Weird News Wednesday-It's Getting a Bit Hairy

International German Beard and Moustache Championships in Hesel, northern Germany. Some 100 participants from eight nations compete to become world champion in one of 16 beard and moustache categories. (AP Photo/Kai-Uwe Knoth)

(The very concept is very odd indeed, rather unnerving even)

Windmill beard???

If a date tries to blow in his ear and misses does some utility meter go off indicating the megawatts of power that have been created?


'Come into my parlor,' said the spider to the fly...(was the fly wearing glasses
I wonder?)



Just plain disturbing...

I think I saw this guy in a Vicodin/Percoset/anesthesia nightmare...MAKE IT STOOOOOOP!!!

So ladies, do these guys thrill you with their follicular prowess? I'm thinking of starting an International Underarm and Leg Hair Competition. Any takers?

Men, any of you inclined to challenge these fellows?

Trini Tuesday-Indian Arrival Day

May 30 is a national holiday in Trinidad. In 1945, the 100th anniversary of the arrival of indentured servants from India aboard the Fath al Razak was celebrated as Indian Immigration Day. In the 1970s, smaller annual celebrations were often held in heavily Indian neighborhoods. PM, Patrick Manning declared it a national holiday in 1994. From 1847-1917, over 140,000 Indians came to Trinidad with the promise that after 5-7 years they could receive passage back to India.

Those who remained on the island and their descendants have made an indelible mark on the culture of Trinidad. Indian foods are commonly enjoyed by Trinis of all backgrounds. Indian textiles are widely available. Programs featuring classical dance and music and schools teaching these arts are common. There are many Hindu temples on the island and the larger ones often offer Hindi (Bhojpuri) classes. Occaissionally you may hear the Bhojpuri dialect spoken by the older generation. Even among non-Hindu speakers and non Indians, many Trinis use idioms with a distinct Indian bent to them. Chutney music is played openly alongside calypso and soca. Divali, Hosay, Eid-al Fitr, and Phagwah
are all national holidays, just as Christmas and Easter are. Remember, I tell yuh...a Trini does look for any chance to have a fete (party)?

Indians have held the highest office in Trinidad. Basdeo Panday was PM and Noor Hassanali held the post of President. Even in California, Mervyn Dymally, an Indo-Trini, was a State Assemblyman, US Congressman, and former Lieutentant Governor. Nobel Prize winning author, V.S. Naipaul, is perhaps the most famous Indo-Trinidadian.

Happy Arrival Day!

Memorial Day

My great-great grandfather, a Union Army veteran.


My paternal grandfather who enlisted during WW2, even though he had a wife and 2 sons. My dad is the smaller child.



My maternal grandfather who was drafted for WW2, even though he had a wife and 2 children. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained during the Battle of the Bulge.



Dad, who enlisted in the Air Force during Vietnam, hoping to have some shred of control over his placement instead of being drated.


I found this among my grandfather's things and it amused me, so I thought I'd share especially for the women.

Whether you agree with our current administration or not please take time today to remember those who have served and instruct your children in history and respect.

And may I thank those who haved served or are currently.

Musical Friday 55

There were many tears and arguments from the children regarding instrument practice and many complaints about surly directors and lazy band members. Much money was invested in mouthpieces, mutes, reeds, lessons, and concert clothes. It all melted away when trumpets played powerfully, the lone oboe sang out confidently, and the audience erupted in wild applause.

The spring concert is always great fun. The kids really get to show how much they've grown musicaly during the year. They get some input into which pieces they perform and there are also some featured smaller combos. Each grade has its own band because the school is so large so we can really hear the difference in each band as the kids gain experience and skill. Lots of people remarked on the trumpet section in Diana's band. It's unusual because of the 7 members all but one are girls and can they ever wail on that brass!

Calypso's band is unusual in that it has her as an oboe player and another student who plays bassoon. Double reed instruments like those are really difficult to play well. Directors will bend over backwards for double reed players who have any kind of skill or, at this age, a kid who is willing to play. Calypso has figured out the advantage she gains by playing a 'rare' instrument and she delighted in having a solo during one of the pieces. As a side note, she found her clarinet. Thank goodness!

And not to be left out, on Wednesday night at the 'try an instrument night,' Isaac signed up for trombone. He was courted for cello, drums, and trombone. He was hoping he'd do well on the saxophone but the reed was problematic. He got a decent beginner sound out of the trombone though and he thought that slide was an awful lot of fun. He's got this perfectionist streak and he's very hard on himself so we've warned him it takes a long time to build a lip and he needs to know he won't sound great at first. He's one who really needs to know what difficulties to expect or he gets discouraged when he hits a bump. Now the hunt for an instrument and another teacher begins.

Wish us luck and have a great weekend!

HNT-Lime Dance

Expanding on a meme answer I gave last week with a picture I took a couple months ago.

There are two rules in my kitchen.

1. I am the boss.

2. If I am in there working and you enter you shall either help me cook/clean up or you shall dance with me because I always have music playing.

