Saturday, May 24, 2014
Compelling Video on Race with Mellody Hobson: Color blind or color brave?
Watch this compelling video http://youtu.be/oKtALHe3Y9Q should be on every academic curriculum, on every public podium, on world forums to engage people everywhere in reaching beyond their skewed ideals of color, race, gender, and truly fashioning a world that is color brave... this 14 minute video is invigorating, insightful and will infus a deeply aroused passion for our World vision. If you, like me, do not know who @MelodyHobson is..let me steal from her TED talk to state, that she is Magnetic, Charismatic, and Eloquently accomplished. and too, being the wife of George Lucas, a man who has explored the diverse frontiers of film and theatre with celebrated aplomb, makes their union, a collaboration of genius appeal.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
From Calypso Aerobics to Zumba Gold, the Energy is Carnival
While the weather was still cold and wintery on the outside, the large indoor basketball court on the inside was steamy hot, and sweaty. Seniors were dancing and exercising to the rhythms of hip hop, salsa, and the latest radio hits. Within the hour, there were beads of happy sweat dripping from their foreheads, and through their clothing. And their expressions were brimming with joy.
Tony Bryan Vicky & Caroline |
Every Thursday, from 10:30 - 11:30 am seniors and everyone young at heart gather at the newly builtMid County Recreation Center, for a lively, energetic and exhilarating Zumba workout. Tony Bryan, a Trinidad and Tobago native, brings sunshine from the islands and some Carnival fever to participants with his personal style and artistic presence.
Tony migrated first to Canada in the early nineties to complete his Masters in Business Management. After a coup attempt in Trinidad, and the prospect of civil unrest at home, Tony decided to come to the United States to explore further advancement opportunities.
Luckily Tony landed in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, where there was a robustly active community of Caribbean nationals. He first met Brian Walker and Fred Davis, leading champions of dance exercise at a Calypso aerobics event. Before Zumba became the highly popular form of dancercise raging through the world exercise circuits, there was a bustling dance exercise therapy of calypso, steelband, reggae, jazz, soul, with Brazilian, African, Latin, Caribbean influences known as calypso aerobics.
The Washington DC Caribbean communities were first to launch the calypso aerobic dancersize. Brian Walker the innovator and creator of calypso aerobics and soquatics - soca in de water, was a masterful and theatrical Trinidad and Tobago born dance, art, and culture enthusiast. He took Tony under his wings and nurtured him in the field of dance theatre. Brian taught Tony the new style of aerobics workouts themed in Carnival dance, and fondly name Calypso aerobics.
Soon thereafter, Tony and Brian and Fred partnered in spreading the joy of dance to many. Where Brian was the energy, the spirit force that exploded with infectious and combustible joy with his audiences, Tony structured, studied, refined and enhanced his teaching, dance, and exercise instructor skills. In affiliation with other professional dance/exercise enthusiasts, Tony perfected and honed his crafts to become one of the most prolific health and body fitness gurus in the Washington DC Metropolitan area.
The Mid County Recreation Center at Silver Spring Maryland gained a highly accomplished and versatile fitness instructor for their Zumba Gold classes.
With popular music on the cd player, seniors were treated with cautious courtesy and concerned directives for their hour long Zumba session. More so, Tony repeatedly sent out shout outs of encouragement: "Great Job! You Got it! You Got it!" to his group of elders. He forbade them to undertake any exercises that would be too stressful, and he made everyone feel as if he were their personal dance partner.
For the Zumba Gold hour, there was glee, there was laughter, and there was revelry among all. Caroline, a 66yr old, was more than happy to be there, she was happy to be alive. In July 2013, Caroline underwent major brain surgery. With a look of beautiful gratitude, silver grey hair cropped short, and a palpable smile, she comes to Zumba Gold as part of her exercise therapy. Vicky, 77 yr old, has had knee replacement surgery on both knees and was overwhelmed with emotion. It was something to do and it was delightful to be with others of her age.
Tony Bryan & Grace |
In an extraordinary legacy of friendship, from Calypso Aerobics to Zumba Gold, the Carnival dance plays on.
Watch the video: From Calypso Aerobics to Zumba Gold dedicated to Brian Walker and Fred Davis
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Should marijuana be legalized?
The law in Colorado has given license for marijuana to be
sold legally. As someone who has tried
to smoke marijuana for recreation, I unquestionably know I am not the same
human normal when under the influence. As I look at it from a much uniformed
perspective, I think it is a hysterical travesty of the government to entertain
the potential for unexpected casualties.
We were around 13 and I was fitting in with my peers at High
School. The scholarship to transfer to a
more prestigious school was not an enticement.
Luckily, my family, would have been too distressed financially to afford
all the vestiges of the Convent life. So
the friendship bonds were more influential and engaging. We
agreed to tell our parents that we were going to a social occasion in a
socially comfortable area. But, what we
really did, was go to the adult friend’s home, where weed was the cocktails, the
entre and dessert.
After the first couple hits, as a novice, it’s the first
time, and I have not acquired the necessary finesse to inhale with small
breadths, so my pulls were with great relish and intensity, I was delirious. There was a Curtis Mayfield song playing, I'm Your Pusherman and
whatever organic property there was, it was extremely potent. I was only hearing the Bassline beat for the whole song. And the thumping grew louder, and I was not
feeling anything else.
Thanks for the friendships of caring, I was the first person
that had to be taken home. I must have
been so badly out of shape that my more accustomed user friends, were pissed
that they would have to explain this to my family, or that I ruined their party
time. They got me to my home. I think I was shoved out of the car hastily
and reprimanded to walk straight up the steps and go to bed.
