Topics

1

General Discussion / Down d islands

« on: December 22, 2009, 08:01:47 PM »

Ok so back in 07 when I took the entire family to trini, we went down the islands. We went to the old Fantasy island resort which according to the guy, a nice fella named Fuddy  who organise for us, was being rebuilt. There were houses or apartments for rent and the price was pretty decent. Last year when we went, I didnt get to go back but I still saw signs all over for the same guy. This year so many times I fly in and out and didnt think about down the islands until these last 2 weeks and when I went, couldnt see any signs and my brother told me that as far as he know, the "rebuild" buss and the place shut down again.

I am planning to take the kids again sometime in the first quarter of next year, either february for presidents week or sometime around spring break but this time is going to be a real vacation and not like I usually do which is get dragged round to go visit all them pumpkin vine family I ent see in several years. SO I want to take the kids down the islands for about a week, where nobody could just "drop in" for a visit unless they have a boat   
Does any one know any websites or have any numbers to real estate agents or know anybody at all who could get info on any rentals that might be available down the islands? Or if anyone can tell me if the resort thing really gone through?  I did a search online and found one site, but there was a disclaimer that said that they didn't have first hand knowledge of any of the rentals but were just passing on info.

Any information/contacts/ whatever you guys might have would be greatly appreciated.

2

General Discussion / Murder, rape charges pending in Shaniya Davis case

« on: November 20, 2009, 05:04:03 PM »

I tried to stay away from this one...really, but I saw the article today and really broke down. I cannot understand some people. I cannot understand why. She was only five years old, a year older than my princess and ......... well. All I can say is  public execution by fire/hanging/genital mutilation too good for this jackass and the mother.... WHY? Why are people so evil? And is it wrong that after reading this story I wanted to get in my car, drive to the carolinas with a blunt rusty pair of scissors and castrate both of them? Doesnt that make me just as bad as them? RIP Shaniya.

********************************


CNN)  -- Murder and rape charges will be filed against a North Carolina man in the death of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis, police said Thursday.

Mario Andrette McNeill had already been charged with kidnapping the Fayetteville, North Carolina, girl. She was reported missing last week, and her body was found Monday beside a road near Sanford, about 30 miles northwest of Fayetteville.

Preliminary autopsy results indicate the child was asphyxiated, Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine told reporters Thursday, but testing is still being completed and a final report has not been issued.

McNeill will be charged with first-degree murder and rape of a child, Bergamine said. The new arrest warrants were being served Thursday night.

The girl's mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses. Police have said they believe Davis was prostituting the child.

According to police, surveillance video taken November 10 from a hotel in Sanford, North Carolina, shows Shaniya in the company of McNeill.

Authorities had said Wednesday they would need to determine where Shaniya was killed before filing additional charges. Fayetteville is in Cumberland County, while Sanford is in Lee County. Bergamine said Thursday jurisdiction in the case would remain in Cumberland County. "We started it from the beginning and wanted to finish it out," he said.


Police still are not sure exactly where Shaniya was killed, Bergamine said. Police earlier had said they believe the child was alive when she left the hotel.

"Current charges on Ms. Davis are standing as they are right now," Bergamine said. But he told reporters the investigation was ongoing.

He and other officers spoke about the emotional toll the investigation has taken on them. Grief counseling has been under way for officers at the department, he said.

"It's been a tough case," said Fayetteville Police Capt. Charles Kimball, the toughest in his 14 years, he said. "Our mission was to find Shaniya and we did it."

"This case here has reached out and touched all of us," Bergamine said.

Shaniya's father, Bradley Lockhart, made a tearful appeal before reporters Tuesday afternoon, asking that "everybody makes it a point not to ignore, to look past a situation where a person, a child, or anybody might be in danger ... so that we don't have another tragedy like Shaniya."

The girl went to her mother's last month, he said.

3

General Discussion / Trinis everywhere :)

« on: November 08, 2009, 11:14:27 PM »

SO last week something rather funny happened. I had to go out in the field to check some things for one of our clients and I had to drive to a Walmart that is about an hour's drive away from my house. Kinda country area, mixture of white and black. I bought some things and went to the first cashier. Nice black lady, big earrings, big smile.

Conversation went something like this

Cashier    " Good afternoon ma'am, welcome to your local walmart, did you find everything you were looking for today"
Me   "Not quite, you guys were out of the one thing I wanted, but I found alot of other stuff anyway"
Cashier    " Well if you tell me what you were looking for, I'll try to....."

she noticed the trini flag lapel pin I wear on all my jackets...   

 "Aye gyal wha part o trini you from?"

Me " I from south.  parents from Arima"
Cashier  " wha part of Arima? My moms live Barataria by where the ol shoe factory was, but she from Arima."
Me " Matarita Village and Pinto Road"
Cashier  " WHo is your family in Maturia? Gyal I know you grandfather, I have to call my moms and tell her I meet his granddaughter...."

Lady behind us.... "What are you guys saying? I can't understand it?"
Cashier " Sorry tanty we from Trinidad"

She left her register ( a big no-no by the way) to go get her manager so that he could meet another Trini. The manager knows me already from meetings and couldnt stop laughing when he heard us talk to each other, how the accents came out.

Must find a trini everywhere

4

General Discussion / Needed Old pictures, and or video clips.

« on: June 08, 2009, 08:30:27 PM »

 I have an idea bubbling in my mind few days now. I like to make videos and stuff. I need some old pictures, not have to be of people you know but pictures of way back when. Nice stuff. Like a mother and daughter cooking, or someone helping an older person, or a father son moment, a fisherman fishing, a farmer working his garden, even older carnival pics, anything like that that captures life as it was in T&T way back when  - some older pictures. AND on the flip side, I need pictures and/or video showing the negatives, crime, poverty, even some clips/photos of the coup and the aftermath. Anything and everything would be appreciated, just email them to me please.

