Late Bloomer

Can You Ever Have Too Much?

2011-07-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

My son and I had a discussion this morning. He said he was disappointed in himself for always wanting more toys when he already had too much. I explained to him that wanting more is natural. Some adults want more money, even if they’ll never be able to use up what they have in their lifetime. He then asked if that is why people have so many clothes even when they can’t wear them all sometimes.

It was an interesting discussion as I told him that people generally want more of some things to feel safe and secure. I explained that some persons who grew up not having enough clothes sometimes end up buying more than they’ll ever wear. There are those who have nice homes but still want bigger ones even though what they have is enough for their needs.

I actually stopped to seriously take stock of my own life and see if I had enough of anything. While I couldn’t put my finger on anything I had enough of at this point in life, I will always be evaluating. For example do I really need more than five pairs of shoes or more than one dozen pairs of jeans?

The honest answer is, I don’t know. I want to fit in and feel a sense of accomplishment and like so many others, the more we have the better we seem to feel. For so many of us, it is easy to fall into the habit of defining the quality of our lives by how many material things we possess.

Interestingly my young man said he plans to give away some more of his toys. He said, Mom I really have more than enough toys and I should give away some to children who don’t have any.”

As they say a child shall lead them – and this is often so true when I’m talking with Jalen. He makes me see things in many different ways. So, do you have too much of anything?

Finding Yourself – Second Guessing Our Choices

2011-07-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

At various stages in our lives we find ourselves questioning our decisions. Did I choose the right career? Did I marry the right person? Should I have left my old job? Even simple, rather mundane decisions can cause us distress. Should I have colored my hair or should I have cut it off?

One thing is certain, finding yourself is not an age specific concept. At varying stages of our lives we may find ourselves wondering what this life is all about. We wonder where are we going and how we’ll get there. Were all the worries and sacrifices worth it?

While on the path of self-discovery, it is important to enjoy life’s journey. The worst thing you can do is wasting time worrying about what you haven’t done, and not doing anything to achieve what you want. Guess what – even if you never achieve all that you desire, knowing that you tried can be a source of joy.

Finding yourself can be challenging, but the process can be helped by trying some of the following:

· The first step on the road to finding you is to stop being what others want you to be. Trying to please everyone is a surefire way to becoming lost and unhappy with your life.

· Make a plan for your life regardless of your age and where you are in life. Have you always wanted to learn to paint? Go ahead, just start.

· Find time for you and the things you want to do. Carve out small blocks of time to write or exercise. Even these incremental time periods will make a big difference in how you feel about your life.

· Let go of past experiences and hurts. Use the past as stepping stones to developing a better you, mentally, emotionally and physically.

There will be dead-ends and wrong turns on this journey. Do not give up; stop, reevaluate and get back on track. When you have reached that point where you have found you, you will be able to help others find themselves based on your own experiences.

Enjoy your life – it’s the only one you have.

The Pain and Pleasures of Decluttering

2011-07-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months I’ve, well to be honest, my husband and I have been trying to declutter. You know how easy it is to keep things you really don’t need anymore. Well, we have decided that instead of doing this in stops and starts we need to just get it done in an organized way. The first areas we are working on are his office and my son Jalen’s bedroom.

It’s amazing the amount of things you come across that you had put away until later. We’ve found paid bills dating back years. There are half-finished stories that we have started to write and never completed. We are both avid readers who also love to write. Some stories can be completed and will be kept, but others we will discard.

We’ve found things that made us stop and smile and recall beautiful moments in our lives. A picture taken years ago on a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica that we thought was lost. There are pictures or notes from loved ones who have passed on. A feeling of grief and pain is the first emotion, and then discussing the happy moments spent with them were precious. Memories to last a lifetime that death can never erase.

Jalen’s job is to go through his toy box and dispose of old toys and give away the ones he has outgrown. While watching him at work it was surprising to see him take up a baby toy and say, ‘Can I keep this for special memories?’ Just like us, children like to hold on to things that have special meaning.

Organising

While decluttering we are also organizing this time around. This way we will be better able to keep stock of what we have and periodically dispose of as the need arises. We are stocking our novels separately from our nonfiction books. Marketing books will be kept together, and the same will be done for books on writing. Yep, my librarian and indexer training are being put to good use.

We plan on buying a few plastic storage boxes and CD-storage racks to help us make better use of our limited space. There are quite a few duplicate CDs that can be given away, plus lots of floppy discs we can’t access. I guess if they’ve been lying around for years we can well do without whatever secrets they hold.

If I was doing the decluttering all by myself it would be a big chore, but sharing it with my family makes it fun. I’m looking forward to continuing the job next week.

Do You Believe That Dreams Can Give Us a Message?

2011-07-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

I strongly believe that sometimes dreams do foretell something to come. Having had these experiences more than once – it’s hard not to believe. I remember knowing about my son in a dream. The latest episode was on Monday, July 10, 2011 when I woke up from a dream where I was quarrelling with my brother Henry. He wanted me to write a eulogy for my dad and I was insisting on a remembrance. As is the norm, whenever someone crosses my mind, or I have certain types of dreams I tend to pray for the parties I thought of or dreamed about.

On Thursday morning of the same week, I again awoke from my dream with my brother agreeing to a remembrance. He wanted to know if I wanted both of us to do a part. I remember telling him that I thought I would be strong enough to do it. Again I prayed for my loved ones.

Interestingly, on the same day at approximately 10:55 a.m. another brother called and asked if I heard that dad was in the hospital. No, I hadn’t heard and asked for details. He had gotten pinned between a bus and a car. After crying and praying and calling each other (he has nine children) we waited for word following the medical examinations.

Thankfully there were no broken bones or internal bleeding. He’s in a lot of pain and has some difficulty moving around but should recover fully. We are still amazed that he’s OK for the most part and very happy.

So do you believe that dreams are sometimes messages from a source we are yet to discover? One thing is certain, there is so much about this world in which we live that is still a mystery.

How Do You Know When it’s Time to Let Go

2011-07-12T07:19:00.001-07:00

“There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.” – Unknown

This can refer to many circumstances in life. Generally, we do not like change and often want to hang on to things and people even when we shouldn’t. Letting go is a natural part of life and failing to do so can keep us from achieving our life’s purpose.

There are many indications that can act as guides to knowing when to let go of something or someone. If you are in a job that is making you increasingly unhappy, then it may well be time to move on. This is not to suggest that you should up and quit – but you should make every attempt to put your business in order so that you can make the next step.

Sometimes we find it hard to let go of a relationship, especially a marriage. While it will be emotionally taxing, if there is no hope of things getting better or your unhappiness worsens each day, let go. The right person for you may be out there waiting. And so what if there is no one right now? It really may not be so bad being by yourself for a while.

What I find extremely sad is when a relationship is over and one party keeps rehashing what the other did wrong. Worse yet, is the opposite end of the pole, when the offending party’s virtues are magnified almost to the level of sainthood. They are your ex for a reason – let go. Live your own life. Cherish the good memories and move on!

It is not always easy to let go, but sometimes we just have to. If you are a Christian you know that God will provide a way, something or someone to offer comfort and hope. If you are not, you will still find a way to pick up the pieces and go on – such is the wonder of life.

Enjoying Life’s Simple Pleasures

2011-07-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

For me, those lazy days when I spend time alone or with loved ones can be some of the most rewarding ones. Think about it, no distractions, just you and nature or a quiet time of talking and sharing. I love those Sundays when my husband, son and I are at home – just us three.

We may spend time watching movies or playing games. Sometimes we are all doing different things, but there is still a sense of contentment that cannot be explained. As I write this blog, we are sitting together in the couch, me with the laptop and my son, lying in his dad’s lap while they watch a program about the Secret Service.

Recently, my son who is on the verge of turning 7, asked his dad to go for a walk with him. When they returned he said, “Mom, next time you should come with us. It was so much fun.” A simple walk on our street was a time of bonding for father and son and something they both enjoyed – and best of all it didn’t cost a cent.

Sometimes in the night, we like to sit outside, just talking in the semi-darkness, watching the skies and talking. For me, hopefully these moments are helping our son to realize that there is much more to enjoying life than videogames and TV.

So, how often do you take time out from your busy schedule to enjoy life’s simple pleasures?

Leave Your Mistakes Where They Belong – In the Past

2011-07-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

Mistakes happen – they are as much a part of life as are breathing and eating. Errors can result from carelessness, lack of knowledge or naivety. Granted, some mistakes can have major repercussions – but dwelling on them will help no one.

We need to, in fact, we must learn from our mistakes and those of others. That is the only way to move forward when we err in such a way as to cause distress to ourselves or those around us. The things we do will be with us forever, and many have painful consequences. Mistakes can sometimes have fatal consequences – medical errors come readily to mind. In these instances it is important to learn from what went wrong and make changes where necessary. Failing to understand and learn from our mistakes is a waste of our preciously short time on earth.

I strongly believe we can take away valuable lessons from unfortunate situations. These lessons can be harnessed to make our lives and those of others much better. A few steps that could help in this regard are:

· Accept responsibility
· Don’t even try to justify it
· Do not dwell on it
· Forgive yourself or the person who is at fault

In some cases, it will be hard, but with conscious effort we can learn from our mistakes and take a bold step into the future.