If I when my husband is reading
and the children are doing homework
and the sun is a flame white disc
in silken mists
above my pine trees,-
If I in my kitchen
dance in my apron, grotesquely
before my chromed stove
waving my towel round my head
and singing softly to myself:
'Come on home
and turn me on.'
If I admire my arms, my face,
my shoulders, breasts, buttocks
against the yellowed panelling,'

Who shall say I am not
the happy genius of my household?

(adapted from William Carlos Williams' Danse Russe, song lyrics form Norah Jones' Turn Me On)

If you need to know how to play along click the orange and white sidebar button and dance on over to Os's.

Happy HNT!

Weird News Wednesday-Ooooh, That Smell

LONDON (Reuters) - Some say Britain's pungent blue-veined Stilton cheese smells of old socks. But its fans have turned the rare odor into a perfume.
The Stilton Cheese Makers Association commissioned an aromatics firm to create Eau de Stilton, described on the association's Web site as featuring a "symphony of natural base notes including Yarrow, Angelica seed, Clary Sage and Valerian."
"Blue Stilton cheese has a very distinctive mellow aroma and our perfumier was able to capture the key essence of that scent and recreate it in an unusual but highly wearable perfume," said an association spokesman.
The perfume will be available from www.stiltoncheese.com.


I think I'll pass on this particular perfume. Here are a few more I'll not be dousing myself in any time soon:

Skunk Fields- An alarming fragrance sure to make your eyes water.

Eau du Sauerkraut-A bold, unisex cologne that comes back to haunt.

Mildew Musk- Carefully cultivated sources yield a lasting aroma perfect for dark, mysterious nights.

Oil of Refinery-Give yourself a powerful air.

Wet Dog no.5- You'll have the men howling.

Sneaker Essence- For those who prefer sportier fragrances.

Parfum de Sewage-A breathtaking new scent.

Roadkill Attar-Perfect on a summer's day. We're dying to have you try this.

Eau de Toilette du Chat-It's pungence lingers long after you've gone.

What perfumes will you not be trying any time soon?

Trini Tuesday-Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday so I thought I'd share a little bit about her thoughts on our life in Trindad. She was less than thrilled. She had some good reasons to be unhappy about it. I was taking her precious and, at the time only, grandchild to some place she'd barely heard of and would have been hard pressed to locate on the map. Diana was not yet 2 years old and Mom was quite sure she'd completely forget who Grammy was. I'd proven during college that I was pretty lousy at phonecalls and letters, no email back in those dark ages. It also didn't help that my entire extended family except one uncle and one cousin live within 7 miles of each other. I already lived 90 miles away, now I was leaving the country?? Both my paternal grandparents, with whom my mother was very close, and my mother's best friend had died the previous year as well. Loss heaped upon loss and now I am leaving the country. I'm not a dolt, I can grasp that this was all just too much for her. I found out I was pregnant as soon after we hit Trini soil and when I told her, even though she had that pseudo-psychic thing going on and already knew, she accused me of purposely concealing the fact until I was far away.

Now, let's back up many years. I come from a family of storytellers. There's a strong oral tradition in my family so I grew up regularly bathed in the clan lore. Even though a couple of family members either died before my birth or when I was much too young to recall them, the lore gives me a strong sense of who they were and the family photo albums I always cherished made them recognizable.

When I packed for Trinidad we had a bunch of suitcases and the rest was shipped in crates and barrels. I made sure I had a few pictures of each family member in my suitcase though so we'd need not wait for the shipping companies. Once our things arrived my photo albums came out first and Diana poured over them. During our time there it was a regular activity to pull out the albums and give her all the stories that went with them and point out the faces. She LOVED books more than anything else so it was very natural.

We also made phone calls as often as finances permitted. Diana was barely speaking before we had arrived but had a language explosion while there. My mother was thrilled to hear her but also annoyed when she heard the blossoming Trini accent. 'That child does NOT sound like an American.'

My belly grew and we sent pictures of Diana, our house, my growing belly, and the maternity clothes I'd sewn. Mom is an accomplished seamstress and she got a kick out of seeing me finally do some sewing since I'd mostly avoided it while stateside.

Finally, Calypso was born. She was due very close to Mom's birthday (Mom rooted heavily for the baby to be born on her birthday) but wound up being quite overdue. Now where Diana is a redhead and the spitting image of her dad, Calypso is, as they say in Trinidad, my rubber stamp. The first time I held her once she was all cleaned up and happy I thought she looked exactly like my first baby photo. I told Mom who seemed a bit skeptical.

When Calypso was about 8 weeks old we headed back to the US for a brief visit. As we came off the flight Diana spotted my mom and my grandmother through the crowd and took off running to them shouting, 'Grammyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!' My husband and I finally reached them and I put Calypso in Mom's arms. Mom gasped and said, 'Diana knows me and Calypso looks exactly like you did!' I just grinned at her while the baby gurgled and Diana clung to Grammy's knees. Then I said, 'Happy belated birthday.'

