Tower Of Babel

Hail everybody. Yep, I continue to lay low, but still read the blogs of those who are posting. I also appreciate those of you who continue to comment on my posts….despite their becoming more infrequent.

I have been sort of chillin this week so far, in that I have been tekking things easy when I get home from work. After the heap o activities that March brought with it, a bit of relaxation is warranted. At least, I think so. So as this month draws to a close, those in business will say that the first quarter has gone and will probably be looking at financial statements to see if the first quarter has been profitable. Personally, I will say that for me it, it coulda did wussa….(it could have been worse….) So, April springs upon us on Saturday. Don’t allow anyone to mek you tun no fool….zeen?

I now looking at late May to take some well needed leave. See, one of my co-workers is with child. Due in middle of July. When she goes off on maternity leave, there will be two of us left and leave will not be possible. So, I am thinking of heading north to visit my sister and neice, as well as bro-in-law in late May. Cyaan believe that the likkle pickney is almost ten months old already. Not too long ago Rufie was preggie…..time really is flying. Is it just me? I get the impression that it a fly faster now compared to when me was a yute. What say you?

Today, big tings a gwaan inna Jamdown….. A wah dat, you may be asking…… Well, today is P day! And you may be wonderin…a wah de ra$$ P stand fah? No, it is not payday….that was last week. Think of odda tings weh start wid P man…….. Well, get your minds outta de rahtid gutter…..in actual fact, some o you rude bwoys are close…the P I am referring to does involve a female still……but what I am really chatting about is the change of the Prime Minister. Yes all crew, today, the leadership of Jamdown officially changes and history will be made when Sister Portia becomes our first female Prime Minister. Here is a likkle news clip which speaks briefly about the planned bashment. 6,000 invited guests!!! Blurdcleat! Anyway, dem claim seh kick off time is 5 PM. I will be trying to mek a bread at the practice, so I won’t be tekking it een. Nevertheless, hope it comes off well, and let us give Sister P our support. BTW, feel free to post your initial thoughts about what starts with P in the comments….just for curiosity sake! And to bring a bit of variety to the comments. Trus me….no need to be bashful.

What else is there to report? Well, some of you may find it boring, but I bought a new Powerfilter for my fish tank last week…….WIKID!! Trus me, the ting silent you see….all that can be heard is the soothing sound of the water being returned to the tank. And, when I tell you the water is as clear as crystal. Money well spent. Perhaps if the spirit moves me, I will tek a photo….no promises though.

Think that is it from me for this week. Friday tomorrow. Suppem else to look forward to. Enjoy it when it comes, as well as el fin de semana…(the weekend.) Easy.

Hey everybody, I’m still around….still tired though. Anyway, I am glad to report that the heap of activity for March has now come to an end and I am happy that that is so. In addition, all the stuff turned out fine. This weekend gone, was a busy one also, with little time for R & R. Saturday I drove to Portland. The practice was still slow and I have decided that I will give it a total of six months to pick up. If not, then I will trash it and consider other options. Anyway, after the practice, I decided that I was going to try out lunch at the Port Antonio Marina before heading back to town. So, Jamdown Canadian who followed me for the drive, and I headed to Norma’s Beach Bar and Grill. When we found the spot, suddenly I felt as if I was on a holiday. Very nice setting….right on the white sand edge with the blue waters of the harbour. A Red Stripe was in order. Only thing missing was the sight of some skimpily clad ladies swimming! There is a sign posted there……”No swimming allowed.” Anyhow, while sipping the cold beers we pripsed the menu and both wanted a bowl of the red peas soup as starters. It arrived in some very angular shaped bowls….very nicely presented. And, the flavour was good too. Main course we both had was steamed butterfish with veggies…okra, carrot and cho cho. Again, very nice. I can recommend it highly, and shall go back on my next trip there. It is not a cheap lunch, but what the hell, sometimes man haffi live a little.

On a different note, I have now come to the conclusion that Income Tax is a mofo….then again, maybe I knew that long ago, but trus me. This month salary wasn’t bad at all….see I did two weekends of duty in February, and I am now being paid at a higher rate for duty than before, due to the promo I got. Ra$$…..when I saw the amount of deductions….I was not a happy camper….when I consider that if I could have saved even half that….. Anyhow, nutten I can do about it, the take home was still pretty good….just seems that nuff of the increase in pay is going into more tax.