Do You Know Boredom?

2011-07-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

I cannot recall ever being bored – ever. That is why I guess when I hear someone say they are bored I cannot really understand where they are coming from. Ever so often I tend to hear people under the age of 30 complain about being bored I cannot understand. In fact I find it weird, especially given that there are just so many more ways to entertain yourself these days than when I was in my 20s.

Even as a child growing up in Jamaica, I never had time to be bored. Apart from helping with chores, we went hunting lizards (being a girl, I caught my lizards and screamed for the boys to come get them), bird hunting, playing cricket or marbles and climbing trees. In addition I loved to read so I spent lots of time reading, especially after I started developing and my brother, Henry, my main playmate back then decided that I couldn’t play with the boys anymore.

Now with videogames, smartphones, iPods, iPads, Internet and more ways to read books than could ever have been imagined – how can anyone be bored? My biggest problem is and always has been not having enough time to experience and do all the things I want to do. My list of must watch movies and books to read is now ridiculous, and unless I get rich and stop working I doubt I’ll get to them all.

My flower garden is a mess and my vegetable seeds have not yet been planted because of limited time. Not to mention having to take every minute I can find to write, write and read! So, do you understand boredom?

Learning to Love Yourself

2011-07-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

Many of us are quick to tell others we love them. Our children, spouse, family members and friends hear those words often. Yet we rarely if ever tell ourselves – I love you. It may sound funny, but it is important to take time to look in the mirror and tell yourself - I love you.

Even if you feel stupid doing it, still go ahead – look at the man or woman in the mirror and say aloud – I love you! It’s only when you can truly love yourself, whether or not you fit society’s standards of beauty, that you begin to appreciate you.

So how do you love yourself? There are many ways that you can start to love yourself. These include:

Accept that you are not perfect
Don’t be too hard on yourself. We tend to our own biggest critics – cut yourself some slack
Learn to forgive yourself
Say or read daily affirmations or post them where you can see them
Banish your negative self-talk – remember that you are beautiful. Beautiful is much more than the physical self.

Think about it, how can you expect others to love you if you don’t even love yourself. It will take some conscious effort to start loving and treating yourself right, but you can do it. Do not let the negative perceptions others may have of you to cause you to put yourself in a negative light.

Remember:

· That you are unique

· You are different

· You have a purpose

I’m sure there are lots of others you can think of. Go ahead, share some with us.

When Fear Stops You From Succeeding

2011-07-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

Years ago I went to the funeral of a young man, and the theme of the sermon was ‘full of potential’. It has stuck with me all these many years later. It has also helped me when I’m fearful of something or fear that I will not be able to do something.

I dread failing so I used to not even make an attempt if I felt I could fail. After that funeral, I completely changed my mind set. I know I have so much to accomplish and so much I want to do – I am determined not to be stopped by fear.

Some of the steps I’ve taken on my way to conquering this dread of failure include:

Reading up about people who have been mega-successful in their lives but have encountered failure and defeat along the way. Since 2006, Chris Gardner of the Pursuit of Happyness fame has been a hero of mine. As a young adult, I received a list of Abraham Lincoln’s failures and it gave me courage. Being a Librarian and over-all cyber-snoop I eventually checked out the veracity of this list. While much of it is inaccurate there is enough truth in there to keep me strong and resolute.

My parents always advocated that we (their children) not use the words ‘we can’t’. They always encouraged us – telling us we can do whatever we wanted to. Growing up in Jamaica, I held on to our National Hero, Marcus Garvey’s words, “Up, up, you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will.”

I was petrified of public speaking, so I joined the Junior Chamber Movement and sought a number of elected offices – winning all those I went after. This increased my confidence and gave me ample opportunities to speak in public.

Last, but by no means least, are the numerous everyday people who have touched my life along the way. My brother, Henry, is my hero. He has beaten the odds in numerous ways and been quite successful in his life and business.

Failure is a part of life, but being afraid of failure is the problem. We may fall, but it is in falling that we rise again to do better after each stumble. If babies were afraid of falling they would never learn to walk.

As I was writing this blog, I heard my husband Owen and my son Jalen in discussion. Jalen was playing a video game and constantly asking his father to play parts for him because ‘I can’t do it, dad.” Well, after a few times, Owen told him no, if he didn’t try he would never win. Just as I’m wondering how to close this blog post, I heard Jalen cry out, “I did it, I beat Onaga – I’m the CHAMPION!!!”

Self-Hatred and the Black Race: The Elevation of Skin Colour

2011-07-02T02:46:00.000-07:00

OK, my title is up for debate. I know lots of black people who do not hate themselves simply because of the colour of their skin. But, I was in a session recently and it pained my heart to hear a woman talking about her daughter, she was stressing on the fact that her daughter is brown. It seemed as if that was the main redeeming feature of her child.

I’ve heard this often from other dark-skinned black people. Each time it happens, I feel saddened for the person and the child. I’ve had friends who grew up in Jamaica resting on their laurels about being fair or brown and getting a rude awakening when they migrate.

I’ve heard my people state that ‘so and so’ is so beautiful because they are brown with ‘pretty hair’. I’ve tried to stop people in their tracks when I see them going this route but sometimes it seems like a useless battle. When I’m home in Jamaica and move around and see people with all kinds of concoctions over their faces I get disgusted.

Of course, with our celebrities and wanna-be celebs lightening their skin, what hope is there for those who want to be in the spotlight when they think being light skinned is the only way. Of course, this matter of worshiping lighter skin is not unique to the black race as there is ample evidence of other dark-skinned people doing the same thing such as Indians and Malaysians.

Sadly, this is not a phenomenon that will stop any time soon as some parents show preference for their lighter-skinned children. Thankfully, this is not always the case, but it happens way too often. My parents, God bless them, never made colour an issue when we were growing up. We were told we were beautiful and wonderfully made.

Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever get beyond this point where people see themselves as beautiful regardless of the colour of their skin. My family is a virtual United Nations; I have nephews, aunts and uncles, nieces, cousins, and in-laws of every hue imaginable. To me they are all beautiful and unique.

Poor Haiti: When Will This Island get a Break?

2010-10-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen – an epidemic of national proportions was just a matter of time in this country. After the January 12, 2010 earthquake many predicted that the poor handling of dead bodies and the conditions in the tent cities around the capital, Port-Au-Prince would result in serious health problems. By September 2010, conditions were not much better. Approximately 1 million people were still calling tents their homes.

As such it comes as no major surprise that the island has been hit by a cholera outbreak. News reports from the Haitian government reveal that over 2000 persons now have the diseases. Based on the infrastructure and poverty in the country there is no doubt this number will climb. The number of dead officially reported to be over 200, but who knows how many others have died so far.

Many countries have offered aid after the earthquake, but obvious much more still needs to be done. The current economic climate is not helping as donations are down in many quarters. What is clear is that Haitians will have to take their situation in hand and start working together to make this once proud country proud again.

It is sad to see the plight of the first black republic. Sadly, much of the poverty the country faces is in no small part due to political corruption over the years. Hopefully, the current government and succeeding ones will work to take Haiti out of its continuing crisis. It can be done – but it is not the responsibility of the international community alone. The main responsibility must rest with the Haitians themselves – both those at home and abroad.

They must be true to and help fulfill Toussaint L’ouverture's vision for his country: “Toussaint’s vision for Haiti projected a society embracing equal opportunity for all with social leveling through education and hard work.”

Aging as a Dirty Word

2010-10-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

These days I find it scary the way aging seems to be moving into the terrain of becoming a dirty word. Seriously, I hear it around me more and more where someone is referred to as old, “he’s getting old” or “Wow, she looks old” and many other variations in between.

It’s no wonder so many celebrities and even regular everyday people are risking their lives to go under the knife. While I can appreciate that aging is a bit scary, it shouldn’t become such a dirty word. Life after all is a cycle. Interestingly, I recently overheard someone in their mid-thirties referred to someone a few years older as being old’ in a disdainful manner.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when many 20-somethings and 30-somethings move into the next decade of their lives. I can remember one woman becoming hysterical at work the day she hit 30. It was so dramatic, she wept and she couldn’t eat. A few months ago, someone else, on reaching 40 declared that she was now so old – life was over.

Seriously, I find it a tad amusing how much focus we place on the aging process. So many of us are so taken with the dread of getting older that we forget to live and enjoy our lives. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, so why worry about something that may never happen. You may never live to be 30 or 40 or 50…enjoy what you have now.

I remember at 18 that a 40-year old seemed positively ancient, but now I look around and realize that aging isn’t to be feared so much if you live life to the fullest. I look at a blooming Halle Berry, the beautiful Jaime Lee Curtis, a fresh-looking Michelle Obama, and of course Dame Helen Mirren to name just a few and realize that beautify and vitality defy age.

Even among my family members, friends and peers it is amazing to see how beautiful those who love life are. Their looks and actions defy aging. I recently told a colleague who was pointing out a retiree to me, that time is moving so fast, people don’t have so much time to look older. How else to explain how a 65 year old looked like a 45 year old?

