Ronnie and Caro - The Aftermath...

So sometime between costume collection on Carnival Friday and going for additional boy shorts on Carnival Saturday night, I decided to upgrade my costume from backline to frontline.

It cost was some extra dollars, but I decided to treat myself after working so hard on designing and decorating carnival footwear for people.

Collected my BEAUTIFUL backpack on Carnival Sunday night/early Monday morning around 12:30ish a.m. no problem at all.

We had to meet the band on Alexandra Street on Monday for 11:00am. They had a late start and only started moving just after 12 and I was surprised to see the number of people in the band. I was expecting the band to be small but they had a great turnout.

The only problem I had on the road on Monday was that we got stuck behind PCS Starlift which was HUGE and this kept us back all day.

My peeps and I left the band on Park Street and walked up to the Savannah to wait. But when we saw the number of bands in front of us, we decided to go home and save our energy for Tuesday. Good thing too, because when we got home just after 7:00 pm, we saw the band NOW crossing the Savannah stage!

A big meggie for the announcers whose names I did not catch, but kept referring to the presentation as "Ronnie and Caro - The Mas Band". I guess they didn't see the huge ass "De Gulf" written on the banner.

My boots on Monday started off FAB! and ended up drab, with the left side looking as if it had mange or something, and I was actually seeing the colour of one of the prototypes I had done before. (Note to self: Don't rush and use primer spray paint next time).

TUESDAY

Tuesday morning had me up at about 3:30am. We had to meet the band for 7:00am behind Sacred Heart.

Staying at Carnival Central in St. James has its benefits, we do have the drawback of only one bathroom for the many masqueraders who stay there. Plus I also had my makeup 'appointment' at 4:00am with my aunt.

While waiting for said appointment, I took the time to fix my headpiece (which was too tight for my big head), as well as finishing up my Tuesday boots by adding some braid and mucho rhinestones. (I had no time to decorate my own boots with all the work I had to do).

Got my makeup done and everyone was out of the house and on the bus by 7:00 or thereabouts.

The bus dropped us off and went on to drop the parents, who were playing in ImageNation, downtown.

PROMPTLY at 7:05am while munching on breakfast, Ronnie told his staff we were moving out and whoever was not there would find us. We headed to our first judging point which was downtown where we had to wait behind Legacy. While waiting I made a small detour to Frederick Street to purchase some socks (I left mine home in my haste) to wear with my boots as the toes on my right foot were sore form the day before.

I probably poked enough people with my backpack heading to the stage downtown. For all those who may have been injured while basking in my frontline glory...hard luck. If yuh see a woman decked out looking FAB! with she backpack, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY! Doh tell meh "Miss yuh poke meh in meh eye/nose/ears/face" cause meen business.

I was surprised by how small our section was though, I thought it was actually one of the nicer sections in the band. There were only 3 frontline ladies and the section was the smallest in the band.

The flow was much better on Tuesday, we even went Piccadilly, which did slow us down a bit I think but then we moved swiftly up to the Savannah, where I got the opportunity to see TRIBE's costumes as they were right behind us.

I spent most of my time looking at people's feet to see if I saw any of my creations on the road and actually did end up seeing a couple of them! I saw the Saucy one looking FAB! of course and took a picture of the two of us.

Once we crossed the Savannah stage we headed to our rest stop which was opposite QRC and it was there that things went bleh for me.

The rest stop that was supposed to only be 45 minutes ended up being an hour and a half, as we had to wait for TRIBE and their million and one trucks to pass us. (Not blaming TRIBE here eh. so doh bring no hate).

Instead of moving off one time, the trucks took a while to move off and then headed up to Wildflower Park and then down Alexandra Street. This long wait made us pick up stragglers and lose masqueraders, because by the time the band came to 'order' there were definitely fewer masqueraders. Also missing after the lunch break was the band's security.

One thing that pisses me off as a masquerader is when a band realises they lagging or they trying to gain ground and will have the trucks speed up and have us, the masqueraders jogging behind the blasted truck like is a damn 5K. Meen pay fuh dat!