My younger brother saw my distress state and since he was one of
them *wink, wink* with a smirk of insider intelligence, he escorted me to my
room. I knew then and there, I did not
have a tolerance for further out of body getting high experiences.
When my son hit his adolescence “alien invasion” getting
high moments, it was chaotic, sometimes neurotic, psychotic and an emotional rollercoaster
of long term issues into manhood. I have
actually taken pictures of the “high” moments.
One is of him slumped at the bedside, the cap covering his face, mouth
open and drooling and looking totally
dotish. The other is a picture of him sitting on the
roof of the house smoking to avoid being seen.
The next phase of my marijuana intake is as an adult with
more adult sense and responsibility. It’s
a party and folks get high. They happen
to be the functional partiers. I quickly
knew that unlike my girl days, none of these people would be looking out for me
if I go into a dope induced stupor. So I
was coherent enough to know my choice of substance, was still a mild rum and
coke drink. I later graduated to apple
martinis.
Perhaps, I am one of the lucky ones. I over analyze even if and while under the
influence. I had a couple martinis too
many at a party and I got my dance on with such dexterity, that I was working
the chairs to Alicia Keys…If I ain’t got you.
I got such rave reviews from my pole dancing, I
was asked by a partier, to dance for her father’s 70th birthday. I knew then that my professional calling was
in question.
With marijuana, I experienced euphoric pleasure. My appetite for ravenous and insatiable
pleasure became toxic. To be in the zone,
I
had to feed the high.
Should Marijuana be legalized? This is the trending topic on media. In a Huffington Post article, This
is Why Marijuana should be legalized, it states that over 58% of Americans
are now in favor of legalized marijuana use.
The article presents all of the strongest arguments why this is a drug
that is not harmful. The words drug and
not harmful are themselves in contradiction.
I am in no position
to defend or provide legal, social or moral judgment. I have not been a cancer patient and need the
soothing relief to quell my pains. I
have not been a schizophrenic that need to still the voices. I have not been the case or circumstance,
that requires some of the medicinal properties marijuana is said to possess.
From my non expert position, the effect that marijuana has
on me is not the same as a cigarette or an aspirin.
Maybe the political side of legalizing marijuana is to
encourage more levies of taxes. Instead of the drug being sold on the streets,
it is a legal product with revenue generating streams for the patrolling bodies.
Just like pharmaceutical companies have
become the cornerstone for the chemicals that are traded around the world with
billions of dollars in profit, maybe the marijuana industry has the potential
of creating a global pharmaceutical market for the 1%.
It is ironic that with the new laws in Colorado the demand
has spiked the price for cannabis. The user
populations that have flocked to the area to purchase legal weed are paying
premium dollar for their sought after drug commodity. In the
article High
Demand: Price Of Legal Marijuana Soars In Colorado
Rachel Gillette, executive director of the Colorado chapter
of NORML, a national nonprofit seeking to make marijuana use legal nationwide
said she found retailers selling top-shelf marijuana to recreational users at
prices close to $400 per ounce, not including taxes.
But again, my mind analyzes.
With marijuana becoming a legal substance, I envision the normalcy of
being high as another health psychosis of the next millennium.
“Would you pass me that Blunt, it’s my marijuana” and now I
am legally about to get high.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
A Bubbling "Callaloo" Reading warms with nostalgia for Washington DC Caribbean audience
We were introduced online by Maud Arnold, whom I have known since her preteen years. She is the taller half of the Chloe and Maud Arnold Tap Dance Productions. I got the hail out on facebook from Maudie; " Ms. Grace! meet Marjuan Canady, she is one of your people'', which means, that 'she' and I are Trini. To the unacquainted, we share Trinidad & Tobago born bloodlines. Maud mentioned that Marjuan just wrote a book and was looking to do a launch in DC. Maud asked me to share Marjuan's work with fellow Trinbagonians and our community.
photos courtesy of Carl Gray III
"Aooooh!" resonated the shrill sounds of the Lagahoo. When Papa Bois bellowed "Little Boy! Why are you stealing from my forest ?!" she sounded deep and guttural. In a lilting Caribbean accent, the words, "Your greed troubles me." were spoken to Winston by Mama D'Lo, wife of Papa Bois and protector of all the sea animals.
After virtual hellos, and shared information, I had the pleasure of attending the special reading of the book Callaloo, A Jazz Folktale authored by Marjuan Canady and illustrated by Nabeeh Bilal at the Crown Bakery, on Georgia Avenue, Washington DC, on Saturday, December 21 2013. I attended with my son, Daryean and grand daughters Deana Grace and Raylynn Maxine.
As the kids and grownups sat around, some of the little ones were up close and personal. Others who were too grown to bend too low, remained seated on the chairs as Marjaun read from the book and Nabeeh turned the pages.
For the enjoyment of the group in attendance, Marjuan read each page with inflection and intonation and vivid coloration. In voice sounds, she embellished the narration with the animated accents of the West Indian grandma from Tobago, to the New York vendor icee lady, shouting "Delicioso! Compra Una Icee!" Marjuan assumed each character with effortless acting transition.
The kids were filled with excitement and anticipation. They listened attentively as Marjuan assumed character. She mimicked the haunting sounds of the Caribbean folklore characters.
The illustrations on each page of the book are bold and engaging. They capture artistic drawings of the characters and their activities. The video link Callaloo A Jazz Folktale ... The Reading at Crown Bakery DC with Marjuan Canady is a picture collage of the evening's activities.