5

General Discussion / Bullets fly at UWI

« on: June 07, 2009, 02:31:57 PM »

Students run for cover as...
Bullets fly at UWI
Radhica Sookraj and Akile Simon
Published: 7 Jun 2009
Radhica Sookraj and Akile Simon

Students at the University of the West Indies ran for cover yesterday as Car Search detectives and a car thief exchanged gunfire outside the campus. The thief was shot, along with a detective from the Car Search Unit. The commotion occurred around 9 am, while students were heading for summer classes at the institution.

One student, who requested anonymity, said she was walking down the stairs of her apartment when she heard the sound of gunfire. “When I looked, I saw a man running down the road and shooting. He kept looking back. There were two other men running behind him. One of them was also firing shots.” The student said she fled into her apartment.

A doubles vendor selling close to the southern gate said she ran for her life. “When I see bullets flying, I run. I didn’t know what was happening, I just start running.” An officer from Car Search said around 7 am, a resident of Welcome Road, Cunupia, woke up and found his beige Mazda pickup missing. He alerted Car Search and seven units were dispatched. The vehicle was tracked to the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and intercepted. The 28-year-old suspect emerged from the vehicle and attempted to escape. Sources said the suspect fled towards the university, firing indiscriminately.

A shoot-out ensued between the suspect and Estate Constable Roger Plaza, who was shot in the right leg. He was pursued by Assistant Superintendent Estate Police Berment, following which another shoot-out ensued along College Road. The suspect, a construction worker of Enterprise Village, Chaguanas, was shot in the right leg, hip and left shoulder. ASP Berment took away a semi-automatic Beretta pistol from the accused. After the shooting, witnesses gathered at the scene and called on the police to kill the suspect.

“They distressing people... Kill him! Kill him!” one man shouted. Both the robber and the Car Search officer were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, where they received treatment. Plaza was treated and discharged, while the suspect remained warded in stable condition, under police guard, up to late yesterday. Officers, led by Snr Supt Rajendranath Maharaj, Cpl Caldon and PC Superville, visited the scene and are continuing investigations.

6

General Discussion / 'Crazy Turtle Woman' transforms graveyard into maternity ward

« on: May 30, 2009, 08:03:02 AM »

I love stories like this... CNN.com  Now there's something I can happily donate to and know that a change is being made




http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/05/28/cnnheroes.suzan.lakhan.baptiste/index.html


   
MATURA, Trinidad (CNN) -- With its white sand and clear, blue water, Trinidad's Matura Beach looks like a postcard. It's a far cry from its recent past, when leatherback sea turtle carcasses littered the ground and kept tourists away.

 
Suzan Lakhan Baptiste's efforts have turned a beach from a leatherback turtle graveyard to a nesting colony.

  "Twenty years ago, this was a graveyard," Suzan Lakhan Baptiste said of the six-mile stretch of beach near her home.

"The stench was horrendous. You could smell it for miles," she said.

Saddened and frustrated, Baptiste launched a crusade to help end the slaughter of the gentle giants. Today, she and her group are succeeding: What was once a turtle graveyard is now a maternity ward -- one of the largest leatherback nesting colonies in the world.

It hasn't been an easy fight for Baptiste or the turtles.

For 100 million years, the creatures have traveled the world's oceans, outliving the dinosaurs. Over the last 30 years, they have become critically endangered worldwide because of fishing, pollution and hunting.

For centuries, they've been hunted throughout the Caribbean for their meat and fins, and also for their eggs, which some people prize as aphrodisiacs.

"Turtles are in serious trouble," Baptiste said.

Every year, female leatherbacks make their way onto the beach, laying their eggs deep in the sand. It is a long, complicated ritual during which the enormous, slow-moving animals are easy prey for poachers.

"Leatherbacks [are] very vulnerable," Baptiste said. "They cannot pull their head and flippers back into the shell. They have no sense of defense to actually protect themselves."

By the 1980s, nearly one in three turtles that nested on Matura Beach were killed. When the government asked for volunteers to help protect the endangered creatures, Baptiste and several others answered the call. In 1990, they started Nature Seekers, one of Trinidad's first environmental groups.

'Crazy Turtle Woman'

For years, Baptiste and her group patrolled the beaches every night of turtle nesting season. She often walked alone until sunrise.

Locals mocked her efforts, calling her the "Turtle Police" or "Crazy Turtle Woman," yet her dedication to the unpaid work was fierce; when it conflicted with her day job, she quit and found a new job.

Leatherbacks were a vital source of income for some members of her village, and the poachers who prowled the beaches with machetes could be threatening. When Baptiste's then-husband was injured during a patrol, she became more determined to stand her ground.

"I was very vigilant," she said, adding that at times, she even got into physical fights.

But Baptiste persisted, and a prestigious award from the United Nations Environment Program helped validate her efforts. She and her group also worked hard to convince the villagers that using the turtles for eco-tourism could create a more sustainable income.

"I wanted to show that a turtle is [worth] so much more to us alive than dead," Baptiste said.

Gradually, her message of conservation turned the tide of public opinion, and after nearly two decades under Baptiste's leadership, Nature Seekers has largely won its battle. Today, the leatherbacks' survival rate on Matura Beach is virtually 100 percent.

"Here, turtle slaughter is a thing of the past," Baptiste proclaimed.

Even "Papa George," a village elder who used to hunt leatherbacks with his father, can attest to the cultural shift.

"Suzan brought around the change," he said. "They don't kill the turtles anymore ... because of the visitors."

Nearly 10,000 tourists a year, most of whom are Trinidadian, now visit Matura Beach, and many locals make a living by providing them with accommodations, food and souvenirs.

