Tired of bad service

Tired of bad service

In this month, I have experienced poor customer and negative attitudes at local business that have made me feel that my money is not good enough to be spent with them.

The first instance was at local children’s store. On Saturday, I bought a pair of shoes for my daughter. By the following Saturday, the strap burst. I carried back the shoes to show the store clerk and bought another pair of shoes. I asked the clerk for a discount and she took of $2.00 off the price. The second pair opened at the mouth by the following Friday evening. I spoke to owner of the store who informed me that I was the only person to ever complain about her shoes. It made me wonder if she was insinuating that I tore the shoes apart. Would I spend $40.00 during a recession and then destroy what I purchased? Was she trying to tell me that my daughter’s feet are bad?

The second instance was with the dealer for my car. I serviced the car in February. My car never had oil leaks before the service but it is leaking oil now and making a click when I reverse. When I mentioned this to the dealer, he curtly informed me that ‘old cars leak oil’. I guess it’s ‘my bad’ not having a new car!

The last instance that I am sharing is in relation to a contractor who was to prepare an estimate for building my home. I ask him to divide the estimate into stages– foundation, cistern and first floor and then the second floor. To break down a document that has already been calculated into two stages is too difficult? Is it because I asked for the breakdown that they may have felt I could not afford to build?

These ‘local’ businesses are not up to standard! They don’t give you the service or product you PAY FOR – and still they have curt remarks to make me feel that my money is not wanted. I am tired and have a new game plan to deal with them.

To the lady with the ‘dry-rottened’ shoes – I won’t be shopping at your store anymore. I can order from Amazon.com too you know.

To the car dealer – you’ll still get SOME of money but you know – you’ll get yours in time.

To the contractor – keep up with the rich people – hope they can pay you.

So much going on

I have been really bad to my blog these days. It's so much going on, so much to do. Yet, I still keep the faith and presevere. I hope that mission is set in God's plan as I feel inspiration can only come from God.

Many of us are hurting right now - financially, emotionally and mentally, but we have to stay strong during these times. Some people let the happenings and situations distress them but keep the faith and keep your head on.

Look at your talents and make use of them. There is a way for us all to survive but we have to stop looking for the handouts and seek the honest way. AND No - you can't be an honest thief. You have to work hard and make do with what you have, which is something that we don't always do.

I treasure what little I have and I hope to remain as happy as I am today. I don't need a big house or a fancy SUV to make me happy. Richness won't take you to heaven. Pastors need to stop preaching Wealth Religion. Was Jesus rich? Was he not humble and accepting of others. People, please - stop trying to rape the poor people and let's work together to educate and lift them up!

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Liming Straight

March is a busy month in the BVI:

Holidays
Hon. HL Stoutt's Birthday - First Monday
Commonwealth Day - Second Monday

Commemorations
Hon. HL Stoutt's Birthday - First Monday
Commonwealth Day - Second Monday
Education Week - Second Week
International Women's Day - March 8 but celebrated on March 15
Trellis Bay Arts & Crafts Festival - March 8-13(or 14)
International Poetry Day - March 21
Poetry Reading - Third Saturday

Of course I am sure that I did not capture every event or commeration. There are also beach jams, reggae concerts, award concerts and church conventions.

BVI is not boring in March at all. You just have to find your niche or your crowd and lime.

I think other than the art and poetry, I'll be in BedRock cause I can't keep up with all of these events. It's a bit much especially when you have kids.

You who are single or are without kids - enjoy the limes!

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POEM: My Love's locked down by Ribbon

Kanye knows what's he talking about because he's got me locked to his lyrics. He's one of my favorite rappers along with Common, Outkast, Jay-Z and of course Tupac. Kanye's inspired me to write my version of how my love could be locked down. LOL

My Love's locked down by Ribbon

My love's locked down
caught up in complications
as cliche as it sounds
my mind's off relaxation
my feet planted on the ground
can't stop my vexation
no - I'm not a clown
but I was living to his dedication
so as I sit in my lounge
and as songs proclaim his adoration
I'm stumped and can't come around
by this astonishing revelation
my next move to just sit around
cause I'm down
my love's locked down
to the beat of your sound
it's true - I just can't come around

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words expressed in thoughts on love

quick words
new words
in wild thoughts
expressed from my heart
out of my lips
into your ears
my love
do you still know me
do you want to love me
we can do this
we can mkae this happen
we are one big heart
one big love
it's sweet loving you
it's sweet knowing you
how could I not prefer only
to have you around
is it real
is it so
that we can't be apart
a love for real
a love for true
yes love
all in one lifetime

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I am suffering from a little writer's block. I don't know if you can have a little or a lot of writer's block, but I have some. Thoughts are in my head but I can't get them composed.

I am more feeling the music these days - maybe it's time for a lime - not the LIME like the LIME minus the 'M' which equals LIE.