Aging itself isn’t to be feared so much as to be embraced. We must accept that unless we die young it is a road we will all walk. Only then will aging no longer be a bad word. My issues with getting older are with not attempting the things I want to do – I want to climb the Eiffel Tower and go skydiving. Guess I better start seriously looking at ways to make some money so that I can live my dreams.

My Tribute to Women Who Have Survived Breast Cancer

2010-10-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

This month being breast cancer awareness month, I wanted to salute those women, their loved ones, the medical community and other groups who have joined together to overcome this disease.

The first time I met someone who had breast cancer was many years ago. She was a vibrant woman, who didn’t let the loss of a breast and chemo stopped her living her life. Back then it was a scary thing to know someone who was affected. Treatment was not as good as it is now and reconstruction surgery was almost unheard of in Jamaica. While I still find it a scary illness, there is comfort in knowing that many women now beat the disease. Over the years the number of persons I know personally who have battled breast cancer and survived has grown.

The first person who comes to mind is my wonderful friend Connie Curry. Connie not only survived, but she did so with grace and humor in true Connie style. While dealing with her own cancer she befriended others and offered support and comfort. To top it off, this wonderful woman wrote a great book about living with breast cancer. The book, Give Me Back my Glory is fun, inspirational and informative. You can visit Connie’s website to buy the book or just learn more about this gifted writer and breast cancer survivor.

A close friend’s wife was diagnosed earlier this year. She is doing fine and is definitely on the mend. Through it all she remained strong and determined to beat breast cancer. I also dedicate this to my sister’s good friend, Sarah, who also had to battle this sickness and has survived.

There are countless other women who have survived the scare of a breast cancer diagnosis. They will tell any woman or man that they should know their bodies. Most importantly they should practice breast self examination and not to ignore any changes they observe. While a lump is the most obvious sign of breast cancer, other changes in the breast shouldn’t be ignored. A doctor’s visit is always recommended just to be sure of what is happening.

An early diagnosis is the best way to have a positive outcome so as to become a survivor of breast cancer. Let us remind those closest and dearest to us of the importance of self examination, medical check-ups and mammograms.

I Must Have a Smartphone – Even If I Do Nothing with It

2010-04-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

You have seen them, many of us know the type. They have to have the most expensive, newest smartphone in town with all the bells and whistles. But heaven forbid they know how to really use all those neat features. Worse yet, they don’t even need them.

Now, don’t go beating up on me, I am happy you have been stepping in beat to the technology. I'm all for advance and am happy for the success of others. If you can afford a smartphone, good for you, but please use them properly. Believe me, they are for much more than making and taking calls and sending messages. Some folks use them to go online, but there is still so much more. I’ve even met those persons who have an iPhone and have no idea how to even send a text message.

I know people who forget assignments and appointments, and yet they have a smartphone. Come on, they have a calendar option for a reason. Send yourself a reminder once you have a date set for something. Every smartphone has this option, make use of it. I’ve heard the excuses, “I didn’t remember…” or “I totally forgot I had that to do” so often, I’m about to scream. The saddest thing, these excuses are often from someone with a Blackberry or iPhone. My response is always to remind them of this.

Gone are the days when having a cellphone/smartphone was a status symbol. Just about anyone can afford one now. Come on folks, if you have a smartphone do the smart thing and make the most of these fascinating tools. They are called smart for a reason!

Persons with Some Illnesses…Shouldn’t Have children

2010-04-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

At a recent family gathering, one person said that people with certain illnesses should have children. I strongly disagreed with that statement. Unfortunately I was unable to fully give my views as too many discussions were going on.

My concern is who gives anyone the right to deny others their dream of experiencing parenthood. If someone is physically and financially able to have and care for a child, why shouldn’t they? A diagnosis of cancer or other lifestyle-related illnesses shouldn’t be the trigger to say, “You shouldn’t have a child.”

If we are to go down that road, then why not say that persons who are physically and emotionally abusive to their spouses shouldn’t have children. Isn’t the kind of emotional trauma resulting from having an abusive parent just as damaging, or even more so than having parents with a serious medical condition?

Research has shown that many serial killers and abusive persons lived in homes where spousal and child abuse was the norm. Unfortunately, too many persons do not accept that physical and emotional abuse is a sickness. No one has the right to play God. Granted, there are persons who are incapable of caring for a child due to certain illnesses, but that is another matter altogether. In a few cases, these persons are incapable of having children anyway.

It is funny how people can easily see what’s wrong with others but not with themselves. We really need to look at our own faults and shortcomings before we look at other people’s faults – the world would be so much better.

When I Grow Up I Wanna Be A…

2010-03-30T08:25:00.001-07:00

How many adults have been fortunate enough to be what they wanted to be when they were children? Certainly not me. For many of us real life steps in and we get derailed. Maybe we could have fought harder for what we wanted. Granted, no amount of fighting would have worked if lack of funds was the hindrance to fulfilling our dreams.

For me, there were many things I wanted to be, but one thing remained constant – I wanted to write. Writing and reading were and still are in my blood. So yes, I never got to be a lawyer, granted it’s not too late especially since I believe it’s never too late to do many things unless you are dead.

So have I been writing, yes…I write…lots. I write website content and blogs for others. I have some unfinished novels, and children’s book, one finished, one unfinished. So what is holding me back? Fear of failure – I fear that publishers will reject my labour of love and while I get great feedback I still fear rejection. And yet I know that a fear of failure is a surefire way to not try anything new.

Of course, I sometimes think of one of my favourite authors, Stephen King and his multitude of rejections to boost my confidence. It’s not that I’ve not had anything published, I have. My first real submission to a collection, Letters to My Teacher was published. I think often of J. K. Rowling and the success of The Harry Potter books and movies. I know that nothing ventured, nothing gained.

So what do you think? Maybe we should all try to be what we wanted to be – after all, it’s never too late unless you are dead. Some of us are just late bloomers – I know I am.

I am writing this to motivate myself to follow my dreams…when I grow up I want to be a published author. To do this I need to submit, submit, submit…

There Must be a Lesson Here- Somewhere

2010-01-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

I guess most of us have one of those days, weeks, months - you get the drift - where everything seems to be conspiring against you. This is my week, and I pray and hope not my month where many things are just not going too right.

First off, I’m sick, and then my son got sick. Bad enough, but we’ll survive. Then my husband’s just one year old PC decides to start acting up. Shutting down every few minutes, the PC guru said it’s the monitor acting up…lots of tech talk. Did I mention that my husband is a freelance graphic artist and needs his PC is working order? So for the last few days he has been struggling to get some work done.

Ok, we just a few months ago paid to have an old PC upgraded for our son, Jalen, so we hooked it up. Heard the fan going, but nada – nothing happens. The monitor is blank and nothing is happening. I tried a little tech work – still nothing. So there goes the second PC.

Well, my mother-in-law has a PC that was repaired at the same time my son’s own was. She hasn’t used it since so we borrowed and hooked it up – what is happening here. I got another message, ATAPI INCOMPATIBLE - Nothing happening, but finally a little light at the end of the tunnel – a message to press F1 – so F1 was pressed.

Well, my hope was shattered, as I cannot get online with this PC…tried all the tricks I know – no dice. To top it off, no sound is coming from the PC – a message popped up saying that no sound device installed. I can’t check online for updates or drivers because I can’t get online.

Well, my husband is lamenting that he never had these issues when he used only Macs ---so I see us going back to the ‘he’s a Mac and I’m a PC’ family.

Oh, yeah, husband is sneezing up a storm and sniffling! So no doubt about it – he’s getting sick too.

There is definitely a message to be learned here somewhere, I just don’t know what it is yet.

Yes, Blogging is Good for Business – Thanks Holly Jackson

2010-01-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I had the good fortune to read a blog I subscribe to but rarely read – you got it, due to time constraints. If I must be honest, there is often plenty of time, I just need to use it wisely. Anyway, back to the story. I decided to read the January 8, 2010 edition of Remarkablogger. Maybe it was destiny, but I happened to read Holly Jackson’s story and I felt a spark of hope and renewed determination.

Jackson is the owner of a copywriting company, Cottage Copy (http://www.cottagecopy.com/). Her advice that hit home is that it is important to blog for business growth, but that it’s not just about blogging about your business. As she said, ‘it is important to put the real you out there even if it is scary.’ People connect to real people so when you blog you don’t have to be blogging about what you do such as indexing or records management for me, but about what makes you tick or makes you feel scared. They connect with you when they realize that you have the same fears of failure.

It takes hard work, determination and dedication to start a business and keep it going. It takes courage and the willingness not to be afraid of failure to reap success. The fear of failure is one of the greatest deterrents to success – many successful people will tell you how often they failed but never gave up. So, with renewed zeal I’m stepping out to face the demons of fear, knowing that I can succeed.

Best of all, I wrote Holly to express my thanks and she wrote back almost immediately – wow. She had words of encouragement, but best of all she offered to be a friend whose shoulder I can lean on and someone I can bounce ideas off. Thanks, Holly, you are an angel and I wish you tons of success as you grow your business.

So, here I am once again jumping into the blogging world and hopefully keeping at it.