Callaloo, A Jazz Folktale, is a short story filled with vivid depiction and Caribbean colloquialisms. It takes its audience on a journey to a Tobago island to meet some fabled characters. It is charming, it is frivolous and, just looking at the expression from the kids in the Callaloo, A Jazz Folktale picture collage video , it is great storytelling.
Ten year old attendee, Deana Grace shared this compelling review:
"Callaloo is a very Awesome book I think kids around the globe would love!"
Go to www.callaloothebook.com to purchase your copy and find out more details about Callaloo.
"Something magical lay within that Callaloo"
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Moments of Reflection through Quest and Challenge and Humor
At the beginning of 2013, I was drowning in the emotional tsunami of economic loss. I was a victim to the housing crisis. From the wealth of a full-time financially sustaining consulting career, to the poverty of a part-time, barely above minimum wage, temp staffer assignment, I was mentally and financially imploding.
picture credits to YourEventToGo |
In humored retrospect, I have learned that desperation is not a plausible enticement for soliciting public funding. More interestingly I learned, that my intuitive instincts for survival and independence are formidable and unshakable.
I learned that generosity is a virtue that cannot be extorted. Many individuals and family members extended their kindness in gestures of both monetary and charitable gifts. Through genuine acts of kindness, I received welcome donations with earnest and humble gratitude.
But I also realized, my professionally photographed glam shot picture for my GoFundMe appeal was an ideological contradiction. Lol!.. If I were in a state of poverty, why did my posing picture seem to look so rich? I was my own funding saboteur. HaHaHa!
In the months of my 2013 seasons of question and introspection, I exercised my mental muscles in the fields of social media. In Blogger, I wrote about my bliss, my agony, my intrigue and my curiosity. As of December, my 33 blogs have garnered over 6800 views. Through writing, I have stretched my public outreach and have opened windows of promising opportunities.
In Yahoo Contributor Networks, several of my article submissions have been published. I am tweaking and streamlining the authority, authenticity, and tone of my writer's voice. OMG! I Am 60 Years, Well Almost, was my first published Yahoo article. My enthusiasm is noted in the opening paragraph with these words:
When life throws you a lemon, you got to add some sugar and make it lemonade. Looking at the coming of age, as an adventure. Humor in life is healthy. Be thankful for the opportunities. Often they come disguised as disappointments.In the adventure of social media, there are numerous platforms to navigate. In the Google domain, I have expanded my circles of engagement. I have reached an allocated 5000 count to my circles and now there are new niche inroads to map out. There is creative stimulus for artistic demonstration in the Youtube landscape. In addition to the written scripts, my stories also include picture presentations displayed in photography and video productions.
The event of my class Reunion in Trinidad and Tobago in October 2013, was both real and cosmic. The months leading to the reunion date were filled with expectation and anticipation. In spite of every wall of denial, impossibility, financial detour, and emotional roadblock, I became the accidental tourist.
With a gift from my son, the bounty of the kindness of family, and the generosity of lifetime friends, I experienced abundance during my holiday visit. In social media, I celebrated moments in pictures and videos. My field of exploration in video app development technology widened and blossomed.
A most celebrated moment of the Reunion was a tribute to our teacher Jovita Lee. The privilege of being in this moment is shared in this blog So How Do You Thank Someone who has taken You from Crayons to Perfume. The revelry and joy of being with classmates after 41 years are shared in this Youtube video 60s are the new 40s.
Disappointments and trials have been exhaustive, but!.. another year begins every year on December 31.
In commemoration and tribute to Nelson Mandela and to his life contribution, I have themed the following message of victories won.
One gains success by conviction, not by trial.
These words in the last refrain of the poem Invictus, champion resilience:
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul
(This is a Poem 'Invictus' (Unconquered,Undefeated) by William Henley. Great South African Leader Nelson Mandela(Madiba) was inspired by the poem, and had it written on a scrap of paperon his prison cell while he was incarcerated for 27 years on Robben Island )These words ignite my resolve to remain steadfast in conviction and to be inspired in optimism.
As I captain my approach to new territories of consciousness in the coming years, I will continue to practice optimism rather than defeat.
My task is not to design new resolutions for the coming years. I can look over the past year and find hidden treasures of discovery, new accomplishments, recognition by acknowledgments, and fulfillment in worthy achievements.
I can now prospect my capabilities and competencies on the merits of my work, my experience and my talents. My video blog is the latest career tool that I will use to promote and enlist the consideration of prospective employers.
In a recent post to social media, I stated without reservation, that my practice of social engagement is not about me. I have been nourished, nurtured, schooled, and charmed by the many people including family, friends, loved ones, and circles of associates, whose lives and stories continue to impact and impress me.
There are many other people whose life situations have made them soldier on against greater odds than my circumstantial occurrences. I am empowered because of all who have shared their stories and have demonstrated success despite personal setbacks.
The journey of quest and challenge is our universal common road map. Victories Won, Defeats Surrendered, but Resilience Triumphs and Optimism Prevails are my signature guidelines for yesterday, today, and with each new year.
Achieving Abundance is my ultimate goal of self-expression and expectation. To this end, my optimism prevails.
In all of this, I am eternally grateful.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Driving in Trinidad and Tobago is barbaric and inhumane...
As a recent visitor "Trini" expat, to the beautiful isle of my birth, I relished and delighted in the utopia of tropical warmth, bounteous every greens in flora and fauna, the tempting warm soothing beaches, the varieties of cuisine so tasteful and succulent, the wonders of new enterprise, in the rich architecture in commercial buildings and new residential designs and the splendor of culture, colorful in peopling of every creed and race... and I experienced the lunacy of driving in Trinidad and Tobago.