Since the beach is a prohibited area during the nesting season, Nature Seekers' members act as guides, explaining the turtles' ancient rituals to visitors. In addition, Baptiste and her colleagues gather data on the enormous creatures, tagging and weighing as many leatherbacks as they can.  Watch Baptiste and her group weigh a leatherback turtle at night »

During peak season, they might see between 250 or 300 turtles a night. More than 5,000 leatherbacks nest in the area each year. The group's work is often cited as one of the most successful eco-tourism efforts in the Caribbean.

Still, turtle slaughter persists throughout the region, and Baptiste is working to help other groups learn from her success, most recently on the island of Dominica.

She finds joy in sharing her hard-earned knowledge.

"The passion that I feel, it burns me up," she said. "I have seen the fruits of our labor, and it can happen in every community."  Watch how Baptiste helped end the slaughter of turtles in her community »

Her efforts -- and those of many others around the region -- are making a difference. While leatherbacks are still critically endangered worldwide, the Caribbean population has begun to rebound.

"When I got started, a lot of people thought I was crazy," Baptiste said, and she admits that she sometimes wondered if they were right. Reflecting on what she and her team have accomplished, she now believes it was worth it.


"I love being crazy, you know?" she said, laughing. "Crazy with a passion, crazy with a dream -- totally environmentally crazy."

Want to get involved? Check out Nature Seekers and see how

7

General Discussion / Caribbean airlines

« on: May 30, 2009, 07:55:28 AM »

Port of Spain, May 27, 2009
Caribbean Airlines Southern Ticketing office closed immediately due to robbery


Caribbean Airlines wishes to advise that its ticketing office in San Fernando will be closed immediately until Monday 1 June 2009. This unexpected closure comes as a result of an armed robbery at its southern Carlton Centre office. Travellers wishing to make reservations may book directly on the airline’s website at www.caribbean-airlines.com or visit our other locations at Nicholas Towers, Independence Square, Port of Spain or the Airport Ticket Office at Piarco International Airport.

8

General Discussion / Queen where yuh?

« on: May 17, 2009, 09:29:27 PM »

Girl I laugh so much I nearly dead. The other morning when we had that discussion bout Vicks? Chile somebody on meh friend list thought it was Michael Vicks we loving up on and make a post that she ent associating with any sympathisers of Vicks. I had to set she straight, but I know you would like the "tory 

9

General Discussion / To All parents

« on: May 14, 2009, 03:08:16 PM »

I have given in to the kidlet's wishes.

Join me in writing your local congressman in support of these acts:

Implement the Colouring on Home Walls Act now!

support the Stickers Belong on Walls Home Improvement Act, as well as the Red Koolaid For White Carpets Bill.

Also vote yes to the the Chocolate Ice Cream on Mothers New Couch Treaty with the Bubble Gum on Cat's Fur Amendment
  (Yes all these acts actually took place in my house )

As you can tell I had either a little too much wine with dinner or entirely too much time on my hands today lol.

10

General Discussion / Local based

« on: May 07, 2009, 05:35:13 PM »

I trying to get some info on an accident that happen early this morning somewhere round the claxton bay area. A family friend was involved and everybody home kinda too shaken up for details. From what I gather the young men were returning home from a night out and lost control of the car or something. I ent know what they hit. The only thing that I do know is all of them dead. someone tell me they were all wearing belts and the car catch fire and they couldnt get out.

Any info or newsclips or anything would be appreciated.

11

General Discussion / Thief caught on camera

« on: April 29, 2009, 04:19:50 PM »

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Princes-Town-Trinidad-and-Tobago/JDS-SUPERCENTER-LTD/62947586509?sid=35ff5f064225b1747cc3a58655ecf354&ref=search#/pages/Princes-Town-Trinidad-and-Tobago/JDS-SUPERCENTER-LTD/62947586509

 i dont know how many of you are on facebook but you have to see these two shoplifters caught on camera at a store in Princess Town. They put it on facebook and I dont know how to embed facebook videos here or if it can be done but any way, this is a funny viewing.

12

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Papa Moco Jumbie

« on: April 28, 2009, 03:04:06 PM »

I dont know how many have lil uns here. But My 3 year old loves the Noggin Channel. And this is one of the music videos that they play at least 5 times a day and she loves it. Now my lil yankee wants to be a moco jumbie 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/teCVGnj2nLk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/teCVGnj2nLk</a>

13

General Discussion / And summer is nearly upon us...

« on: April 26, 2009, 06:50:56 PM »

And now the talk has turned to the annual summer vacations.

The Crown Prince saw an ad on Nickelodeon (darned TV) for a nickelodeon cruise and immediately asked for that as his kid's choice.
The Mista has 2 other older (teens) from a first unholy union so he tries to play fair. His firstborn will be (hopefully) going into the Airforce on July 13th if he can manage to scrape up a few D's to pass high school so he doesnt get a kid's choice vacation this year cause he's outta here. _ which leads to an entirely non related discussion about how they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel for new recruits but thats another thread and 3 bottles of wine_ 
The second born son (not mine) would like to go to Octoberfest in Germany in October so that's his kid's choice vacay for 2009.
MY firstborn son, wants a Nickelodeon cruise which when priced costs an arm, a leg and the kitchen sink.
 And the princess recently saw Beauty and the Beast and wants to go see Belle. I swear, might have to take a mortgage out on the house just for vacays alone this year. Between Disney and Nickelodeon is nearly 10k already.  Germany is bout 3k and then we usually try to go away just the two of us at some point and we each get a meaningless trip on our own - my nashville jaunt didn't count cause it had a purpose, I went for a game  The man usually goes to a casino for his yearly jaunt. I've had spa vacations for the past few years so I want something different now. Then add the yearly week long run to trinidad for the entire family 

But somebody or bodies may be getting screwed out of a vacation this year. So we must compromise. As far as I can tell the nickelodeon cruise thing is only 2 for the year and neither of those weeks work for us anyway so that might be out. So I'm thinking a Disney cruise/theme park combo for 7 days.  Anybody ever done one of those with kids? I keep hearing that they are really good. Plus I can do a spa thing on the cruise so I'm good with that. And it have casinos in Trinidad for the man when we fly out to see my folks. I guess that works... doesnt it?

