Venus vs Vector

There is no better lullaby than the sound of a thousand buzzing mosquitoes. Last week, I was lucky enough to be blessed with my very own creature choir, complete with an accompanying dancing troop. Why the dancers you ask?... What else could they be called if they keep bouncing into your face half the night?

I've tried Bop/ Baygon. They work well on the night that they are used, but I hate the residual odour that always lingers even after you air out the room.

Then there were the vape-mats and the noxious coils. Both are too strong for my nostrils and leave me feeling very nauseous.

Frustrated, my next clever idea was to wear one of dads old long sleeves shirts. Great!... And just when I felt like breaking into M.C Hammer's classic... "ta na na na, na na, na na.. CAN'T TOUCH DIS!!".. I woke up the next morning with bumps all over MY FACE!! MY FACE!! Those darn creatures had launched a full fledged mutiny. I guess they figured.. we'll just take what we can get. It was the only body part uncovered. (How else is a sister supposed to breathe!)

I knew I couldn't copy my mum and just sleep completely covered by sheets from head to toe. I couldn't do it, not even if I tried. So that would have been a pointless effort.

What to do?

Ah Ha!! A FAN!!... No fumes. No work. Plus, I can keep cool. Well, yeah. It did work. It worked so well, that the next morning, I woke up with a stuffing nose. Arrgggggg!!!!!!! Not worth it!


And then there was...The Zapper!! The ultimate mosquito killing machine. These things annihilate those buggers in a flash. Literally! Ofcourse, for all it's wonders, just how do you electrocute mosquites if you'd actually prefer sleeping, as opposed to staying up keeping a vector vigil? Alas... my zapper had fallen short.


But, on Saturday, upon coming home from a wedding... this is the sight that greeted me... Well, something like it any how.


Andddd, last night.... as I laid myself down to sleep......zzzzzz... zzzzz... BUZZZZZZZZZ........

Be the change..

You must BE the CHANGE that you want to see in the world.

-Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi

While there is much that can be said about this quote made by Mahatma Gandhi when he was speaking after prayer service, I think it can stand strong all on it's own. BE THE CHANGE!! You just be the change.

Kitchen Wars- Part II

.... Okkkk. Still working on that kitchen. I managed to line a few of the cupbaords and so was able to fill in some of our cooking utensils. The new kitchen excites me!! ( Boys... you will not and possibly will never understand this, but ladies.. you know...) Any how, I've been feeling a little adventurous... so, in a little while, i'm going to try wisking up a few pina coladas. It's 3:42pm, but who cares. When Jae wants to do something.. she'll do it! O:-)

I've looked up the recipe online, and realised i've got all the ingredients. Even the coconut cream- I got it when a friend mistakenly thought it was coconut milk, which I had needed at the time to make a sancouche for my british cousin. By the way, I ended up having to cut and grate a real coconut to squeeze the milk out old school style- nearly grating off my fingers in the process!

Anyways... Pina Coladas anyone?

Kitchen wars...

So the carpenters have finally finished our kitchen cupboards and renovations to the ceiling. It's been two months mind you. In the interim, we had to move the stove downstairs, while the refrigerator, microwave and dishes remained upstairs. Imagine having to make four trips up and down stairs just to start cooking a meal. Well, that has been my life for the past two months.

Needless to say, I have lost a few pounds in the process. One, because I have avoided cooking and eating altogether, and second, when I do decide to make the effort, I have to work 3 times as hard. I'm not so sure whether the weight loss is a good thing as these days i get the occasional:

"Girrrrl!!! You dat der nah?"

I smile.... "Yup, it's me."

"I doh even notice is you dat der nuh! You get meg eh i find?"

I smile... again. Except, this time, no words.

I guess I know that people mean no harm during these exchanges, but, it does somehow manage to get on my nerves after a while. Sometimes I respond with the always reassuring, " Doh worry, I won't lose more weight man." To which is the expected retort," You had better not!"

Hmmm.. Dominica. It still takes a community to raise a child. I'm hoping that all the questioning is because they are all so concerned. As opposed to just being nosey.

Anyway, the stove is back up in the kitchen, where it's supposed to be. To celebrate, I baked a cake last night. There is no way I would even have considered the feat had the stove and oven remained downstairs. So... needless to say, I'm ecstatic. There's still a lot of cleaning up left to do. All our pots, pans, dishes ect still have to be found and packed into their respective cupboards, but we're well on our way.

Today, after coming home and taking a shower while a house lizard stared the entire time, I had to decide upon which of the dreaded tasks I would tackle first: typing up a storm of sponsorship letters, or..... the dishes in the kitchen.

I decided to write a blog post instead. I think I'll have a piece of cake right after this. After all, ones priorities should always be well considered, right?

Reactions..

P.S. Now you can actually let me know when i make a shitty post. You'll see a new tab t the end of every post, if you like the post.. vote "DEEP" or "ENTERTAINING".. if it's a horrible post.. vote "SHALLOW". And please, dont worry, I'm not vindictive, at least i don't think so. ):-)>

Poetic Me...