The body count of road fatalities and the incidents of mindless, savage, traffic accidents are horrific and shocking. I quickly came to my senses as I weighed in on my options. If choices were presented to reside in Trinidad or continue living as an American citizen, in Maryland, USA, I would, in the blink of an eye, choose the latter.
My conclusion .... No Way!!. could I live in a society, that allows drivers to rampantly kill, and there not be quick and responsive justice.. I have grown accustomed to a civilized society where rules are mandated and driver education and awareness are stringently enforced for the safety and security of all road travelers.
In the States, numerous motor vehicle incidents and accidents occur. There are horrible deaths from vehicular tragedies. There are unfortunate incidents that rank under the titles "road rage" "over policing" "vehicular manslaughter". But arbitrary and indiscriminate endangerment of the public on the roadways, highways, and city provenances are just not as out of control, as it seems to be on the roads of Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad is 143 km (89 mi) from North to South and 61 km (38 mi) from East to West. Tobago lies 31 km (19 mi) northeast of Trinidad and has a length of 42 km (26 mi) Northeast to Southwest, and an average width of 12 km (7.5 mi) Northwest to Southeast. Sixteen small islands are found off the coasts.
http://www.caribsurf.net/trinbago/factstrinbago.html.Facts about Trinidad and TobagoBy third world standards, Trinidad is among the smaller islands. Travel between local towns by car is within an average of a 5 mile radius. One could travel from North to South, barring traffic, at 45 miles per hour, in less than two hours.
The ordeal of a day in traffic between Diego Martin North to Aranguez, approximately 7 miles at 3p on a Friday afternoon, was both my traffic in Trinidad hell-baptism by fire, and my personal epiphany. I knew that after almost 3 1/2 hours, of stop and go, around the Lady Young Road shortcut, with two lane driving becoming road tests in driver maneuvers at passing and swerving, creating four lanes using the roads' outskirts and inside lanes as thoroughfare, and dodging the disaster of an oncoming vehicle overtaking with the potential impact of a headon crash, before intercepting the regular traffic to regain control; that the craft of driving in Trinidad was not a feat that I was capable of handling.
The headline news on the daily newspapers have been plagued with fatalities as though this is the common norm. "Road Carnage", the headline for 6 road deaths in less than 6 hours over the first week end of November 2013.
Road fatalities on the roads of Trinidad and Tobago have been inexcusably too much, too often and too devastating to family, friends and loved ones. The country's 'Arrive Alive' campaign needs aggressive and vigilant policing. In a speech given by Sharon Inglefield, President of Arrive Alive, she presents these frightening statistics:
The government leaders, policy makers, shareholders of Trinidad and Tobago must be accountable to society. Revenue streams for our big dollar intake, Tourism, will be further diminished and corroded if our nation does not actively and vigorously impose strict consequences and enforce rigid law policies.
A Driver's license is not a permit to kill. It is a responsibility to uphold civic duty and respect for everyone we share our roadways, our highways, our byways and our pathways with.
Trinidad and Tobago..... is this the pride and joy we also want to celebrate for world acclaim ??... The nation where Road Kill has become a national sport..?
With all the newest model cars, with more multiple car families, with a growing population of under 30 year olds, we continue to have too much to revel in and spread joy. For every one who loses a family member due to these senseless barbaric and inhumane road tragedies, we owe them not just our sympathies and comforting words, we owe them a lifetime debt which we can never repay. We could never bring their loved ones back: Gone too soon...!!!
The body count of road fatalities and the incidents of mindless, savage, traffic accidents are horrific and shocking. I quickly came to my senses as I weighed in on my options. If choices were presented to reside in Trinidad or continue living as an American citizen, in Maryland, USA, I would, in the blink of an eye, choose the latter.
My conclusion .... No Way!!. could I live in a society, that allows drivers to rampantly kill, and there not be quick and responsive justice.. I have grown accustomed to a civilized society where rules are mandated and driver education and awareness are stringently enforced for the safety and security of all road travelers.
In the States, numerous motor vehicle incidents and accidents occur. There are horrible deaths from vehicular tragedies. There are unfortunate incidents that rank under the titles "road rage" "over policing" "vehicular manslaughter". But arbitrary and indiscriminate endangerment of the public on the roadways, highways, and city provenances are just not as out of control, as it seems to be on the roads of Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad is 143 km (89 mi) from North to South and 61 km (38 mi) from East to West. Tobago lies 31 km (19 mi) northeast of Trinidad and has a length of 42 km (26 mi) Northeast to Southwest, and an average width of 12 km (7.5 mi) Northwest to Southeast. Sixteen small islands are found off the coasts.
http://www.caribsurf.net/trinbago/factstrinbago.html.Facts about Trinidad and TobagoBy third world standards, Trinidad is among the smaller islands. Travel between local towns by car is within an average of a 5 mile radius. One could travel from North to South, barring traffic, at 45 miles per hour, in less than two hours.
The ordeal of a day in traffic between Diego Martin North to Aranguez, approximately 7 miles at 3p on a Friday afternoon, was both my traffic in Trinidad hell-baptism by fire, and my personal epiphany. I knew that after almost 3 1/2 hours, of stop and go, around the Lady Young Road shortcut, with two lane driving becoming road tests in driver maneuvers at passing and swerving, creating four lanes using the roads' outskirts and inside lanes as thoroughfare, and dodging the disaster of an oncoming vehicle overtaking with the potential impact of a headon crash, before intercepting the regular traffic to regain control; that the craft of driving in Trinidad was not a feat that I was capable of handling.