Weekend Recap

What a difference a year makes. Isaac played Little League for the first time last year. He loves baseball. He was thrilled to finally be on a team. We talked about teamwork and sportsmanship. Being a good loser and a gracious winner. He ha an absurd amount of practice at being a good loser. His team mascot should have been Charlie Brown because they lost all but one game of the season. The other game they tied. It was a hard season. But he was still excited about playing again this year.

As you know, he broke his thumb at the beginning of the year which took him out of the game a while. Saturday was his first game back, although the team had played several already and even won some of them...YAY!! He was the starting pitcher and did ok. At his age, the kids swap positions a lot. At the end of the game he was moved to first base. The bases were loaded, score was 4-5, our team leading, and the opponent had 2 outs. The next batter came up and cracked a line drive straight down the first base line. Isaac knocked the ball down, scooped it up and tagged the base to save the game. WOOHOO!!! Now winning is not everything but after the dismal season last year and his personal frustration at the beginning this year I'm really happy his team is doing better this year and he had a little moment of glory.

Calypso informed me late last week that some time during my heaviest drug haze she lost her clarinet and she had removed her name tag from it. She doesn't know exactly when or where. We just paid the thing off in December. I kept repeating the mantra 'the child is more important than the clarinet.' On the same day she gave me this news she also decried the injustice of being the only 7th grader in her class without her own cellphone. Hhhmm, real head scratcher there, eh? Last night she announced that perhaps the instrument was in her locker, 'It's a mess and lots of things get lost in there, Mom.' My dear, the thought of emptying said locker did not cross your mind before this, even though we specifically asked??

Sunday morning we went to church and, of her own initiative, Diana walked beside me like a Secret Service agent clearing a crowd. Fiercely guarding my left side, barking at me if I turned too quickly, and barking at anyone who approached me from the left she moved me through the crowded lobby. I had to stifle giggles at such an act of kindness expressed in such a ferocious manner. I truly feared for the well-being of anyone who may have accidentally bumped my arm.

So, how was your weekend?

I WILL: do this meme

I AM: an overgrown kid.

I SAID: stop, torturing your sister, now!

I WANT: a million bucks and a perfect body (standard response to my kids when the ask for something they know is absurd).

I WISH: I could meet several bloggers.

I HATE: when my kids hurt.

I MISS: my gypsy.

I FEAR: that unidentifiable goo in my fridge.

I HEAR: my son in the kitchen and birds outside.

I WONDER: wonder, wonder, wonder who? who wrote the book of love?

I REGRET: not holding on better.

I AM NOT: going to live in self pity.

I DANCE: everywhere, but always in my kitchen and if you enter therein you'd better either help me cook or dance with me.

I SING: in the key of Z.

I CRY: every friggin Christmas when Frosty the Snowman gets locked in the greenhouse. That's just so mean!

I AM NOT ALWAYS: nice.

I MADE: this very cool abstract painting for my mother and then she hung it upside down.

I WRITE: with words.

I CONFUSE: 'normal' people.

I NEED: a good ravishing.

I SHOULD: go eat breakfast.

I START: when I'm ready.

I FINISH: when I feel like it.

Happy Weekend all!

HNT-Celebrating with Janita

As per Os's request here is a repost of the first HNT shot taken specifically for the occasion. I posted a few other pics before I got my digital camera but this was the first one I planned and it coincided with Halloween.

I'm NOT coming out. Nu-uh! No way! It's scary out there! There are monsters and witches and goblins. I'm going to do what I did when I was a kid. I'm going to hide under my covers and not move a muscle. If I am very still and make sure no body parts show or hang over the edge of the bed then the slimy, creepy monsters under my bed won't find me. I have my giant stuffed animals to guard me like when I was little. I'm going to stay hidden under my covers until all the scary monsters go away......I'm being very still, very quiet...not moving......oh no......my foot is showing.......oh no!!!! That means the monsters under my bed might see me! Is that a tentacle I see reaching up for me????? EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween HNT!





Now for this week I needed to celebrate but I have something bigger than the HNTiversary to celebrate. I was told I'd have multiple casts for many weeks. I had one for 3 weeks and the doc said that's it. I gave Lecram naming rights for my damaged arm. He dubbed her 'Janita.' I just don't follow rules well, which sort of got me in trouble in the first place. But it's my nature to thumb my nose at authority so here are Janita and I doing just that...thumbing my nose at the folks who say I should grow up and act my age, and at the people who say 'I told you so.' And I guess maybe it's a little rebellious of me not to have ballons and streamers etc for the anniversary. Oh well, sue me. I'm celebrating my way.



Happy HNTiversary!

Good News/Bad News

I saw the doctor yesterday and he had told me at the previous appointment to expect a wrist cast after he removed the big green one. I arrived, had it removed & had x-rays. The doctor studied them rather intently, examined me and declared with a big smile, 'Looks like you don't need the next cast. Sling only.' WOOHOO! Still no driving allowed but no cast was a really terrific surprise. He gave me a few very basic motions he wants me to work on for 2 weeks and then I start physical/occupational therapy.

