I came across something interesting this morning regarding Mothers day, actually. Did you know that Mother’s Day is 100 years old? Yes sir, this day we now celebrate has only been celebrated annually in the last 100 years. In 1908, a woman named Anna Jarvis organised the first official Mothers Day Service at a church where her mother had taught school for 20 years. Today, the former Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church is the official shrine to mothers around the world.

What is your take on Mother’s Day? Is it a good thing, do you think we should continue celebrating it?

Here is something else interesting about Mother’s Day… Anna Jarvis did not like the over-commercialism that overtook Mother’s Day at all. She is said to have written scathing letters to people she knew who had gone out and bought a Mother’s Day card, saying they were too lazy to write personal letters “to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”. She went to her grave feeling that she was sorry she had come up with the whole thing, can you believe it? Read all about that story if you like by following this link, zeen?

You know what else I came across in my reading today? Well, I came across this excerpt from Beverley Manley’s book, “The Manley Memoirs”. It was interesting reading. Now, everybody knew that Michael Manley was the ram goat to top all ram goats, and yet I never knew just how tuff the man was, rasta.

Imagine, Beverley knew that Michael was having affaires left, right and center, and she had had heated discussions with him on these issues. Ok… normal. She says that she eventually agreed to stay with him on the condition that he stop having affaires with women who were in their immediate circle! Not that he stop with the affaires! No! She knew that this would never happen, and she was willing to deal with that! Just don’t have them with women in their circle, in other words, don’t embarrass the rass out of her.

Michael must have really had an extraordinary way with the ladies, sah! Imagine! Beverley Manley was not some streggeh gyal, who never see, come see! She was a strong Jamaican woman! She had an education and a career, and she certainly didn’t disappear into the woodwork after she left him. And yet, she was prepared to stay with him, knowing that he was having affaires, just so long as he never threw them in her face. Some man ah bad man, bwoy! Real bad man!

But I wonder if she realised that Michael never really loved her. At least, that is the conclusion I drew. After all, you are married to a woman, and a man who is supposed to be your friend, a man you work with (D.K. Duncan), unda you nose him sneak in and start eat out you food…. and you tell your wife that she can continue with the affaire until she gets over it? No, he never loved her… I don’t think he did, anyway. He must’ve just been interested in appearances, you know, for political reasons. Go read up on the excerpt and then tell me what you think nuh?

So, how is your weekend going so far? Mine is ok… not all exciting like last weekend when Natty and I danced the place down at the Machel Montano fete, but still nice. This weekend was all about the gym, though. Yes man, Saturday’s gym visit marks the first week I have made it to the gym all of five times for the week! I have been trying to do this for some time, but something always intervenes, most recently, ABC’s “Lost” and walking Simba (my puppy) and general tiredness.

This week though, five times! Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday (I went at 5:00 AM on Friday, first I have ever done that) and Saturday.

Picture taken at a
recent Lingerie & Pajamas party here, courtesy
of PartySurfers.ky.

Actually, it was the 5:00 AM gym visit on Friday that relegated this weekend to being merely a normal weekend, because I was planning to go to the L.I. Lounge on Friday and I am sure that would’ve been off the hook, because they sure do know how to party in the Cayman Islands, (check out that picture above! Don’t think it was at L. I., but that don’t mean it couldn’t happen there, you zimi? I will have to bend the ear of the owners…) but I was too rass tired to go! Cho
Bwoy, its been a long time since I have been to a good Lingeree / Pajama party! Drunken Debauchery!!! You just gotta love it!! I don’t know how I let these things pass me by! I need to write a little tune “Seh me nah get up from 4:00AM and go ah Gym again! Oh No!” and sing it to the riddim of the song “Nah go a Jail again”. I wonder if I could make a likkle money from that? Click on the picture above to see the party pictures…

Anyway, the weekend hasn’t been bad so far, and hopefully today will be irie and mello, so I not really complaining. I gone go make some “Mothers Day” Coffee, you hear, before Natty get up and start get grumpy because I haven’t even thought to make her a little coffee to start her morning right. TTYL, my peeps.

First, you will remember that I mentioned that Machel Montano and Xstatik were going to be here! Let me tell you quickly that Machel Montano and Xstatik were great, Natty and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at the show and I danced till I wet! Big up to Machel and Xtatik, Patrice Roberts and Farmer Nappy (of “Chippin down de Road Wit’ Me Own Woman” fame). Big up also to Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires who opened for Machel. They were pretty decent still.

For more about Machel and what he is up to nowadays, click here.

Anyway, my post last night was about two things which have been getting lots of press, discussion and so forth here in the Cayman Islands right now. The first, and more important had to do with the wanton murder of six Blue Iguanas. Now the Blue Iguana is indigenous to the Cayman Islands, and also, they are nearly extinct. Yes, people, they are high on the endangered list. There is an active program which seeks to take the Blues off the endangered list, and they have set up an area in the Queens Botanical Gardens where they are raising some Blues in captivity. They are actually trying to breed up some good numbers and then release them.