I was in a history class when this piece sort of just flowed from the tips of my pen. The words kept coming faster than I could write them. But somehow I managed to get these ones down.



Past These Silvery Shores

Before these chains and stalls
When I roamed the trails and canvassed the hills
The fowls and beasts were my reward
I knew that I was blessed

My woman- bosom gently curved, skin- ebony velvet
She oils her temple with sesame and hair with castor
And her treasure is mine, all mines
Can you not see that I am blessed?

My children- my prize, my pleasure, my pain
Oh that they would grow, with this knowledge
My toil all worth it
To know that they are blessed

My back- bent, bruised and burnt
Muscles torn and hurt, heart even more so
As I ache for my posterity
That they would know that we are blessed

What would they know of this?
Will they see beyond the stripes and wounds?
To nights of rhythmic bongo beats
And know that they are blessed

What will they hear of this?
Of lashes, sweat and tears
Or, of freedom and silky ruby sunsets
And know that they are blessed

What will they learn of this?
That ivory coloured men took their friends
Or, though hardly gentle, another opportunity to prove
And know that they are blessed

But hush....

Rest well my child, be wise
All things no doubt do shape
us all from the very same lump of clay
To know that we are blessed

Look far past these silvery shores
To a home that only the core of you has sensed
A place of warmth, of labour and love
And know, my seed, that you are blessed

Community day of service

On the day designated by the government as “National Community Day of Service”, more than 46 individuals from the community turned out to lend their support to efforts to rehabilitate the road leading from the highway to the bay side commonly known as “Batty Bay”.
The road, which is used by sea bathers, basketballers, fishermen, and mourners had been in a deplorable state due to wear and tear, and water damage. The culverts, which were intended to prevent the flow of water over the road had for a long time remained blocked, as a result, forcing water to flow over the road. All of this was compounded by the excess growth of shrubbery along the sides of the road, making access to the area increasingly difficult.

Earlier in the year, citing this need, the Salisbury Enhancement Committee applied through Local Government for materials to fix the road on community day of service. Although there were a few hiccups in that process, in the end, they provided the committee with 18 cu yds of tarish, and 30 bags of cement.

Early on Tuesday the 4th of November, men, women and children could be seen gathering at the lowest point in the village awaiting the commencement of work. Fishermen, DACA Men, construction workers, church leaders, community members and visiting Dominicans were all on hand to assist with the project. It was a valiant effort by all involved to see this project come to pass.

Chairman of SEC, Curth Charles, as he was being interviewed by the outside broadcast team of DBS Radio said he was extremely impressed with the turn out of workers from the community. He also hailed the women from the community who had provided snacks and water to the working men. Starnie Jno Jules and Silma Luke had willingly left their homes to carry juice, bakes, fried plaintain, and water, Starnie making several trips herself. Nurse Rachael Bowers provided the members of S.E.C with a special codfish lunch. Yummm!!


As the men worked, it became increasingly clear that this was by no means a one-day project, this being made even more obvious when the 30 bags donated by Local Government were all consumed. One village group lent 15 additional bags of cement to assist in the completion of the project. Still, at the end of the work day, when all the cement, and tarish had been used, the project was only 30% complete. The workers, being enthusiastic explained that they would be more than willing to return to complete the project on a subsequent day.


On the other side of the road, young people from the Catholic Church could be seen weeding, planting flowers and painting structures on the outside of the church building. Further in, at the bayside, the Salisbury Girls Guides were working hard on their own beach clean up efforts. As a result of their work, six bags of garbage was collected along the beach.
In other parts of the community, other projects were being pursued. There were also projects on one of the back roads near the highway and still another in the center of the village where a major drain was being constructed.


All in all, the community spirit on that day was something that has been sorely missed. As one worker put it, “long time we doh see something like dat!” Many volunteers on the site hoped that this would not be the last show of such solidarity in a community that has been well known for its fiercely independent and progressive spirit

Hibernation

Yup.. so it's been AGES since i have managed to post anything here. I've been so entangled in the management of the website that i scarcely have time for anything else.

It's been an interesting ride. I've met some really cool people since starting work on the website. Celia ... she's such a talented photographer. She gave me permission to link to her flickr account. I've been able to link up with others from the Salisbury community who are resident else where. (notice i didn't use the word 'diaspora'- apparently, they consider it a misuse of the word. Technically tantamount to an insult.)

I'm really very proud of the work we've been able to do with the people from Salisbury, and their web site. I think it stands head and shoulder above all the other community web sites that have been recently launched. I think you can find a full list of all the community web sites on the reunion web site, under village links. Take a look yourself. http://dominicareunion2008.dm/cms/index.php?page=links

I must apologize for the tone of the last post... It kinda has this melancholic tone don't it? But no, I'm still here.. still alive... still trusting. I think it was just a moment of panic. One of my few.. I will do my best though to keep this blog updated. God knows i have been having many an adventure.. and misadventure.

Be sure to visit bawilinkup.com!!