What else a gwaan? I guess some of you may have heard about the murder of Ambassador Peter King at his home last week? Found naked in his bed…essentially mutilated……I understand that even his privates were cut off and stuffed into his mouth! Yes, he was gay and from what folks knew of him…seems he really was into deviant stuff. Apparently the investigations have discovered videotapes of all sorts of weird action that he had at home…action in which he was evidently involved. People are talking about it all over. Really awful. Nobody should have to go that way…but I guess there are people all round who are into all sorts of weird action in order to have themselves a good time sexually. The picking up of young boys off the street tho…..sigh. Enough said.

Weatherwise, the temperature here fell again last night…we having a cold front. It well chilly and greyish this morning…does not make one feel like jumping up and going to work…..but, sitting here and typing about it won’t change it. So, off I go to do what needs to be done. Hol tite.

Hail up. Still ’bout the place though a bit incognito. Yesterday I had to leave work at midday and come home…..my head did feel like it was a buss open and I was all sniffles……on top of that my energy level felt like next to nought….as I had mentioned to one of my co-workers I felt as if I was suffering from inertia. Those of you who did Physics may remember ‘A body at rest will tend to remain at rest unless acted upon by some external force.’ Think that was one of Newton’s Laws…but as CRAFT takes it toll I could be incorrect…..rass, I haven’t done any Physics since ‘83-84! So forgive me if is not Newton. But that was how I felt….had no energy to move.

So I came home, had a bowl of chicken soup and headed to my bed…a place where one is always welcome. Slept for about two hours and felt a bit better after getting up. Some Panadol Multisymptom helped also. Had whole heap o dreams as well…..most I don’t recall….only knew that whatever was a gwaan did well vivid. I knew that there was a brief encounter with a lass as well….sad thing is that in the dream she did faceless….what’s up wid dat? Man a get action and cyaan see de face o de woman!? Anyway, face or not…she seemed to know her stuff!

I find that on the rare occasion that I sleep during the days, I usually end up having lots of dreams….any of you have the same experience?

On a different note, it seems as if a viral infection has plagued most of us Caribbloggers…many of us (and I am by no means excluded) are posting pretty infrequently. On my part there is a definite reduction in enthusiasm….I am becoming hard pressed to post regularly, time for that is waning….anyway.

I don’t know how many of you saw Mad Bull’s recent post which mentioned the teen girl and her boyfriend who got a bit lusty at the National Stadium…….seems they both thought that it was a fine place to have the yute blow off a load! And then he decided to take ‘blow by blow’ photos of the action using his camera cell phone! Rahtid bwoy…..the times they are a changing. Hey, don’t think that I am any prude….I wasn’t exactly a saint when I was in my teens (not that I was any devil either)…but I know that somewhere as public as stadium with people around would not have been considered suitable to gwaan wid rudeness…zeen. I would have had to retreat to somewhere a bit less public. Enuff said.

What else happening? Nada mucho. I am going to work today as per. Got some good sleep last night also, so I don’t feel as bad today. Payday is either today or tomorrow…not quite sure. Time to have the account resuscitated. Actually, dis month hasn’t been bad. Bills for Februray were paid and surplus did lef. Been a while since dat happened….some some haffi save. Anyhow, as I am just about finished having breakfast, mek me gwaan to my quarters and do what needs to be done to prepare me to get to work. Lata.

Well, start of yet another work week……personally, I could use a day from work today, but that is wishful thinking. I am just looking forward to the end of this month……there has just been too much going on. I man tiyad, but continue to plod along.

Friday nite gone, I went Mas Camp….. chock fulla people. Wasn’t bad. We thought that the large cup of VX was a bargain at $250. I man had carreid a few small bottles of coconut water…so drinkwise all was well. Neck and eye muscles were given a workout as well as there was much scenery to tek een.

Paradoxically, I noted in the Gleaner yesterday (I can’t bodda wid nuh link) that the property where Mas Camp is held on Oxford Road is up for sale, and the organizers of Mas Camp though they wish to buy, cannot go up to the price being asked. They are worried about where they will be able to hold the events in the future if the sale does go through. Soca revellers may not be waving rags and whinin waists in response to that at all!