Can you imagine that some wicked person(s) broke into that facility and killed six of these iguanas?! That number may seem small, but when you consider that this is one third of all the iguanas they have in this facility, you will understand that this is a big deal!

I hear that the authorities intend to prosecute the perpetrators to the full extent of the law if they catch them, and they are likely to have to pay fines of up to CI$10,000 and also serve three years per iguana! I think thats a good thing, and I hope they catch the bastards! Read up on what people here think about this senseless act at the MarlRoad.com forum.

Also in the news are a couple of gay activists who were on the island recently. Apparently they got into one big kissing frenzy in a public place, that is, at a restaurant and bar. A number of the patrons at the bar were offended by this and they spoke to the men, telling them taht they were desist from this activity. Being activists, this seemed to have spurred the gays up to higher heights in their kissing, (or deeper depths, depending on your viewpoint ) and eventually a patron pointed them out to a policeman. The policeman went over and told them that their actions were illegal in the Cayman Islands and they were to desist, but this only brought on another round of kissing.

Eventually one of the men was arrested. Since then, he has written letters of complaint to a number of parties, and the Department of Tourism has written to him apologising for his treatment here in Cayman. He seems to have got the word out to some of his activist brethren and a wave of people from overseas have been visiting the Cayman Compass website to read the story online, so many visitors that they actually crashed the website!

This has been a big topic of discussion here in Cayman as well. You can read up on people’s views on this issue at the MarlRoad.com forum.

Anyway, tell me what you think about these things, me bredrins, and we can discuss them in the comments. For now, I gone. Have to help MBJr. with his homework and go to the gym. TTYL.

THIS IS BRILLIANT!!! HAVE FUN!
If you cannot decipher anything, then try pulling the corner of your eyes as if you were Chinese.
It works!

Anyway, my “Townah” status is supposed to be short lived. Soon I will return to the Bodden Town District. At least, I hope so. I hope the contractor isn’t chatting a lot of fart!
I am going to be up in Bodden Town regularly as well, as I plan to check Simba very regularly! Yeah, unfortunately I have to leave Simba with a friend here until I return triumphantly to Northward!

We simply don’t have room for a puppy where we’re going, its just a 2br / 2ba apartment. It does have a pool though, and I plan to use that regularly! Gonna live it up while I can, you done know!
See, there are both good and bad things associated with this move.

Hey people, Ubuntu 8.04 is here. As I sit and wait for the movers to arrive, I am downloading the CD files. Depending on how the move goes, I will amuse myself either tonight or tomorrow night by installing it. You guys should try it too, we can have fun comparing notes.

This weekend, there is going to be a big show, with Byron Lee & the Dragonnaires, Machel Montano and Xstatik, and others. Of course, I already have tickets for Natty and myself. Now if I can just convince M’Buthelezi to babysit MBJr., everything will be lined up for a PARTAY! I will tell you all how that goes. Anyway, I am going to run. I am sitting here typing this in my boxers and the helper soon come (yeah, we get a helper now to rahtid!) and she might take a dim view of me greeting her in this attire, so me gone to get ready for the arduous workday ahead of me.

Peace out, mah peeps!

Mavado is mentioned under the caption “Best New Reggae”.

I agree with the guy who wrote the article that Mavado is one of the hottest artistes in Dancehall right now, but I just wish he would back away from all the gun lyrics and glamorising of violence. If he put that voice to some “up-ful” lyrics, it could be a great thing. Mavado, you can be so much more than a gangsta. Dash away the badman business and the badman friends, star!

Big up to Outaroad dot com for the link still.

In other news, I-man still packing, so I gone. Peace.

Wicked song, iyah! By the way, I promised you a picture showing the view from my new office, on the new building the bank I work for has just put up… Well, here is just a piece of the view, seen?! The shot is of some boats on “parade” at the start of the Cayman Islands Int’l Fishing Tournament which was recently held.

Nice, huh?

The Hermit represents the need to distance yourself from the people and events in your life that are causing undue strain on your emotions. There are times in your life when seclusion and isolation are warranted. The Hermit is a card of discovery and enlightenment, which can only develop by spending time alone with your thoughts. Your energy will be depleted quickly in social situations.

Is how them Facebook applications know what a gwaan inna me life so? Unfortunately, I do not have the option of “tekking weh mi-self” right now. Today and the upcoming week promise to be SO busy! I have to move out of the house I am living in this month end. Unfortunately, my house isn’t ready yet, but luckily, a place in Prospect has been presented to us, so I guess I will going to have to chill out in Prospect until it is.

