The Unexpected...

I hate Valentine's Day with a passion. I think it is such a pretentious excuse for draining people's wallets for the sake of various companies' last frantic dash to meet fiscal sale-figures. Okay, as far-fetched as that was, my resolve is only strengthened by the annual exchange of annoying clichés-of-romantic-gestures such as chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, flowers, teddy bears with magnets in their noses so that when they connect they "kiss" (oh please! Instead of spit they might as well be swapping snat - sorry I had to say it), and so on. That said, this Valentine's was no exception - well, that's how it started. I was so far removed from all notions of "romance", and I was certain I would end up having dinner with mom that night. Things turned out quite differently.
There's a guy friend that I was limin with for the past couple of days and by V-day I have grown to enjoy his company quite a bit. Apparently, the feeling was mutual because he asked me to go to dinner with him - in a Chinese restaurant within walking distance of our respective houses. Well, the whole time, we were just laughing, talking, laughing, eating.... just having a good, down-to-earth, un-pretentious time. Long before the evening was over, I told him that this was the most fun V-day I ever had. His response - "That's sad." Now that's what I'm talking about!
Honesty, NO cheesiness!!!! Oh, and was there a kiss at the end of the night? Nope. That's because I was still far removed from all notions of "romance." I just knew that what we had was completely, and mutually, platonic. Sure, we have been aware of each other's existence for about 8 years (he was more friends with my sis) and I always thought he was cool, but we never really hung out like that before. We discovered that we are, well, two peas in a pod (so much for not being cheesy). In short, we just clicked. The next night, at the TRIBE fete, things got a bit, well, hotter. We were drinking, dancing and having fun (as usual), then, dry so, ended up making out. We've been lovey-dovey ever since. But I guess that's what Carnival does to you. However, I know that this newfound connection is deeper than that, and I also know that though I've been dreading my departure date long before arrival, this, um, romance will certainly make that departure all the more heartbreaking...

Ah reach..and bacchanal done start!!!

I am finally in sweet T&T!!!! And boy, where to begin, man?! These past couple of days have been very enjoyable. However, it wasn't without its fair share of bacchanal. Of course, it started from de time I land in dis country!! Cyah expect nuttin less!!
Well, on Sunday 11th, landing in T&T was a joy that had a "I'm-so-intoxicated-I-look-like-I-indulged-in-more-than-my-fair-share-of-narcotics" smile plastered on my face! :D I eh go lie - ah was relllllllll bazodee when I landed, jed!! However, all bazodeeness get kill one time as I went through customs. My anxiety evaporated all my patience as I stood in that line, thinking about seeing the folks on the other side of the arrivals gate, about going home and seeing yet more family members, then seeing friends, then gettin meh costume and so on... I was extremely antsy!!Fortunately, my acquired maturity (and my camera - for a brief moment) kept me from practically bawlin down de place! However, upon clearing customs and purchasing duty free alcohol (which, needless to say, is a MUST), the next hurdle was...da da dum!...Baggage Claim. It wasn't finding the bags dat was trouble, it was those damn people at the "something/nothing to delcare" lines - the ones who make up the final obstacle to your euphoric escape into sanity, freedom and loved ones embraces. The problem was that I was one of many overexcited passengers who failed to sign BOTH sides of the immigration form (which is embarrassing, really, since I am usually good at that sort of thing), and of course there was a belligerent so&so who publicly points this out, and points at the sign that points this out (which I glanced at, but ignored nonetheless... I did not even have de sense to walk wit a damn pen!). So, imagine my level of patience at this point! When I finally cleared that Godforsaken area, I was mumbling to myself that only one thing can cheer me up at this point... only to find it wasn't there! There I was, glancing about expectantly, then frantically... no mom. No-ONE! Well, all maturity and reason went out the window!!! Now ah vex!! It took a few minutes for some God-given sense to sink in for it to dawn on me that perhaps something had to have happened. So, after dragggggin my 60lb bag and my 10lb carry-on to the food court to eat and calm down, then draggggin dem back to the arrivals area (gathering a few bewildered stares along the way) I managed to borrow a cell phone to call mom (since mine is foreign). Turns out she and her boyfriend were involved in a car accident, and that she was now at the police station taking care of paperwork and what not. Needless to say, my annoyance immediately transformed into concern. Thankfully, no-one was hurt - jus vex. They were nearby, and the car was still operable, so I managed to get home in the same day. Boy!!! Bacchanal!!! An I eh hit one fete yet!!!! All in all, I am thrilled to be home, and furthermore, that all involved were safe!!! Praise God!!!

Oh Monday, Monday, Monday!!!!