14

General Discussion / A sign of times

« on: April 25, 2009, 04:00:46 PM »

So maybe we in a real "recession" or maybe the devil take the man. Winter,spring, summer, fall, for the past 5 years or so, we always hire the neighbourhood boys to do the yard work - snow shovel, mowing, raking the leaves even put in some of the potted plants I buy from time to time.

 The man went out today and come back with three foreign objects... a rake and a lawn mower and a wheel barrow. Then he come to ask me if I want to go get plants for the "garden". He find the front flower bed need some work, he tired of seeing the same flowers year after year. All the years I with this man I never see him push a lawnmower or rake a garden yet. Always had someone else to do it.

I had to remind him it wasnt me put the flower bed in the first place. It was his mom and grandmom. I was pregnant at the time and due any day so I spend the entire day sitting on the front lawn pointing at where I wanted plants to go. Nothing like being barefoot and pregnant on one's front lawn and directing other people to do the yard work. And as some of y'all know me and the mista are ebony and ivory. SO You can imagine the looks I get from the passers by lol.

But I did promise him we will go tomorrow and look at some strawberry plants for the lil lady. He say he decide to take an interest in the gardens

15

General Discussion / I want an SUV

« on: April 22, 2009, 05:02:01 PM »

Yesterday while I was driving home from picking up the little lady, I came to a 4 way traffic stop that is about 4 blocks away from my home. I had the right of way,  my lights were green I was going straight, but from my angle I could see a sheriff's car coming from my left, lights flashing siren on. I could see him. The teenager in the SUV with his friends across the street  apparently could not or didn't know what a flashing police car meant. The teenager tried to beat the cop and failed. The cop car hit the very back end of the SUV. THe suv  spun a few times and ended up sitting a few inches away from my window. The cop car spun and landed head first into the ditch after it took out the SUV on my right which had inched up hoping to go around me after the cop car had passed. I sat there with a screaming 3 year old in the back seat not knowing what to do. I knew we didnt get hit directly although there was glass all over our car.

The first officer on the scene after checking on the other three cars, asked me if I was ok and if we were hit. I told him we were fine but I was a bit shaken up. Mind you by then I was physically shaking, I couldnt hold the wheel. THe officer told me to step out a bit, breathe, confort the baby and then when I was ready, move the car cause they needed to get the wreckage out. The second officer, on the scene about five mins later, asked me if I was hit and then when I told him I was not he yelled, move your F***ing car, we need to get the ambulance through. I started crying and he got even more pissy and kept yelling move your car. The first officer heard him and came running back and told him calm down, she was right there and there's glass on her car and she and the baby are a bit shaken up. The second officer came back and told me he was sorry about yelling but they needed to clear the area quickly and asked if I needed him to call someone to drive me. I told him no and I got myself together and left.

I later found out that The Sheriff that got hit is very much liked by both city police and troopers and his own men very much. he is a favorite so they were all worried. That came from my hubby who got called in to deal with all the passengers from the wreckage. The second and first officers also asked him how his wife was, and told him that I'd been pretty shaken up from the whole thing. He told them I came home, burst into tears, had a bottle of wine and then fell asleep. The three year old came home, burst into tears because I was crying and then had a bottle of chocolate milk, then fell asleep. The sheriff walked away with a broken elbow and a banged up leg. The teenagers in the SUV all walked out and had no serious injuries. The SUV that had been trying to pass me on the sly, was a woman and her elderly mother. Mom had whiplash, her daughter the driver had a busted lip from the airbag. The sheriff's car was totaled. But then again it did take out 2 suv's.  But it made me think. If he had spun out a little faster, if he had hit the first SUV more on the side or a little futher up from the back bumper, one of them would have slammed into us. And me VS SUV not a good thing nor is me vs a spinning sheriff's car.

SO now I want an SUV. Years ago, on I-95 someone cut me off and I yanked on the wheel in an effort to avoid them. I was doing 65 and didnt realise that Land Rovers hate when their wheel's get yanked. I lost control of the van, rolled a few times and hit a concrete divider. My ankle was twisted  and the airbag exploded in my face, breaking my sunglasses which cut my forehead. But I was hopping around a few hours later.

Now with kids, I want a car that if you hit me, I  and my passengers will walk away.

16

General Discussion / Snakes on a plane

« on: April 16, 2009, 01:57:46 PM »

Baby pythons escape during flight in Australia
AP

   

Missing snakes on plane ground Qantas flightAFP/File

– A Qantas airliner was grounded after four snakes went missing from the cargo hold on a passenger flight …
Wed Apr 15, 11:40 pm ET

MELBOURNE, Australia –

 Four baby pythons escaped from a container aboard a passenger plane in Australia, leading to a search that forced the cancellation of two flights, the airline said Thursday.

Twelve non-venemous Stimson pythons were being transported Tuesday on a flight from Alice Springs to Melbourne in the plane's cargo area in a bag inside a plastic foam box with air holes.

When the flight landed, it was discovered that four snakes had escaped from the package, a Qantas spokeswoman said in a statement.

A reptile expert searched for the 6-inch (15-centimeter) -long snakes but did not find them. It was not known if the snakes were still on the plane or if they had somehow escaped outside after the plane landed.