The day before I saw him I was also able to go without any painkillers and he was pretty pleased with that too. I've needed a couple since then because of all the handling, but that's to be expected. Then again, I was so excited to get home and give my arm a good washing I promptly rammed it into the doorjamb on the way to the bathroom. If you heard a bloodcurdling shriek ay 3:30pm EDT that was me after I wailed my hand and dropped to my knees. (This is a test of the emergency lime alert system) I am such a spaz it's ridiculous. I iced it afterwards and I don't think I did any damage.

This week the various bills have been coming in as well. If you're reading this you're sitting down which is a good thing. If you've got drugs or booze nearby now would be a good time to take a hit. Let me share...

surgical fees: $8,475

med-evac helicopter: $14,907.20

3 day hospital stay: $50,204.46

having an arm that works: an arm and a leg

We haven't even considered what PT/OT will cost. I noticed in the hospital PT & OT each charged $400 for evaluation. This consisted of them watching me put on socks and pj pants. Funny, I thought I got to charge people for watching me like that. Oh wait, the one girl picked the leaves out of my hair that no one had bothered to clean out for 2 days. In the ER they did cut up my favorite tie dye shirt and a bra. Maybe I can bill them for the destroyed items and the peepshow. I think there were about 6 guys swarming me. Hehehe.

Fortunately, the insurance has already taken care of the surgical fees and the hospital stay. The helicopter is under review for its medical necessity. Hhhmm, they thought I had 3 major fractures. I was allergic to every drug the regular ambulance had on board. I was in shock and the local hospital told the paramedics they'd transfer me anyway. Yeah, I only wanted the thrill of a helicopter ride. Sheesh.

I am deeply grateful for all the folks who put me back together again. I feel I was well cared for by almost everyone. I am seriously relieved that most of the bill is paid for. Healing from something like this is actually rather priceless. I just really wonder about folks who have crappy insurance or no insurance in a system like this. I can't help thinking about some poor person that needs to find $73K to fix a mangled arm. My first house didn't cost that much money. What's wrong with that picture? My gratitude is mixed with sadness for someone less fortunate.

Trini Tuesday-Coat of Arms

The Birds represented on the Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago are the Scarlet Ibis, the Cocrico (native to Tobago) and the Hummingbird. The three ships represent the Trinity as well as the three ships of Columbus. The three Peaks were principal motifs of Trinidad's early British Colonial Seals and Flag-Badges. They commemorated both Columbus' decision to name Trinidad after the Blessed Trinity and the three Peaks of the Southern mountain range, called the "Three Sisters" on the horizon. The fruited Coconut Palm dates back to the great seals of British Colonial Tobago in the days when the Island was a separate administrative unit. (http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Independence/NatSymbols.htm)


Alright now, this one little coat of arms contains a lot of information in it. Let's tear it apart a bit. First let's look at the birds. The Scarlet Ibis is a very interesting little critter. It roosts in Trinidad but flies to Venezuela each morning, limes around on the mainland feeding, then flies home to Trinidad each night. At their closest points, Trinidad and Venezuela are only 7 miles apart. The best place to witness this daily migration is Caroni Swamp at dusk. If you go, make sure you have bathed in some industrial strength mosquito repellant and don't take your tots as the mosquitoes will enjoy some fresh meat when you go and they look big enough to carry off small children. As for the Cocrico, it is interesting to note that it is found both on the sister island of Tobago, and in Venezuela, but NOT on Trinidad. It's strange because Trinidad is situated squareley between Tobago and the mainland. The hummingbird is so prevalent that the Amerindian name for Trinidad, Kairi, means 'land of the hummingbird.'

Onto the name and Columbus. All you Spanish scholars should know that 'trinidad' translates to mean trinity. Trinidad was 'discovered' by Christopher Columbus on his 3rd voyage to the New World. He had already decided beforehand that whatever he found would be named in honor of the Holy Trinity. As he neared the island and saw the 3 peaks of the southern mountain range he believed this to be divine confirmation of his plan.

Coconut palms are obviously prevalent throughout the tropics. In Trinidad, as I'm sure in other parts of the world, they are used a bit differently than we generally use cocunuts in the US. We usually see small, hard, brown nuts in the grocery store. Crack them and dig out the hard meat to use in desserts. Or skip the pain and by shredded, sweetened coconut...blech.

I much prefer the Trini way. The hard nuts are used to make coconut bake, a heavy bread. The meat is ground up, hot water poured over it and milk is derived. The milk is used as the liquid when making the bread.


Green nuts, which are much bigger than what you find in a our local stores, are carried by the truckload into town (Port of Spain). When you're dying of thirst, for a bit of change, the vendor will deftly hack off the top of the nut with a few whacks of his cutlass and then put in a straw. A full nut of refreshing coconut water is a great way to cool off. By the way, coconut water is an excellent dehydration remedy, nature's Pedialyte or Gatorade. It's also been used as a replacement for blood plasma. After you've emptied the nut of its water, the vendor will crack it in half and chip off a bit off the husk as a spoon. Then you can scoop out the soft layer of jelly for a bit of a snack.



Just a little Trini trivia for Tuesday. Have a great day!