Saturday was largely spent chillin out and finishing up some things I had to do in preparation for our local Derm. Association Symposium, which was yesterday. I didn’t do a talk….praises to the Almighty! Come on people, I did a talk the weekend before in Mo Bay…took me quite a few weeks to prepare that one. Actually, I was the Chairman of the first session yesterday, so had to intro. the speakers. All in all, it went well. But, the activities this month have drained me. I am loking forward to some time with nutten fe do! But, that is not coming just yet. Saturday coming I head to Portland again, second trip for the practice and then Sunday, I am hosting a luncheon meeeting here at the yard.

Otherwise, this week is pay week…so that’s a plus. Called the folks in Accounts on Friday to enquire into the status of my gratuity for the contract that I had completed at the end of December last and I was informed that my gratuity is being ‘Audited’. When I asked what that means I was told that, the Auditors have to check that the amount calculated was correct and that they have to verify that I had signed the contract…which I sure did. So my next question…..”When de cheque going ready fe collect?” He can’t say…it depends on whan Audit sends it back to him….then he will send it to Accounts Payable for preparation! Sounds to me like nobody nuh give a fart! Come on people, this is what I get instead of pension……I am not asking for a favour here. Sigh……..

Again, that is what I have to share for now. Have a good week ’till when next I am moved to write suppem down. Easy.

I haven’t had time to lurk much in these parts at all….and from the sites that I have been to, I see I’m not the only one. Indeed, there is plenty going on that has my family jewels in a vice. Can you imagine, yesterday I ate lunch at 3:30 PM? Call it an early dinner……just did not have the time to get to it before sake of duties at the hospital.

I mentioned that last weekend I went to our second city (MoBay) to do a talk….well on the return leg I decided to fly back up. On the Air J flight, seated in the row in front of me was a ‘yardie’. Nuff gold ring on him finger, the chain around his neck looked like it could easily be used to padlock a gate, gold teet…etc. Now, he is one of these loud talking types….he seemed to be travelling alone. The flight was completely booked, not one empty seat in the aircraft. He was in a middle seat between two adult females, neither of whom seemed to know him. His first comment was that he is going to write a letter to the airline cussing them out for seating a man of his size between two women! Neither of the women bothered to reply. He continues to have a loud and running conversation with himself.

He proceeds to ask one of the ladies where she is coming from. She replies, ‘Bahamas.’ He smiles. “Oh, is dehso me live now! Actually, I used to live in Jersey (that’s New Jersey) (all this time chatting with the pseudo-American accent) but I was deported all of five times!” (This is said as if it were some commendable accomplishment.) Rass, if I had been deported from any country, once, much less five times, I’da keep dat rahtid to myself. I certainly would not be announcing it while waiting for the aircraft door to be closed. Next thing, suspicions might result and the authorities may decide to whisk me off the flight. Anyway, eventually time came that the man realised that most of us in the immediate vicinity were really not impressed by his running commentary with himself….and he decided to shut up him blurdcleat mout!

Anyway, that was just a little digression. One does meet all types when travelling. Airports are one of the best places to people surf. Unfortunately, I forgot to carry my camera, though I doubt I would have taken a photo without her permission. Who am I writing about? There was a lass….I would put her at about 21-22…..she did look weeeeel! Is along time I doh see a woman fill out a pair o jeans so. While we were in the terminal building waiting to board, lass seemed to enjoy strutting back and forth along the corridor in the high heels and she pretty much realized that she had the ‘attention’ of the younger men in the vicinity, heads following her up and down the corridor…..almost like she was ’stroking’ us repeatedly in the right kinda way if you get my drift! Trus me, the vista made the wait for the flight (which was delayed a bit) pass all too quickly.

I guess from the last paragraph, you might realize that my mind is not on work this morning (at least, not legit work)…… So, as this has been a hell of a week, I man looking forward to tonite. Possibility of tekking een Mas Camp……..don’t think I have been to one from before Mad Bull left Ja. I man sure seh more peoplesurfing going tek place……of course, the peoplesurfing will be very gender biassed towards femmes! Whatever you do, enjoy the weekend. TGIF!!