The headline news on the daily newspapers have been plagued with fatalities as though this is the common norm. "Road Carnage", the headline for 6 road deaths in less than 6 hours over the first week end of November 2013.
The carnage began at 1 a.m. yesterday with the death of 21-year-old Andrew Edwards in Guapo.According to reports, Edward was driving his vehicle, PBU 671, in an easterly direction along Southern Main Road, Guapo, when he was struck head-on by an oncoming vehicle near a sawmill. Ten minutes later, the first of two double road fatalities was recorded.According to police reports, around 1.10 a.m., William was driving his Mazda, PBS 5694, west along Western Main Road when he was given a “bad drive” near International School in Westmoorings.William lost control of his car, which struck a Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) pipeline, flipped and plunged into the Diego Martin river.The car landed upside-down in the swollen river.The cousins were trapped inside.
Less than an hour after the death of the cousins, another road fatality was recorded, this time in Central Trinidad.According to reports, around 2 a.m., Sookhan, of Manahambre Road, Princes Town, was struck by a vehicle on the southbound carriage-way in the vicinity of Chaguanas.Sookhan was standing at the roadside after he exited his vehicle which was in the centre highway median after being involved in an accident.Anoop Gajadhar, who was a passenger in Sookhan’s car, said he (Sookhan) had just gotten off the phone with his mother.Sookhan called to tell his mother he was involved in an accident but was safe.He was standing at the roadside when he was struck by a black van, The van did not stop.Sookhan died at the scene.
The last of yesterday’s four fatal accidents occurred around 6.20 a.m.Dead are Amit Sooknanan, 24, and Jamie Stockin, 26.Alvin Rennie sustained two broken legs in the accident.The crash occurred along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway between the Maritime Roundabout overpass and the Suzuki showroom in Barataria.According to reports, Rennie parked his Toyota Hilux on the shoulder of the highway and was standing outside when tragedy struck.A gold-coloured Nissan Cefiro, belonging to Stockin but driven by Sooknanan, struck the rear of Rennie’s van.The van moved forward as a result of the impact and Rennie was struck. The Cefiro ended its collision course in a ditch.Sooknanan and Stockin died at the scene as a result of their injuries.Road CarnageIn a tragedy that could have been avoided, less than a week later on November 12 2013, a mother is killed because improperly placed and unsecured steel rods impales her as the rods roll off a moving truck and crashes through the windshield into her private vehicle. FLYING-STEEL-KILLS-WOMAN-
Road fatalities on the roads of Trinidad and Tobago have been inexcusably too much, too often and too devastating to family, friends and loved ones. The country's 'Arrive Alive' campaign needs aggressive and vigilant policing. In a speech given by Sharon Inglefield, President of Arrive Alive, she presents these frightening statistics:
In Trinidad &Tobago (from 2007-2011) there were 173,000 reported road traffic collisions. This equates to 34,600 collisions per annum with as many as 200 fatalities. Over 11,000 persons were reported injured. Persons aged 15 yrs – 35 yrs accounted for 45% of the fatalities. 83% of which are young males! And 43% pedestrians! Every 16.8 minutes a collision occurs on our nation’s roads! Every hour spent on our roads means there is a 25% chance of a collision and therefore a 25% chance of serious injury or fatality. For 2012 - 163 lives have been lost on our roadways – a 3% increase over last year (159 lives lost). Young people you are most vulnerable! Campaign Slogan Arrive Alive Trinidad and TobagoCitizens of Trinidad and Tobago Arrive Alive!!! The death tolls are climbing and it requires urgency and immediacy to take the actions to Care and Respect our lives and those of all citizens of our cherished land
The government leaders, policy makers, shareholders of Trinidad and Tobago must be accountable to society. Revenue streams for our big dollar intake, Tourism, will be further diminished and corroded if our nation does not actively and vigorously impose strict consequences and enforce rigid law policies.
A Driver's license is not a permit to kill. It is a responsibility to uphold civic duty and respect for everyone we share our roadways, our highways, our byways and our pathways with.
Trinidad and Tobago..... is this the pride and joy we also want to celebrate for world acclaim ??... The nation where Road Kill has become a national sport..?
With all the newest model cars, with more multiple car families, with a growing population of under 30 year olds, we continue to have too much to revel in and spread joy. For every one who loses a family member due to these senseless barbaric and inhumane road tragedies, we owe them not just our sympathies and comforting words, we owe them a lifetime debt which we can never repay. We could never bring their loved ones back: Gone too soon...!!!
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
The Scourge of Blackface
It seems every time someone idiotically sports blackface in the US of A, the clamor of racism is touted. The prudent and socially conscious voice their alarm and discontent. Inevitably, around Halloween every year, we get to repeat and repeal our disgust with people who arbitrarily find amusement in blackface painting. Strangely enough, most often, these people are white.
This year, celebrity Dancing with the Stars, Julianne Hough caused a major twitter and social media stir with her orange face. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/orange-new-black-star-offended-julianne-hough-blackface-article-1.1500580 There was also the pervasive obscenity of the individuals who decided to masquerade as the neighborhood watch and the hooded blackface individual with blood stained hoodie.. a sick joke on the Trayvon Martin tragedy.http://pix11.com/2013/10/30/trayvon-martin-blackface-halloween-costume-may-be-even-worse-than-these/. And yet another blackface, and this one was arsenic. A black woman, choose to have a noose around her neck, while two white friends are play acting as her captors.http://obnoxioustv.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/obnoxious-extreme-ratchet-behavior-black-woman-dresses-as-a-slave-for-halloween/. While the latter two characterizations are revolting and disgusting, and there is no apology for their obvious sickening displays, I thought about what blackface conjures up to me.