In the meantime, the plane missed two flights it had been scheduled to fly and the passengers were transferred to other flights.

When the snakes were not found, the airplane was fumigated and it returned to service on Wednesday.

Stimson's pythons, which can grow up to three feet (one meter) long, live in western and central Australia and are not an endangered species.

17

General Discussion / Credit Credit Credit ............ So Easy

« on: April 16, 2009, 01:47:12 PM »

It so easy to get in trouble these days...

Gone shopping at Target. Had a budget of round 250 for miscellaneous nonsense. In other words stuff we really didnt need but had to have anyway. Electronics sales associate, sensing blood persuaded us to go apply for Target Credit Card. Figure what the hell why not, if they say no they say no. Dry so approval come back. Nothing big, a 500 dollar limit with a 10% discount for today only. Needless to say, we did a lil more shopping than we intended.

Furniture store we started dealing with a couple months now. Slowly re-doing the house. Went in with the intent of buying some carpets and a new dining room table. Had cold hard cash to pay with. Salesman said why you dont try getting our Wells Fargo CC? We said Why not, again the worse they could do is say no. Approval for 3k. Dining room furniture, 3 carpets, a new TV stand for the 61 inch we really didn't need and a recliner.  Went back last week to do a scouting trip for furniture for the kidlets room. Again plan was to pay cash. Salesman (the same one) said why you don't try for our other credit line as well. I said sure. Uh-Oh, finally a rejection. Say to the salesman, no worries, I'll be back in 2 weeks and I already have a 1500 budget from the man cash. Just get home and who should call but the manager of the furniture store. Well Mrs. D we're sorry that you couldn't qualify for the other line of credit but because you are already a valued customer and you have an account in good standing with WF, we would like to offer you our personal line of credit equal to what you have with WF. I was tempted but I said not today thanks. The manager ask me if he should call back in a few days. I said yep and talk to MR. D. I know damn well Mr. D will say sure lol.

Meanwhile all these catalogs keep arriving with "pre-qualifications" for credit. On a whim and because I had nothing better to do, I ended up online replying to a few of them. All of them went through. Thought they were supposed to be getting stricter with giving credit???

Yet another one come today for Chadwicks. With a 400 dolla credit line...I check online to be sure and sure enough the damn thing went through. Shopping is my weakness.......

I mean is not as if we can't afford it. All the credit lines we opened in the last few months, I can go tomorrow and kill every last balance. After years of not having credit except for the cars and strictly paying cold hard cash for everything including our house.... I feel like a kiddie in a candy store. But I am being good. I only charge what I know I can pay off right away if the need should arise. After all isnt the free credit for all what got us into this economic mess in the first place? People  keep talking bout recession and I have to admit I have yet to see it. When someone asks me what changes have I made in family life to accommodate the recession, my response is usually a blank stare.... One of my co-workers had a meltdown yesterday cause she was doing her taxes and she was going on about being in so much debt, then she asked what I was doing and I felt so bad to tell her I was busy pricing flights to Trinidad for a weekend away.

So here's the question. Should I feel bad for having a reasonably good life when lots of people around me are struggling?

I mean I do my part to help, the guy down the street now does our shoveling and soon mowing for free cause I gave his new baby all the Princess' baby stuff including her crib which was hardly ever used and a carseat and some bouncers. His older kids just made a killing on Thomas train sets because my son had a few bins of the stuff and a little 13 inch tv/vcr combo cause we gave both kids their own Television in their rooms and that thing came out of the playroom. The husband tells me if I keep giving them stuff, they'll start thinking that they are entitled and that theres such a thing as too much charity.

Is there?

This man and his wife both don't work and they have 5 kids. My giving them stuff my kids don't need or have too much of, doesnt bother me. And it doesnt bother me when on the coldest day of the year, I dont have to come out and shovel 8 inches of snow cause the neighbor did it for me.

I dunno. But I do know that every day I look forward to what new suprises the mailman will bring.

18

Football / Question about the strike squad

« on: April 13, 2009, 06:17:59 PM »

Lord help me I getting old.

I was trying to remember a certain play. Can't for the life of me remember the others involved only Latapy. But they did it in two games, think against Costa Rica and against Guatemala. And All I can remember is someone feeding the ball just in time to catch Latapy coming down the middle to send it straight into the net. I'm sure they must have done that move more than twice but all I remember is that the two games I'm thinking about, we really needed those goals and we ended up winning. Or else they did it twice in one game. But Sound rev or one of them groups featured that play over and over in a music video and it was in a set of commercials.

I want to say Kerry Jamerson was one of the others but I ent sure. Anybody remember this? Better yet anybody have a video clip?

19

General Discussion / friggin cricket!!!

« on: April 05, 2009, 07:04:40 PM »

SO I am ansy. I dont know how to spell it an no I am not going crazy.

But there is a cricket outside my window creaking away. And it is pissing me off.

I lie here confined to bed for the next few days, since Friday. And that damn cricket keeps criketing.

I fed up pelt pillow, remote (won't do that again) pen pencil, book at the window. And it stop for two minutes and then it start again.The only time I couldnt hear it was when I took the nice painkillers the doctor gave me. But tonight right now the painkillers not wirking. I mean they work because I can see two screens and two of each letter on my keyborasd. I took 10 minutes to write this an the little error lines keep popping up so I know I'm, spelling words wrong. I just had to erase "little" 6 times cause I couldnt remeber how to spell it.

Coedine and Lortab and Valium are my best friends. Except when they don't knock me out. Like now. I can't feel a damn thing painwise so I climbed off the bed to retrieve the shattered remote an the pillows. But while I can't feel pain, I can't fall asleep and the noise the cricket makes is akin to the noise that chalk on a chalkboard makes over and over and I want to scream.

