BS too! ......

....... from now on ..... I tink ....... I will call it de AIRSHIP ...... dat soundin more official ..... dat soundin like it could rel help wit crime ........ it soundin ..... like de air
in it ..... is cool air ...... an not "hot air"!!! ...... but seriously ...... do you know exactly what the Blimp is about ..... I have no
idea what it does ..... or what its supposed to do ..... any ideas?

All text, photos and captions and courtesy wuzdescene.

More Christmas Stuff...

I've been busy on this project for the past week or so.

My Christmas Wish List...

I'm keeping it simple this year....

1. Alicia Keys new cd - As I Am

2. Keyshia Coles new cd - Just like You

3. H2O Phlo Christmas cd
4. SIMS castaway for the PC or PS2

5. Sony Cybershot S700 digita camera

6. Gift certificate from RIK

7. Gift certificate from Wonderful World

8. An mp3 player

9. World Peace

Items #1,2, 4 and 5 are available on Amazon.com.

The others are available locally.

Please ensure that all gifts are nicely wrapped in some gorgeous paper with a FAB! bow.

EARTHQUAKE...BUILDING SHAKE!

And not just building alone...car too!

Trinidad felt the effects of an earthquake today at around 3:00pm.

7.5 yuh know...they say it was the strongest in the region since God was a boy.

So of course now everybody saying it's the end of days...

I felt it while sitting in some traffic on Tragarete Road and was wondering who the heck was shaking my car.

So far, from making some calls to my friends, it seems the earthquake was felt as far west as St. James and as far east as Arima.

Read some more about the earthquake here, and tell me where you were when you felt it.

More Christmas stuff...

Some centrepieces that I did yesterday evening.

Weekend Update with Afro Chic...

Friday

So on Friday afternoon at about two o'clock, I officially became a homeowner. :D

After too damn long, the hubby and I finally signed on the dotted line (well not so much dotted...more of a space) at the lawyers office. We have some work to do on the house that is scheduled to start early next year. YAY ME!!

Friday evening saw me starting to decorate the office across the hallway from mine. After seeing the job I did in my office, I was hired to do theirs as well.

Got home tired no ass sometime after 8...or was it 9?

Saturday
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!!

Yes, Saturday was my wedding anniversary (nine years, would you believe?), but I had to go back to the office early in the a.m. and finish the decorating.

Finished up the office area and needless to say it's looking FAB!

So got back home and relaxed with the hubby and family.

For our anniversary dinner we went to Paprika.

Paprika was absolutely FANTASTIC.

The ambiance...eclectic and tres interesting

The music...the hubby's fave...80s

The food...OMG! I recommend the 4 cheese pasta.

The service...am I in Trinidad?!?!?

Hands down one of my best restaurant experiences ever.

4 out of 5 stars.

(But shhh!!! doh let everybody know how good it was cause yuh know how dem Trini does rush nice ting.)

Sunday

Sunday was a quiet day at home for some well needed rest.

Yuh think it easy decorating or what?

Interview Update...

Guess who got the job?

Well it wasn't me.

We thank you for interviewing for the position of [position] at our
[department name].

We advise that the selection was very competitive and the position was
offered to another candidate who more fully satisfied al lthe
requirements.

We encourage you to pursue your career goals.

Overheard on the playground...

Primary school girl walks up to primary school boy.

Girl: John...Jane says to tell you that she likes you...and that she's available!
*snaps fingers over head and walks off*

Boy: YEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!! Ah tell allyuh she like meh!!

The Cake...

I had a good early morning laugh with this one.

The name of the bakery has been removed since I could not confirm that it was infact the said bakery (and the cake box doh look like it came from that bakery).

Bakery Employee: Hello this is **** bakery department, how can I help you?

Customer: I would like to order a cake for a party this week, please.

Employee: What you want written on the cake?

Customer: Best Wishes Suzanne, and underneath that, We will miss you.

Employee: OK is that all? then come to collect the cake in 3 days, mam.

THREE DAYS LATER...

Stamps of Paradise...

Last Sunday evening found me at Suffolk Road, Belmont for Classix Productions band launch for 2008.

Unlike previous years, the launch was held at the mas camp and I received a call from the band leader herself, Vanessa Forde to attend.

This year the band has a total of six sections, and is portraying "Stamps of Paradise: a Caribbean Collection" which shows various items that can be found in the Caribbean, from Birds of Paradise to the Rain Forest.

While there were no costumes modelled by young masqueraders, there were costume pictures on display. Costumes are designed by Randal Halfhide and prices range from $595 to $950.

click to make image larger

As Vanessa explained while most of the drawings were female, yet indicate that it was a unisex section, the boys will be playing in a sailor type pants as seen in the prototype below for Rain Forest.

The costumes will be outfitted with lightweight backpacks for the children to carry. I particularly like the section Faces of The Future and the Underworld.

Registration was taking place on Sunday with quite a few persons, (myself included) signing up their kids.
The kids were treated to the customary soft drinks and party bags which they enjoyed.

Contact info for Classix Productions
Band Leader: Vanessa Forde
Mas camp: Suffolk Road, Belmont
Directions: Turn left at Jerningham Avenue traffic lights. Drive until you reach the next set of traffic lights and turn right. Suffolk Road is the first road on the right.

WTF...

Yuh ever study for an exam and nothing yuh study came on the exam?

Yuh ever think yuh ready for an exam and when yuh open de paper yuh double check tuh see what exam it is yuh supposed to be writing?

Yuh ever come out of an exam wondering why de hell yuh teacher say is a breeze and yuh ketch yuh ass?