And truck horn only blowing yuh out of the way so they could accelerate. I doh think any truck should be going faster than 5km per hour on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday, both for safety purposes and just general winery. ANYHOO...rant over.

All that said, overall I had a GREAT time on the road with Ronnie and Caro, from the vodka soaked salt prunes...to the lollies...to the FAB! backpack (hadda big up meh girl Arlene here who make backpack for me last minute!) and I would most definitely play with them again in 2009.

And we came FIRST in medium bands!!! Congrats to Ronnie and Caro and the crew! We have a celebratory lime tonight.

I must add here that after playing frontline, I would be hard pressed to ever play backline again.

Benefits of playing frontline:

You get to go on the stage before your section and play yuhself.

The band/section designers who fix your backpack for you so it fits comfortably on your back.

The entourage who holds everything for you including your camera and you can just instruct them to take pics! LOL. (Much thanks to the hubby MUAH!)

The paparazzi who take lots and lots and lots of pics! So make sure yuh looking tops!

Yuh KNOW it's Carnival when...

Yuh see de stands downtown Independence Square going up.

Legacy Pics and Video

After pulling the pics and video off my camera, I ended up with very dark and not very detailed pics and video.

These are just a few of them cleaned up a bit.
And I actually spotted a cowrie shell...so that's some Africa right there!

Legacy Band Launch-Passages : The Aftermath

When: Saturday 13th October 2007
Where: The anchorage/Tsunami
How much: FREE for me in VIP!

Picture this:
Sipping on drinks aplenty
Having some corn soup that tasting irie
Rubbing elbows with the rest of the VIPs
Afro Chic looking FAB! and swanky.

So I pulled some strings and asked a friend of my mom to get me two media passes for Legacy’s launch on Saturday night, that's why I really couldn’t tell you how much it was to go to Legacy’s launch. I was guessing it might have been about $80 in advance, cause scalpers were selling tickets at $60.00.

I have no idea WHY Big Mike insists on having his launches in Anchorage/Tsunami…ah mean who parties that far west anymore unless is for Insomnia.

Anyhoo, the entrance to Tsunami was draped in African print cloth, as were the committee people, and those of us going to the media launch were given some wooden beaded necklaces to wear around our necks.

I was amazed at the size of the crowd ‘backstage’ at Tsunami at 9:15ish which was the time I got there. People were drinking by the bar, lining up by the doubles man/woman and sipping on corn soup and generally having a good time.
The DJ was real getting on with his selections too…made me feel like I coulda put on a costume and jump across a stage.
Never mind that at one point during the evening, ice ran out and then shortly after that, there were no cups! In the VIP area! But this didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirit though.

Not long after we got there, the music stopped and some drumming began, and some young ladies were brought to the stage.

I recall the DJ saying that they represented the something something of West Africa, but they were just in the same African print skirts and tube tops. I still have no idea what was the purpose of that particular presentation, except maybe to show off how super slim/sexy/slender the models were.

About half hour after this, the costume presentation began.

Now doh get vex that I was backstage and not have shots eh.
I was taking video and pics of the costumes, my camera died, and I still have to upload my pics to my pc. But yuh know Saucy always on the ball, so you could check out her pics here and her review here.

Legacy presented 20 sections, all of which looked really nice and seemed to be of good quality with regard to the beadwork and headpieces etc.

I can’t remember the names of any, except for Shaka Zulu and The Nile, but I do remember liking the first section in white and gold, a section in blue and copper and the Strong Men and Rude Girls section Shaka Zulu.

This young lady caused quite a stir at the launch, shaking it and having a time like it was nobody’s business.
And of course who could forget the two models with the afros a la yours truly? Who say yuh cyar play mas with yuh afro…



The highlight of the night was when President George Maxwell Richards (Uncle Max) and Dr. Jean Ramjohn Richards (Aunty Jean), were invited up on stage and Unlce Max promptly secured a space next to a Masai warrior and Aunty Jean immediately went next to the Strong Man in Shaka.

Overall I found the mas to be well put together, though I think that the Legacy team would have done better to have less sections for max impact on the road, as many of their sections this year only had a few people.