P

Moosekahl had this groovy little game she grabbed from Os who grabbed it from I dunno who. I thought I'd play along. She gave me the letter P.

This is how it works: Comment on this entry and I will give you a letter. Write ten words beginning with that letter in your journal, including an explanation of what the word means to you and why, and then pass out letters to those who want to play along. Of course If you want to comment but not be assigned a letter, that's an option too. So I'll only assign letters to those who specifically ask for them.

Passionate: When I play I play hard. When I dance I dance till I drop. When I'm angry it's a storm. When I laugh it bubbles all the way up from my toes. When I love I love with abandon.

Pseudo-psychic: I don't make claims of being psychic but there have been times in my life when I've just KNOWN something in my very core. There was not tangible evidence and maybe if there were it pointed in the opposite direction or everyone else was convinced otherwise, but I just knew and later was proved right or saw a certain thing come to pass. Also, my mother was the first person we told each time I was pregnant. We told early, before I showed, before anyone could reasonably expect. We never 'tried' to concieve and yet that woman KNEW each time and when we broke the news she said, 'Yes, I was wondering how soon you'd find out.'

Passport: I've used it to visit Trinidad and Bolivia. I'd like to use it a lot more. The ideal way would not be as a tourist but to go visit people I know scattered around the world and say, 'Show me why you love this place. What makes it special.' Also, there's this chamber of my heart that only beats when I leave the USA. Don't get me wrong, I love my country. I just can't explain it. The rest of the world whispers to me.....'Come...'

Pensive: I can spend a lot of time inside my own head. I daydream. I solve all the world's ills. I analyze. I have entire conversations. I reminisce. I hope.

Procrastinate: I'll come back to this one and write more later...

Pulchritudinous: No, I am not making any prideful proclamations of personal of beauty here. I just remember hearing this word in the movie 'Dumbo' when I was a kid. There were pulchritudinous pachydems performing perilous feats. I loved the sound of all those five dollar words and wanted to know what they meant. When I found out it made me giggle. I also loved the hippo ballerinas in 'Fantasia.' The word is just an example of my love of language and my appreciation of absurd humor.

Polyglot: No, I'm not really this either. I can read French half decently. I long ago forgot how to string together a decent French sentence but used to be fairly conversant. I can muddle through in Spanish. I studied Mandarin but forget almost everything. I can greet you in a bunch of different languages. Being genuinely fluent in more than one language is an aspiration and I admire those who are true polyglots.

Puzzles: Crosswords, the Jumble, and the Cryptoquip. They are daily requirements. I get a bit miffed if someone swipes that page of the newspaper before I get to it.

Persuasive: A mild way of saying I can be argumentative although I prefer to prevent pugnacity.

Prunella: A positively pompous princess whose proboscis turns purple and plumps perilously until she perfects politeness. Oddly, we never purchased this book although we borrowed it frequently from the library. Given my propensity for ridiculous readings and providing a plethora of voices for the parade of characters, it was a family favorite.

Rainy Day Friday Flash Fiction

Tracks of water run down the windowpane.
I drag my fingertips along your back.
Parched earth drinks in the water.
You quench my thirst with deep kisses.
Hard rain pounds the roof.
Our bodies pulse together.
Thunder crashes.
I cry out and you shudder.
The gentler pit-pat raindrops
echo my slowing heartbeat
and we sigh.

HNT-St. Limey Girl

Tommy Gunn started brewing some Caribbean Lime Lager back on April 1. A few weeks later it was all ready and he said it was sublime. He told me I inspired it. Now how sweet is that? Actually, since it's lime there may be an element of tart but you get my drift. Well, hey I can be sweet or I can be tart. Tommy also showed some very cool beer label designs he'd done for other beers he has brewed. I thought since he was such a dear to brew a beer inspired by me I'd do HNT for him although I've been delayed in posting it. Sorry, Big guy! Maybe it can be a label for his Caribbean Lime Lager.

So here I am as St. Limey Girl. You never forget your first Lime!





Now you may notice my beer mugs are empty. It's only because I'm hoping Tommy might fill them up for me. I wouldn't dream of putting something inauthentic in them!

Click on the sidebar link to get the real deal on how to play along.

Happy HNT!

Trini Tuesday (a day late)-Susie's Question

barefoot_mistress said...
Ok Lime, I wanna know about Trini Textiles, clothes, textile arts, weaving, baskets, dying, blankets or quiltmaking, or whatever they are up to... I know there's a lot of Indian influence....but, what about the rest?

For some posts I do a little research, for this one I'm just going to report on my own observations. I am not aware of any specific craft that is unique to Trinidad but there are all sorts of locally made items that are available, moreso since tourism has increased.