Yeah, it has been a while since I wrote suppem down. All of two posts for the month of March…and today is the 13th! Time is flying fe real. Well, as planned, I did trek to MoBay on Saturday….wasn’t too bad as I was driven by a drug rep. bredrin….from the company that sponsored the event I was giving my talk at. Nice to drive to ‘country’ and be able to tek een all the scenery while on the way…that includes mountains, rivers etc as well as any reasonable looking lasses that may happen to have come into my field of vision on the way. The rep. and I had some good chat while driving and stopped to refuel (our bellies) at a fast food chicken place in Discovery Bay. The name of the place slips me now. But the chicken was pretty good…and at any rate two big man did well raw (hungry)…so almost any food would do! Boxed the food off in about fifteen minutes, let off some liquid in the men’s room and we continued on our way. Overall the drive to MoBay took about three and a half hours with stops included.

We checked in at the Sunset Beach Resort (what used to be called Seawind Towers) in Montego Freeport. It was an alright (not great) hotel, but as I was really only overnighting there and had all of one meal (breakfast on Sunday morning) on the property, maybe I shouldn’t cast judgement. Nuff tourists did on de scene.

I actually reached my room after seven in the night and linked an Eye Doc sistren of mine from medical school who lives in our second city. Had Chinese food for dinner and made it back to the hotel after midnite…pretty tired. Basically I started to review my presentation and the next thing I knew I woke up later to switch the lamp at the bedside off.

Slept until about 5:30 AM when I went out on the balcony on my room which had a lovely view of the sea from the seventh floor. Continued to review the presentation out there until a bit after six. Hey, the gentle breeze coming off the blue grey (at that time of early morning) ocean was irie…nice change from the usual. Anyway, I was slated to speak at about 9:30 and the talk was held at the Holiday Inn, so I needed to do the usual stuff and hold a fresh before donning the garb I took to give the talk and having a light breakfast.

Wow!! Or more like ‘RAAAS’ is what struck me when I entered the room where I was to give the talk. The place did big….whole heap o seat. Anyhow, myself and the othe speaker (who happened to be one of my lecturers when I was a medical student) chatted for a bit and as the attendees arrived, we greeted some of them. Start was a bit late as pharmacists from all over the island were being transported to the venue by tour bus. The bus from Kingston, which had the most attendees, was late and so we held on for them for about half an hour.

Anyway, I was a bit intimidated by the size of the audience initially (there were about 300 people there)…..but after the first few minutes, and an ice breaking joke or two (yes, I’ve done standup comedy before….of course with varying degrees of success) I realized that I was cool. Took them through the talk and actually did end up taking 58 minutes of the hour which I was given. Spoke to them about various fungal infections of the skin and their treatment. I not blowing my own trumpet, but yes, I got nuff commendations after. Having delivered, and answering the questions that were hurled in my direction like easily bowled cricket balls, I could now relax. A drink was in order. Headed to the bar for a rum and returned to hear the other speaker. At the end of the proceedings, the thank you’s were given and I got a likkle token…as well as cheque for my efforts….dat rahtid inna de bank already.

Had lunch and then my Eye Doc sistren shuttled me to the airport to catch my Air J flight back to Kingston. It was delayed…cho. Anyhow, made it home at about 7:15…pretty tired. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to tek een any R&R in MoBay. I think another trip to our second city is due soon.

Back here at the grind, and am on call Monday to Thursday this week. Yup, it is a pretty trivial and personal stuff sorta post. But me nuh have nutten else fe chat about. How was your weekend?

AN OCHO RIOS MORNING

The slightly melancholy smell of the polished wooden floors mixed with the tangy ocean breezes is the first thing that I sense as my eyes pop open.

Then I hear it “Feesh……grouper, snapper, paarrat feesh! Fresh feesh for sale!” It is the sound of the fisherman as he walks down the lane calling to the cooks in the villas to come and see his catch.

I quickly rub my eyes and jump excitedly out of bed, throwing my thin legs into my yellow shorts and slipping my feet into the flip-flops conveniently placed beside the bed the night before. My shorty nightie will do for a blouse.

I meet my sister at the top of the stairs and we jostle and push our way down to the kitchen, vying for first place as we dismally fail to be quiet for the rest of the family is still asleep.