 But because the princess is busy playing "nurse" and the man worked the overnight shift plus call from 7am until 7pm and just got home, I don;t want to wake him or startle her. She's just popped in to check on my "boo-boos" She keeps pulling down the blanket and checking the four new scars on my belly and rubbing them.

Am I rambling? Are you confused?

I had to have gallbladder surgery friday because my doctor said so. He said the gallbladder stones that were in my gallbladder were a bit too big and were the reason I had been having side pains for a while as well as a few other health issues.
So I planned it well. I went to Nashville, met up with some of you nice people. Had fun Wednesday and Thursday. Got home Thursday evening and went into surgery Frday mornign at 7am. I got discharged Friday evening cause it was day surgery. and the cricket hasnt stopped since then. But I am finally starting to feel sleepy so I think one more book at the window should do it. SO goodnight. I am hopefully off to dreamland.

20

General Discussion / Saving money = spending more money

« on: March 27, 2009, 08:17:06 PM »

So I just get off the phone with time warner. I called them because I wanted to add showtime for a bit. The Tudors starts next weekend and I love that show. The monthly bill for the cable/internet at present is $165. No premiums cause I took that off in November. But we have 3 DVRs and they cost bout $10 each. Usually each premium is about $15 extra per month per channel but time warner have some good packages at times.  The rep I spoke to was so damned good. He re-did my bill, took out the internet package part of it (which was around $40 a month) and then put it back as part of a new promo they offering at the moment. Internet at $20 a month locked in for a year. Then he took the cable package we had and re-did it. Added on Showtime, and convinced me to add Encore, and Starz and their on-demand channels. With that came Fox Movie, Independent, Flix and sundance I think it was. So when he got done adding and fiddling with the bill, the new monthly bill is $171 after tax. And it lock in for a year. I love my time warner.  I tell him i calling him in June when everyone on vacation and then I'll add on the other premiums. He checked and if I add everything on, all the premiums, the bill would come to $205. But after he fiddle around with the figures some more and switch some packages again he get the bill down to under $190 with all the premiums and high speed net. He gimmie his direct extension, tell me whenever i ready call him. I was soo tempted to tell him hook everything up one time. But I am being good. I am saving money cause you girl want to go trinidad twice in the next six months and the mista say he only going to fund one of those trips cause we have to plan summer vacation with the kids. But ....... I am so tempted.... I have the man extension number and everything.....i think I hear HBO calling my name..... must be good.

21

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Old commercials

« on: March 23, 2009, 06:54:53 PM »

I must be hormonal or something, or else missing some doubles. And for some reason, probably cause I am sooooo tired, these bringing back real memories and a lil water to meh eye

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/dJAYUIdYjNU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/dJAYUIdYjNU</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/cdRT7Kf2Dn8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/cdRT7Kf2Dn8</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/KlX-jCPR6Sk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/KlX-jCPR6Sk</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/F-RkQy6zJiw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/F-RkQy6zJiw</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/2FMatG5hI68" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/2FMatG5hI68</a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/R8HJOuAms64" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/R8HJOuAms64</a>

22

General Discussion / Six degrees of separation

« on: March 23, 2009, 02:36:26 PM »

Ok so I have a bet going with my brother about the old saying that everyone in T&T know everyone or else related in some way.

So who in here from Arima, and/or familiar with Maturita Village and Pinto Road?

23

General Discussion / My Own personal ER

« on: March 22, 2009, 05:33:44 PM »

So thursday night the man end up in the ER. After 4 days of a nasty cough and chills and against my advice to stay home, he drag himself to work, nearly pass out and get escorted across the hall into a cubicle. Admitted overnight given breathing treatments and a set a meds.  Pnemonia (however it spell) and some type of bacterial infection. Effective immediately on sick leave. So thats one patient I dealing with. Mind you I was already half dead with taking care of him most of the week. Weds night he start one set a shivering there, I drop everything and fly upstairs and run a hot bath. By the time I get him in it, he blue for so. Keep running hot water he cant get warm. I had to put some towels and PJ's in the dryer so that as soon as he come out bathtub he in hot clothes. Then I drop the comforter in the dryer as well. I didnt sleep properly wed night because I keep waking up to check on him. Thursday night I was up most of the night checking with the ER. Friday now I did manage to get bout 5 hours in but then some drunken idiot walk through the street cussing and between him and the neighbor dogs and then the popo flying down the road, well that was it for me.

Yesterday now princess wake up and start to cough Not as bad as the father but not good either. Look down the throat, tonsils reddish and swollen. But she a trooper so she still jumping around playing herself. Very restless saturday night so I still ent sleep properly. Today she wake up hot. 101.1. Start dosing meds from round 9am this morning. All day temp going from 100.3 to 102.9. I get it to break at one point for an hour by sticking her in a cold bath. Went down to 99.3 promptly shoot back to 100.9 after the hour. Call the ER, they say as long as she still kinda herself, just keep dosing meds but if it get to 103 bring her in. They say they flooded with people all day, only standing room. She eating normal, drinking normal but complaning the throat hurt. I keep peeping down the throat. still red, lil more swollen but....
Trying to get her through the night and then I could take her to the pediatrician tomorrow. At this point I almost hoping is strep and not toncilites. I also hope that she ent have what the father have. Poor baby eyes and nose running like a faucet. it is so helpless as a parent to be there watching your sick child and you know you give them every medicine they could have but it still not good enuff.

My fingers always freezing so every few minutes she climbing up on the chair for me to rub her back. I know is the coolness she welcoming. I wish I had a bottle of limacol now. I just email my boss telling him tomorrow might be a no go. And just monitering the lil lady to see how the temp go. if it hit that magic number, we in the car pronto.