Most villages and small towns have some sort of little shop run by Rastafarians or someone else who specializes in leatherworking. Baskets, knit caps, incense, and items made from calabash gourds are also often available. In the capital, (say it with me Yahoo trivvers...)Port of Spain, there is a terrific back alley network of shops called the Rasta Mall. Take a turn off one of the main roads lined by department stores and you'll find yourself in the dizzying maze of tiny crowded shops stocked with local handmade items. It's dark, sweaty, and the smell of ganja wafts here and there but it's the place for unique handmade items. Want a pair of sandals but they don't have any that fit? 'No problem, I'll trace yuf foot. Yuh could pass fuh de slippers in two days.' Two days later you'll have custom handmade leather sandals for less than $20. Now when I was there last in 2000 my friends told me that local shoes were hopelessly out of style since Payless Shoes had come to Trinidad. I said I didn't care I thought the local sandals had much more personality than some mass produced stuff. Don't you agree?



Here's a calabash gourd purse. This one is about 8 inches long. They can range from bigger than your head to tiny enough for just a lipstick. My girls have ones that were left round rather than flat backed like mine but finding them would require an archeological expedition of their bedrooms.


My large basket



Trinis love color and many women can sew since it is often much cheaper than buying ready-to-wear. Fabric shops abound. If you can't sew there is no shortage of tailors and seamstresses that will custom fit you. Everytime I've been there I've loaded up on batiks which can be had for about half the price you'd pay here in the US.

This garment is called a shalwar kameez. The loose, slighty fitted dress comes to about the knees with matching loose pants worn underneath. Shalwars are Indian style women's wear. I bought this one because the tiedye design shows the African influence and I loved how in one garment I could see the intermingling of Indian and African styles to produce a comfortable thing of beauty...much like the culture of the island itself.



Now, if you enjoy my spin as an American who lived in Trinidad I'd love to have you stroll over to Ttfootball's place. She's a Trini living in the US and has so far posted just a few of her observations of us. I'd love to see her post some more so go show her some love and encourage some more posts from her. Thanks!

Happy Trini Tuesday on Wednesday!

With Friends Like Blogger...

Ok, it seems Blogger was having conniptions. I typed up then lost my Trini Tuesday post and then couldn't log in or access anything at all. I'll get it together for tomorrow. In the meantime, after the aggravation I had yesterday and Blogger today I'm just going to post some nice relaxing pictures of stuff that's been defying my black thumb of death and grows in my garden in spite of me.

In other news...Isaac only has to be casted for 9 more days and he's allowed to play first base in the meantime. Very happy news for a 10 yr old who loves baseball. Also, after finally tracking down the prof in question she informed me I didn't have the dates wrong, she screwed it up. Several other students had also been in a panic. She reposted the exam and we were all able to access it at last. Technology, what a gas.

Onto the garden...













Aaaaahhhhhh....I feel better already. I hope you do too.

Damnit!

I got way behind on my schoolwork since I maimed myself. Even though I had all sorts of idle time my drug addled brain was not up to reading textbooks and retaining the information. Heck, I had difficulty sorting mail when I got home from the hospital. I stared at one piece for 15 minutes and still couldn't decide if it was important. 'Honey, it's from the school and it has our kid's name on it, but I dunno what it means.' I swear they lobotomized me while I was there.

So ok, I finally felt my brain was in order enough to try catching up and finishing one of my 2 classes on time. I just had to submit 3 assignments and take the final. Other class I'll take an incomplete because I can get the last 4 assignments done this week, but not the term project. So I bust my butt to finish the one by Saturday so I can take the final today. I log on (it's online) and the final has disappeared from the site. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had the dates wrong. I needed to take the final by Saturday. The process of getting in contact with either of my instructors is ridiculous. Neither of them seems to have a functioning computer. If they do, they may check their email quarterly. They never answer their phones. I'm very frustrated and considering smoke signals (I'll start the fire with my cataloging textbook...Seamus, this book will cure your insomnia). Maybe carrier pigeons would work. I have a 98 in one class and a 99 in the other and I am half tempted to say 'screw it' and take an F on the final for one and the term project for the other. I'd blow my 4.0 but I'd still pass and I'd be done with the exasperation.

Ok, rant done. Scroll down for the less stressed post.

Tagged by a Cat and a Guinness Drinker

Le Chat Qui a Peur wants to know about my weirdnesses. I did this a while ago and the first round can be seen here. But in the interest of being a good sport let me think of some more lime weirdness.

1. Neither of my pinky toes has a full toenail. They are just odd little bumps that grow where a toenail should be.

2. I refuse to buy or wear make-up but I have 4 different moisturizers depending on which body part I am slathering (I slather head to toe after every shower). My face is oily but everywhere else I have very dry skin. In a pinch or when I am travelling I only use two.

3. I'm allergic to bananas and kiwi, and have never heard of anyone else who is allergic to either of those things.

4. I'm right-handed but there are some things I have always done left-handed and it's driving me a bit nuts not being able to do them properly right now.

5. I cannot eat invertebrates, except crab. The whole idea just creeps me out.

Ian over at Fortress Guinness also tagged me so here goes...