Not that I am knocking Prospect or anything, but I would have preferred to move straight into my new house, you know? Cho, man! A pox on all tardy contractors everywhere!

This is not the only “drama” going on in my life right now either, though the other issue isn’t really going to be on the blog, at least not right now. I will say that it has nothing to do with last Friday’s “nite out” before y’all draw the wrong conclusions.

Anyway, I won’t dwell on my issues. Let me leave you with a laugh. I may have posted it before, but for those of you who haven’t been reading my blog for years and years, here goes:

Drunken Women

Two women friends had gone for a girl’s night out; both were very faithful and loving wives. However, they had gotten over-enthusiastic on the Bacardi Breezers.

Incredibly drunk & walking home, they needed to pee, so they stopped in the cemetery. One of them had nothing to wipe with so she thought she would take off her panties and use them. Her friend, however, was wearing a rather expensive pair of panties and did not want to ruin them, but was lucky enough to squat down next to a grave that had a wreath with a ribbon on it, so she proceeded to wipe with it.

After the girls did their business, they proceeded to go home. The next day, one woman’s husband was concerned that his normally sweet and innocent wife was still in bed hung over, so he phoned the other husband and said, “These damn girls’ night outs have got to stop. I’m starting to suspect the worst. My wife came home with no panties.”

“You think that’s bad” said the other husband, “Mine is lying in bed with a card stuck in her ass that says: “From all of us at the Fire Station. We’ll never forget you.”

I guess those women will get a tongue-lashing when they wake up! I guess they deserve it still! I mean, who would really go and pee in a cemetary?!

For those of us who are in Touch with our Feelings, these fabulous photos are truly classic works of art.
Choose a favorite…

Almost brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?

So, what do you all think about the “polygamist ranch” that the U.S. Authorities have invaded recently, looking for a girl who claimed to have been abused? Well, I will let you answer in the comments but I am going to talk my talk on it anyway. Now, on the face of it, polygamy sounds quite irie. One man to many women? Any man from the Caribbean is THERE, DUDE!

But if you stop to look at reality… things like that are only achieved at great cost. I saw one such “cost” this morning, watching Robin Meade’s “Morning Express” today. They showed a clip with one of the “wives” from the polygamist ranch and I was forced to comment to Natty, “Rass! Look how she dress! Its like she is from another era, another century!”. People, trust me, it deep! Listen me nuh! Dem deh clothes naw wear again! What was “wifey” thinking? How she could make some men brainwash her into wearing her hair like she did, and make her dress like THAT! EEEUUUUUU!

Craziness, mi bredrins! Plenty women to one man DOES sound sort of good, but I am not wearing anything like that! Neither is Natty! Listen to me nuh man! I love my FUBU and my Nike and the rest of my “nowadays” shit, and me want my woman to look good! Pum pum shorts! Fishnet stockings, some rass-high pumps! Perhaps a nice, color coded whip, that would make a nice fashion accessory! No, I am just kidding, I wouldn’t want my woman to be wearing that, not when she is giving people a tour of the house, but she should be upo to the time, you know? Up to date! None of this “ancient of days” hearspoils, or them dresses weh look like say sack cloth has made a comeback in fashion! Not a rass!

So, do you watch “Nancy Grace”? Man, I hate the bitch, she just seems like an annoying know-it-all, but last night at the gym, she was on the TV showing clips of this young guy who was forcing his 18-month-old sibling to take hits off a marijuana pipe. Blood claat, rasta! That youth doesn’t need a two year sentence! He needs to be handed over to a bunch of concerned parents… parents who would arm themselves with some pickaxe handles and some knotted rope and who would put on a proper beating on the transgressor! Yeah man… There will be blood! Or at least in this case, there should be!

Just the other day, my sistren Irie Diva posted up some pictures of the top three ladies in the Miss Jamaica Universe, and she also provided a nice link to a Facebook group with pictures of the ladies taking part in the competition. I was looking through the pictures and was struck by the smile of Kimberley Gunnings! What oonoo say? She have nice teeth or what?

So, its Friday again… Sweet! Its been a pretty good week. Do you know the feeling when you go through a period where you work on something for awhile without making any headway at all and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel and you feel like giving up? Well, I got some stuff done after just such a period and it felt good! As such, this week, I have been feeling pretty irie. Excited to go into work and ting… and now, its Friday again tomorrow. I don’t really plan on looking a “road license” from Natty yet, not after last Friday’s afterwork drink up. No, I think I will go to the gym instead… we shall see though. I am a man woho works off of pure whim sometimes!

Still, my weekend promises to be work-filled! Natty has decreed that this weekend, we begin packing for “The Great Move” into our new house.

Happy Friday to all of oonoo, seen?
See yah!
By the way, it would be irie if my morning tomorrow could run like this, wouldn’t it? Aah Spicey, I want to live like you when I grow up!