I am an unapologetically black, Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago female. We have a yearly celebration that we proudly boast as the world's greatest dance party, Carnival. Rivalled only by Brazil, the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago features the ghouls of J'ourvert, the dawning of the days of celebration, with black faces, blue faces, red, green and all colorations of mud indiscriminately plastered over the face and body. We also are costumed in the regalia of beads, glitz and glitter, sequins and feather in ornate and flaming opulence. It is called masquerade.
Back in my childhood days in Trinidad, I was a big fan of Al Jolson. Toot Toot Tootsie goodbye! Toot Toot Tootsie don't cry!.. I would tap and sing and pretend to tip my hat and cane just like I saw on TV. On our families black and white tv in the living room, we would all gather to enjoy, the Black and White Minstrels show and sing along to all the songs of the yesteryears.
Busted!! Paula Deen to the rescue! A good fit for the inside kitchen.. I surmise.
In the Caribbean, our education was steeped in academic excellence. Ingrained in our culture of pride and sophistication were the values of self worth and self esteem. Education above all else was our defining glory. Anyone, Negro as was the correct "Black" label in those days of the early sixties; West Indian style; Indian, Chinese, Syrian, Portuguese, Lebanese, the Whites were all party to academic achievements. Some were richer, we were poorer but we had all a fair chance to improve.
As a citizen of the USA since the early nineties, I have learnt the nuances of why prejudice is the rationale for even the absurdities of masquerade. In all its extremes, no one justifies the demeaning of the history of "black" people. Yet, were I to paint myself "white face" will I create the furor and uproar that "blackface" evokes? Are yellow, red, blue face sanctioned because it does not reek of racial profiling of other communities?
Many are using the "black" script to perjure society to be baited by the ridiculous. So a "black face" characterization by white America immediately conjures Racist. Even, as in Julian Houghs case, an apology is necessary for an orange face "caricature" "masquerade" because it is discriminating and "racist" .
Every year Trinidad and Tobagonians, and people who play "MAS" paint their faces black, blue, green and yellow… and it is, what it is "Masquerade"…
Pound the Alarm!!, http://youtu.be/0Zb7WO685Ko, the title song on Nicki Minaj hit record about Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago depicts all the fusions of colored faces with glamor and revelry.
There is nothing "Racist" among people who respect and treat everyone with respect
I am an unapologetically black, Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago female. We have a yearly celebration that we proudly boast as the world's greatest dance party, Carnival. Rivalled only by Brazil, the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago features the ghouls of J'ourvert, the dawning of the days of celebration, with black faces, blue faces, red, green and all colorations of mud indiscriminately plastered over the face and body. We also are costumed in the regalia of beads, glitz and glitter, sequins and feather in ornate and flaming opulence. It is called masquerade.
Back in my childhood days in Trinidad, I was a big fan of Al Jolson. Toot Toot Tootsie goodbye! Toot Toot Tootsie don't cry!.. I would tap and sing and pretend to tip my hat and cane just like I saw on TV. On our families black and white tv in the living room, we would all gather to enjoy, the Black and White Minstrels show and sing along to all the songs of the yesteryears.
Busted!! Paula Deen to the rescue! A good fit for the inside kitchen.. I surmise.
In the Caribbean, our education was steeped in academic excellence. Ingrained in our culture of pride and sophistication were the values of self worth and self esteem. Education above all else was our defining glory. Anyone, Negro as was the correct "Black" label in those days of the early sixties; West Indian style; Indian, Chinese, Syrian, Portuguese, Lebanese, the Whites were all party to academic achievements. Some were richer, we were poorer but we had all a fair chance to improve.
As a citizen of the USA since the early nineties, I have learnt the nuances of why prejudice is the rationale for even the absurdities of masquerade. In all its extremes, no one justifies the demeaning of the history of "black" people. Yet, were I to paint myself "white face" will I create the furor and uproar that "blackface" evokes? Are yellow, red, blue face sanctioned because it does not reek of racial profiling of other communities?
Many are using the "black" script to perjure society to be baited by the ridiculous. So a "black face" characterization by white America immediately conjures Racist. Even, as in Julian Houghs case, an apology is necessary for an orange face "caricature" "masquerade" because it is discriminating and "racist" .
Every year Trinidad and Tobagonians, and people who play "MAS" paint their faces black, blue, green and yellow… and it is, what it is "Masquerade"…
Pound the Alarm!!, http://youtu.be/0Zb7WO685Ko, the title song on Nicki Minaj hit record about Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago depicts all the fusions of colored faces with glamor and revelry.
There is nothing "Racist" among people who respect and treat everyone with respect
Monday, November 4, 2013
The St Theresas Class of 72 Reunion 2013 -The Recyled Teens 60s are the ...