I KNOW My Name

2009-10-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Deciding what my name is…excuse me, but shouldn’t I have the right to decide that?

When I write you a letter or introduce myself with a so-called double-barrel surname, who gives you the right to decide what I should be called? Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence I have found. Sometimes when I want to prove a point when someone thinks they have the right to drop the McCurdy from my name and call me Mrs. Crooks, I totally ignore them – they are not calling me.

If only some of the self appointed ‘name police’ would stop to think that there are persons whose surname from birth is two family names joined by a dash. I have a number of nieces and nephews who have double barrel surnames. I have a friend who routinely educates persons when called by the last of her surname that she is single and never married and therefore should be addressed by her double-barreled surname.

Etiquette would dictate that you find out what someone would like to be called before dropping one name. Maybe I should consider suing for emotional distress or sexual discrimination. After all, men with double barrel surnames do not have anyone dropping one of the surnames when being addressed. So, the ignorant will continue to make fools of themselves by calling a woman married to a double barrel surname male by one part of her surname.

This is a pet peeve of mine and I hope of others ladies too. Women had identities before they were married so no one has a right to decide that my identity no longer exists. Before deeming to change how I’m addressed, please ask me…thank you.

Staying When Abused: Chris Brown & Rihanna Story

2009-03-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

OK, I know that everyone will have something to say about Rihanna and Chris Brown getting back together. I also figure based on comments around me that many people feel that she should never have gotten back with him. But everyone has to live their own lives and make their own mistakes. The funniest or maybe it's the saddest part is that the mob saying she's a fool are people I know have remained with abusive spouses.

Apart from the fact that they are young and in love, if rumors on the Internet are true, she is also pregnant with his child. Being pregnant and alone is a scary prospect, and emotions are all over the place. I agree that children shouldn't be brought up in abusive homes. No one knows for sure if theirs is an abusive relationship, or if this was a first time occurrence.

So the bigger question we need to ask is, was the beating the first or is it just the worst in a long line of incidents. One off physical, emotional or verbal abuse is bad, but can be overlooked based on what triggered it (yes, I know many person are going to disagree with me). I say this because I know cases where one incident of abuse was never repeated. Repeated physical abuse may be another ball game altogether – but again, despite what we think, each person (male or female) should be able to know when to get help or RUN!!! One person's reality is their own and not anyone else's.

Getting beyond physical abuse and staying together can be hard. I know because I've interviewed and known persons so affected. What worked for these couples was counseling for both persons, and sometimes children if they are old enough to understand what happened. Also, the abuser must really recognize the problem and want to do something about it. In some cases the relationship was beyond saving and the abused party (male or female) had to leave.

Forgiveness is a virtue, and I figure if the good Lord (for those of us who believe in a higher power) can forgive so much human cruelty, why can't we?. So come on, let's give them a chance to see if they can work things through. Others have done it, maybe they can too. There is a possibility that Chris will never again lay his hands on Rihanna. I think she is wise enough to know that if the abuse continues then she may have no alternative than to walk, and say goodbye.

This Must be Love: Barack & Michelle Obama

2009-01-24T06:54:00.000-08:00

Ever since Barack Obama decided to run for President of the United States there was one thing I noticed – the obvious adoration he has for his wife. I kept my observation to myself, but slowly I realized that many of my female associates and friends were beginning to notice.

The morning after he won the November 4th election, the ladies in the car on my way to work couldn’t stop gushing about the love…they too had finally seen it. His statement, “And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years ... the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady ... Michelle Obama…” had them enthralled. WOW!!! To be so loved they said. They saw what I had noticed from the beginning.

Whenever they were together, the way he looked at her said everything – in his eyes Michelle was all woman and the only woman he had eyes for. There’s no denying that Michelle Obama is a beautiful woman with lots of class, maybe not the most beautiful woman on the planet, but to him she is – you can just tell. Whenever he touched her the tenderness and adoration was so obvious. It made my heart ache for a love so pure and true.

On January 21, the love was again the topic of conversation on the way to work. But surprisingly it was also one of the hottest topics in the office. One co-worker who isn’t the least bit romantic said, “Girl I’m envious…to have a man love me like that.” I asked her about the comment and she said, “The way he touches her, looks at her – God to have a man love you like that is to die for.” Yep, a love like that is to die for – no doubt about it. It also proves that love is beyond the physical but also gives hope that true and timeless love does exist.

Ok, I have gone on and on about President Obama’s love for his wife, but the reverse is also true – the First lady loves her man. Now that is a couple to emulate – it does warm my heart to see their love displayed for the entire world to see.

And so I close with some of the words to one of my favorite love songs by the Bangles: Eternal Flame -

Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling Do you feel my heart beating, do you understand? Do you feel the same, am I only dreaming? Is this burning an eternal flame? I believe it's meant to be, darling I watch when you are sleeping, you belong to me Do you feel the same, am I only dreaming Or is this burning an eternal flame? Say my name, sun shines through the rain A whole life so lonely, and then you come and ease the pain I don't want to lose this feeling

What Happens When the Other Woman Decides She Wants to be The Woman?

2008-11-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

During my usual browsing of the Internet I came across an interesting headline, Europe’s Last Witch, on MSN.com. Being a curious person I wanted to know more about this woman and why she was deemed a witch. While expecting to read something current, it turned out her story spans centuries.

Based on what I found out, the woman, Anna Göldi or Göldin according to some sources had her head cut off on charges of witchcrfaft. Sadly, her story came about because of a love affair. Aparently, Anna had a relationship with her married boss. When Anna threatened to make the affiar public, her boss, Johann Jakob Tschudi made a public outcry that she was a witch. Tschudi said that Anna used supernatural powers to put needles into the milk and bread of his daughters. Göldi was exonerated by the Glarus (Switzerland) government in October 2008.

This brought to mind a discussion I just had with a member of the clergy. A pastor decided to go outside of his marriage and started a relationship. Apparently all was well as ‘the other woman’ was quite content to be just that. However, as the relationship progressed she decided that she now wants to be the ‘main woman – the wife’.

Was this the case with Anna? Did she after six (6) years decide that she wanted more from this relationship. We will never know, but it is a fact of life that many mistresses eventually want to become the main woman in a man’s life.

Some do get their wishes as the man leaves wife and family for them. A few of these outside relationships may end pleasantly as the lovers end up having a good marriage, but many do not. A few years ago I saw a grown man weep that he left his ‘good wife’ for a sexy young girl who had made his life a misery. I was torn between pity and loathing, especially when I found out he and his wife had young children. He desperately wanted to go back to his wife but she didn’t want him.

Many mistresses use the threat of disclosing the affair as a tool of control. However, the results can never be predicted. When children are in the mix, it’s even worse. There are so many studies which show the impact of divorce on children. If the thought of cheating crosses a person’s (male or female) mind it would be good to take a moment to think through all the possible repercussions and ask yourself the question, “Will a few moments of excitement be worth the lifetime of pain and suffering that could result?”

Solange Knowles Shows That Class Can’t be Bought

2008-08-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

I am always happy for the success of others, but as a child growing up in Jamaica there are a lot of things my mom taught me. One of them was that ‘Manners take you through the world” and another, “Money don’t buy class.”

If you want to be a celebrity, you know that you will be in the public eye and what that entails. So, by all means try to separate your private life from the public, but please show some class in the process. A video from a Fox 5 More interview showed Miss Knowles accusing an interviewer of being unprofessional. Unfortunately for Solange…excuse me – Miss Knowles - the discussion she lambasted the reporter about wasn’t even part of the interview being aired. I wouldn’t even have been bothered if Solange had apologized when she realized that she didn’t have any reason to get in a tizzy. Wasn’t she prepared for just about any questions surrounding her famous sister and her husband, Hip Hop mogul, Jay Z?

I don’t know who the reporter was, but she showed class and professionalism throughout the whole thing. Despite not even knowing what Solange was going on about, she remained polite. She is a credit to Fox 5. Good job on her part.

Come now, Solange Knowles, take a page from your FAMOUS big sister’. I have always seen Beyonce being a lady and very nice to the press on the public – not saying she doesn’t have her bad days. But you know what, she has earned her stripes – you on the other had aren’t there yet. In an old interview, possibly years old, Beyonce once said that she has an inner diva that appears onstage, but “Offstage, I’m a person who believes in principles and I treat people like I want to be treated.”

Texting: A Sign of Cheating

2008-07-08T03:17:00.001-07:00

I burst out laughing when I saw this statement in a study online while doing some research for another article. Thanks to a younger sister I found out that texting was much cheaper than calling so I’ve become a text junkie. My family is pretty big so I do quite a lot of calling and being all over the place, these calls can lead to hefty bills.

Now, suppose my husband was the suspicious type and was already curious about my new addiction to texting…after reading an article such as that he may have well wondered. Really though, it’s not that funny when you stop to think about it. A lot of relationships may come under scrutiny and be tested because one of the partners suddenly realizes that the other is texting quite a bit.

I know quite a few females who constantly check their partner’s cell phones for text messages and or frequently called numbers. Some get all upset and challenge them on their findings, others say nothing, but keep the information for ammunition later on.