As for capturing the theme of Africa, that’s another story. But what can one really expect from a beads and bikini band except for a vague reference to the theme?

Around 11 o'clock, the patrons in the VIP area were invited to go across to the still being renovated Anchorage to continue the partying. It was soon after this that I left the party and headed home.

Pics courtesy Saucy 'on the ball' Trini.

Carnival Boots by Afro Chic...

Have a peek at some boots I'm working on for Carnival 2008.

http://carnivalboots.blogspot.com/2007/10/boots-sneak-peek.html

The polls are closed BUT...

I was all geared up to play with The Oracle in Section II, but then I saw this and EVERYTHING changed!!!

So it's no longer Section II, but Section IX!!!

And is meh favorite colour too!! With a mohawk and wings tuh boot!!

I done tell my people I doh business who playing with me or who not playing, but this is where I'll be come Carnival Monday & Tuesday.

Ronnie and Caro Band Launch: The Aftermath...

Date: Wednesday 1st August 2008

Place: Club Ambassador

Cost: $50 with invites and $100 without

Having played with Ronnie and Caro's section "Chutney" in Legacy this year, and having a fantastic time, I was glad to hear that they were coming with there own band for Carnival 2008.

So I made my way to Ambassador to take in the their presentation for C2K8 "De Gulf"

“De Gulf”The Gulf of Paria is a body of water located east of Venezuela and west of Trinidad. It is here that we find the “Five Islands,” known affectionately as “Down de Islands,” – Carera, Monos, Huevos, Gaspar Grande and Chacachacare. To visit one of these islands, you must pass through “De Bocas” ferociously turbulent water that has been known to turn the burliest seaman into a whimpering landlubber.

It is here that you will see “Wildfish” Manta Rays that can seat four men as comfortably as a couch, sharks galore, grouper, and of course “Jellyfish.” Along “De Gulf” the “De Mang” (Mangrove) protects the coastline with its gnarly roots and dense marshland. A little inward you will also find the Caroni Swamp, one of our wildlife sanctuaries where you’re sure to see “Scarlet Ibis in flight,” one of our national birds whose resplendent plumes get their fiery colour from the shrimp on which they feast. The dragonfly or “Battimamzelle” of local parlance abounds here too.It was in the calm waters of “De Gulf,” legend tells us, that daring “Pirates”
of old have their anchors laden with seaweed sought refuge for their ships and a
convenient place to bury their “Treasures.”

Today “De Gulf” gives us treasure of a different kind: black gold – oil. Join Ronnie and Caro in celebrating “De Gulf.”

Getting to Club Ambassador at about 8:15pm, I found that the turnout for the launch was pretty good. The actual showing of the costumes began just after 9:00pm and we were treated to views of the nine sections (7 of Ronnie & Caro's and 2 outside sections).

My favorite section was De Mang.

I LOVE a blue costume, and the combination of the bronze/brown colour and the blue, as well as the detail on the costumes, had me very interested.

Other sections that I liked/caught my attention were:

Down De Islands: Turquoise blue and silver! Hot! I like the bra and belt for this costume.

Moonlight in de Bocas: Blue, green, purple and gold. I don't like how they executed the headpiece...it seems a bit slapped together, but it is a nice costume.

Treasures: Gold and yellow. Never played in that colour combo before, not sure how good it would look on me.

Jellyfish: Pink and silver. I like the shade of pink, the backpack of the frontline go humbug yuh from tiefing a lil wine.

Batimamzelle: Bronze, gold and brown. I LOVE the colours. The wings on the frontline...not so much. That will be difficult to manoeuvre through town with dem wings. But it will look nice on the road.

The remaining sections: Wildfish, Pirates and Scarlet Ibis were okay, they just didn't appeal to me. I like the colours of Wildfish (orange, yellow and green) but I don't like how they are put together on the costume.

For more costume pics, you can check out Ronnie and Caro's website. (which was up and running the night of the launch!) and of course, Saucy's blog.

Right now I'm about 90% sure that I'm playing with Ronnie and Caro, if only because I played with them this year and know they provide good service and great costumes.

But I'm still leaving that 10% for anything else that may catch my eye and suit my pocket.