Please click on the link below and enjoy the story of wonderful memories and treasured friendships
in celebration of :
The St Theresa's Class of 72 Reunion The Recyled Teens 60s are the new 40s
Memories in pictures of a Reunion of the Class of 1972
St Theresa's Girls Intermediate
Trinidad and Tobago
with special honorary guest
Our most endeared teacher formerly Sr. Jovita... now ever so fondly "Jo"
in celebration of :
The St Theresa's Class of 72 Reunion The Recyled Teens 60s are the new 40s
Memories in pictures of a Reunion of the Class of 1972
St Theresa's Girls Intermediate
Trinidad and Tobago
with special honorary guest
Our most endeared teacher formerly Sr. Jovita... now ever so fondly "Jo"
Most of the time a song comes to mind and these words capture what I truly treasure and hope you would too, in documenting our times together in words and pictures
And when one of us is gone, and one of us is left to carry on
Just remembering will have to do
The memories alone will get us through
Think of all the days of me and you
You and me against the world... from the song You and me against the world
Please enjoy my video memory of all the moments captured at our 2013 Reunion
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
So how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume.. Convent Girls Class of 1972 Reunion with our teacher "Jo"
So how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume..lyrics from the song To Sir with Love
The St Theresa's Convent Girls Intermediate Class, Form 1 G from the years 1967 -1972, the Reunistas, the Recyled
Teens, as we fondly think of ourselves, had the enormous pleasure and privilege to
celebrate friendships of 46 years. Most
significantly, we came together to share an honorary thank you to our teacher,
formerly Sr. Mary Jovita, now widowed and a grandmother, and ever still a
teacher..
To us she is Jo. And to us, she is an indelible, unforgettable
inspiration, who is an integral part of the intimate legacy of who we are and who we have become.
As one of the new crop of local nuns to start teaching right
out of the Holy Faith Convent order, she was merely 20 years old when she
introduced herself to the 35 or so, new Common Entrance, form 1 G class
starting secondary school at St. Theresa’s.
No more than a petite 4’6’’ and
let’s just add 2 inches with the hood of the habit, for good measure, there was
a curious precociousness about her.
With a rowdy bunch of misfits, there were those of us with
very prestigious backgrounds. The family names preceded them. There were those with struggling families
barely able to afford the uniform and books required to attend high
school. Some traveled from the far East,
all up by Caroni, 20 miles outside of the school district, and some others did not have enough money to buy bus fare to school on a
daily basis.
There were the highly popular girls who knew each other from
their former Holy Faith Convent private schools attendance. There were the many girls who had all of the
strikingly beautiful assets of face, hair, eyes and shape. There were those who were the quiet and remained
mostly to themselves. There were the rambunctious, which somehow, trouble would
come seeking them… even when they were attending church services.
With an eclectic bunch of the few who were disposed to be
studious, and more of us, that were keen
on being in the “in crowd” Jo had her work cut out for her. She must have prayed real hard, because she
found all of the most innovative ways to capture our attention and encourage camaraderie, sportsmanship and friendship.
In English and English Literature, our class performed
Shakepeare’s As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer’s Night Dream with theatrical
aplomb and lusty characterizations. As
opposed to the teachings by the Irish nuns, our class also got to perform local
plays. One of our favorite enactments
was "Tief from Tief make God laf" . We took liberties with our local dialect and spewed our sentences with every flavor of local twang. In that
play, there was more laughter from the actors’ performances, than there were
from our school audiences. We learnt
Chaucer and spoke “goode olde” English prose.
Jo championed these efforts with charismatic enthusiasm and
devoted conviction.
Jo, led us as Girl Guides.
We visited Tobago. We visited
Toco. We visited Fort George. We went
down de islands. We went to Our Lady of
Fatima pilgrimages. We participated in
school bazaars to make sure our school fund raising efforts were
successful.
Many of our greatest pranks played on each other were unknown
to Jo, while under her and other teachers’ watchful eyes.
Jo, was our netball, volleyball, sports coach. There seemed to be no exhaustion to her efforts
to keep us virtuous and exhaustively occupied.
Jo encouraged our talents.
Our class enjoyed participating in many music festivals under the choral
tutelage and stellar instructions by Jo.
In addition to classical singing, Jo was most instrumental in
encouraging our local carol singing and paranging. Because our carol singing became so popular,
and the demand for our house visits became so extensive, we perhaps, became the
cause of our own misfortune of losing Jo’s accompaniment in our travels. Her
outings with our caroling groups got derailed as the convent rules prevented
her frolicking with us past their curfew hours.
Jo was untiring in her efforts to shepherd her very first
class of secondary school age girls.
Needless to say, we must have exhausted her beyond understanding. Yet, she never showed us indifference or even
shared her own disappointments that we may not have been as serious and
studious as she hoped she taught us to be.
After we left High School our lives have taken its many separate
paths. Many of us stayed in Trinidad and became successful business entrepreneurs. Quite a few of us, left Trinidad and made new
lives abroad, in London, the United States, Canada, Montreal and other far
places throughout the world. Our stories
are all rich in tragedies and luxuries.
Each one of us has many facets of colorful lives that makes us all very individual and
unique. We are grandmothers now. We are single. We are married, divorced and
widowed.
Jo, also, has a new history.
She is now a widow, a grandmother, and she continues to teach. A local private school in Port of Spain now
has the jeweled prize of Jo as their steelpan and music teacher.
After four decades of separate lives, our Class of 1972
reconnected. A fellow classmate
describes our reunion as follows:
To all you beautiful ladies
What can I say! What a wonderful Reunion of our Class of '72. So many of you took time out from your busy schedules to be there.
To the awesome ladies who took their vacation and flew in from abroad to attend this event thank you. I know it took lots of organizing on your part. It was definitely worth it.
To those of you who initially expressed embarrassment and apprehension to attend because you didn't immediately remember some of our classmates thank you for making the effort and coming out to face the challenge. Hey it's been 41 years and we're getting on in age. The memory is not what it used to be. The idea was to re-connect and re-connect we did! All it took was a little jog of the old memory.