One word of advice, granted I’m no counselor, is not to become suspicious and jealous because our lover or spouse seems to be texting more than usual, it could all be quite innocent. With today’s ever increasing prices, it is important to save a few cents where we can and texting provides one such means.

Happy texting everyone, but please avoid doing it while driving!

How the Game of Chess Could Change a Nation

2008-02-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of interviewing a Jamaican chess player whose dream for Jamaica is hinged on introducing the game to all and sundry. Ian Wilkinson, a Jamaican lawyer and president of the Jamaica Chess Federation, is the brains behind Magnificent Chess. Magnificent Chess is an endeavour which is seeking to get chess included on school curriculum across the length of Jamaica.

Through his company, Magnificent Chess, Wilkinson hopes to teach chess to all who want to learn. This he says will result in a more educated populace which will result in a transformation of Jamaican citizenry like nothing ever seen before. He has started this project in the schools with startling success so far. This brilliant son of Jamaica has had to be operating mostly out of pocket currently as the demand has been greater than he anticipated since sponsorship received so far is inadequate to cover the cost of the programme. However, he is willing to make this sacrifice because he believes in this vision and wants to help his fellow Jamaicans.

I am inclined to believe him; the benefit of chess has never been disputed. Not only does it develop reasoning ability, but it helps to calm the player who develops the ability to think things through before reacting. It is this lack of the ability to reason that is partially to blame for so much of the criminality that is currently occurring in the island.

However, for Wilkinson’s dream to become a reality it must be fully supported by both government and the private sector. What a wonderful sight it would be to see ordinary Jamaicans sitting on their verandas playing chess instead of sitting on the street corner with nothing to do. As they say, the devil finds work for idle hands, but with chess idle hands would be hard to come by.

I am not naïve enough to assume that everyone will gravitate towards the game or become a grandmaster, but I do know that it is an addictive game and as such many of our young people will fall in love with it. His starting the project in the schools is a stroke of genius, because there is no doubt that children who play chess tend to do well in school. This would therefore improve academic performance and lead to a more focused group of graduates from our academic institutions.

The benefits of this mammoth task may not be immediately obvious to the country as a whole, but should be seen in another five to ten years. It is worthwhile to support this project so as to help repair our badly damaged image as the most murderous place on earth. In its January 31, 2008 issue, The Economist stated that “Jamaica is the world's most murderous country, followed by El Salvador, Guatemala and Venezuela.”

Let us as Jamaicans begin to do what we can to bring back our country – and if chess is one way forward, I’m all for it.

Knowing When It’s Time To Say Goodbye

2007-10-06T08:01:00.001-07:00

There are some curious quirks in most of us---little telltale signs that never seems to fail. For me it has always been the absentminded clearing of my office space. Over the years I have found that if I start clearing my office my exit from said office is imminent.

In July I started clearing my office, stopped in mid-stream and stated that “Oh no, not again.” I turn to a coworker and explain that every time I get into a cleaning frenzy at my office I left. True to form a number of things started happening and before I know it I was resigning.

It was hard to do since I had started a project that I was close to and wanted to see it through, but life had other plans for me. Surprisingly, the main reason I resigned is no longer an issue, so I will not be going away for as long as planned. However, in hindsight it was just the right time to say goodbye and move on, not only for me, but for my former place of employment. While I was a part-timer, my replacement will be a fulltime member of staff. This will move the project along perfectly.

For me, God really had other plans for my life. I had a few offers and have settled on one that I know is the perfect fit for me. It’s rare that someone can hardly wait for the weekend to end so that they can get back to work. But that is how I feel right now. After a few days orientation, I will be allowed to travel --- I still need to do that. However, on my return, it’s back to the office.

Change is inevitable, it’s a part of life and we should be willing to embrace it; I always see new beginnings – a chance to refresh oneself. I strongly belief that we need to know when it is time to say ‘goodbye’ no matter how hard it is.

Domestic Abuse Knows No Boundaries

2007-09-27T04:24:00.000-07:00

Domestic abuse transcends race, social class and financial status…it affects us all in one way or the other. I was thinking yesterday about a horrendous story in read in The Star newspaper (http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20070925/news/news1.html) about a young Jamaican woman who was stabbed over 100 times all over her body. Her crime, daring to end an abusive relationship, while showing compassion for her abuser. Despite ending the relationship, Oneka opened her doors to her abuser because he had nowhere to live.

Her story is particularly disturbing to me because I have seen the face of the abused up close, have helped to wipe their tears. Like many, I have family members and friends who are themselves victims of domestic abuse.

Is there a physical profile of an abuse or abused? Unfortunately, no…on the outside an abuser rarely carries any indication of their abusive personality on their person. In public they are sweet, gentle and extremely loving to their partners, but behind closed doors a demon appears. I have seen this for myself so that when told of the extent of the abuse I was left dumbstruck.

Why do women (and yes, even men) stay in abusive relationships? Many reasons, fear of change, a belief that they are really loved by the abuser and desire the abuse or just being too scared to leave. Many fear what happened to Oneka, but unlike her, some victims do not live to tell the tale.

Unfortunately some abusers really do not think that they are guilty of anything more than a ‘simple domestic misunderstanding’. Recently I was speaking to an abuser, who told me that he had no choice but to become physical because his wife ‘tells him hurtful things’. Possible true, but that is still no reason to get physically abusive to someone you claim to love.

There is hope for the abused, and dare I say for the abuser…but it will take all of us to effect a change. One way is to join and contribute to organizations that are working to end all forms of domestic abuse. In Jamaica there are agencies such as the Women Inc (Women’s Crisis Centre).

Remember that there is no shame in seeking help…whether you are a victim or an offender.

What's so new about "frienemies"

2007-09-27T04:23:00.001-07:00

I found myself watching ABC News early yesterday morning and couldn’t help snickering, when a segment aired and the word ‘frienemies’ was referred to as something new. Jamaicans have been using that word for as long as I can remember; I know that more than 10 years have passed since I first heard it. I know that the term came into popular culture in the USA sometime in the late 1990s thanks to New Radicals and their hit song, You get What You Give.

Just out of curiosity I went to urbandiction.com and there it was. I quick search online showed that the term has been in use for years.

Sorry, ABC, nothing new about that word, but the piece was entertaining.

The Stereotypical Black Character

2007-09-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about anyone else, black or white, but I’m tired of the typecasting of black characters. It’s about time black actors and actresses start showing some guts and refuse roles that demand this type of behaviour.

Just this weekend I was watching Transformers and while I didn’t mind the movie, I hated the first scene with Anthony Anderson acting like an idiot. As a matter of fact I am sick to the stomach of black characters playing hip-hop loving dolts all the time.

I must admit that I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I just happened to see a piece of “Corey’s in the House” and was saddened by what I saw. I at least expect better from Disney; maybe ten years ago that show would have been funny, now it’s just dumb – spin-offs are not always a good thing.

Come now, if Hollywood won’t offer you, the black actors, roles that are not insipid why not make your own movies. If not for yourselves, at least do it for future generations. It can be done!!!

The “deny” and then “confirm” mentality of celebrities

2007-09-05T03:12:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite Hollywood celebrities, Halle Berry, has joined the list of celebrities who first denied and then confirm a reported event. This lack of honesty, whether it’s called PR or whatever other term we use to “pretty it up” is lying. With so many taking them as role models, celebrities should at least try to be honest.

Being a first time mother later in life, I was thrilled for her. However I had to contain my enthusiasm and joy when her people said, “not true” to reports she was expecting. I was disappointed and thought of the pin she must be feeling because of her desire to be a mom.

Congrats, Halle, I wish for you a great pregnancy and may motherhood be for you the great joy and blessing I have found it to be. I know that you and your boyfriend must be on cloud nine.

What this situation has shown me is that take whatever celebrities, even those you admire, with a grain of salt. One word of advice, if something is true and you do not want to confirm what is being reported….DON’T SAY ANYTHING. That is better than lying to your fans especially, and to everyone else as well.

Do Celebrities Shun Safe Sex?

2007-08-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe the headline is off, but seriously, it’s amazing how many of Hollywood’s top players are pregnant or recently gave birth shortly after beginning a new relationship. Some are pregnant and the other half is already in another relationship. Some of the men are fighting paternity suits with former lovers… It just leaves me wondering if they pay attention to little details such as safe sex.

At last count there is quite a long list of well-known soon-to-be-moms and moms in Hollywood, none of whom are married. Now, I’m not saying that being married is an indication of faithfulness, but the way some celebrities play musical chairs with their love life…don’t they wonder about HIV? Two of the ways promoted to decrease the incidence of HIV are to use a condom and having one faithful partner. I have noticed that for many celebs, they are in a relationship for a year or less and wham, they are expecting. The pregnancies certainly indicate that condoms are not a part of the package.

As Spiderman often states, with ‘great power comes great responsibility’, or something similar; our celebrities do have great power. They influence the lives of many persons, especially teenagers. I’m sure some these couples did not set out to get pregnant, but by not practicing safe sex it happens.

Being a mom and having experienced the joys of motherhood myself, I’m happy for them. I am also happy for the fathers and fathers-to-be as well.