The man downstairs, I quarantine him in the living room in case he have something different from her and as I running from floor to floor, I stopping off to wash hands, sanitize and change clothes. laundry go be hell tomorrow. As for me, watery eyes, itchy throat, but I think thats just my allergies cause I ent take any of my allergy meds this weekend.

Princess lying on a huge blankie on the carpet in the room playing her DS right now occasionally singing to herself. I hope tonight won't involve a trip to the ER cause I just so tired. Yes I'm rambling but after being private nurse pretty much all week and weekend, a girl has to vent somewhere.

24

General Discussion / NEW JERSEY MAY BAN BRAZILIAN WAXING

« on: March 19, 2009, 06:06:27 PM »

By JEREMY OLSHAN

 
Last updated: 3:52 pm
March 19, 2009
Posted: 10:57 am
March 19, 2009

The Garden State may be extra lush this summer.

New Jersey officials have proposed a ban on "Brazilian" bikini waxes, claiming the extreme grooming risky as well as risqué.

Two women were recently hospitalized for infections stemming from no-follicle-left-behind procedure, and one of them has filed a lawsuit, according to Jeff Lamm, a spokesman for New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs, which oversees the cosmetology board.

 But New Jersey spa owners say officials have no business legislating what women do with their Pine Barrens.

"Our customers have never had any problems - all this is going to do is send our customers across the river to New York," said Kathleen Ho, owner of the Spa at Port Liberte in Jersey City.

Brazilians account for 85 percent of all bikini waxes, said Rita Gitelman, owner of La Femme in Hoboken.

"We've never had a single complaint," she said. "Our clients are extremely upset."

Technically, genital waxing has never been allowed only the face, neck, abdomen, legs and arms are permitted but because bare-it-all "Brazilians" weren't specifically banned, state regulators haven't enforced the law.

"The genital area is not part of the abdomen or legs as some might assume," Lamm said

Officials with the National Cosmetology Association and National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology said they were unaware of another state that has banned genital waxing.

Regular bikini waxes would still be allowed.

25

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / women drivers

« on: March 15, 2009, 12:52:26 PM »

http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/just_plain_stupid/Parking_Lot_Disaster/



 

I could park better than that.

26

General Discussion / Is there anyone here near albany schenectady NY area?

« on: March 15, 2009, 11:06:02 AM »

And if so, can you tell me if there is a shipping company in the area that does the barrels to Trinidad? Meh study full up of stuff I buy to send to the family and I dont feel like driving to Brooklyn anytime in the next two weeks. I know it have a few caribbean resturants in the area though I don't know were exactly they are, and I look through the phone book and online and didnt find anything.

27

General Discussion / People Just too rude

« on: March 14, 2009, 04:57:59 PM »

I don't know what the matter is with the world today.

I am just tired of people who are rude and feel that they are right and everyone else is wrong, or they better or they know it all.

Yesterday I almost get rear ended. I making a left hand turn into 2 way traffic and a lil ol lady driving the standard buick in front of me and in front of her is a Walmart truck. On the other side of the road, oncoming traffic is another Walmart truck, but I can't see what behind him. We have the light so we all moving and half way mid turn, lil ol lady breaks because it have a dog running cross the street. Well I ent know what she do but when she braks, car shut down.  I following at a reasonable distance so I see her stopping and shut down,  in time to stop myself. I hear screeeech behind me and I swear, I going an get bouce. Stupid lady on her cell phone trying to beat the light and miss my bumper by an inch but she wheel clip the sidewalk. And as I watching in the rear view, she start to point and middle finger.

 Well something snap inside me. I vex, I fed up get bad drive and I paying attention to road rules and who behind me want to come up on my bumper and play big man. I look out the window at her .  Stupid cell phone lady stop yakking long enuff to say move you firetrucking car,  - is a blonde with some poufy hair and some fake ass nails. Well my dears, As I say, I snap. Just had enuff.

I jump out the car and I grab fust thing I could get my hands on, the snow scraper. And I start walking to her. And is cuss I pelting for so, what de ass you dont know how to drive? you nearly hit me and you want me to move my firetrucking car??? Beyoch drop she phone and acting like she scared and I in front the window now, and I screaming at her - have some bloody manners learn to drive and get off you damn cell phone... well all this time I shaking the scraper at her. And then I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn round to see the Walmart truck driver. He say m'aam she was in the wrong, but let's calm down. And he sounded so genuine. Then he say let her go ahead of you. SO he direct her round my car and little ol lady car. And she gone off mashing gas for so. SO I say to him thanks for stopping me. HE say to me I know you, you does always stop way before the lights so that the trucks could make a wider turn (The traffic lights next to a Walmart Distribution center so it always have 99 trucks up and down that road) He say every time I see you stop for the trucks, I wave at you and you always waving back, so when I see this going on, I said is my turn to stop for you. And then he tell me that the reason that he make bitchy lady go ahead is because he didnt want her to take down my licence plate.  Must be hormones or something but I start to cry, I was just so frustrated but so happy that it still have polite people out there. But the trucker walk me back to my car, he make sure that granny and she Buick ok then wave us on. As I pulling out now, he telling me from now on when I see you I will blow the horn. I say do that and thanks buddy. 

Karma must be a bitch because when I get on the highway and I start heading down, I see the state popo pull over somebody up ahead. Cell phone blonde and she fake nails.

That was a close one. When I get home and tell the mista, he get vex ... why you do that, what if she call the popo. I tell him truthfully I wasnt thinking bout that. All I was studying is it have too much dotish people in this world and if you dont start speaking up, they will keep on being ignorant. But next time I will leave the scraper in the car.

