My blog really helps me craft my writing skills. I love speaking with people and getting their feedback on their particular skill. I wonder what I would ask myself in an interview...

So why do you write poetry?
How do you manage with two small children?
You look like you enjoy yourself and love having fun - a law firm job - why?
How do you feel about the economic situation in the BVI, USVI and world at large?

People seem to react well with my interview questions - so I hope that I am doing a good job. I feel that it is important to showcase the talents of our people. I will always say that the biblical parable in relation to 'TALENTS' referred to our literal talents. When persons in the community are doing well - we need to highlight those accomplishments.

Why do we wait until someone dies to praise them or when they get into trouble to scold them?

I say mighty BIG UP to Shine-I, Maccabee, Church Boyz, Squad Up, CB4Lyfe as performers. Mad SHOUT OUT to the Callaloo Poets. To all the local businesses, J&D's Catering, KT Productions, Island Entertainment Production, VI Lander Films, Sweet Things, Mellow Moods and I can go on an on an on - MUCH LOVE.

Necessary Roughness

I am starting to become ROUGH. It's not nice, but it is NECESSARY ROUGHNESS. Do you want to be in an organization that has members who may consistently be late, lazy, inconsiderate, selfish, or some or all of the above? When I say I have had enough - it is already too much. The NO or the big ROUGH usually comes when it is at the boiling point. 

I still love those guys, and I will still help them out but more so in JANUARY 2009 (God spare life). In January, I will deal with them again on a positive note. Right now - it's about ME. I have my FAMILY - they come first. It is not fair nor right for me to put them aside to suit the needs or may I say wants of group members. Some SEEM always so willing (I wonder) but are NEVER THERE at crunch time. 

Call me crazy- it's a good thing - when YOU don't have to prodder. You watch and you hear people complain and my thought is ..such disdain...and discord. It's time for a new record. I mean the noun - not the verb nor the adjective - because for me to describe how I live - an adverb will be necessary. So if they don't hear from me - I am still here standing with my nappy hair but pretending to be a hare and ...dashing away .... 

ribbon

How Do You Tell Someone You Don't Like Them?

Is there really a nice way to tell someone that you don't like them?

'I'm not sure if I really like your habits, your style or your attitude. Hell, I don't even think I like you as a person.'

'You really upset me when you talk condescendingly to me. I wish you would talk to yourself that way.'

'You're not the best in conversations...you know. You tend to run on and on and on about ....nothing.'

'You're not the best to look at. I have to talk special pills just to keep my lunch down.'

I can't honestly say that I really don't like any particular person. A person may annoy me or may not be able to speak without being a snob - but I just usually say that the person is an idiot and move on. I may talk about it after for a couple days just to vent - but then I usually try to stay away from people like that.

You know - the people who think that they can do everything better than everyone else or the people who think that their filth does not smell like...filth. I am quite tired of people who act like that. So does that make ME a person that NO ONE likes. Like I care!

ZBVI did a great piece on its daily Almanac program today about LOVING YOURSELF and one particular point was that one can not try to change herself to please others or to fit in. You just have to be YOURSELF.

I am happy with me. If you do not like me - find a new friend.

ribbon

Vote for SHINE-I and MACCABEE

I love me some Snoop Dog. He is one of my favorite artists. The flow and style bring music that will last through generations. I had to start my blog giving mad props to my boy, Snoop.

On the local tip, you need to call tonight to vote for local reggae artists, SHINE-I and MACCABEE on the ZROD Top 7 at 7 countdown. Shine-I's 'Glad' and Maccabee's 'What's Going On' are two thought provoking grooves which sing on the love that is needed in our lives, our community and our world today. If you are in the BVI, you need to be calling 494-1037 to request these songs. Also let me know if you need to book these guys for any event and I will put you in direct contact with them.

I love music and you will see that thought reiterated in my blogs. I grew up with a walkmn in my ears all the time. So if I can hear too well, forgive me. The music was good. It's still good today, but there are not that many choices like in the 90s.

All I can say is promote your local artists!

Women - Mothers ?

Many young women look at other women who are mothers and say: ‘I would not have my children attending daycare.’ ‘I would never breastfeed my child in public.’ ‘I would never have a tummy after having my baby because I would be in the gym right after the baby pops out.’ ‘I would not have children out of wedlock.’ ‘I am perfect.’ PLEASE! No one is perfect and life is not perfect. You may have your perfect life planned out and who cares? ‘I love my tummy.’ 

‘I loved breastfeeding with a blanket in public.’ ‘I love my children and their father.’ ‘I love being me – imperfect and flawed.’ So to those of you who wish to have that ‘perfect’ life, plan ahead to the fullest and get that perfect partner and perfect job and of course your big mansion on the hill.

Just as our normal parents survived, so we shall survive. I don’t mean to down on people with aspirations and goals because I have goals too. My goals are not to be rich though or to have prestige or to live a bourgeois lifestyle. I just was simple happiness and minimal stress. I hate to be bothered with things...cars, tenants etc. You may think that I am crazy for not wanting the lavish lifestyle of the rich and famous but that’s not for me. Give me some grants – let me help to educate people and make people feel appreciated. So to the ladies who are ‘perfect’, buzz off!

To the ways of the smart

I believe that I am sufficiently smart. I think most people are too. Yet, people in general tickle me. A few examples are:

1. We are all performing at an event that is to start at 7:00pm. I arrive at 7:00pm because I believe that is the smart thing to do. You arrive at 8:30pm when you think the house is full so that you can have a full audience to hear you and then laud you. Now, that's 'smart'.

2. A man visits a law office and says that he wants to divorce his wife because he is afraid of her and that she has attacked him with a machete. He did fail to mention that he kicked her first. Isn't he 'smart'?

3. A guy starts to hang around at the same places I hang out. We get to talking and he offers to clean my car and cook for me. He turns out to be such a 'good friend'. I consider him my best pal. Guy 2 meets me at the laundry, gives me his number and asks to take me out to dinner to get to know me better because he thinks the relationship can go somewhere...like marraige one day. I hook up with Guy 2 because he's smart.

There is no end to the examples that can be given and there is no moral to this story. Use your common sense and do what you think is right. After all, who likes a 'smart man' anyway?

Ribbon

Callaloo Poets 'open mic' on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Mellow Moods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness month, the Callaloo Poets and the Virgin Islands Improvement Association (VIIA) host an ‘open mic’ poetry event themed ‘ALL ABOARD: STOP OPPRESSING and START DEFENDING’ on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 7:00pm at Mellow Moods in Road Town, Tortola, The Virgin Islands. Poets, Dancers and Musicians are asked to arrive by 6:45pm for signup.

Copies of ‘V.I. Callaloo: Poems from the Caribbean’ will be on sale. For persons who have already purchased their copy and would like it signed, please walk with it to the reading.

Theme: ALL ABOARD: STOP OPPRESSING and START DEFENDING
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Mellow Moods