3 Names U go By:
Michelle
Meesh
Mom

3 Screen Names U Have Had:
loves_to_lime
tydyd1
lime_fromthe_blacklagoon

3 Things U Like about Yourself:
I can get along with almost anyone
Good sense of humor
Reasonably intelligent...this may be open for debate

3 Things U Don’t Like about Yourself:
Flabby belly
My tendency to procrastinate
The tendency of my joints to dislocate and bones to break


3 Parts of Your Heritage:
Half Greek by birth
other half unknown
Pennsylvania Dutch by upbringing

3 Things that Scare U:
Vapid celebrities
Ski masks
The tentacled monster under the bed

3 of Your Everyday Essentials:
Chocolate
Hugs
Oxygen

3 Things U are Wearing Right Now:
I have to be wearing something?

3 of Your Favorite Bands or Musical Artists:
The Mamas & the Papas
Prince
Third Day

3 of Your Favorite Songs:
Dream a Little Dream of Me-Cass Elliot
Kiss-Prince
When the Rain Comes-Third Day

3 Things U Want to (WILL) Try in the Next 12 Months:
Regain full use of my left arm and hand
Get my whole family back to Trinidad next summer
Some new activity that will cause people to shake their heads and question my sanity

3 Things You Want in a Relationship:
Honesty
Intimacy
Great sex

2 Truths and a Lie:
I told the US Ambassador to Trinidad she did a poor job
I swam in all 5 Great Lakes
My prom date was 30 years old

3 Things about the Opposite Sex that Appeal to U:
Eyes that sparkle with life and mischief
Intelligence
Humility

3 Things about the Same Sex that Appeal to U:
Ability to converse on topics other than cosmetics and interior design
Not prone to gossip
Good sense of humor

3 Things U Just Cannot Do:
Hold on to ziplines
Keep my desk organized
Go a day without chocolate

3 of Your Favorite Hobbies:
Blogging
Hiking
Reading

3 Things U Want to do Really Bad Right Now:
Reach that spot under the cast that itches so badly
Eat some chocolate
Have mind-altering sex

3 Careers U are Considering:
Professional student
Quality Control for Dove Chocolates
Human Cannonball

3 Places You Want to Go on Vacation:
Greece
Trinidad
Australia

3 Kid’s Names:
What kind of goofy question is this??


3 Things U Want to Do Before U Die:
Hang glide
Bathe in chocolate
See my kids as well adjusted adults putting something good into the world

3 Ways U are Stereotypically a Boy:
I like motorcycles
I don't mind getting dirty when I play
Shopping is a necessary evil

3 Ways U are Stereotypically a Chick:
I pluck my eyebrows (2 is better than 1)
I love chocolate
I'm happy in the kitchen

3 Celeb Crushes:
George Clooney
Mel Gibson
Joaquin Phoenix

Friday 55

I'm tired today so instead of me coming up with a 55 word story I'm tossing up fodder for you all. Use this picture to stimulate a 55 word or less story. Who are these people? Where have they come from? Where are they going? What have/will they done/do? Why are they travelling?

I'm not going to be rigid here. If you go over 55 words there will be no punishment. Just give me a little story in the comments and later this weekend I'll tell you my version of events. But first, I want to hear yours.

Happy weekend to one and all.

*Update: the real story

"Come on, Calypso. Let's take Mommy's bag."
"OK, Diana. Do you think she has surprises from Trinidad in this bag?"
"My sweet girls, I have treats for everyone and hugs from all our friends."
"Mommy, did you miss us?"
"Terribly."
"Even when you were having fun?"
"Especially then. I wished we were having fun together."

HNT-Not Again!

Last week I showed my stoner self here and my casted self at Hijacked. Well, this week my son managed to break his thumb. Chip off the old block? Limelet not falling far from the tree (zipline)? Some sort of awful curse upon the House of Lime? I just don't know, but here we are gingerly holding wounded hands. Maybe next week I should have all the members of my household shown in Michelin Man type padding to protect us from further damage.

If you need to know how to safely play along click the scrolling link in the sidebar.

Happy HNT and be safe!

Wednesday WARNING!

The Surgeon General has determined that exposure to Lime can result in serious bodily injury, mental deficiency, emotional instability, simple chronic halitosis, sweaty palms, bad hair days, or a bad case of the heebie jeebies at the very least.

I dunno what the heck is going on but here at the House of Lime we've had our second person to fracture a bone in as many weeks. No, it was not due to zipline use or other death defying activities. Isaac slipped in the shower Sunday night and jammed his thumb pretty nicely. We iced it, gave him some Advil, let him stay home Monday since it was his dominant hand and he would have a hard time writing. We thought he'd be ok. It got more and more swollen so we had it checked out Tuesday night. Lo and behold, the kid has a hairline fracture and got splinted until he can see the orthopedist. Little League just started for him too and he's likely out for the season. I'm very disappointed for him but he is so far taking it like a trooper. Poor guy.



I'm not paranoid or a worrier by nature but I'm kinda lookin' over my shoulder now...

Trini Tuesday-Gloria's Question

gloria jean said...
What is the economy like? What kinds of trade/commerce do people participate in? How does the average joe in Trinidad feel about tourists?