28

General Discussion / Barack Obama 'too tired' to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown

« on: March 08, 2009, 04:32:15 PM »

Barack Obama 'too tired' to give proper welcome to Gordon Brown

By Tim Shipman in Washington
Last Updated: 10:03PM GMT 07 Mar 2009

Barack Obama's offhand approach to Gordon Brown's Washington visit last week came about because the president was facing exhaustion over America's economic crisis and is unable to focus on foreign affairs, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.
Sources close to the White House say Mr Obama and his staff have been "overwhelmed" by the economic meltdown and have voiced concerns that the new president is not getting enough rest.

British officials, meanwhile, admit that the White House and US State Department staff were utterly bemused by complaints that the Prime Minister should have been granted full-blown press conference and a formal dinner, as has been customary. They concede that Obama aides seemed unfamiliar with the expectations that surround a major visit by a British prime minister.

But Washington figures with access to Mr Obama's inner circle explained the slight by saying that those high up in the administration have had little time to deal with international matters, let alone the diplomatic niceties of the special relationship.

Allies of Mr Obama say his weary appearance in the Oval Office with Mr Brown illustrates the strain he is now under, and the president's surprise at the sheer volume of business that crosses his desk.

A well-connected Washington figure, who is close to members of Mr Obama's inner circle, expressed concern that Mr Obama had failed so far to "even fake an interest in foreign policy".

A British official conceded that the furore surrounding the apparent snub to Mr Brown had come as a shock to the White House. "I think it's right to say that their focus is elsewhere, on domestic affairs. A number of our US interlocutors said they couldn't quite understand the British concerns and didn't get what that was all about."

The American source said: "Obama is overwhelmed. There is a zero sum tension between his ability to attend to the economic issues and his ability to be a proactive sculptor of the national security agenda.

"That was the gamble these guys made at the front end of this presidency and I think they're finding it a hard thing to do everything."

British diplomats insist the visit was a success, with officials getting the chance to develop closer links with Mr Obama's aides. They point out that the president has agreed to meet the prime minister for further one-to-one talks in London later this month, ahead of the G20 summit on April 2.

But they concede that the mood music of the event was at times strained. Mr Brown handed over carefully selected gifts, including a pen holder made from the wood of a warship that helped stamp out the slave trade - a sister ship of the vessel from which timbers were taken to build Mr Obama's Oval Office desk. Mr Obama's gift in return, a collection of Hollywood film DVDs that could have been bought from any high street store, looked like the kind of thing the White House might hand out to the visiting head of a minor African state.

Mr Obama rang Mr Brown as he flew home, in what many suspected was an attempt to make amends.

The real views of many in Obama administration were laid bare by a State Department official involved in planning the Brown visit, who reacted with fury when questioned by The Sunday Telegraph about why the event was so low-key.

The official dismissed any notion of the special relationship, saying: "There's nothing special about Britain. You're just the same as the other 190 countries in the world. You shouldn't expect special treatment." The apparent lack of attention to detail by the Obama administration is indicative of what many believe to be Mr Obama's determination to do too much too quickly.

In addition to passing the largest stimulus package and the largest budget in US history, Mr Obama is battling a plummeting stock market, the possible bankruptcy of General Motors, and rising unemployment. He has also begun historic efforts to achieve universal healthcare, overhaul education and begin a green energy revolution all in his first 50 days in office.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that one of Mr Obama's most prominent African American backers, whose endorsement he spent two years cultivating, has told friends that he detects a weakness in Mr Obama's character.

"The one real serious flaw I see in Barack Obama is that he thinks he can manage all this," the well-known figure told a Washington official, who spoke to this newspaper. "He's underestimating the flood of things that will hit his desk." A Democratic strategist, who is friends with several senior White House aides, revealed that the president has regularly appeared worn out and drawn during evening work sessions with senior staff in the West Wing and has been forced to make decisions more quickly than he is comfortable.

He said that on several occasions the president has had to hurry back from eating dinner with his family in the residence and then tucking his daughters in to bed, to conduct urgent government business. Matters are not helped by the pledge to give up smoking.

"People say he looks tired more often than they're used to," the strategist said. "He's still calm, but there have been flashes of irritation when he thinks he's being pushed to make a decision sooner than he wants to make it. He looks like he needs a cigarette."

Mr Obama was teased by the New York Times on Thursday in a front page story which claimed to have detected a greater prevalence of grey hairs since he entered the White House.

The Democratic strategist stressed that Mr Obama's plight was nothing new. "He knew it was going to be tough; he said as much throughout the campaign. But there's a difference between knowing it is going to be tough and facing the sheer relentless pressure of it all."

 

At this rate, he'll be burnt out long before the four years done. Some of the British press are having a field day with this.

29

General Discussion / Callaloo

« on: March 02, 2009, 03:57:43 PM »

Can someone give me a good recipe for this using the frozen spinach and frozen ocra and without crab? I live in a small country town, two people from the caribbean, me and a jamaican lady, so I cant get anything west indian. My 3 year old has developed a liking for the stuff and my sister in brooklyn gave me a recipe on the phone - 2 packages frozen spinach, half a can evaporated milk, 2 maggie cubes (which I can't get here at all)  and dump everything in the pot, boil and blend. I  like a recipe with a few more directions .... very literal person, like to have a written recipe to follow.

30

General Discussion / Random crap

« on: February 22, 2009, 07:37:02 AM »

It snowed wed, thurs, fri. It was cold and windy sat. But it was warm enuf for the snow on the street to melt.  This morning i woke up to find a coating of about 1/2 inch all over the street. And we are under winter advisory until monday 1pm. 3-8 inches of snow expected. So I have just put a fresh pot of coffee on. It's gonna be one of those days. And I'm going to go play WOW. Might as well level my character since I am stuck home today.