My writer's block may more be for the poetry - not the blogging. There's always something to write in my blog! I have been writing about music a lot these days so maybe I need to funnel that energy and inspiration into my poetry. My thoughts are to write something about a 'Derelict Man' or 'Vigilant Minds follow Vigilante Justice'. The topics came to me and that's how my thought process works.

I think a lot of other people follow that same process and let the thoughts just flow for an edit after. Other people are more methodical and edit while composing. Hey- to each his own! I know what works for me.

Much Love

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"I'm thinking of a master plan..."

Lloyd's "Girls All Around The World" is one of my favorite songs from 2008. It's sexy - Lloyd and Lil Wayne are looking good in the video too. I think that may be one of my favorite videos of 2008 too.

"I'm thinking of a master plan,
Nah. I'm not - shawty on my mind"

I love it!

Of course the main man, Pressure Buss Pipe out of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands (Rock City), is still a top favorite too - I will always love "Love & Affection". If you have never heard it, you need to find it. Trust me, you will be downloading it ASAP.

In the VI, Squad Up, of whom the majority of the members are my cousins - are coming on strong. "We from the Virgin Islands" is a big tune and can take them far.

I am a poet and I think I am because I love music - rhythms, beats, sounds of instruments together.... I am not a lyrist but a free style poet.

Anyway, have a good day.

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Artists Against Addiction

I am an Artist Against Addiction. I really don't know if I can toot myown horn to call myself an 'ARTIST' but I performed along with Ouida, Metango, Maccabee, Foggy Mountain Boys, Capable, Accapella Fellas, Adoration & Praise and other Callaloo Poets and I think that we all did an awesome job addressing the issues of drug and alcohol addiction.

My only question is 'Where was the rest of the audience?' A free concert on a Saunday afternoon should have attracted much more people from the community. There were even giveaways - pens, bags, flashlight-radios and other stuff. Of course, i don't mean that you should attend events to get free stuff. However, we need to support the community more.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse, HIV/AIDS, Diabetes, Cancer - these are REAL here in the BVI. So where were you?

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My links between poetry and music

I am excited about the prospects for 2009 for poets and musicians. As World Poetry Day approaches in the next months, I plan to write a feature piece on writing as I notice people have many misconceptions about poets, poems and poetry.

I once believed that poetry was OK. Now, as a poet, I feel joy when I can share my work with others. Some people hate Hip Hop/Rap. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion. However, you can never judge an artform, a person or any tangible or non-tangible thing unless you have met, tried or experienced it.

I love music - lyrics, beats ... everything. The foundation of a song is the lyrics - all the other stuff are aesthetic. Today, the young minds have been trained to hear the beat first and disregard the lyrics. The US artists seem to be waking up because the people with the earning power who buy albums have stoppped. Who wants garbage in their car. I give Lil Wayne a lot of credit because when he first came out, I never like his style. He has improved and is very deserving of the awards he has received.

My favorites for now remain Ludacris, Outkast, Common and Kanye West for their consistently unique styles. Much love to these artists and others such as Lupe Fiasco and Soulja Boy who have broken the barriers of age, color and sex with their fresh styles.

My local artists have come along way to - the Hip Hop groups. Reggae artists are consistent and ours have so remained. Don't confuse the reggae with the dancehall. Church Boyz, Squad Up, HIgher Level and Oreggae Boys are all doing well lyrically and with their original beats - most times. I am getting tired of these re-makes of US artist songs - try drums, try acapella - something..........

My reggae artists - especially Capable, Shine-I, Jalon, Metango and Maccabee - acapella anything - these guys are always ready to go and the lyrics are REAL, original and touching to the spirit.

As a poet, my composition may be similar to the above musicians but they are composing to then find the appropriate beat to go along. I just flow and let go in word sound.

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Rescue?

My MSN Messenger sign-in name today is 'Do you think that 2009 will be a poor year for wedding planners, florists and greeting card writers?' Let us seriously think about this - relationships are pretty crappy these days. We as human are behaving deplorably these days.

Whether you want to follow the Ten Commandments or what has been penned the Seven Deadliest Sins - it's all the same. We no longer live for the love of our Creator. We no longer treat our earth like it sustains our existence. Today, we have been caught up in the 'financial crisis' - the financial breakdown of the world's financing markets and financial stability.

Do you notice the repetition of the word 'financial'. I think money is killing us - our relationships, our family structures are we as a people. We are hungry, tired, over-sexed, under-sexed and miserable. Where is your brother's keeper? Am I being my brother's keeper?

I have to talk about myself too because I can be mean too. I have to try to be more of a better person - give more, love more and deal with people better. It's so simple - the solution is that we start with WE. It's the ME and the WE that need to be rejuventated and rescued.

Start with you today - set the example. Be good to each other.

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