Trinidad is rich in natural resources. The two main resources are oil and tar. In southern Trindad you can find the world's largest natural asphalt deposit (the other 2 are La Brea Tar Pits in CA and one in Venezuela). Pitch Lake, as it is known, has seen over 10 million tons mined since 1867. The tar is exported to over 50 nations and accounts for the high percentage of paved roads on the island, though locals and visitors will wonder what accounts for potholes. Pitch Lake is also a popular tourist destination because of its unique qualities.

The oil industry in Trinidad brought such wealth to the island that it was referred to as the Kuwait of the Caribbean. At that time the demand for imported cars was so great that supply could not keep up. Unfortunately, the oil glut in the 80s was quite detrimental to the nation and the resulting economic contraction put it in the top ten for shrinking economies of the world.

Agriculture and manufacturing are common industries. In the villages (small towns) it is also common to find places where the front room of a house has been turned into a small storefront, somewhat like a minimart. Basic staple supplies will be kept in stock along with some fresh produce and sweet drinks (soda) and treats. Although there are large grocery chains, these shops are handy for school children or families without cars.

In recent years the economy has picked up significantly. Trinidad is NOT the Third World. Technology and trade have been emphasized. During the oil boom years Trinidad prided itself on not having to rely as heavily on tourism as its Caribbean neighbors did. The sister island, Tobago, was developed as a tourist destination while Trinidad went its merry way. When the economy crashed, tourism suddenly didn't seem such a bad thing to encourage. The greater emphasis on tourism has encouraged a clean-up in the capital, (in unison my former trivvers...) Port of Spain. Local crafts have been promoted to sell as souvenirs.

Tourists can enjoy the capital, the beaches, and natural wonders. Although general tourists are only now discovering the beauty, birdwatchers and butterfly lovers have flocked to the island for decades because of the incredible variety of beautiful species that can be found in Trinidad. Asa Wright Bird Sanctuary and the Caroni Swamp are the two big attractions. At dawn and dusk the sky at the swamp turns red as the air is filled with innumerable scarlet ibis, the national bird, as they go through their daily migration between Venezuela and Trinidad.

Trinis have mixed feelings about tourism/tourists. They know it's important for the economy but they don't want foreigners regarding them as backwards natives (who WOULD want that??)or lumping them in as indistinguishable from other Caribbeans, especially Jamaicans. They are fiercely proud of their unique culture. Trinis are by nature very warmly welcoming and a little respect and interest in learnig without being patronizing goes a long way for a visitor. If a visitor projects a negative or superior attitude they should not be surprised to be given some crazy bits of information or scary warnings of local dangers or otherwise be toyed with, perhaps being unaware of what's happening.

To be honest, when we lived there I did everything possible to avoid being perceived as a tourist. No easy thing to do when you are white. Any time I went to town with a friend I'd have them check me over for telltale tourist signs. (Skirt not pants-check, shoes not sneakers-check, loose the American swagger and adopt a Trini saunter-check)That usually ended in all sorts of picong (good natured ribbing) about my whiteness. The day I passed as 'local white' I could have turned cartwheels. I stood at a taxi stand in a skirt, no sneakers, umbrella over my arm, net bag crammed full of veggies from the market. Another woman next to me went on about the rudeness of taxi drivers, the loudness of the music played in them, and the general demise of civilty. I nodded and steupsed (sound of disgust made by sucking teeth)appropriately. She continued her discourse and finally asked my input. When I opened my mouth and was betrayed by my American accent she exclaimed, 'Gosh gyal! But I took yuh fuh LOCAL white not American. I thought yuh was from de island! Yuh does look and move like yuh was born here!' All yuh can imagine de grin ah was wearin' when she say so!

Peter Pan I Am

Some folks online and out in the 3D world have suggested I am too old to have been flying on a zipline. Well, just because gravity won this round doesn't mean I concur with that assessment. I have a few other goals I have yet to accomplish but will not be removing from my 'do before I die list' and some other old favorites I intend never to be too old to do.

• Get my motorcycle license, own a bike, and ride it from coast to coast.
• Skydive
• Parasail
• Hang-glide
• Jump on the trampoline
• Use rope swings
• Roll around on the floor having tickle fights with kids
• Steam up the car windows at a drive-in movie
• Skinny dip (no one says you have to watch once gravity has completely ravaged me, but I'll still be doing it anyway)
• Giggle in church
• Laugh until I can't breathe
• Make funny faces at little kids so they giggle
• Wear my tie dyes
• Color with crayons (Tip for the day: Keep a box of crayons and a coloring book or pad of paper in your desk. If nothing else seems to go right pull it out. You can color your pictures any way you like and you can stay in the lines OR scribble it up, whatever makes you happy. Forget desktop zen gardens...go for the coloring books. Great stress buster for everyone, especially those who think they have no artistic talent. If you want you can sign them to yourself and hang them up...really make people wonder.)
• Marvel over a bug, a melting snowflake, or a purple leaf
• Imagine shapes in the clouds

Do you get the idea? I'm not planning on growing up any time soon. I'm not looking to get to the end with a well preserved corpse but skid into the grave all used up as they say. So anything I should add to this list?