Princess is in the kitchen and wipes her hands slowly on her apron. She turns to greet us with a smile and taking our hands, she leaves her breakfast preparations half done as she leads us through the door and out to meet the fisherman.

The morning is bright and fresh. The road still quiet as the neighbouring households are just beginning to stir. In the air the smell of fruit, sea and breakfasts cooking co-mingle with the chirping of the crickets, the singing of the birds and the distant sound of the traffic on the main street a few lanes away.

Ants scurry across the rutted road, searching for any edible tidbits while staying out of the way of the lizards that sit on the walls and hide in the trees, eyes ever watchful; yellow and orange tongues flickering out to attract small insects for their morning meals.

The catch is good this morning. There are many fish strung together in the man’s tight grasp. With a big smile he bids us good morning and allows us to touch the fish, chuckling in response to our shrieks of mock horror at the feel of the cold scales.

His bare feet are planted wide as he stands and chats with Princess, bargaining and cajoling over the price of the fish. My sister and I examine his catch, they swing slowly on the string, their iridescent blues, greens and silvers swirl and catch the sunlight and we are fascinated.

Finally the deal is made and the fisherman continues on his way down the lane repeating his chant. Princess allows us to carry one fish each and herds us back into the house, shushing us gently she tells us to go and play while she returns to her work in the kitchen.

My sister and I head for the lounge chair in the big living room, which is dwarfed by the seemingly bigger picture window that takes up an entire wall and overlooks the beach.

Momentarily we are soothed by the lapping water and the sheer beauty our young minds are only just beginning to comprehend.

As we watch the sun glisten on the waves and listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves hitting the sandy beach, we hear fading into the background the chant of the fisherman’s call “Feesh – fresh feesh for sale!”

Ciya
March 2, 2006

Hi y’all

Just thought I’d drop by and drop off another poem.
Can anyone tell me how to go about getting published? that would be great.

Things are very busy now. I’m doing two jobs as well as I have gone back to College for my Human Services diploma….Social Worker really - that is great i just love this course.

Any way, enjoy!

THE DANCE

He shouts
She shakes
He cries out
She answers.

This step that
They dance
To music
Unheard.

He whispers
She tingles
He caresses
She follows.

Gliding, floating
As if each
Step is
Rehearsed.

Ciya
July 5, 2005

I am on a day of departmental leave today. A combination of chronic tiredness and needing some extra time to prepare for this talk that I am doing in MoBay on Sunday made me take the day. I will be getting a lift down to MoBay and have decided to fly back up to Kingston on Sunday on our national carrier Air Jamaica.

While finishing a likkle breakfast and skimming through the Gleaner on line before heading down the road to do some bill payments and get myself a haircut…..the newspaper headline is what I see first. Yes, even the children of our country realize that things are amiss. Even they are crying out for an end to the madness.

Then, almost ironically, the next item of news is about a woman who is stabbed in a robbery attempt after leaving the Stella Maris Church and subsequently succumbs to her injuries in hospital. Not even in the yard outside God’s house is sacred eeh? I have nutten more to say! I gone.

This is another quick entry to make you realize that I am still lurking. Been well busy and in addition to that I fighting a low grade viral thing. One which causes headache and just kinda dampens man energy levels. Nevertheless, with nuff Panadol and Vit C, I plod along.

I linked up Ri on Friday night at the Hilton. Took a few photos, but haven’t had the time to download from the camera as yet. Bwoy, whole heap o people were there following the Karyoke. I had no clue that it had taken on such proportions. Anyhow, it was nice to meet yet another blogger. I think I can boast that I have met a number of the folks in this circle.

I am still working on the talk that I am doing next weekend in MoBay…this is what has consumed most of my time in the last few days. I actually reached a stumbling block last night where I found myself staring at one Powerpoint slide for over twenty minutes! Feeling tiyad out rass, I decided…..frig dis blurdcleat fe now……saved what I had done (which is about 85% completed) and locked down the computer.

Jamdown Canadian then shouted me. He was going to the airport quite late for a pickup…flight delayed from London…..I decided to follow him for company….of course…we sipped two rum before we left his yard. I will done de talk tonight, no matter how tiyad I am after coming home.

Anyhow, I have to go, despite this viral thing, there is work to be done and bills to pay. Have a good week.