Paris Hilton Disses Jimi Hendrix

2007-08-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

As a fan of the great Jimi Hendrix I was affronted to read this morning on Contactmusic.com that Paris Hilton has named her new pet pooch after Jimi. I have never been inclined to name a dog, no matter how much I love him after a person living or dead, friend or foe. I found the very though distasteful, but then no one has ever accused the attention-loving Paris of having any class.

I find the very thought of such an act distasteful; when I think of Jimi Hendrix I want to think great music, not an over-indulged pet. Don’t get me wrong I love dogs, but I wonder how Miss Hilton would react if someone in the limelight decided to name their dog, Paris Hilton.

I hope someone in Paris’s cam will ask her to find a more appropriate name for her dog. I know that under copyright law names cannot be copyrighted, unfortunately. I do know however that the Hendrix family through Experience Hendrix, LLC has the rights to the music, name, recordings and images of the Jimi Hendrix. Whether this applies in this case is outside my knowledge-base.

Long live the music of Jimi, I’m sure he’ll still be remembered and respected long after Paris Hilton ceased to be.

Sir Elton Wants Bloggers Shot…

2007-08-03T03:10:00.000-07:00

I had a nice laugh this morning. I was doing my usual reading of news bytes when I came across this on Contactmusic.com, “I think people should be shot if they blog.”

Well, being me I had to get to the bottom of this…yes, there is more. Apparently Sir Elton feels that technology, including the Internet is killing creativity. He would love to see the Internet shut down for five years…as an experiment to see what ‘what type of art (creativity) would evolve’.

Sorry Sir Elton, not going to happen…the Internet may evolve but its here to stay.

On a serious note, while I will not blame it on the Internet or technology, a number of things that I love are dying because of the fabulous technology. I loved receiving letters from friends and loved one. No, email does not equate…there’s just something about receiving and reading a letter.

Spelling is another obvious victim of the technology. I have seen some pretty horrendous spelling online and off. I guess it’s partly a result of too much dependence on spell-checkers and the use of instant messaging shorthand.

The Internet and technology…can’t live without…but if only…

Emancipation Day

2007-08-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today is Emancipation Day in Jamaica and it has me thinking, wishing really. Thinking of the sacrifices made by our forefathers, especially now as we approach another general election. No, I’m not about to discuss elections in Jamaica except to wish that my fellow Jamaicans will ‘emancipate themselves from political tribalism and violence’.

A couple of other things I wish we could emancipate ourselves from include, the endless pursuit of materialism, our growing selfishness. It is these two that is responsible for some of the problems we face today. Yet, there is so much for each of us. Yes, some will always have more than others…I am aware of that, but that does not mean that we have to be selfish.

As we enjoy Emancipation Day in our own ways, let us all pause for a moment in thanksgiving for the sacrifices made by the slaves whose blood soaked our soil. To reflect on where we are as a people and individually and finally to be resolved to play our part to make our own lives and the lives of our ‘brothers and sisters’ a little bit happier.

Happy Emancipation Day, Jamaica.

Allergies

2007-07-27T08:41:00.000-07:00

I know what you may be thinking, why discuss allergies on my blog. Simple… I have allergies…the type that gets you coughing, watery, swollen eyes…the works. What triggered it this time: paint. I just happened to be working in an environment that was painted a few weeks ago.

Modern conveniences can be both good and bad. The air conditioning unit sucks in the odour and re-circulates it in the office, of course, this air is tainted with the fumes from the oil paint. So now I’m paying the price.

I hate being sick, especially when I have work to do. Well, I’ve been placed on Claritin and do feel better, but I hate taking medication. I need to complete some work but just feel so out of it, I can’t do much.

Well, here’s hoping that I’ll be back to normal over the weekend.

Well...A New Beginning

2007-03-19T03:08:00.000-07:00

Despite the best intentions sometimes we find ourselves not doing all the things we plan to. To counter this I make lists and then lists to remember my lists; well, not quite that bad but I do make quite a lot of lists to organize my life.

In the almost one year since I last posted, lots of things have happened in my life. My son is now almost three years old and is truly the boss of his domain. He takes great pleasure in correcting his dad and myself when we do not use proper English. Of course, he also likes to remind you to say "Please" and "Thank you", yes, a babe shall lead them.

On a personal level I've spend the last few months honing my skills as an indexer. I have found over the time that I love indexing even more than I thought when I was just fiddgling around. Shortly, I should have a website up for my indexing site; I'm looking forward to that.

I have lots plan in the next few months, but right now my priority is completing a MA peogram I'm pursuing. My writing (personal) has taken a back burner to my other endeavours, but I have completed a few things just need to start editing and fine-tuning. Who knows, I may be a published novelist before long. Hey, a girl can dream.

Looking Back

2005-12-14T02:26:00.000-08:00

Can you believe that it’s just a few days until Christmas, already? It’s hard to believe that another year is about to end. When I was a child I was so sure the world would have ended before we reached the year 2000. It was just incomprehensible to me that we could live so long; yet here we are barreling thru the 2000s. I found myself doing some retrospection, looking at all the ways things have changed since I was born:

- Computers are in most homes
- Cell phones are almost a body part, there are few persons who does not own at least one
- Email, instant messaging, voice mail…
- CD-ROMs, DVDs…what’s a floppy disk?
- Ebay
- Penpals are now cyberpals

In addition to all of the above, there’s also the change to the English Language…so many new words have evolved and the meaning of others have changed. I’m sure if I had more time I could increase my list tremendously.

I wonder how many persons take a moment at this time of year to give thanks for all the blessings of the year so far. This is always a bitter-sweet time of year for me as I miss my darling mom more than ever at Christmas. It’s hard to believe that it’s 14 years since she died. Thank God for memories…she’ll live on always in the hearts and minds of those who loved her.

Well, I still have to get a Christmas tree for my little man, Jalen. I know that he’s going to find ingenious ways of getting to it…his dad will have to work on making sure he does not succeed. This will be his second Christmas and I’m so excited. It’s been a long time since I’ve been truly excited about Christmas, but Jalen has brought back the joy of Christmas…it’s a time for children.

Love and Commitment

2005-12-07T03:01:00.000-08:00

I found myself pondering this question for the last few days…why? My husband and I have noticed that there is an alarming increase in the in the number of separations and divorce among our friends and acquaintances. It has always been my belief that people in Hollywood didn’t understand commitment and certainly didn’t know a thing about love, but sadly the same level of divorce seems to be becoming a part of everyday society as well.

Don’t get me wrong, there are times when a divorce is inevitable, but I truly believe that some marital problems can be resolved and the couple remains in a happy and committed marriage. One of the main problems resulting in this increase is a failure to communicate with each other. As my mother would say, ‘teeth and tongue will meet’, so yes, couples will quarrel and have disagreements but they should be committed to finding a solution or at least a middle ground from which to sort their problems out.

As I approach my 7th wedding anniversary, I find myself pondering this whole matter of love and commitment. Love cannot sustain itself…it takes work. Couples need to appreciate each other and celebrate their differences as well as their commonalities. Because you’re married doesn’t mean an end to the courtship days of dates and little surprises. Yes, children can put a damper on the frequency of going out, but be creative. After the little ones or not so little ones are in bed, have moonlight snack. Reminisce about the ‘good old days’ when your love was ‘brand new’.

So I leave you with this for today:

Promise yourself to rekindle the passion of first love --- it’s possible.

A New Month, New Year, Fresh Start

2005-12-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

If you’re like me, you’ve been wondering where 2005 went; I cannot believe that it’s a new month and the approach of another year. It can be downright depressing if you really dwell on it. There seems to be so little time to do all the things you want to.

You know, I’ve never got caught up in the buzz of Christmas, but this year I’m looking forward to putting up a Christmas tree for my little man. I know he’ll get a kick out of it. And speaking of Christmas isn’t it sad that apart from the commercialization surrounding the season, we’re in real danger of doing away with the word itself. Change can be good, and political politeness is wonderful, but sometimes in trying to please everyone we please no one.

Anyway, I’ve been blessed to find an exciting job as a records officer with an international company. It’s tiring work but exciting and I’m enjoying it tremendously. The only downside is that I’m too tired to spend much time writing, but I try to put in a few minutes here and there.

Overall, the latter part of this year has been good to me. I guess whoever said ‘n God’s time not yours’ is right. There really are silver lining is every dark cloud, we just have to look real hard sometimes to see it.

Well, I’m closing with a promise to myself to update my blog twice per week.

No, I've Not Died, I'm Still Around

2005-10-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

No, I’ve not disappeared; just have too much going for a while. Hopefully in the next few weeks I’ll begin to get back some me time.

Since my last post, my son has turned one. It’s hard to believe that this little man came into my life all of one year ago. It’s truly amazing that someone who depended on me for so much is beginning to exert his independence. He states no quite often when we insist that he does something he doesn’t want to his. On Tuesday his pediatrician was quite amused by this ability.

He’s also quite tall for his age. Our little Jalen is also quite the chatterbox…and they are right, children live what they learn. He imitates what we do often. He also doesn’t like baby food much…he’ll refuse it, but always eats what we are eating.

Overall I have much to be thankful for, as life’s blessing come in on a daily basis once I know how to look. It’s sometimes as simple as helping a friend or listening to a love’s woes tales of sorrowing and promising that it will pass.