To those of you who only spent one or two years with us and still came, a special thank you for knowing that we consider you one of us. It was an honour having you there.
To those of you who couldn't attend you were missed and we hope that when we do decide to meet again you will be there.
What can I say! What a wonderful Reunion of our Class of '72. So many of you took time out from your busy schedules to be there.
To the awesome ladies who took their vacation and flew in from abroad to attend this event thank you. I know it took lots of organizing on your part. It was definitely worth it.
To those of you who initially expressed embarrassment and apprehension to attend because you didn't immediately remember some of our classmates thank you for making the effort and coming out to face the challenge. Hey it's been 41 years and we're getting on in age. The memory is not what it used to be. The idea was to re-connect and re-connect we did! All it took was a little jog of the old memory.
To those of you who only spent one or two years with us and still came, a special thank you for knowing that we consider you one of us. It was an honour having you there.
To those of you who couldn't attend you were missed and we hope that when we do decide to meet again you will be there.
On the evening of the Reunion as part of our dedication
event, we did a chorus of songs, like Chattanooga Choo Choo, Shine On Harvest
Moon, Bubbles Bangles and Bright Shiny Beads all part of our Broadway repertoire,
all taught to us by our illustrious and
talented teacher Jo. We also recalled
our version of "In a Little town of San Rosita", where everyone joined in the
chorus refrain, with a lilting echo of OOO OOh after each line…and we sang the words of the best teacher student song in
history To “Jo” with Love.
And the words were heartfelt, as the room full of beaming, beautiful, and
exquisitely charming girls in their late 50s and early 60s sang their hearts
out in unison…to
That’s a lot to learn, What can we give you in return
If you wanted the moon, we would try to write across the sky
in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high
To “Jo” with Love”
Needless to say, this is just a new beginning to our
future. The Reunistas, the Recyled
Teens, The Form 1G St Theresa’s Class of 1972 continue to revel in the memories
and cherish our treasured friendships.
Thank you Jo for sharing your light, your love, your rich
humanity and your blessedness in each of the manylives you have touched. We love you ever more.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
My Tobago trip, too Short, too Sweet, and the Toilet on the Seas
Store Bay Tobago... those lovely boats to Buccoo Reef and The Nylon Pool Oct2213 gcw |
But, the trip to Tobago, aboard the Spirit inter island cruise ship from Port of Spain is the lasting memory that I will archive with highest record.
One of the best deals anywhere in the world, a 3 hour cruise from Port of Spain to Tobago at a mere $50 TT dollars or the equivalent of $8 US. With my niece Lisa, buddy Rod, and me, we embarked on our excursion aboard the Spirit Cruise Line of Trinidad and Tobago. Luckily, and because I wanted to savor the many hours of Tobago for one day, we purchased airline tickets for our return trip. Again, another wonder of Caribbean bests, a $24 US Caribbean Airlines flight, 20 mins travel between the islands. Travel times were as late as 10:30 pm. I imagined a full day of Tobago activities.
We boarded the Spirit 10:30a and set sail. With the local cuisine on board, I couldn't wait. I had to have bake and salt fish buljol with coffee. There was even a movie playing, Godzilla or something. The first hour I remember the beauty of the waters and was delightedly struck by the island inlets that seemed to be so close by.
Lisa, reminded me to take a pill for motion sickness as I was suggesting that we should go upfront to the bow of the boat to look at the view. Somewhere at the point where Lisa was drawing a map on her Samsung Note pad of the route that the boat was taking, to indicate that we were near Macqueripe, my personal Godzilla encounter began.
With an unsteady walk I headed to the closest ladies toilet. There was a lady barfing in the sink. In that stall I began my agony in the garden with every element of body fluid finding passage from mouth and backside in simultaneous symphony.
I did manuevres between sitting on the stool to bending over with my face as close to the toilet water all in one movement. I then somehow thankfully found the trash bin would work better as the vomit holder, while the toilet bowl captured the remains of the bake and buljol.
I prayed louder than I have ever prayed in years. All my denials of faith and worship became loud screaming confessions. I was bawling without shame... Lord Lord help meh.!!!.. all my lost family members names were called on... Mammy, Daddy, Didi, Michael, Brian,,, ah go dead!!! my body was wreaking in cold sweat, chills, heat all at the same time. At some point I wanted to just lie prostrate on that floor and pray to wake up feeling somewhat relieved.
Thanks to some mental vanity.... I just couldn't see me arriving in Tobago, smelling and looking like shit with a smile of faint welcome.
Then with the help of some lovely attendant, and my niece Lisa, I emerged from my vaporous dungeon as the boat docked. Two hours after.
I was still light headed and I barely remember the taxi driver who took us to Store Bay. But I felt he was looking at me in the back seat and praying that his taxi was not going to be part of my exit strategy for any remnants of sea sickness.
Store Bay was the answer.. After getting up enough energy to get into that beautiful calming soothing and refreshingly healing salt water... I began to breathe life again. Did you think that I was going to be enthusiastic, when the Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool tour guide came along and suggested a boat ride???? My absolute biggest missed opportunity. I begged him please don't ask.
With as many pictures that I have taken to capture moments of my visit to Trinidad and Tobago... would you believe, there are only 4....pics of my Robinson Crusoe Isle of Tobago visit in over 20 years.
No worries... I am not Cruise ship material... I know for sure. For my Tobago, I have the undulating memory ....steeped in the Toilet on the Seas.
feeling better after ginger beer at Kariwak Village Restaurant |
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