Well that was my last exam today, Advertising.

We all walked out of that exam wondering WTF?

But at least it's over. Amen.

Interviews...

I had an interview today.

It was within my company but a different department and at a higher pay bracket.

While it's in an area that my studies are aligned to, I've applied to this department so many times that I think I've become very jaded.

The people around me aren't though.

My manager called me into the office earlier this week and told me to go in to the interview with a positive attitude.

My coworkers have been talking about me moving on, as if they get the zeppo and I bussing it tomorrow.

The hubby and 'rents told me to be positive as well.

So I went into the interview (positively) and answered the usual interview type questions and was my usual fabulous self.

I think the interview went well, but I'm still being cautiously optimistic.

I should know who they choose in about two weeks or so.

IT'S ELECTION DAY!!!

I've already heard two complaints of incompetence on the part of those hired by the relevant authorities. It seems that some of them need to read "Alphabetical Order for Dummies".

I'll be off this afternoon to stain my finger, and hopefully by then they'll have everything in order.

Hair and Now...

It's been just over a year since I last cut all my hair off, and my hair can now go into a cute lil afro puff "ponytail" for work.

I do still rock my FAB! fro of course and just today some random woman behind me in the line at Puff n Stuff asked me if it was my real hair.

COME LEH WE GO TO TOBAGO!!!

Pics from my visit to Tobago two weekends ago.

T&T Moving with COP...very noisily too...

After a long day at work, the last thing I want to hear while trying to unwind and relax is loud music.

Worst yet if it being blasted from a truck.

Worst yet still if is anything to do with this 2007 election campain. (and no, I eh spell it wrong)
And yet this is what happened this evening when I got home.

The COP representative for my area of Laventille East/Morvant, Ms. LaToya Callender, paid the area a very noisy visit this afternoon.

I was alerted to this by a music truck blasting, no, not "T&T Moving with COP" campain song, but instead playing reggae, dub and of course some soca for good measure.

After being subjected to the very loud music for about 1/2 hour (I wonder what the EMA have to say about that?) I finally walked outside to see what the noise and commotion was about and to talk to the candidate.

The first thing my husband and I asked her was about the loud music, and more specifically, the genre of music which in our opinion just confirms the stereotype of the area.

Miss Callender, replied by saying that the music was just to alert people of the area and to get them out of the house (that was successful) and that she would talk to them about the type of music (Hot Wuk, Frogback and the like) that was being played.

She said she had no objection to the song that was being played while we were speaking to her at the time, which was Faye-Ann Lyons' "Move", because of her "disgust of the PNM".

Well from the time she gone there, she lorse me...cause I find for this whole campain, very few, if any of these candidates...be it COP, UNC-A or PNM dealing with the real issues at hand. Is one setta ole talk and picong and up to now I cyar hear what allyuh going to do about key issues like crime and high food prices. I guess I'll have to read about that in the COP manifesto I got this evening.

Anyhoo, we spoke to Miss Callender for a bit, but in ususal last minute election campaign style, we had to cut our questions about the plan for our area short.

It should be noted that after our discussion the music truck lowered its music until I could no longer hear it like it was playing in my house.

I must say though that Miss Callender is quite articulate and at only 21 years old has a long way to go in the politricks game. And kudos to her as well cause hers has been the only face I've seen so far. You can read more about La Toya Callender here.

No more classes...

I had my last class yesterday and the countdown to exams has officially begun.

My exam timetable is as follows:

Marketing - November 13th
Public Relations - November 15th
Advertising - November 20th

5000 HITS!!! And counting...

So sometime since I last posted on Wednesday and over the weekend this blog passed the 5,000 maccometer mark.

I can't remember the exact figure, but when I left on Friday the blog was at 4,980-something...and when I checked it on Monday it was at 5,049.

I would like to thank...*pulls paper with speech from bra*...my regular readers (all 13 of you at last count), the regular and other maccos who pass through, those who've linked me on their own blogs and all the other random people who bounce me up while googling "super FAB! women rocking super FAB! afros".

Christmas decorations are up!

In the office.
My co-worker and I started and finished them off last week.
Here's a look...

Overheard on my street...

Our neighbourhood spranger staggering in the road last night.

"Ish not my fault...if I only jink milk I does get
junk."

Overheard on Independence Square...

Vagrant to random woman on the pavement.

"Miss, lemme get ah dollar to buy ah newspapers nah"

Update on Beyond...

So yesterday I mentioned the PNM "Beyond" ad campaign.
Apparently that was just a teaser because I saw this ad in the newspaper today.

Tongue in Chic...

Whatever happened to Loose Lips Laura?

I used to read her lil pieces of gossip and get a little laugh every so often.

So in lieu of Loose Lips Laura, as often as I hear a lil piece of something I will post it on my blog, under the heading "Tongue in Chic" (Cheek).

This is the first (and maybe only) installment.

AC understands that a former section leader of the now defunt Barbarossa and Poison, now finds themselves between a rock and a hard place.

The section leader who has not brought out a section for the past two years is said to be owing some of their designers money and has now resorted to selling off their jewellery.

Word reaching AC's ear is that one designer is owed as much as $20,000! Not a paltry sum at all.

It was suprising to hear this, having played with the said section leader myself, and knowing that their sections used to be quite full and we the masqueraders would have a merry time.

Apparently there were a lot of snakes close to the entertainer turned section leader, who gave poor financial advice, which has resulted in their demise.

Pics from my camera phone...

Taken on Maracas last Friday.

Went up with the family after work.