As for work, I’m doing what I love, even if the financial benefits are not always great. Thankfully I have a very supportive husband and that helps.

Well, I’ve much to do before calling it a night so ‘peace out’.

42ND Anniversary of Dr. King’s “I’ve a Dream” Speech

2005-08-28T23:40:00.000-07:00

Forty-two years ago today, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave one of the greatest speeches ever made:
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

- Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963

If Martin was around today, he would be proud, but he would also be sad. Proud to see black and white working together, going to school together, marrying, and for the most part living together in harmony. Racial prejudice still exists and it will be around for many years before this scrounge of humanity will be eradicated, if ever, but I too have a dream that one day this will be so.

His dream for the black man is far from over. Sadly, some black people are part of the problem. Many of us have no idea of what was sacrificed by others, such as Dr. King, for us to have the freedoms we enjoy today. We no longer respect each other or the sanctity of life; despite having access to education many of us choose not to educate ourselves. I, however, still have a dream that one day, Dr. King’s dream will finally be realised and we can all live together in peace. I have a dream that each black child, whether they’re born in the ghetto or in a mansion will one day realize their worth, and reach their full potential. Yes, I too have a dream.

Jamaica Public Service, Again

2005-07-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

I’m so angry I could scream. I received my electricity bill from the Jamaica Public Service Company and once again the amount is staggering…a whopping five thousand plus dollars. This is just a measly $174 less than the previous month. The funniest part of it is the following:

- I foolishly put in fluorescent bulbs since they claim that it lowers usage.
- During the period billed we had 9 1/2 hours of power outages. Granted this is an estimate because it just covers the period when someone was home and was able to record the outage time. I knew there were outages when no one is home because I have an old fashion fax machine that spits out pieces of paper each time the power goes and returns.
- We rarely leave an outside light on anymore

So my question to JPS is: What am I to do to have my electricity bills at a reasonable rate? In the past two years my bill has jumped quite a lot. I really would love to know why this is happening. Sadly, consumers in Jamaica do not have much recourse to get any wrongs righted.
"SOMEBODY, PLEASE HELP ME!

We’ve had so many power outages and low voltage that my computer was damage and hasn’t worked properly since. Getting touch with JPS about this would lead to so much rigmarole and stress it isn’t even worth the bother. I know because I know more than one person who has tried.

Well, apart from the headache of the electricity company, I have a lot to be thankful for. For one two hurricanes passed Jamaica without any direct hits. There were loss of life, widespread flooding and damage to infrastructure, but it could have been much worst. My heart goes out to everyone affected.

My little man, Jalen, who was named after basketball player Jalen Rose, is almost one year old. Now, I don’t know why I thought that once he was walking around I would have more time…WRONG!!! I have to be running after him at every turn since he’s now a little explorer. Of course everything must also be taste tested. But I would change anything for this glorious time with him. What a blessing he is.

Everyday Life

2005-07-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well, Jamaica once again escaped the full force of a hurricane. For this I’m grateful, but my heart goes out to my fellow Caribbean people in Haiti, Cuba and the Caymans. I trust that Florida is not as badly affected like last year. It is scary that the first real hurricane of the season as proven to be so deadly.

My heart goes out to England, especially those who have lost loved ones. Oh for a world where we all love and respect each other regardless of colour, race or creed.

I applied for a job a few weeks ago. It was at somewhere that I used to part-time. Funny enough the night after I sent in the application I dreamt that the manager in charge of setting up interviews was not going to call me. Before you ask, yes, I have the qualifications for the job. Well, that is now on hold, so I wont know for a while if my dream will come thru. Ah well, God has a bigger plan for me; I just need to be patient and wait upon Him.

Now, if only I could get a break so that I can stay home and write to earn my keep. Things are picking up, but not enough for me to make a ‘living from…YET.” It will happen…I have the determination and perseverance, plus, I know that is my destiny.

Jalen, Jalen, my gift from God will be 11 months old tomorrow. Now, where, oh where did the time went? My helpless little man is showing his independence, taking little steps and letting me know when he’s displeased with me. Looking at him, you can see the wonders of God’s creation.

Thank you God for everything.

Rescuing the Black Man

2005-06-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

Rescuing the black man…June 18

I watch the news in my native Jamaica, I watch the news on NCB 4 and I cry. I watch and pray when a crime is being reported. I pray, “Dear God, don’t let him be black”…so sad for a proud black woman to see the face of crime and violence and so often it’s the face of a ‘black man’. I cry for the black man and know that we, the black woman are partially to be blamed for his slow and steady demise.

Mothers, we’re to be blamed for justifying the wrongs of our sons. What happened to the days when if your child took home a pencil you didn’t provide they had to return it or ELSE? Wives/girlfriends, what happened to encouraging our men to do the right thing? When did we lose our souls and accept the ill-begotten fruits of their stealing, rape and murder? When did we begin to truly lose the black man?

Did it begin with the murder of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr? Was it the drug trade? Did we begin to lose our men when we were willing to become ‘baby mothers’ instead of wives? Did it all start when we reverted to back to the days of slavery when the men were studs who were expected to make babies with us for slave labour?

This is a plea from a black woman, who is the wife of a good black man, mother to a black son, sister to black brothers, aunt to black nephews…WOMEN let us get our men back. Let us stop blaming the system for what is happening? Aren’t you tired of seeing our men imprisoned, murdered by their own, by the state, by their own hands? Each day, a black child is left fatherless, and in my beautiful island home, motherless because their parents are being murdered. I know that I’m tired, but I can’t do this alone.

Please, don’t tell me that there are no good black men, because there are…I see them everyday. But you know what, there can be more…WOMEN LET US RESCUE OUR MEN!!! Let’s bring back the black family…

The Prodigal Returns

2005-06-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

Wow…I sure missed writing in my journal, but once again life had me by the neck. I’ve been job hunting with little success. “You’re too qualified” is the mantra; especially for part-time posts which are what I really want. I trust the Lord to work His will. If it is His will that I return to full-time employment, then so be it.

My writing has suffered during this time, but I’m back in the wagon and set to get going again. I’ve a number of magazine articles to complete, so those are priorities. I’ve spend quite a lot of time reading and enjoying m son. What a blessing he is…everything he does is a wonderful new experience for him, but also for his doting dad and of course, me.

You know, one thing being down does for you is show you who are your true friends. I’m the type who always tries to call friends every now and then to check in because life is so short. Sadly, during this time very few calls came my way.

Joy W, thank you for calling to “hi’. Also, thanks for dear friends Michele C-B, Velmore L and Sandra G…you guys always remember me. I love you tons.

Dawn B, you wouldn’t know how much I value your friendship, but I do.

God be praised

2005-04-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

God be praised. Yesterday I had the fright of my life. I was just in time to see Jalen taking a ‘header’ out of his playpen. I have no idea that I could moved that fast…but I was able to grab him by the foot before he hit the floor. I shook all over and started bawling. Funny enough, he didn’t start crying until I did. Since he started trying to walk, it’s one scare after the other.

Jalen is teething and it sure does make him fussy sometimes. Luckily, it not prolong, so he’s back to his sunny self quickly. .

Well, I’ve been feeling much better and should be able to start back work tomorrow. I’m almost finished with the project. This will leave me more time for my writing, so that’s good. Oh, to be able to write whenever I wish. I wanted to go in today, but a number of things happened while I was getting ready. Main thing…NWC was at it again, so there was no water.

Up and Down, Up and Down...

2005-04-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been up and down. I’ve been well, but I heard that a friend died. Guess things like that make you question your own mortality. I’m now determined to take better care of me. I was a vegetarian before getting pregnant last year. Around the third month I couldn’t stand vegetables and had a hankering for meat. My poor husband didn’t know what to make of my demands for jerked pork…pork, which I haven’t eaten for over twenty years. I really tried having vegetables, but my stomach rebelled and I had to eat...I mean the little one needed nourishment.

So now that the little man is approaching 9-months old, yikes, I’m getting back to vegetarianism. I didn’t know it would be so hard to resume. Of course, my darling Owen also fell off the vegetarian wagon in support of his wife…isn’t he nice? He bought a hunk of tofu a week ago which is still sitting in the fridge. Anyway, I’m only on chicken primarily, so it’s not so bad.

Oh, in case you’re wondering about my water situation, it’s a bit better, but still not over.

What type of dog are you?

2005-04-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today on my children’s writers’ group, some posed this question and a website link. Well, needless to say curiosity got the better of me, so off I went to find out what type I am. Well, I’m supposedly a Beagle.

These animals originated from England, where they were used to hunt rabbits. Apparently queen Elizabeth I had many, and was particularly fond of the now extinct Pocket Beagle. These dogs were so small; they could be carried in the pocket.

Anyway, back to me and why I’m like the Beagle personality-wise…apparently they are gentle with children. Well, that’s me…I love them to death. They’re God’s little miracles.

They are also strong and powerful; I wish…ah then again, I am STRONG and POWERFUL…I’m Woman and Mother and Wife. Of course, Sister, Aunt, Daughter…

They also make fine companions… my husband still has the jury out on that one. But my friends will agree.