Wherefore art thou, oh elusive concrete-idea-for-Carnival-Monday-wear? This is a dilemma many a masquerader is facing (indeed, this post is due to today's "Monday Wear" post by Saucy). For those of us in large bands that do not provide Monday wear in spite of the price they charge for their "all-inclusive" amenities (*cough TRIBE cough*), the dilemma is indeed overwhelming. Or at least frustrating. In any case, I have no damn clue what it would be. I guess I'll throw something together at the last minute. However, the last thing I want to feel on the climax of this festival is panic!
I have seen quite a few interesting ideas thrown out there. Some people want to be plain, with a cute baby T and shorts. Some want to go all out sexy. One, in particular was just silly - Buublenut's post on wearing a cow-print tie and cow-print shorts (hilarious!!!). Needless to say, she was just kidding. ;)
I think I would be creative with it. For instance, I could cut up an old blue T and tie it in the back to fit nicely. (I've done it before...twice..and loved it both times). That would save money, though I would still have to buy shorts! Plus, I could decorate my old sneakers by spray painting them gold and maybe glue on some blue/orange crystals on them so that I could wear them Monday and Tuesday to match my Imp costume (this would probably be done in Trinidad, though). I dunno! I'm going insane with these crazy ideas!
At the end of the day, all that matters is that I am comfortable and that I enjoy myself, even if I end up wearing a damn paper bag!!!

Upgrade!!!

Well, I was adding caiso queen to my links section, and I decided that it was time for a makeover. The blog just didn't feel like, well, "me." So, I had to do something about it, and here it is! Hope you all like it as much as I do!
The countdown continues!!!!!
:D
And, yes, I will be coasin de green yarn strong strong!!!

Well, you can't have EVERYTHING...

So, Panorama finals is in Skinner Park this year. Some people weren't too happy wit dat, but as Iwer put it in his tune "It must work":
We's Trinis!! (though the way he says it just cracks me up!)
But, it seems as though, during the semis, the judges decided to take some revenge, because this year, only ONE south band made it to the finals! And it wasn't even my resident band Skiffle Bunch. (Which is just too bad, cuz Professor arranged for them this year, and then, once I arrived in Trini, it would have been like old times) *Sob*
Here is the article from Newsday listing all the Panorama Finalists for 2007
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,51898.html

Well, I'm not going to waste this post crying over spilled milk. I'm STILL going to Panorama finals!! Shucks man! It woulda been nice to play, but daz what next year is for (God willing)....

Ah feelin it!!!!

Boyyyyyyyy!!!!!!! Just when I thought I had de Carnival fever!
FIVE MORE DAYS BEFORE AH COME DONG!!!
Soon, it would be touchdown in sweet sweet Trini!! And I cyah wait!!! A friend sent me a mix CD of all de HOT C2k7 tunes. Now, iz one ting to prance about in meh bedroom like a mooks listening to Toronto-lime.com. Is quite another when yuh blastin de tunes full force in your car on the way to work!! Doh mind all de other drivers on de road rel watchin meh funny funny when dey see dis mad 'oman jammin to her soca! lol. Jed!! I was smilin all mornin when ah reach work!!! Lol.
Soooo much to look forward to!!! Seeing family, good friends (even enemies so yuh could coas real hard on dem on how DAMN GOOD yuh lookin..j/k), ex-boyfriends (so yuh could coas real hard on dem on how DAMN GOOD yuh lookin... :D). Lol. There's fetes to look forward to, real lime to look forward to (especially de bloggers lime!), real drinkin (lol)...and...um....I tink I forget someting....hold on, eh....
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MAS ON DE ROAD!!!!!!! Boyyyyyy!!!!!
If ah could only meet a sweet Trini man to wine on come Carnival Tuesday (too bad Kees taken lol)!! And tell me why after considering Sahara Jumbie (then choosing my Imp costume - which, truthfully, I like better than SJ) I hear Mr Montano in dat section! >:-( Steuups... No scene - ah probably cyah handle he waist in the (very) unlikely event we ever end up in some close proximity on de road anyhow....lol....
All in all, I am looking forward to having the time of my life for my first experience!!!

FIVE MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.... And the costume for Carnival 2k7 is.....

Fireman would have been nice, but I got no response from carnivaljunction.com. So, this one I will keep. Ah tell yuh dat website is de devil!! Lol
I know I'm throwing in the towel a bit too soon, but to be honest, I like the costume enough to avoid any further confusion. Ah done know Trinis and their tendency to make things oh-so-slightly more difficult than need be (this is from experience, of course...). So, Imp it is. Next year, I'll try to organize meh stuff from early o'clock!