I did try the test again and came up with …A Shetland Sheepdog…this is really more like me…I’m Intelligent (truly I am), sociable, faithful and obedient (not too sure about this, since I’m as stubborn as they come.

You know what…I’m a hybrid…a combination of may times.

To try the test yourself visit: http://www.gone2thedogs.com/

Have fun.

Life's Blessings

2005-04-09T05:38:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe that my son is almost 8 months old. This morning his daddy said it seems as if he didn’t get enough time with him as a baby. I know how he feels, and bear in mind that his daddy has spent more time with him than I have because he works from home and I sometimes have to work onsite. Owen is just so good with him.

On a totally different note, my son is becoming more independent everyday. I’ve seen him periodically struggle to hold on and stand in the crib and playpen. He’s already so determined and has succeeded a few times in the crib, but poor little, Jalen, can only manage to kneel in his playpen. Funny enough, he is already holding on and standing with ease in the sofa. Well, what do you know…today I was out all day and the little man went ahead and stood in the playpen... Again his daddy saw one of his firsts. I’m so happy though, that his hard work has paid off.

He was so happy to see me last night when I got home…he just reached out for me with a big grin on his angelic little face. Children are truly God’s gift to us. How can someone so little control you so totally is a mystery to me. All I know is that each day I’ve something more to be grateful for and to thank God for His blessings…great and small.

Well, it’s time to start a new day with all its challenges.

Nice People...

2005-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today I just happen to be at home because I’m not feeling well. I’m not complaining however, since I have a deadline to meet for an article, plus I have to complete some training material.

In writing this article on Prostate Cancer in the Caribbean, I found some really helpful doctors…I was a bit surprised at how willing some of them were to share their knowledge and time. The first person to respond to my request was a research scientist in the USA…Dr. Eric Small, thank you for your professionalism and willingness to assist. Also willing, and who even went beyond the call, was Dr. David Bristol in St. Lucia. What a gracious, giving human being. Also helping despite also being busy, is my own Dr. William Aiken, President of the Jamaica Urology Society. Hopefully, others will respond in like manner.

With so many persons getting caught up in the rat race, it is always nice to find that there are others who still find the time to help their fellow human beings. I guess it is these little things that let me maintain my faith in human-kind.

Life, Baby, Work and Writing

2005-03-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

The above is not in order of priority...of course life is important and my family, including my husband and son are tops, work and writing or interchangeable. As a matter of fact I'd be so happy to take work out of the equation all together, but bills must be paid. Oh, to be able to one day pay the bills from my writing alone. Ah, well, perchance to dream.

Should be at work today, but I'm not well, plus DH (Dear Husband) isn't feeling too hot either, so I have to stay home and help take care of Jalen. I don't mind...I wish I could spend all my time at home. Luckily my project is almost completed and if I can get the WINISIS Database installed I should be able to complete setting up the library in another 3-4 weeks.

The water situation is a little better, in that, there is water most days from 8PM to 5AM. Of course that means doing the laundry at night or in the pre-dawn hours. Anyway, I'm grateful for small mercies, so thank you NWC...I think.

No Water

2005-03-19T21:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it’s now one full week without water. This is hell…literally. I’ve pile-high laundry waiting to be done. Thankfully, dear husband got enough water to wash Jalen’s (that’s our baby) clothing. I’ve waited all day to see the water truck and nothing yet, and its 9:31 PM. Well, that’s not quite true…a truck came this evening, but we were told that he was just taking water for his friend. The driver was kind enough to let us know that he was not delivering from the National Water Commission (government of Jamaica’s water company), but from a private source. I want a friend like that!!!

I called the National Water Commission’s 1-888 toll free number to get an update, and was promptly told, “They are still working on the pump, but we’ll be trucking water into the area.” Of course, the customer service rep closed by saying, “Having a nice day.” I had to remind her that was impossible after so many days without water.

I am looking forward to receiving my water bill for March; will there be a decrease in the amount I’ve to pay? Time will tell. Guess I can get some ideas for stories out of this entire situation; the proverbial making lemonade out of lemons. But, I need water to make lemonade, don’t I? That would so nice and refreshing right now with the heat (86.5 degrees F), and no opportunity to soak in a nice cool bath.

One of those days

2005-03-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

You know, we all have them, when nothing seems to go right and then one little deed makes it all seem insignificant. I've been off centre for a few days since my neighbourhood has been without running water since Sunday, March 13th. I'm used to frequent water disruptions, that's a way of life in some areas of Jamaica. My peeve is that you receive these high water bills and more often than not you're inconvenienced by lack of tap water. This is even worse this time around because I've a baby at home. What misery...but then I remembered those who have never ever had the luxuury of running water. So I don't have running water, but at least on Tuesday morning at 2 a.m, yep, 2 a.m, the water truck came with a delivery after almost three days of nada. But, still I have to be thankful...

Today, I am off work again because of the water situation. But it wasn't a bad day, I completed one article for a children's magazine, sent off two queries and had a bit of writing thrown in. Best of all I spent the day at home, not only with my son, but with my husband too. Yep, it was definitely one of those days.

WOW, One Month is almost over!!!

2005-01-28T04:52:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I had such hopes and goals for January, and yet here we are with just a few days left, and all my 'things to do' have not been completed. Granted I did meet some of my goals, which are good since I'm mothering a 5-month old.

My darling husband got a nanny/household aid to assist me during the week, but it has been very stressful. She takes more talking to than a 5 year old. I think I'm now more stressed than before....LOL.

Well, we had to let her go. It just wasn't working out...she breaks things, lies and so many other things. Guess we will just have to manage on our own again.

A New Year - New Start

2005-01-03T04:13:00.000-08:00

Well, 2004 went out with a bang literally. There are so many things I'll always remember about 2004. The birth of my son, the US presential election, Laci and Scott Peterson, and of course the tsunami in South East Asia. My heart goes out to these people.

For me, 2004 had it's highs and it's lows, but I plan with God's help to make the 'lows' into 'highs' in 2005. This means putting more effort and time into my writing...I MUST WRITE EVERYDAY.

Here's to getting published in 2005.

Being a Woman can be Tiring

2004-12-12T04:33:00.000-08:00

I always thought that most women were superwomen, especially poor Third World women, who have very little in the way of modern conveniences . We juggle so many things, but now that I am a mother I know that women are special beings. It is hard work taking care of a family, (washing, cooking, doing laundry...), taking care of a baby, working out, writing and working from home, and the list goes on. How do we do it? Better yet, how did women did it all in the past? At least I have a washing machine and a very supportive husband, and yet I am existing on very little sleep. I can not get much done. Yet, my mom for instance did all her housework and took care of nine children. Overall, I'm plain TIRED!!!

Now don't get me wrong...I love my life, but why is it that most, if not all women see parenting through rose tinted glasses. You are full of emotions - love, terror and for some of us a bit of resentment. These little people really do change everything.

Good Things Do Happen

2004-12-09T01:59:00.000-08:00

First off let me say that I am a christian and know that God prepares us to deal with situation that we face, but being human, I get discouraged when things go wrong sometimes. Just recently I was stressing about a number of situations and yet, day by day the solution comes. Just last night I got a telephone call at minutes to eleven that solved the entire problem. Now, why was I so worried...oh ye of little faith.

I have almost completed editing and selecting the stories to be included in the anthology I am compiling...oh to find a publisher. Will someone please come knocking at my door.

Today wasn't so bad even though I had to leave my men and go to work. It was great seeing them in the evening and my son just couldn't stop looking at mommy (that's me) and smiling. Is there anything sweeter than to see the toothless grin of a baby after a long day at work?

Well that's it folks, I have to go complete a complaint letter I am writing to the Jamaica Public Service Company ( the electricty provider for Jamaica). The bills are getting horrendous and lots of consumers are going ballistic. More anon!!!

An Uneventful Day

2004-12-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

Today was a so-so day. Like most Mondays I wish the weekend was just beginning. Why? Becuase my greatest pleasure is being at home with two of my favourite men, my husband and my son. How sad I felt when I had to say 'goodbye' for the day since I had to work away from home for the next couple of months.

Thankfully the six hours moved along quickly and I was reunited with the loves of my life. Just seeing that big toothless grin when I entered the vehicle and held my son was enough to put the sunshine back in my day.

For the rest of the evening I am all about spendingtime being there with my family, no editing or writing. The only other activity will be reading. I must read each day...it's an important part of each day. A writer who does not read is like a fish without water.

Another Late Start

2004-12-04T11:07:00.000-08:00

Can you tell that I'm new to this blogging thing? Yep, the story of my life...late for everything. I got married in my thirties, took the chance and gave up a great job to do my own thing and even have a baby at an age where the children of most of my peers are in high school and even college. My little miracle is now 4 months old.

It is for this reason why I know that I am the right person to pen a book about Late Bloomers. My book is almost completed and is in the editing stage. I plan to complete editing the manuscript this month and start searching for a publisher in January 2005. I believe that this book will be an inspiration for other late bloomers.

I truly believe that late bloomers are courageous people who are not afraid to take chances and face change. Change after all is a natural part of life so why not face it head-on...not recklessly, but with purpose.